:Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives
{{Short description|American think tank}}
{{About|the Pennsylvania think tank|the London-based organization|Commonwealth Foundation}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Commonwealth Foundation
|image = Commonwealth Foundation Logo.png
|formation = 1987
|tax_id = 23-2473845
|type = Public policy think tank
|location = 225 State Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|region_served = Pennsylvania
| revenue_year = 2019
| expenses_year = 2019
|leader_title = President
|leader_title2 = Chairman
| leader_name2 = George Coates{{cite news |title=People on the Move: George Coates |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/potmsearch/detail/submission/6443057/George_Coates |accessdate=23 March 2020 |publisher=Philadelphia Business Journal |date=October 16, 2017}}
|website = {{URL|http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org}}
| board_of_directors = {{hlist | Gerard Alexander | Monty Brown | Thomas Beach | Bruce Kern | Devon Liddell | Brittney Paul | George Coates Jr. {{cite web|title=Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors|url=https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/about/page/board-of-directors|publisher=Commonwealth Foundation|access-date=2022-01-13}}}}
}}
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives is a think tank based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=Jason|title=A look at the track records of local legislators|url=http://cumberlink.com/news/local/a-look-at-the-track-records-of-local-legislators/article_6b09433d-f343-5152-a381-de8428eb6b5c.html|accessdate=5 March 2015|publisher=The Sentinel|date=January 16, 2010}} It develops and advances fiscally conservative and libertarian public policies.{{cite news|last1=Warner|first1=Dave|title=Harrisburg-area think tanks influence policies|url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/think_tanks.html|accessdate=5 March 2015|publisher=The Patriot News|date=April 10, 2011}}{{cite news|last1=McQuade|first1=Dan|title=Commonwealth Foundation to Demonstrate at Schools Protest|url=http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/10/15/group-hiring-counter-protesters-teachers-union-demonstration/|accessdate=5 March 2015|publisher=Philadelphia Magazine|date=October 15, 2014}} The organization's stated mission is to "transform free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish."{{cite web|title=What is CF?|url=http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/about/|publisher=Commonwealth Foundation|accessdate=5 March 2015}}
History
The Commonwealth Foundation was founded in 1987 by Don Eberly.{{cite book|last1=Dionne Jr.|first1=E.J.|last2=Daly|first2=Lew|title=God's Economy: Faith-Based Initiatives and the Caring State|date=2010|publisher=ReadHowYouWant.com|isbn=978-1459605879|page=167}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=Jason|title=CEO of Commonwealth Foundation stepping down in June|url=http://www.cpbj.com/article/20160405/CPBJ01/160409916/ceo-of-commonwealth-foundation-stepping-down-in-june|accessdate=6 June 2016|publisher=Central Penn Business Journal|date=April 5, 2016}}
Jane Leader Janeczek, a registered Democrat and the daughter of former Pennsylvania Democratic Governor George M. Leader, became the Commonwealth Foundation's board chair in 2016. She 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."{{cite news|last1=Leader Janeczek|first1=Jane|title=How Democratic Gov. Leader's daughter shed party labels|url=http://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/06/06/how-democratic-gov-leaders-daughter-shed-party-labels-column/85481044/|accessdate=6 June 2016|publisher=York Daily Record|date=June 6, 2016}}
In 2017, George G. H. Coates Jr. was elected as board chair.{{Cite web|date=2017-10-16|title=People on the Move, October 16, 2017|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/potmsearch/detail/submission/6443057/George_Coates|access-date=2022-01-13|website=www.bizjournals.com}} Coates is an alcohol industry executive who also serves on the boards of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Americans for Fair Treatment, and Donors Trust.{{Cite web|title=Directors & Staff|url=https://www.donorstrust.org/who-we-are/directors-and-staff/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=DonorsTrust|language=en-US}}
Activities
Commonwealth is active in policy areas such as criminal justice reform, school choice, and the Pennsylvania state budget. Commonwealth supports comprehensive criminal justice reforms focusing state resources on violent offenders and helping non-violent offenders who have served their sentences to reintegrate into society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200124/bartolotta-credits-rsquomeaningful-public-policy-reformsrsquo-with-reducing-state-inmate-population|title=Bartolotta credits 'meaningful public policy reforms' with reducing state inmate population|last=Prose|first=J. D.