OCTOBER 28, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Marcellus Shale Impact Fee

Principles and Facts on Taxing Natural Gas

Companies should pay for the cost of government they use.  Many advocates of a new tax simply want more money for Harrisburg politicians to dole out.

JULY 27, 2011 | Policy Brief by PAUL CHESSER, MARK NEWGENT

The Great Frack Attack: The War on Natural Gas

Much attention has been paid to the efforts of gas companies to influence the political debate through campaign contributions and lobbying efforts.  But anti-drilling activists—while claiming gas companies use their vast financial resources to weaken regulatory structures and silence poorly funded environmental groups—influence politicians through their own lobbying efforts and by spreading myths about drilling. Among the myths alleged about "Big Gas" is that drillers are flocking to Pennsylvania's rich Marcellus Shale reserves, engaging in dangerous and highly polluting drilling activities, and shirking responsibility for damages while successfully avoiding paying taxes.

JUNE 7, 2011 | Commentary by KATRINA CURRIE

The Real Victims of a Severance Tax

Jim VanBlarcom, a busy Bradford County dairy farmer, set a work day aside to come to Harrisburg and tell his story to Gov. Tom Corbett's Marcellus Shale panel. Royalty money from leasing farmland helped him double his dairy herd size, and he's glad the industry's here.

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 legislators to help lead a Pennsylvania comeback.  Each of these recommendations links to Commonwealth Foundation research with more information on each issue.  Collectively, these recommendations represent a "A Blueprint for Transforming the Commonwealth," which can be found at CommonwealthFoundation.org/BluePrint.

DECEMBER 30, 2010 | Commentary by PAUL CHESSER

Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables Mandates

A lot can be spun from the results of the Nov. 2 elections, but one fact is uncontrovertible: Pennsylvanians are sick of centrally planned, highly regulated, gimmick-driven economic policy. It hasn't worked, and now they want results.

NOVEMBER 8, 2010 | News Release by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

Stop the Midnight Raid on PennVEST for a "Pipeline to Nowhere"

Memo from Matt Brouillette

Just this past Tuesday, Pennsylvania voters rejected Gov. Rendell's overspending ways.  With Governor-elect Corbett and the new legislature facing a multi-billion dollar deficit, now is not the time to allow a lame-duck PennVEST Board waste another $12 million on a pipeline to nowhere.

OCTOBER 27, 2010 | Commentary by PAUL CHESSER

Never Enough Green for Renewable Energy

According to Pennsylvania's Public Utilities Commission, the annual cost of ownership for solar energy per kilowatt-hour is over 700% more than the cost of coal, and wind energy is almost 23% more expensive than coal. Meanwhile, state government provides more than $20 million annually for grants to alternative energy projects, and in 2008, Gov. Edward G. Rendell, a Democrat, signed into law another mandate for an additional $650 million to be given to "green" schemes. Try paying those higher utility and tax bills while fighting to keep your job.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 | News Release 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 their lobbying.

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.