commonwealth fdn Penn

pa stinktank

see main for UK

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mma 9 24

Fox News is helping Republicans spin fracking as a major election issue

The network mentioned fracking 544 times in the lead-up to Kamala Harris’ CNN interview

Special ProgramsClimate & Energy

Written by Allison Fisher

Research contributions from Ilana Berger

Published 09/05/24

Fox News is helping the right elevate fracking as a supposedly major election issue by continuing to litigate Kamala Harris’ position even after she and her campaign have stated that she no longer supports a ban on the natural gas extraction procedure. By keeping the focus on Harris’ position, Fox is distracting from important context about the controversial technique and its relevance to voters.

According to Axios, shortly after Harris announced her bid for the presidency, Republicans started “circulating Harris' endorsement of a fracking ban during her short-lived 2019 White House run — even though she walked it back after becoming President Biden's running mate.”

Then, during the August 29 joint CNN interview with Harris and running mate Tim Walz, one of the first questions from Dana Bash was about her position on fracking, with the CNN anchor describing it as “a pretty big issue, particularly in your must-win state of Pennsylvania.”

An analysis by Media Matters found that from July 27, when Kamala Harris’ campaign stated that she does not support a ban on fracking, to the August 29 interview, Fox News mentioned fracking 544 times, compared to CNN’s 201 mentions and MSNBC’s 30.

Because Fox is driving the discussion around fracking, it has often focused on whether Harris supports the practice and how her position would affect her electability in Pennsylvania.

News networks would better serve their audiences by explaining the climate impacts or local environmental threats associated with fossil fuel extraction, how local voters actually feel about fracking, how energy both clean and fossil fuel-based has fared under the Biden-Harris administration, and even whether a presidential candidate could actually ban fracking.

## Fox News shows no sign of stopping its attacks on Harris’ fracking position even as both she and her campaign have stated she doesn’t support a ban
Fox News has suggested that Harris will be hostile to the oil and gas industry regardless of her stated position.

On the August 15 edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Ainsley Earhardt said, “She wanted to ban fracking, her entire career. Now all of a sudden she’s saying I’m not gonna ban fracking. … She wants to get into the White House on January 20 … and then not change anything. She wants to go so liberal. So just don’t get caught up in her flip-flops, because she does not believe this in her heart. She is — look at her voting record.”

On The Ingraham Angle, Fox host Jeanine Pirro suggested that Harris has not changed her fracking position from 2019, saying: “That was just five years ago. Kamala's agenda was clear as day. Radical and progressive. But suddenly she doesn't believe in any of that anymore,” listing positions including fracking. “Will the real Kamala Harris please stand up? … How can the Trump campaign ensure that voters see the real Harris?”

Pirro’s guest, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy added: “So it doesn’t matter if she changes her words. We know what her actions are.”

After Fox & Friends aired a clip of Harris talking about fracking, guest Andre Beliveau of the Commonwealth Foundation said, “She can backtrack or flip-flop all she wants. The record of the Biden-Harris administration the last four years is quite clear and that record has included — I mean, it's been Green New Deal-ism. It has been a pause on LNG exports.”

After Harris’ CNN interview, some Fox News figures said her position on fracking can’t be trusted.

While the interview was still airing, Pirro and Fox contributor Joe Concha attacked the vice president’s response on Hannity, with Concha claiming that “she's lying” about her position on fracking. The following day,Fox & Friends co-host Lawrence Jones questioned whether she was just going along with Biden’s position and would ultimately revert back to her 2019 stance.

The network also helped spread misinformation aboutBiden’s position on fracking in 2020, and it dominated the conversation then too.

During the week leading up to that election, the network also pushed the false narrative that Pennsylvania would likely be won or lost depending on how voters interpreted the candidates’ stance on fracking. And during the 2022 midterms elections, Fox attacked Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman for his stance on fracking,conflating his previous support for a fracking moratorium — a temporary prohibition — with an outright, permanent ban.

Even though the playbook has been exposed, Fox News continues to use it to shape the national media coverage of the issue.

