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.
Regulation
Kane Delay on Lottery Could Cost Taxpayers (Again)
The Patriot News reports that private lottery manager Camelot Global Services may not be willing to extend its bid beyond the current expiration date of Saturday. Attorney General Kathleen…
Media
Read More: Kane Delay on Lottery Could Cost Taxpayers (Again)State Budget
Transportation Plan Falls Short of Principles
We’ve received several requests for our assessment of Governor Corbett’s transportation proposal, in light of our principles for transportation funding. Here is our take. First, transportation is a…
Media
Read More: Transportation Plan Falls Short of PrinciplesState Budget
Corbett’s Medicaid Decision Could Save Jobs
The Affordable Care Act—often dubbed Obamacare—included 20 new taxes or tax increases. As these taxes are beginning to go into effect, businesses are starting to feel the impact, and…
Media
Read More: Corbett’s Medicaid Decision Could Save JobsState Budget
Standing with Taxpayers
Most Pennsylvanians probably weren't aware – or don't care – that Governor Corbett delivered his 2013-14 budget proposal this week. But they should! Spending $20,900 per family of four, the…
Commentary
Read More: Standing with TaxpayersHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion: The Price was Wrong
Governor Corbett made the right call yesterday when he decided to recommend against expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania. Here is my letter to the editor to the Philadelphia Inquirer explaining…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion: The Price was WrongState Budget
Gov. Corbett’s Budget Stands with Taxpayers
Statement of Matthew J. Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank, on Governor Corbett’s budget proposal: Gov. Corbett has chosen to prioritize government spending…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Corbett’s Budget Stands with TaxpayersState Budget
Spending Restraint Fosters Economic Growth
Critics, and likely election challengers, of Gov. Tom Corbett point to the singular fact that the state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average (though not significantly,…
Media
Read More: Spending Restraint Fosters Economic GrowthHealth Care
Lawmakers: Medicaid Expansion Not the Answer
Rep. Gordon Denlinger and 37 House members sent a letter to Governor Corbett, urging the governor not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).
Media
Read More: Lawmakers: Medicaid Expansion Not the AnswerPublic Union Democracy
Private Lottery Management FAQ
To protect seniors from future service cuts, the Corbett administration is seeking a private management agreement (PMA) to ensure Lottery profits will meet seniors' needs. Lottery services company Camelot submitted…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Private Lottery Management FAQHealth Care
But It’s Only A Few Billion More…
Medicaid spending will increase by more than one trillion dollars nationally over the next decade if all states participate in the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, according to new analysis by…
Media
Read More: But It’s Only A Few Billion More…Criminal Justice Reform
Three of Four Alarms Still Ringing
Late last month, the Independent Fiscal Office released its annual report looking at Pennsylvania’s economy and forecasting state budget expenditures and revenues. The trends remain alarming. Most notably, state…
Media
Read More: Three of Four Alarms Still RingingState Budget
Federal Funds Aren’t “Free”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch—meaning everything in life, including government programs, must be paid for. Unfortunately, many advocates of government health insurance expansion explain the Affordable…
Media
Read More: Federal Funds Aren’t “Free”State Budget
Debt or Prosperity? It’s Our Choice
Can Americans afford slower economic growth and a lower standard of living in the future? That will be the impact of growing government debt on the economy, according to a…
Media
Read More: Debt or Prosperity? It’s Our ChoiceHealth Care
Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension Crisis
Last night’s presidential debate (despite the focus on foreign policy) featured much talk on skyrocketing debt and unsustainable entitlement programs. Protecting the middle class from growing debt isn’t a problem…
Media
Read More: Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension CrisisState Budget
Lowe’s Shows Dignity of Work, Helps Disabled
The Union Party never minces words: They believe the best way to help people is to grow government. That’s the message they’ve brought to bear throughout the Corbett Administration,…
Media
Read More: Lowe’s Shows Dignity of Work, Helps DisabledRegulation
Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?
Last month, I testified to the House Finance Committee that targeted tax breaks and corporate welfare subsidies prevent across-the-board tax rate reductions that would benefit all Pennsylvanians. As a follow-up…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?State Budget
Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal Firefighting
Gov. Tom Corbett was one of only four governors to get an “A” in Cato Institute’s Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Corbett was joined by Govs. Sam…
Media
Read More: Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal FirefightingHealth Care
Saylor Broaches Biggest Budget Buster
Pensions and transportation top the list of crises the General Assembly won’t address in their short fall session, but little has been said about the biggest budget buster facing the…
Media
Read More: Saylor Broaches Biggest Budget BusterHealth Care
Pennsylvania Medicaid Spending and the Affordable Care Act
Current Medicaid spending trends are unsustainable. Medicaid spending (Medical Assistance and Long Term Care) consumes about 30 percent of Pennsylvania's total state operating budget. In the past decade, Medicaid spending…
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvania Medicaid Spending and the Affordable Care ActRegulation
Mailbag: What Bills Would Fireproof Economy?
One of our PolicyBlog readers asks: What bills would help address the Four Alarm Fire you keep speaking about? Here are a few bills we have been tracking: Taxpayer…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: What Bills Would Fireproof Economy?Health Care
Will Paul Ryan Raid Medicaid?
The 2012 campaign continues to center on candidates and their allies calling the other guys “extremists,” and few bear the title as often as Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan. For…
Media
Read More: Will Paul Ryan Raid Medicaid?