State Budget
PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 Charts
Pennsylvania is in poor financial shape and staring down a consequential demographic shift. Check out the 5 charts below for more on the challenges facing our state and the…
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Read More: PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 ChartsPublic Union Democracy
Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society
In Pennsylvania, government unions enjoy a wealth of legal and political privileges not awarded to other organizations. Here are just a few: Government unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the…
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Why Government Should Not Play with Politics
Government should never collect campaign contributions. House committee members agreed yesterday, passing legislation (SB 166 and HB 1174) that stops the taxpayer-funded collection of campaign contributions for government…
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State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources
Today, the House State Government Committee passed legislation that protects public resources, a good government reform prioritizing ethics over political privilege. The first piece of legislation, SB 166, prohibits…
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Guest Blog: The Hidden Cost of Tax Complexity
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series of occasional blogs by a Philadelphia resident highlighting policy problems holding back the City of Brotherly Love. As a Philadelphia…
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Philly’s School Reform Commission Ends, Questions Abound for Residents & Taxpayers
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission has voted to dissolve itself. The 16-year experiment has been a mixed bag. The school district continues to face tough financial times with a looming…
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Read More: Philly’s School Reform Commission Ends, Questions Abound for Residents & TaxpayersState Budget
New Budget Report Demands Urgent Action
By 2023, the state deficit could reach more than $2 billion. By 2030, Pennsylvania will have just 2.4 workers for every 1 person of retirement age. These were some of the most…
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Read More: New Budget Report Demands Urgent ActionRegulation
PLCB Borrowing Panned, Time to Privatize
There hasn’t been much to praise in this year’s budget battles. However, the governor’s announcement that he won’t try to borrow $1.25 billion against Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)…
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PA’s Poor Budget Report Card
Pennsylvania’s 2017 budget is finally complete, but Pennsylvania’s fiscal house is in disarray. The Volcker Alliance, an organization which seeks to “improve the administration of government at all levels,” recently…
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