Research

State Budget

Budget Facts 2009: Natural Gas Severance Tax

• July 3, 2009

Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…

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State Budget

Budget Facts 2009: Personal Income Tax and Job Losses

• July 3, 2009

Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state's General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…

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Education

Budget Facts 2009: Spending Increases by Department

• June 7, 2009

Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget.  Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…

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Education

Budget Facts 2009: State Education Spending

• June 7, 2009

Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget.  Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…

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Regulation

A Tale of Three Cities: Pennsylvania’s Retiree and Medical Liability Challenges

• Richard Dreyfuss
• April 6, 2009

Pennsylvania maintains over 3,000 public pension plans at the state, city and municipal levels, the most of any state and approximately 25% of all such plans in America.  Over 2,200…

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Government Accountability

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2009

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009 identifies $5 billion in unhealthy state spending in FY 2008-09 and offers a series of recommendations to both resolve the current revenue shortfall…

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Education

High Costs of Higher Education: Reforming How Pennsylvania Taxpayers Finance Colleges and Universities

• December 5, 2008

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has long been considered a leader in higher education, touting a publicly supported system that includes community colleges, state, state-related, and state-aided universities.  However, as with…

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Education

Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians & Increasing Taxes

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 12, 2008

Originally founded as the Pennsylvania State Teachers Association in 1852, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) has transformed itself from a professional development organization for educators into one of the…

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State Budget

Water and Sewer Ballot Question

• October 27, 2008

When Pennsylvania voters head to the polls on November 4, 2008, they will also be asked to vote "YES" or "NO" on a ballot measure which would allow the state…

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Health Care

Health Care Reform

• October 16, 2008

Reform in health care should follow a few key principles: Give individuals and employers more choices in health care. Give them more freedom in choosing health care options.

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Taxes & Economy

Paying for Our Paving: Why Leasing the Turnpike Makes Good Economic and Public Policy Sense

• September 17, 2008

Introduction How should Pennsylvania pay for its transportation infrastructure, now that the Federal Highway Administration has rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s application to toll Interstate 80?  Gas taxes?  Vehicle fees? …

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Taxes & Economy

Act 44 & Transportation Funding

• September 4, 2008

In July 2007, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed and Governor Ed Rendell signed Act 44. This legislation authorized the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to increase tolls on the Turnpike;…

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Education

A Pennsylvania School Report Card

• August 21, 2008

Politicians and school officials frequently point to student performance  on state tests as a primary measure of the quality of public education.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the…

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Leasing the Turnpike: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

• May 23, 2008

Tthe Commonwealth Foundation and the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation released a policy brief entitled Leasing the Turnpike: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers to help enhance and enlighten the current transportation…

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Health Care

Medicaid Reform: Mending the Holes in Pennsylvanias Health Care Safety Net

• May 8, 2008

Politicians and school officials frequently point to student performance  on state tests as a primary measure of the quality of public education.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the…

Report

Education

A Primer on Pennsylvania Cyber Schools

• Nathan Benefield
• April 28, 2008

Executive Summary An increasing number of parents are choosing Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools for their children every year. Between 2001 and 2006, enrollment grew from 1,848 to almost 16,000 students.

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Education

Cyber Schools: Frequently Asked Questions

• April 15, 2008

Hearings are being held across the state on legislation for limits on spending by public cyber schools The proposed legislation is a response to criticism that cyber schools are not…

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Regulation

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2008

• Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
• March 10, 2008

State government consumption and spending of taxpayer money has grown rapidly over the years. Since 1970, Pennsylvania’s operating budget increased from $4.2 billion to $59 billion in FY 2007-2008, an…

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission vs. PennDOT

• March 3, 2008

Act 44 of 2007 dramatically expanded the scope and power of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to increase tolls on the 537-mile Turnpike; enter into a lease agreement with…

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State Budget

The Truth About Spending Limits

• February 1, 2008

Pennsylvanians want limits placed on the annual increases in state government spending.  Despite the strong support of taxpayers, many special interest groups that profit from higher taxes and more government…

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Health Care

“Cover All Pennsylvanians” Covers Very Few

• January 14, 2008

Governor Rendell’s proposed “Cover All Pennsylvanians” claims to provide health insurance for an Administration-estimated 800,000 currently uninsured Pennsylvania adults at a cost of $1 billion dollars in just four years.

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