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
State Budget
PA Budget Live Chat
Friday at noon we’ll be hosting a live chat on the Pennsylvania state budget.
Media
Read More: PA Budget Live ChatState Budget
Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget Buster
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder | 717-671-1901 Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’sBiggest Budget Buster Study: Slowing Welfare Spending Growth Will Ease Budget Pressure May 27, 2015, HARRISBURG,…
Press Release
Read More: Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget BusterHealth Care
Out of Control
Governor Wolf is facing a budget situation more serious than any of his predecessors. His proposal includes an additional $691 million in the General Fund for DHS, bringing the department’s…
Report
Read More: Out of ControlState Budget
134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform
Every Pennsylvanian’s share of state and local debt increased by 20 percent over the last twelve years. In 2002, per capita debt totaled $8,693. Today, the total is a shade…
Media
Read More: 134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt ReformGovernment Accountability
Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations
Public sector union contracts are a huge cost for the state government, and they have also become a conflict of interest for Gov. Wolf. He will be negotiating contract deals with…
Media
Read More: Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract NegotiationsPublic Union Democracy
Pension Reform Toolkit
Pension costs are ballooning so quickly, they threaten to consume funds for education, public safety and welfare. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher property taxes, and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pension Reform ToolkitRegulation
It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…
“It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” So said Gov. Tom Wolf during his budget address, making clear his administration is…
Media
Read More: It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…State Budget
Audio: The Need for the Taxpayer Protection Act
The Taxpayer Protection Act is a simple idea that achieves four goals: limiting the future growth of state government spending, forcing the state government to prioritize future spending, helping to balance…
Media
Read More: Audio: The Need for the Taxpayer Protection ActState Budget
Natural Gas Severance Tax: An Economy Killer
From labor unions to local chambers of commerce, community leaders are expressing a lot of anxiety over Governor Wolf’s natural gas severance tax proposal. The proposed tax “is a Wyoming…
Media
Read More: Natural Gas Severance Tax: An Economy KillerState Budget
30,000 Jobs that Won’t Pay
Gov. Wolf’s tax plan would result in 30,000 jobs not created next year, according to a new analysis we released yesterday. Using the STAMP model, developed by…
Media
Read More: 30,000 Jobs that Won’t PayState Budget
The Next 1,360 Days
Governor Wolf marked his 100th day in office by providing a list of accomplishments. In reality, the memo is more of a status update since many of his initiatives, including…
Media
Read More: The Next 1,360 DaysState Budget
Economic Freedom Trumps Identity Politics
Imagine a little girl and her young mother sitting on a porch on 19th Street in Harrisburg. The child smiles happily, but the mother looks tired—she’s working second shift and…
Media
Read More: Economic Freedom Trumps Identity PoliticsState Budget
IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax Shift
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a new analysis of Gov. Wolf’s tax proposals yesterday. What is their most interesting conclusion? Taxpayers in every income bracket will see a net…
Media
Read More: IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax ShiftState Budget
Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the Senate
In the face of Governor Wolf’s proposed $4.5 billion tax increase, a group of Senate lawmakers are offering an alternate vision for Pennsylvania—one of limited government and…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the SenateState Budget
State Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act Legislation Protects Pennsylvanians from Out-of-Control State Spending Good afternoon,…
Press Release
Read More: State Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection ActState Budget
The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget
If the proposed sales tax expansion contained in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal becomes law, Louise Bell's nursing home costs will jump by $3,000—essentially adding a 13th month to her…
Commentary
Read More: The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39th
Is placing 39 out of 50 in any competition acceptable? Most people would say no, which is why a new index published by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39thEducation
Could Schools Be Harmed by a Severance Tax?
As odd as it might sound, some rural schools could actually be harmed by Gov. Wolf’s efforts to increase education funding by imposing a severance tax on natural gas.
Media
Read More: Could Schools Be Harmed by a Severance Tax?State Budget
Wolf’s Unfair Tax Shift
School districts that receive the most in state funding today would also be the biggest winners under Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for property tax rebates. Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax shift fails…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Unfair Tax ShiftState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax Shift
As part of his 2015-16 budget proposal, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed using some revenue from increased state taxes for school property tax relief beginning in 2016-17. This policy brief examines…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax ShiftState Budget
Video: Debating Gov. Wolf?s Costly Budget
Last week, CF President & CEO Matthew Brouillette appeared on PCN’s Call-In Program with Steve Herzenberg, the Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center, to discuss Gov. Wolf’s costly…
Media
Read More: Video: Debating Gov. Wolf?s Costly Budget