Prosperity
How to Balance the PA State Budget
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…
Read More: How to Balance the PA State BudgetPennsylvania’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.
Prosperity
Pennsylvania’s running out of money
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
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How Pennsylvania House Democrats may derail Shapiro’s national ambitions
Originally published at Broad + Liberty The 2024 election may be over, but it is safe to bet that Gov. Josh Shapiro — whose national ambitions are well known…
Media Hit
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The Rainy Day Fund
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
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Deficit Watch: January 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
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Pennsylvania’s Uncompetitive Economy Continues to Drive Away Residents
Harrisburg, PA, December 20, 2024 — New data from the United States Census Bureau shows Pennsylvania lost a net 11,500 residents to other states in domestic migration between July 2023 and July…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Uncompetitive Economy Continues to Drive Away ResidentsPublic Union Democracy
Governor Shapiro’s SEPTA Bailout is Another Failure of Leadership
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 LeadershipEducation
Pennsylvania is Now the Bellwether on Democrats’ Future
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
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Pennsylvania Democrats have no mandate—except to compromise
Originally published at The Patriot-News Pennsylvania Democrats took a bigger shellacking than most people realize. By now, everyone knows that Republicans cleaned up in federal races. Donald…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Democrats have no mandate—except to compromiseState Budget
How to Fix Pennsylvania’s Looming Budget Dilemma
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvanians just elected 228 state senators and representatives. These candidates-turned-lawmakers spent the past several months doing all the challenging work of campaigning: giving speeches, knocking…
Media Hit
Read More: How to Fix Pennsylvania’s Looming Budget DilemmaState Budget
EITC and Economically Disadvantaged Schools
Summary The Economically Disadvantaged School component of the EITC provides supplementary scholarships for Pennsylvania students receiving scholarships and attending private schools with the greatest financial need. These supplementary scholarships for…
Fact Sheet
Read More: EITC and Economically Disadvantaged SchoolsState Budget
Pennsylvania’s Looming Budget Challenges
Summary Pennsylvania’s fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 state budget has created a $3.6 billion structural budget deficit. Without a major shift in direction, this deficit will persist and grow in future…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Looming Budget ChallengesState Budget
The Taxpayer Protection Act
Summary Pennsylvania faces a $3.6 billion structural deficit that will force lawmakers to cut spending or increase taxes. State spending growth far outpaces inflation, population growth, and economic growth. This…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Taxpayer Protection ActEducation
How to Win Pennsylvania
Originally published at City Journal With its 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is the nation’s largest swing state. Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have inundated the…
Media Hit
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New Poll Finds Pa. Voters Pessimistic About Direction of Country and Economic Future
Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 8, 2024 — A new poll of Pennsylvania registered voters released today by the Commonwealth Foundation found inflation and rising costs are top concerns and elections for federal and…
Press Release
Read More: New Poll Finds Pa. Voters Pessimistic About Direction of Country and Economic FutureEducation
Commonwealth Foundation names Andrew Lewis as new president and CEO
Originally published at Broad + Liberty The Commonwealth Foundation, a think tank focused on “transforming free-market ideas into actionable public policies,” appointed Andrew Lewis, a former Pennsylvania state representative…
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Commonwealth Foundation Welcomes Andrew Lewis as President and CEO
Harrisburg, Pa., September 4, 2024—The Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors has unanimously named Andrew Lewis the organization’s sixth president and CEO effective September 19, 2024. Lewis served four years in…
Press Release
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DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done
Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 20, 2024—While Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro makes the rounds at Democratic Convention events in Chicago, the Commonwealth Foundation is highlighting his lack of legislative accomplishments in an…
Press Release
Read More: DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t DoneEducation
Shapiro Lost the Veepstakes–and He Only Has Himself to Blame
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Earlier this month, all signs pointed to Gov. Josh Shapiro joining Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket. After all, Shapiro sits atop…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro Lost the Veepstakes–and He Only Has Himself to BlameState Budget
Mass Transit Bailout
Summary Mass transit agencies, including Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) in Pittsburgh, have seen steep declines in ridership since 2019. Gov. Josh Shapiro…
Fact Sheet
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Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pa., August 13, 2024 — Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate should have Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro asking himself, why Walz, writes Commonwealth…
Press Release
Read More: Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania