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MAY 11, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Public vs. Private Employment & Pay
Pennsylvania's private sector lost 113,600 jobs while state and local governments added 40,200 positions between 2000 and 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, public-sector wages exceed those for comparable positions in the private sector.
APRIL 20, 2010 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending Limits
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released results of a recently commissioned statewide measuring Pennsylvanians' opinion of three landmark reforms. The poll of 700 registered voters was conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research Company between April 7 and 12, 2010.
APRIL 12, 2010 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD
Cost-Saving Ideas for Pennsylvania State Budget
Government has no money of its own to spend; it only has that which it first takes out of the pockets of working Pennsylvanians in the form of taxes or out of our children's future paychecks in the form of debt. Every dollar you tax, borrow and spend is a dollar that cannot be spent, saved, or invested by the people who earned it. Therefore, examining how each dollar of the $66 billion state budget is spent, prioritizing programs, identifying waste, and finding greater efficiency is critical to restoring Pennsylvania's prosperity.
DECEMBER 16, 2009 | Commentary by KATRINA CURRIE
Five Threats to Pennsylvania's Prosperity
Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth, and 47th in population growth. Pennsylvania has also faired poorly in independent evaluations of states' business climates, in large part because of having the 11th highest state and local tax burden. Not surprisingly, the state also ranks low in interstate migration, having lost 56,000 net residents to other states from 2000 to 2008.
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE, NATHAN BENEFIELD
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money to pay for their profligate ways: a 1% tuition tax on the city's financially-strapped college students.
NOVEMBER 23, 2009 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Pennsylvania Pensions and Taxes
Pennsylvania's statewide pension plans for public school employees, state workers, legislators, judges and other government employees - the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS) - will require significantly higher taxpayer contributions in the 2012-13 fiscal year and beyond.
OCTOBER 14, 2009 | Commentary by RICHARD DREYFUSS
Punishing the Next Generation: The Rendell Pension Legacy
As the Rendell administration moves inexorably toward its finish line in January 2011, it is reasonable to begin considering the issues awaiting the next governor. Of significant note is Rendell's inability to enact comprehensive and sustainable reforms of public pensions and retiree medical plans. Obviously, the General Assembly is inextricably linked to any reform efforts-or lack thereof.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE, RICHARD DREYFUSS
Philly Pension "Reform": A Vote to Raise Taxes Now and in the Future
The state budget impasse hinges on the inability of Governor Rendell and the House Democrat Majority to garner enough votes for state tax increases. Yet for now it seems enough state legislators have agreed to raise taxes on Philadelphia residents, businesses and visitors.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
CF Analysis of Municipal Pension Bill
Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Richard C. Dreyfuss - an actuary and former HR executive for Hershey Foods who is one of PA's leading experts on state and municipal pensions presented a summary of House Bill 1828, which proposes a 1 percent sales tax hike in Philadelphia to bolster the city's municipal pension system, as well as a state takeover of Pittsburgh and other municipal pension system.
AUGUST 12, 2009 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Philadelphia Pension “Reform” is Generational Theft
CF testifies to PA Senate on HB 1828
HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified today before the Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee that changes in the state pension code proposed by HB 1828—which would allow the city of Philadelphia to defer pension payments—are fiscally irresponsible.
