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JUNE 23, 2010 | Policy Report by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget. The report also offers a series of recommendations for resolving the current revenue shortfall and reducing the size and burden of government on
APRIL 30, 2010 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD
Does Legislative Size Matter?
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee
In summary, our analysis suggests that a reduction in the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly could improve the lawmaking process, but only if it includes other, more comprehensive reforms such as those I just outlined. We, at the Commonwealth Foundation, would be pleased to work with you on any of these good government reform me
APRIL 8, 2010 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE
Ten Tips to Balance the Budget
Contrary to Gov. Rendell's rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and cuts that can balance the budget without taking more from the pockets of Pennsylvania taxpayers. Here are ten ideas to balance the state budget, this year and the years to come, without raising taxes:
Recent Blog Posts
SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
A Slap in the Face to Pennsylvania Taxpayers
The Tribune Review revisits the Rendell Administration's leasing tens of thousands of acres of state forest lands via no-bid contracts.
State records the Tribune-Review obtained show that, in one noncompetitive agreement Jan. 7 with Texas gas company Anadarko, the state received $1,000 an acre for 2,300 acres in Sproul State Forest, in Centre and Clinton counties.
Two weeks later on Jan. 19, a public auction of 31,976 acres in Cameron, Clearfield, Potter, Clinton and Tioga counties generated $128 million, or about $4,000 an acre, for taxpayers.
A similar situation occurred in May, when another no-bid contract with Anadarko resulted in a lease of 33,000 acres at an average $3,650 an acre. Greg Wrightstone, a petroleum geologists notes private landholders were getting $5,000 to $6,000 acres at the same time.
Both of these private, no-bid lease schemes ... were consummated at less than market-bonus rates, Wrightstone said, calling the deals "a slap in the face to Pennsylvania taxpayers."
As we've blogged in the past, Gov. Rendell's no-bid deals -- in light of a budget crisis, pension crisis, and transportation crisis -- smack of corruption. And yet he wonders why lawmakers don't support his push for higher taxes.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 04:05 PM | 0 comment
AUGUST 13, 2010
Corrupt Courts Refuse Transparency
The Scranton Times reports that the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (OOR) is appealing a court ruling extending an exemption to open records to the judiciary branch. (HT FYI by PLS)
The Commonwealth Court this week ruled records of ancillary offices to the state's court system are not subject to the 2008 Right to Know Law. The Times-Tribune sought Lackawanna County records for its Department of Domestic Relations. The media sought "inappropriate e-mails" sent and received by Pat Luongo, Director of Domestic Relations, for which he had been suspended without pay.
OOR Director Terry Mutchler responded:
“It is a brand-new law and everybody is in a stage of weighing in. This court weighed in with a very strong opinion related to this and we’re welcome for any guidance,” she said. “The Office of Open Records still feels that our final determination was correct.”
While some court records are exempted by laws governing privacy and security, it is up to the agency receiving the request to prove the information in question falls under the 30 Right to Know exemptions.
The Commonwealth Court is effectively usurping the spirit of the Right to Know law. This is cause for concern, given the recent criminal activity within the court system in Luzerne County and allegations of corruption within the PA Supreme Court. It is more important than ever to establish transparency in the state judicial system.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 09:37 AM | 0 comment
AUGUST 3, 2010
Philly Superintendent's $65K Bonus Criteria Released
Welcome to part two on Philadelphia school Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's bonus. (If you missed "Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry," click here.) The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, though her evaluation is not to be public knowledge (as dictated by her contract), the school district recently released the criteria for her $65,000 bonus. Get ready.
Four general categories were:
- Accelerating the achievement for all students and reducing the differences in achievement among students in a safe environment that promotes student learning
- Creating an equitable distribution of resources within the School District of Philadelphia
- Creating accountability systems for all adults within the School District of Philadelphia
- Creating family, community and other stakeholders as partners in raising and maintaining high student achievement
Twenty-seven evaluated targets included:
- Works to improve good employee morale and loyalty to the organization
- (Ackerman overruled the Germantown High principal and faculty who would have appropriately disciplined an out-of-line senior.)
- Responds appropriately when faced with unforeseen events
- (Last December, Ackerman waited six days to publicly address violence against Asian students at South Philadelphia High and waited two more days to even visit the school.)
- Demonstrates tact and diplomacy in working with individuals and groups
- (When some Asian students feared more violence and stopped attending South Philadelphia, Ackerman refused to meet with them for almost two weeks. She treated them harshly at the eventual meeting.)
Unsurprisingly, the district supports its superintendent. Robert L. Archie Jr., Chair of the School Reform Commission, led the evaluation and provided the criteria for Ackerman's substantial bonus. Archie claims that Ackerman "went through an extensive evaluation process and exceeded" the requirements.
Despite Pennsylvania's economic crisis during a national recession, Ackerman has accepted this $65,000 bonus. She seems bent on exacerbating the taxpayers' plight: Her base salary far exceeds those of the superintendents in New York City, Chicago, and Boston, and she has even divided underlings' responsibilities and brought more pricy employees into her district.
The "criteria" notwithstanding, an overpaid superintendent should not accept a huge bonus at taxpayers' great expense.
posted by LEAH ACHOR | 03:24 PM | 0 comment
