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 2

FEBRUARY 16, 2012 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Report Finds Pennsylvania Welfare System Unsustainable, Hurting Poor

The Commonwealth Foundation released today an alarming new report on Pennsylvania public welfare that finds widespread abuse of tax dollars, with spending growing faster than the economy and exceeding education appropriations for the first time in state history.

FEBRUARY 16, 2012 | Policy Report by ELIZABETH STELLE

Ending the Cycle: Reforming Welfare in Pennsylvania

Government welfare, with its goal to provide a helping hand to those in need, has instead become a vast series of programs that fall far short of the good intentions behind them. Welfare spending in the Keystone State consumes a growing share of the state budget, and is projected to crowd out spending on other government programs in the near fut

FEBRUARY 7, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Budget Background & 2012 Preview

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 2

FEBRUARY 6, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Budget Toolkit

2012 Budget Resources

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 2

JANUARY 24, 2012 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE, JAY OSTRICH

Welfare Reforms Protect Poor, Taxpayers

Regardless of where you stand on taxpayer-funded entitlements, few Americans argue against the maintenance of temporary safety nets or modifications aimed at ending welfare fraud, waste and abuse.

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

OCTOBER 6, 2010 | Testimony by ELIZABETH STELLE, NATHAN BENEFIELD

Immigration Verification and Welfare Fraud

Testimony to the House State Government Committee

While this legislation would impact all state benefits, including state contracts, unemployment compensation, and higher education grants, its greatest impact would be in the Department of Public Welfare, specifically on Medical Assistance programs (Medicaid).  HB 1359 would like result in saving taxpayers millions of dollars by ensuring al

JUNE 2, 2010 | Testimony by ELIZABETH STELLE

Welfare Fraud and Abuse

Testimony of Elizabeth Stelle to the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee

Welfare advocates justify spending increases by emphasizing that they're necessary to provide for Pennsylvania's vulnerable residents, including children, older adults, and the disabled. However, we must consider the efficiency and the outcomes of such programs. If resources are being squandered on those who don't need them and are defraudin

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 | Commentary by ABHILASH SAMUEL

Re-examine Public Welfare Spending

Pennsylvania has, as of this writing, gone 90 days without a budget, longer than any other state.  The impasse has been driven by Gov. Rendell's demand for higher spending and new taxes.  Though Rendell argues that the budget has been "cut to the bone," the work of a leading member of his own party, Auditor General Jack Wagner, proves