Staff

Criminal Justice Reform

Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice Reforms

• Jessica Barnett
• June 24, 2020

Pennsylvania General lawmakers moved two key criminal justice reform bills aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s onerous probation system and limiting the excessive burdens of a criminal record.

Memo

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…

Press Release

State Budget

Strange Budget for Strange Times: 2020-2021 State Budget Overview

• Andrew Abramczyk
• June 22, 2020

State assembly funds the government through November with a budget chock full of federal aid.  …

Memo

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…

Press Release

Government Accountability

Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levels

• Nathan Benefield
• June 22, 2020

More than 13% of Pennsylvania workers were officially unemployed in May, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Friday. That’s an improvement from April’s record-setting 15.1% unemployment rate, but still the second highest rate…

Media

Op-ed: Lawmakers Right to End Wolf’s Extended Disaster Declaration

• June 19, 2020

While some economic harm was unavoidable, Wolf’s policies were unfair to local small businesses. He inexplicably shut down small retailers, including garden center and appliance stores, while allowing big box…

Commentary

Government Accountability

A Door to Liberation: Why Juneteenth Matters

• Lenny McAllister
• June 19, 2020

Juneteenth is a celebration that makes Independence Day a more fulfilled promise across America. The freedom extolled on July 4th, 1776, was robust, even if it took June 19th, 1865,…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal Records

• Jessica Barnett
• June 16, 2020

With a unanimous committee vote, the state House has opened the door to prosperity for 3 million Pennsylvanians. This week, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee passed legislation helping incarcerated citizens…

Media

Education

Understanding Back on Track ESAs

• Colleen Hroncich
• June 12, 2020

Key Points Pennsylvania children lost months of schooling—many without access to educational resources. Families are bearing increased expenses from at-home learning. Back on Track Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) will help…

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

Pa. Tackles Two New Law Enforcement Reforms

• Jessica Barnett
• June 12, 2020

Pennsylvanians are voicing their concern on policing reform. Encouragingly, lawmakers are listening to constituents and pursuing meaningful, balanced policing reform.

Commentary

Shutdown Poll: 74% of Pa. Voters Support Relaxing Restrictions on Businesses

• Michael Torres
• June 11, 2020

June 11, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — An overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians favor allowing businesses to safely resume operations, according to a poll released today by the Commonwealth Foundation.  The poll of…

Press Release

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…

Press Release

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.

Press Release

Government Accountability

Top 10 PLCB Boondoggles

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 9, 2020

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has survived debacle after debacle. The closures around COVID-19 are just the most recent example of the PLCB's incompetence. Here are the top 10 PLCB…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Fed Data Shows Wolf’s Shutdown Caused Unemployment Spike

• Michael Torres
• June 5, 2020

June 5, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s shutdown was done earlier, was more expansive, and had fewer exemptions than most other states, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of…

Media

Government Accountability

Op-ed: Pennsylvanians Deserve an Apology

• Nathan Benefield
• June 4, 2020

Gov. Wolf called local officials, job creators, and workers “cowards” and “deserters” for assessing local risks and daring to think for themselves.

Commentary

End Government Liquor

• June 2, 2020

Let's end the government liquor monopoly! Pennsylvania is one of only two states where the government controls the sale of wine and spirits. The other is Utah.   The government…

Commentary

Getting Kids Back on Track

• Colleen Hroncich
• June 2, 2020

Because of coronavirus shut-downs, Pennsylvania children lost months of schooling and parents are struggling with unexpected expenses from at-home learning. Back on Track ESAs can help kids catch up over…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

PLCB is Bad for Business

• June 2, 2020

The PLCB harms Pa. businesses in an industry that has been decimated by COVID-19.

Fact Sheet

Regulation

PLCB’s Mishandling of COVID-19

• June 1, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has shown the state liquor control board's inability to provide Pennsylvanian's the service the deserve.

Fact Sheet

Taxes & Economy

Economic Aspects of Liquor Privatization

• May 28, 2020

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is a highly unprofitable monopoly with extraordinary powers that have recently been used to increase prices and harm businesses.

Fact Sheet