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: June 2025

  • June 3, 2025

Lawmakers must protect the Rainy Day Fund. 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…

Deficit Watch

Read More: Deficit Watch: June 2025

Education

Shapiro Must Lead, Not Litigate

  • Megan Martin
  • May 30, 2025

Originally published by PennLive. Gov. Josh Shapiro seems less interested in governing and more interested in reliving his days as attorney general. A federal judge recently …

Media Hit

Read More: Shapiro Must Lead, Not Litigate

Education

Pennsylvania School Funding Reaches $23,000 per Student in 2024

  • May 15, 2025

Pennsylvania Public School Spending is Growing Public school spending reaches historic levels year after year. Pennsylvania public school revenue per student increased to $23,061 in the 2023-24 school year, up…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania School Funding Reaches $23,000 per Student in 2024

Fairness

A SEPTA Bailout Is as Predictable as It Is Irresponsible

  • Andrew Holman, Nathan Benefield
  • May 5, 2025

Originally published by Penn Live. We hate to say, “We told you so.” But when it comes to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) demanding another state bailout, we told…

Media Hit

Read More: A SEPTA Bailout Is as Predictable as It Is Irresponsible

Prosperity

Deficit Watch: May 2025

  • May 2, 2025

Pennsylvania cannot afford more mass transit bailouts. Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit. Gov.

Deficit Watch

Read More: Deficit Watch: May 2025

State Budget

EITC and Economically Disadvantaged Schools

  • Rachel Langan
  • April 30, 2025

Summary The Economically Disadvantaged School (EDS) component of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship program provides supplementary scholarships for Pennsylvania students, who are economically disadvantaged and attend private schools…

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

Mass Transit Bailout

  • April 28, 2025

2025 Budget Proposal Seeks to Further Subsidize Inefficient Agencies Summary Mass transit agencies, including Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) in Pittsburgh, have seen…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Mass Transit Bailout

Prosperity

Bring Domestic Steel Manufacturing Into America’s Golden Age

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 23, 2025

Originally published by Broad + Liberty. If there is to be a new Golden Age for American industry and manufacturing, Pennsylvania will play a leading role. In recent years, a…

Media Hit

Read More: Bring Domestic Steel Manufacturing Into America’s Golden Age

Prosperity

Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform

  • Stephen Bloom
  • April 15, 2025

Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform

Energy

Deficit Watch: April 2025

  • April 4, 2025

Improving Pennsylvania’s economy will help close the deficit. Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit.

Deficit Watch

Read More: Deficit Watch: April 2025

Government Accountability

Josh Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Self-Promotional Horror Show

  • Erik Telford
  • April 1, 2025

Originally published by The Washington Times. National Democrats are embarrassing themselves on social media. Look no further than the awkward lip-syncing and “Mortal Kombat” spoofs…

Media Hit

Read More: Josh Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Self-Promotional Horror Show

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

Read More: Optimizing State Spending

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