State Budget
Framework Dead, Time for a No-Tax Hike Spending Plan
Despite legislative action this past weekend, a “framework budget” and a looming vote to raise taxes now appear to be off the table. The next step must be to pass…
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Read More: Framework Dead, Time for a No-Tax Hike Spending PlanRegulation
Government Liquor is a Liability
Liquor privatization came dangerously close to reality this year with a true privatization plan passing both houses of the legislature in June only to be stonewalled by the governor. So…
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Read More: Government Liquor is a LiabilityTaxes & Economy
Latest Wolf Tax Plan Eliminates 6,500 Jobs
If Gov. Wolf succeeds in raising Pennsylvania’s personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.30 percent (an increase of 7.5 percent in the rate), what will be the impact on…
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Read More: Latest Wolf Tax Plan Eliminates 6,500 JobsPublic Union Democracy
Tax Hike of Christmas Past?
Given the rumblings of an imminent vote on higher income taxes, it's important to remember what happened 12 years ago (nearly to the day!) with our state budget. Ed Rendell was…
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One Idea that’s Changing the World
The world has made astounding progress in the last few decades, with world poverty dropping by more than 80 percent in just 36 years. While the dramatic reduction is…
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What’s in the Latest Tax Hike Plan?
Editors Note: updated (12/18) to reflect recent developments As reported by ABC 27 and others, Pennsylvania House leaders will hold a vote on an estimated $1.8 billion tax…
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Read More: What’s in the Latest Tax Hike Plan?Education
Wolf’s School Funding Cuts
In a nutshell, Gov. Tom Wolf’s guiding philosophy on education reform is to spend more money on public schools. Embracing the repeatedly-debunked myth of education cuts under the previous…
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Read More: Wolf’s School Funding CutsHealth Care
Celebrating Crummy Care
Midnight is the enrollment deadline for the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who want to remained insured through healthcare.gov. To no one's surprise, the rush to enroll has led to another…
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Read More: Celebrating Crummy CareRegulation
House Pension Compromise Is Step in Right Direction
The pension reform bill is quickly making its way through the Pa. House. The latest iteration, SB 1071, mirrors the Senate's version (SB 1082; read our summary here),…
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Read More: House Pension Compromise Is Step in Right Direction