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Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of Harrisburg
Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s a presidential election year, with voters riveted on national politics and issues. Inflation — caused by federal deficit spending — and immigration consistently…
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Education
Senate Higher Education Proposal is a Step in the Right Direction
Read More: Senate Higher Education Proposal is a Step in the Right Direction
Public Union Democracy
Demand more from CT public sector union officials
Read More: Demand more from CT public sector union officials
Energy
Shapiro’s energy proposals threaten affordable, reliable energy in Pa.
Read More: Shapiro’s energy proposals threaten affordable, reliable energy in Pa.Taxes & Economy
Competition: The Real Solution to Public Transit’s “Crisis”
Pennsylvania's two major public transit agencies--the Philadelphia-based Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Pittsburgh-based Port Authority Transit (PAT)--are facing a financial crisis. But it's not due to a lack…
Commentary
Read More: Competition: The Real Solution to Public Transit’s “Crisis”Taxes & Economy
“Strike the Root” of Pennsylvania’s Competitive Disadvantage
Henry David Thoreau once wrote that "For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root"--meaning that when confronted with a problem, most people…
Commentary
Read More: “Strike the Root” of Pennsylvania’s Competitive DisadvantageTaxes & Economy
PA Political Math: Higher Taxes = Taxpayer “Savings”
A recent news release from Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Alan Novak congratulated "Republican leaders and lawmakers ... for stopping Gov. Ed Rendell yet again from raising taxes on hard-working Pennsylvania…
Commentary
Read More: PA Political Math: Higher Taxes = Taxpayer “Savings”Taxes & Economy
A Lack of Economic Freedom Threatens Our Political Freedom
One of the primary purposes of the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions is to protect and preserve citizens' political freedom. The Founders realized that the American experiment could not succeed…
Commentary
Read More: A Lack of Economic Freedom Threatens Our Political FreedomTaxes & Economy
Economic Freedom: Endangered in Pennsylvania
Only 5 states perform worse than Pennsylvania in a national ranking of "economic freedom," according to a new study released today (in association with Forbes magazine) by the San Francisco-based…
Commentary
Read More: Economic Freedom: Endangered in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Time to cook Pennsylvania’s “lame-duck” session
It is fundamental to democracy that voters have information--about candidates, about issues, about proposed solutions to problems. It also is fundamental that voters have information in time to influence the…
Commentary
Read More: Time to cook Pennsylvania’s “lame-duck” sessionGovernment Accountability
Give Taxpayers Same Deal Legislators Get
Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly are set to receive their annual automatic pay increase on December 1. Now keep in mind that our state legislators are already, according to…
Commentary
Read More: Give Taxpayers Same Deal Legislators GetPublic Union Democracy
Time to Labor to End Compulsory Unionism
"We want a legislative program led by leaders and staff with sufficient clout that they may roam the halls of Congress and collect votes to reorder the priorities of the…
Commentary
Read More: Time to Labor to End Compulsory UnionismEducation
Union Propaganda Can’t Hide Charter Schools’ Success
There they go again. Back in July 2002, during a slow news period, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a school employee labor union, issued a widely cited report "showing"…
Commentary
Read More: Union Propaganda Can’t Hide Charter Schools’ SuccessTaxes & Economy
Some truth in advertising, please!
As visitors to Harrisburg approach the State Capitol, they'll likely notice a number of quotations from luminaries of Pennsylvania history--including William Penn and Benjamin Franklin--testifying to the virtue of liberty.
Commentary
Read More: Some truth in advertising, please!Taxes & Economy
Liberty: The Highest Political End
Mark Twain supposedly once quipped that "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session." He must have had the Pennsylvania General Assembly in mind.
Commentary
Read More: Liberty: The Highest Political EndEducation
How to Increase Teacher Pay
Few people will disagree that the best school teachers are often paid less than they deserve. But even fewer people agree when it comes to figuring out what to do…
Commentary
Read More: How to Increase Teacher PayTaxes & Economy
Taxing the Internet
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, for the invitation to testify today on legislation concerning the “Streamlined Sales Tax Project.”…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing the InternetTaxes & Economy
Renounce the “Faith”
Politicians are fond of saying, "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does." Yet the machinations of state and federal government--and the news releases that follow--reveal that most politicians truly…
Commentary
Read More: Renounce the “Faith”State Budget
The High Cost of Fiscally Responsible Compassion
For the naysayers of disciplined and effective government spending, the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee has published “Republican Stewardship of State Government: 1995-2003.” Complete with a tagline, “Meeting the Challenge with…
Commentary
Read More: The High Cost of Fiscally Responsible CompassionEducation
Pennsylvania Needs School Board Rent Control
Pennsylvanians are once again being reminded this spring that they never actually own their homes; they only “rent” them from their local school board. As school districts across the commonwealth…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs School Board Rent ControlEducation
The Fight for Educational Freedom
Matthew J. Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation, delivered the following remarks at The Heritage Foundation's Resource Bank dinner in Chicago on May 29, 2004, in honor of Virginia Walden-Ford,…
Commentary
Read More: The Fight for Educational FreedomTaxes & Economy
Closing Loopholes to Tighten the Noosehole
Two leading Pennsylvania House Democrats are taking aim at the Commonwealth’s surviving corporate taxpayers. Reps. Mike Veon and David Levdansky say that legal provisions in the tax code—“loopholes” in their…
Commentary
Read More: Closing Loopholes to Tighten the NooseholeEducation
Set Our Teachers Free!
Remarks of Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, The Commonwealth Foundation I'm Matthew Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation. Prior to moving into the world of public policy, I…
Commentary
Read More: Set Our Teachers Free!Regulation
“OutFORCING”: Pennsylvania’s Real Job Loss Culprit
There’s been a great deal of political talk this election season about greedy “Benedict Arnold” companies sending jobs overseas. Gov. Ed Rendell even announced that the Commonwealth would look unfavorably…
Commentary
Read More: “OutFORCING”: Pennsylvania’s Real Job Loss CulpritTaxes & Economy
Will the Taxpayers Benefit from Rendell’s “Strategic Sourcing Initiative”?
"Government should be run more like a business." The underlying sentiment of this oft-repeated phrase is that government should be more efficient and effective when spending our tax dollars. Of…
Commentary
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