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
Education
Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans
Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans Pa. Spends $3,400 More Per Student than the National Average February 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today at 2 p.m., Gov. Wolf…
Press Release
Read More: Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education PlansState Budget
Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?
Last year, Pennsylvania lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes. In total, the state’s net domestic migration rate was negative: 41,607 more people moved out of Pennsylvania than…
Media
Read More: Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?State Budget
Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the Largest
The Wolf administration continues to deny basic facts about their original proposed tax hike. Instead of responding with facts, the governor's staff relies on name-calling and personal attacks. The Altoona Mirror…
Media
Read More: Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the LargestEducation
Wolf’s $3 Billion Education Cut
Upon finally approving the majority of a state budget, Gov. Tom Wolf admonished the General Assembly for “cutting $95 million from public schools.” Yet it is the governor himself who…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s $3 Billion Education CutGovernment Accountability
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets Budget Companion Bill Picks Winners at Lobbyists’ Behest January 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—On Tuesday, the Pa. House passed a “fiscal code” which…
Press Release
Read More: Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark SecretsGovernment Accountability
Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks
Pennsylvania's fiscal code is intended to provide lawmakers with instructions for spending funds appropriated in the state budget. But it is also ground-zero for a host of earmarks that funnel limited…
Media
Read More: Fiscal Code Packed with EarmarksState Budget
Fiscal Code Protects Kids and Jobs
Today, the Pennsylvania House passed a revised fiscal code, HB 1327, to implement parts of the state budget. The fiscal code explains how revenues will be distributed, including transfers…
Media
Read More: Fiscal Code Protects Kids and JobsState Budget
Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget Future
Believe it or not, the state is approaching the unofficial start of a new budget cycle. Gov. Wolf plans to roll out his proposal for the 2016-17 budget on February…
Media
Read More: Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget FutureState Budget
Budget Hostages Finally Freed?
While Wolf released the hostages of the past six months, he made sure he could keep using children as “pressure points” by using his line-item veto to cut $3.1 billion…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Hostages Finally Freed?Education
Governor Wolf’s Budget Hostages
Tom Wolf finally admitted he held school children hostage in hopes of higher taxes: “We're now at a point where I don't want to hold the children of Pennsylvania hostage.” But…
Media
Read More: Governor Wolf’s Budget HostagesEducation
Wolf’s Newest Education Funding Scheme
When Gov. Wolf finally agreed to sign the majority of an emergency funding bill, it remained unclear how his administration would distribute the increased education funding approved by the…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Newest Education Funding SchemeRegulation
Is Gov. Wolf Ignoring Credit Rating Agencies?
Last week, Gov. Wolf once again resorted to defending his latest budget vetoes citing the fear of credit rating downgrades. Oddly, he seems to miss that pension reform and…
Media
Read More: Is Gov. Wolf Ignoring Credit Rating Agencies?State Budget
Wolf Signs Stop-Gap Budget With Punitive Line-Item Vetoes
This morning, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state budget on his desk, using his line-item veto (and item-reduction veto) power to cut the spending by more than $6 billion, targeting certain…
Media
Read More: Wolf Signs Stop-Gap Budget With Punitive Line-Item VetoesState Budget
Wolf Releases Budget Hostages in Budget Battle
Wolf Releases Hostages in Budget Battle After Six Months, Funding Finally Flows to Students & Needy December 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced he will finally release…
Press Release
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Wolf Misleads About Education “Cuts”
On Christmas Eve, Gov. Tom Wolf posted a blog attacking Republicans and the “extremist” budget now sitting on his desk—which passed the Senate on a bipartisan 33-17 vote. Wolf…
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Read More: Wolf Misleads About Education “Cuts”State Budget
End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands
End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands Legislature Sends State Budget to Governor’s Desk December 23, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state legislature, with bi-partisan support, sent a $30.26…
Press Release
Read More: End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s HandsState Budget
Senate Passes Budget, Sends to Governor
Things have changed quickly in the Capitol this week. On Monday, we wrote about a potential House vote on an emergency funding bill. That plan was scrapped. Yesterday, we talked…
Media
Read More: Senate Passes Budget, Sends to GovernorState Budget
A Christmas Spending Spree is in the Works
In an unexpected move, the House voted to revive the Senate’s $30.8 billion budget yesterday, which many thought was dead after a pension reform bill went down in defeat…
Media
Read More: A Christmas Spending Spree is in the WorksEducation
Students Need Scholarships, Not Sympathy
Gov. Tom Wolf’s insistence on higher taxes blocks state funding from school districts and jeopardizes private school scholarships for thousands of low- and middle-income students.
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Read More: Students Need Scholarships, Not SympathyState Budget
Moving on From Budget Gridlock
Editor's note: Recent legislative developments have made an emergency funding plan unlikely. For the latest on the budget impasse, read this blog. Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee voted…
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Read More: Moving on From Budget GridlockState Budget
Framework Dead, Time for a No-Tax Hike Spending Plan
Despite legislative action this past weekend, a “framework budget” and a looming vote to raise taxes now appear to be off the table. The next step must be to pass…
Media
Read More: Framework Dead, Time for a No-Tax Hike Spending Plan