Ruth Bader
Stewardship & Development Research Associate
Ruth Bader is the Stewardship & Development Research Associate at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Originally from the Finger Lakes region of New York, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications/Public Relations with a minor in Business from SUNY Oswego.
Ruth resides in the Harrisburg area, and, in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs.
2026 State of Education Spending in Pennsylvania
Overview Demographic trends, most notably declining enrollments, have led to empty school buildings that are costly to operate, forcing considerations on…
Backgrounder
Read More: 2026 State of Education Spending in PennsylvaniaEnergy
Pennsylvania Should be America’s Energy Capital. So, Why are Families Paying More?
Originally published by The Pottstown-Mercury. Pennsylvania families have every right to be frustrated when they open their electric bills this summer. Our utility bills are on…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Should be America’s Energy Capital. So, Why are Families Paying More?State Budget
Shapiro’s $5.6 Billion Deficit Threatens Pennsylvania Families with Massive Tax Hikes
Originally published by PennLive. As we enter the final month before the June 30 state budget deadline, Pennsylvania remains on a collision course with its…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s $5.6 Billion Deficit Threatens Pennsylvania Families with Massive Tax HikesEducation
New Poll: Pennsylvanians Reject Shapiro’s Budget, Demand More Educational Choice, and Oppose Costly Energy Mandates
Harrisburg, Pa., June 24, 2025 — A new poll commissioned by the Commonwealth Foundation finds Pennsylvanians rejecting Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget priorities, demanding affordable energy over costly climate mandates, and supporting school choice. Pennsylvania State Budget …
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: Pennsylvanians Reject Shapiro’s Budget, Demand More Educational Choice, and Oppose Costly Energy MandatesRegulation
Markets Raise Wages Better Than Politicians
Originally published by the Reading Eagle. Whenever debate about the minimum wage arises, it’s hard not to think back to the summer jobs we had as…
Media Hit
Read More: Markets Raise Wages Better Than PoliticiansEnergy
Hidden Green Credits Inflate PA Consumers’ Electric Bills
Originally published by The Times-Tribune. It’s no secret that electricity bills are on the rise, as cash-strapped Pennsylvanians struggle to pay their monthly utility bills. But what is a…
Media Hit
Read More: Hidden Green Credits Inflate PA Consumers’ Electric BillsEducation
Pennsylvania House Democrats Just Voted to Abandon Educational Choice
Originally published by The Center Square. Pennsylvania Democrats have never been more brazen in their disregard for educational choice. House Democrats recently advanced legislation that…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania House Democrats Just Voted to Abandon Educational ChoiceEducation
House Democrats Lead Charge to Gut Educational Opportunity
Harrisburg, Pa., June 22, 2026—Today, the Democrat-controlled Pennsylvania House passed HB 2632 with a vote of 105 to 97. Although House Democrats amended the bill after widespread public opposition, the legislation still targets…
Press Release
Read More: House Democrats Lead Charge to Gut Educational OpportunityEnergy
Alternative Energy Cost Ratepayers $3.3B in Hidden Subsidies, Research Finds
Harrisburg, Pa., June 18, 2026 — At the start of this month, families and businesses across Pennsylvania saw yet another rate hike hit their electricity bills. What they didn’t see, however, is that Pennsylvania ratepayers…
Press Release
Read More: Alternative Energy Cost Ratepayers $3.3B in Hidden Subsidies, Research FindsEducation
PA House Dems Voted to Rip Scholarships Away from Kids
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. On Tuesday, Pennsylvania House Democrats on the Education Committee quietly did something extraordinary—and not in a good way. With barely a day’s…
Media Hit
Read More: PA House Dems Voted to Rip Scholarships Away from KidsEnergy
The Rising Cost of Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards
Summary Pennsylvania ratepayers have paid more than $3.3 billion in “green energy” mandates thanks to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act. From 2020…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Rising Cost of Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio StandardsEducation
House Education Committee Votes to Cut Scholarships, Leaves 30,000 Students Stranded
Harrisburg, Pa., June 16, 2026 — Today, the Pennsylvania House Education Committee rushed passage of HB 2632 on a party line vote. The bill is an attack on students’ access to educational opportunities. The voting meeting was scheduled at the call of the chair, a move which bypasses the…
Press Release
Read More: House Education Committee Votes to Cut Scholarships, Leaves 30,000 Students StrandedPublic Union Democracy
Unions Shun Democracy
Originally published by the Reading Eagle. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the country’s largest public sector unions, recently scored a big “win.”…
Media Hit
Read More: Unions Shun DemocracyState Budget
Balancing the 2026 State Budget
Controlling and Prioritizing Spending Can Help Balance the Budget Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026–27 budget proposal spends $3.2 billion more than last year and drains the Rainy-Day Fund, increasing the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Balancing the 2026 State BudgetRegulation
Forced Parental Leave Will Decimate Allegheny County Small Businesses
Originally published by TribLIVE. Once upon a time, I ran a construction business with my brother, and, like most small business owners, we faced the ceaseless…
Media Hit
Read More: Forced Parental Leave Will Decimate Allegheny County Small BusinessesEducation
“Progress” Masks Failures
Originally published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Celebrating Philadelphia schools’ post-pandemic progress misses the larger story. Yes, students have made gains—and hardworking…
Media Hit
Read More: “Progress” Masks FailuresEducation
U.S. Treasury Releases New Guidelines on Federal Scholarship Program
New guidance answers concerns about the federal program and removes excuses for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s indecision. Harrisburg, Pa., June 11, 2026 — Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released new guidance regarding the federal scholarship tax credit program, which passed into…
Press Release
Read More: U.S. Treasury Releases New Guidelines on Federal Scholarship ProgramEnergy
Everyone Wants Affordable Energy. Nobody Wants to Cut the Ribbon.
Originally published by The American Spectator. Northeastern states are scrambling to address rising energy costs. New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and others are even considering …
Media Hit
Read More: Everyone Wants Affordable Energy. Nobody Wants to Cut the Ribbon.Regulation
A Free-Market Approach to Childcare
Testimony of Elizabeth Stelle, Vice President of PolicyCommonwealth FoundationHouse GOP Policy CommitteeHearing on Childcare AffordabilityJune 3, 2026 Chairman Rowe and members of the committee: Thank you for the invitation…
Testimony
Read More: A Free-Market Approach to ChildcareState Budget
Deficit Watch: June 2026
Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: June 2026State Budget
Progressives’ Radical Tax Hike Proposals
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers have proposed a slew of tax increases and energy mandates that would significantly raise costs on families, workers, and businesses—while undermining the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Progressives’ Radical Tax Hike Proposals