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
Wolf’s $1,000 Per Second Spending Plan
Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a budget with a spending rate clocking in at a blistering $1,000 per second. That means in the time it takes you to read this…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s $1,000 Per Second Spending PlanState Budget
Thirty Cents in Tax Relief for Every Dollar in New Taxes
Gov. Tom Wolf touts property tax relief in his new budget, but fails to mention taxpayers are going to pay more—a lot more—in higher state taxes. Over the next two…
Media
Read More: Thirty Cents in Tax Relief for Every Dollar in New TaxesState Budget
What Would $1,400 Buy? The True Cost of Wolf’s Tax Plan Revealed, News Conference Today
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf Tax Plan Devastating to Families, Elderly, and Small Businesses $1,400 in Groceries Illustrates Sacrifice Wolf Requires of…
Press Release
Read More: What Would $1,400 Buy? The True Cost of Wolf’s Tax Plan Revealed, News Conference TodayState Budget
How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?
The first point of contention on Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget isn’t about his tax increases, or any specific policy item, but rather over the true size of his proposals.
Media
Read More: How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?State Budget
Lawmakers Stand Up for Taxpayers
Earlier today, Senators Camera Bartolotta and Mike Folmer and Rep. Tim Krieger announced their intentions to usher in an era of fiscal responsibility with the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) and…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Stand Up for TaxpayersState Budget
Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act Responsible Spending Boosts Job, Population, and Income Growth February 23, 2015,…
Press Release
Read More: Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection ActGovernment Accountability
Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced Budget
This year, Pennsylvania lawmakers have the formidable task of eliminating a projected $1.7 billion budget deficit. Bob Dick, a CF policy analyst, spoke with Gary Sutton about what can be…
Media
Read More: Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced BudgetRegulation
Long Term Problems are Big Opportunities for Change
Pennsylvania added nearly two dozen new lawmakers in November, and there’s a new face in the Governor’s Mansion. Indeed, that face will look very new, as Tom Wolf is the…
Commentary
Read More: Long Term Problems are Big Opportunities for ChangeCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania State Budget Toolkit
The enacted $29 billion General Fund budget (a 1.88 percent increase over 2013-2014) and $71.4 billion total operating budget represent Pennsylvania’s highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget ToolkitState Budget
Pennsylvania State Budget Trends, 2015
The enacted $29 billion General Fund budget (a 1.88 percent increase over 2013-2014) and $71.4 billion total operating budget represent Pennsylvania’s highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Trends, 2015Regulation
Five Steps Toward a Balanced Budget
The consequences of overspending have plagued Pennsylvania for years. This year is no different. Lawmakers are tasked with eliminating a projected budget deficit of nearly $1.7 billion, according to forecasts…
Memo
Read More: Five Steps Toward a Balanced BudgetCriminal Justice Reform
Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win
Unprecedented reductions in the prison population, $69.9 million in taxpayer savings, and lower recidivism rates all indicate that the 2012 corrections reforms are working. Earlier this month Don Gilliland over…
Media
Read More: Corrections Reform Proves a Win-WinPublic Union Democracy
Disappointed and Determined
Today, I am both disappointed and determined. I am disappointed that it is now a mathematical impossibility for any of the reforms you and countless other Pennsylvanians have demanded to…
Media
Read More: Disappointed and DeterminedState Budget
Spending Restraint, Reform Needed to Balance Budget
With an estimated $2 billion “planning deficit” announced this week, one might believe crafting a balanced budget that doesn’t raise taxes is impossible. Yet earlier this year, we…
Media
Read More: Spending Restraint, Reform Needed to Balance BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania’s New Punxsutawney Phil
On February 2 of each year, all eyes are on Punxsutawney Phil. The famous groundhog is responsible for predicting the duration of winter-like weather. If Phil sees his shadow, we’re…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s New Punxsutawney PhilEducation
Assessing the Cost of Tom Wolf’s Spending and Tax Proposals
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf has proposed several new spending initiatives and tax code changes, though specific details remain lacking. To give Pennsylvanians a better idea of the impact of these proposals,…
Memo
Read More: Assessing the Cost of Tom Wolf’s Spending and Tax ProposalsEducation
Analysis: Wolf’s “Fresh Start” Plan Requires Huge Tax Increases
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s $4.6 Billion in New Education Spending Would Require Doubling State Income Tax Analysis Reveals PA Families Face…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Wolf’s “Fresh Start” Plan Requires Huge Tax IncreasesState Budget
Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic Overspending
Last week, two major bond rating agencies (Fitch and Standards & Poor’s) downgraded Pennsylvania’s debt rating citing poor fiscal health. While this should worry voters—taxpayers will be forced to pay…
Commentary
Read More: Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic OverspendingState Budget
PA House Takes Another Step To Reduce Debt
Every man, woman and child in Pennsylvania owes just over $10,000 in state and local debt. Today, the state House made another positive step towards reducing that debt burden.
Media
Read More: PA House Takes Another Step To Reduce DebtState Budget
Audio: Taxpayer Protection Act Responsibly Limits Spending
Last week, legislation moved out of the Senate Finance Committee that would set guardrails on state government spending, establish a “Rainy Day Fund,” and, potentially, even send rebate checks back…
Media
Read More: Audio: Taxpayer Protection Act Responsibly Limits SpendingState Budget
Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is Needed
We at the Commonwealth Foundation are pleased to welcome State Treasurer Rob McCord to the fight for fiscal restraint. McCord, along with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, held a press conference…
Media
Read More: Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is Needed