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.
Education
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
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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,…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Press Release
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…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis GrowsState Budget
Great Win for Taxpayers in the Budget Battle
Today, the Wolf tax hike was resoundingly defeated in the state House (73-127). Repeatedly, Gov. Wolf has failed to convince lawmakers—including those of his own party—to impose his massive hikes…
Media
Read More: Great Win for Taxpayers in the Budget BattleState Budget
Wolf’s Tax Hikes: 3 Strikes and You’re Out!
Wolf’s Tax Hikes: 3 Strikes and You’re Out! Time to Abandon Tax-Hike Obsession October 7, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—This spring, Governor Wolf swung for the fences with a…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Tax Hikes: 3 Strikes and You’re Out!State Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Tax Hike Vote
Today, lawmakers will vote on Gov. Wolf’s third proposal for a tax increase. This “third time’s a charm” scheme reveals that Gov. Wolf has acknowledged…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Tax Hike VoteState Budget
Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher Taxes
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher Taxes Latest Plan Raids $750 from Paychecks of Pennsylvania Families October 6,…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher TaxesState Budget
Wolf’s Tax Hikes: Version 3.0
Today, Gov. Wolf unveiled a 3rd proposal for a tax increase. This represents both good news and bad news for taxpayers. The good news is that Wolf now concedes that…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Tax Hikes: Version 3.0State Budget
Wolf Demands $1,000 from Families in Wednesday House Vote
Wolf Demands $1,000 from Families in Wednesday House Vote “Compromise” Tax Plan Still Largest in State History October 5, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—After months of hyping a “common…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Demands $1,000 from Families in Wednesday House VoteState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Would Devastate Dale
Dale Kaplan is a survivor. His family-run dry cleaning business has weathered declining volume, thanks to innovations like no-iron dress shirts, and a devastating fire. Now Dale’s 27 year old business…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Would Devastate Dale