Criminal Justice Reform

Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 23, 2015

Unprecedented reductions in the prison population, $69.9 million in taxpayer savings, and lower recidivism rates all indicate that the 2012 corrections reforms are working. Earlier this month Don Gilliland over…

Media

Government Accountability

Wolf’s Multi-Million Dollar Conflict of Interest

• Nathan Benefield
• January 13, 2015

Governor-elect Tom Wolf has come out of the gate leading a charge for ethics reform in government. But if accepting a small gift creates a conflict of interest, the gov.-elect…

Commentary

Teacher Pays for Politics She Never Supported

• Priya Brannick
• December 1, 2014

Just four days before the November mid-term elections, college professor Mary Trometter got a letter from her teachers union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Well, to be precise—Trometter's husband got…

Media

A Real Conflict of Interest

• Nathan Benefield
• November 21, 2014

Governor-elect Tom Wolf has recently made headlines for urging a gift ban, prohibiting executive branch officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists, and indicating he would end “no-bid” legal…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Why we Need Paycheck Protection Now

• Nathan Benefield
• November 19, 2014

Today, Commonwealth Foundation released a new summary of election-related spending by Pennsylvania’s government unions. In 2014, the seven largest government unions in the state gave $7.3 million directly to…

Media

Energy

Green Jobs Threatened by EPA Regs

• Gordon Tomb
• November 17, 2014

John Oelbracht has managed the Westwood Generation power plant in Schuylkill County for 10 years. It’s more than a job to him—it’s an undertaking to clean up the environment while…

Commentary

Regulation

PLCB Annual Report: Future of Government Booze Bleak

• November 13, 2014

Last year, my colleague Dawn did us all a favor by providing a summary of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) annual report. This year, I drew the short…

Media

Regulation

PLCB Ethics Scandal (Again)

• October 24, 2014

Pop quiz! What year is this headline from? A. 2014 B. 2013 C. 2012 D. 2011 E. All of the above. If you answered E., you…

Media

State Budget

Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic Overspending

• Nathan Benefield
• October 7, 2014

Last week, two major bond rating agencies (Fitch and Standards & Poor’s) downgraded Pennsylvania’s debt rating citing poor fiscal health. While this should worry voters—taxpayers will be forced to pay…

Commentary