## Rather than obsessing about her position, networks could provide valuable context about fracking

* Presidents cannot ban fracking on private and state land, where the vast majority – 90% – of fracked-gas production is done. “While there are several ways Harris, if elected president, could halt fracking on federal lands using executive power, she wouldn’t be able to unilaterally ban it on private land,” Bloomberg explains. “Under a 2005 law, the Environmental Protection Agency has almost no regulatory power over fracking. Changing that would require an act of Congress.” Bloomberg, [7/27/24; PolitiFact, 9/1/20]

Under the Biden-Harris administration, U.S. oil and gas production is at an all-time high – including in Pennsylvania — and its policies are supporting major energy projects in the state. As reported by Axios, the state is “part of the multibillion-dollar hydrogen ‘hubs’ program under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law,” and the “EPA announced nearly $400 million in grants for climate projects there under the Inflation Reduction Act.” Reuters, [3/28/24; U.S. Energy Information Administration, accessed 8/2/24; Axios, 7/23/24]

Public support for fracking in Pennsylvania is not a given. After Harris’ recent CNN interview Pennsylvania-based journalist Nick Field wrote, “I can not emphasize enough that - unless they happen to work in the fracking industry - Pennsylvanians don't care about fracking.” A 2020 survey conducted by YouGov found support for fracking in the state was evenly split, though Pennsylvanians who live in rural areas or identify as Republican were more likely to back it. Twitter/X, [8/29/24; YouGov, 10/19/20]

Real issues with fracking are almost entirely ignored in election horse race coverage. In the final week of the 2020 election cycle, cable news coverage failed to meaningfully cover the well-documented environmental and climate issues associated with fracking. This cycle, the media can add to the list of issues the fact that the industry has not delivered the wealth promised to many communities burdened with fracking wells. Media Matters, [11/19/20; Environmental Health News, 2/12/21]

## Methodology...

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g alert 12 22

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2022/12/06/the_false_assumptions_behind_climate_regulations_in_pennsylvania_868702.html

the False Assumptions Behind Climate Regulations in Pennsylvania

By Kevin Mooney

December 06, 2022

While they were in the majority, Pennsylvania House Republicans spent their political capital to advance American energy independence, free speech rights, and scientific integrity.

Unlike too many their counterparts in Washington D.C., they were not cowed by hostile press coverage or well-funded pressure groups that have a stake in undermining sound science. Most recently, for instance, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing this fall exploring the benefits of fossil fuels and pitfalls of “emergency declarations” advanced in the name of climate change.

Since Gov. Tom Wolf, the state’s outgoing Democratic governor, first announced back in October 2019 that he was taking executive action to combat climate change, Republican leaders have held a series of hearings calling attention to scientific data that debunks climate alarmism. They have also worked in partnership with Pennsylvania Democrats representing the energy sector to prevent Wolf from circumventing the state legislature along the way toward imposing carbon taxes.

In April, the Pennsylvania Senate fell just one vote shy of the requisite two-thirds majority needed to override Wolf’s veto of a concurrent resolution from the full General Assembly that would prevent the commonwealth from joining the multi-state climate change compact. Three Senate Democrats joined with Republicans in the override attempt. At issue, is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, commonly known as RGGI, a “cap and trade” regulatoryscheme operating under the guise of climate change that is designed to curtail carbon dioxide emissions throughout the 11 participating New England and Mid-Atlantic states. Government regulators in the RGGI states require electric power plants with a capacity of at least 25 megawatts to purchase carbon allowances at quarterly auctions whenever utilities surpass the greenhouse gas initiative’s predetermined cap on Co2 emissions. Speculators have latitude to resell allowances at higher prices. The auction process, which has been in motion since 2009, is where carbon taxes enter the equation. State Rep. Jim Struzzi, a Republican in Indiana County,explains why.

“RGGI is a tax,” Struzzi said in an interview. “It taxes the carbon dioxide emissions that come from plants anytime they are generating electricity and so basically it punishes these companies for being successful by creating the electricity we need for reliable energy in those cold winter months and hot summer months. If these companies are going to stay in business someone is going to have to pay these costs; and it’s going to be the factories, it’s going to be the consumers, and it’s going to affect everyone.”

Struzzi is the lead sponsor of legislation that would prohibit the governor from joining RGGI and imposing carbon taxes without legislative approval. Wolf vetoed an earlier version of the bill, which seven of his own Democrats co-sponsored on the House side. Wolf is not exactly an outlier among climate change activists in government who are actively working to circumvent the democratic process.

In his testimony before the Pennsylvania House, Marc Morano, the editor and publisher of the Climate Depot website, told lawmakers that he sees a certain parallel between climate change initiatives the COVID-19 lockdowns at all levels of government impacting businesses and schools across the country.

“The Biden administration believes that when democracy fails to achieve its climate goals, it's time to bypass democracy and Congress and follow the COVID model. Climate activists havelusted after the COVID lockdowns as the model for climate lockdowns,” Morano said. “The plan is to declare a 'climate emergency,' toss out elected representatives and follow China's one-party rule model by implementing energy restrictions through the bureaucracy. They don't need no stinkin' democracy. Throughout history, emergency declarations have been used and abused to crush freedom. For those who loved howunelected officials ruled our lives under COVID lockdowns, prepare for the attempts to make climate and energy lockdowns permanent.”

During the same hearing, Kevin Dayaratna, a statistician and data scientist with The Heritage Foundation, presented testimony focusing attention on the “Social Cost of Carbon,” or SCC, which federal regulators define as “economic damages per metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions.” The Biden administration is using the SCC in various climate models to determine the long-term impact of CO2, Dayaratna said. However, these models are based on assumptions that may not square with reality, the Heritage analyst warned. These assumptions tend, for example, to overlook the environmental benefits of Co2 emissions such as the “greening of the planet” that occurred between 1982 and 2009, Dayaratna said. At the same time, the models omit the deleterious effect of regulations that restrict Co2 emissions, he observed.Dayaratna cited figures from the Heritage Foundation that point to a severe economic fallout to U.S. that could result from rejoining the U.N.’s Paris Climate Agreement. By 2040, the U.S. could experience an average employment shortfall of more than 1.2 million lost jobs, loss of income of more than $87,000 for a family of four, and up to a 30% increase in household electricity expenditure, with an aggregate $7 trillion loss in GDP, Dayaratna said.

In Pennsylvania, the state-level outlook is every bit as bleak. The Commonwealth Foundation, a free-market group based in Harrisburg, has just published an analysis that finds RGGI’s “carbon tax regime” could lead to a 114% hike in electricity bills. Although Wolf had Pennsylvania join RGGI this year, the state has not participated in the most recent auctions since Wolf’s executive actions are the subject of legal challenges. Industry and labor groups have filed suit challenging the governor’s ability to act unilaterally on climate change policy as have state senators who have raised questions about the separation of powers. As a solution, the Commonwealth Foundation has proposed passing a constitutional amendment to allow the General Assembly “to disapprove regulations as a check on an agency’s power to restrict energy development in the state.”

Josh Shapiro, the incoming Democratic governor, expressed misgivings about Wolf’s approach toward RGGI while on the campaign trail. Since being elected, he hasn’t made any firm commitments about the state’s future participation. A constitutional amendment offers him a way out.

With his party poised to take a slim majority in the House next year, Shapiro will still need to contend with labor constituents and House Democrats residing in energy producing regions who are opposed to RGGI. Meanwhile, the scientific and economic rationale for the climate change initiative continues to unravel. Gregory Wrightstone, a geologist, and executive director of the Co2 Coalition, has repeatedly informed Pennsylvania House members thatCo2 is a “miracle molecule” that greatly benefits humanity and deserves greater appreciation.

“Critics of fossil fuels routinely exaggerate, and sometimes outright fabricate, their negative effects while ignoring altogether their enormous benefits,” Wrightstone said during his latest testimony before the Pennsylvania House.

“Coal and oil fueled the Industrial Revolution, which gave us unprecedented prosperity and health. Together with natural gas, they promise to raise billions of people in developing countries from poverty and deprivation. Modern economies cannot long survive without fossil fuels. In short, we love CO2 and so should you.”

In a victory forfree speech, climate skeptics have found expression before the Pennsylvania legislature like they have in few other public venues. In a potential victory for American energy, these same skeptics have also exposed the faulty assumptions underpinning costly regulations while alsocalling attention to unconstitutional executive actions.

Kevin Mooney is an investigative reporter with both the Commonwealth Foundation and the Heritage Foundation.

off bs

https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/

11 22 bd

George Coates, Chair of the Board, is a veteran of the wine and spirits industry, a member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, and a board member ofDonorsTrust. He divides his time between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Gerard Alexander is Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia.

Tom Beach is Managing Director of Beach Investment Counsel in West Conshohocken and a board member of many organizations in the freedom movement. He is based in Naples, Fla.

Monty Brown is Vice President of the Sarah Scaife Foundation in Pittsburgh and a board member of Atlas Network.

Emily Cox is Executive Director of the Beth & Ravenel Curry Foundation in New York. She lives in Erie.

Bruce Kern is President of Curtze Food Service, an Erie-based wholesale distributor of food, disposables, equipment, and supplies to restaurants, hotels, country clubs, and health-care institutions.

