State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Unemployment Compensation

  • June 2, 2010

Pennsylvania has borrowed over $3 billion from the federal government to keep its unemployment compensation fund solvent. Only California, with three times the population and a much higher unemployment rate,…

Fact Sheet

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Government Accountability

On Partisan Legislative Staffers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2010

One recommendation of the Grand Jury report release this week was that the Pennsylvania General Assembly should move from hiring partisan staff for each caucus to having a centralized…

Media

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Regulation

PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 26, 2010

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House approved legislation – HB 2399 – to allow the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to borrow and additional $50 to $100 million for additional “economic development…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Climate Change “Deniers” Protest in Pittsburgh

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 3, 2010

Yesterday, PennFuture welcomed Dr. Mann to Pittsburgh as part of the Experts and Heroes conference. As attendees munched on hummus and pita chips some “deniers” protested outside with…

Media

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Government Accountability

Does Legislative Size Matter?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2010

Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg. I…

Testimony

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Government Accountability

What Would a PA Constitutional Convention Include?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 19, 2010

At the PA Leadership Conference, my former colleague, and now Executive Director of the Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania, Joe Sterns touted the need for a state Constitutional Convention. In…

Media

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State Budget

Build America Bonds Encourage “Buy Now, Pay Later” Mentality

  • April 8, 2010

As part of the 2009 stimulus package, President Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner created a new program to subsidize municipal bonds. Unlike traditional municipal bonds, Build America Bonds are…

Media

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Government Accountability

In Defense of Political Anonymity

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 2, 2010

Former FEC Chief Bradley Smith has a good article in the winter issue of City Journal on the problems with campaign finance disclosure. Imagine if the George W.

Media

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Government Accountability

Debating a Constitutional Convention

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 8, 2010

Following Jack Wagner’s announcement that he supports a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention (he is, I believe, the only candidate for PA Governor to yet endorse a Con Con) has cause…

Media

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