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.
Platinum Parachutes
Read the John Kennedy’s latest commentary in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Topics on this page John F. KennedyPittsburgh Post-Gazette…
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Bill to raise minimum wage gets House’s OK
Economics is once again trumped by political rhetoric in Harrisburg. Who can be against boosting the pay of someone on the lowest rung of the wage ladder? Unfortunately, by raising…
Media
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State spending to jump in ’06-07
Alison Hawkes in the Herald-Standard on budget negotiations.
Media
Read More: State spending to jump in ’06-07State Budget
Rendell: Budget Could Be Worse
Governor Rendell names states who will be increasing their budgets faster than PA. Ironically, his list is identical to our list of “States we least want to emulate.” From…
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$1 Trillion Shock Awaits States, Local Governments
Joe Mysak asks on Bloomberg.com: “How much is it going to cost states and localities to pay for public employees’ health care and insurance after they retire? “Try between…
Media
Read More: $1 Trillion Shock Awaits States, Local GovernmentsState Budget
Budget expected to win support
Budget story in the Patriot-News… “Democrats are having a field day watching the Republicans help negotiate a budget that spends more than the 4 percent increase Rendell proposed in…
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Read More: Budget expected to win supportRegulation
The Merits of a Judicial Pay Raise in Pennsylvania
On July 7, 2005, a political firestorm was ignited in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the form of a controversial pay raise for legislators, members of the executive branch, and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Merits of a Judicial Pay Raise in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Wage Wars
I discussed the Minimum Wage rhetoric and reality on SmartMoney.com. Topics on this page Minimum wage…
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Preschool Algebra
From Governor Rendell’s News Release: “An independent study by a renowned firm confirms that more than 160,000 students in 48 Pennsylvania schools are benefiting from investments in early childhood…
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Senators vs. Pork
Not a game between minor league baseball teams, but three State Senators (Jane Orie, R-Allison Park, Pat Vance, R-Silver Spring Twp, and Pat Browne, R-Allentown) trying to Shift Focus…
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Accounting rule could bust state budgets
Stateline.org highlights the coming fiscal crisis in the states when governments are required to recognize medical benefits liabilities. Excerpt… Just when states found some breathing room after years…
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Read More: Accounting rule could bust state budgetsEducation
For School Equality, Try Mobility
How “funding the child” would provide greater school equity and choice – by Rod Paige in today’s New York Times. Topics on this page The New…
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Read More: For School Equality, Try MobilityRegulation
Oink-oink: Spend, spend, spend
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on corporate welfare and ‘walking around money’: “Better for Pennsylvanians if their money never ‘walked’ at all.” Topics on this page Pittsburgh Tribune-Review…
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Read More: Oink-oink: Spend, spend, spendTaxes & Economy
State leaders won’t confront hard decisions
Columnist in New Jersey’s Express-Times nails it on the head–he writes: “It’s called a tax shift and has nothing to do with reducing the tax burden. In fact, ‘reducing’…
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Read More: State leaders won’t confront hard decisionsGovernment Accountability
Government Reform
Patriot-News on Lynn Swann’s proposals for change…well, sort of change. Topics on this page Lynn Swann…
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Legislative Pensions: Avoid Them to Fix Them
The distance between the rulers and ruled continues to widen in Pennsylvania. For retiring and defeated members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the daily perks and privileges of office…
Commentary
Read More: Legislative Pensions: Avoid Them to Fix ThemRegulation
Reformers should alter pension plan
In this exclusive Patriot-News commentary, former lawmaker John Kennedy encourages the dozens of future lawmakers (likely 50-60 new faces will be in Harrisburg come January 2007) to eschew the…
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Read More: Reformers should alter pension planGovernment Accountability
Voters have spoken; legislators must now act
The Tribune Democrat ran my commentary on the “Mandate for Reform.”…
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Read More: Voters have spoken; legislators must now actTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage Myth-Busting
While the minimum wage debate heat up in DC and Harrisburg, check out this article in today’s Wall Street Journal on the “Labor Lost” from increasing the minimum wage…
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Has School Choice Crossed the Rubicon?
Clint Bolick argues yes in today’s Wall Street Journal. Even Democratic leaders (including Sen. Ted Kennedy and our own Governor Rendell) have signed on to school choice programs (albeit…
Media
Read More: Has School Choice Crossed the Rubicon?Education
School Tax Hikes in Allegheny County
Interesting article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about property tax hikes. Twenty of 43 school districts in Allegheny are planning to raise tax rates. Their justification is that the county…
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