Government Accountability

Are All Lawmakers Crooks?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 21, 2010

This past Friday, former State Rep. Mike Veon, who had served as PA House Democrat Whip, was sentenced to 6 to 14 years in prison for his role in…

Media

Government Accountability

On Partisan Legislative Staffers

• Nathan Benefield
• May 28, 2010

One recommendation of the Grand Jury report release this week was that the Pennsylvania General Assembly should move from hiring partisan staff for each caucus to having a centralized…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Transportation Special Session Survival Guide

• May 3, 2010

Gov. Rendell has called a special session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to discuss transportation funding. Here are some resources on financing and managing Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure.

Fact Sheet

Government Accountability

Does Legislative Size Matter?

• Nathan Benefield
• April 30, 2010

Good morning.  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…

Testimony

The Pennsylvania Legislature: Size & effect

• March 26, 2010

Media Hit

Regulation

Illinois Passes Pension Reductions

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2010

While the Pennsylvania General Assembly is holding hearings to assess our public pension crisis is really bad, or really-really bad, Illinois is acting to reduce state pension benefits…

Media

Government Accountability

The Case for a Citizen Legislature

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2010

The operating cost of the Pennsylvania General Assembly has steadily increased, while Pennsylvania's economy has been stagnant. The Keystone State's burden of state and local taxes is among the heaviest…

Fact Sheet

Education

Penn State Whitewashes Climategate Investigation

• February 3, 2010

HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released the following statement in response to Penn State’s internal investigation of alleged scientific misconduct by Michael Mann, a prominent global warming…

Press Release

Education

Mann-Made Global Warming?

• Matthew Brouillette
• January 19, 2010

Climategate was born in late November 2009 with the release of more than a thousand emails and other documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia…

Commentary