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.

Opportunity

All that’s lost when teens don’t work

  • Jennifer Stefano
  • September 11, 2023

Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer At a back-to-school night this year, I chatted with a group of moms who had kids in high school. Their teens’ summers were…

Media Hit

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Energy

Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Mandates in Pennsylvania

  • Gordon Tomb
  • August 24, 2023

Key Points Studies show adopting Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) criteria is not associated with better labor or environmental regulatory compliance. Emerging studies show ESG criteria are associated with lower…

Backgrounder

Read More: Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Mandates in Pennsylvania

Energy

Governor Josh Shapiro’s Wrong Approach to Grid Reliability

  • Gordon Tomb
  • August 22, 2023

Originally published at RealClearEnergy Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has asked regional power grid operators to enhance the electricity system’s dependability—and he’s got ideas about how to do it. But his…

Media Hit

Read More: Governor Josh Shapiro’s Wrong Approach to Grid Reliability

Education

House Democrats Need to Get Back to Work

  • Stephen Bloom
  • August 21, 2023

Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Pennsylvania House Democrats have been acting busy during the state budget impasse—an impasse their own majority leader, Rep. Matt Bradford, inexplicably denied existed…

Media Hit

Read More: House Democrats Need to Get Back to Work

State Budget

Takeaways from the Unfinished 2023–24 State Budget

  • August 10, 2023

Summary The state budget remains unfinished. While Gov. Josh Shapiro signed off on the general appropriation bill (House Bill 611), authorizing more than $40 billion in state general fund spending,…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Takeaways from the Unfinished 2023–24 State Budget

Regulation

Gov. Shapiro’s First Six Months the Least Productive in 50 Years

  • August 8, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., August 8, 2023 –Gov. Josh Shapiro has overseen the least productive freshman legislative session in at least 50 years, a new Commonwealth Foundation analysis has found. In the first…

Press Release

Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s First Six Months the Least Productive in 50 Years

Regulation

Forget I-95, Gov. Shapiro should slash the bureaucracy for everybody

  • Jennifer Stefano
  • July 31, 2023

Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Gov. Josh Shapiro’s PR people clearly have a new strategy. After the barrage of negative headlines questioning his effectiveness as a politician —…

Media Hit

Read More: Forget I-95, Gov. Shapiro should slash the bureaucracy for everybody

Education

History shows Gov. Shapiro’s next move matters

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 29, 2023

Originally published in The Patriot-News The next few months are critical to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s legacy, and he knows it. The 2023–24 state budget, due June 30th, remains…

Media Hit

Read More: History shows Gov. Shapiro’s next move matters

Education

Commonwealth Foundation Statement On Senate-Shapiro Budget Progress

  • July 28, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., July 28, 2023 – Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued the following reaction today on Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward’s statement that the Senate continues to work…

Press Release

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Statement On Senate-Shapiro Budget Progress

Education

House Democrats’ Budget Bungle Leaves Programs Without Funding

  • July 27, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., July 27, 2023 – More than a dozen notable Pennsylvania budget line-items risk going unfunded following Democrats’ unwillingness to uphold the bipartisan deal agreed to by Gov. Josh…

Press Release

Read More: House Democrats’ Budget Bungle Leaves Programs Without Funding

Prosperity

Bidenomics Doesn’t Add Up for Pennsylvania or America

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 20, 2023

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania President Joe Biden is returning to his birth state to pitch his newly branded economic vision: Bidenomics. Though Biden seems eager to paint a rosy…

Media Hit

Read More: Bidenomics Doesn’t Add Up for Pennsylvania or America

Education

Shapiro, lawmakers must choose — students or special interests?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2023

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review In education policy, there are two main groups of stakeholders: parents and special interests. Parents want the best opportunities for their children, while…

Media Hit

Read More: Shapiro, lawmakers must choose — students or special interests?

Education

School Choice Report, Episode 9

  • David P. Hardy
  • July 17, 2023

What’s happening in Pennsylvania’s capitol? Why did Governor Shapiro renege on his handshake deal and outward support of Lifeline Scholarships? What should we expect in the days, weeks, and months…

Podcast

Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 9