Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation’s premiere taxpayer watchdog, in conjunction with The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a Pennsylvania-based research and education institute, will release the Pennsylvania Piglet Book at a press conference next week.  Piglet Books expose wasteful spending by state governments.

What: Pennsylvania Piglet Book press conference

Who: The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives and

           Citizens Against Government Waste
When: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. EST
Where: Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, Pa.

Speakers will include Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette and CAGW Vice President for Policy David Williams.  CAGW’s mascot Porky will also be in attendance.

The government’s growing consumption of personal income continues to drain the state’s economy.  Despite Gov. Edward Rendell’s claim that his administration is “squeezing every nickel out of government,” the Pennsylvania Piglet Book exposes many areas where wasteful spending can be eliminated.  The report identifies $8 billion in potential savings over two fiscal years, providing a valuable resource to legislators and taxpayers. 

From $30 million in corporate welfare for the PNC Bank to expense accounts for lawyers and judges,  the Pennsylvania Piglet Book offers enough examples to make any Pennsylvania taxpayer cringe. 

Hard copies will be distributed at the press conference.  The report will also be available online at www.cagw.org or www.commonwealthfoundation.org.  For answers to further questions, to schedule an interview, or to order a hard copy, please contact Tom Finnigan (202-467-5309, media@cagw.org) or Nathan Benefield (717-671-1901, nab@commonwealthfoundation.org). 

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.  The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, Inc. is an independent, non-profit research and educational institute that develops and advances public policies based on the nation’s founding principles of limited constitutional government, economic and personal freedom, and individual responsibility for one’s actions.