Jacob Custer
Policy Data Analyst
Jacob Custer is the Policy Data Analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Jacob graduated cum laude from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, with a bachelor’s degree in economics and public policy and a minor in American politics. Jacob received a master’s degree in economics from George Mason University in Virginia, where he also participated in the MA Fellowship at the Mercatus Center and worked as a graduate research assistant.
Jacob is passionate about advancing economic freedom. His work in economics explores public choice theory, the socialist calculation debate, and property rights. To connect ideas with practice, he gained experience through internships at the Leadership Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and Capitol Hill. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Jacob worked in Washington, D.C., for a U.S. senator.
Outside of work, Jacob plays pickleball, looks for new board games to play, or hits the road in search of the next adventure.
Passing voter ID can help restore trust in elections
Originally published at City & State PA Our democratic system depends on trust – but Americans have become increasingly disillusioned by the political process. According to a poll conducted…
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Review of Regulation Constitutional Amendment
What is the Constitutional Amendment on Legislative Review of Regulations? This amendment would allow the legislature to reject a proposed regulation by passing a concurrent resolution with a simple majority…
Backgrounder
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Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle Delivers Remarks at Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour
Topics on this pageElizabeth StelleLegislative ProcessMark RozziPennsylvania House of RepresentativesPublic policy…
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New Audit Finds School Districts Stockpiling Funding
January 25, 2023, Harrisburg Pa. — A new report released today by Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor reveals that Pennsylvania school districts are raising taxes while stockpiling funding in…
Press Release
Read More: New Audit Finds School Districts Stockpiling FundingState Budget
Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour Testimony
Mr. Speaker and members of the working group, thank you for allowing Commonwealth Foundation to provide brief comments on the importance of the house returning to work. My name is…
Testimony
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Commonwealth Foundation to Testify at Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour
January 25, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation will deliver a simple message to House Speaker Mark Rozzi today at the first stop on the speaker’s listening tour: Get back to work…
Press Release
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David Hardy Speaks at School Choice Week Press Conference
Commonwealth Foundation Distinguished Sr. Fellow David Hardy speaks during the 2023 kick-off to School Choice Week.Show less Topics on this pageDavid HardySchool choice…
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Navigating open records requests in an age of pandemics, school closures, and mask mandates
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Bucks County officials who responded to a Right-to-Know request last year seeking insight into how Covid-19 policies were formulated, and how those policies affected…
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States Can Expand Educational Freedom Through Federal Tax Credit
Originally published in Newsweek Throughout the nation, parents are demanding educational freedom for K–12 students. A majority of states have adopted school choice programs, yet most are limited by…
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In Pennsylvania, Will Josh Shapiro Unlock Decades of Affordable Energy?
Originally published at RealClearMarkets With Democrat Josh Shapiro as a newly inaugurated governor and a new legislative body, Pennsylvania will either shine as an energy superstar or continue down…
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PA Lawmakers Can Reverse the Population Exodus
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania New data from the Census Bureau reveal that residents are fleeing Pennsylvania at an alarming rate. Pennsylvania lost nearly 40,000 residents to other states from July 2021…
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Amendment would limit excessive power
Originally published in LNP The Pennsylvania Senate voted — for the second consecutive year — to advance a constitutional amendment that would empower the elected General Assembly to review…
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Voter ID Constitutional Amendment
Key Points Voter ID requirements improve election integrity, while voter turnout increases, without impacting election outcomes.Pennsylvania voters support Voter ID requirements by a wide margin, with support across all regions…
Backgrounder
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Gov.-Elect Shapiro can learn valuable lessons from his predecessor’s mistakes
Originally published at The Patriot-News Tom Wolf concludes his second, and final, term as Pennsylvania’s 47th governor this month. His eight years in office were a time of…
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Why are Democrats doing everything in their power to stop voter ID laws?
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer It’s been two years since we saw rioters descend on the U.S. Capitol in an act that can be categorized as equal parts…
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Read More: Why are Democrats doing everything in their power to stop voter ID laws?Education
Pennsylvania’s teachers unions care about lining their pockets — not about teachers or students
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Last month, the commonwealth’s largest teachers’ union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), blasted a thank-you to parents and teachers for classroom success in newspapers across…
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Assessing Gov. Tom Wolf’s Tenure
Key Points During Gov. Tom Wolf’s eight years in office, Pennsylvania ranked below the national average in income growth, job growth, and population growth.State government spending increased significantly under Wolf,…
Backgrounder
Read More: Assessing Gov. Tom Wolf’s TenureGovernment Accountability
Pa. Senate Passes Voter ID and Regulatory Reform
January 11, 2023, Harrisburg Pa. — On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate approved three amendments to the state constitution that would enact voter identification, regulatory, and statute of limitation reforms.
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Key to PA’s Success Isn’t More Bureaucracy – It’s More Business Innovation
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania brims with natural resources and human talent – but for the past eight years, the state’s heavy regulatory hand has often restrained opportunities for…
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Well-Funded Opponents of School Choice Target Pennsylvania Cyber Charters
Originally published at Heartland Daily News Cyber charter schools that made a smooth transition possible for Pennsylvania students in search of quality online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic are…
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Read More: Well-Funded Opponents of School Choice Target Pennsylvania Cyber ChartersGovernment Accountability
On voter ID, trust the voters
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Last session, Pennsylvania lawmakers advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to require voter identification in elections. The state House and Senate must…
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