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

September 28, 2011 | Testimony by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

Transportation Funding Must be Tied to Reform

Governor Corbett's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission identified the dilapidated state of Pennsylvania's roads and bridges and future infrastructure needs.  Pennsylvania routinely finishes among the worst states in rankings of road conditions, and among the highest in the number of structurally deficient bridges.  Yet Pennsylvania also ranks high among states in terms of spending on roads and bridges, both in terms of spending per capita and spending per highway mile.

In other words, Pennsylvania's transportation system is one of high costs and poor quality.

August 26, 2011 | Testimony by PEARRE DEAN

Teacher Strikes

Testimony of Pearre Dean to the House Education Committee

Good afternoon, my name is Pearre Dean and I am Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania's free-market think tank that crafts free-market policies, convinces Pennsylvanians of their benefits and counters attacks on liberty. Most importantly, I am a proud parent of two sons currently in the Pennsylvania school system and taxpayer.

August 26, 2011 | Testimony by ELIZABETH STELLE

Marcellus Shale Local Impact Fee

Testimony of Elizabeth Stelle to the Marcellus Shale Municipal Co-Op

Good evening.  I am Elizabeth Stelle, a Policy Analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation.  We are Pennsylvania's free market think that crafts and promotes free-market policies based on guiding principles like limited government and personal responsibility.  I would like to thank Representative White and members of the Co-op for the opportunity to discuss a local impact fee on natural gas development.

May 2, 2011 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Property Taxpayer Referendum

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania House Finance Committee

House Bills 1326 and 1383 take an important step giving voters more control over school taxes, by eliminating the referendum loopholes allowed under Act 1.  Combined with mandate relief legislation to give school boards more flexibility in spending, these bills will help control the growth in school spending and property taxes.

March 22, 2011 | Testimony by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

Prevailing Wage in Pennsylvania

Prevailing Wage law also harms taxpayers, as it forces them to pay higher labor costs on public construction projects. Construction companies forced to pay union-inflated wages and benefits will pay upward of 30 percent more in labor costs for identical work on private sector projects.

March 15, 2011 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Streamlining State Government Testimony

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Senate Inter-Governmental Operations Committee

Pennsylvania businesses must navigate a complex web of regulations from more than 340 independent state agencies, offices, state departments, boards, commissions, and committees stemming from the executive branch. Several other boards, committees, and commissions in state government primarily provide an advisory or public relations role, often with little to show for their work.

February 25, 2011 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Benefits of Liquor Store Privatization for Pennsylvanians

Testimony of Nathan Benefield to the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee

Privatization will give Pennsylvanians better services, lower prices and greater selection on alcoholic products. The current monopoly forces Pennsylvanians to pay up to 50 percent more for liquor than in other states-many of which offer a variety of wines not available in the Commonwealth, and allow wine bought online to be delivered to your door.  Customers' selection is about to get even more limited, as the PLCB is in the process of cutting 400 wine and spirit products from its shelves.

February 16, 2011 | Testimony by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

Rescuing Children from Failing Schools

Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation

It's been fifteen years since Gov. Ridge first proposed school vouchers for low-income children trapped in under-performing schools.  The PSEA and PSBA opposed school choice then as they do now, arguing they just needed more money and more time.  Well, they got both. We can no longer stand by and allow organizations that are more concerned with keeping adults employed and maintaining a "system" to prevent children from having access to better educational opportunities.

February 14, 2011 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD, ANTONY DAVIES PH.D.

Impacts of Liquor Privatization

Testimony of Nathan Benefield and Antony Davies to the Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee, Feb. 14, 2011

In more than twenty years of research, numerous studies have failed to reach a consensus as to what social benefits, if any, people derive from their states controlling alcohol markets. The results of our studies indicate that state control of alcohol markets does not contribute to improved social outcomes and, disturbingly in the case of DUI fatalities, appears to contribute to reduced social outcomes.