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.

Regulation

Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension Inaction

  • July 21, 2014

Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 PA’s ‘Growing Structural Imbalance’ Cited in New Credit Downgrade One-Time Revenue Sources and Unfunded Pension Liabilities the Cause Good afternoon, Today, credit rating…

Press Release

Read More: Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension Inaction

Education

Is There a Pension Crisis?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2014

PolicyBlog readers will be well-familiar with the fact that Pennsyvlania state funding for public schools is at a record high.  So why do government union leaders and some…

Media

Read More: Is There a Pension Crisis?

Regulation

Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain

  • July 17, 2014

A contentious budget season has officially ended after Governor Corbett signed a $29 billion appropriations bill into law. But is it fiscally responsible? And what’s holding up reforms on the…

Commentary

Read More: Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain

Regulation

Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest Obstacle

  • July 14, 2014

On Friday, CF President Matt Brouillette joined The David Madeira Show to talk about Pennsylvania’s looming $50 billion public pension crisis and the biggest obstacles to reform: government union leaders.

Media

Read More: Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest Obstacle

Public Union Democracy

Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 14, 2014

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai took to the podium last week, providing press and spectators his response to the Governor’s criticisms, blue-line budget reductions, and House priorities. We applaud…

Media

Read More: Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking Reform

Regulation

Governor Right to Blame Gov. Union Leaders on Pension Reform

  • July 10, 2014

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Lawmakers Must Battle Government Union Leaders on Pension Reform Government union leaders cited as primary opposition to tax-saving legislation Good morning, Gov. Corbett’s…

Press Release

Read More: Governor Right to Blame Gov. Union Leaders on Pension Reform

Education

State Education Spending at Record High

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2014

The recently passed Pennsylvania state budget sets a new record for state funding for public schools. The chart below illustrates this growth over the years. The total budgeted for the…

Media

Read More: State Education Spending at Record High

State Budget

Five Facts About the 2014 State Budget

  • July 2, 2014

On June 30, the General Assembly passed a $29.1 billion budget, sending it to Gov. Corbett for his approval. While Gov. Corbett is taking time to review…

Media

Read More: Five Facts About the 2014 State Budget

Regulation

Pension Reform Roadblock: Gov. Union Executives

  • July 1, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Government Union Executives Again Stand in the Way of Reform Pension Bill Stalls in House Despite Looming Crisis July 1,…

Press Release

Read More: Pension Reform Roadblock: Gov. Union Executives

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Unions Block Pension Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 1, 2014

Lawmakers may have agreed on a no-new-taxes budget, but the cost drivers behind this year’s budget shortfall and Pennsylvania’s annual budget crisis remain unchanged. Chief among those cost drivers is…

Media

Read More: Gov. Unions Block Pension Reform

Regulation

Union CEO Calls Majority Leader a Liar

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 27, 2014

Union CEO Wendell Young issued a press release Wednesday claiming, “there’s no nice way to put this but he [House Majority Leader Mike Turzai] is not telling the truth…

Media

Read More: Union CEO Calls Majority Leader a Liar

State Budget

House Plan a Positive Step in Budget Negotiations

  • June 25, 2014

House Plan a Positive Step in Budget Negotiations Proposes Modest Spending Increase and Avoids Pitfalls Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced a no-tax-increase budget bill. Crucially, this bill…

Press Release

Read More: House Plan a Positive Step in Budget Negotiations

State Budget

House Budget Holds the Line on Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 25, 2014

Yesterday, the PA House of Representatives advanced a $29.1 billion spending bill. This bill could be voted on by the full House today. There is much to like in this…

Media

Read More: House Budget Holds the Line on Taxes

Regulation

5 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Increasing Taxes

  • June 23, 2014

State spending is at an all-time high, but calls for even more spending persist, despite Pennsylvania’s precarious fiscal situation. Pennsylvania doesn’t need more government spending to improve the…

Media

Read More: 5 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Increasing Taxes

State Budget

Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget Crisis

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 23, 2014

Pennsylvania has a prioritization problem. Recent controversies about the State Racing Fund and the legislature’s reserve fund provide two examples of why Pennsylvania consistently wrestles with budget crises. Auditor General…

Media

Read More: Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget Crisis

State Budget

Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?

  • June 19, 2014

For the seventh consecutive year, Pennsylvania state government is projected to spend more money than it collects in taxes. Facing a deficit of nearly $1.3 billion, families may be asked…

Commentary

Read More: Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?

Public Union Democracy

Triple Threat Pension Debt

  • June 18, 2014

At more than $50 billion in debt our pension plans for state and school workers are among the worst funded in the country. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher…

Poll

Read More: Triple Threat Pension Debt

Regulation

RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians

  • June 18, 2014

What would you do if the government spent your tax dollars on a project that could bankrupt your business? Would you fight back by pointing out the injustice? Hopefully you’re…

Media

Read More: RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians

Health Care

There’s No Such Thing as a Temporary Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 17, 2014

Last week, the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced HB 1492 to accept the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion. This move would shift the purpose of Medicaid from caring for vulnerable…

Media

Read More: There’s No Such Thing as a Temporary Expansion

Regulation

Union Lobbyists Not Interested in Solving Pension Crisis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 13, 2014

My latest letter to the editor in the Phoenix Reporter and Item corrects the record, noting that government union leaders have for years denied a pension crisis, supported underfunded pensions for…

Media

Read More: Union Lobbyists Not Interested in Solving Pension Crisis