New Report: Rebuilding Pennsylvania’s Economy

  • Michael Torres
  • January 22, 2021

Jan. 25, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. — A new Commonwealth Foundation report proposes a series of public policies aimed at helping Pennsylvania recover from the COVID-19 economic downturn. The Race…

Press Release

Read More: New Report: Rebuilding Pennsylvania’s Economy

Pa. House Committee Passes Taxpayer Protection Bill

  • Michael Torres
  • January 13, 2021

Jan 13, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today the House State Government Committee advanced the Taxpayer Protection Act, which would put guardrails on state spending growth to protect Pennsylvanians from…

Press Release

Read More: Pa. House Committee Passes Taxpayer Protection Bill

Earmarks Double to $120 Million in State Budget

  • Michael Torres
  • December 8, 2020

December 8, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Wolf used a shadowy process to bury $120 million of earmarks in the new state budget. That’s double last year’s…

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Read More: Earmarks Double to $120 Million in State Budget

Education Stimulus Bill Subject of Senate Hearing

  • Colleen Hroncich, Michael Torres
  • October 2, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on a bill that would make a $1,000 per-student stimulus available to eligible families to help…

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Read More: Education Stimulus Bill Subject of Senate Hearing

COVID-19 Community Recovery Report

  • Michael Torres
  • August 13, 2020

Aug 13, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation has released a new report outlining policy solutions that will help to rebuild Pennsylvania’s communities. Alongside the pandemic, Pennsylvania is facing crises caused…

Press Release

Read More: COVID-19 Community Recovery Report

Pa. Legislature Looks to Help Families with Education Expenses

  • Michael Torres
  • July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Members of the Pa. House and Senate have sponsored legislation would create “Back on Track” Education Scholarship Accounts (ESA) to help families afford growing education…

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Government Accountability

Pa. Supreme Court Grants Governor Unchecked Emergency Powers

  • Charles Mitchell, Michael Torres
  • July 1, 2020

July 1, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pa. Supreme Court ignored the commonwealth’s tradition of checks and balances between branches of government in a ruling on a lawsuit between…

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Regulation

Occupational Licensing Reform Passes Unanimously, Goes to Wolf

  • Jessica Barnett, Michael Torres
  • June 25, 2020

June 25, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pa. General Assembly unanimously passed SB 637 (Sens. DiSanto and Schwank), a bill that will remove professional licensing employment barriers for roughly 3 million…

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Read More: Occupational Licensing Reform Passes Unanimously, Goes to Wolf

Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates New House Leadership

  • June 24, 2020

June 24, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Following the retirement of House Speaker Mike Turzai, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ elected a new Speaker and several new members of the majority…

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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates New House Leadership

Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates Speaker Cutler

  • June 22, 2020

June 22, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County earned a bi-partisan majority vote to become the next speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Commonwealth Foundation Vice President…

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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates Speaker Cutler

Commonwealth Foundation Thanks Speaker Mike Turzai

  • Michael Torres
  • June 10, 2020

June 10, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai announced that he will resign from his seat in the General Assembly effective June 15. Turzai…

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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Thanks Speaker Mike Turzai

Pa. Legislature Votes to End Gov. Wolf’s COVID Disaster Declaration

  • Michael Torres, Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2020

June 9, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pa. Legislature passed a resolution (HR 836) to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 disaster declaration with bi-partisan majorities in both chambers.

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Read More: Pa. Legislature Votes to End Gov. Wolf’s COVID Disaster Declaration

Government Accountability

Pa. Shutdown Revolt Met with Threats from Governor

  • Charles Mitchell
  • May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — After this weekend's news that at least eight counties in Pennsylvania would no longer participate in the governor's reopening directives, Gov. Wolf has…

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Government Accountability

Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency

  • April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf vetoed a bill, SB 613, that would have brought clarity to Pennsylvania’s controversial business shutdown and provided hope for the future. But…

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Read More: Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency

Health Care

Pa. Legislature Leads National Move Toward Safe Reopening

  • April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed a bill that would partially repeal Gov. Tom Wolf’s sweeping shutdown of so-called “non-life-sustaining” businesses, which has caused more than 1.3…

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Read More: Pa. Legislature Leads National Move Toward Safe Reopening

Criminal Justice Reform

Ensure Prisoner Release is Reasonable and Safe During COVID-19

  • April 10, 2020

April 10, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf announced that his administration will be releasing qualified state prisoners under the Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration Program. The Commonwealth Foundation…

Press Release

Read More: Ensure Prisoner Release is Reasonable and Safe During COVID-19