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SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 | CF In The News by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Solar Subsidies Sink State

Taxpayer grants and mandates for alternative energy undermine Pennsylvania economy

The Commonwealth Foundation expresses its displeasure with Gov. Rendell's pronouncement today of awarding more taxpayer funds for solar energy projects and advocating an increase in a mandate to buy more solar energy.

AUGUST 31, 2010 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE

Traditional Energy Fuels Pennsylvania's Economy

Pennsylvania has always been a leading provider of America's energy. From timber and coal to the nation's first commercial oil well, and now the Marcellus Shale boom, traditional energy is vital to our state's economy. But these industries, and the prosperity that accompanied them, are now threatened because they have become politically unpopular. Instead of entrepreneurship and the responsible development of natural resources, today's energy companies are rewarded on the basis of the

AUGUST 27, 2010 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Gov. Rendell's Gamesmanship

While table games have been in Pennsylvania casinos for more than a month, I don't know if Gov. Rendell has tried his luck. But it would be a safe wager that he's a fantastic poker player. Why? For eight years, he's been able to bluff, bully, and stare down anyone who opposes his tax-borrow-and-spend agenda.

AUGUST 17, 2010 | Commentary by NATALIE ROGOL

Time to Exit Rendell's Road to Higher Taxes

Governor Rendell has proposed a series of tax increases to fill a $415 million transportation funding deficit created when the federal government rejected his plan to toll I-80 for a third time. The state's highway system is in sorry condition, but not because taxpayers pay too little. Pennsylvania spends more on transportation than nearly every other state, and since the Governor took office, transportation spending increased 53%. The biggest problems with the state's

AUGUST 3, 2010 | Commentary by DOUG MCLINKO

Gas Fuels Growth

The national economy is in a slump, unemployment remains stubbornly high, and economic growth is being hampered by misguided policies. Meanwhile, Bradford County, Pennsylvania led the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in net job growth from March of 2009 through March of 2010 with 2500 new jobs or a 7.2% employment increase. The robust increase in jobs is a direct result of Marcellus Shale drilling and its ancillary economic benefits.

JULY 29, 2010 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Lancaster Co. Human Relations Commission

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners: July 29, 2010

I hope the Commissioners will seriously consider both the costs and the benefits of the LCHRC. They may find that there is reason to continue this work, but I hope not to pay lip service to "promoting diversity," but for the actual results and performance of the LCHRC's work.

JULY 28, 2010 | Policy Report by BEACON HILL INSTITUTE AT SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY

Growing Money on Trees

An Analysis of PA’s Climate Change Action Plan

In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee (PCCAC), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), released its report, Pennsylvania: Final Climate Change Action Plan. However, a cost-benefit analysis finds serious flaws in the report, rendering its findings useless for policymakers seeking to make informed policy decisions about climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emi

JULY 16, 2010 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

CF Responds to PennFuture Demands

A July 14, 2010 letter from PennFuture's attorney claimed the Commonwealth Foundation's Policy Brief, "PennFuture's Lobbying: Hypocritical, unethical, and possibly illegal," contained three inaccuracies and demanded retraction. The Commonwealth Foundation responded on July 16, 2010.

JULY 9, 2010 | Commentary by PAUL CHESSER

PennFuture: Harrisburg's Lobbying Launderers

According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced Gov. Ed Rendell and the general public to support a bond issue for environmental funding. Yet for all these accomplishments - most of which it attributes to the help of its faithful supporters - PennFuture reported spending zero dollars on grassroots lobbying between 2004 t

JULY 8, 2010 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying

Report identifies activities of nonprofit eco-activist group

Chesser's report, PennFuture's Lobbying: Hypocritical, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal, describes how the eco-activist organization received nearly $1 million during the last five years from alternative energy companies. "These alternative energy companies benefited from PennFuture's lobbying for corporate tax breaks and taxpayer-funded ‘economic developme