Education
Governor Shapiro’s Massive Budget Brings Excessive Spending, New Taxes, and Future Tax Hikes
Video statements for broadcast media are available here. Harrisburg, Pa., February 4, 2025 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his 2025 Pennsylvania budget address, proposing a $3.9 billion spending increase.
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Massive Budget Brings Excessive Spending, New Taxes, and Future Tax HikesPennsylvania’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
Lawmakers’ Choice: Bogus Budget Borrowing or Serious Solutions
The start of the new fiscal year is less than two days away, but lawmakers have yet to nail down the specifics for the 2017-18 budget. Higher taxes and new borrowing…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers’ Choice: Bogus Budget Borrowing or Serious SolutionsState Budget
PA Budget: What the Constitution Mandates
As lawmakers debate the details of a new state budget, it’s crucial to remember what our state constitution requires them to do. The Pennsylvania Constitution does not require a…
Media
Read More: PA Budget: What the Constitution MandatesState Budget
Focusing on What Matters in the Tax Credit Debate
Pennsylvania provides tax credits for film production, concerts and video games. House Bill 1519 would combine these credits into one Multimedia Tax Credit Fund. But consolidating tax credits doesn't address…
Media
Read More: Focusing on What Matters in the Tax Credit DebateRegulation
News Release: Three Steps to Close State’s Budget Shortfall Without Tax Hikes
With a $1.4 billion projected budget shortfall for 2016-17 and just days to solve it, Pennsylvanians want solutions that won’t take even more money from their pockets. Fortunately, lawmakers and…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Three Steps to Close State’s Budget Shortfall Without Tax HikesRegulation
Is a Budget Deja Vu in Pennsylvania’s Future?
The General Assembly is floating a plan to balance the state budget with higher taxes and more borrowing, according to Charles Thompson of PennLive. Sound familiar? Lawmakers adopted…
Media
Read More: Is a Budget Deja Vu in Pennsylvania’s Future?State Budget
Stop Calling for Higher Taxes
In comments at the Pennsylvania Press Club yesterday, Sen. Jay Costa addressed the state deficit and called for tax increases. Costa said, “A year from now, someone will be standing…
Media
Read More: Stop Calling for Higher TaxesState Budget
The Solution to Pa.’s Perpetual Deficit Problems
Pennsylvania is rapidly approaching the June 30 budget deadline. Over the next two weeks, lawmakers will decide how to balance the 2017-18 budget. But they’ll also need to settle old…
Media
Read More: The Solution to Pa.’s Perpetual Deficit ProblemsHealth Care
One Step Towards Redesigning Human Services
Governor Wolf’s proposal to merge four state agencies into the Department of Health and Human Services has the potential to benefit taxpayers and beneficiaries by eliminating bureaucratic redundancies and providing…
Media
Read More: One Step Towards Redesigning Human ServicesRegulation
Policy Points: Pennsylvania’s Debt Burden
State and local debt levels have exploded since 2002. When combined with the commonwealth’s unfunded liabilities, total state obligations exceed $17,600 for every Pennsylvania resident.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Policy Points: Pennsylvania’s Debt BurdenRegulation
Pennsylvania Ranks Poorly…Again
Redesigning state government has never been more important. For evidence, check out Pennsylvania’s poor performance in U.S. News & World Report’s recent Best States Rankings. Overall, the study puts the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Ranks Poorly…AgainCriminal Justice Reform
Policy Memo: Principles for State Budget
With the 2017 budget, lawmakers have an opportunity to double down on the idea of reinventing government and adopt meaningful reforms that will save taxpayers money, stimulate economic growth, and improve services…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Principles for State BudgetState Budget
Three States Offer a Glimpse into Pennsylvania’s Three Possible Futures
Raising taxes on the wealthy is the answer to Pennsylvania’s fiscal problems. At least, that’s what we’re told by government union executives and their allies. But Connecticut's experience paints a very…
Media
Read More: Three States Offer a Glimpse into Pennsylvania’s Three Possible FuturesRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2017
For the first time in seven months, the commonwealth’s revenue collections exceeded expectations. Pennsylvania collected $2.6 billion in May—$98.5 million more than anticipated. Still, total collections remain approximately…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2017State Budget
Send a Message on Tax Hikes
Pennsylvania doesn't need to spend more, we need to spend smarter. Let your lawmakers know that taxes are high enough. Email Gov. Wolf and your state lawmakers today. …
Media
Read More: Send a Message on Tax HikesCriminal Justice Reform
Senate Advances Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform
Should bureaucratic inefficiencies decide the fate of parole violators? The obvious answer is no. That's just one reason why 38 senators voted in favor of SB 522. The legislation…
Media
Read More: Senate Advances Bipartisan Criminal Justice ReformEducation
School District Spending, Rainy Day Funds are Surging—Again
Americans love Springtime—and for good reason! With Spring comes warm weather, blooming flowers, and baseball season. Most importantly, Spring is time for new data from Pennsylvania’s Department of Education—which yesterday…
Media
Read More: School District Spending, Rainy Day Funds are Surging—AgainRegulation
Liquor “Modernization” a Financial Flop
Last year, the legislature enacted a law allowing restaurants and a small number of grocery stores to sell wine and “modernizing” the government liquor stores to “run more like…
Media
Read More: Liquor “Modernization” a Financial FlopState Budget
Charting Pennsylvania’s Past Can Shape Its Future
Decades of poor policy decisions have contributed to Pennsylvania’s current fiscal struggles. Not coincidentally, as the size and scope of government has increased, so have the commonwealth’s financial and economic…
Media
Read More: Charting Pennsylvania’s Past Can Shape Its FutureState Budget
PA.’s Fiscal Picture in 10 Charts
Commentary
Read More: PA.’s Fiscal Picture in 10 ChartsState Budget
News Release: 5 Ways State Government Can Help Small Businesses Grow
“Jobs that pay” is one of Gov. Wolf’s three key priorities. But who creates these jobs? Not government. Small businesses provide 55 percent of all jobs and account for 66…
Media
Read More: News Release: 5 Ways State Government Can Help Small Businesses GrowState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017
Pennsylvania’s financial problems continue to mount. April’s revenue collections were well below the Department of Revenue’s official estimate, which means the state’s deficit will likely be larger than expected.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017