Devon Liddell is Senior Vice President & CFO for Irex Contracting Group, a network of affiliated specialty contracting companies in Lancaster.

Brittney Paul, a native of Harrisburg, is CEO of Pinpoint LLC, a board member ofInstituto de Libertad Económicapara Puerto Rico, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Hispanic Leadership Fund.

Bill Sordoni is CEO of Sordoni Construction in Forty Fort, representing the fourth generation of family leadership there, and serves on numerous boards in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

mooney Bs on gubment $ to collect union $ for pol campaigns?

"fairness"

pennsylvania will only become a beacon for opportunity when its policies are in the hands of taxpayers and citizens, not special interests and bureaucrats. It’s vital that our government is accountable to the people—not organizations or institutions. Policies that advance transparency and restore workers’ rights are the keys to this happening

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probation reform

many Pennsylvanians face chronic unemployment, welfare dependency, and the cycle of poverty. This happens because labor incentives have been overridden by bad policies that keep millions out of the workforce and enact excessive red tape. We can reverse this trend byending the practice of waiving work requirements on able-bodied Pennsylvanianswith no dependents, removing barriers to employment for those seeking a fresh start, and creating a healthcare system without burdensome regulations.

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chARTER

ducation is the first stepping-stone on the path to success, but Pennsylvania students face severe inequality among public school districts. Thousands who can’t afford private school are trapped in failing schools or situations that aren’t the right fit. The solution to this crisis is school choice. By offering families options outside their zip code-assigned district schools, students are better able to find their path to success. Charter schools, tax credit scholarships, education savings accounts (ESAs), homeschooling, and other types of education choice must become a priority in Pennsylvania.

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GOV WOLF OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING ...

ery family, business owner, and taxpayer in Pennsylvania should be able to increase their financial security without undue interference from our state government. Free-market policies that limit taxes, allow entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs, and offer stability to families will put our state on track to become a national leader. Policies that enact spending limits, cut taxes, and reduce regulations will help Pennsylvania avoid debt and restore sound fiscal planning that will benefit citizens in the years to come

no lnx

cOMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC POLICY ALTERNATIVES

HARRISBURG, PA 17101-1129 | TAX-EXEMPT SINCE JUNE 1988

EIN: 23-2473845

Classification (NTEE)

Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis (Public, Society Benefit — Multipurpose and Other)

Nonprofit Tax Code Designation: 501(c)(3)

Defined as: Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn’t provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

More Resources: ArrowGuideStar

Get notifications: Sign up for updates about our data.

Tax Filings by Year

The IRS Form 990 is an annual information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly. Read the IRS instructions for 990 forms.

If this organization has filed an amended return, it may not be reflected in the data below. Duplicated download links may be due to resubmissions or amendments to an organization's original return.

Information circle outline

The Internal Revenue Service is substantially delayed in processing and releasing nonprofit filings, so documents available here may not be the most recent an organization has filed. ProPublica posts new tax forms as they are released by the IRS.

FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT.

2020

Full Text

990 (FILED ON AUG. 10, 2021)

Full Filing

Schedules ▾

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$5,578,694

Total Functional Expenses $5,451,336

Net income $127,358

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $5,554,970 99.6%

Program services $0

Investment income $20,532 0.4%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $0

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $3,192 0.1%

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $1,006,027 18.5%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $1,863,007 34.2%

Other

Total Assets $4,161,411

Total Liabilities $244,630

Net Assets $3,916,781

Key Employees and Officers Compensation

CHARLES F MITCHELL (PRESIDENT & CEO) $325,700

JENNIFER T STEFANO (VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF STRATEGIST) $277,200

STEPHEN BLOOM (VICE PRESIDENT) $193,400

Help Keep Nonprofit Explorer Free!

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FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT.

2019

PDF

990

Full Text

990 (FILED ON AUG. 17, 2020)

Full Filing

Schedules ▾

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$5,704,965

Total Functional Expenses $4,301,074

Net income $1,403,891

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $5,690,558 99.7%

Program services $0

Investment income $14,407 0.3%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $0

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $0

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $718,668 16.7%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $1,592,333 37.0%

Other

Total Assets $3,921,436

Total Liabilities $213,051

Net Assets $3,708,385

Key Employees and Officers Compensation

CHARLES F MITCHELL (PRESIDENT & CEO) $290,414

JENNIFER T STEFANO (VICE PRESIDENT) $258,108

NATHAN A BENEFIELD (VICE PRESIDENT/COO & SECRE) $157,154

FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT.