|website=The Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06|archive-date=2020-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127200223/https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200124/bartolotta-credits-rsquomeaningful-public-policy-reformsrsquo-with-reducing-state-inmate-population|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://levittownnow.com/2019/12/12/lawmakers-advance-bills-designed-to-revamp-pas-criminal-justice-policies/|title=Lawmakers Advance Bills Designed To Revamp PA's Criminal Justice Policies|last=Pennsylvania|first=The Center Square-|date=2019-12-12|website=LevittownNow.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-06}} The Commonwealth Foundation is a frequent commentator on public school reform; advocating for school choice through increased charter schools and tax credits for scholarships.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-warrens-ardent-defense-of-the-teachers-union-monopoly-hurts-students/2020/02/20/fe5aa2b2-5411-11ea-9e47-59804be1dcfb_story.html|title=Opinion {{!}} Elizabeth Warren's misguided approach to charter schools|last=politics|first=George F. Will|date=|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222111552/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-warrens-ardent-defense-of-the-teachers-union-monopoly-hurts-students/2020/02/20/fe5aa2b2-5411-11ea-9e47-59804be1dcfb_story.html |archive-date=2020-02-22 |access-date=2020-03-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-000-attendees-expected-pennsylvania-school-choice-coalition-130000337.html|title=1,000+ Attendees Expected at Pennsylvania School Choice Coalition Rally|website=finance.yahoo.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-06}}{{cite news|last1=Shamlin III|first1=Wilford|url=http://www.phillytrib.com/news/charter-school-vote-draws-criticism/article_bb21e134-ae7e-56f1-b4bb-55445d64e522.html|title=Charter school vote draws criticism|date=February 20, 2015|accessdate=5 March 2015|publisher=Philadelphia Tribune}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wgal.com/article/gov-tom-wolf-responds-to-president-donald-trumps-criticism-of-record-on-school-choice/30784759|title=Wolf responds to Trump's criticism of record on school choice|last=Shannon|first=Anne|date=2020-02-05|website=WGAL|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/02/05/donald-trump-state-union-fact-check-school-choice-betsy-devos/4668993002/|title=Trump's State of the Union school choice scholarship would be paid by Betsy DeVos. One Philadelphia girl would benefit.|last=Richards|first=Erin|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-06}}
The group "advocates for small government and market-based solutions"{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-republican-leaders-question-gov-wolf-s-commitment-to-fiscal/article_bf37ef3e-4784-11ea-b70f-d775b4a87b14.html|title=Pennsylvania Republican leaders question Gov. Wolf's commitment to fiscal responsibility in budget address|last=Square|first=Dave Lemery {{!}} The Center|website=The Center Square|date=4 February 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}} such as supporting the privatization of Pennsylvania's state-run liquor stores.{{cite news|last1=Gleiter|first1=Sue|url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/02/liquor_privatization_poll_penn.html|title=Commonwealth Foundation releases poll showing voters support liquor privatization in Pennsylvania|accessdate=5 March 2015|publisher=The Patriot-News}} The organization also supported former Democratic Governor Ed Rendell's proposal to privatize or lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.{{cite news|last1=Lieberman|first1=Brett|url=http://blog.pennlive.com/pennsyltucky/2007/12/just_the_facts_maam.html|title=Just the facts, ma'am|date=December 11, 2007|accessdate=6 March 2015|publisher=The Patriot News}} The group was nominated for the Atlas Network's Templeton Freedom Award for its work in support of pension reform in the state.{{Cite press release|url=http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/10/18/1623414/0/en/The-Commonwealth-Foundation-of-Pennsylvania-Named-Finalist-For-Atlas-Network-s-2018-Templeton-Freedom-Award-For-Pension-Reform-Efforts.html|title=The Commonwealth Foundation of Pennsylvania Named Finalist For Atlas Network's 2018 Templeton Freedom Award For Pension Reform Efforts|last=Network|first=Atlas|date=2018-10-18|website=GlobeNewswire News Room|access-date=2020-03-06}} The organization supported two ballot measures to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to limit the governor's emergency powers. A guest commentary in The Patriot News criticized the group's tactics in supporting the ballot initiatives.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Jeanne |title=The Commonwealth Foundation is misleading voters |url=https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/05/the-commonwealth-foundation-is-misleading-voters-opinion.html |access-date=27 November 2021}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20141221130415/http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/232473845/popup/1 Organizational Profile] – National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)
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Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Pennsylvania
Category:Organizations established in 1987
Category:1987 establishments in Pennsylvania
Category:Government of Pennsylvania
Category:Libertarian think tanks
Category:Libertarian organizations based in the United States