The continued growth in public welfare spending is unsustainable. The federal government is responsible for much of the welfare system, but states can adopt reforms that preserve welfare resources for the most vulnerable. By enacting reforms that promote work and independence, Pennsylvania can right-size state welfare spending and help more Pennsylvanians get back on their feet. Taxpayers deserve a welfare system that compliments a strong economy.

Welfare

Kids Didn’t Vote to be Hungry

  • Jay Stooksberry
  • November 13, 2025

Originally published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Of all the political issues we endure, childhood hunger—I assumed—would somehow rise above the fray. But I was wrong. Somehow,…

Media Hit

Read More: Kids Didn’t Vote to be Hungry

Education

What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2025

Summary Four months late, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers agreed on a state budget deal. The agreement spends $1.4 billion less than Shapiro’s reckless, extreme proposal, and uses excessive…

Backgrounder

Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State Budget

Education

New Poll: Inflation, Economy, Taxes, and Crime Top Voter Concerns, Pennsylvanians Hold Shapiro Responsible for Budget Impasse 

  • September 3, 2025

Harrisburg, Pa., September 3, 2025 — Fewer than 4-in-10 Pennsylvania voters believe the state is on the right track, according to new polling released today by the Commonwealth Foundation.

Press Release

Read More: New Poll: Inflation, Economy, Taxes, and Crime Top Voter Concerns, Pennsylvanians Hold Shapiro Responsible for Budget Impasse 

Health Care

Medicaid Myth Busting

  • July 28, 2025

With the recent passage of the “One Big, Beautiful Act” (OBBA), Medicaid has been all over the news lately. Unfortunately, a great deal of misinformation encircles this debate. As Pennsylvania…

Blog

Read More: Medicaid Myth Busting

Health Care

The Myths and Misinformation of Medicaid

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 22, 2025

Originally published by the Delaware Valley Journal. Gov. Josh Shapiro isn’t pleased with the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). “Pennsylvania got screwed,” he recently told a…

Media Hit

Read More: The Myths and Misinformation of Medicaid

Education

Teacher Unions Limiting Opportunities for Students

  • Common Sense Weekly
  • July 11, 2025

Welcome to the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Follow us on X for the latest updates – and help…

Blog

Read More: Teacher Unions Limiting Opportunities for Students

Education

No More Blank Checks for Broken Systems

  • Andrew Lewis
  • July 1, 2025

Originally published by PennLive. As the deadline looms, Pennsylvania lawmakers are nowhere near reaching an agreement on the state budget. This uncertainty in Harrisburg revolves around…

Media Hit

Read More: No More Blank Checks for Broken Systems

Health Care

How Welfare Reforms in the OBBB Protect Pennsylvanians

  • June 24, 2025

Summary Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as Food Stamps, were intended to help provide health insurance and food for low-income seniors,…

Fact Sheet

Read More: How Welfare Reforms in the OBBB Protect Pennsylvanians

Education

The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ Protests

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 19, 2025

Originally published by Delaware Valley Journal. This past week, left-wing advocacy groups organized nationwide protests under the banner “No Kings,” opposing President Donald Trump. Let’s be real: These protests aren’t…

Media Hit

Read More: The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ Protests

Health Care

Five Facts Everyone Needs to Know About Medicaid

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 13, 2025

Medicaid is broken, and restoring the federal program to its original intent is crucial to saving this vital health care safety net. This requires fiscal sanity in Washington, D.C. Yet,…

Blog

Read More: Five Facts Everyone Needs to Know About Medicaid

Health Care

Medicaid Reform Needed to Eliminate Waste and Fraud

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 23, 2025

Originally published by Morning Call. Our national health-care safety net, known as Medicaid, is fundamentally broken. It prioritizes the healthy over the sick and insurers over patients—with little accountability. Finally,…

Media Hit

Read More: Medicaid Reform Needed to Eliminate Waste and Fraud

Regulation

Time for Shapiro to Ditch Corporate Welfare and Cut Red Tape

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 26, 2024

Originally published at The Philadelphia Citizen For two years, Gov. Josh Shapiro has talked about the need for government to “move at the speed of business.” Though…

Media Hit

Read More: Time for Shapiro to Ditch Corporate Welfare and Cut Red Tape

Education

Pennsylvania is Now the Bellwether on Democrats’ Future

  • Andrew Lewis
  • November 21, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The Keystone State was expected to be the bellwether on November 5th, and it didn’t disappoint. Not only did Donald Trump carry Pennsylvania …

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania is Now the Bellwether on Democrats’ Future

Education

Pennsylvania Democrats have no mandate—except to compromise

  • Andrew Lewis
  • November 20, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News Pennsylvania Democrats took a bigger shellacking than most people realize. By now, everyone knows that Republicans cleaned up in federal races. Donald…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania Democrats have no mandate—except to compromise

Education

How Republicans should change Washington

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2024

Originally published in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette With their recent victories, President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans received a new mandate to act. But what does this mandate entail? Hints…

Media Hit

Read More: How Republicans should change Washington

Education

Commonwealth Foundation names Andrew Lewis as new president and CEO

  • Andrew Lewis, Charles Mitchell
  • September 26, 2024

Originally published at Broad + Liberty The Commonwealth Foundation, a think tank focused on “transforming free-market ideas into actionable public policies,” appointed Andrew Lewis, a former Pennsylvania state representative…

Media Hit

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation names Andrew Lewis as new president and CEO

Education

Lies, damn lies, and two weeks to flatten the curve

  • Guy Ciarrocchi
  • March 12, 2024

Originally published at Broad + Liberty March 13: the fourth anniversary of Pennsylvania’s “two weeks to flatten the curve.” Governor Tom Wolf issued his first executive order, closing all…

Media Hit

Read More: Lies, damn lies, and two weeks to flatten the curve

Welfare

Medicaid Eligibility Matters

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 22, 2023

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Should a health-care program for low-income seniors, the disabled, kids, and pregnant mothers be co-opted by hundreds of thousands of healthy adults? Adults not even…

Media Hit

Read More: Medicaid Eligibility Matters