Education
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget Deal
Summary Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term structural…
Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget DealPennsylvania’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
Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield Responds to Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Priorities
Media Hit
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Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget Address
Profligacy Exacerbates Budget Deficit Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget calls for $45.9 billion in ongoing General Fund spending and $43 billion in net state revenues (after refunds). Thus, Pennsylvania has…
Report
Read More: Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget AddressState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Statement of Governor Shapiro’s Budget Priorities
Harrisburg, Pa., Mar. 7, 2023 — Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued today the following response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget address: “The budget…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Statement of Governor Shapiro’s Budget PrioritiesEducation
Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour Testimony
Mr. Speaker and members of the working group, thank you for allowing Commonwealth Foundation to provide brief comments on the importance of the house returning to work. My name is…
Testimony
Read More: Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour TestimonyState Budget
Pennsylvania State Budget Outlook
In November, the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released its Five Year Economic and Budget Outlook. Here are several trends for lawmakers. Pennsylvania’s Economy Remains Stagnant IFO forecasts Pennsylvania’s…
Fact Sheet
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Pennsylvania’s next governor will face a looming budget deficit
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In 2019-2020, over 75,000 kids in Pennsylvania were denied a chance to leave their failing schools. Now there will be 30,000 fewer,…
Media Hit
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PA Budget: Unsustainable spending, some big wins
July 7, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed a state budget plan that exceeds Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal by $300 million, with ongoing spending…
Press Release
Read More: PA Budget: Unsustainable spending, some big winsState Budget
What to know about the 2022 state budget deal
Pennsylvania lawmakers today unveiled the next fiscal year’s state budget plan. The Bad News: This budget represents excessive growth in government spending, increasing state spending by 10.7 percent over last…
Memo
Read More: What to know about the 2022 state budget dealState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Warns Governor: Don’t Inflate the Budget
June 22, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation today urged Pennsylvania state legislators to resist Gov. Tom Wolf’s efforts to “inflate the budget” in the face of skyrocketing inflation ravaging Pennsylvanians’…
Press Release
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2022 Pa. Budget Checklist
Limit Spending to Help Pennsylvanians Cope with Inflation Record inflation caused by federal overspending is hitting Pennsylvanians hard. Inflation is up 8.6 percent from last year and…
Fact Sheet
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Examining Wolf’s revisionist history
Originally printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette What will Pennsylvanians remember about Gov. Tom Wolf? This is his final year in office, and Mr. Wolf’s original priorities remain mostly…
Media Hit
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A real budget can bring prosperity to Pennsylvania
Originally published in The Patriot-News In in his annual budget address last week, Gov. Tom Wolf patted himself on the back for his management of the state’s finances. He…
Media Hit
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Five Takeaways from Gov. Wolf’s Budget
February 8, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — In his final budget address Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed an unaffordable spending increase while claiming the mantle of fiscal responsibility. Commonwealth Foundation Senior…
Press Release
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Credit Where Due: Fiscal Wins to Build on in the 2022 State Budget
February 7, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf has spent his final year in office claiming credit for fiscally-responsible policies enacted during his tenure, and he will attempt…
Press Release
Read More: Credit Where Due: Fiscal Wins to Build on in the 2022 State BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania Fiscal Chart Book 2022
Eight charts summarizing how much state government spends and how to strengthen the fiscal health of the commonwealth.
Fact Sheet
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How Government Overspending Hurts Pennsylvania Families
Key Points Excessive government spending and borrowing is causing record-setting inflation and severe supply chain shortages.Voters want fiscal restraint from their government.High taxes and spending are making Pennsylvania uncompetitive, costing…
Backgrounder
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Pennsylvania’s Stalled Economy
Summary In 2021, Pennsylvania lagged behind most states in recovering from the COVID-19 shutdown.Challenges like historic inflation and labor shortages will likely persist throughout 2022.This year, lawmakers can reverse these…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Stalled EconomyState Budget
2022 Pa. Budget Checklist
Limit spending growth to the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) index The total General Fund spending increase should not exceed the TPA limit of 3.46 percent, or an additional $1.376 billion.
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2022 Pa. Budget ChecklistState Budget
Op-Ed: Pa.’s out-of-control spending is driving away residents
Originally published in the Pittsiburgh Tribune-Review Gov. Tom Wolf recently declared 2022 a “magical year” for the Pennsylvania budget, citing the possibility of a surplus. However, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal…
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Op-Ed: Biden’s spending binge makes Americans poorer, just before the holidays
Biden and his allies in Congress need to stop this destructive spending now.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Biden’s spending binge makes Americans poorer, just before the holidaysState Budget
Op-Ed: How the Taxpayer Protection Act would help Pennsylvania
It’s time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to return to fiscally responsible governance. Passing the Taxpayer Protection Act is the perfect place to start.
Commentary
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