Energy
Fracking could decide the election in Pennsylvania — and nationwide
Originally published at the New York Post Pennsylvania may be the deciding state in the 2024 election. And new polling from my organization makes clear energy may be the deciding…
Read More: Fracking could decide the election in Pennsylvania — and nationwideEvery 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
Taxes & Economy
Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History Middle-Class Families Foot the Bill for Massive Tax-and-Spend Plan…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa HistoryTaxes & Economy
Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes Compare
Pennsylvania is the only top natural gas producing state that doesn’t tax drilling. Sound familiar? It’s a favorite argument of tax proponents, but it misses the big picture. Pennsylvania taxes…
Media
Read More: Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes CompareRegulation
A Toast to the House, but Challenges Lie Ahead
On Thursday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed liquor privatization legislation sponsored by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai. You can see how your legislator voted in this interactive graphic…
Media
Read More: A Toast to the House, but Challenges Lie AheadRegulation
Liquor Privatization Passage Puts People First, Not Politics
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Liquor Privatization Passage Puts People First, Not Politics Ending State Monopoly Would Help Fill Budget Hole February 26, 2015, HARRISBURG,…
Press Release
Read More: Liquor Privatization Passage Puts People First, Not PoliticsTaxes & Economy
Talk of Severance Tax Reduces Drilling
What a shock! A gas exploration company says it is reevaluating plans to drill for natural gas in Southwestern Pennsylvania because of Gov. Wolf’s proposed severance tax, reports…
Media
Read More: Talk of Severance Tax Reduces DrillingRegulation
Culture, Not Government, Drives Alcohol Use
Practically three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s twelfth graders tried alcohol at least once in their lifetimes, according to a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) report. This eye-opening statistic confirms the obvious:…
Media
Read More: Culture, Not Government, Drives Alcohol UseRegulation
Setting the Record Straight on Liquor Privatization
It’s back! Liquor privatization is once again up for debate and has already cleared its first hurdle, as lawmakers voted yesterday to advance the bill out of a House…
Media
Read More: Setting the Record Straight on Liquor PrivatizationState Budget
Lawmakers Stand Up for Taxpayers
Earlier today, Senators Camera Bartolotta and Mike Folmer and Rep. Tim Krieger announced their intentions to usher in an era of fiscal responsibility with the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) and…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Stand Up for TaxpayersPublic Union Democracy
Committees Vote on Paycheck Protection, Liquor Privatization
Lawmakers took action in committees today on both liquor privatization and paycheck protection. Here’s what’s happened in Harrisburg: Liquor privatization: This morning, the House Liquor Control Committee advanced HB…
Media
Read More: Committees Vote on Paycheck Protection, Liquor PrivatizationState Budget
Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act Responsible Spending Boosts Job, Population, and Income Growth February 23, 2015,…
Press Release
Read More: Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection ActEducation
Student Funding Reform
Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s leaders in education spending per student. Although spending levels are high, the system for distributing state funding is outdated. Weighted student funding (WSF) is a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Student Funding ReformGovernment Accountability
Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced Budget
This year, Pennsylvania lawmakers have the formidable task of eliminating a projected $1.7 billion budget deficit. Bob Dick, a CF policy analyst, spoke with Gary Sutton about what can be…
Media
Read More: Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced BudgetRegulation
Long Term Problems are Big Opportunities for Change
Pennsylvania added nearly two dozen new lawmakers in November, and there’s a new face in the Governor’s Mansion. Indeed, that face will look very new, as Tom Wolf is the…
Commentary
Read More: Long Term Problems are Big Opportunities for ChangeEducation
Wolf’s Gas Tax Won’t Help Students, but Will Kill Their Job Opportunities
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s Gas Tax Won’t Help Students, but Will Kill Their Job Opportunities Natural Gas Industry Already Pays Billions to Fund Government Good morning,…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Gas Tax Won’t Help Students, but Will Kill Their Job OpportunitiesRegulation
Liquor Liberty On Tap Again
Pennsylvania voters have consistently said they want more convenience and choice by privatizing liquor sales. Not only would privatizing the state-run liquor store monopoly grant voters their wish, but it…
Media
Read More: Liquor Liberty On Tap AgainHealth Care
Beyond Medicaid Expansion: Helping the Poor
Yesterday’s announcement that Healthy PA will be rolled back in favor of full-scale Medicaid expansion misses the point. Instead of unraveling the few positive reforms incoporated in the original Medicaid waiver,…
Media
Read More: Beyond Medicaid Expansion: Helping the PoorTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Successes Continue
The stories continue: more jobs, increased tax revenue and cheap energy, all from the free-market production of Marcellus Shale gas. Take last week’s report from the Central Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Shale Successes ContinueCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania State Budget Toolkit
The enacted $29 billion General Fund budget (a 1.88 percent increase over 2013-2014) and $71.4 billion total operating budget represent Pennsylvania’s highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget ToolkitState Budget
Pennsylvania State Budget Trends, 2015
The enacted $29 billion General Fund budget (a 1.88 percent increase over 2013-2014) and $71.4 billion total operating budget represent Pennsylvania’s highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Trends, 2015Regulation
Five Steps Toward a Balanced Budget
The consequences of overspending have plagued Pennsylvania for years. This year is no different. Lawmakers are tasked with eliminating a projected budget deficit of nearly $1.7 billion, according to forecasts…
Memo
Read More: Five Steps Toward a Balanced BudgetRegulation
Crisis Management: PA’s Public Pension Problem
Crisis management can be broken down into three general phases: identifying the problem, developing the best plan to fix it, and executing that plan while adjusting as needed. It’s a…
Commentary
Read More: Crisis Management: PA’s Public Pension Problem