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.

2024 state budget resources

State Budget

Proposed Tax Cuts and the 2024 State Budget

  • May 28, 2024

Key Points A responsible budget in fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 must grapple with Pennsylvania’s aging and shrinking workforce challenges through sound tax and regulatory reform. State Senate Republicans proposed two…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Proposed Tax Cuts and the 2024 State Budget

Education

Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challenge

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 21, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News Following his budget address in February, Gov. Josh Shapiro challenged critics, saying, “If you don’t like my plan, show me yours.” Last week,…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challenge

Education

Pa. School Funding Reached $22,000 per student in 2023 

  • May 21, 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., May 21, 2024 — Pennsylvania per-student spending increased to $21,985 in the 2022–23 school year, according to recently released data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This represents a…

Press Release

Read More: Pa. School Funding Reached $22,000 per student in 2023 

Education

Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023

  • May 20, 2024

Pennsylvania Public School Spending Is Growing Over the last decade, state spending on Pennsylvania public schools reached all-time highs year after year. Pennsylvania per-pupil public school funding increased to $21,985…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023

Education

Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is Selling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania As inflation persists, Pennsylvania voters are rejecting increased government spending, according to new polling data released by the Commonwealth Foundation. Inflation and the rising cost of…

Media Hit

Read More: Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is Selling

Education

Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of Harrisburg

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 26, 2024

Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s a presidential election year, with voters riveted on national politics and issues. Inflation — caused by federal deficit spending — and immigration consistently…

Media Hit

Read More: Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of Harrisburg

Education

Charles Mitchell | On Offense in Pennsylvania

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 25, 2024

Charles Mitchell is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Commonwealth Foundation. Charles grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs in a family of railroaders, teachers, and small…

Media Hit

Read More: Charles Mitchell | On Offense in Pennsylvania

Education

Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll Breakdown

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 18, 2024

The juxtaposition between the lack of support for Shapiro’s budget proposal (29%) and the massive support for his unfulfilled campaign promises—like Lifeline Scholarships (77%), lowering the business tax rate (81%),…

Media Hit

Read More: Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll Breakdown

Education

Governor’s campaign slogans won’t fix Pa.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 8, 2024

Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Though elected in 2022, Gov. Josh Shapiro remains stuck in campaign mode, offering one empty platitude after another while avoiding the hard work…

Media Hit

Read More: Governor’s campaign slogans won’t fix Pa.

State Budget

‘Shrinkflation’ ignores the true problem: deficit spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 1, 2024

Originally published at the Allentown Morning Call President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey deflect blame for high inflation away from the true cause: their own policies. They…

Media Hit

Read More: ‘Shrinkflation’ ignores the true problem: deficit spending

State Budget

Corporate Welfare Is Rampant Throughout Governor Shapiro’s Proposed Budget

  • March 7, 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., March 7, 2024 — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024–25 budget funnels $1.49 billion of taxpayer money to corporate welfare programs that have repeatedly failed to improve Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness,…

Press Release

Read More: Corporate Welfare Is Rampant Throughout Governor Shapiro’s Proposed Budget

State Budget

Corporate Welfare in the 2024–25 Budget

  • March 7, 2024

Summary Pennsylvania’s economy is largely uncompetitive, with the state routinely losing businesses and residents to more economically competitive states like Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposes…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Corporate Welfare in the 2024–25 Budget

State Budget

Shapiro’s Structural Deficit

  • February 28, 2024

Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a $48.3 billion 2024–25 General Fund budget, a $3 billion or 7.1 percent spending increase compared to last year’s ongoing general fund spending. The proposal…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Shapiro’s Structural Deficit

State Budget

Transit Bailout Could Derail Shapiro’s Budget

  • Andrew Holman, Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro thinks mass transit is too big to fail. In his recent budget address, Shapiro pitched sending roughly $300 million…

Media Hit

Read More: Transit Bailout Could Derail Shapiro’s Budget

Education

Gov. Shapiro’s budget shoves Pennsylvania in the wrong direction

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News Pennsylvania’s population is shrinking as working-age families move away to other states. State policymakers’ most important challenge is how to make our commonwealth…

Media Hit

Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s budget shoves Pennsylvania in the wrong direction

Education

If Josh Shapiro wants to compete with Ohio, he needs to imitate Ohio

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 12, 2024

Originally published at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Gov. Josh Shapiro is right: Pennsylvania is losing to Ohio. In the last two years, Pennsylvania witnessed a net loss of 2,425 residents and…

Media Hit

Read More: If Josh Shapiro wants to compete with Ohio, he needs to imitate Ohio

Education

Key Takeaways from Governor’s 2024 Budget Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2024

Key Points Gov. Josh Shapiro’s startling spending increases and myriad of new initiatives would explode the budget deficit and invite massive tax hikes on working families in the coming years.

Backgrounder

Read More: Key Takeaways from Governor’s 2024 Budget Proposal