Taxes & Economy

Feds Restore Foodstamp Rules: Providing a Pathway to Independence

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 6, 2019

Pennsylvanians are experiencing the lowest unemployment rates on record and wages are rising, including wages at the lower end of the pay scale. Across the country 16 states have restored…

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Education

We’re thankful!

  • November 28, 2019

And the winner of “Biggest Home State Win” is … the Commonwealth Foundation! You can imagine the excitement of CF staff when we recently found out we’d won a prestigious…

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Education

My Unanswered Question for Governor Wolf

  • Marc LeBlond
  • November 26, 2019

Governor Wolf continues to use divisive rhetoric that places all the blame for Pennsylvania’s education woes on public charter schools. During his recent press conference at the Pennsylvania Association of…

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Regulation

Economic Freedom and Flourishing in Pennsylvania

  • Tirzah Duren
  • November 25, 2019

We live in a free country, but when it comes to our economy, Pennsylvanians aren’t free. Unpredictable regulation makes owning a business a huge risk in Pennsylvania, and when it…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Pa. Senate Passes Legislation Removing Employment Barriers

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 23, 2019

Individuals like Ericka Miller and Amanda Spillane are one step closer to having a fair opportunity to pursue success and live their American dream. On Thursday, the state Senate…

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Government Accountability

Sunlight is Always Welcome

  • November 20, 2019

Pennsylvania’s two state-wide public pension systems are deeply underfunded. They only have about sixty cents in assets available for each dollar of promised payouts, which means they are at…

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State Budget

It Won’t Get Easier: Our Take on the State’s Five Year Outlook

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • November 18, 2019

Last week the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) presented its annual set of fiscal and economic projections for the next five years. The full report and summary presentation are available…

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Regulation

The O-Zone Hole

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • November 15, 2019

State and national governments sometimes designate “Economic Opportunity Zones,” geographic areas wherein they give tax breaks to incentivize investment. If opportunity zones are such a great idea, though, why not…

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Needs the Ramsey Method

  • Tirzah Duren
  • November 12, 2019

High debt, reckless spending, and impending financial ruin. That description fits both Pennsylvania and budget guru Dave Ramsey’s life before he achieved financial stability. The Ramsey method has helped millions of…

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