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OCTOBER 17, 2011 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Inheritance Tax Reform

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield, Director of Policy Analysis, Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, Pennsylvania House Finance Committee

AUGUST 30, 2011 | Commentary by KATRINA CURRIE, LEONARD GILROY

Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett suggested the commonwealth consider leasing state park operations and services. Almost immediately and without thoughtful consideration, pundits launched political fire, claiming "privateers" would exploit or commercialize our natural resources beyond recognition.

JULY 13, 2011 | Commentary by PRIYA ABRAHAM

Government Transparency in Pennsylvania Becomes a Reality

The last few months saw immense partisan animosity and demeaning comments during numerous spats under the Capitol Dome. But amid the fiscal fist fights over school choice, a natural gas tax, university subsidy cuts and really, everything concerning the FY 2011-12 state budget, one important bipartisan pact emerged: creating transparency in state spending.

JULY 6, 2011 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Corbett's First Inning Scorecard

July signals the coming of two breaks in Pennsylvania—Major League Baseball's All-Star break and the end of the state budget season. Having endured his first budget as the commonwealth's chief executive, Gov. Tom Corbett has effectively finished the first inning of a nine-inning baseball game. The question is, how did he do at bat?

JULY 1, 2011 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

The Good, The Bad and The Undone

What you need to know about Pa.'s new state budget

The Commonwealth Foundation praised Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly for closing Pennsylvania's $4.2 billion budget gap without raising taxes on working Pennsylvanians, but a thorough review of the final budget and other policy changes found some good, some bad, and some critical pieces of legislation left undone.

JUNE 30, 2011 | Infographic by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Budget for Smarties

Five Fiscal Facts about the PA State Budget You Might Have Missed

The total state operating budget is $64 billion...and will be reduced for the first time in at least 40 years. While adults employed in public schools complain education is being cut to the bone, school districts have amassed $3 billion in reserves thanks to dramatic increases in state aid and property taxes. There is no "surplus". State government is not paying all its bills, including passing off payments for pensions onto our children. Pennsylvania will soon become the 37th state in the na

JUNE 30, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

General Fund Spending in Budget Deal

The FY 2011-12 budget deal includes $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, as part of the state's approximately $64 billion total operating budget. The deal represents a reduction of $3 billion from FY 2010-11—the first reduction in the operating budget in at least 40 years. This budget restores overall spending to pre-stimulus levels and includes no new taxes.

JUNE 23, 2011 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Give Voters a Say on School Taxes

Five years ago, state lawmakers passed Act 1 to provide property tax relief and give voters a voice on school tax increases. But since slot machine gambling was introduced in Pennsylvania, school property taxes have grown by almost $700 per homeowner. And yet 98 percent of school districts have avoided voter referendum on tax hikes. It is time to give voters real control over school taxes.

JUNE 21, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Government Union Contracts

On June 30, 15 of the state's 19 government union contracts expire, with two more expiring in August. These 19 public sector unions represent 62,271 state employees, whose compensation from taxpayers exceeds $4.6 billion.

JUNE 15, 2011 | Commentary by RICHARD DREYFUSS

Not Paying Pension Bills Hurts our Grandkids

Politicians last year passed their version of pension reform by deferring existing unfunded liabilities, making them even more unaffordable. The situation was so severe that they felt compelled to include a legislative provision that effectively capped contributions for several years despite repeated and significant concerns raised by independent actuaries that such a move would only further shortchange already underfunded plans.