Many Pennsylvanians face chronic unemployment, welfare dependency, and the cycle of poverty. This happens because labor incentives have been overridden by bad policies that keep millions out of the workforce and enact excessive red tape. We can reverse this trend by ending the practice of waiving work requirements on able-bodied Pennsylvanians with no dependents, removing barriers to employment for those seeking a fresh start, and creating a healthcare system without burdensome regulations.

Welfare

Protection for the Poor a First Step

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 21, 2014

It’s too easy to steal from low-income Pennsylvanians and taxpayers according to Senators Scarnati and Argall. The lawmakers say it’s time to increase fraud penalties to make stealing over $1000…

Media

Read More: Protection for the Poor a First Step

Health Care

Five Facts about Obamacare Enrollment

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 14, 2014

On Monday the administration released the latest numbers on Obamacare exchange enrollments. Here are five key facts you need to know: Young Adults are Underrepresented: Young adults (age 18-34)…

Media

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Health Care

How Government Unions Support Obamacare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 14, 2014

Government unions such as the NEA and SEIU lobbied for passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will raise the cost of health care through various mandates…

Media

Read More: How Government Unions Support Obamacare

Welfare

War on Poverty: 50 Years of Failing People

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 8, 2014

On January 8, 1964, Lyndon Johnson launched America’s “War on Poverty.” After 50 years, it’s clear poverty is winning. After five decades and more than $20 trillion in taxpayer…

Media

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Education

Top 5 Articles of 2013

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 31, 2013

Yesterday, we gave you the 5 most popular blog posts of 2013.  Today, we are highlighting the 5 most read articles of 2013 on our website. 1) The (Growing)…

Media

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Education

Top 5 Blog Posts of 2013

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 30, 2013

As 2013 winds to a close, we thought we’d run down the top stories of the past year.  Here are Commonwealth Foundation’s top 5 blog posts, as chosen by you…

Media

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Health Care

“Healthy PA:” What’s It All Mean?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 13, 2013

Last Friday, Gov. Corbett released full details of his Healthy PA initiative, which seeks to expand government-funded health insurance under Obamacare (using Medicaid expansion funds to pay private insurance…

Media

Read More: “Healthy PA:” What’s It All Mean?

Welfare

Protect the Poor, Not Lotto Winners

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 20, 2013

Jamie Frankford won $330,000 in the Pennsylvania lottery in 2012, yet continued to collect child care subsidies and Medicaid benefits. Her story, reported by Chris Papst at CBS21, caught…

Media

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Health Care

Pennsylvania’s Bleak Budget Future

  • November 19, 2013

Pennsylvania’s fiscal outlook looks bleak according to a detailed report examining state revenue and spending released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) last week. The agency projects a general…

Media

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Government Accountability

Obama Supporter Soured by Obamacare Ordeal

  • November 19, 2013

Lynn Larrick doesn't fit the usual profile of someone angry with President Obama. She's a staunch Democrat, a retired Philadelphia teacher, and a union member. But when she—like more than…

Commentary

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Health Care

Obamacare: Exchange Sign-ups Dwarfed by Cancellations

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 14, 2013

Yesterday, the federal government revealed that shockingly low numbers of Americans are purchasing health insurance on the dysfunctional Obamacare exchange. In Pennsylvania, it’s clear the law is doing more…

Media

Read More: Obamacare: Exchange Sign-ups Dwarfed by Cancellations

Health Care

A Sign of Things to Come?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 13, 2013

Cancelled health care plans, an unusable exchange website—do we still trust the federal government to deliver on its health care promises? In what could be a sign of what’s to…

Media

Read More: A Sign of Things to Come?

Health Care

ObamaCare: Sub-Standard is the New Standard

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 7, 2013

“Junk policies,” “sub-standard plans,” “policies not worth keeping” and “bad apple insurance companies” are just a few of the terms used by the President and advocates of the ACA to…

Media

Read More: ObamaCare: Sub-Standard is the New Standard

Government Accountability

TV Report: Waste & Fraud in Public Welfare

  • November 6, 2013

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 Welfare

Health Care

“Free” Medicaid Money Equals More Debt

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2013

In trying to persuade states to expand Medicaid, Obamacare advocates are using enough scare tactics to fill a haunted house. From threatening to discontinue Gross Receipt taxes to…

Media

Read More: “Free” Medicaid Money Equals More Debt

Health Care

I Can’t Keep My Health Care Plan

  • October 23, 2013

“If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” That was President Obama’s promise to Americans. He broke it. I buy my own health insurance—I…

Media

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Health Care

Obamacare Glitches or Meaningful Refom

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 10, 2013

The federal Obamacare exchanges opened for business more than a week ago, yet users have been unable to log in (much less get affordable insurance) and hit with…

Media

Read More: Obamacare Glitches or Meaningful Refom

Health Care

Many Pennsylvanians to See Insurance Premiums Skyrocket

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 3, 2013

Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges are off to a rough start this week. Millions were welcomed with error screens as they attempted to figure out if their health care costs would rise. Fox…

Media

Read More: Many Pennsylvanians to See Insurance Premiums Skyrocket

Health Care

Obamacare Victims Mount

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 30, 2013

By now we’ve all heard the stories of businesses laying off employees or cutting benefits to avoid the huge penalties and fines that will be levied under Obamacare in 2014…

Media

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Health Care

Young and Old Will Face Premium Spikes Next Year

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 25, 2013

With only six days to go before the Obamacare health exchanges are scheduled to open, the federal government finally released some price data for the federal exchanges. Even though…

Media

Read More: Young and Old Will Face Premium Spikes Next Year

Health Care

Pennsylvania’s Poor and Taxpayers Deserve Better

  • September 16, 2013

September 16, 2013, HARRISBURG – Matthew J. Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, released the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s “Healthy PA” initiative: We commend…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Poor and Taxpayers Deserve Better