Press Releases

State Budget

Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes Later

• October 1, 2008

$281 million budget shortfall puts taxpayers at risk  HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation renewed its call for Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to take action to prevent a…

Press Release

What Will the General Assembly Do?

• September 30, 2008

Turnpike lease opportunity is going away HARRISBURG, PA—The $12.8 billion offer to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike will officially expire today at 5:00 p.m., unless Pennsylvania Transportation Partners (Abertis/CitiGroup) decide…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Delay on Turnpike Lease Is Bad Policy

• September 23, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation Urges Action on Lease Legislation  HARRISBURG, PA—Today, the Commonwealth Foundation called on the Pennsylvania legislature to consider Turnpike lease legislation before the end of the current legislative session. …

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Current State Spending = Future Tax Increase?

• September 18, 2008

Budget revenue shortfalls on track to produce multi-billion dollar tax increase in 2009   HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined State Rep. Sam Rohrer, State Senator John Eichelberger,…

Press Release

Tolling of I-80 Denied

• September 11, 2008

Federal government rejects Turnpike proposal to toll I-80 drivers HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation applauds the decision of the Federal Highway Administration to reject the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC)…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Commission Triples Act 44 Debt from $14 Billion to $44 Billion

• September 2, 2008

Unpaid debt increases from $0 to $73 billion under PTC’s revised plans  HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation presented an analysis of the proposed debt under the Pennsylvania…

Press Release

Turnpike Commission Family Tree has Deep Roots

• August 28, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation provides visuals of the power, patronage and politics of the PTC HARRISBURG, PA — As Pennsylvania policymakers await a decision from the Federal Highway Administration about the…

Press Release

Education

A Real Pennsylvania School “Report Card”

• August 21, 2008

New report offers more accurate measure of education achievement HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released A Pennsylvania School Report Card: How the Commonwealth’s Public Schools Stack Up to…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

How to Lose Billions of Dollars

• August 6, 2008

Turnpike Commission plan will cost taxpayers $37.4 billion HARRISBURG, PA — Today, as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission unveiled its plans for new tolling plazas along I-80, the Commonwealth Foundation reiterated…

Press Release

Plan to Toll I-80 Should Be Rejected

• July 24, 2008

Turnpike Commission should be dismantled, not given additional authority  HARRISBURG, PA — Following the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC) revised application to toll Interstate 80, the Commonwealth Foundation…

Press Release

Government Accountability

A Call For Reform

• July 17, 2008

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Sen. Jeff Piccola, Rep. Eugene DePasquale, and several other lawmakers and reform groups in calling for a Special Session to address important legislative…

Press Release

Regulation

Lease It, If You Must Toll It

• July 14, 2008

Turnpike Commission’s plans for I-80 will cost Pennsylvanians billions HARRISBURG, PA — As the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission rolled out its plans for Interstate 80, the Commonwealth Foundation called on Gov.

Press Release

Government Accountability

More Spending, More Debt, Less Transparency

• July 4, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation expresses disappointment in overall budget deal HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation provided its perspective on the FY 2008-09 budget agreement making its way to the governor’s…

Press Release

Turnpike Commission Pushes Premature Vote on Lease Plan to Kill It

• June 27, 2008

House Transportation Committee may vote on lease proposal on Saturday HARRISBURG, PA — On the heels of two days of hearings in the House Transportation Committee on the proposed…

Press Release

State Budget

Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!

• June 26, 2008

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation sounded an alarm today that both Governor Rendell and state lawmakers are poised to take citizens deeper into debt. “Putting the people of…

Press Release

TurnpikeFacts.com Exposes Turnpike Commissions Fiction

• June 23, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation educational campaign explores the costs, benefits, and potential pitfalls of a Turnpike lease  HARRISBURG, PA — In anticipation of the upcoming debate in Harrisburg about the merits…

Press Release

State Budget

Pennsylvania Senate Proposes Spending Diet

• June 20, 2008

Low-growth budget is a step in the right direction, but will House and Governor agree?  HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed a state spending plan for the upcoming…

Press Release

Regulation

Corporate Welfare In, Fiscal Restraint Out

• June 16, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation calls House budget irresponsible and misguided HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation charged that proposals by the Pennsylvania House Democrats to increase Governor Rendell’s proposed budget by…

Press Release

Q&A on the Turnpike | CFTV on YouTube

• June 12, 2008

If you were unable to join us for Policies & Principles Luncheon on Tuesday, June 10th with Roy Kienitz of the Governor’s Office discussing a lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike,…

Press Release

State Budget

Put Pennsylvania on a Spending Diet

• June 2, 2008

The Burden of Taxes In 2008, the average working Pennsylvanian will labor 111 days just to pay his or her federal, state, and local taxes—the equivalent of working January 1…

Press Release

Leasing the Turnpike: Questions & Answers

• May 26, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation and Reason Foundation address common concerns regarding a Public-Private Partnership on Pennsylvania’s toll road HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation…

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