State Budget

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Hurts Everyone

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • June 11, 2015

Despite Gov. Wolf campaigning on giving the middle-class a tax cut, his budget plan will raise taxes for every income group. Disapproval of his tax plan was made…

Media

Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Hurts Everyone

Education

Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 10, 2015

As I pointed out yesterday in a chart and blog post, Pennsylvania spends significantly more per student on public schools than the national average. Moreover, increased spending has…

Media

Read More: Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?

Taxes & Economy

The Invisible Severance Tax

  • June 10, 2015

Did you know Pennsylvania imposes a severance tax on natural gas workers? It’s known as an impact fee, but it operates just like a severance tax.    The fee…

Media

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Education

Chart: Education Funding Per Student

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2015

There is an ongoing myth that Pennsylvania underfunds public schools because our “state share” is low. Let’s set the record straight. As a reminder, schools receive revenue from local, state,…

Media

Read More: Chart: Education Funding Per Student

Taxes & Economy

Audio: The True Impact of a Severance Tax

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • June 8, 2015

Gov. Wolf justifies his proposed natural gas severance tax with populist rhetoric, claiming Pennsylvania’s gas drillers aren’t paying their “fair share.” This is far from accurate. Gas drillers paid more…

Media

Read More: Audio: The True Impact of a Severance Tax

Government Accountability

Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?

  • June 8, 2015

Who killed Harrisburg? That’s the question award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst answers in his new book Capital Murder, which chronicles how Harrisburg became the only capital city in American…

Media

Read More: Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?

State Budget

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income Levels

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • June 5, 2015

At the same time Gov. Wolf is claiming his budget proposal will bring a net tax reduction, an Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) study reveals his proposal would actually inflict…

Media

Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income Levels

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2015

The presumption of innocence is at the heart of our nation’s criminal justice system. Yet here in Pennsylvania you can lose your property without ever being convicted of a crime—and…

Media

Read More: Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Education

Charters Drowning in Red Tape

  • James Paul
  • June 3, 2015

What could your family, business, or place of work do with an extra 700 hours? This is a question Pennsylvania charter schools are likely asking after a new report from…

Media

Read More: Charters Drowning in Red Tape