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
Deficit Watch: June 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 2025Education
Shapiro Must Lead, Not Litigate
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 LitigateEducation
Pennsylvania School Funding Reaches $23,000 per Student in 2024
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 2024Fairness
A SEPTA Bailout Is as Predictable as It Is Irresponsible
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 IrresponsibleProsperity
Deficit Watch: May 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 2025State Budget
EITC and Economically Disadvantaged Schools
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
Read More: EITC and Economically Disadvantaged SchoolsState Budget
Mass Transit Bailout
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 BailoutProsperity
Bring Domestic Steel Manufacturing Into America’s Golden Age
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 AgeProsperity
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
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 ReformEnergy
Deficit Watch: April 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 2025Government Accountability
Josh Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Self-Promotional Horror Show
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 ShowEducation
Gov. Shapiro’s appearance on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ smacked of unreality
Originally published by Lancaster Online. On the March 14 episode of “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Gov. Josh Shapiro gave an unreal performance — literally. Indeed,…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s appearance on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ smacked of unrealityProsperity
Independent Fiscal Office Exposes Shapiro’s Overinflated Revenue Projections
Harrisburg, Pa., March 5, 2025 — Tuesday, the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released its analysis of revenue proposals contained in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025–26 budget proposal. This latest…
Press Release
Read More: Independent Fiscal Office Exposes Shapiro’s Overinflated Revenue ProjectionsState Budget
Deficit Watch: March 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 2025State Budget
Optimizing State Spending
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 SpendingProsperity
Gov. Josh Shapiro Isn’t a “Different Democrat”
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
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 NewProsperity
Governor Shapiro’s Broken Promises are Breaking Pennsylvania
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 PennsylvaniaFairness
Independent Fiscal Office Shows Shapiro’s Budget Will Deepen the Deficit
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 DeficitProsperity
Deficit Watch: February 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 2025Education
Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2025 Budget Proposal
Harrisburg, PA, February 4, 2025 – Massive spending increases proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in his recently released 2025 budget proposal “will force extreme tax hikes on working families in the coming…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2025 Budget Proposal