May 14, 2012 | Feature by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Real Corrections Reform, Right Now

A 21st Century Vision for Pennsylvania Corrections

Albert Einstein is said to have remarked that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We the undersigned submit that unfortunately, that same definition could be applied to Pennsylvania's current criminal justice policies. What we have been doing is locking more and more people up for longer and longer and spending more and more money.

May 8, 2012 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

CF Applauds Pa. Senate Budget Use of TPA Index

HARRISBURG, PA (05.08.12) - The Commonwealth Foundation applauded Pennsylvania Senate leadership today for using the Taxpayer Protection Act index - inflation plus population growth - to compose their fiscal year 2012-13 budget.  

April 20, 2012 | Feature by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Let's Do It For Them - VOTE!

You've surely heard it said that you and I have a right to vote.  Well, I believe we also have a responsibility—not just to vote, but to cast an informed vote.  And our next opportunity to do so is this coming Tuesday, April 24.

April 10, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

State Spending Limits for Pennsylvania

Prior to 2011-12, Pennsylvania's total operating budget had increased for at least 40 consecutive years. The Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) would force lawmakers to limit government spending during boom years, put money aside in a Rainy Day Fund, and prepare for periods of economic stagnation.

April 9, 2012 | Feature by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Legislative Candidate Survey 2012

This year, Pennsylvania voters will go to the polls to elect 203 men and women to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 25 members to the Pennsylvania Senate.

To help inform voters and hold elected officials accountable, the Commonwealth Foundation is surveying candidates for the state legislature.

April 2, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Higher Education Spending

Pennsylvania taxpayers subsidize higher education through appropriations to 14 state-owned universities (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or PASSHE), four state-related universities (Penn State, Pittsburgh, Temple, and Lincoln), community colleges, and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which awards grants directly to students.

March 21, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Government Debt

Today, Pennsylvanians owe $121 billion in state and local government debt. This equates to more than $9,400 for every person, and almost $38,000 for the average family of four in the commonwealth.

March 15, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State and School Pension Costs

Pennsylvania taxpayers fund two statewide pension plans for government employees—the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) for state employees and the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) for school employees. PSERS and SERS project total taxpayer contributions for these two plans will increase from $1.7 billion in 2011-12 to more than $6.1 billion in 2016-17—a 257% increase.

February 29, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania K-12 Education Spending

Pennsylvania's K-12 education revenue increased from $13 billion in 1995-96 to $26 billion in 2009-10. Adjusted for inflation, that represents a 44% increase in revenue per student.

February 22, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Welfare Spending

The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years. However, as the economy continues to struggle out of a recession and with increasing costs in public welfare, corrections, pensions, and debt, the FY 2012-13 budget will require even more difficult decisions by the General Assembly and Governor Corbett to put Pennsylvania on a path to prosperity.