Public Union Democracy

Rendell’s War on (Some) Special Interests

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 8, 2010

Gov. Rendell, of course, didn't declare war on all special interests - only those who oppose his tax-borrow-and-spend agenda.  For example, while he lambasts the natural gas industry for opposing…

Commentary

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010

  • March 2, 2010

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that through the end of February, state General Fund revenues are $477 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Fact Sheet

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Government Accountability

Who’s Blogging About CF?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 25, 2010

Here are some recent updates from various blogs mentioning Commonwealth Foundation, or giving us some good linkage: Redstate notes our call for an independent investigation into Penn State professor…

Media

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Government Accountability

Whistle-Blower Protection

  • February 23, 2010

Good morning. I’m Katrina Currie, a Research Fellow for the Commonwealth Foundation.  I am joined by my colleague Elizabeth Bryan. The…

Testimony

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Government Accountability

PA Lawmakers Use Per Diems to Buy Houses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 22, 2010

I have often remarked that the exorbitant costs of Pennsylvania legislators’ per diems (see Tribune Review and ABC 27 stories) – that they receive to pay for food…

Media

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State Budget

Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 21, 2010

The Pennsylvania Senate’s new Cost Study Commission met for the first time on Friday, discussing the cost of the state fleet – which currently maintains 16,000 vehicles, half of…

Media

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State Budget

The True Cost of Unemployment Compensation

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 17, 2010

Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt. Beginning in March 2009, the Keystone State borrowed over $2 billion from the federal government to keep it solvent. Unfortunately, unemployment continues to grow,…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

There PennFuture Goes Again!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 16, 2010

This morning on Harrisburg’s NPR station WITF (audio), Commonwealth Foundation adjunct scholar Andrew Langer debated Jan Jarrett of PennFuture.  Afterward Jarrett slammed us…

Media

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Do as We Say, Not as We Do

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 15, 2010

Public sector unions argue that “defined-benefit” pension plans are necessary to attract and retain good government workers. They also argue that we must pay people equitably — i.e., we…

Media

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