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
How is Property Tax Relief Doled Out?
Among the many questions in a tentative state budget deal is how revenue from the sales tax increase would be distributed. The Associated Press notes this will be…
Media
Read More: How is Property Tax Relief Doled Out?State Budget
Horse Racing Subsidies vs. Property Tax Relief
Is a $600 million tax increase needed to end a five month-long budget impasse? Lawmakers are considering it. Yet, a shortage of tax revenue is not the source of…
Media
Read More: Horse Racing Subsidies vs. Property Tax ReliefState Budget
Budget Hope on the Horizon?
After nearly five months of gridlock, a new state budget framework was announced this week. At this point, it’s tempting to call any progress on budget agreement a victory, but…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Hope on the Horizon?Regulation
Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in America
Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in America Latest Budget Plan Seeks Biggest Sales Tax Hike Since 1956 November 10, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvanians may soon pay more for…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in AmericaRegulation
Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored Deal
Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored Budget Deal Sales Tax for Property Tax Swap Rumor Leaves Taxpayers on the Hook November 9, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—The…
Press Release
Read More: Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored DealState Budget
A Stealth Tax Increase?
Rumors about a proposed budget continue to swirl in Harrisburg. One such rumor is that the deal would include an increase in the sales tax rate to be used for…
Media
Read More: A Stealth Tax Increase?Public Union Democracy
Dear Kids
On October 21, more than 100 days after his veto touched off Pennsylvania’s ongoing state budget impasse, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…
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Holding All Schools Hostage
Fell Charter Elementary School near Scranton will stop paying teachers next month and the school is considering a four-day week thanks to the state budget stalemate. Fell's announcement is…
Media
Read More: Holding All Schools HostageState Budget
Wolf Increasingly Irrelevant in Budget Debate
Wolf Increasingly Irrelevant in Budget Debate Veto Override Attempt Shows Gov’s Grip Slipping October 28, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state Senate attempted to send schools much-needed funding by overriding…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Increasingly Irrelevant in Budget DebateState Budget
Lawmakers Move to Protect Posterity
The State House recently passed two bills designed to chip away at the commonwealth’s mountain of debt—12th highest among states as recently as 2012, and only growing since. The…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Move to Protect PosterityState Budget
Wolf’s Good Cop, Bad Cop Act
During 100-plus days of the state budget impasse, Gov. Wolf’s words and actions have been consistently inconsistent, leaving taxpayers and lawmakers confused. Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matt Brouillette noted,…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Good Cop, Bad Cop ActState Budget
Wolf’s ‘Good Cop-Bad Cop’ Act: Which Governor Will Show up Today?
Wolf’s ‘Good Cop-Bad Cop’ Act: Which Governor Will Show up Today? Contradictory Rhetoric Derailing Budget Progress October 22, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—During 100-plus days of the state budget…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s ‘Good Cop-Bad Cop’ Act: Which Governor Will Show up Today?Government Accountability
Three Reforms that Transcend Party Lines
Budget gridlock is hamstringing Harrisburg, but when it comes to transparency and accountability, a bipartisan majority of Pennsylvanians support three key reforms. Paycheck protection, transparency in government union contract negotiations,…
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Read More: Three Reforms that Transcend Party LinesState Budget
Moody’s to Pennsylvania: You’re So Negative
The budget impasse is creating more problems for Pennsylvanians with each passing day—already costing taxpayers at least $11 million. Gov. Wolf has been using…
Media
Read More: Moody’s to Pennsylvania: You’re So NegativeEducation
Wolf Claims More Student Hostages
Earlier this week, The Neighborhood Academy, a private school in Pittsburgh, held a rally in the state Capitol to highlight Gov. Wolf’s withholding tax credits for student scholarships. Pennsylvania’s Educational…
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Read More: Wolf Claims More Student HostagesState Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf Goes Down Swinging
Last week, Gov. Wolf struck out after his third attempt to enact massive tax hikes was voted down in a bipartisan effort by the House of Representatives. CF’s…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf Goes Down SwingingRegulation
Tackling our Structural Deficit Without Tax Hikes
“I’m not taking anything off the table” said Gov. Wolf shortly after his tax plan was resoundingly defeated in the House last week. The governor’s refusal to abandon…
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Read More: Tackling our Structural Deficit Without Tax HikesGovernment Accountability
Poll: Large Majorities Back Transparency & Accountability Reforms
Poll: Large Majorities in PA Back Transparency & Accountability Reforms Paycheck Protection, Contract Transparency, Spending Limits Get High Marks October 13, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Critical transparency and accountability measures…
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Read More: Poll: Large Majorities Back Transparency & Accountability ReformsState Budget
Three Strikes and You’re Out, Governor Wolf
Nearly 100 days since the budget deadline, Governor Wolf had proposed three separate tax increase plans—each the largest tax hike in the nation. But when Wolf stepped up to the…
Commentary
Read More: Three Strikes and You’re Out, Governor WolfState Budget
Tax Hikes: Wolf’s White Whale
Wednesday’s vote on Gov. Wolf’s tax scheme was latest in a long line of political gimmicks aimed at reeling-in Wolf’s white whale: paradigm-shifting tax increases on Pennsylvania families and small…
Commentary
Read More: Tax Hikes: Wolf’s White WhaleRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis Grows
When you assume an investment return rate of 7.5 percent and your actual returns are 3.04 percent you have a problem. If you are the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System you…
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