Latest Content
Energy
Testimony of Nathan Benefield, Chief Policy Officer Commonwealth Foundation Senate Majority Policy Committee Hearing on Energy in Pennsylvania
Chairman Argall and members of the committee: Thank you for the opportunity to submit these remarks on increasing energy production in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth Foundation promotes market-driven solutions that will…
Read More: Testimony of Nathan Benefield, Chief Policy Officer Commonwealth Foundation Senate Majority Policy Committee Hearing on Energy in Pennsylvania
Education
Funding School Buildings Instead of Students: How State Ready to Learn Block Grants Reward Failing Systems
Read More: Funding School Buildings Instead of Students: How State Ready to Learn Block Grants Reward Failing Systems
Education
Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Myths and Facts
Read More: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Myths and Facts
Education
Civics Education for America’s 250th Birthday
Read More: Civics Education for America’s 250th BirthdayRegulation
Privatizing “Yellow Pages” Government
This report surveys the scope of Yellow Pages Government in Pennsylvania, looks at examples of state and local privatization throughout the country, and outlines best practices to equip lawmakers to…
Report
Read More: Privatizing “Yellow Pages” GovernmentHealth Care
Pennsylvania Welfare Spending & Medicaid
Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed FY 2011-12 budget would represent the first time General Fund spending on the Department of Public Welfare would exceed that for the Department of Education.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Welfare Spending & MedicaidTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Tax for Smarties
Not sure if Pennsylvania should enact a unique and extra tax on Natural gas? here are some important things you need to know!…
Poll
Read More: Natural Gas Tax for SmartiesTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Taxes and Fees
The Marcellus Shale is a large and difficult-to-drill geological formation roughly a mile or more underground throughout more than two-thirds of Pennsylvania that contains natural gas.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Natural Gas Taxes and FeesPublic Union Democracy
How Labor Unions Politicize Public Schools
Graphic showing how unions politicalize public schoools.
Poll
Read More: How Labor Unions Politicize Public Schools
Pennsylvania Education Spending
K-12 public education spending has dramatically increased in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania's education spending increased from $4 billion in 1980 to more than $25 billion in 2009—a 133% increase in per-student spending,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Education SpendingEducation
School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax Relief
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax Relief
SB1 for Smarties
Not sure how SB1 will affect you, the taxpayer or parent? Here are some important things you need to know! …
Fact Sheet
Read More: SB1 for SmartiesState Budget
Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer Debt
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer DebtState Budget
Spending Increases by Department
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Spending Increases by Department
Pennsylvania State Budget Overview
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget OverviewEducation
Higher Education Spending & Performance
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Higher Education Spending & PerformanceTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania State Budget Resources 2011
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Resources 2011Public Union Democracy
Streamlining State Government
Pennsylvania businesses must navigate a complex web of regulations from more than 340 independent state agencies, offices, state departments, boards, commissions, and committees stemming from the executive branch. Several other…
Report
Read More: Streamlining State GovernmentState Budget
Understanding the Pennsylvania State Budget
Pennsylvania's total state operating budget for FY 2010-11 is approximately $65.4 billion-or $5,193 for every man, woman and child in the commonwealth. This policy brief looks at the entire state…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Understanding the Pennsylvania State BudgetState Budget
Reality-Based Budgeting
Pennsylvania state government will tax and spend more than $65 billion this fiscal year. With the loss of federal stimulus money and the exhaustion of all one-time expenditures, the legislature…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Reality-Based BudgetingEducation
School Choice: Questions & Answers
The Pennsylvania School Board Association is circulating "Questions about vouchers your legislator should be asking." Others have legitimate questions and concerns. This Policy Brief answers them all.
Fact Sheet
Read More: School Choice: Questions & AnswersEducation
15 School Choice Myths
In an attempt to thwart efforts to give children better educational opportunities, the public school establishment is trying to divert the attention of policymakers through a series of oft-repeated myths…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 15 School Choice MythsEducation
Pennsylvania School Choice Resources
Senate Bill 1, The Opportunity Scholarship Act sponsored by Sen. Jeff Piccola (R) and Sen. Tony Williams (D), would expand scholarships available to children in lower- and middle-income families through…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania School Choice ResourcesEducation
School Choice: Why, What, and How
Nine of the 10 "gold standard" evaluations of voucher programs reported statistically significant gains in achievement for all or some voucher recipients. In 18 out of 19 academically rigorous studies,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: School Choice: Why, What, and HowEducation
Senate Bill 1: Analysis & Recommendations
Senate Bill 1, The Opportunity Scholarship Act sponsored by Sen. Jeff Piccola (R) and Sen. Tony Williams (D), would expand scholarships available to children in lower- and middle-income families through…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Senate Bill 1: Analysis & Recommendations