Prosperity
Ending Poverty Starts With Increasing Work And Paychecks, Not Government Budgets
Originally published at The Federalist Lawmakers across the spectrum agree that poverty is a perennial crisis. But if they are ever going to come together to find an effective…
Read More: Ending Poverty Starts With Increasing Work And Paychecks, Not Government BudgetsMany 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.
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Education
The Race to Rebuild: How Pa. Can Bounce Back After COVID-19
Pennsylvanians are facing some of the biggest challenges of their lifetimes. It is time for lawmakers to launch a race to rebuild Pennsylvania using the following policy solutions.
Report
Read More: The Race to Rebuild: How Pa. Can Bounce Back After COVID-19Education
Parents will be in a tough spot if schools don’t open. Back on Track ESAs can help.
Gov. Wolf says he is willing to “pull the plug” on school re-openings if an increase in COVID-19 cases continues. That puts working parents in an especially tough spot.
Commentary
Read More: Parents will be in a tough spot if schools don’t open. Back on Track ESAs can help.Health Care
Questions for Gov. Wolf
Gov. Wolf is proposing additional restrictions on businesses across Pennsylvania because of a rise in the number of new COVID cases. Here is a list of questions for Gov.
Commentary
Read More: Questions for Gov. WolfGovernment Accountability
5 Ways Lawmakers can Avert a COVID-19 Lawsuit Frenzy
The economy is reopening, but the threat of lawsuits from COIVD-19 exposure is just beginning.
Fact Sheet
Read More: 5 Ways Lawmakers can Avert a COVID-19 Lawsuit FrenzyHealth Care
2020: The year of challenges, can be the year of solutions
This year started rough and it isn’t slowing down. While some of these tragedies don’t have a policy solution, many do. One such example is COVID-19, telehealth, and ensuring that our…
Commentary
Read More: 2020: The year of challenges, can be the year of solutionsGovernment Accountability
CF Amicus Brief Calls out Wolf for Overstepping his Authority
Commonwealth Foundation filed an amicus curiae brief in the case of Wolf v. Scarnati et. al.—arguing that the Governor must follow the legislature’s concurrent resolution to end the declaration of…
Testimony
Read More: CF Amicus Brief Calls out Wolf for Overstepping his AuthorityCriminal Justice Reform
Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice Reforms
Pennsylvania General lawmakers moved two key criminal justice reform bills aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s onerous probation system and limiting the excessive burdens of a criminal record.
Memo
Read More: Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice ReformsGovernment Accountability
Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levels
More than 13% of Pennsylvania workers were officially unemployed in May, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Friday. That’s an improvement from April’s record-setting 15.1% unemployment rate, but still the second highest rate…
Media
Read More: Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levelsCriminal Justice Reform
Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal Records
With a unanimous committee vote, the state House has opened the door to prosperity for 3 million Pennsylvanians. This week, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee passed legislation helping incarcerated citizens…
Media
Read More: Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal RecordsEducation
Understanding Back on Track ESAs
Key Points Pennsylvania children lost months of schooling—many without access to educational resources. Families are bearing increased expenses from at-home learning. Back on Track Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) will help…
Media
Read More: Understanding Back on Track ESAsCriminal Justice Reform
Pa. Tackles Two New Law Enforcement Reforms
Pennsylvanians are voicing their concern on policing reform. Encouragingly, lawmakers are listening to constituents and pursuing meaningful, balanced policing reform.
Commentary
Read More: Pa. Tackles Two New Law Enforcement ReformsGovernment Accountability
Op-ed: Pennsylvanians Deserve an Apology
Gov. Wolf called local officials, job creators, and workers “cowards” and “deserters” for assessing local risks and daring to think for themselves.
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Pennsylvanians Deserve an ApologyHealth Care
How Bad are April’s Unemployment Numbers for Pa?
More than 15% of Pennsylvania workers were unemployed—the highest level on record—according to U.S. Department of Labor data released today. More than 1.1 million payroll jobs were lost since February,…
Media
Read More: How Bad are April’s Unemployment Numbers for Pa?Health Care
Best Ways to Spend Federal Virus Relief Money
Relief measures should help people and not the government. They should be temporary, clear, and direct.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Best Ways to Spend Federal Virus Relief MoneyHealth Care
Liquor Licensing: Too Hot for PLCB to Handle
For restaurant owners in Pennsylvania, the new release Too Hot To Handle is more than pure entertainment, the winnings are almost enough for them to purchase an elusive liquor license. …
Commentary
Read More: Liquor Licensing: Too Hot for PLCB to HandleGovernment Accountability
Pa. Shutdown Revolt Met with Threats from Governor
May 11, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — After this weekend's news that at least eight counties in Pennsylvania would no longer participate in the governor's reopening directives, Gov. Wolf has…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Shutdown Revolt Met with Threats from GovernorGovernment Accountability
Op-ed: Protect lives by preserving livelihoods
Wolf should take state lawmakers’ advice and bring transparency and fairness to Pennsylvania’s reopening — along with a sense of urgency. In doing so, he can continue flattening the curve…
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Protect lives by preserving livelihoodsHealth Care
Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Should Always be Crisis Ready
COVID-19 has done its part to highlight the weaknesses of Pennsylvania’s healthcare sector. Primarily, what has been revealed is a lack of flexibility, and regulations that make it difficult to…
Report
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Should Always be Crisis ReadyGovernment Accountability
Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at risk
Industry leaders who are directly affected by the governor’s orders do not dispute that Wolf has authority to take action aimed at halting the spread of COVID-19. But it’s that…
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at riskGovernment 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
Read More: Op-ed: Memo to America’s Leaders: Your credibility dies in darknessHealth Care
Breaking Down Barriers Following COVID-19
COVID-19 has kept many Pennsylvanians from frequenting the neighborhood coffee shops, nail salons, or retailers they once took for granted. But that’s not the real tragedy—even after stay at home…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Breaking Down Barriers Following COVID-19