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.
Regulation
Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain
A contentious budget season has officially ended after Governor Corbett signed a $29 billion appropriations bill into law. But is it fiscally responsible? And what’s holding up reforms on the…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges RemainPublic Union Democracy
Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking Reform
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai took to the podium last week, providing press and spectators his response to the Governor’s criticisms, blue-line budget reductions, and House priorities. We applaud…
Media
Read More: Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking ReformEducation
State Education Spending at Record High
The recently passed Pennsylvania state budget sets a new record for state funding for public schools. The chart below illustrates this growth over the years. The total budgeted for the…
Media
Read More: State Education Spending at Record HighState Budget
Five Facts About the 2014 State Budget
On June 30, the General Assembly passed a $29.1 billion budget, sending it to Gov. Corbett for his approval. While Gov. Corbett is taking time to review…
Media
Read More: Five Facts About the 2014 State BudgetState Budget
House Plan a Positive Step in Budget Negotiations
House Plan a Positive Step in Budget Negotiations Proposes Modest Spending Increase and Avoids Pitfalls Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced a no-tax-increase budget bill. Crucially, this bill…
Press Release
Read More: House Plan a Positive Step in Budget NegotiationsState Budget
House Budget Holds the Line on Taxes
Yesterday, the PA House of Representatives advanced a $29.1 billion spending bill. This bill could be voted on by the full House today. There is much to like in this…
Media
Read More: House Budget Holds the Line on TaxesRegulation
5 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Increasing Taxes
State spending is at an all-time high, but calls for even more spending persist, despite Pennsylvania’s precarious fiscal situation. Pennsylvania doesn’t need more government spending to improve the…
Media
Read More: 5 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Increasing TaxesState Budget
Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget Crisis
Pennsylvania has a prioritization problem. Recent controversies about the State Racing Fund and the legislature’s reserve fund provide two examples of why Pennsylvania consistently wrestles with budget crises. Auditor General…
Media
Read More: Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget CrisisState Budget
Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?
For the seventh consecutive year, Pennsylvania state government is projected to spend more money than it collects in taxes. Facing a deficit of nearly $1.3 billion, families may be asked…
Commentary
Read More: Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?Regulation
RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians
What would you do if the government spent your tax dollars on a project that could bankrupt your business? Would you fight back by pointing out the injustice? Hopefully you’re…
Media
Read More: RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt PennsylvaniansPublic Union Democracy
The Government Union Billion Dollar Tax Hike
In 2012, Americans paid more in taxes than they did for food, clothing and shelter combined. In Pennsylvania, residents labor under the 10th highest tax burden in the…
Media
Read More: The Government Union Billion Dollar Tax HikeState Budget
2014 Pennsylvania State Budget
Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $29.4 billion in General Fund spending (a 3.3% increase) and $71.8 billion in spending from all funds represents Pennsylvania's highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2014 Pennsylvania State BudgetState Budget
Simple Solutions for Significant State Savings
Pennsylvania is plagued with budget challenges, but these challenges don’t have to defeat us. We have solutions aimed at improving PA’s fiscal health while growing its economy. In previous…
Media
Read More: Simple Solutions for Significant State SavingsRegulation
PA Tops in Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania’s system of economic development subsidies costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually, yet this spending does little to promote overall job growth. Given the state’s fiscal hurdles,…
Media
Read More: PA Tops in Corporate WelfareHealth Care
A Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania: Welfare Reform
Pennsylvania is facing an estimated $1.2 billion deficit next fiscal year. To bring the budget into balance without tax increases or borrowing, spending reforms must be implemented. In our…
Media
Read More: A Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania: Welfare ReformState Budget
A Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
We have been warned: Pennsylvania is on a path to higher taxes, fewer jobs, more debt, and a lower standard of living if the state does not rein in…
Media
Read More: A Blueprint for a Prosperous PennsylvaniaState Budget
Tax Cuts To Blame for Pennsylvania’s Budget Deficit?
As we have pointed out in the past, Pennsylvania’s legacy of overspending has created a looming deficit, threatening to destroy our fiscal house. Yet, some lawmakers and public officials…
Media
Read More: Tax Cuts To Blame for Pennsylvania’s Budget Deficit?State Budget
S&P Worried About Pennsylvania’s Overspending
Standard & Poor’s is sounding the alarm, once again, on Pennsylvania’s record of overspending. A new S&P report singles out the commonwealth for not putting our fiscal house in order,…
Media
Read More: S&P Worried About Pennsylvania’s OverspendingState Budget
Almost $2 Billion in Welfare Waste Weeded Out
Lottery winners on welfare, millionaires on food stamps and supervisors that turn a blind eye to fraud; these are the stories that drive Pennsylvanians crazy. But the…
Media
Read More: Almost $2 Billion in Welfare Waste Weeded OutRegulation
A Look at Job Growth in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s economy is beginning to recover from the 2007 recession, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since 2010, Pennsylvania has added 86,400 jobs, ranking…
Media
Read More: A Look at Job Growth in PennsylvaniaState Budget
Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit
Recent headlines have former Gov. Ed Rendell challenging Gov. Tom Corbett on the issue of the deficit he left the current administration. Gov. Corbett has campaign ads stating he closed…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit