Government Accountability

Empowering Citizens through Legislative Redistricting & Initiative & Referendum

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 24, 2007

Thank you Chairman Piccola and members of the Senate State Government Committee for the opportunity to share with you the position and opinions of the Commonwealth Foundation on Senate Bills…

Testimony

Term Limits Fails in Committee

• Nathan Benefield
• May 8, 2007

The Senate State Government Committee rejected, by a 2 to 9 vote, reporting John Eichelberger’s constitutional amendment on legislative term limits, to the full Senate (Sen. Eichelberger discussed his…

Media

Government Accountability

Memo to Senate State Government Committee Members

• May 7, 2007

MEMORANDUM TO: Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee Members (Senators Piccola, Folmer, A. Williams, Scarnati, Brubaker, Corman, Punt, McIhinney, Fontana, Hughes, and Tartaglione) FROM: Commonwealth Foundation, Democracy Rising PA, Rock the…

Commentary

Government Accountability

In Support of a Limited Constitutional Convention

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 28, 2007

Delivered on Monday, March 26, 2007 Thank you Chairman Piccola and members of the Senate State Government Committee for the opportunity to share with you the position of the…

Commentary

Senate leaders disclosed over $363K in bonuses

• Nathan Benefield
• January 31, 2007

After last weeks disclosure that several unnamed PA Democratic House staffers were getting taxpayer-paid bonuses for undisclosed activities, the Senate GOP had decided to end their practice of bonuses…

Media

Lawmakers cash in on way out

• Nathan Benefield
• January 15, 2007

Patriot News article on the thousands collected in “per-diems” by local retiring lawmakers; local being emphasized because (particularly in the case of former Senator Chip Brightbill, who collected $17,000…

Media

Legislative Reform on Tap?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 2, 2007

Regardless of who is elected Speaker of the House (see here), both the Pennsylvania House and Senate have promised to take up reforms to make the legislative process more…

Media

Government Accountability

The Elections Big Winner: Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• November 13, 2006

Did voters reject Republicans and embrace Democrats in the 2006 elections? Of course; the gains in seats held by Democrats (both nationally and statewide) suggest they did. But the reasons…

Commentary

Health Care

Senate passes version of “Cover All Kids”

• Nathan Benefield
• October 24, 2006

Patriot News Update on the PA Senate’s passage of their version “Cover All Kids.” The specifics require a higher proportion of costs for families over 235% of the federal…

Media