Commentary

Lease the Turnpike? A real no-brainer

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 21, 2008

Pennsylvania lawmakers have the unique opportunity to allow taxpayers to earn interest rather than pay it. On May 19, Gov. Ed Rendell announced that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could receive…

Commentary

Regulation

No Extra Money in the Fund

• Richard Dreyfuss
• May 20, 2008

"There is no extra money in the fund" for a pension Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA). That’s the analysis from the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS), not the Commonwealth Foundation…

Commentary

Government Accountability

The Cerberus of the General Assembly

• Nathan Benefield
• May 14, 2008

In Greek Mythology, the river Styx separates the earth from Hades. A giant three-headed dog named Cerberus guards the river, allowing the dead to enter Hades, but preventing anyone—save a…

Commentary

Government Accountability

A Tale of Two Agencies

• Matthew Brouillette
• April 23, 2008

It is neither the “best of times” nor the “worst of times” in Pennsylvania, yet there is “A Tale of Two Agencies” when it comes to the…

Commentary

State Budget

Time for a Spending Diet

• Nathan Benefield
• April 15, 2008

As Pennsylvania taxpayers breath a collective sigh of relief after completing their 2007 tax returns, another tax day is looming. But this is a day to celebrate. It’s Tax Freedom…

Commentary

Healthcare

Give Consumers Choices in Health Care

• Nathan Benefield
• April 1, 2008

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed a modified version of Governor Rendell’s "Cover All Pennsylvanians"—renaming it PA ABC (Access to Basic Care). Despite the clever acronym, the program…

Commentary

Healthcare

Affordable Health Care Agenda

• March 28, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation has joined with over two dozen organizations to form the Health Care Freedom Coalition. Below is a Statement of Principles. We, the Health Care Freedom Coalition, believe…

Commentary

Regulation

Mutually Exclusive: Pension COLAS and Lower Taxes

• Richard Dreyfuss
• March 10, 2008

In Government 101, we learn how a bill becomes law and the circuitous route that, at any stage of the political process, may derail a proposal. In fact, only 6.3%…

Commentary

Education

Determining the Cost of an Adequate Education

• Nathan Benefield
• March 5, 2008

The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently commissioned a $650,000 study to determine what it “costs” to educate a child. The firm winning the commission reported that the state should increase spending…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Foreigners Create Jobs

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 27, 2008

With transportation funding from last year's Act 44 looking increasingly unlikely to materialize, Gov. Rendell is wisely continuing to push for a private-sector lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike as part…

Commentary

Healthcare

RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 24, 2008

Remember the passage in the Bible where Jesus called upon the Roman Empire to provide universal, government-run health insurance? What! There’s no such passage? Perhaps someone should point that…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Campaign Finance Limits Destroy Democracy

• Matthew Brouillette
• January 23, 2008

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court recently upheld Philadelphia's law limiting the amount of money that an individual can contribute to a political candidate. While advocates of campaign contribution limits cheered the…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Benefits of Reducing the Personal Income Tax

• Matthew Brouillette
• January 10, 2008

Thank you Chairman Turzai, Rep. Quigley, and members of the House Republican Policy Committee for the invitation to share with you why the Commonwealth Foundation believes that reducing taxes…

Commentary

The Alternative to Tolling I-80

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 12, 2007

Pennsylvania lawmakers should reconsider the money it left on the table earlier this year after rejecting Gov. Rendell’s initial plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private-sector partner. Such…

Commentary

Education

Cyber School Students Deserve Adequate Funding

• Nathan Benefield
• September 19, 2007

Thank you, Chairman Roebuck and members of this committee for inviting us to speak today. My name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research with the…

Commentary

Energy

The Hype for Energy Indebtedness

• September 17, 2007

Governor Ed Rendell contends that his energy policy will help the Commonwealth attain “energy independence.” Don’t believe the hype. His plan imposes new taxes to cover the costs…

Commentary

Healthcare

Health Care Reform: Diagnose, Then Prescribe

• Nathan Benefield
• September 10, 2007

Following the latest Census Bureau report that 47 million Americans are without health insurance, the talking heads and newspaper editorial boards are renewing their call for “something to…

Commentary

Choosing to Pay Interest, Rather Than Earn It

• Matthew Brouillette
• September 5, 2007

Is it financially better to earn interest or to pay interest? Seems like a rhetorical question. It should be. However, Governor Rendell and the General Assembly chose to make…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage COLAs: Overstated Benefits & Hidden Costs

• Nathan Benefield
• August 22, 2007

Support for minimum wage increases is based on the idea that a higher minimum wage will “help the poor” by increasing their pay and lifting them out of poverty.

Commentary

Welfare

Public Welfare Needs Assistance

• August 21, 2007

Although the 2007-2008 budget controversy is fading from the limelight, the exorbitant spending it authorizes cannot be overlooked. One of the largest portions of state spending is public welfare,…

Commentary

Education

The Public Schools Edifice Complex

• Nathan Benefield
• August 2, 2007

How much money should a school receive for a student it no longer has to educate? And, is taxpayer money being wisely spent on classroom instruction or school construction? Those…

Commentary