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Education

Charter Reform Done Right

• Marc LeBlond
• September 20, 2019

Whether it’s a walk down the hall to a colleague’s office, or a flight across the ocean to see an old friend, visits show you care. Governor Tom Wolf visits many…

Media

Education

District Admits Breaking Charter Funding Law

• Colleen Hroncich
• September 11, 2019

You don’t often see a public official admit willfully and repeatedly breaking the law. Yet that’s what Pottsville Superintendent Jeffrey Zwiebel brazenly did in the Philadelphia Inquirer last week…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Why Can’t Workers Leave Their Unions?

• Jessica Barnett
• September 11, 2019

We recently released a 50-state report analyzing labor issue trends and grading states by their labor laws. So where does Pennsylvania fall in this ranking? A disappointing D.

Media

Death and Taxes…and Dating?

• Tirzah Duren
• September 9, 2019

You can’t put a price on love, but you can put a price on finding it…and in Pennsylvania, it’s not cheap.  Taxes, regulations, and government overreach are known to unnecessarily increase the cost…

Media

Back to School, Back to Basics

• Marc LeBlond
• September 6, 2019

In the summer of 1961, legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi opened training camp with the following greeting for his players: “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Lombardi wasn’t condescending to or…

Media

Regulation

Employment for Disabled Workers is Up, but Regulations are Holding Them Back

• Tirzah Duren
• September 6, 2019

Lyft, a major ride sharing company, rolled out a feature to make it easier for those who are deaf or hard of hearing to be employed as a driver. The labor…

Media

Healthcare

Sen. Martin Introduces Bill to Protect Safety Net

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 5, 2019

Steve Blazer of Surge Staffing is taking an unusual approach to filling hundreds of open warehouse positions: attending job fairs at state prisons. Steve’s struggle to find workers is…

Media

Education

Wolf’s Solution for Low-Income Kids? Attack the Schools that Save Their Lives

• Marc LeBlond
• September 3, 2019

Shortly after announcing his troubling plan to restrict student access to schools of choice through executive actions, Governor Wolf tried to add positive spin via Twitter:…

Media

Regulation

Black Market Lemonade

• September 3, 2019

Lemonade stands are about as American as apple pie and baseball. Kids all over the country set up their stands hoping to earn a little spending money. Often, this is…

Media

Education

Teachers Unions are Out of Touch on School Choice

• Colleen Hroncich
• August 29, 2019

A recently released poll by Education Next finds widespread—and growing—support for school choice in America. Moreover, this support crosses racial and party lines. Pennsylvania’s two types of school choice—charter…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Restore PA Doubles Down on Taxes

• August 29, 2019

Pennsylvania native and founding father Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “The problem with common sense is, it isn’t.” As with so very many things in the political sphere, in Governor Wolf’s…

Media

Report Shows Govt. Union Leaders Striking Back in the States

• August 28, 2019

August 28, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.— After the Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME decision, government unions leaders are striking back at the state level with flurry of union-friendly bills across the country…

Press Release

Education

A Quality Education for Harrisburg Kids

• Colleen Hroncich
• August 27, 2019

Gov. Wolf likes to talk about getting every child a quality education no matter their zip code. Speaker Mike Turzai just unveiled a plan that would turn that platitude into…

Media

On Alcohol, Can We at Least Be Like Sweden?

• Andrew Abramczyk
• August 27, 2019

What do Pennsylvania and Sweden have in common? Aside from Sweden’s short-lived colony on the Delaware River, very little. Except a government liquor monopoly. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Economy Is Not Indicative of Its Business Climate

• Tirzah Duren
• August 23, 2019

Pennsylvania’s economy is the most diverse in America. With the release of the latest Bloomberg Economic Diversity Index, Pennsylvania surpassed both Colorado and Texas to claim the top spot. The benefit…

Media

Education

Gov. Wolf Attacks Charters with 11 Executive Actions

• Marc LeBlond
• August 22, 2019

Earlier this summer, Gov. Wolf vetoed an expansion of tax credit scholarships that would have empowered thousands of Pennsylvania students. Now, he’s turned his attention to charter schools. The…

Media

State Budget

The Taxpayer Protection Act Is Commonsense

• Tirzah Duren
• August 21, 2019

For over a decade, various lawmakers have introduced Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) legislation to get a handle on Pennsylvania’s out of control budget. This overspending hurts our economy, drives away…

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

School to Prison Pipeline? Here’s the Escape Valve

• Marc LeBlond
• August 21, 2019

Anthony Samuels is “the only male in my family that doesn’t have a record.” Rather, Anthony is a college graduate and a business owner. At an age when many…

Media

Government Accountability

Pa. State Union Contracts Cost Taxpayers an Additional $1 Billion

• Jessica Barnett
• August 13, 2019

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

Education

Statement: Gov. Wolf’s Charter Accountability Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• August 13, 2019

Today, Governor Tom Wolf will unveil his plans to alter accountability mechanisms for Pennsylvania's charter schools. However, Gov. Wolf's strategy is not as much about accountability as it is his administration's attempt…

Press Release

Education

Is Your Team Losing Every Year? Pittsburgh Students Know the Feeling

• Colleen Hroncich
• August 12, 2019

This year has been rough for Pittsburgh sports fans. The Steelers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013. The Penguins made it to the post-season for the 13th…

Media