State Budget
Pennsylvania’s Looming Budget Challenges
Summary Pennsylvania’s fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 state budget has created a $3.6 billion structural budget deficit. Without a major shift in direction, this deficit will persist and grow in future…
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Looming Budget ChallengesPennsylvania’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
Education
New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss Up
Harrisburg, Pa., July 26, 2024—Public support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is evenly divided in Pennsylvania, according to a new statewide survey of Pennsylvania voters, with Harris leading Trump 47%…
Press Release
Read More: New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss UpEducation
TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”
Harrisburg, Pa., July 25, 2024—The Commonwealth Foundation today released a new television ad that exposes Gov. Josh Shapiro’s leadership failures and his inability to obtain significant legislative successes.
Press Release
Read More: TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”Education
Who will Harris pick for vice president? Why Shapiro and Whitmer aren’t the answers.
Originally published at USA Today Joe Biden is out. Kamala Harris is almost certainly in. The question now is: Who will the likely Democratic presidential…
Media Hit
Read More: Who will Harris pick for vice president? Why Shapiro and Whitmer aren’t the answers.Education
Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
HARRISBURG, PA., July 24, 2024 — At a press conference Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Commonwealth Foundation has “spent years and millions and millions of dollars attacking me.” Shapiro’s…
Press Release
Read More: Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Media Hit
Read More: President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris StigallEducation
VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Harrisburg, Pa., July 22, 2024 — Some political pundits say Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would provide the Democratic presidential ticket a boost in a critical battleground state. That will only be…
Press Release
Read More: VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed LeadershipEducation
Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
HARRISBURG, PA., July 18, 2024 — Amid growing speculation about President Joe Biden’s future as a candidate, political pundits, operatives, and donors are touting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a potential…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice PresidentEducation
Broken promises
Originally published at the Philadelphia Inquirer The Inquirer left someone out in its coverage of the “winners and losers” of the new state budget: kids in Pennsylvania’s low-achieving…
Commentary
Read More: Broken promisesEducation
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Harrisburg, Pa., July 17, 2024 — Convention delegates, leaders of both political parties, and the national political media will see a new ad telling the truth about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s ineffectiveness.
Press Release
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic IneffectivenessEducation
2024–25 State Budget Analysis
Key Points Pennsylvania’s $47.6 billion 2024–25 budget creates a $3.6 billion structural deficit. This will exhaust General Fund reserves, which will require draining from the Rainy Day fund—illegally—or raising taxes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2024–25 State Budget AnalysisEducation
Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., July 11, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a seriously flawed 2024–25 state budget deal. The deal fails to address the educational needs of students trapped in failing…
Press Release
Read More: Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed BudgetEducation
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,…
Media
Read More: New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget ProcessEducation
Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — In The Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn explores claims that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, currently floated by some pundits as a possible replacement for President Joe Biden…
Press Release
Read More: Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?Education
Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of Accomplishment
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 2024 — Despite speculation of replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, Gov. Josh Shapiro has been an ineffective leader with few legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of AccomplishmentEducation
Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 Years
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 2024 — Despite speculation of replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, Gov. Josh Shapiro has been an ineffective leader with few legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 YearsEducation
Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”
Overview Governor Josh Shapiro has made “Get Sh*t Done,” profanity and all, the official slogan of his administration, but when it comes to legislative accomplishments, his governing abilities have…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”Education
Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà Vu
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s budget battle feels oddly familiar – like we’ve been here before. Our sense of déjà vu is valid: The 2024–25 fiscal battle looks strikingly…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà VuEducation
Charles Mitchell: Josh Shapiro Plays to the Middle While Pleasing the Left
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s handling of Lifeline Scholarships threatens to upend the moderate image that drives his popularity among Pennsylvania voters, writes Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Charles Mitchell in Thursday’s Pittsburgh…
Press Release
Read More: Charles Mitchell: Josh Shapiro Plays to the Middle While Pleasing the LeftEducation
Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the left
Originally published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Perhaps you’ve heard: Our governor is a moderate president-in-the-making. Josh Shapiro is leaning into this image as the state legislature negotiates next year’s budget,…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the leftEducation
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Media Hit
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansState Budget
Pa. Senate’s Proposed Tax Cuts Would Save Families $900 Per Year
Harrisburg, Pa., May 29, 2024 — Senate Bill (SB) 269 would slash taxes across Pennsylvania and save the average family of four $400 in fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 and $900 in…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate’s Proposed Tax Cuts Would Save Families $900 Per Year