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
The Illustrated Pennsylvania State Budget
There’s a lot of misinformation being thrown around about the Pennsylvania state budget and education spending. While folk are entitled to their own opinions, they aren’t entitled to their own…
Media
Read More: The Illustrated Pennsylvania State BudgetPublic Union Democracy
Wolf’s ‘My Way or the Highway’ Approach Blocks Progress
In his 2015 budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf urged dissenters, “If you don’t agree with my ideas, here is my request: please come with your own ideas. It's not good…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s ‘My Way or the Highway’ Approach Blocks ProgressGovernment Accountability
Transparency 10 Years after the Pay Raise
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the midnight pay raise. Although it was ultimately repealed, the pay raise was a dark hour in Pennsylvania political history. Over the…
Media
Read More: Transparency 10 Years after the Pay RaiseState Budget
Wolf Plays Politics of the Past with Budget Veto
Wolf Plays Politics of the Past with Budget Veto Governor’s Own Plan Grossly out of Step with 49 Other States July 1, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Within hours of receiving the…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Plays Politics of the Past with Budget VetoState Budget
Legislature Passes Responsible No-Tax-Hike, Pro-Growth Budget
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder, 570-490-1042 Legislature Passes Responsible No-Tax-Hike,Pro-Growth Budget Taxpayer-Friendly Alternative to Gov. Wolf’s Tax-And-Spend Plan June 30, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today,…
Press Release
Read More: Legislature Passes Responsible No-Tax-Hike, Pro-Growth BudgetState Budget
Audio: Wolf’s Tax Increase Dwarfs All Other States
Compared to the 49 other states, Gov. Wolf’s budget inflicts a tax increase that dwarfs all others–in fact, it’s 8 times larger than the state with the next highest tax…
Media
Read More: Audio: Wolf’s Tax Increase Dwarfs All Other StatesState Budget
Has Wolf Dropped His Unpopular Tax Demands?
Throughout this state budget debate, Gov. Wolf has touted his natural gas severance tax to fund education. And some reporters refer to the severance tax as the “cornerstone” or “…
Media
Read More: Has Wolf Dropped His Unpopular Tax Demands?State Budget
Family Ties or Government Bonds?
Family ties can bind us together across any cultural or class boundary. Maintaining and promoting them should be our first priority. But while politicians routinely give lip service to helping…
Commentary
Read More: Family Ties or Government Bonds?State Budget
Budget Protects Working Families from Massive Tax Increases
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder, 570-490-1042 PA Budget Protects Working Familiesfrom Massive Tax Increases No-Tax-Hike Spending Plan Good for Low & Middle Income…
Press Release
Read More: Budget Protects Working Families from Massive Tax IncreasesState Budget
Who Pays For a Severance Tax?
Proponents of a new natural gas tax—which would be in addition to the existing impact fee (tax) and other taxes extractors already pay—ignore the consequences new taxes will have…
Media
Read More: Who Pays For a Severance Tax?State Budget
How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?
How out of whack is Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $4.6 billion tax increase? Pretty far out there compared with the rest of the nation, according to a new report…
Media
Read More: How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?State Budget
Four Facets of Wolf’s Tax Plan
On Wednesday, I testified before the Senate Finance Committee on the effects of Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax increases. My testimony covered four key areas. 1) Wolf’s plan represents more of…
Media
Read More: Four Facets of Wolf’s Tax PlanState Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Hurts Everyone
Despite Gov. Wolf campaigning on giving the middle-class a tax cut, his budget plan will raise taxes for every income group. Disapproval of his tax plan was made…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Hurts EveryoneRegulation
Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families, Sacrifices Jobs
Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families,Sacrifices Jobs Prioritizing—Not Increasing—Spending is Better for Everyone Good morning, Gov. Wolf’s cradle-to-grave tax plan asks Pennsylvanians to sacrifice some big-ticket items—$1,400 per…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families, Sacrifices JobsGovernment Accountability
Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?
Who killed Harrisburg? That’s the question award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst answers in his new book Capital Murder, which chronicles how Harrisburg became the only capital city in American…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?State Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income Levels
At the same time Gov. Wolf is claiming his budget proposal will bring a net tax reduction, an Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) study reveals his proposal would actually inflict…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income LevelsState Budget
Zero Votes for Wolf Tax Hikes
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted on Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase—the largest in Pennsylvania’s history. The tax proposal failed by a 0-193 vote. That’s right, not a…
Media
Read More: Zero Votes for Wolf Tax HikesState 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 Reform