Government Accountability

Transparency Needed in Pennsylvania Budget Debate

• Nathan Benefield
• May 29, 2009

ABC 27 has a news story and video on proposed legislation that would create an online portal and database of state spending in Pennsylvania. What is most disappointing…

Media

Commonwealth Foundation Testifies Before House Appropriations Committee on Senate Budget Plan

• May 21, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette testified today before the House Appropriations Committee that the Senate’s budget plan (SB 850) is a step toward putting…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Louisiana Adds 33,000 Natural Gas Jobs

• May 21, 2009

Through increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the desire for a new severance tax, Governor Rendell has undermined Pennsylvania’s budding natural gas industry. Drilling companies are beginning to leave Pennsylvania due…

Media

Regulation

Now is the Time to Practice Fiscal Restraint

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 21, 2009

Testimony of Mathew J. Brouillette President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation, to the PA House Appropriations Committee Thank you for the invitation to share the Commonwealth Foundation’s analysis and perspective on…

Testimony

Regulation

The Case for Privatizing State Parks

• May 18, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced they would have  to close at least 35 state-controlled parks due  under the proposed Senate budget plan. According…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 18, 2009

The Associated Press has a story on the higher taxes that could be in store for Pennsylvanians. These include both the taxes proposed by Governor Rendell – on…

Media

State Budget

Taxing An Infant Industry to Death

• May 13, 2009

Home to the first oil well in the United States, Pennsylvania has returned to the drilling scene in recent years, looking to tap into an estimated 50 trillion cubic feet…

Commentary

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under Rendell

• Nathan Benefield
• May 11, 2009

Critics (mainly, recipients of taxpayer funds) of the budget passed by the Pennsylvania Senate last week decry it for cutting spending, claiming it is “jeopardizing access to hospital care…

Media

Health Care

Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v Canada

• Nathan Benefield
• May 8, 2009

John Lott has some interesting research on the satisfaction of U.S. and Canadians on their health care.  The primary finding of his study (downloadable here), is that Canadians…

Media