2018

PDF

990

Full Text

990 (FILED ON JUNE 26, 2019)

Full Filing

Schedules ▾

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$4,911,259

Total Functional Expenses $3,649,227

Net income $1,262,032

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $4,911,227 100.0%

Program services $0

Investment income $32 0.0%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $0

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $0

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $593,613 16.3%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $1,129,838 31.0%

Other

Total Assets $2,377,725

Total Liabilities $155,530

Net Assets $2,222,195

Key Employees and Officers Compensation

CHARLES F MITCHELL (PRESIDENT & CEO) $220,289

JENNIFER T STEFANO (VICE PRESIDENT) $207,346

NATHAN A BENEFIELD (VICE PRESIDENT/COO & SECRETARY) $133,173

FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT.

2017

PDF

990

Full Text

990 (FILED ON AUG. 9, 2018)

Full Filing

Schedules ▾

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$3,486,350

Total Functional Expenses $2,993,022

Net income $493,328

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $3,486,121 100.0%

Program services $0

Investment income $126 0.0%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $103 0.0%

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $0

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $538,429 18.0%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $932,608 31.2%

Other

Total Assets $1,050,050

Total Liabilities $171,971

Net Assets $878,079

Key Employees and Officers Compensation

CHARLES F MITCHELL (PRESIDENT & CEO) $199,278

MATTHEW J BROUILLETTE (DIR. AND PRESIDENT(THROUGH 6/30/16)) $121,471

NATHAN A BENEFIELD (VICE PRESIDENT/COO & SECRETARY) $99,235

FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT.

2016

Full Text

990 (FILED ON AUG. 15, 2017)

Full Filing

Schedules ▾

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$3,661,832

Total Functional Expenses $3,480,789

Net income $181,043

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $3,658,014 99.9%

Program services $0

Investment income $144 0.0%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $313 0.0%

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $3,361 0.1%

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $392,627 11.3%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $1,098,449 31.6%

Other

Total Assets $492,902

Total Liabilities $95,518

Net Assets $397,384

Key Employees and Officers Compensation

MATTHEW J BROUILLETTE (DIR. AND PRESIDENT(THROUGH 6/30/16)) $209,222

CHARLES F MITCHELL (EVP THROUGH 6/30/16 & THEN PRESIDENT) $161,522

DARRYL M WHITE (VICE PRESIDENT(THROUGH 9/30/16)) $116,230

FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT.

2015

PDF

990

Total Revenue

$2,113,078

Total Functional Expenses $2,734,578

Net income -$621,500

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $2,108,374 99.8%

Program services $0

Investment income $146 0.0%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $4,620 0.2%

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets -$62

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $0

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $266,819 9.8%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $718,987 26.3%

Other

Total Assets $764,438

Total Liabilities $547,184

Net Assets $217,254

FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC.

2014

PDF

990

Full Text

990 (FILED ON NOV. 4, 2015)

Full Filing

Schedules ▾

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$3,929,099

Total Functional Expenses $3,838,154

Net income $90,945

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $3,764,218 95.8%

Program services $0

Investment income $451 0.0%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $28,171 0.7%

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $136,259 3.5%

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $302,410 7.9%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $854,846 22.3%

Other

Total Assets $1,018,031

Total Liabilities $178,846

Net Assets $839,185

Key Employees and Officers Compensation

MATTHEW J BROUILLETTE (DIRECTOR PRESIDENT & CEO) $175,263

CHARLES F MITCHELL (VP & COO) $127,148

MICHAEL W GLEBA (DIRECTOR) $0

FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC.

2013

PDF

990

Full Text

990 (FILED ON DEC. 29, 2014)

Full Filing

Schedules ▾

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$2,810,324

Total Functional Expenses $2,665,762

Net income $144,562

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $2,642,015 94.0%

Program services $0

Investment income $1,296 0.0%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $28,564 1.0%

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $138,449 4.9%

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $308,118 11.6%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $661,760 24.8%

Other

Total Assets $919,970

Total Liabilities $161,248

Net Assets $758,722

Key Employees and Officers Compensation

MATTHEW J BROUILLETTE (PRESIDENT & CEO) $166,871

CHARLES F MITCHELL (VP AND COO) $111,787

MICHAEL W GLEBA (CHAIRMAN EMERITUS) $0

FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC.

