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JANUARY 17, 2011 | Policy Report by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
A Blueprint for Transforming the Commonwealth
Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition. To provide a roadmap for success in this critical endeavor, the Commonwealth Foundation has compiled a list of 80 policy recommendations for Gov. Corbett and state legi
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
AUGUST 11, 2011
Which Government Structure Reforms will Benefit Taxpayers?
This week, the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee held a hearing on bills to reduce the size of the General Assembly (i.e., the number of legislators). While CF did not testify on this particular hearing, we have written on this and related issues in the past.
Earlier this year, I spoke to a Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on structural reforms to the legislature; that presentation is below.
Our conclusion is that, absent other reforms, simply reducing the number of legislators may not generate cost savings or improve transparency and accountability in government. Nor is there any link between legislative size and policy outcomes: taxes, spending or economic freedom.
However, other substantive reforms, including term limits and the "professionalization" (full-time vs. part-time, salary and benefits, and number of staff) do correlate with policy outcomes.
Pennsylvania Government Structural Reforms
posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 05:59 PM | 0 comment
JANUARY 13, 2011
Good Government Reforms Stall
In November, many legislative candidates campaigned on cutting costs in the legislature through specific, commonsense reforms. Ending the frequent abuse of per diems and requiring receipts for expenses topped the list, along with ending the leasing of state vehicles, and requiring health care insurance contributions from state representatives (state senators currently contribute 1 percent of their salary). While these reforms are not big-ticket items capable of balancing the budget on their own, they would help trim the costs of the most expensive legislature in the country.
Leaders held a Bipartisan Management Committee meeting, but nothing was decided in the first meeting. The difficulty of convincing elected officials to even submit receipts for travel expenses speaks to the need for broader reforms, like transitioning to a part-time legislature or establishing spending limits. These reforms are unlikely unless citizens have the ability to propose and repeal laws through Initiative & Referendum.
Let's hope the new legislature achieves and builds on these reforms as a prelude to transparency and accountability in government.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 03:29 PM | 0 comment
JANUARY 7, 2011
Are Freshmen Lawmakers Bad for State Legislatures?
Governing magazine looks at the disadvantages to term limits, focusing on the constant turnover in state legislatures. Recognizing the inexperience of lawmakers, states like Michigan and California are setting up boot camps and mentoring programs to ensure it doesn't take years to understand the legislative process.
The inconveniences of term limits is a small price to pay for the absence of entrenched lawmakers that make careers out of political service and forge deep alliances with special interest groups—preventing principled and fiscally responsible decision making.
A Commonwealth Foundation analysis shows a strong connection between legislative professionalization and higher spending per capita, a higher tax burden and less economic freedom. Specifically, each increase in the level of professionalization results in an estimated $441 increase in spending per person, and a 0.4 percent increase in taxes as a percentage of income.
Term limits are just one of many government reforms. Initiative & Referendum, returning to a part-time legislature and more spending transparency also have the potential to move the culture in Harrisburg away from legacy building.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 02:15 PM | 0 comment
