Regulation

Liquor Liberty Victory!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 22, 2013

Last night, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives made history, and we were a part of it! Yesterday marked the first time a vote for liquor store privatization was held, let alone…

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Education

Union Party Kills Charter Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 18, 2012

Yesterday, I noted that despite watering down a proposed charter school reform bill, legislators were still hearing from government union bosses and other…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Passes Landmark Corrections Reform

  • June 28, 2012

On Monday, Pennsylvania passed landmark legislation to replace decades of ineffective and expensive corrections policies with reforms that make our communities safer and save taxpayers money.   Commonwealth Foundation thanks…

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Regulation

Senate Seeks to End Generational Theft

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 31, 2012

This week, Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne, Sen. Mike Brubaker, Senate Appropriations Chair Jake Corman, and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi announced plans to introduce pension reform legislation. The…

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State Budget

Chart of the Day: General Fund Spending and Revenue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2012

Yesterday, the Pa. Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a budget (the full Senate is expected to vote on it today) that includes $27.65 billion in General Fund spending. Unfortunately, this…

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State Budget

Why Pennsylvania Needs Spending Limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 8, 2012

In a Capitolwire story (subscription), Senate Appropriations Chair Jake Corman notes that the proposed version of the state budget the Senate will take up this week increases spending by…

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Taxes & Economy

What Does the Primary Earthquake Mean?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 25, 2012

I’m writing to you from Pittsburgh, which was, in a certain sense, ground zero of last night’s primary earthquake. Last night, I watched Tom Smith—who has made it a matter…

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Education

I’m Bringing Some Gumbo to the State Capitol

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 5, 2012

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal refused to let government unions push him around.  His reward?  A sweet victory not just for himself, but for the taxpayers, parents, and students of…

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Health Care

Not Why I’m Here

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 30, 2012

“Why am I here?”  That’s an excellent question to ask yourself if you work in Harrisburg.  This week, as I read a piece by Karen Langley in the Pittsburgh…

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