Staff

Regulation

Employee Compensation Drives Spending Growth

• Nathan Benefield
• February 21, 2017

PennLive released a list of state government employees earning more than $100,000 in salary today. While the list should open some eyes, it doesn’t capture the full cost of…

Media

Education

Education Savings Accounts Across the Country

• James Paul
• February 17, 2017

The movement to provide children with better education is building momentum in 2017 as education savings accounts (ESA) advance in nearly a dozen states. Legislation has been filed in…

Media

Government Accountability

Government Unions Outspend the Natural Gas Industry

• Jessica Barnett
• February 16, 2017

Proponents of a natural gas severance tax argue the natural gas industry wields undue political influence in Harrisburg. State representative Greg Vitali laments: They [natural gas industry] just always…

Media

Regulation

Examining the Staggering Cost of Pensions

• February 16, 2017

CF senior policy analyst James Paul recently spoke with WURD Radio’s Stephanie Renee on Pennsylvania’s skyrocketing pension costs—and what can be done about them. Pennsylvania’s unfunded pension liability stands at…

Media

National Spotlight

• February 14, 2017

After the election, Commonwealth Foundation and our friends throughout the State Policy Network received national attention. Here are some of the highlights.

Commentary

National Spotlight

• February 14, 2017

After the election, Commonwealth Foundation and our friends throughout the State Policy Network received national attention. Here are some of the highlights.

Commentary

Shifting the Budget Paradigm with Five Reforms

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 14, 2017

What if, instead of viewing bills as non-negotiable, we actually asked “why” spending keeps rising? From duplicate programs to politically favored businesses to operational redundancies, the cost-drivers in the state…

Commentary

Shifting the Budget Paradigm with Five Reforms

• February 14, 2017

What if, instead of viewing bills as non-negotiable, we actually asked “why” spending keeps rising? From duplicate programs to politically favored businesses to operational redundancies, the cost-drivers in the state…

Commentary

Controlling Spending is A Moral Imperative

• February 14, 2017

In an effort to improve the state’s finances, the Wolf Administration commissioned a government efficiency review—an idea CF included in a recent policy brief, which focused on driving…

Media

School Choice: Helping One Student at a Time

• February 14, 2017

A charter school graduate explains why school choice is so meaningful to his family.

Commentary

School Choice: Helping One Student at a Time

• February 14, 2017

A charter school graduate explains why school choice is so meaningful to his family.

Commentary

Chart of the Month Jan-Feb 17

• February 14, 2017

For the first time since 1985, Pennsylvania’s total population declined last year, falling by more than 7,600. In state-to-state migration alone, Pennsylvania lost one resident every 11.5 minutes from July 2015 to…

Commentary

Chart of the Month Jan-Feb 17

• February 14, 2017

For the first time since 1985, Pennsylvania’s total population declined last year, falling by more than 7,600. In state-to-state migration alone, Pennsylvania lost one resident every 11.5 minutes from July 2015 to…

Commentary

Note from the Team Jan-Feb 17

• February 14, 2017

Our website has a brand new look, and Commonwealth Sense now has a digital home! Also, a teammate returns and a taxpayer victory...

Commentary

Note from the Team Jan-Feb 17

• February 14, 2017

Our website has a brand new look, and Commonwealth Sense now has a digital home! Also, a teammate returns and a taxpayer victory...

Commentary

Investor Profile: Chet Beiler

• Charles Mitchell
• February 14, 2017

Chet Beiler runs the nation’s leading gazebo retailer and, along with his wife, Sharon, is a longtime supporter of the Commonwealth Foundation. Recently, Charles Mitchell sat down with Chet at…

Commentary

Investor Profile: Chet Beiler

• February 14, 2017

Chet Beiler runs the nation’s leading gazebo retailer and, along with his wife, Sharon, is a longtime supporter of the Commonwealth Foundation. Recently, Charles Mitchell sat down with Chet at…

Commentary

Senate Passes Paycheck Protection!

• February 8, 2017

Today, the Senate took a stand to protect the integrity of public dollars, give union members a greater voice in how their money is spent, and restore fairness to the…

Media

Public Union Democracy

News Release: Paycheck Protection Passes State Senate

• February 8, 2017

Legislation Would End Use of Taxpayer Resources to Aid Political Activity February 8, 2017, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The State Senate today passed paycheck protection legislation, SB 166, which would end the…

Press Release

State Budget

News Release: Wolf Pivots on Massive Tax Hikes, Offers Limited Structural Reforms

• February 7, 2017

Budget Includes Belt-Tightening But Relies on $1 Billion in New Taxes February 7, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pivoting from the past two years, Governor Tom Wolf today proposed a state budget that…

Press Release

State Budget

Five Takeaways From the Governors Budget Proposal

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2017

This morning Governor Wolf laid out his plan for the 2017-18 state budget. Here are the five things you need to know: 1. Shift to redesigning government. This is a…

Media