Public Union Democracy

Four Reasons Why Paying Unemployment Benefits to Striking Workers is a Bad Idea

• October 8, 2025

If insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, Pennsylvania House Democrats are long overdue for a mental health check. In what’s becoming an annual…

Blog

Myths and Facts: Public Cyber Charter Schools

• September 19, 2025

Summary Myths and misinformation obscure the facts about Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter school students. Proposed cuts to cyber students will force the closure of up to nine of Pennsylvania’s 14…

Fact Sheet

The Political Theater of SEPTA and House Democrats

• Kevin Kane
• September 18, 2025

Originally published by the Delaware Valley Journal. The Emmy might have gone to “The Pitt.” But Pennsylvania Democrats and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) deserved the award for best…

Media Hit

State Budget

Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s Fiscal Year 2025–26 Budget Proposal

• September 8, 2025

Summary Pennsylvania’s economy lags behind other states, hindered by high taxes and burdensome regulations. As a result, the state suffers from continued outmigration, with residents leaving for better opportunities in…

Fact Sheet

State Budget

Commonwealth Foundation Urges Legal Protection of State’s Rainy Day Fund

• September 8, 2025

Letter calls on Treasurer Garrity to withhold any transfer from the budget stabilization reserve fund, pending legal adjudication. Harrisburg, Pa., September 8, 2025 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation…

Press Release

State Budget

Pennsylvanians Blame Governor Shapiro for Budget Impasse, New Polling Finds

• September 5, 2025

Pennsylvanians aren’t pleased with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s performance with this year’s state budget, according to a recently released poll. Moreover, Keystone State residents are increasingly concerned about the future of…

Blog

Education

Rethinking School District Reserve Funds as Students Return to Class

• Rachel Langan
• August 25, 2025

Pennsylvania must focus on funding students. Overview After years of property tax hikes and significant increases in state funding, Pennsylvania school districts ended the 2023–24 school year with more than…

Backgrounder

Education

Persistently Dangerous Pennsylvania Public Schools

• Rachel Langan
• August 4, 2025

Calculating danger based only on arrests ignores student safety. Overview New analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation shows that Pennsylvania violates state and federal law by failing to identify persistently dangerous…

Backgrounder

Nobody to Blame but Himself

• Common Sense Weekly
• July 3, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Have you seen our recent social media videos?…

Blog