Pennsylvania’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

Deficit Watch: March 2025 

  • Andrew Holman
  • March 4, 2025

Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025–26 budget…

Deficit Watch

Read More: Deficit Watch: March 2025 

State Budget

Optimizing State Spending

  • February 25, 2025

Summary Pennsylvania faces a $3.6 billion structural budget deficit in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024–25. The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) calculates Gov. Josh Shapiro’s FY 2025–26 budget…

Fact Sheet

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Prosperity

Gov. Josh Shapiro Isn’t a “Different Democrat”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2025

Originally published by Pottstown-Mercury. Gov. Josh Shapiro is a “different Democrat,” or so claim national pundits. The governor has made unorthodox yet inconsequential statements condemning terrorism, rebuking antisemitism on…

Media Hit

Read More: Gov. Josh Shapiro Isn’t a “Different Democrat”

Prosperity

Governor Shapiro’s Budget is Nothing New

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 17, 2025

Originally published by the York Dispatch. “I love Groundhog Day,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro during the budget address. Of course, the governor meant the Pennsylvania tradition of Punxsutawney…

Media Hit

Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Budget is Nothing New

Prosperity

Governor Shapiro’s Broken Promises are Breaking Pennsylvania

  • Andrew Lewis
  • February 14, 2025

Originally published by Penn Live/Patriot-News. Everyone knows that politicians break promises. But Gov. Josh Shapiro’s promise-breaking is so sweeping it’s breathtaking. That’s all I could think after…

Media Hit

Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Broken Promises are Breaking Pennsylvania

Fairness

Independent Fiscal Office Shows Shapiro’s Budget Will Deepen the Deficit

  • February 12, 2025

IFO’s new Long-Term Budget Outlook Update illustrates Pennsylvania’s economic peril in light of Governor Shapiro’s 2025 budget proposal. Harrisburg, Pa., February 11, 2025 — Today, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office…

Press Release

Read More: Independent Fiscal Office Shows Shapiro’s Budget Will Deepen the Deficit

Prosperity

Deficit Watch: February 2025

  • February 5, 2025

Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit, with $47.6 billion in spending and only $43.9 billion in net…

Deficit Watch

Read More: Deficit Watch: February 2025

Education

Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending Binge

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2025

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…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending Binge

Prosperity

Will Shapiro Address the $3.6 Billion Elephant in the Room?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2025

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Watch Gov. Josh Shapiro closely during his annual budget address on Tuesday. The governor will lay out his vision for the upcoming year – undoubtedly…

Media Hit

Read More: Will Shapiro Address the $3.6 Billion Elephant in the Room?

Prosperity

Pennsylvania’s running out of money

  • Andrew Holman
  • January 21, 2025

Originally published at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Stacy Garrity recently issued an urgent warning: This year’s budget will determine the commonwealth’s economic future — so lawmakers must plan wisely. Garrity, reelected…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania’s running out of money

Prosperity

How to Balance the PA State Budget

  • January 21, 2025

Key Points Pennsylvania faces a $3.6 billion structural deficit in fiscal year (FY) 2024–25. Unless addressed, the deficit will require massive tax increases on working families by next year. Extreme…

Backgrounder

Read More: How to Balance the PA State Budget

Prosperity

The Rainy Day Fund

  • January 14, 2025

Summary The Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund, commonly referred to as the Rainy Day Fund, is Pennsylvania’s largest budgetary reserve fund. Pennsylvania law dictates that lawmakers may only draw from the…

Fact Sheet

Read More: The Rainy Day Fund

Prosperity

Deficit Watch: January 2025

  • Andrew Holman
  • January 10, 2025

Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit, with $47.6 billion in spending and only $43.9 billion in net…

Deficit Watch

Read More: Deficit Watch: January 2025

Public Union Democracy

Governor Shapiro’s SEPTA Bailout is Another Failure of Leadership

  • November 22, 2024

Harrisburg, PA, November 22, 2024 — Gov. Josh Shapiro today announced a plan to divert federal funds to bail out the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). At a press conference in Philadelphia,…

Press Release

Read More: Governor Shapiro’s SEPTA Bailout is Another Failure of Leadership

Education

Pennsylvania is Now the Bellwether on Democrats’ Future

  • Andrew Lewis
  • November 21, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The Keystone State was expected to be the bellwether on November 5th, and it didn’t disappoint. Not only did Donald Trump carry Pennsylvania …

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania is Now the Bellwether on Democrats’ Future