Education
New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget Process
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — As Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to enact the 2024–25 Pennsylvania budget by the June 30th deadline, voters overwhelmingly support increased bipartisanship in the budget process,…
Read More: New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget ProcessPennsylvania’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
Regulation
Don’t Wait on Washington for Manufacturing Jobs
During his campaign stops in Pennsylvania, President-elect Donald Trump touted his intention to bring manufacturing jobs back to the state. That’s a worthy goal, but the truth…
Commentary
Read More: Don’t Wait on Washington for Manufacturing JobsRegulation
What Pennsylvania’s Budget Trends Mean for You
State government is growing at a startling rate. Since 1970, spending has risen by $4,010 per person—an inflation-adjusted increase of 189 percent. This is one of many findings in our…
Media
Read More: What Pennsylvania’s Budget Trends Mean for YouEducation
Hits and Misses from the 2015-16 Legislative Session
That's a wrap. The 2015-16 legislative session is officially in the history books. Despite a $650 million tax hike, Pennsylvanians have a lot to celebrate from the past two years.
Media
Read More: Hits and Misses from the 2015-16 Legislative SessionState Budget
Tracking State Budget Trends
The 2016-17 General Fund budget added to Pennsylvania’s fiscal challenges. Lawmakers approved the $31.6 billion budget without implementing meaningful reforms or authorizing enough revenue to balance the budget. Despite lacking…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Tracking State Budget TrendsRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016
State revenue collections came in at $79.5 million below the official estimate for November, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Lackluster collections wiped away the little progress made during October when revenue collections…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016Regulation
New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending
New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending State Faces up to $900 Million Budget Hole This Year November 16, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Yesterday’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) mid-year…
Press Release
Read More: New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform SpendingRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016
Last month we raised concerns about Pennsylvania's fiscal trajectory. At the time, state revenue collections were more than $218 million below the official estimate. The current revenue picture is slightly…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016Public Union Democracy
A Dramatic Shift in Pennsylvania
From celebration to soul-searching, post-election analysis is everywhere. While top-of-the-ballot results dominate headlines and your news feed, don’t miss the dramatic shift that occurred last night in Pennsylvania. Republicans achieved…
Media
Read More: A Dramatic Shift in PennsylvaniaState Budget
Prioritizing Tax Revenue over People
PennLive recently published an editorial analyzing the General Assembly’s actions—or lack thereof—on key issues during the last two weeks of the legislative session. Their views on the e-cigarette (vape) tax deserve special…
Media
Read More: Prioritizing Tax Revenue over PeopleRegulation
House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping Community
Gov. Wolf and the legislature clearly erred in their attempt to raise revenue on the backs of small vape shop business owners like Dori, Chris, Scottie, and…
Media
Read More: House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping CommunityRegulation
Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the Hook
In the past six years, Pennsylvania taxpayers’ unfunded pension liability has more than doubled from less than $30 billion to $63 billion. While the legislative debate over reform continues, Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the HookRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016
Pennsylvania’s state budget is three months old and showing signs of a major budget deficit. Actual revenue collections are already behind $218.5 million through the first quarter, according to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016Government Accountability
Audio Blog: Expectations Exceed Reality with Pa. Pensions
In a recent interview with Stephanie Renee, host of WURD AM’s The Mojo, Nathan Benefield discussed the roots of Pennsylvania’s pension crisis and how to fix it. Pension debt has stacked up…
Media
Read More: Audio Blog: Expectations Exceed Reality with Pa. PensionsRegulation
How to Fix the Vape Tax
The House will return to session later today, with the Senate to follow early next week. The two chambers are in session for a total of nine days. This gives lawmakers a limited…
Media
Read More: How to Fix the Vape TaxState Budget
Gov. Wolf Is Exacerbating Inequality
Gov. Wolf is embracing a government that works for the wealthy and well-connected. Yesterday, his administration announced its intention to commit more than $20.5 million to Aramark just to…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Is Exacerbating InequalityState Budget
Facing Likely Deficit, Lawmakers Should Reduce Spending
Fiscal responsibility is at a premium across the country, and Pennsylvania is no exception. In June, lawmakers passed a budget that increased spending by $1.6 billion. Weeks later, they passed…
Media
Read More: Facing Likely Deficit, Lawmakers Should Reduce SpendingState Budget
Podcast: How Money Walks Out of Pennsylvania
Last year, nearly 42,000 Pennsylvanians left the state to pursue their dreams elsewhere—that's one person every 12 and a half minutes. Why is money walking out of Pennsylvania? That’s…
Media
Read More: Podcast: How Money Walks Out of PennsylvaniaRegulation
State Government is Killing My Business
In 2013, I opened my first business. I’d overcome many challenges and assumed some gut-wrenching risks to get there, but I did it—and I was proud. But less than three…
Commentary
Read More: State Government is Killing My BusinessState Budget
More Victims of Devastating New Tax Speak Out
Amy Crivella was addicted to cigarettes. She tried everything—gum, patches, going cold turkey—but nothing worked. Then, she tried e-cigarettes, or vaping, and she didn’t need a cigarette for the first time…
Media
Read More: More Victims of Devastating New Tax Speak OutState Budget
Seven Threats to the 2017-18 Budget
The 2016-17 budget remains unbalanced. Without serious efforts to reduce spending or reform major cost drivers, like public pensions and the sprawling human services system, taxpayers should expect a push…
Memo
Read More: Seven Threats to the 2017-18 BudgetState Budget
Pushback Against Devastating E-Cig Tax Continues
Backlash over the punitive 40 percent wholesale e-cigarette tax continues. Yesterday, CF Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle discussed its devastating impacts with WILK-FM's L.A. Tarone. Stelle explained how this…
Media
Read More: Pushback Against Devastating E-Cig Tax Continues