Common Sense Weekly
Here's Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.
We hope you have a great weekend!
Pennsylvania’s Lackluster Economy Continues to Drive People, Businesses Away
Pennsylvania, once again, ranked poorly in national rankings due to its lackluster economy. Rich States, Poor States—an annual report compiled by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)—reveals many worrisome economic trends in the commonwealth.
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Even in an Off-Year, Unions Spend Millions in Pennsylvania in 2025
Union influence continues to plague Pennsylvania politics. Even in an off-year election, more than $22 million flowed into the state from unions—both public and private—for supporting judicial-retention races and boosting war chests ahead of the midterms.
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Why PJM’s Price Cap Costs Pennsylvanians
Pennsylvania’s electricity prices have increased 46 percent since 2018, and the grid that delivers that power is under unprecedented strain.
The policies now being proposed to address the strain—including continuing the ceiling on capacity market prices—will deepen the underlying problems.
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Shapiro's Medicaid Fraud Math
How Representative Are Pennsylvania’s Public Sector Unions?
Whether one supports or opposes government unionization, it’s hard to argue with a novel reform embedded within Florida’s newly enacted government union law.
The reform, which goes into effect on July 1, 2026, requires that unions secure at least 50 percent turnout from employees in a representation election—as well as at least 50 percent approval from those who show up to vote—before the union can become or remain the voice for a government union workplace.
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