Education
Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s unaffordable budget worsens Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. The governor proposes nearly $53.26 billion in general fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase over the 2025–26 enacted budget. He…
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget ProposalPennsylvania’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
Pennsylvania Education Spending Trends
Pennsylvania school districts spent $26.1 billion in 2013-14, an all-time high, according to the latest data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This represents a $600 million increase from 2012-13.
Memo
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A Brief History of Wolf’s Tax Hikes
In 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed five broad-based tax hikes on working families—each of which was eventually rejected by state lawmakers. Here's some background on each of Gov. Wolf’s tax…
Memo
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Redesigning Government to Balance State and Local Budgets
Pennsylvania taxpayers shoulder the 15th highest state and local tax burden in the country. Consequently, the Keystone State has seen an exodus of working people. Unsustainable growth in…
Memo
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How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?
Pennsylvania currently has the 15th highest state and local tax burden in the country. Yet Gov. Wolf proposed historic tax hikes last year and continues to press for tax increases. Here’s an…
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?State Budget
Reversing the Status Quo in Pennsylvania
Higher government spending and raising taxes—while ignoring key fiscal reforms—is the status quo in Pennsylvania. For 45 years, government spending has steadily risen, increasing by an inflation-adjusted $13,800 per family of four or $3,450…
Memo
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Audio: PA Budget Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day has come and gone, but Gov. Wolf hasn’t stopped celebrating Punxsutawney Phil’s big day. Paying homage to the theme of the Groundhog Day movie, Wolf has trapped Pennsylvanians in…
Media
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Is Pa. Budget Groundhog Day Ahead?
Instead of changing course entering the new budget season, Wolf appears poised to continue governing by attack ad. No wonder the latest polling shows Wolf’s approval is lower now than…
Commentary
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Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans
Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans Pa. Spends $3,400 More Per Student than the National Average February 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today at 2 p.m., Gov. Wolf…
Press Release
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Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?
Last year, Pennsylvania lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes. In total, the state’s net domestic migration rate was negative: 41,607 more people moved out of Pennsylvania than…
Media
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Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the Largest
The Wolf administration continues to deny basic facts about their original proposed tax hike. Instead of responding with facts, the governor's staff relies on name-calling and personal attacks. The Altoona Mirror…
Media
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Wolf’s $3 Billion Education Cut
Upon finally approving the majority of a state budget, Gov. Tom Wolf admonished the General Assembly for “cutting $95 million from public schools.” Yet it is the governor himself who…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s $3 Billion Education CutGovernment Accountability
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets Budget Companion Bill Picks Winners at Lobbyists’ Behest January 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—On Tuesday, the Pa. House passed a “fiscal code” which…
Press Release
Read More: Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark SecretsGovernment Accountability
Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks
Pennsylvania's fiscal code is intended to provide lawmakers with instructions for spending funds appropriated in the state budget. But it is also ground-zero for a host of earmarks that funnel limited…
Media
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Fiscal Code Protects Kids and Jobs
Today, the Pennsylvania House passed a revised fiscal code, HB 1327, to implement parts of the state budget. The fiscal code explains how revenues will be distributed, including transfers…
Media
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Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget Future
Believe it or not, the state is approaching the unofficial start of a new budget cycle. Gov. Wolf plans to roll out his proposal for the 2016-17 budget on February…
Media
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Budget Hostages Finally Freed?
While Wolf released the hostages of the past six months, he made sure he could keep using children as “pressure points” by using his line-item veto to cut $3.1 billion…
Commentary
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Governor Wolf’s Budget Hostages
Tom Wolf finally admitted he held school children hostage in hopes of higher taxes: “We're now at a point where I don't want to hold the children of Pennsylvania hostage.” But…
Media
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Wolf’s Newest Education Funding Scheme
When Gov. Wolf finally agreed to sign the majority of an emergency funding bill, it remained unclear how his administration would distribute the increased education funding approved by the…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Newest Education Funding SchemeRegulation
Is Gov. Wolf Ignoring Credit Rating Agencies?
Last week, Gov. Wolf once again resorted to defending his latest budget vetoes citing the fear of credit rating downgrades. Oddly, he seems to miss that pension reform and…
Media
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Wolf Releases Budget Hostages in Budget Battle
Wolf Releases Hostages in Budget Battle After Six Months, Funding Finally Flows to Students & Needy December 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced he will finally release…
Press Release
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Wolf Signs Stop-Gap Budget With Punitive Line-Item Vetoes
This morning, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state budget on his desk, using his line-item veto (and item-reduction veto) power to cut the spending by more than $6 billion, targeting certain…
Media
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