2012

PDF

990

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$1,551,722

Total Functional Expenses $1,648,046

Net income -$96,324

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $1,513,556 97.5%

Program services $0

Investment income $397 0.0%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $0

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $37,769 2.4%

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $247,122 15.0%

Professional fundraising fees $0

Other salaries and wages $534,275 32.4%

Other

Total Assets $696,947

Total Liabilities $82,975

Net Assets $613,972

FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC.

2011

PDF

990

Raw XML

990

Total Revenue

$1,951,566

Total Functional Expenses $1,671,566

Net income $280,000

Notable sources of revenue Percent of total revenue

Contributions $1,944,041 99.6%

Program services $0

Investment income $1,345 0.1%

Bond proceeds $0

Royalties $0

Rental property income $0

Net fundraising $0

Sales of assets $0

Net inventory sales $0

Other revenue $6,180 0.3%

Notable expenses Percent of total expenses

Executive compensation $289,476 17.3%

Professional fundraising fees $18,000 1.1%

Other salaries and wages $0

Other

Total Assets $758,913

Total Liabilities $48,930

Net Assets $709,98

https://ballotpedia.org/Commonwealth_Foundation

brochure?

Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The foundation develops and advances public policies based on the nation’s founding principles of limited constitutional government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility for one’s actions.

Mission

The Commonwealth Foundation’s research and educational efforts are firmly established on several core values that form the basis of a “civil society.” The activities of the Foundation are therefore committed to:

Respecting and protecting the lives and property of others.
Recognizing the inseparability of personal and economic freedom.
Upholding personal responsibility and accountability for one’s actions.
Challenging the general perception that government intervention is the most appropriate most efficient means of solving societal problems.
Demonstrating the power of private institutions—both for-profit and nonprofit—to create a good and civil society.
Promoting the use of economic reasoning to understand a world of scarcity, trade-offs, and the unseen consequences of governmental solutions to societal problems.

History

The Commonwealth Foundation had its origins at a Heritage Foundation meeting in Hershey, Pennsylvania in June 1987 when T. William Boxx and the late Alex G. McKenna were introduced to Don Eberly. Alex and William had been discussing for some time the possibility of launching a state-based think tank for Pennsylvania with the support and leadership of the Philip M. McKenna Foundation, of which Alex was chairman and William was secretary-treasurer.

The Commonwealth Foundation was incorporated on September 14, 1987. The term "Commonwealth" was included in the name because it symbolized the intent to represent the common good and reflected the official status of the state. "Public Policy Alternatives" was included to express the foundation's intent to provide an alternative policy agenda to that chosen by the Pennsylvania legislature.

At the first organization meeting, Alex McKenna expressed his vision for the Commonwealth Foundation. He stated that it was "to be an independent public policy organization not associated with any special interest ... should act as policy entrepreneurs willing to take on the hard issues ... produce scholarly and professional research from the perspective of enhancing economic growth, individual opportunity and political accountability ... [and] look to free market private sector solutions ..."[1]

Work

Transparency projects

CF has a number of government transparency projects:

Spending database

CF has supported the creation of a state spending database and in May 2009, Rep. Jim Christiana introduced HB 1460, which would do just that. Sen. Pat Browne introduced similar legislation in the Senate (SB 105). HB 1880, sponsored by Rick Mirabito passed the state House, and was expected to be taken in the Senate.

No more taxes

Please, No More Taxes! is a website designed to inform and organize Pennsylvania taxpayers. It includes sections detailing taxes going toward corporate welfare, "walking around money," government waste, cronyism, and other miscellaneous projects.

School choice

School Choice Saves was set up by CF to promote school choice for both its educational and financial benefits. The site includes school choice facts, original research and reports, along with the latest new

xternal links

Footnotes

↑ T. William Boxx, "The Origins of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives," Commonwealth Sense, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2008.

Commonwealth Foundationhttps://www.commonwealthfoundation.org

The Commonwealth Foundation is helping Pennsylvania write the next chapter in America's story.

Issues · ‎Staff · ‎Charles Mitchell

About Us - Commonwealth Foundationhttps://www.commonwealthfoundation.org › about

We've become the go-to source of free-market ideas and policy solutions in Pennsylvania on issues ranging from school choice and public sector labor reform to ...

James Miller - Commonwealth Foundationhttps://www.commonwealthfoundation.org › staff › james...

James holds an associate degree in social sciences from Harrisburg Area Community College and a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg ...

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