![pennsylvania prosperity regulation](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iStock-1398193340-1024x576.jpg)
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.
Related Issues
Health Care
Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence
This week marks the beginning of Pennsylvania’s transition from Healthy PA to full Medicaid expansion. Over 100,000 beneficiaries were transferred to the traditional one-size-fits-all healthcare plan known for limited…
Media
Read More: Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to IndependenceState Budget
Economic Freedom Trumps Identity Politics
Imagine a little girl and her young mother sitting on a porch on 19th Street in Harrisburg. The child smiles happily, but the mother looks tired—she’s working second shift and…
Media
Read More: Economic Freedom Trumps Identity PoliticsTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the Government
Last Saturday Pennsylvanians passed an important milestone: Tax Freedom Day. This is the day Pennsylvanians earn enough dollars to pay off their federal, state and local tax bills for 2015. …
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the GovernmentState Budget
IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax Shift
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a new analysis of Gov. Wolf’s tax proposals yesterday. What is their most interesting conclusion? Taxpayers in every income bracket will see a net…
Media
Read More: IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax ShiftRegulation
Clarifying Pension Reform Misconceptions
Pennsylvania’s $50 billion public pension problem isn’t going to solve itself. Reform is a must, which is why Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman has rightly called for structural…
Media
Read More: Clarifying Pension Reform MisconceptionsState Budget
Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the Senate
In the face of Governor Wolf’s proposed $4.5 billion tax increase, a group of Senate lawmakers are offering an alternate vision for Pennsylvania—one of limited government and…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the SenateState Budget
State Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act Legislation Protects Pennsylvanians from Out-of-Control State Spending Good afternoon,…
Press Release
Read More: State Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection ActState Budget
The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget
If the proposed sales tax expansion contained in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal becomes law, Louise Bell's nursing home costs will jump by $3,000—essentially adding a 13th month to her…
Commentary
Read More: The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s BudgetTaxes & Economy
The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never Read
The radical environmentalist group and corporate welfare lobbyist PennFuture has updated an absurd study about the “subsidies” Pennsylvania taxpayers pay for fossil fuels. While we oppose subsidies for any industry, most…
Media
Read More: The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never ReadHealth Care
Ambush Election Confirms Wolf’s Deceptive Homecare Order is Union Gift
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation (717) 671-1901 Ambush Election Confirms Wolf’s Deceptive Homecare Order is Union Gift SEIU & AFSCME Rush Union Vote After Lawsuits Expose…
Press Release
Read More: Ambush Election Confirms Wolf’s Deceptive Homecare Order is Union GiftState Budget
Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39th
Is placing 39 out of 50 in any competition acceptable? Most people would say no, which is why a new index published by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39thRegulation
Audio: Reforming Pennsylvania’s Pension System
While Gov. Wolf seems to think borrowing money will solve the pension crisis, the commonsense approach to getting out of our $53 billion pension hole is to “stop digging”–i.e., stop…
Media
Read More: Audio: Reforming Pennsylvania’s Pension SystemEducation
Could Schools Be Harmed by a Severance Tax?
As odd as it might sound, some rural schools could actually be harmed by Gov. Wolf’s efforts to increase education funding by imposing a severance tax on natural gas.
Media
Read More: Could Schools Be Harmed by a Severance Tax?Government Accountability
Shine a Light on the Collective Bargaining Process
Gov. Tom Wolf has an opportunity to deliver a fresh start to Pennsylvania’s collective bargaining process. Over the next few months, the governor and his administration will be negotiating…
Media
Read More: Shine a Light on the Collective Bargaining ProcessPublic Union Democracy
Prevailing Wage Reform in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law was enacted in 1961, mandating that state and local governments pay construction contractors wages that “prevail” in each region on projects costing $25,000 or more. This…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Prevailing Wage Reform in PennsylvaniaState Budget
Wolf’s Unfair Tax Shift
School districts that receive the most in state funding today would also be the biggest winners under Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for property tax rebates. Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax shift fails…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Unfair Tax ShiftState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax Shift
As part of his 2015-16 budget proposal, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed using some revenue from increased state taxes for school property tax relief beginning in 2016-17. This policy brief examines…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax ShiftState Budget
Video: Debating Gov. Wolf?s Costly Budget
Last week, CF President & CEO Matthew Brouillette appeared on PCN’s Call-In Program with Steve Herzenberg, the Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center, to discuss Gov. Wolf’s costly…
Media
Read More: Video: Debating Gov. Wolf?s Costly BudgetEnergy
Natural Gas Severance Tax
A severance tax must be considered in light of the state’s total tax structure. Pennsylvania taxes the natural gas industry in many ways that don’t exist in other drilling states.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Natural Gas Severance TaxState Budget
A Broken Promise Could Break the Bank
During the gubernatorial campaign, Tom Wolf promised not to raise taxes on middle class Pennsylvanians. Despite this promise, the governor proposed a budget including the largest tax increase in…
Media
Read More: A Broken Promise Could Break the BankGovernment Accountability
Collective Bargaining Transparency
Government union contract negotiations can have far reaching implications because they set compensation for tens of thousands of public employees, costing taxpayers billions each year. Despite the enormous impact, the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Collective Bargaining Transparency