Government Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady Activities
Harrisburg, Pa., October 9, 2023 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new webpage dedicated to exposing the myriad of shady actions that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has engaged in…
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady ActivitiesThe state government is ultimately held accountable to the people through the electoral process—but that should not be the only line of defense against government overreach or waste. Taxpayers deserve a transparent government that works for them. Reforms are needed to reduce corruption and limit the scope of government to its constitutional authority. Additionally, reforms that ensure a transparent budgeting process, a fair electoral process, and a streamlined regulatory process should be pursued to increase the government’s integrity.
Education
School Spending Transparency Coming to Pa.?
Pennsylvania earned a “C+” for providing citizens information on how public schools spend money, according to a recent report from the Cato Institute titled “Cracking the…
Media
Read More: School Spending Transparency Coming to Pa.?Government Accountability
Political Power Cycle Comes Back to Treasurer McCord
State Treasurer Rob McCord received endorsements for governor last week from two government unions—UFCW 1776 and AFSCME. That means big money from union PACs to his campaign. The…
Media
Read More: Political Power Cycle Comes Back to Treasurer McCordGovernment Accountability
TV Report: Waste & Fraud in Public Welfare
In a scathing investigative report, Chris Papst at CBS 21 revealed a widespread culture in Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare (DPW)—and orders from supervisors—to look past fraudulent claims to enroll…
Media
Read More: TV Report: Waste & Fraud in Public WelfareGovernment Accountability
PLCB Annual Report: I Read it So You Don’t Have To!
This week, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board released its annual report. In case reading a 56-page government document isn’t in your weekend plans, here are my notes: Their stated…
Media
Read More: PLCB Annual Report: I Read it So You Don’t Have To!Education
Voters Support Education Reform
Pennsylvania parents and voters want education reform. A new poll from StudentsFirst shows that Pennsylvania families strongly support educational reforms, including incentives for high performing teachers (74 percent support),…
Media
Read More: Voters Support Education ReformGovernment Accountability
Yes, Union Dues Fund Politics
Pennsylvania law grants government unions special privileges available to no other private organizations in the state. Union dues and even Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions are automatically deducted from…
Media
Read More: Yes, Union Dues Fund PoliticsGovernment Accountability
Government Unions’ Unfair Political Privilege
Taxpayer resources should not be used for any political purposes. Every citizen and every organization—including government unions—should have an equal opportunity to engage in policy debates through a level playing field for…
Fact Sheet
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Playing Politics at the PLCB
Politics is getting in the way of reform at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, according to Tribune-Review reporter Kari Andren, who gives us a fascinating look at the internal…
Media
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New Video: CF President on FOX Business
This morning, CF President & CEO Matthew Brouillette appeared on FOX Business’s Varney & Co. to highlight the public pension crisis facing Pennsylvania and cities and states across the…
Media
Read More: New Video: CF President on FOX BusinessEducation
PSEA’s Political Cartoon Targets Corbett, Belittles Teachers
This perspective was written by Steve Calabro, a cyber charter school educator in Pennsylvania. This latest political email alert from the Pennsylvania State Education Association—using union dues, I might add—is…
Media
Read More: PSEA’s Political Cartoon Targets Corbett, Belittles TeachersGovernment Accountability
What Can You Do?
The next hours and days could dramatically shape Pennsylvania’s future, but will it be for the better? As time winds down before the final budget passes, several critical issues hang…
Media
Read More: What Can You Do?Government Accountability
Mailbag: That “Delaware Loophole” Thingamajig
A few readers responded to my op-ed on corporate tax reform, asking “If you want fairness, why don’t you support ‘ending the Delaware Loophole’?” Unfortunately, many believe that the…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: That “Delaware Loophole” ThingamajigGovernment Accountability
A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. Leader
This morning, Pennsylvania lost its oldest living governor: George M. Leader, a York County Democrat who served from 1955 to 1959. My colleagues and I had the great pleasure of…
Media
Read More: A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. LeaderEducation
Penn State Loophole Closed, Taxpayers Get Accountability
More accountability is in the works for Pennsylvania universities. Earlier this week, the House State Government Committee considered legislation requiring Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities to comply with the Right-to-Know Law.
Media
Read More: Penn State Loophole Closed, Taxpayers Get AccountabilityGovernment Accountability
State Promotes California Wine, Local Wineries Puzzled
Media
Read More: State Promotes California Wine, Local Wineries PuzzledGovernment Accountability
CF Welcomes New Board Member
A leader in delivering compassionate elderly care and longtime Pennsylvania community advocate has been elected to the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors, CF announced today. Jane Leader Janeczek, owner and…
Media
Read More: CF Welcomes New Board MemberGovernment Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Elects New Board Member
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | [email protected] A leader in delivering compassionate elderly care and longtime Pennsylvania community advocate has been elected to the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors,…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Elects New Board MemberGovernment Accountability
Election Night Live Chat
Election Day is here. If you haven’t yet taken the time to go out and cast an informed vote, please be sure to do so before polls close at 8…
Media
Read More: Election Night Live ChatEducation
Union Party Kills Charter Reform
Yesterday, I noted that despite watering down a proposed charter school reform bill, legislators were still hearing from government union bosses and other…
Media
Read More: Union Party Kills Charter ReformGovernment Accountability
Oh, Great, More “Convenience”
From the fine makers of the wine kiosk catastrophe, government-branded grapes of wrath, uncorked comedic cronyism and wasteful wine surplus trailer parks comes “Convenience…
Media
Read More: Oh, Great, More “Convenience”Government Accountability
Labor Day is for Taxpayers, Not Unions
Comprising the government employee unions, private sector unions, trial lawyers, extreme greens, and other nonprofits that feed off taxpayer money, the Union Party is aligned for a single purpose: To…
Commentary
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