Education
Governor Shapiro’s Massive Budget Brings Excessive Spending, New Taxes, and Future Tax Hikes
Video statements for broadcast media are available here. Harrisburg, Pa., February 4, 2025 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his 2025 Pennsylvania budget address, proposing a $3.9 billion spending increase.
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Massive Budget Brings Excessive Spending, New Taxes, and Future Tax HikesPennsylvania’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.
State Budget
Senate Budget Hides Millions in ‘Walking-Around Money’
Senate Budget Hides Millions in ‘Walking-Around Money’ Budget Plan Flush with Slush Fund Increases December 9, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The state Senate’s $30.8 billion budget plan rushed through Monday…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Budget Hides Millions in ‘Walking-Around Money’State Budget
House Budget Lives within Taxpayers’ Means
House Budget Lives within Taxpayers’ Means $30.3 Billion Plan Avoids Overspending & Excessive Taxation December 8, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Yesterday, the Senate rushed through a $30.8 billion budget that…
Press Release
Read More: House Budget Lives within Taxpayers’ MeansRegulation
Latest Pension Bill a Mixed Bag
Yesterday the State Senate passed a revised pension reform bill (SB 1082) including a side-by-side hybrid, with a smaller defined benefit pension and a defined contribution…
Media
Read More: Latest Pension Bill a Mixed BagState Budget
5 Ways the Seant’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers
5 Ways Senate’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers Walking-Around Money Gets Big Boost in $30.8 Billion Budget December 7, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state Senate passed a $30.8…
Press Release
Read More: 5 Ways the Seant’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint TaxpayersRegulation
With Details, Wolf Budget “Framework” Looks Even Worse
Now that the Pennsylvania Senate has begun passing legislation, taxpayers can finally see what’s in Gov. Wolf’s “framework” for a new budget. Based on the passage of SB 1073 and…
Media
Read More: With Details, Wolf Budget “Framework” Looks Even WorseState Budget
17,496 Reasons to Reject Higher Taxes
How high would you say Pennsylvania’s state and local tax burden is per family of four? $5,000?$10,000? Maybe even $15,000? If you guessed the latter, you’d be close – but…
Media
Read More: 17,496 Reasons to Reject Higher TaxesState Budget
Do New Budget Plans Protect Taxpayers?
Details of a proposed budget “framework” are slowly emerging. The Senate has advanced a General Fund spending plan, which seems to have Gov. Wolf’s support, of about $30.79…
Media
Read More: Do New Budget Plans Protect Taxpayers?State Budget
A Brief History of Wolf’s Tax Hikes
Yesterday, the State House of Representatives announced they were moving off the latest Wolf tax hike proposal and onto a new plan that called for less spending and fewer…
Media
Read More: A Brief History of Wolf’s Tax HikesState Budget
Taxes: Isn’t $17,000 Per Family of Four Enough?
Taxes: Isn’t $17,000 Per Family of Four Enough? Pennsylvanians Already Overburdened with State & Local Taxes December 4, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Did you know Pennsylvania’s state and local tax burden…
Press Release
Read More: Taxes: Isn’t $17,000 Per Family of Four Enough?State Budget
Quiz: Are You a Budget Gridlock Guru?
Are you a budget gridlock guru? Check out the quiz below to see if you're up to speed on the latest in Pennsylvania's historic budget impasse. …
Media
Read More: Quiz: Are You a Budget Gridlock Guru?State Budget
Wolf’s “Pressure” Causes Real Pain
After five months without a state budget, three failed tax hike plans, and two vetoed stop-gap plans, Gov. Wolf refuses to abandon his harmful strategy of holding children, abuse victims,…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s “Pressure” Causes Real PainState Budget
Yet Another Tax Hike Proposal
Details are slowly emerging about a potential fifth tax hike proposal in state budget negotiations. This comes after Gov. Wolf’s most recent plan to raise the state sales tax…
Media
Read More: Yet Another Tax Hike ProposalState Budget
No One Wants Higher Taxes
The latest reports out of the state Capitol suggest that including a sales tax increase in the budget framework—which we addressed earlier—is off the table. Turns out, lawmakers weren’t too keen on…
Media
Read More: No One Wants Higher TaxesState Budget
Stopgap Budget Could Avoid Thanksgiving Pain
Stopgap Budget Could Avoid Thanksgiving Pain Emergency Funding Needed for Vulnerable Pennsylvanians November 19, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—One week from Thanksgiving, the state budget impasse has forced the Mercer…
Press Release
Read More: Stopgap Budget Could Avoid Thanksgiving PainRegulation
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…
Media
Read More: Dear Kids