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.

State Budget

How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?

  • February 8, 2016

Pennsylvania currently has the 15th highest state and local tax burden in the country. Yet Gov. Wolf proposed historic tax hikes last year and continues to press for tax increases. Here’s an…

Fact Sheet

Read More: How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?

State Budget

Reversing the Status Quo in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2016

Higher government spending and raising taxes—while ignoring key fiscal reforms—is the status quo in Pennsylvania. For 45 years, government spending has steadily risen, increasing by an inflation-adjusted $13,800 per family of four or $3,450…

Memo

Read More: Reversing the Status Quo in Pennsylvania

Regulation

Who is Wolf Giving Your Tax Dollars To?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2016

Next week Gov. Tom Wolf will unveil a “new” budget, with all expectations that it will be just like his first proposal—calling for new taxes on working families. In fact, you…

Media

Read More: Who is Wolf Giving Your Tax Dollars To?

State Budget

Audio: PA Budget Groundhog Day

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • February 3, 2016

Groundhog Day has come and gone, but Gov. Wolf hasn’t stopped celebrating Punxsutawney Phil’s big day. Paying homage to the theme of the Groundhog Day movie, Wolf has trapped Pennsylvanians in…

Media

Read More: Audio: PA Budget Groundhog Day

Government Accountability

Wolf to Pension Commission: ‘You’re Fired!’

  • February 3, 2016

Wolf to Pension Commission: “You’re Fired!” Governor’s Pattern of Eliminating Opposition Defies Claims of Accountability February 3, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The latest casualty of Gov. Tom Wolf’s “my…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf to Pension Commission: ‘You’re Fired!’

Education

Groundhog Day: Wolf Demands Millions More for Education

  • James Paul
  • February 3, 2016

When Punxsutawney Phil casts a shadow, Pennsylvanians expect a long winter. When Gov. Wolf issues a press release, Pennsylvanians expect a massive tax hike. How fitting that Wolf…

Media

Read More: Groundhog Day: Wolf Demands Millions More for Education

Government Accountability

Wolf to PERC: “You’re Fired!”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2016

Gov. Wolf has a history of trying to fire individuals who won’t kowtow to his agenda. He tried to remove Erik Arneson as head of the independent Office of Open…

Media

Read More: Wolf to PERC: “You’re Fired!”

State Budget

Is Pa. Budget Groundhog Day Ahead?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 2, 2016

Instead of changing course entering the new budget season, Wolf appears poised to continue governing by attack ad. No wonder the latest polling shows Wolf’s approval is lower now than…

Commentary

Read More: Is Pa. Budget Groundhog Day Ahead?

Education

Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans

  • February 2, 2016

Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans Pa. Spends $3,400 More Per Student than the National Average February 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today at 2 p.m., Gov. Wolf…

Press Release

Read More: Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans

Health Care

The Trouble with Medicaid Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle, James Paul
  • February 1, 2016

As yesterday's deadline to enroll in an Obamacare marketplace insurance plan quietly passed, Gov. Wolf is boasting about Medicaid expansion—a major component of the federal government's health care overhaul.

Media

Read More: The Trouble with Medicaid Expansion

Regulation

PPA Picks Cartels over Consumers

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • January 29, 2016

Jon Brennan’s Audi S4 was impounded by Philadelphia police because he’s an UberX driver. Emails uncovered by the Philadelphia Inquirer reveal that the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) has thrown…

Media

Read More: PPA Picks Cartels over Consumers

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians Prosper as New Yorkers Pine

  • Gordon Tomb
  • January 26, 2016

They are similar in size, resources and population, but the past few years have brought prosperity to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and stagnation to Delaware County, New York. The big difference?…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Prosper as New Yorkers Pine

State Budget

Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?

  • January 25, 2016

Last year, Pennsylvania lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes. In total, the state’s net domestic migration rate was negative: 41,607 more people moved out of Pennsylvania than…

Media

Read More: Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?

State Budget

Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the Largest

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2016

The Wolf administration continues to deny basic facts about their original proposed tax hike. Instead of responding with facts, the governor's staff relies on name-calling and personal attacks. The Altoona Mirror…

Media

Read More: Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the Largest

Criminal Justice Reform

2012 Corrections Reform Still Paying Off

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 20, 2016

Yesterday, Gov. Wolf and Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel announced that Pennsylvania’s prison population declined last year by the largest amount since 1971. The number of imates declined by…

Media

Read More: 2012 Corrections Reform Still Paying Off

Education

Wolf’s $3 Billion Education Cut

  • James Paul
  • January 18, 2016

Upon finally approving the majority of a state budget, Gov. Tom Wolf admonished the General Assembly for “cutting $95 million from public schools.” Yet it is the governor himself who…

Media

Read More: Wolf’s $3 Billion Education Cut

Government Accountability

Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets

  • January 13, 2016

Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets Budget Companion Bill Picks Winners at Lobbyists’ Behest January 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—On Tuesday, the Pa. House passed a “fiscal code” which…

Press Release

Read More: Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets

Government Accountability

Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks

  • James Paul
  • January 12, 2016

Pennsylvania's fiscal code is intended to provide lawmakers with instructions for spending funds appropriated in the state budget. But it is also ground-zero for a host of earmarks that funnel limited…

Media

Read More: Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks

State Budget

Fiscal Code Protects Kids and Jobs

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • January 12, 2016

Today, the Pennsylvania House passed a revised fiscal code, HB 1327, to implement parts of the state budget. The fiscal code explains how revenues will be distributed, including transfers…

Media

Read More: Fiscal Code Protects Kids and Jobs

State Budget

Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget Future

  • January 11, 2016

Believe it or not, the state is approaching the unofficial start of a new budget cycle. Gov. Wolf plans to roll out his proposal for the 2016-17 budget on February…

Media

Read More: Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget Future

State Budget

Budget Hostages Finally Freed?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 11, 2016

While Wolf released the hostages of the past six months, he made sure he could keep using children as “pressure points” by using his line-item veto to cut $3.1 billion…

Commentary

Read More: Budget Hostages Finally Freed?