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Taxes & Economy

Audio: Wolf’s Campaign Rhetoric Meets Governing Reality

• Jonathan Reginella
• January 30, 2015

Governor Wolf has made some bold promises on his campaign trail, but very soon the campaign rhetoric will meet governing reality. CF’s President and CEO Matt Brouillette recently discussed…

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School Choice Week: America’s teachers have better options than the NEA or AFT

• January 30, 2015

Media Hit

Advocates say Pennsylvania can do more for charter schools

• January 30, 2015

Media Hit

Are charter schools the answer? More on the law that stripped York parents’ control

• January 30, 2015

Media Hit

Health Care

Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

• James Paul
• January 30, 2015

What is the ultimate goal of health care reform? Is it to provide all Americans with insurance cards? Or is it to enhance access to quality care at more affordable…

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Philadelphia sizes up more charter schools

• January 29, 2015

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Mary’s Law is Introduced

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 28, 2015

Paycheck protection legislation, known as “Mary’s Law,” was officially introduced in the state House of Representatives as HB 238. With the backing of 39 co-sponsors, Mary’s Law seeks to…

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Why Philadelphia’s Public School Problems Are Bad For Business

• January 28, 2015

Media Hit

Pennsylvania’s teacher pension system scores D plus, National Council on Teacher Quality says

• January 28, 2015

Media Hit

Blocking better schools

• January 28, 2015

Media Hit

Education

The State of School Choice in Pennsylvania

• James Paul
• January 27, 2015

In many respects, Pennsylvania is a pioneer of school choice. With 173 charter schools—14 of which are cyber charters—and two scholarship tax credit programs, the commonwealth is the envy of…

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Education

Podcast: A Local-Only Teachers Union?

• January 27, 2015

Michigan teacher Jim Perialas has an unusual story. In 2012 his school, Roscommon Area School District, became the first in decades to decertify (or leave) the state-wide Michigan Education Association…

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A Local-Only Union: A Teacher Tells How to Leave the NEA

• January 27, 2015

This post first appeared on the Commonwealth Foundation’s PolicyBlog. Michigan teacher Jim Perialas has an unusual story. In 2012 his school, Roscommon Area School District, became the first in…

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Government Accountability

Will Gov. Wolf Stay True to “Openness” in Government?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 26, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf’s first week in office included several moves to paint a picture of ethics and transparency in state government. First Wolf issued executive orders banning executive staff from…

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Regulation

PLCB Limitations Shackle Entrepreneurs

• January 26, 2015

“I’ve got products in the pipeline that I can’t sell, because they didn’t get approved,” said Mike Gonze, president of Dreadnought Wines in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article that perfectly…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 23, 2015

Unprecedented reductions in the prison population, $69.9 million in taxpayer savings, and lower recidivism rates all indicate that the 2012 corrections reforms are working. Earlier this month Don Gilliland over…

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Challenges piled high for new PA secretary of education

• January 23, 2015

Media Hit

Court upholds collective bargaining process

• January 23, 2015

Media Hit

Here’s why charter schools are a fresh start for troubled York schools: James Paul

• January 23, 2015

Media Hit

Education

Philly Classrooms Out $200 Million, PFT Declares Victory

• January 22, 2015

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Philly Classrooms Out $200 Million, PFT Declares Victory What Could $200 Million Buy Philadelphia Students? Good afternoon, In a blow to education reform…

Press Release

Education

Five Ways Dollars Are Kept Out of Philadelphia Classrooms

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 22, 2015

The school district of Philadelphia saw a $1 billion increase in revenue over the past decade, even as enrollment declined. Yet many claim there isn’t enough funding for basic…

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