Government Accountability

How did the PA Budget Process Get So Broken?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2009

Dale Davenport had an excellent editorial in the Patriot over the weekend, noting how annual budgeting and the move to a full-time, professional legislature altereed Pennsylvania’s state budget forever: …

Media

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State Budget

Stupid Quote of the Day

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2009

Sen. Jake Corman tells the Associated Press that a proposal to charge the sales tax to performing arts and museums is a “user fee”: A plan to extend…

Media

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Government Accountability

Reforming the Budget Process in Pennsylvania

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 22, 2009

In the political world, 2009 will be remembered as the year that Pennsylvania went longer than any other state without a budget.  The Commonwealth went months past the June 30th…

Commentary

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State Budget

Senate GOP Can Still Protect Taxpayers

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 18, 2009

Earlier this year, state Senate Republicans drew a line in the sand, stating they would not support a budget that: 1) spends more than last fiscal year;  2) includes broad-based…

Commentary

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Education

America’s Troubling College Graduation Rate

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 17, 2009

A recent study from AEI compares graduation and drop-out rates among American colleges and finds a disturbing trend. Colleges are graduating less than 60% of their student…

Media

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Another Rickety Bridge to PA’s Future

  • September 11, 2009

Budget deal will result in job losses, additional tax hikes in future years HARRISBURG, PA  – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette released the following statement in response to…

Press Release

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Health Care

Whoops, We Were Wrong…

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 9, 2009

One of our goals at the Commonwealth Foundation is to predict the effect of proposed public policies.  Most of the time, we are proven correct, and humbly announce, "We told…

Commentary

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Let’s Just Buy Everyone Flying Cars

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 9, 2009

The Patriot News reports on an insanely bad idea – taxpayer funded buses, then trains, from Lebanon to Hershey to Harrisburg. First the study, funded by the transportation industry…

Media

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Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Failed Economic Development Spending

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 4, 2009

State and local governments are locked in a constant competition to attract and retain businesses.  Unfortunately, instead of addressing a poor business climate and flawed economic policies, they have increasingly…

Commentary

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