Education
Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending Binge
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s radical overspending exacerbates what is already a massive budget deficit. His plan imposes new taxes this year and will force extreme tax hikes on working families…
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending BingePennsylvania’s complex state budget has enabled policymakers to keep taxpayers in the dark when it comes to state spending. Year after year, some elected officials use budget gimmicks to both make the budget appear balanced and to secure their own agendas. Pennsylvanians deserve reforms that bring true transparency to the budgeting process. We must limit spending growth to a sustainable rate, ensuring the state government—like hardworking taxpayers—live within its means.
State Budget
Pennsylvania Has a Budget Deficit. So Why Are Taxpayers Funding Lobbyists?
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Should Pennsylvania taxpayers fund political lobbying efforts for taxpayer-funded organizations lobbying for more taxpayer funds? Not only is this practice misguided, but it’s also fundamentally wrong, blurring…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Has a Budget Deficit. So Why Are Taxpayers Funding Lobbyists?State Budget
Gov. Shapiro Cannot Be Allowed to Tap Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund
Orginally published by LNP/Lancaster Online. Gov. Josh Shapiro has a spending problem, and he wants to smash open Pennsylvania’s piggy bank to placate his expensive habits. In February, Shapiro proposed…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro Cannot Be Allowed to Tap Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day FundState Budget
Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s Fiscal Year 2025–26 Budget Proposal
Summary Pennsylvania’s economy lags behind other states, hindered by high taxes and burdensome regulations. As a result, the state suffers from continued outmigration, with residents leaving for better opportunities in…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s Fiscal Year 2025–26 Budget ProposalState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Urges Legal Protection of State’s Rainy Day Fund
Letter calls on Treasurer Garrity to withhold any transfer from the budget stabilization reserve fund, pending legal adjudication. Harrisburg, Pa., September 8, 2025 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Urges Legal Protection of State’s Rainy Day FundEducation
New Poll: Inflation, Economy, Taxes, and Crime Top Voter Concerns, Pennsylvanians Hold Shapiro Responsible for Budget Impasse
Harrisburg, Pa., September 3, 2025 — Fewer than 4-in-10 Pennsylvania voters believe the state is on the right track, according to new polling released today by the Commonwealth Foundation.
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: Inflation, Economy, Taxes, and Crime Top Voter Concerns, Pennsylvanians Hold Shapiro Responsible for Budget ImpasseGovernment Accountability
SEPTA’s Manufactured Crisis Has Delayed State Budget Long Enough
Harrisburg, Pa., August 22, 2025 — This Sunday, after eight consecutive weeks of public fearmongering, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will enact self-imposed service cuts. Though completely avoidable, these…
Press Release
Read More: SEPTA’s Manufactured Crisis Has Delayed State Budget Long EnoughState Budget
SEPTA, Shapiro, and House Dems Own This Budget Stalemate
Originally published by the Delaware Valley Journal. The Pennsylvania budget is, once again, late. Budget negotiations have come to a standstill over one issue: bailing out…
Media Hit
Read More: SEPTA, Shapiro, and House Dems Own This Budget StalemateEducation
New TV/Digital Ad: Shapiro’s Budget Impasse is Failing Kids & Families
Harrisburg, Pa., August 22, 2025 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new ad, calling for Gov. Josh Shapiro to end the budget impasse with a compromise that protects families…
Press Release
Read More: New TV/Digital Ad: Shapiro’s Budget Impasse is Failing Kids & FamiliesState Budget
Pa. Senate Passes Budget Protecting Taxpayers, as Shapiro, House Democrats Continue Gridlock
Harrisburg, Pa., August 12, 2025 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate is advancing a spending bill that provides the clearest path forward in months toward a sustainable state budget. The commonwealth is…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate Passes Budget Protecting Taxpayers, as Shapiro, House Democrats Continue GridlockState Budget
The One Big Beautiful Bill Should Show Pennsylvania How to Get Stuff Done
Originally published in PennLive. Entering the second months of Pennsylvania’s state budget impasse, Gov. Josh Shapiro and his political machine are desperate to deflect mounting scrutiny. Instead of…
Media Hit
Read More: The One Big Beautiful Bill Should Show Pennsylvania How to Get Stuff DoneState Budget
Pennsylvania Enters Second Month of Budget Impasse
Harrisburg, Pa., August 1, 2025 — Pennsylvania is entering the second month operating without a state budget, with no end in sight. Amid the protracted impasse, many have begun to…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Enters Second Month of Budget ImpasseHealth Care
The Myths and Misinformation of Medicaid
Originally published by the Delaware Valley Journal. Gov. Josh Shapiro isn’t pleased with the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). “Pennsylvania got screwed,” he recently told a…
Media Hit
Read More: The Myths and Misinformation of MedicaidState Budget
PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending Bill
Harrisburg, Pa., July 14, 2025 — Today, Pennsylvania House Democrats passed the General Appropriations Act (HB 1330), their version of a budget bill, which includes a $2.9 billion spending increase.
Press Release
Read More: PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending BillRegulation
Pennsylvania Can Learn from Ohio and West Virginia
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Over the last decade, Pennsylvania has lost population and businesses to more competitive states. But this outmigration offers clues on how Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Can Learn from Ohio and West VirginiaEducation
By Opposing Educational Choice, Teachers’ Unions Limit Opportunities for Philly students
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) voted to authorize a strike if the union and…
Media Hit
Read More: By Opposing Educational Choice, Teachers’ Unions Limit Opportunities for Philly studentsEducation
Don’t Let Randi Weingarten Fool You: Government Unions Are in lockstep with Democrats
Originally published by Bucks County Independence. Are government union leaders and the Democratic Party about to divorce? Two prominent union leaders — Randi Weingarten of…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t Let Randi Weingarten Fool You: Government Unions Are in lockstep with DemocratsEducation
No More Blank Checks for Broken Systems
Originally published by PennLive. As the deadline looms, Pennsylvania lawmakers are nowhere near reaching an agreement on the state budget. This uncertainty in Harrisburg revolves around…
Media Hit
Read More: No More Blank Checks for Broken SystemsState Budget
WATCH: Megan Martin on PCN Discussing State Budget, Mass Transit Bail-out, and More
Megan Martin, Commonwealth Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, joins PCN’s Capitol Preview to talk all things state budget. From public transit to Lifeline Scholarships, Martin outlines what good…
Media Hit
Read More: WATCH: Megan Martin on PCN Discussing State Budget, Mass Transit Bail-out, and MoreState Budget
Shapiro, House Democrats Miss the Budget Deadline Again, With No Deal in Sight
Harrisburg, Pa., June 30, 2025 —Today marks the end of Pennsylvania’s fiscal year and the deadline for lawmakers to pass the FY 2025–26 state budget, with no apparent deal in…
Press Release
Read More: Shapiro, House Democrats Miss the Budget Deadline Again, With No Deal in SightEnergy
Pennsylvania’s Muddled Leadership Loses to Ohio and West Virginia
Originally published by TribLIVE. Pennsylvania’s nickname of the Keystone State, as variously reported, originates with the deciding vote for independence by a Pennsylvania member of the Continental Congress or in…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Muddled Leadership Loses to Ohio and West VirginiaEducation
New Poll: Voters Concerned About Increased Spending, Lack of Leadership
69% of voters believe Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to take a more active role in budget negotiations. Harrisburg, Pa., June 25, 2025 — As the June 30th deadline looms, voters…
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: Voters Concerned About Increased Spending, Lack of Leadership