Erin Port
Development Manager
Erin Port is the Development Manager at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Erin holds a certification in interior design from the New York Institute of Art and Design. Her professional journey began in the construction industry, where she honed her skills as a kitchen designer for two local construction companies. Additionally, Erin has more than a decade of experience in office administration.
For 25 years, Erin steadfastly supported her husband’s career in the U.S. Marine Corps. During this period, they relocated several times, moving every two to three years, both nationally and internationally.
Erin lives in Newport, Pennsylvania, with her now-retired husband and their daughter. They are also blessed with two grown sons—one currently serving in the U.S. Navy, while the other pursues his college degree in Austria.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys spending quality time with her family, baking, and seeking new opportunities to decorate her family’s newly acquired home.
Regulation
Time to End Corporate Welfare Handouts
Conservatives loathe government handouts. Liberals denounce special favors to corporations. One thing can unify these two sides: ending Pennsylvania’s budget-busting corporate welfare handouts.
Commentary
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Making the Most of New Funding Formula
A recent report from ABC 27 asks: “Will lawmakers stick with new education funding formula next year?” At issue is whether Pennsylvania’s student-based formula will be retained in…
Media
Read More: Making the Most of New Funding FormulaState Budget
Middle Class Loses Under Gov. Wolf’s Budget
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a sober analysis of Gov. Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal. It examines the consequences of eight separate tax increases as well as a minimum…
Media
Read More: Middle Class Loses Under Gov. Wolf’s BudgetEducation
Budget Complete as Fiscal Code Becomes Law
Late on Friday afternoon, Gov. Tom Wolf quietly announced the fiscal code will become law without his signature. This significant development closes the door on a tumultuous year of…
Media
Read More: Budget Complete as Fiscal Code Becomes LawGovernment Accountability
Tomorrow’s Two Ballot Questions for Every Party
Tomorrow's primary election is largely a partisan affair in which only registered Republicans or Democrats can vote for the presidential nominee and nominees for state office. But there is one…
Media
Read More: Tomorrow’s Two Ballot Questions for Every PartyTaxes & Economy
(Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day!
(Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day! If you thought Tax Day was April 15, think again. Today, April 22, is actually the day by which Pennsylvanians…
Media
Read More: (Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day!Regulation
How Ridesharing Helps the Poor and Disabled
Earlier this week, I used Uber to get a ride in downtown Philadelphia. Curious, I asked my driver how long he’d been driving for Uber. “Two years,” he told me,…
Media
Read More: How Ridesharing Helps the Poor and DisabledTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Spend Nearly One-Third of Year Paying Taxes
Pennsylvanians Spend Nearly One-Third of Year Paying Taxes Tax Bills Exceed Spending on Housing, Clothing, & Food Combined April 22, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—If you thought Tax Day was…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvanians Spend Nearly One-Third of Year Paying TaxesEducation
Changing Lives with Education Savings Accounts
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) empower parents to personalize the academic experience for their children, as CF explains in a recent policy brief. But ESAs are about more than school…
Media
Read More: Changing Lives with Education Savings AccountsState Budget
Take the Budget off Autopilot
As Pennsylvania inches closer to another budget battle, you’re likely to hear the term “structural deficit” used more often. The term is defined as a multi-year shortfall between projected spending and revenue…
Media
Read More: Take the Budget off AutopilotEducation
Give Children the Best: Education Savings Accounts
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) empower parents to design the best educational experience for their children. How do they work? Funding otherwise earmarked for K-12 education is deposited into an…
Media
Read More: Give Children the Best: Education Savings AccountsGovernment Accountability
Historic Victory for Transparency
Gov. Tom Wolf just signed Senate Bill 644, empowering the Independent Fiscal Office to estimate the cost of government union contracts before they are finalized. Matthew Brouillette, president and…
Media
Read More: Historic Victory for TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts
Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Reform Shining Light on Collective Bargaining Costs April 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf today signed…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union ContractsState Budget
Five Ways to Avoid Another Budget Hostage Crisis
The state budget impasse may be over, but Pennsylvanians are still reeling from Gov. Wolf’s budget vetoes. The Times-Tribune reports the Women’s Resource Center of Scranton, which serves domestic…
Media
Read More: Five Ways to Avoid Another Budget Hostage CrisisState Budget
The Lone-Wolf Doctrine
The good news at the end of longest state budget impasse in 60 years is Pennsylvanians’ wallets were spared. The bad news? The governor developed and implemented a Lone-Wolf Doctrine…
Commentary
Read More: The Lone-Wolf DoctrineEducation
Governor Wolf’s 2015-16 Budget Myths
Governor Wolf claimed the 2015-16 budget could not be balanced without significant tax hikes. But there are two ways exist to close a budget deficit: raise revenue or cut spending.
Memo
Read More: Governor Wolf’s 2015-16 Budget MythsGovernment Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Board Names New President and CEO
Commonwealth Foundation Board Names New President & CEO Executive Vice President Charles Mitchell to Take Helm on July 1 April 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Commonwealth Foundation Board of…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Board Names New President and CEOEducation
Education Spending Trends: April 2016
Pennsylvania’s FY 2015-16 budget was finalized in late March when Gov. Tom Wolf allowed HB 1801, a supplemental funding bill, to become law. This legislation appropriated an additional $3.1 billion…
Memo
Read More: Education Spending Trends: April 2016Education
Give Children the Best: Education Savings Accounts
Education Savings Accounts (ESA) empower parents to design the best educational experience for their children. …
Fact Sheet
Read More: Give Children the Best: Education Savings AccountsGovernment Accountability
Poll: Wolf Approval Plummets, Far Lower Than Corbett or Rendell at Same Point
Poll: Wolf Approval Plummets, Lower Than Corbett or Rendell at Same Point 35 Percent Approve, 52 Percent Disapprove in Latest Q-Poll April 7, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Following the…
Press Release
Read More: Poll: Wolf Approval Plummets, Far Lower Than Corbett or Rendell at Same Point