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.

Health Care

Insurance Hypocrisy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2010

I saw a commercial during an episode of Jeopardy from the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority. It warns people against trying to buy car insurance after an accident…

Media

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Health Care

“Explaining” ObamaCare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2010

Merrill Matthews has a piece up on Forbes.com on why ObamaCare needs explaining…to those who voted for it. The report also says, “It is critical to reassure seniors…

Media

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Health Care

States Saying No to Individual Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 11, 2010

Merrill Matthews has a good article up on Forbes about what states are doing to fight the individual health insurance mandate in the new law. He touches both on…

Media

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Health Care

Missouri Voters Reject Obamacare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2010

Last night, Missouri voters passed Proposition C. The initiative would prevent the state from enforcing any mandate on individuals to buy health insurance. The measure was opposed by every…

Media

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State Budget

What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP Money

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 2, 2010

Gov. Rendell is supposed to meet with lawmakers today to discuss options if Congress doesn’t approve the $850 million in federal FMAP funds. Pete DeCoursey (subscription) breaks down the…

Media

Read More: What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP Money

State Budget

How to Reduce Welfare Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2010

Following Matt Brouillette’s commentary on whether Tom Corbett (should he win) can balance the budget and keep his ‘no tax’ pledge,…

Media

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Government Accountability

The Tort Anti-Reform of HB 2246

  • July 6, 2010

Citizens to Protect PA Jobs recently issued an action alert on HB 2246, which flies in the face of the type of tort reform Pennsylvania needs. A hindrance…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Video: Welfare Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2010

CF Research Associate Elizabeth Stelle gives testimony on welfare fraud and abuse in Pennsylvania in this latest video, courtesy the PA House Republican Policy Committee. You…

Media

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Government Accountability

Tort Reform Opponents: “Let Us Eat Cake”

  • June 16, 2010

This month the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) released its U.S. Tort Liability Index: 2010 Report chronicling the critical condition of tort, one facet of America’s law system. Pennsylvania shuffles…

Media

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State Budget

Welfare Fraud and Abuse

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 2, 2010

Good afternoon, my name is Elizabeth Stelle, and I am a research associate with the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan educational institute based in Harrisburg. Thank you…

Testimony

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Health Care

Obama Concedes CF was Right About Slacker Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2010

I hate to toot my own horn (wink wink), but a few months ago, I wrote that a “slacker mandate” included in the federal health care bill would fail…

Media

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Health Care

PA Senate Passes High Risk Pool Legislation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2010

The Pennsylvania Senate on Monday passed Sen. Mike Folmer’s high risk pool legislation.  The bill, SB 507, would create a pool for insurance companies to provide coverage to…

Media

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Health Care

Devasting Critique of New Health Care Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2010

John Goodman offers a fine summary of a devastating critique of ObamaCare, produced by … the Obama Administration: Health care costs will go up, not…

Media

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Health Care

Repeal It? Wouldn’t be the First Time

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2010

National Review has a good story of how Kentucky passed health care mandate like those contained in the new federal law, including guaranteed issue and community rating, in 1994.

Media

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Health Care

Hate Mail on “Slacker Mandate”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2010

A reader took exception for my use of the term “slacker mandate” to describe laws requiring insurance companies to cover young adults on their parents’ plans up to age 26…

Media

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Health Care

Mass: What PA has to Look Forward to on Health Insurance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 7, 2010

Massachusetts – with an individual mandate, an insurance exchange, taxpayer subsidies for insurance, and a regulatory board overseeing all health insurance – was seen as the model for health care…

Media

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Health Care

State Legislators’ Guide to Health Insurance Solution

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 5, 2010

Council for Affordable Health Insurance and ALEC have released their 2010 State Legislators Guide to Health Insurance Solutions. Here is a PDF version of the full report…

Media

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Health Care

Repeal Obamacare Ad in Erie Times-News

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 1, 2010

The Manufacturer and Business Assocation, along with a whole slew of businesses in the Erie area, ran a full page add in the Erie Times-News calling for lawmakers to…

Media

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Health Care

How the Health Care Law is Financed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2010

The Tax Foundation has a useful chart showing how the health care law is financed over the next 10 years (keep in mind most of the taxes don’t kick…

Media

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Health Care

Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

Constitutional questions have dogged the health care bill since its introduction.  But rather than address these issues head on, supporters of the legislation have shrugged them off.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi,…

Commentary

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