Taxes & Economy

SNAP Back to Reality, Senators

Elizabeth Stelle
January 24, 2012

Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats’ Twitter, @PaSenateDems, comes some high-stakes rhetoric during a Capitol press conference today. In reaction to the Pa. Department of Public Welfare’s decision to reapply…

Media

Education

Ponderous PSEA, Virulent Violence Verified

Priya Brannick
January 18, 2012

Last December, the Commonwealth Foundation urged lawmakers to offer kids in Pennsylvania’s worst violent, failing schools a lifeline, and give them school choice for Christmas. We delivered bouquets of 17…

Media

Poll: 81% Choose Bootlegging Over PLCB Hikes

January 12, 2012

So just what effects do monopolies have on markets? You need look no further than Philadelphia this morning for the answer. An online Philadelphia Inquirer poll has found more…

Media

Education

A Decade Left Behind

Matthew Brouillette
January 11, 2012

My first career started a few decades ago in the classroom as a high school history teacher. While much has changed since then – including the use of technology and…

Commentary

Government Accountability

More on Hellholes, of the Judicial Sort

Elizabeth Stelle
December 21, 2011

The yearly Judicial Hellhole report from the American Tort Reform Foundation ranks Philadelphia as the number one judicial hellhole for the second year in a row. Pennsylvania’s court…

Media

Regulation

Time to End Borrowing for Corporate Welfare

Nathan Benefield
December 19, 2011

The Pa. House is expected to vote this week on SB 1054, legislation to authorize $1.66 billion in state borrowing for the “capital budget.” The annual cost of this…

Media

Education

The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Education Failures

December 13, 2011

Lawmakers are considering providing school choice to low-income children trapped in violent and failing schools. While some lawmakers are concerned about the cost of school vouchers, the cost of educational…

Fact Sheet

Education

Four of Five Philadelphia Students Not Proficient in Reading or Math

Nathan Benefield
December 8, 2011

Yesterday, the National Center for Education Statistics (part of the U.S. Department of Education) released district perfomance data on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This is part…

Media

Education

Hughes’ Boos a Ruse

December 7, 2011

In the absence of facts and any plausible excuse for poor performance, it’s always a good time to attack the messenger. As if on cue, this well-worn strategy was trotted…

Media