State Budget
Senate Passes Budget, Sends to Governor
Things have changed quickly in the Capitol this week. On Monday, we wrote about a potential House vote on an emergency funding bill. That plan was scrapped. Yesterday, we talked…
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Read More: Senate Passes Budget, Sends to GovernorState Budget
A Christmas Spending Spree is in the Works
In an unexpected move, the House voted to revive the Senate’s $30.8 billion budget yesterday, which many thought was dead after a pension reform bill went down in defeat…
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Read More: A Christmas Spending Spree is in the WorksEducation
Students Need Scholarships, Not Sympathy
Gov. Tom Wolf’s insistence on higher taxes blocks state funding from school districts and jeopardizes private school scholarships for thousands of low- and middle-income students.
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Read More: Students Need Scholarships, Not SympathyState Budget
Moving on From Budget Gridlock
Editor's note: Recent legislative developments have made an emergency funding plan unlikely. For the latest on the budget impasse, read this blog. Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee voted…
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Read More: Moving on From Budget GridlockState 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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Read More: One Idea that’s Changing the World