Taxes & Economy

Do Millionaires Need Food Stamps?

Elizabeth Stelle
January 11, 2012

For the past few years, politicians in Harrisburg and Washington have considered it a “success” to put more families on welfare. The result is an abundance of loopholes that allow…

Media

Education

Our Villainous Plan to Let Parents Choose the Best School for Their Children

Priya Brannick
November 18, 2011

If you weren’t aware, Commonwealth Foundation is a sinister cog in a powerful underground organization of folks who support online learning. An article from The Nation bemoans conservative and libertarian…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Impact Fee

October 28, 2011

Companies should pay for the cost of government they use. Many advocates of a new tax simply want more money for Harrisburg politicians to dole out.

Fact Sheet

Regulation

Michigan Pension Reform Saves $4 Billion

July 29, 2011

Before 1997, Michigan state employees (like those in Pennsylvania) solely received defined-benefit pensions in which employees are assured an annual retirement income. However in 1997, Michigan shifted…

Media

Education

Give Voters a Say on School Taxes

Nathan Benefield
June 23, 2011

Five years ago, state lawmakers passed Act 1 to provide property tax relief and give voters a voice on school tax increases. But since slot machine gambling was introduced in…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

PA Legislators Consider Unemployment Compensation Reforms

Elizabeth Stelle
May 23, 2011

By June 11th, the state must change its unemployment compensation rules to meet federal guidelines, or 45,000 Pennsylvanians will lose their unemployment benefits. Gov. Corbett has been supportive of more…

Media

Education

Property Taxpayer Referendum

Nathan Benefield
May 2, 2011

Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg. I would…

Testimony

Criminal Justice Reform

Prisoners Cost Less in Michigan than in Pennsylvania

March 28, 2011

Last week, Gov. Tom Corbett announced that more than 2,000 inmates previously housed in Michigan and Virginia are returning to Pennsylvania prisons. The problem is that it’s cheaper…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Streamlining State Government

March 15, 2011

Pennsylvania businesses must navigate a complex web of regulations from more than 340 independent state agencies, offices, state departments, boards, commissions, and committees stemming from the executive branch. Several other…

Report