Government Accountability

Fed Data Shows Wolf’s Shutdown Caused Unemployment Spike

  • Michael Torres
  • June 5, 2020

June 5, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s shutdown was done earlier, was more expansive, and had fewer exemptions than most other states, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of…

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Health Care

How Bad are April’s Unemployment Numbers for Pa?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 22, 2020

More than 15% of Pennsylvania workers were unemployed—the highest level on record—according to U.S. Department of Labor data released today. More than 1.1 million payroll jobs were lost since February,…

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It’s Time to Take Action

  • Tirzah Duren
  • February 25, 2020

Being a state legislator is just like being Bruce Willis in Die Hard. Or Jennifer Lawrence in Hunger Games. Or Captain America in Avengers. In other words, they have to take action. Protecting…

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State Budget

Mid-Year Budget Briefing: $779 Million Projected Overspend

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • January 2, 2020

This week is the midpoint of the commonwealth fiscal year, which ends on June 30. Every year, as required by law, the Office of the Budget gives a mid-year budget briefing…

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Criminal Justice Reform

CF’s 2020 Vision

  • January 1, 2020

The Commonwealth Foundation’s mission sounds pretty simple: transform free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish. Accomplishing that mission—with a divided government, powerful special interests, and a diverse…

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Education

Pension Pacman Must Be Stopped

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • December 31, 2019

Next fiscal year Pennsylvania school districts will pay $4.9 billion into PSERS, the state teachers’ pension fund.1 Less than one quarter of that amount will fund new benefits earned by…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Crime Declines as Pa. Passes Criminal Justice Reforms

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 30, 2019

Responsible, smart reforms are paying dividends in Pennsylvania’s correction system—and recently passed reforms aim to build upon this success. The state Department of Corrections released a statement and…

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Education

Myles Goes to Washington

  • December 22, 2019

“School choice opens up doors that would otherwise be slammed shut. As a young African American male in a low-income neighborhood it’s more likely I would be a dropout…

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Taxes & Economy

Poverty, Energy, and RGGI

  • Tirzah Duren
  • December 19, 2019

Despite living in one of the richest countries and one of the largest energy producers in the world, many Americans still struggle to pay their energy bills. Roughly 1 in 3 Americans report…

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