Education
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget Deal
Summary Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term structural…
Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget DealPennsylvania’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
A Broken Promise Could Break the Bank
During the gubernatorial campaign, Tom Wolf promised not to raise taxes on middle class Pennsylvanians. Despite this promise, the governor proposed a budget including the largest tax increase in…
Media
Read More: A Broken Promise Could Break the BankGovernment Accountability
Collective Bargaining Transparency
Government union contract negotiations can have far reaching implications because they set compensation for tens of thousands of public employees, costing taxpayers billions each year. Despite the enormous impact, the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Collective Bargaining TransparencyState Budget
Alternative Energy: The Promise That Never Pans Out
One third of the $675 million in new corporate welfare under Governor's Wolf budget proposal is reserved for alternative energy programs. In this week's House budget hearings Community & Economic…
Media
Read More: Alternative Energy: The Promise That Never Pans OutState Budget
Wolf’s Tax Plan: Three Things Every Family Needs to Know
Here are three things to know about Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax plan: Wolf’s budget calls for a net tax increase of about $1,400 more per family of four this year (with…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Tax Plan: Three Things Every Family Needs to KnowState Budget
Summary of Governor Wolf’s 2015-2016 Budget Proposal
General Fund spending is projected to reach $31.6 billion—the largest spending increase (8.7 percent) in 25 years. Gov. Wolf is proposing to move $1.75 billion in school pension payments to a…
Memo
Read More: Summary of Governor Wolf’s 2015-2016 Budget ProposalState Budget
Audio: Governor Wolf’s Big, Bad Budget
Gov. Wolf’s budget plan spends taxpayers’ money at $1,000 per second and would burden a family of four with an additional $1,419 in taxes at a time when Pennsylvanians…
Media
Read More: Audio: Governor Wolf’s Big, Bad BudgetState 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
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