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

Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000

  • October 1, 2015

Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000—Vote Next Week 14,000 Jobs Not Created as a Result October 1, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Next week, the state House plans…

Press Release

Read More: Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000

State Budget

Four Things to Know about Wolf’s September Tax Increase Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 1, 2015

On September 11, 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf presented legislative leaders with a second tax increase proposal—totaling$1.8 billion for the 2015-16 budget year, and a $3.2 billion net increase in 2016-17,…

Memo

Read More: Four Things to Know about Wolf’s September Tax Increase Proposal

Education

Wolf Veto = $11 Million Bill for Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 30, 2015

School districts have borrowed $346 million—and taxpayers will pay to pay up to $11 million in interest payments—as a result of Gov. Wolf’s budget vetoes, according to a report…

Media

Read More: Wolf Veto = $11 Million Bill for Taxpayers

Regulation

Analysis of Governor Wolf’s Budget Compromise

  • September 30, 2015

On September 16, 28 days after receiving a budget compromise proposal from legislative Republicans, Gov. Wolf rejected that offer and issued his own plan—to hire a private contractor to manage the government…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Analysis of Governor Wolf’s Budget Compromise

State Budget

Fresh Start, or Stale Policies of Decades Past?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 30, 2015

At the beginning of 2015, we heard a lot about a “fresh start” for Pennsylvania. But nine months later, it's difficult to identify anything fresh about Gov. Wolf's tax, borrow…

Media

Read More: Fresh Start, or Stale Policies of Decades Past?

State Budget

Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes

  • September 29, 2015

Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes Students, Disabled, & Struggling Held Hostage by Governor’s Tax-Hike Fixation September 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—“The answer’s no. Now,…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes

State Budget

Who Will Vote to Raise Your Taxes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2015

Republican leadership in the General Assembly has announced they will allow a floor vote on a budget proposal that has the massive tax increases Gov. Wolf and government union leaders desire—if Democrats…

Media

Read More: Who Will Vote to Raise Your Taxes?

Regulation

Government that Works?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2015

Last week, Governor Wolf revved up his Jeep and resumed his “Government that Works” tour in Lancaster. In an ironic twist, Wolf also promised to veto a temporary funding bill…

Commentary

Read More: Government that Works?

Regulation

Losers and Phony-Baloneys

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2015

Last week, Gov. Wolf unveiled new, bad policy ideas—to slightly adjust a misguided pension proposal, and to propose a private manager to a government run liquor monopoly.  But just as…

Media

Read More: Losers and Phony-Baloneys

State Budget

Audio: A Path of Compromise

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 21, 2015

Refusing to abandon his demands for the highest tax increase in state history, Gov. Wolf continues to fuel a budget impasse that has left human-services agencies and schools without…

Media

Read More: Audio: A Path of Compromise

Regulation

New Wolf Offer, Same Bad Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2015

Yesterday, 28 days after receiving a budget compromise proposal from legislative Republicans, Gov. Wolf rejected that offer and issued his own plan—hiring a private contractor to manage the government liquor…

Media

Read More: New Wolf Offer, Same Bad Policy

Regulation

Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’

  • September 17, 2015

Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’ Liquor and Pension Proposals Fall Short of Much-Needed Change Good morning, Yesterday, Governor Tom…

Press Release

Read More: Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’

Taxes & Economy

Leader of the Free World?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 16, 2015

What do Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Canada have in common? Their citizens all enjoy more economic freedom than Americans. According to the 2015 Economic Freedom of the World Index,…

Media

Read More: Leader of the Free World?

Regulation

Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze Business

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 16, 2015

A majority of Pennsylvanians support a privatized liquor industry, but government unions use their financial clout to ensure the state government maintains a monopoly over wine and spirits. WILK’s…

Media

Read More: Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze Business

Education

Young Teachers Pay the Price for Pension Politics

  • James Paul
  • September 15, 2015

The first month of a new school year is an exciting—but stressful—time for school teachers. This is particularly true for young, newly-hired teachers who must quickly acclimate to their students,…

Media

Read More: Young Teachers Pay the Price for Pension Politics

State Budget

Free the Budget Hostages

  • Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
  • September 15, 2015

This week, lawmakers are expected to vote for a “stop-gap budget”—funding state services and programs for a few months, while continuing to negotiate a budget compromise. Yet, some politicians oppose…

Media

Read More: Free the Budget Hostages

Regulation

The PLCB: Fermented Grape’s Gatekeeper

  • September 14, 2015

Last week 90.5 WESA published a story about the PA Preferred Wine Program—a tool designed to help promote Pennsylvania wines. The program allows in-state wine producers to apply for…

Media

Read More: The PLCB: Fermented Grape’s Gatekeeper

Public Union Democracy

Setting the Record Straight on Pensions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 11, 2015

Government union leaders argue against meaningful pension reform with radical rallying cries like, “Your pension is under attack!” and mounds of other misinformation. Here's a quick fact check on some…

Media

Read More: Setting the Record Straight on Pensions

Education

Audio: Budget Impasse Debate

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 10, 2015

With the state budget impasse in its third month, funding for critical things such as education and social services remains in question.  CF’s Elizabeth Stelle spoke with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane and opposite…

Media

Read More: Audio: Budget Impasse Debate

Regulation

Corporate Welfare’s Hazards

  • September 9, 2015

State officials often hail the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP or R-Cap) as a tool for “economic development” projects across the commonwealth. The program uses borrowed money—with interest payments financed by taxpayers—to…

Media

Read More: Corporate Welfare’s Hazards

Public Union Democracy

Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 8, 2015

Would you believe the most vocal opponents to public pension reform—Pennsylvania’s largest government unions—have actually implemented the very kind of reform they are fighting against?…

Commentary

Read More: Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy