Education
Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s unaffordable budget worsens Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. The governor proposes nearly $53.26 billion in general fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase over the 2025–26 enacted budget. He…
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget ProposalPennsylvania’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.
Government Accountability
Budget Earmarks: Sneaky and Unconstitutional
A wise buyer should always read the fine print, but it isn’t easy. Documents like cell phone contracts and software user agreements can be hard to read, often by design. The dense language…
Media
Read More: Budget Earmarks: Sneaky and UnconstitutionalEducation
Getting Real About Education Spending
Another budget season has come and gone in Harrisburg. As usual, education spending was one of the hottest topics. Constant demands for “more money” by teachers’ unions and their…
Media
Read More: Getting Real About Education SpendingState Budget
This Year’s Budget Continues Past Trends
The 2019-2020 budget spending bill is on the governor’s desk and lawmakers are claiming it represents an increase of only 1.8 percent over last year. If this were true, it would…
Media
Read More: This Year’s Budget Continues Past TrendsState Budget
Budget Spares Taxpayers, Boosts School Choice, but Leaves Much Undone
June 28, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, lawmakers put the finishing touches on a state budget that spares Pennsylvanians from tax hikes, grows the state’s beleaguered Rainy Day Fund, and boosts school…
Press Release
Read More: Budget Spares Taxpayers, Boosts School Choice, but Leaves Much UndoneState Budget
State Can Build on Tax Reform Boom
To attract the investment and job creators that will secure our future, we can—and must—do better. Luckily, lawmakers have the blueprint they need to make our state competitive: Control spending…
Commentary
Read More: State Can Build on Tax Reform BoomEducation
Common EITC and OSTC Misconceptions
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” This saying is even more true in the internet age. Case in point: recent falsehoods…
Media
Read More: Common EITC and OSTC MisconceptionsEducation
Five Things Lawmakers Should Know About the State Budget Deal
Less than a week before the start of the 2019-20 fiscal year, legislative leaders unveiled a proposed state budget—including both the spending and revenue outline, and several policy changes that…
Media
Read More: Five Things Lawmakers Should Know About the State Budget DealState Budget
Future Growth Depends on Today’s Lawmakers
Federal tax cuts made Pennsylvania’s current economic growth possible, but state reform could make it sustainable. Today Pennsylvanians are enjoying $866 million in surplus state revenue, an all-time low unemployment rate,…
Media
Read More: Future Growth Depends on Today’s LawmakersState Budget
Lawmakers Show Signs of Budget Restraint
When state revenues outpace spending there’s always a temptation to spend more—in fact, even when revenues fall short…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Show Signs of Budget RestraintEducation
Fiscal Forgetfulness
Next year the governor wants to spend $1.4 billion more than he requested for this year, according to his recent budget proposal. Separately he’ll need as much as $750 million…
Media
Read More: Fiscal ForgetfulnessGovernment Accountability
The Shadow Budget Comes to Light
The shadow budget is coming into the light in an unlikely way this…
Media
Read More: The Shadow Budget Comes to LightState Budget
Making Bad Investments Won’t Restore PA
Governor Wolf’s Restore PA plan utilizes a natural gas severance tax and borrowing to fund infrastructure improvements. There’s a better way to improve our infrastructure.
Memo
Read More: Making Bad Investments Won’t Restore PAState Budget
Harrisburg’s Notoriously Big Choice
“More money, more problems.” It seems that Pennsylvania lawmakers and The Notorious B.I.G. may have found some common ground. Surplus revenues have been a hot topic since the Independent Fiscal…
Media
Read More: Harrisburg’s Notoriously Big ChoiceState Budget
High Taxes Are Driving Pa.’s ‘Brain Drain’
If life is a highway, then Pennsylvanians are using it to drive to other states. This is especially true for young Pennsylvanians…
Media
Read More: High Taxes Are Driving Pa.’s ‘Brain Drain’State Budget
Federal Tax Reform: A Pennsylvania Gold Rush
After centuries of hopeless panning and prospecting, gold has finally been discovered right here in Harrisburg. The historic find weighs in…
Media
Read More: Federal Tax Reform: A Pennsylvania Gold RushCriminal Justice Reform
Up, Up, and Away: Snapshots from Wolf’s Budget
Soon lawmakers in Harrisburg will begin debating the 2019-2020 budget and what to do with excess revenue from the booming economy. Here’s your two-minute summary of the budget situation and…
Media
Read More: Up, Up, and Away: Snapshots from Wolf’s BudgetState Budget
Failure to Save Now Means Tax Hikes Later
Anyone who’s had to pinch a few pennies knows this to be true: Failure to save in good years means you’re not prepared for the bad ones. This is a…
Media
Read More: Failure to Save Now Means Tax Hikes LaterCriminal Justice Reform
Four Ways Lawmakers Are Setting Up Pa. For Success
Freedom and opportunity are on the move in the Keystone State. In the past week, lawmakers have taken four serious strides for the families and business owners of Pennsylvania. We’re…
Media
Read More: Four Ways Lawmakers Are Setting Up Pa. For SuccessState Budget
Tax Reforms Not Football Will Keep People in Pa.
The Steelers may not be the most recent Pennsylvania team to win a Super Bowl, but that doesn’t stop them from having the second highest out-of-state fan base. The…
Media
Read More: Tax Reforms Not Football Will Keep People in Pa.State Budget
Protecting Pa.’s Future: The Taxpayer Protection Act
Pennsylvanians currently owe more than $128 billion in state and local debt—an astounding $10,015 for every man, woman, and child. Yet, our state government is raking in more revenue from…
Media
Read More: Protecting Pa.’s Future: The Taxpayer Protection ActCriminal Justice Reform
Moving Toward Efficient, Effective Criminal Justice
The economy is growing, but Pennsylvania just keeps sinking deeper into debt. Since 1970, we’ve tripled our overall operating budget—but our population has grown only 8 percent. Even adjusting for…
Media
Read More: Moving Toward Efficient, Effective Criminal Justice