Every 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.

Government Accountability

The Shadow Budget Comes to Light

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Tirzah Duren
  • June 6, 2019

The shadow budget is coming into the light in an unlikely way this…

Media

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State Budget

Making Bad Investments Won’t Restore PA

  • Tirzah Duren
  • June 3, 2019

Governor Wolf’s Restore PA plan utilizes a natural gas severance tax and borrowing to fund infrastructure improvements. There’s a better way to improve our infrastructure.

Memo

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State Budget

Harrisburg’s Notoriously Big Choice

  • Tirzah Duren
  • June 3, 2019

“More money, more problems.” It seems that Pennsylvania lawmakers and The Notorious B.I.G. may have found some common ground. Surplus revenues have been a hot topic since the Independent Fiscal…

Media

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Energy

Climate Change

  • Gordon Tomb
  • May 30, 2019

For decades state government has imposed subsidies, increased regulation and raised energy costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts have largely failed to make an impact. On the other…

Memo

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State Budget

Federal Tax Reform: A Pennsylvania Gold Rush

  • Tirzah Duren
  • May 23, 2019

After centuries of hopeless panning and prospecting, gold has finally been discovered right here in Harrisburg. The historic find weighs in…

Media

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Criminal Justice Reform

Up, Up, and Away: Snapshots from Wolf’s Budget

  • May 21, 2019

Soon lawmakers in Harrisburg will begin debating the 2019-2020 budget and what to do with excess revenue from the booming economy. Here’s your two-minute summary of the budget situation and…

Media

Read More: Up, Up, and Away: Snapshots from Wolf’s Budget

Education

School Districts’ Cash Stash Tops $4.6 Billion

  • May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts hold $4.6 billion in reserve funds, according the latest data available from the Pa. Department of Education. Reserves rose by $64 million in…

Press Release

Read More: School Districts’ Cash Stash Tops $4.6 Billion

State Budget

Failure to Save Now Means Tax Hikes Later

  • Tirzah Duren
  • May 7, 2019

Anyone who’s had to pinch a few pennies knows this to be true: Failure to save in good years means you’re not prepared for the bad ones. This is a…

Media

Read More: Failure to Save Now Means Tax Hikes Later

Criminal Justice Reform

Four Ways Lawmakers Are Setting Up Pa. For Success

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 3, 2019

Freedom and opportunity are on the move in the Keystone State. In the past week, lawmakers have taken four serious strides for the families and business owners of Pennsylvania. We’re…

Media

Read More: Four Ways Lawmakers Are Setting Up Pa. For Success

State Budget

Tax Reforms Not Football Will Keep People in Pa.

  • May 1, 2019

The Steelers may not be the most recent Pennsylvania team to win a Super Bowl, but that doesn’t stop them from having the second highest out-of-state fan base. The…

Media

Read More: Tax Reforms Not Football Will Keep People in Pa.

State Budget

Protecting Pa.’s Future: The Taxpayer Protection Act

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 30, 2019

Pennsylvanians currently owe more than $128 billion in state and local debt—an astounding $10,015 for every man, woman, and child. Yet, our state government is raking in more revenue from…

Media

Read More: Protecting Pa.’s Future: The Taxpayer Protection Act

Regulation

House Tackles Pa.’s Heavy Regulatory Burden

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 25, 2019

Despite record low unemployment and rising wages, three-quarters of Pennsylvania counties have lost residents to other counties and states. Why? One key factor is our poor business climate. According…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Let’s Shoot for “Maximum Wages” All Around

  • April 24, 2019

My family knows first-hand the effects of the minimum wage—on consumers and workers alike. In January 2014, New Jersey raised its minimum wage, and workers celebrated their increased wages. However,…

Media

Read More: Let’s Shoot for “Maximum Wages” All Around

Taxes & Economy

Nuclear Subsidies: Grabbing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

  • Gordon Tomb
  • April 23, 2019

Sales pitches often downplay the cost of the product, so smart buyers have to look beyond the advertised price. For instance, when you purchase a home, you consider the sales…

Media

Read More: Nuclear Subsidies: Grabbing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

Taxes & Economy

Which Pa. Counties are Attracting Residents?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 22, 2019

How many people are moving into and out of Pennsylvania counties? New data on county population estimates released by the US Census Bureau last week answer that question. Much…

Media

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Criminal Justice Reform

Moving Toward Efficient, Effective Criminal Justice

  • Jessica Barnett
  • April 22, 2019

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…

Media

Read More: Moving Toward Efficient, Effective Criminal Justice

Taxes & Economy

Guest Post: How Philly’s Brutal Tax Policies Drive Away Jobs

  • April 18, 2019

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…

Media

Read More: Guest Post: How Philly’s Brutal Tax Policies Drive Away Jobs

Education

Gov. Wolf Blinded to Benefits of School Choice

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • April 16, 2019

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…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf Blinded to Benefits of School Choice

Criminal Justice Reform

Fighting Poverty can be a Bipartisan Effort

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2019

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 Effort