Our policy research function is manifested in policy papers stressing that government in Pennsylvania - and government leaders in the Commonwealth - should focus on accountability, efficiency, and responsibility in providing government services and in public service.

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The Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy's Mission

The Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit public policy research organization that stresses that government in Pennsylvania - and government leaders in the Commonwealth - should focus on accountability, efficiency, and responsibility in providing government services and in public service. The Center places special emphasis on free market principles, the role of servanthood, and the responsibilities of citizenship that form the foundation of our political structure.

Recent Additions to our Policy Papers

Sunshine Week Promotes Open Government Year Round

By David A. Atkinson is a Research Associate with the Edward H. Arnold Institute for Policy Studies at the Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy on

Sunshine Week is celebrated in March.  Given declining civics instruction, duly note this observance does not mark the end of winter as predicted by various groundhogs.  Surely, it is overshadowed by St. Patrick’s Day.  As public interest observances go, it should be a red-letter date. The Sunshine Law guarantees our access to public meetings.  We […]

No Sure Bet: Student Scholarships Riding on Raiding Horse Money

By David A. Atkinson, Associate of the Edward H. Arnold Institute for Policy Studies at the Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy on

Coming off several years of notorious lack of success at shackling a mounting pile of urgent infrastructure needs to imposing a severance tax on gas drilling, Governor Wolf is apparently undeterred.  Not only has he revved up Restore PA for another run, he is jumping into the same strategy pool again. His daily double for […]

Trusting Counties With Greater Financial Responsibility

By David A. Atkinson, Research Associate, Susquehanna Valley Center's Edward H. Arnold Institute for Policy Studies on

  Pennsylvania’s longest-running tax dispute pertains to the heavy dependence on property taxes to fund public education.  Persistent public antipathy and active litigation make property taxes for schools the all-consuming controversy.  That does not mean other local tax systems are up to snuff and non-contentious. County commissioners are laying out their 2020 legislative agenda.  Due […]

Demeaning Sound Science Harms Public Policy And Education

By David A. Atkinson, Associate of The Susquehanna Valley Center's Edward H. Arnold Institute for Policy Studies on

  Sam Cooke’s 1960 hit song – What A Wonderful World – starts with a series of disclaimers, including these: “…Don’t know much biology; Don’t know much about a science book…Don’t know much trigonometry; Don’t know much about algebra…”  As has been proved billions of times, kindling romance does not require a science text or […]