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.

2024 state budget resources

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

Education

Pennsylvania Democrats have no mandate—except to compromise

  • Andrew Lewis
  • November 20, 2024

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…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania Democrats have no mandate—except to compromise

State Budget

How to Fix Pennsylvania’s Looming Budget Dilemma

  • Andrew Holman
  • November 18, 2024

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 Dilemma

State Budget

EITC and Economically Disadvantaged Schools

  • November 11, 2024

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

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State Budget

The Taxpayer Protection Act

  • October 29, 2024

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 Act

Education

How to Win Pennsylvania

  • Andrew Lewis
  • October 15, 2024

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

Read More: How to Win Pennsylvania

Education

Commonwealth Foundation names Andrew Lewis as new president and CEO

  • Andrew Lewis, Charles Mitchell
  • September 26, 2024

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…

Media Hit

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Education

Commonwealth Foundation Welcomes Andrew Lewis as President and CEO

  • September 4, 2024

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

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Welcomes Andrew Lewis as President and CEO

Education

DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done

  • August 20, 2024

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 Done

Education

Shapiro Lost the Veepstakes–and He Only Has Himself to Blame

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2024

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 Blame

State Budget

Mass Transit Bailout

  • August 13, 2024

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

Read More: Mass Transit Bailout

Education

Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania

  • August 13, 2024

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

Education

Josh Shapiro can now focus on leading Pennsylvania

  • Charles Mitchell
  • August 11, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News Being passed over for vice president may be the best thing that ever happened to Josh Shapiro. That’s probably not what our…

Media Hit

Read More: Josh Shapiro can now focus on leading Pennsylvania

Education

André Béliveau on Kamala’s VP Pick

  • André Béliveau
  • August 6, 2024

André Béliveau, Senior Manager of Energy Policy at the Commonwealth Foundation, joins us. Originally we had booked Andre to discuss why Shapiro would be a poor choice, but with the…

Media Hit

Read More: André Béliveau on Kamala’s VP Pick

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s spending billions more than we can afford

  • Andrew Holman
  • August 5, 2024

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Harrisburg celebrates the newly signed 2024–25 state budget. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, his fellow Democratic lawmakers, and even state Senate Republicans see the…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania’s spending billions more than we can afford

Education

Shapiro’s Backward Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 2, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s most precious resource – people – are leaving. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s newly adopted 2024–25 state budget, once more, mimics the policies of other declining…

Media Hit

Read More: Shapiro’s Backward Budget

Education

Why Kamala Harris may ignore Josh Shapiro

  • July 31, 2024

There is a growing speculation around Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s odds of being selected as Kamala Harris’ running mate. While the buzz around Shapiro continues to grow, his inexperience and…

Press Release

Read More: Why Kamala Harris may ignore Josh Shapiro

Education

Why Kamala Harris may ignore Josh Shapiro

  • Erik Telford
  • July 31, 2024

Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Should Kamala Harris choose Gov. Josh Shapiro as her vice-presidential running mate? That’s what many in the media — both in…

Media Hit

Read More: Why Kamala Harris may ignore Josh Shapiro

Education

Taxpayers and students lose with Pennsylvania’s new budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News Pundits and reporters have rushed to identify the “winners and losers” of Pennsylvania’s newly signed budget. Obvious winners include Gov. Josh…

Media Hit

Read More: Taxpayers and students lose with Pennsylvania’s new budget