PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Thu, August 07, 2008by Benjamen Ober
Time and time again, government subsidies for private investors have shown themselves costly, inefficient, and unethical, yet the General Assembly and Governor Rendell continue to push corporate ... [View Full Article]
Wed, August 06, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
08.06.08
How to Lose Billions of Dollars
Turnpike Commission plans will cost taxpayers $37.4 billion
HARRISBURG, PA — ... [View Full Article]
Mon, July 28, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
07.24.08
Plan to Toll I-80 Should Be Rejected
Turnpike Commission should be dismantled, not given additional authority
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Thu, July 17, 2008by Newsletter
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
07.17.08
A Call For Reform
Commonwealth Foundation supports special session on government integrity
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Mon, July 14, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
07.14.08
HARRISBURG, PA — As the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission rolled out its plans for Interstate 80, the ... [View Full Article]
Fri, July 04, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
07.04.08
More Spending, More Debt, Less Transparency
Commonwealth Foundation expresses disappointment in overall budget deal
... [View Full Article]
Wed, July 02, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
State lawmakers claim to hear the cries of Pennsylvania residents about the escalating costs of health care. Unfortunately, instead of pushing reforms to help lower the costs of care, some lawmakers ... [View Full Article]
Tue, July 01, 2008by Jessica Runk
State Rep. Karen Beyer, along with the Rendell administration, lobbyists for the teachers unions, and the school boards association, has been doggedly seeking to reduce funding for Pennsylvania's ... [View Full Article]
Fri, June 27, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.27.08
HARRISBURG, PA — On the heels of two days of hearings in the House Transportation Committee on the proposed Turnpike lease, ... [View Full Article]
Thu, June 26, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.26.08
Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!
Commonwealth Foundation calculates state and local taxpayer debt of $36,000 per ... [View Full Article]
Thu, June 26, 2008by Benjamen Ober
Recently, Governor Rendell and Republican state lawmakers stood side-by-side to announce a multi-million dollar taxpayer grant to build a soccer stadium in Chester, under the guise of "economic ... [View Full Article]
Tue, June 24, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.23.08
TurnpikeFacts.com Exposes
Turnpike Commission's Fiction
Commonwealth Foundation educational campaign explores
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Fri, June 20, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.20.08
Pennsylvania Senate Proposes Spending Diet
Low-growth budget is a step in the right direction, but will House and Governor ... [View Full Article]
Wed, June 18, 2008by Policy Brief
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ideas to Improve Pennsylvania's
Fiscal and Economic Health
Excessive Taxes Hinder Economic Growth
Pennsylvania's combined federal and state ... [View Full Article]
Wed, June 18, 2008by Richard C. Dreyfuss
We live in uncertain times. This maxim is often heard in the corridors of the state Capitol where Excel spreadsheets support the marketing of new initiatives based on long-term financial assumptions. ... [View Full Article]
Mon, June 16, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.16.08
Commonwealth Foundation calls House budget irresponsible and misguided
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation ... [View Full Article]
Wed, June 11, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
With all due respect to Billy Joel's "Allentown", the tune which best describes
Pennsylvania today would likely be "Movin' Out." For years, Pennsylvania has seen residents ... [View Full Article]
Tue, June 03, 2008by News Release
The Burden of Taxes
In 2008, the average working Pennsylvanian will labor 111 days just to pay his or her federal, state, and local taxes—the equivalent of working January 1 to ... [View Full Article]
Thu, May 29, 2008by News Release
First in a series from the Commonwealth Foundation & Reason Foundation
1. Does Pennsylvania need more money for its roads, highways, bridges and mass transit systems?
The ... [View Full Article]
Tue, May 27, 2008by News Release
Commonwealth Foundation and Reason Foundation address common concerns regarding a Public-Private Partnership on Pennsylvania's toll road
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth ... [View Full Article]
Wed, May 21, 2008by Matthew Brouillette
Pennsylvania lawmakers have the unique opportunity to allow taxpayers to earn interest rather pay it. On May 19, Gov. Ed Rendell announced that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could receive an ... [View Full Article]
Tue, May 20, 2008by Richard C. Dreyfuss
"There is no extra money in the fund" for a pension Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA). That's the analysis from the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS), not the Commonwealth ... [View Full Article]
Wed, May 14, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
In Greek Mythology, the river Styx separates the earth from Hades. A giant three-headed dog named Cerberus guards the river, allowing the dead to enter Hades, but preventing anyone—save a few ... [View Full Article]
Fri, May 09, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
05.09.08
First Turnpike Bid Is In! Only $5.3 Billion
PA Turnpike Commission ... [View Full Article]
Thu, May 08, 2008by Michael Bond
Executive Summary
Medicaid, the joint federal/state program that was created to provide health care for the poor, celebrated its 40th birthday in 2006. There was no ... [View Full Article]
Wed, May 07, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
Anyone who has observed politics for long would see that too many politicians believe nothing positive would happen unless they pass a law requiring it. They think that the American people are ... [View Full Article]
Thu, May 01, 2008by Richard C. Dreyfuss
05.01.08
Testimony to Senate Republican Policy Committee, April 30, 2008
Healthcare Reform Principles – Every reform action should ... [View Full Article]
Tue, April 29, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
04.29.08
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released A Primer on Pennsylvania's Cyber Schools, a ... [View Full Article]
Wed, April 23, 2008by Matthew Brouillette
It is neither the "best of times" nor the "worst of times" in Pennsylvania, yet there is "A Tale of Two Agencies" when it comes to the proper role for government boards ... [View Full Article]
Wed, April 16, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
As Pennsylvania taxpayers breath a collective sigh of relief after completing their 2007 tax returns, another tax day is looming. But this is a day to celebrate. It's Tax Freedom Day.
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Tue, April 01, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed a modified version of Governor Rendell's "Cover All Pennsylvanians"—renaming it PA ABC (Access to Basic Care). Despite the clever ... [View Full Article]
Thu, March 20, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
Concerns About Turnpike Lease Misguided
Nathan A. Benefield
03.19.08
Testimony before the PA ... [View Full Article]
Tue, March 18, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
03.18.08
POLL: Informed Voters Support Turnpike Lease
Pennsylvanians prefer lease to higher taxes,
new ... [View Full Article]
Tue, March 11, 2008by Richard C. Dreyfuss
In the debate over leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, it's about time people stopped using the word "foreign" as if it were an expletive.
In Government ... [View Full Article]
Wed, March 05, 2008by Nathan A. Benefield
The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently commissioned a $650,000 study to determine what it "costs" to educate a child. The firm winning the commission reported that the state should ... [View Full Article]
Tue, March 04, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
03.04.08
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation responded to a study released today by the House Democrats ... [View Full Article]
Thu, February 07, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
02.07.08
HARRISBURG, PA — In Gov. Ed Rendell's FY 2008-09 budget address, he called for
higher and new ... [View Full Article]
Thu, January 31, 2008by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
01.31.08
Commonwealth Foundation analysis finds $6.7 billion in
View Full Article]
Thu, January 24, 2008by Matthew Brouillette
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court recently upheld Philadelphia's law limiting the amount of money that an individual can contribute to a political candidate. While advocates of campaign contribution ... [View Full Article]
Wed, January 16, 2008by News Release
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, in response to a study of traffic diversion due to toll increases on the Ohio Turnpike by authors from Penn State University and Wayne State, the Commonwealth Foundation ... [View Full Article]
Thu, January 10, 2008by Matthew Brouillette
Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette before the House Republican Policy Committee
01.09.08
Thank you Chairman Turzai, Rep. Quigley, ... [View Full Article]
Thu, December 13, 2007by News Release
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, in response to the federal government's rejection of that dealt a setback to plans to toll Interstate 80, the Commonwealth Foundation called on lawmakers to aggressively ... [View Full Article]
Tue, December 11, 2007by Policy Brief
Act 44 of 2007 dramatically expanded the scope and power of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to increase tolls on the 537-mile Turnpike; enter into a lease agreement with the Pennsylvania ... [View Full Article]
Thu, November 29, 2007by Policy Brief
In July 2007, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed and Governor Ed Rendell signed Act 44. This legislation authorized the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to increase tolls on the ... [View Full Article]
Tue, November 13, 2007by Matthew Brouillette
Pennsylvania lawmakers should reconsider the money it left on the table earlier this year after rejecting Gov. Rendell's initial plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private-sector partner. ... [View Full Article]
Wed, October 31, 2007by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
10.30.07
Commonwealth Foundation applauds legislation
to enroll new public employees in more ... [View Full Article]
Thu, October 25, 2007by Nathan A. Benefield
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the House Labor Relations Committee
10.25.07
Good afternoon, my name is Nathan Benefield, I am ... [View Full Article]
Sat, October 20, 2007by News Release
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
10.19.07
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, more troubling information was revealed in the ongoing dispute over whether ... [View Full Article]
Fri, October 19, 2007by Matthew Brouillette
Prepared Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette for the House Republican Policy Committee Hearing on October 18, 2007
Thank you Rep. Turzai, Rep. Geist, and members of ... [View Full Article]
Thu, October 18, 2007by News Release
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation called on Gov. Ed Rendell and the General Assembly to declare the Interstate-80 lease agreement between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and ... [View Full Article]
Thu, October 11, 2007by Nathan A. Benefield
Remember the passage in the Bible where Jesus called upon the Roman Empire to provide universal, government-run health insurance? What! There's no such passage? ... [View Full Article]
Thu, September 27, 2007by Policy Brief
Governor Ed Rendell has proposed issuing $850 million in new debt to subsidize
select "alternative energy" companies and energy conservation efforts, along with a mandate that every gallon of ... [View Full Article]
Wed, September 19, 2007by Nathan A. Benefield
Testimony of Nathan Benefield before House Education Committee
09.19.07
Thank you, Chairman Roebuck and members of this committee ... [View Full Article]
Wed, September 12, 2007by John Stossel
On November 14th, the Commonwealth Foundation will host its Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner in downtown Pittsburgh at the Duquesne Club. In addition to honoring Richard M. Scaife for his leadership ... [View Full Article]
Mon, September 10, 2007by Nathan A. Benefield
Following the latest Census Bureau report that 47 million Americans are without health insurance, the talking heads and newspaper editorial boards are renewing their call for "something to be done." ... [View Full Article]
Wed, September 05, 2007by Matthew Brouillette
Is it financially better to earn interest or to pay interest? Seems like a rhetorical question. It should be. However, Governor Rendell and the General Assembly chose to make Pennsylvanians pay ... [View Full Article]
Wed, August 22, 2007by Nathan A. Benefield
Written Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to House Labor Relations Committee
08.22.07
Support for minimum wage increases is based on ... [View Full Article]
Tue, August 21, 2007by Jessica Runk
Although the 2007-2008 budget controversy is fading from the limelight, the exorbitant spending it authorizes cannot be overlooked. One of the largest portions of state spending is public welfare, ... [View Full Article]
Thu, August 16, 2007by News Release
PolicyPoints
Quick Facts from the Commonwealth Foundation
Cyber Schools: Frequently Asked Questions
View Full Article]
Wed, August 15, 2007by News Release
Quick Facts from the Commonwealth Foundation
Campaign Finance Limits and Public Funding
Pennsylvania lawmakers have been considering legislation that would limit campaign ... [View Full Article]