Pennsylvania’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.

Regulation

Wolf’s False Choice

  • March 31, 2016

If lawmakers don’t raise taxes, Pennsylvanians should brace for drastic cuts to education and human services. This myth is promoted endlessly by the Wolf Administration to justify taking…

Media

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Regulation

Rhetoric vs. Reality

  • March 25, 2016

Pennsylvania’s nine-month budget saga has concluded, but not everyone is pleased with the ending. The Philadelphia Inquirer published a caustic editorial criticizing state lawmakers for failing to surrender…

Media

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Education

The Final Piece of Budget Business in Limbo

  • James Paul
  • March 24, 2016

After nine months of gridlock, Gov. Tom Wolf finally surrendered his 2015 quest for higher taxes on families and small businesses. On Monday morning, Pennsylvania will enjoy a completed state…

Media

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State Budget

Victory Over Wolf Tax Hikes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 23, 2016

Pennsylvania's 267 day budget impasse has finally come to an end…with a taxpayer victory! HB 1801 will become law without Tom Wolf's signature. The governor refuses to sign the budget,…

Media

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Education

Taxpayers Win As Wolf Allows Budget to Become Law

  • March 23, 2016

Taxpayers Win As Wolf Allows Budget to Become Law Gov. Abandons 2015-16 Tax Hikes, Releases Record Funding for Cash-Strapped Schools March 23, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—After keeping Pennsylvania in budget…

Press Release

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State Budget

Support for Wolf’s Hostage-Taking Is Breaking

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 22, 2016

Last week, Gov. Wolf indicated he plans to fully veto yet another budget. He said if schools face a “short term shutdown,” that could be “a good thing.”  Now, he’s realizing…

Media

Read More: Support for Wolf’s Hostage-Taking Is Breaking

Education

Will Wolf Ignore Schools’ Pleas, Veto Education Funding?

  • March 22, 2016

Will Wolf Ignore Schools’ Pleas, Veto Education Funding? Districts Nearing Financial Collapse as Governor Threatens Veto March 22, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Nearly one week after the legislature voted to send…

Press Release

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State Budget

What Is Wolf’s Plan?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 17, 2016

In his 2015 budget address, Gov. Wolf stated, “But if you don’t agree with my ideas, here is my request: please come with your own ideas. It’s not good enough…

Media

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State Budget

Wolf Threatens to Shut Schools with Budget Veto

  • March 16, 2016

Wolf Threatens to Shut Schools with Budget Veto Balanced, No-Tax-Hike Budget with Record School Spending Nearing Wolf’s Desk March 16 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—With school districts across…

Press Release

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State Budget

Wolf’s Bad Budget Bluffs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 16, 2016

The Senate just passed and the House will soon vote on another no-tax-hike, balanced budget for fiscal year 2015-16. Gov. Wolf has already promised to veto it. Remarkably, the governor…

Media

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Regulation

Taxpayers on the Hook for Wolf’s Spending Binge

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 15, 2016

Despite the lack of a completed state budget, and no support for his unpopular tax hike proposals, Gov. Wolf continues to rack up additional costs for taxpayers:  Wolf's…

Media

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Government Accountability

Gov. Wolf’s Self-Created Constitutional Conflict

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 14, 2016

Rep. Bill Adolph accused the Wolf administration of creating a budget crisis during Thursday's final House Appropriations Committee budget hearing. In an op-ed published Friday,…

Media

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Education

Wolf’s “Plague” on Public Education

  • James Paul
  • March 11, 2016

Schools across Pennsylvania are feeling the squeeze from Gov. Tom Wolf’s $3 billion education funding cut. In Red Lion, Carbondale, Plum, and Erie—to name just…

Media

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Regulation

Why Did Wolf Veto PERC Funding?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 7, 2016

Some positive news emerged last week, Gov. Wolf agreed—as part of a lawsuit filed by Rep. Steve Bloom and Rep. Seth Grove—to a temporary deal to keep the Public…

Media

Read More: Why Did Wolf Veto PERC Funding?

Energy

Governor Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax Proposal

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 2, 2016

Governor Wolf continues to press for a natural gas severance tax despite ongoing layoffs and potential bankruptcies in the natural gas industry.

Fact Sheet

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Regulation

We’re #1! Pa. Leads Nation in Corporate Welfare

  • March 2, 2016

We’re #1!  Pa. Leads Nation in Corporate Welfare Looking for State Budget Fixes? Cut $700 Million in Unfair Subsidies March 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Wolf administration claims important state…

Press Release

Read More: We’re #1! Pa. Leads Nation in Corporate Welfare

Education

School Funding Myths Debunked

  • James Paul
  • February 29, 2016

Can Pennsylvania do better when it comes to educating our children? Absolutely. But playing “myths for money” will never lead to real solutions for families and students.

Commentary

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State Budget

No One Person is to Blame for Pennsylvania’s Problems

  • February 26, 2016

Proponents of bigger goverment have crafted a narrative that government has been cut to the bone. Pennsylvania needs massive tax hikes, they say, to repair the damage done by Gov. Corbett, whose slash-and-burn budgeting…

Media

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Regulation

Secret Contracts Push State Worker Costs Near $100K Each

  • February 22, 2016

Secret Contracts Push State Worker Costs Near $100K Each Benefit Costs Tripled Since 2000 February 22, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As Gov. Wolf calls for a record-high $80 billion…

Press Release

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State Budget

Wolf’s Policies Send Pennsylvanians Packing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2016

Last year, we lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes—a net migration of 41,600 residents, gone. That’s nearly the entire population of York, Gov. Wolf’s hometown. Ironically, Wolf…

Commentary

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State Budget

One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want to Move Away

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2016

Residents in states with high taxes to want to move out, according to a recent Gallup poll. This includes 33 percent of Pennsylvania residents.  This shouldn't be a shocker—Pennsylvania families…

Media

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