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.
Government Accountability
Op-ed: Memo to America’s Leaders: Your credibility dies in darkness
Americans have never put up with “don’t ask questions, just trust me” for long — especially in a crisis.
Commentary
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Op-ed: Lawmakers offer a way out of the coronavirus chaos
Gov. Wolf's insistence on going it alone and making decisions behind closed doors is crippling his credibility.
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Lawmakers offer a way out of the coronavirus chaosGovernment Accountability
Persistent Leadership will Safely Reopen Pa.
Governor Wolf continues to take positive steps toward a safe and gradual opening of the Pennsylvania economy because lawmakers continue to advance good policy that protects lives and livelihoods.
Memo
Read More: Persistent Leadership will Safely Reopen Pa.Government Accountability
Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency
April 20, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf vetoed a bill, SB 613, that would have brought clarity to Pennsylvania’s controversial business shutdown and provided hope for the future. But…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Three Steps to an Honest Budget: Fiscal Reform Priorities 2020-2021
Our legislative roadmap to a balanced budget, a spending limit and a more transparent fiscal process.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Three Steps to an Honest Budget: Fiscal Reform Priorities 2020-2021Government Accountability
Wolf’s Budget Borrows Billions and Attacks Schools of Choice
February 4, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Gov. Wolf outlined a massive spending and borrowing plan in his annual budget address. The $36.1 billion proposed General Fund Budget represents a…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Budget Borrows Billions and Attacks Schools of ChoiceGovernment Accountability
Lawmakers Send Message to Wolf on Eve of Budget Address
February 3, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, on the eve of Gov. Wolf’s sixth state budget address, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a much-needed fiscal reform called the…
Press Release
Read More: Lawmakers Send Message to Wolf on Eve of Budget AddressGovernment Accountability
CF Responds to Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai’s Retirement
January 23, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai announced he will not seek reelection at the end of his term. Turzai, an outspoken…
Press Release
Read More: CF Responds to Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai’s RetirementGovernment Accountability
How to Make an Easy Six Million
A week ago the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office announced charges against Wing Tat Chiu and Ivy Hiu-Ying Li, a married couple whom they accuse of earning $6 million in illegal…
Media
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We’re thankful!
And the winner of “Biggest Home State Win” is … the Commonwealth Foundation! You can imagine the excitement of CF staff when we recently found out we’d won a prestigious…
Media
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Sunlight is Always Welcome
Pennsylvania’s two state-wide public pension systems are deeply underfunded. They only have about sixty cents in assets available for each dollar of promised payouts, which means they are at…
Media
Read More: Sunlight is Always WelcomeEducation
Union Donations to Gov. Wolf Drown Out School Choice
Charter schools remain in the crosshairs of the teachers’ unions and their government allies. That much is made evident in the proposals, resolutions and other public statements the National Education…
Media
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The Cost of Secretly-Negotiated Government Union Contracts
Are Pennsylvanians a bottomless pit of cash? Government union leaders and Governor Wolf seem to think so. The two “re-negotiate” new labor contracts behind closed doors, and each time…
Media
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Worker Freedom in the States
Unprecedented labor issue activity has followed the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME ruling. Read our summary here.
Fact Sheet
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Transparency Can Curb the High Taxpayer Cost of Government Union Contracts
Behind closed doors, Pennsylvania elected officials routinely negotiate billion-dollar contracts with government unions leaders. Three new contracts will cost an additional $1 billion from 2019-23.
Memo
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The Janus Impact and Grading of State Public Sector Labor Laws
In the Janus aftermath, pro-union forces make legislative headway counteracting the court decision, while workers push back in the courts. This report details the trends, and grades each state according to…
Report
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Pa. State Union Contracts Cost Taxpayers an Additional $1 Billion
How much is the cost of doing business with Pennsylvania state government unions? For the most recent round of contract negotiations, an additional $1.15 billion over the next four years.
Media
Read More: Pa. State Union Contracts Cost Taxpayers an Additional $1 BillionGovernment Accountability
Budget Earmarks: Sneaky and Unconstitutional
A wise buyer should always read the fine print, but it isn’t easy. Documents like cell phone contracts and software user agreements can be hard to read, often by design. The dense language…
Media
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A Look Inside New Government Union Contracts
Government union leaders recently reached multi-year contract agreement with the Wolf Administration, including 18% compensation increases over four years. Even though taxpayers foot the bill, they are still waiting to know…
Media
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The Shadow Budget Comes to Light
The shadow budget is coming into the light in an unlikely way this…
Media
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Transparency Deferred During Union Contract Negotiations
Public dollars, secrecy, and politics should never mix. Yet, it’s a disturbingly common practice in Pennsylvania as public officials negotiate costly government employee contracts with their campaign donors—behind closed…
Media
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