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.
Regulation
Pittsburgh Faces Billions in Unfunded Retiree Benefits
The Allegheny Institute has released a report on the mounting costs of OPEB or the public sector retiree benefits for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County employees. Previously…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Faces Billions in Unfunded Retiree BenefitsRegulation
How far will smoking bans go?
A new ReasonTV video, Just Can’t Quit, looks at government’s addiction to smoking bans. California became the first state to ban smoking in bars a decade…
Media
Read More: How far will smoking bans go?Taxes & Economy
No UAW Bailout
IBD Editorials writes that a bailout of the automakers is a misguided idea, aimed only at protecting their current union contracts (which are largely to blame for their…
Media
Read More: No UAW BailoutTaxes & Economy
Bush defends Free Market (and Big Government)
In a speech to the Manhattan Institute, President Bush defends the free market. Let me parse what I consider to be the key paragraph: History has…
Media
Read More: Bush defends Free Market (and Big Government)Taxes & Economy
New Power Lines Reduce Electricity Rates
The PUC recently approved a small portion (1.5 miles) of the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line, Allegheny Energy is responsible for constructing 37.2 miles of the controversial 240 mile transmission line.
Media
Read More: New Power Lines Reduce Electricity RatesGovernment Accountability
Full-Time Legislators still not the norm
The National Council of State Legislatures has some new data on occupations of state legislators. Here in Pennsylvania, 77.5% reported their occupation as “full-time legislator” (even though PA…
Media
Read More: Full-Time Legislators still not the normTaxes & Economy
Trashing Friedman’s Economics
Crain's Chicago Business speculates that “failure of the free market” and “deregulation” will harm the reputation of the University of Chicago's School of Economics and of any influenced by…
Media
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Pennsylvania Senate GOP has Turnpike Lease Study
An analysis of potential Turnpike lease by Moody’s, commissioned the the PA Senate Transportation Committee, was released yesterday. Their findings are that a Turnpike lease might be beneficial, that…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Senate GOP has Turnpike Lease StudyGovernment Accountability
Prizes for bloggers, citizen activists, video producers, and more
Our friends at the Sam Adams Alliance have something called The Sammies awards (with cash prizes) to encourage bloggers and citizens to get involved in political action. Here…
Media
Read More: Prizes for bloggers, citizen activists, video producers, and moreEducation
Charter schools produce graduates, cost less
Jay P. Greene’s blog points to a couple of recent studies on charter schools. The first one (link to full study here) shows that charter schools in Florida…
Media
Read More: Charter schools produce graduates, cost less
Turnpike Commission Cutting Work Force
Following traffic and revenue declines, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced it will be reducing its staff size starting with a “voluntary departure program”, with layoffs to be next. Curiously,…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Commission Cutting Work ForceGovernment Accountability
Free-market internship, jobs, and grant opportunities
Some good opportunities to earn money working for liberty for college students, recent graduates and young professionals, and young journalists to pass along:Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow…
Media
Read More: Free-market internship, jobs, and grant opportunitiesGovernment Accountability
Shed a little light on your government
ShowMeTheSpending.com, a project of the National Taxpayers Union (with a coalition of groups) has relaunched as a wiki (like Wikipedia) as part of the Sunshine Review…
Media
Read More: Shed a little light on your governmentGovernment Accountability
Corruption and Potential for Reform in State Contracts
Chris Freind has a five part series in The Bulletin on conflicts of interest, corruption, and the inability to get reforms passed in how state contracts are awarded. The…
Media
Read More: Corruption and Potential for Reform in State ContractsTaxes & Economy
RINO Season Is Now Open
Ted Nugent declares “RINOs” fair game in a poignant piece on Human Events There are really only four things I have a strong aversion to: unloaded guns,…
Media
Read More: RINO Season Is Now OpenPublic Union Democracy
Which Obama Will Be President?
Will an Obama presidency bring a lurch to the political Left in America? This is of great concern for those of us who believe that our prosperity and security do…
Commentary
Read More: Which Obama Will Be President?Government Accountability
Speaker Franklin Award Dinner Video
Coverage of our Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner will air on PCN at 4:10 today. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel and below. Gov.
Media
Read More: Speaker Franklin Award Dinner VideoHealth Care
Where will Obama go on health care?
In our commentary today, Matt Brouillette and I argue that President Obama will pursue a somewhat tempered course – we will get the Obama of the general election campaign…
Media
Read More: Where will Obama go on health care?Taxes & Economy
Bailout execs get bonus billions
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a story on how executives of firms getting money from the financial bailout are also getting large bonuses (more at Beyond Bailouts). Personally, I…
Media
Read More: Bailout execs get bonus billionsGovernment Accountability
Statement on the Passing of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll
The Commonwealth Foundation is saddened by the loss of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll. We will fondly remember her unsurpassed dedication to her roles in public service, her compassion and…
Press Release
Read More: Statement on the Passing of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker KnollGovernment Accountability
RIP, Catherine Baker Knoll
As many readers are aware, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll passed away last night. Here is the Patriot News Story. John Micek has posted reactions from…
Media
Read More: RIP, Catherine Baker Knoll