Education

After 50 years of Union Control, Philly Schools Still Failing

• James Paul
• January 29, 2015

Academic failure, school violence, and financial mismanagement have been the dubious hallmarks of the School District of Philadelphia for decades. In that time, there has been one constant actor fighting…

Commentary

Regulation

Doing Business in Pennsylvania Can Be Taxing

• January 12, 2015

This post was updated to reflect the most recent data available. Tax policy may not be as exciting as discussing Golden Globe winners, but few topics rise to the level…

Media

Education

School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding

• James Paul, Nathan Benefield
• December 4, 2014

Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony to this commission on the important topic of reforming how we distribute state funding for education. Our written testimony will focus on…

Testimony

Taxes & Economy

Economic Freedom Key to a Prosperous Pennsylvania

• Elizabeth Stelle
• December 2, 2014

Pennsylvania is the 27th freest state in America according to the Fraser Institute’s annual Economic Freedom of North America report, which is hardly news to be celebrating. States were…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Why Corbett Missed the National Wave

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 25, 2014

Why did voters strongly reject Gov. Corbett’s re-election bid by double digit margins in favor of Tom Wolf—a candidate promising higher taxes on the “rich” and more spending on public…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

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

Taxes & Economy

New Tax Would Add to Challenges of Gas Industry

• Gordon Tomb
• October 6, 2014

Armstrong County farmer Randy Walker worries about the effect of a natural gas severance tax on his royalties and the job market. Mr. Walker’s concerns are well founded. The natural gas…

Commentary

Education

For Teachers, Knowledge is Power

• Priya Brannick
• August 11, 2014

Like any other group of professionals, teachers are a diverse lot, holding vastly differing social, cultural, and political views. So why is it that they’re lumped together and forced to…

Commentary

If I’m Trusted With Children, Trust Me to Make My Own Union Choices

• August 11, 2014

Ask a teacher about their best memory and I guarantee they’ll get a little sappy. I love being in a profession where people are constantly trying to get better.

Media