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Taxes & Economy
New Poll: Voters Demand Affordable Energy, More Educational Options, and Lower Taxes
Affordability is top of mind for Pennsylvanians, with 58 percent of voters naming either rising prices and inflation or the economy and jobs as the single most important issue…
Read More: New Poll: Voters Demand Affordable Energy, More Educational Options, and Lower Taxes
Education
U.S. Treasury Releases Final Guidelines on Federal Scholarship Program
Read More: U.S. Treasury Releases Final Guidelines on Federal Scholarship Program
Government Accountability
Shapiro Administration Rescinds Dept. of Health Rule Due to Public Pressure
Read More: Shapiro Administration Rescinds Dept. of Health Rule Due to Public Pressure
Government Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Comments on Gov. Shapiro’s Executive Overreach
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Comments on Gov. Shapiro’s Executive OverreachEducation
Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Favor School Choice
Harrisburg, PA—Pennsylvania voters elected a Governor last Tuesday who is committed to school choice, sending a message that our children’s right to an excellent education is one they are…
Press Release
Read More: Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Favor School ChoiceTaxes & Economy
Stop the Midnight Raid on PennVEST for a “Pipeline to Nowhere”
MEMORANDUM TO: Members of the General Assembly FROM: Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation DATE: November 8, 2010 RE: Stop Rendell/Hanger’s Midnight Raid on PennVEST…
Press Release
Read More: Stop the Midnight Raid on PennVEST for a “Pipeline to Nowhere”Education
Pennsylvania Voters Hit the Brakes on Runaway Government
HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Matthew J. Brouillette released the following statement regarding yesterday’s general election: “Yesterday, millions of Pennsylvanians collectively hit the brakes on runaway government…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Voters Hit the Brakes on Runaway GovernmentGovernment Accountability
Former Rep. Jeff Coleman Rejoins Commonwealth Foundation
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation is pleased to announce that former State Representative Jeff Coleman has rejoined the Foundation as a senior fellow. Mr. Coleman was elected to the…
Press Release
Read More: Former Rep. Jeff Coleman Rejoins Commonwealth FoundationRegulation
Commonwealth Foundation President Calls Pension Reform “Bailout for Union Bosses”
HARRISBURG, PA (10.12.10) – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette released the following statement regarding HB 2497 — the so-called SERS & PSERS pension reform legislation currently before…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation President Calls Pension Reform “Bailout for Union Bosses”
Former PA House Speaker Bob O’Donnell Joins Commonwealth Foundation
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation is pleased to announce that former Democratic Pennsylvania House Speaker Robert W. O’Donnell has joined its Center for Educational Excellence as a senior fellow.
Press Release
Read More: Former PA House Speaker Bob O’Donnell Joins Commonwealth FoundationRegulation
Pennsylvania Needs True Pension Reform
The state pension time bomb is taking front stage again in the waning days of the 2009-2010 legislative session. The Senate is revisiting HB 2497—the $27 billion pension deferral…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs True Pension ReformEducation
Charter Schools Give Children a Choice and a Chance
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation provided important perspective today on Pennsylvania’s charter and cyber schools in response to Auditor General Jack Wagner’s recommendations, including a moratorium on expanding public…
Press Release
Read More: Charter Schools Give Children a Choice and a Chance
PA House Democrats Unveil Nation’s Highest Severance Tax
Harrisburg, PA—A proposal by Pennsylvania House Democrats to levy severance taxes on natural gas would make Pennsylvania the most heavily-taxed natural gas producing state in the nation. At 39 cents…
Press Release
Read More: PA House Democrats Unveil Nation’s Highest Severance TaxEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Online Portal Tracking Education Spending and Achievement in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – How much does education cost the average Pennsylvania taxpayer? What percentage of students passes basic achievement tests? How much is per pupil spending in a given district?…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Online Portal Tracking Education Spending and Achievement in Pennsylvania
Tell the Truth: PennFuture’s Tax in Search of a Problem
Harrisburg, PA – Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matthew Brouillette was on hand Wednesday in Pittsburgh to counter claims that natural gas drilling is a scourge on the environment and…
Press Release
Read More: Tell the Truth: PennFuture’s Tax in Search of a ProblemTaxes & Economy
Solar Subsidies Sink State
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation expresses its displeasure with Gov. Rendell’s pronouncement today of awarding more taxpayer funds for solar energy projects and advocating an increase in a mandate…
Press Release
Read More: Solar Subsidies Sink State
Can Pennsylvania Grow Money from Trees?
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) today released Growing Money on Trees: An Analysis of PA’s Climate Change Action Plan, offering a cost-benefit analysis…
Press Release
Read More: Can Pennsylvania Grow Money from Trees?Taxes & Economy
CF Responds to PennFuture Demands
A July 14, 2010 letter from PennFuture’s attorney claimed the Commonwealth Foundation’s Policy Brief, “PennFuture’s Lobbying: Hypocritical, unethical, and possibly illegal,” contained three inaccuracies and demanded…
Press Release
Read More: CF Responds to PennFuture DemandsGovernment Accountability
PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released a report on the activities and claims of PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future), the organization founded by current Pennsylvania Secretary…
Press Release
Read More: PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal LobbyingTaxes & Economy
2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for Future
Harrisburg, PA – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette released the following statement in response to the announced Pennsylvania state budget deal: “It’s difficult to negotiate a sane budget…
Press Release
Read More: 2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for FutureState Budget
Time for A Taxpayer’s Budget
HARRISBURG, PA —The Commonwealth Foundation today released A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania, a report identifying $4 billion in…
Press Release
Read More: Time for A Taxpayer’s BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2010
Following May’s tax collections, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that state General Fund revenues are $1.2 billion below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Tax collections have…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2010State Budget
PA House Democrats Try to Ram Through Tax Hikes
May 25, 2010–Last night, the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee — on a straight party line vote, with only Democrat support — amended into a bill (HB 325) related to volunteer…
Press Release
Read More: PA House Democrats Try to Ram Through Tax HikesPublic Union Democracy
Special Interests Denounce “Special Interests”
HARRISBURG, PA (05.11.10) — The Commonwealth Foundation expressed disappointment today that special interest groups which demand taxpayer subsidies for certain energy companies are attacking Pennsylvania’s natural gas companies for simply…
Press Release
Read More: Special Interests Denounce “Special Interests”Government Accountability
First and Second Amendments Lose; LiveFreePA Postponed
Statement by Commonwealth Foundation and President Matthew J. Brouillette: “In the 11th hour, under intense pressure from those who…
Press Release
Read More: First and Second Amendments Lose; LiveFreePA Postponed