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
Wolf Claims More Student Hostages
Earlier this week, The Neighborhood Academy, a private school in Pittsburgh, held a rally in the state Capitol to highlight Gov. Wolf’s withholding tax credits for student scholarships. Pennsylvania’s Educational…
Media
Read More: Wolf Claims More Student HostagesState Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf Goes Down Swinging
Last week, Gov. Wolf struck out after his third attempt to enact massive tax hikes was voted down in a bipartisan effort by the House of Representatives. CF’s…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf Goes Down SwingingRegulation
Tackling our Structural Deficit Without Tax Hikes
“I’m not taking anything off the table” said Gov. Wolf shortly after his tax plan was resoundingly defeated in the House last week. The governor’s refusal to abandon…
Media
Read More: Tackling our Structural Deficit Without Tax HikesGovernment Accountability
Poll: Large Majorities Back Transparency & Accountability Reforms
Poll: Large Majorities in PA Back Transparency & Accountability Reforms Paycheck Protection, Contract Transparency, Spending Limits Get High Marks October 13, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Critical transparency and accountability measures…
Press Release
Read More: Poll: Large Majorities Back Transparency & Accountability ReformsState Budget
Three Strikes and You’re Out, Governor Wolf
Nearly 100 days since the budget deadline, Governor Wolf had proposed three separate tax increase plans—each the largest tax hike in the nation. But when Wolf stepped up to the…
Commentary
Read More: Three Strikes and You’re Out, Governor WolfState Budget
Tax Hikes: Wolf’s White Whale
Wednesday’s vote on Gov. Wolf’s tax scheme was latest in a long line of political gimmicks aimed at reeling-in Wolf’s white whale: paradigm-shifting tax increases on Pennsylvania families and small…
Commentary
Read More: Tax Hikes: Wolf’s White WhaleRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis Grows
When you assume an investment return rate of 7.5 percent and your actual returns are 3.04 percent you have a problem. If you are the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System you…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis GrowsState Budget
Great Win for Taxpayers in the Budget Battle
Today, the Wolf tax hike was resoundingly defeated in the state House (73-127). Repeatedly, Gov. Wolf has failed to convince lawmakers—including those of his own party—to impose his massive hikes…
Media
Read More: Great Win for Taxpayers in the Budget BattleState Budget
Wolf’s Tax Hikes: 3 Strikes and You’re Out!
Wolf’s Tax Hikes: 3 Strikes and You’re Out! Time to Abandon Tax-Hike Obsession October 7, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—This spring, Governor Wolf swung for the fences with a…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Tax Hikes: 3 Strikes and You’re Out!State Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Tax Hike Vote
Today, lawmakers will vote on Gov. Wolf’s third proposal for a tax increase. This “third time’s a charm” scheme reveals that Gov. Wolf has acknowledged…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Tax Hike VoteState Budget
Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher Taxes
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher Taxes Latest Plan Raids $750 from Paychecks of Pennsylvania Families October 6,…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher TaxesState Budget
Wolf’s Tax Hikes: Version 3.0
Today, Gov. Wolf unveiled a 3rd proposal for a tax increase. This represents both good news and bad news for taxpayers. The good news is that Wolf now concedes that…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Tax Hikes: Version 3.0State Budget
Wolf Demands $1,000 from Families in Wednesday House Vote
Wolf Demands $1,000 from Families in Wednesday House Vote “Compromise” Tax Plan Still Largest in State History October 5, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—After months of hyping a “common…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Demands $1,000 from Families in Wednesday House VoteState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Would Devastate Dale
Dale Kaplan is a survivor. His family-run dry cleaning business has weathered declining volume, thanks to innovations like no-iron dress shirts, and a devastating fire. Now Dale’s 27 year old business…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Would Devastate DaleState 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?