Taxes & Economy

Poverty, Energy, and RGGI

  • Tirzah Duren
  • December 19, 2019

Despite living in one of the richest countries and one of the largest energy producers in the world, many Americans still struggle to pay their energy bills. Roughly 1 in 3 Americans report…

Media

Read More: Poverty, Energy, and RGGI

Health Care

One Step Towards Redesigning Human Services

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 15, 2017

Governor Wolf’s proposal to merge four state agencies into the Department of Health and Human Services has the potential to benefit taxpayers and beneficiaries by eliminating bureaucratic redundancies and providing…

Media

Read More: One Step Towards Redesigning Human Services

Taxes & Economy

Should Taxpayers Pay for Strippers?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 3, 2014

Should individuals be able to spend their welfare benefits on liquor, tobacco, gambling or strippers? Currently, they can. House Bill 907 would codify Department of Welfare electronic benefit card…

Media

Read More: Should Taxpayers Pay for Strippers?

Taxes & Economy

Fracking Helps Poor More than Government Programs

  • Gordon Tomb
  • September 10, 2013

The natural gas boom spawned by free enterprise and new technology is doing more to help the poor than LIHEAP, a decades-old welfare program, according to the Wall…

Media

Read More: Fracking Helps Poor More than Government Programs

Taxes & Economy

Welfare Fraud Persists

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 12, 2011

The LIHEAP heating assistance program is once again under fire from Auditor General Jack Wagner. A 2007 audit lead the district attorney of Philadelphia to charge 18 people with…

Media

Read More: Welfare Fraud Persists

Taxes & Economy

Immigration Verification and Welfare Fraud

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • October 6, 2010

Thank you for allowing the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan educational institute based in Harrisburg, to submit written testimony concerning HB 1359, which would require proof of…

Testimony

Read More: Immigration Verification and Welfare Fraud

Government Fraud Continues in LIHEAP

  • July 12, 2010

Pennsylvania is rather familiar with welfare fraud, and apparently, we haven’t learned our lesson yet. The latest example of welfare fraud stems from the Low Income Home Energy…

Media

Read More: Government Fraud Continues in LIHEAP

State Budget

Severance Tax Wish List

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 11, 2010

Legislators are justifying the enactment of a natural gas severance tax by claiming the revenue will go towards environmental impacts. In reality, the environment is just one of a host…

Media

Read More: Severance Tax Wish List

State Budget

Welfare Fraud and Abuse

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 2, 2010

Good afternoon, my name is Elizabeth Stelle, and I am a research associate with the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan educational institute based in Harrisburg. Thank you…

Testimony

Read More: Welfare Fraud and Abuse