Regulation

Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2015

Would you take out a second mortgage on your home to bet on the stock market? Such an idea deserves ridicule—if not alarm. You’d be putting your home and your…

Commentary

Read More: Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform

Regulation

Wolf Repeating Same Mistakes of the Past

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2015

Earlier this week, we pointed out how Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of liquor privatization—using talking points from union leaders to justify his action—didn’t make much sense. Wolf’s reasoning…

Media

Read More: Wolf Repeating Same Mistakes of the Past

Education

Examining State Aid for Public Schools

  • James Paul
  • June 16, 2015

State revenue to school districts reached an all-time high in 2013-14, at $9.7 billion. In part 2 of our week-long series on education finance in the commonwealth, take a look at…

Media

Read More: Examining State Aid for Public Schools

Education

School Spending Update, 2013-14

  • James Paul
  • June 12, 2015

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released new expenditure and revenue figures for the 2013-14 school year. This memo presents trends in school spending, revenue, pension contributions, district fund balances,…

Memo

Read More: School Spending Update, 2013-14

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care Workers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2015

In 2015, Gov. Wolf issued an executive order paving the way for unionization of homecare workers in Pennsylvania. These workers provide in-home medical and personal care. Many of these workers are…

Memo

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care Workers

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf’s Executive Order Hurts Home Health Care Recipients

  • April 8, 2015

Our friends at the Fairness Center (TFC) filed a lawsuit this week defending against stealth unionization of homecare workers across Pennsylvania. In their lawsuit, TFC argues Gov. Wolf’s…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Executive Order Hurts Home Health Care Recipients

State Budget

Alternative Energy: The Promise That Never Pans Out

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 13, 2015

One third of the $675 million in new corporate welfare under Governor's Wolf budget proposal is reserved for alternative energy programs. In this week's House budget hearings Community & Economic…

Media

Read More: Alternative Energy: The Promise That Never Pans Out

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • March 2, 2015

On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf issued an executive order that effectively helps SEIU (Service Employees International Union) unionize home health care workers. Many of these workers are simply taking…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab

Education

Five Ways Dollars Are Kept Out of Philadelphia Classrooms

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 22, 2015

The school district of Philadelphia saw a $1 billion increase in revenue over the past decade, even as enrollment declined. Yet many claim there isn’t enough funding for basic…

Media

Read More: Five Ways Dollars Are Kept Out of Philadelphia Classrooms