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Prosperity
Reforms would reduce poverty, increase prosperity
Originally published on LNP On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his first annual state budget address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While he hasn’t unveiled the details of…
Read More: Reforms would reduce poverty, increase prosperityEvery family, business owner, and taxpayer in Pennsylvania should be able to increase their financial security without undue interference from our state government. Free-market policies that limit taxes, allow entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs, and offer stability to families will put our state on track to become a national leader. Policies that enact spending limits, cut taxes, and reduce regulations will help Pennsylvania avoid debt and restore sound fiscal planning that will benefit citizens in the years to come.
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Criminal Justice Reform
Moving Toward Efficient, Effective Criminal Justice
The economy is growing, but Pennsylvania just keeps sinking deeper into debt. Since 1970, we’ve tripled our overall operating budget—but our population has grown only 8 percent. Even adjusting for…
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Guest Post: How Philly’s Brutal Tax Policies Drive Away Jobs
Businesses and people vote with their feet. As a long-time Philadelphian, I have unfortunately witnessed my neighbors taking their livelihoods to the suburbs—or beyond. Politicians cast the blame here and…
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Gov. Wolf Blinded to Benefits of School Choice
Gov. Wolf’s 2019 budget promotes public and private options for pre-K and post-secondary education. He calls Pennsylvania’s post-secondary institutions “laboratories for innovation.” Most remarkably, the governor touts Pennsylvania Higher…
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Read More: Gov. Wolf Blinded to Benefits of School ChoiceCriminal Justice Reform
Fighting Poverty can be a Bipartisan Effort
Here's a letter I submitted to the Philadelphia Daily News on how Pennsylvanians of any ideology can share good intent, and work toward a common goal. I was disappointed…
Media
Read More: Fighting Poverty can be a Bipartisan EffortTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania, Let’s Make our Taxes an Investment
What do we get for our taxes in Pennsylvania? The question is rarely asked—because the answer is just too painful. But as Tax Day approaches, it's time for taxpayers to…
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It’s Time to Tackle Debt
An ostrich burying its head in the sand is a classic analogy for avoiding difficult decisions. Though this is a mischaracterization—their heads are buried to protect their eggs from predators—the metaphor…
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New Evidence Shows Work is the Path to Prosperity
Poverty and unemployment are vicious cycles. The longer you remain unemployed, the harder it is to find work—and poverty becomes more entrenched. As the Urban Institute puts it, “long-term…
Media
Read More: New Evidence Shows Work is the Path to ProsperityEducation
Economic Growth or Education OpportunityWhy not Both
In a recent Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed, Mark Gleason explains that growing the economy and expanding educational opportunity are complementary, not competing goals: When it comes to preparing our children…
Media
Read More: Economic Growth or Education OpportunityWhy not BothTaxes & Economy
First Do No Harm to Pa.’s Energy Sector
Pennsylvania’s energy industry is growing, but state government intervention through new taxes or special interest bailouts would threaten the positive trends of job growth and low energy prices. Pennsylvania ranked…
Media
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Work Requirements Can Help Solve Pa.’s Workforce Challenges
The mismatch between job openings, workers’ skills, and workers’ expectations is a hot topic in the national and state media. As our CEO Charles Mitchell pointed out…
Media
Read More: Work Requirements Can Help Solve Pa.’s Workforce ChallengesState Budget
Rein in Spending, So Pa.’s Economy Can Race
My daughter recently started horseback riding lessons. She’s learning how to hold the reins with enough give for the horse to move but tight enough that the horse follows her directions. Like…
Media
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5 Facts on the Proposed Nuclear Power Bailout
Should Pennsylvanians pay more for electricity to benefit nuclear power companies? A group of lawmakers are proposing a new category to our renewable energy mandates known as the Alternative…
Media
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Raising Minimum Wage Causes Job Loss
In his 2019 budget address, Governor Wolf lamented “too many hardworking people are struggling to get by.” The solution is attracting high-wage jobs and encouraging more Pennsylvanians to gain valuable…
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The Taxpayer Protection Act: An Updated Legislator’s Guide
Pennsylvanians pay $4,589 per person in state and local taxes, which equals 10.2 percent of residents’ total income. This trend must be reversed by restraining spending growth through long-term reforms…
Fact Sheet
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Pa. Small Businesses Show Tax Reform is Key to Greater Prosperity
Keystone Clippers has exceeded expectations. Owner Al Rodriguez is now “ahead of the game” due to last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He has added…
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Wolf’s Budget Rhetoric a Relief, but Doesn’t Match Reality
Charles Mitchell, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Wolf’s fifth budget address: What a change four years and nine defeated…
Press Release
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5 Takeaways from Gov. Wolf’s 2019 Budget
1. Dramatic cost overruns lead to a $86 billion budget. Gov. Wolf proposed a $34.146 billion General Fund budget and a total operating budget of $85.804 billion.
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Why There’s “Money in Politics”
The recent public corruption indictment of John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, leader of the IBEW 98 labor union, Philadelphia City Council member Bobby Henon, and a slew of other IBEW leaders shows…
Media
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New Report Shows Shortcomings of Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania moviegoers who bought tickets for M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass last weekend paid more than the price of the ticket. They paid with their taxes. According to the Department of…
Media
Read More: New Report Shows Shortcomings of Corporate WelfarePublic Union Democracy
PLCB Keeps Employees in the Dark
Less than one year ago, the Supreme Court declared that public sector workers’ constitutional rights to free speech and association came before government unions’ desire to collect fees from those…
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Five Ways to Promote Prosperity & Grow the Economy
Revenue collections are $400 million above projections. Next year’s budget should be easy to balance. Instead, lawmakers are looking at a projected $1.7 billion deficit. Why? Pennsylvania continues…
Memo
Read More: Five Ways to Promote Prosperity & Grow the Economy