AUGUST 10, 2010 | Commentary by JOSHUA HOERNER

A School Choice Governor?

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett recently made headlines by announcing his support for full-fledged school choice in Pennsylvania. Democrat Dan Onorato has also expressed support for school choice, particularly the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC).  A school choice governor will be a welcome change from the past eight years, during which Governor Rendell and his allies worked to stymie educational options.

JUNE 29, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Education Spending

Pennsylvania's education spending increased from $4 billion in 1980 to over $25 billion in 2009-a 133% increase in per-pupil spending, after adjusting for inflation. School construction and debt spending has doubled in just 10 years.  Prevailing wage laws increase the cost of construction by 20% or more; repealing this mandate would save $400 million.

JUNE 23, 2010 | Policy Report by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania

A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget.  The report also offers a series of recommendations for resolving the current revenue shortfall and reducing the size and burden of government on Pennsylvanians.

JUNE 21, 2010 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD

The True Beneficiaries of Education Subsidies

Gov. Rendell's budget once again demands significant increases in public school spending.  Ostensibly, these increases are "for the children," but a close examination of education spending and policy proposals reveals Gov. Rendell's priority - appeasing education's special interests.

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:

DECEMBER 9, 2009 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Costing-Out the Price of Education

In the last two years, Gov. Rendell has used the "costing-out" study to justify proposed increases in state education subsidies. Yet while costing-out or "adequacy" studies have been conducted in over 35 states to quantify the amount of education funding needed, in no case did spending increases result in dramatic improvement of adequacy standards.

JULY 27, 2009 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD, JASON STATLER

Who's For the Children?

In the television comedy The Office, dim-witted boss Michael Scott remarks that he likes giving presents because they are “like this tangible thing that you can point to and say ‘Hey man, I love you this many dollars-worth.’”

Gov. Rendell and many lawmakers apply this mentality to the state budget—only they are spending other people’s money.  They believe that government can solve all problems simply by opening the vault in the Treasury.  Anyone proposing less spending than them doesn’t care about people.

MARCH 19, 2009 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

State Can't Spend Its Way to Student Success

For years, the educational establishment has claimed that not enough is being spent on public schools – that if more money is pumped into the system, student achievement will improve.  Unfortunately, too many policymakers have bought into the “more dollars equals more scholars” myth.
 
Last year, Governor Rendell proposed increasing public school funding by $2.6 billion over the next six years in an effort to bring spending to the “necessary” level recommended in the General Assembly's Costing Out Study.

MARCH 16, 2009 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Pennsylvania's Charter School Law

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009

JULY 1, 2008 | Commentary by JESSICA RUNK

Cyber School Funding Formula: The Wrong Mixture

State Rep. Karen Beyer, along with the Rendell administration, lobbyists for the teachers unions, and the school boards association, has been doggedly seeking to reduce funding for Pennsylvania’s public cyber schools. So persistent is Beyer that after her bill stalled in session, she attached it as an amendment to a bill (HB 2479) that she knew would be voted on.