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
Can You Afford $1,000 More?
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a major tax increase. This vote will be, in all likelihood, on a proposal Gov. Tom…
Media
Read More: Can You Afford $1,000 More?State Budget
Wolf Truth Squad: Tax Hikes on Working Families
UPDATE: Gov. Wolf offered a new tax proposal on October 6, 2015. Here is a summary of that plan As noted yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives…
Media
Read More: Wolf Truth Squad: Tax Hikes on Working FamiliesState Budget
Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000
Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000—Vote Next Week 14,000 Jobs Not Created as a Result October 1, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Next week, the state House plans…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000State Budget
Four Things to Know about Wolf’s September Tax Increase Proposal
On September 11, 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf presented legislative leaders with a second tax increase proposal—totaling$1.8 billion for the 2015-16 budget year, and a $3.2 billion net increase in 2016-17,…
Memo
Read More: Four Things to Know about Wolf’s September Tax Increase ProposalEducation
Wolf Veto = $11 Million Bill for Taxpayers
School districts have borrowed $346 million—and taxpayers will pay to pay up to $11 million in interest payments—as a result of Gov. Wolf’s budget vetoes, according to a report…
Media
Read More: Wolf Veto = $11 Million Bill for TaxpayersRegulation
Analysis of Governor Wolf’s Budget Compromise
On September 16, 28 days after receiving a budget compromise proposal from legislative Republicans, Gov. Wolf rejected that offer and issued his own plan—to hire a private contractor to manage the government…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Analysis of Governor Wolf’s Budget CompromiseState Budget
Fresh Start, or Stale Policies of Decades Past?
At the beginning of 2015, we heard a lot about a “fresh start” for Pennsylvania. But nine months later, it's difficult to identify anything fresh about Gov. Wolf's tax, borrow…
Media
Read More: Fresh Start, or Stale Policies of Decades Past?State Budget
Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes
Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes Students, Disabled, & Struggling Held Hostage by Governor’s Tax-Hike Fixation September 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—“The answer’s no. Now,…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th VetoesState Budget
Who Will Vote to Raise Your Taxes?
Republican leadership in the General Assembly has announced they will allow a floor vote on a budget proposal that has the massive tax increases Gov. Wolf and government union leaders desire—if Democrats…
Media
Read More: Who Will Vote to Raise Your Taxes?Regulation
Government that Works?
Last week, Governor Wolf revved up his Jeep and resumed his “Government that Works” tour in Lancaster. In an ironic twist, Wolf also promised to veto a temporary funding bill…
Commentary
Read More: Government that Works?Regulation
Losers and Phony-Baloneys
Last week, Gov. Wolf unveiled new, bad policy ideas—to slightly adjust a misguided pension proposal, and to propose a private manager to a government run liquor monopoly. But just as…
Media
Read More: Losers and Phony-BaloneysState Budget
Audio: A Path of Compromise
Refusing to abandon his demands for the highest tax increase in state history, Gov. Wolf continues to fuel a budget impasse that has left human-services agencies and schools without…
Media
Read More: Audio: A Path of CompromiseRegulation
New Wolf Offer, Same Bad Policy
Yesterday, 28 days after receiving a budget compromise proposal from legislative Republicans, Gov. Wolf rejected that offer and issued his own plan—hiring a private contractor to manage the government liquor…
Media
Read More: New Wolf Offer, Same Bad PolicyState Budget
Free the Budget Hostages
This week, lawmakers are expected to vote for a “stop-gap budget”—funding state services and programs for a few months, while continuing to negotiate a budget compromise. Yet, some politicians oppose…
Media
Read More: Free the Budget HostagesEducation
Audio: Budget Impasse Debate
With the state budget impasse in its third month, funding for critical things such as education and social services remains in question. CF’s Elizabeth Stelle spoke with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane and opposite…
Media
Read More: Audio: Budget Impasse DebateState Budget
Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?
Gov. Wolf still refuses to back down from his budget demands–which include the largest tax hike in Pennsylvania’s history. Not only would this add an additional $1,425 in taxes on every family of…
Media
Read More: Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?State Budget
Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower Shop
Debbie is a small business owner. She operates Pealer's Flowers with her husband in Camp Hill, and they're worried about Gov. Tom Wolf's tax hikes. Debbie explains: “We're all doing…
Media
Read More: Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower ShopRegulation
Audio: Weathering the Budget Impasse
Another day passes without a state budget in Pennsylvania, causing panic among public officials who can't pay the bills and among parents who have children attending schools unable to make payroll. Still, Gov.
Media
Read More: Audio: Weathering the Budget ImpasseRegulation
Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”
As state budget negotiations drag on, Gov. Wolf is pointing the finger at Republicans, claiming they have refused to move after he made “concessions on everything.” So what compromises are included in…
Media
Read More: Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”Education
Will Wolf Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer?
On June 30, state lawmakers passed a budget that offers $10.4 billion in state support for public schools. This represents an all-time high—indeed, an increase from last year’s all-time high—and…
Media
Read More: Will Wolf Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer?Regulation
Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform
Would you take out a second mortgage on your home to bet on the stock market? Such an idea deserves ridicule—if not alarm. You’d be putting your home and your…
Commentary
Read More: Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform