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

Taking Pennsylvania for a Ride

• Matthew Brouillette
• July 30, 2007

Nearly three years ago, the Commonwealth Foundation joined a loose coalition of groups that spanned the political and ideological spectrum. Common Cause, Democracy Rising PA, RockTheCapital.org, Young Conservatives of…

Commentary

Education

The Truth About Cyber Schools

• July 25, 2007

An increasing number of parents are choosing Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter schools for their children every year—enrollment grew from 1,848 to almost 16,000 students between 2001 and 2006. Cyber…

Commentary

Energy

Energy Depletion

• June 28, 2007

Ed Rendell has been in politics for too long. That is the only way to explain his apparent belief that Harrisburg politicians know more about which alternative energy prospects are…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Property Seizures Threaten PA Small Business

• June 27, 2007

Being a small business owner in Pennsylvania is not easy. There’s the punishing tax burden levied by state and local governments that see small firms not so much as vital…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

How to Fix Mass Transit

• Nathan Benefield
• June 26, 2007

In their final report, the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission wrote: The Commission concludes that no additional funding should be provided for highways, bridges and transit unless a series…

Commentary

State Budget

Pennsylvania Families Need Government to Prioritize Spending

• June 25, 2007

All families must learn to live within a budget. They understand that they can’t spend more than what they earn—at least not for very long. Frequently this means saying “No”…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Ideas to Improve Pennsylvania’s Fiscal and Economic Health

• June 20, 2007

:: Fat Facts of the Week ::…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Ideas to Improve Pennsylvania’s Fiscal and Economic Health

• June 14, 2007

:: Fat Facts of the Week :: Taxpayer-funded handouts to major corporations are just one reason why state government spending is so obese. Consider just four examples of corporate welfare:…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Protecting the Taxpayers

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 31, 2007

Thank you Senator Corman, Senator Folmer, and members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the opportunity to testify on the proposed Taxpayer Protection Act (SB 7) and Taxpayer Protection…

Commentary

Education

Public School Students Benefit from Private Managers

• Nathan Benefield
• May 29, 2007

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission soon will be voting on a budget for the school district. Facing a projected budget deficit, the Commission is looking for ways to reduce costs,…

Commentary

Education

Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3

• May 24, 2007

One of the most notorious abuses of taxpayers' money is the exercise of Walking-Around-Money (WAMs). These funds are set aside for use at each legislator's discretion to dish out to…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Lost Jobs, Lost Opportunities: The Reality of the Minimum Wage Hike

• Nathan Benefield
• May 16, 2007

In 2006, Governor Ed Rendell argued that hiking Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by 39% would not lead to lost jobs and opportunities for low-wage workers. Unfortunately, Mr. Rendell has already been…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Memo to Senate State Government Committee Members

• May 7, 2007

MEMORANDUM TO: Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee Members (Senators Piccola, Folmer, A. Williams, Scarnati, Brubaker, Corman, Punt, McIhinney, Fontana, Hughes, and Tartaglione) FROM: Commonwealth Foundation, Democracy Rising PA, Rock the…

Commentary

Education

Change the Incentives in Education

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 2, 2007

Thank you Chairman Armstrong and members of the Appropriations Committee for the opportunity to discuss the impact of Governor Rendell’s education proposals. You have already heard and are going to…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!

• Nathan Benefield
• April 27, 2007

April 27, 2007 won’t appear as a holiday on anyone’s calendar. Few workers will get the day off. But it will be the first day Pennsylvania’s workers stop working to…

Commentary

Wild Claims About a Turnpike Lease

• April 18, 2007

It is sad that former Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel, who last year said he favored leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, is now striking out so wildly against the governor's proposal.

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Prospering In Pennsylvania

• Nathan Benefield
• April 9, 2007

Are Pennsylvania’s workers worse off than they were three decades ago? A report prepared by the labor union-backed Keystone Research Center claims they are. Their data indicate that average real…

Commentary

Government Accountability

In Support of a Limited Constitutional Convention

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 28, 2007

Delivered on Monday, March 26, 2007 Thank you Chairman Piccola and members of the Senate State Government Committee for the opportunity to share with you the position of the…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

New Paradigm Equals New Opportunities

• March 22, 2007

The global environment for transportation financing is entering a new paradigm. Like many states, Pennsylvania finds itself at the convergence of two intersecting trends that demand fiscal attention: First, growing…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Higher Taxes Wont Cure Cancer

• Nathan Benefield
• February 22, 2007

Governor Ed Rendell has, on occasion, joked that some state lawmakers would oppose any tax increase, “even if we could cure cancer tomorrow.” Unfortunately, Governor Rendell adopts the opposite view…

Commentary