Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives

This article is about the Pennsylvania think tank. For the London-based organization, see Commonwealth Foundation.
Commonwealth Foundation
Formation 1987
Type Public policy think tank
Location
Region served
Pennsylvania
President
 Charles Mitchell[1]
Chairwoman
 Jane Leader Janeczek[2]
Budget
Revenue: $3,929,099
Expenses: $3,838,154
(FYE December 2014)[3]
Website www.commonwealthfoundation.org

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives is a nonpartisan think tank based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[4] It develops and advances fiscally conservative and libertarian public policies.[5][6] The organization's stated mission is to "transform free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish."[7]

History

The Commonwealth Foundation was founded in 1987 by Don Eberly.[8] Matthew Brouillette was hired as the organization's president in February 2002. At the time, the organization had three employees and $350,000 in annual revenue. In April 2016, Brouillette announced he was stepping down from his position. During his tenure, the organization grew to have 18 employees and an annual budget of more than $4 million with offices in Harrisburg and King of Prussia. Charles Mitchell replaced Brouillette as the organization's president and CEO.[9]

Jane Leader Janeczek chairs the organization's board of directors. Leader Janeczek is a registered Democrat and the daughter of former Pennsylvania Democratic Governor George M. Leader. Leader Janeczek became involved with the Commonwealth Foundation due to the organization's work on prison reform. In a column announcing her election as the organization's chairwoman, she wrote: "As my father and I — both lifelong Democrats — became more familiar with the work of the Commonwealth Foundation, we found not one policy proposal with which we disagreed. Whether prison reform to fix an ailing system, pension reform to put our state on solid financial footing, or paycheck protection to respect the use of taxpayer dollars, the Commonwealth Foundation’s proposals represent common-sense policies."[2]

Activities

The organization supports the privatization of Pennsylvania's state-run liquor stores.[10] The Commonwealth Foundation is a proponent of increased school choice through charter schools and school vouchers.[11] The organization supported former Democratic Governor Ed Rendell's proposal to privatize or lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.[12]

The organization's projects include PennsylvaniaVotes.org, which describes every bill, amendment, and vote that takes place in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and PFTFails.com, a website that documents the activities of Pennsylvania's teacher's unions.[4][6]

References

  1. ↑ Scott, Jason (April 12, 2016). "Commonwealth Foundation names new president, CEO". Central Penn Business Journal. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 Leader Janeczek, Jane (June 6, 2016). "How Democratic Gov. Leader's daughter shed party labels". York Daily Record. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Charity Rating". Charity Navigator. Also see "Quickview data" (PDF). GuideStar. Total Revenue: $2,810,324 Total Expenses: $2,665,762 [FYE December 2013]
  4. 1 2 Scott, Jason (January 16, 2010). "A look at the track records of local legislators". The Sentinel. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Warner, Dave (April 10, 2011). "Harrisburg-area think tanks influence policies". The Patriot News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 McQuade, Dan (October 15, 2014). "Commonwealth Foundation to Demonstrate at Schools Protest". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "What is CF?". Commonwealth Foundation. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Dionne, Jr., E.J.; Daly, Lew (2010). God's Economy: Faith-Based Initiatives and the Caring State. ReadHowYouWant.com,. p. 167. ISBN 9781459605879.
  9. ↑ Scott, Jason (April 5, 2016). "CEO of Commonwealth Foundation stepping down in June". Central Penn Business Journal. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Gleiter, Sue. "Commonwealth Foundation releases poll showing voters support liquor privatization in Pennsylvania". The Patriot-News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  11. ↑ Shamlin III, Wilford (February 20, 2015). "Charter school vote draws criticism". Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Lieberman, Brett (December 11, 2007). "Just the facts, ma'am". The Patriot News. Retrieved 6 March 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 40°15′48″N 76°53′08″W / 40.2634°N 76.8856°W / 40.2634; -76.8856

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