Education
New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget Process
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — As Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to enact the 2024–25 Pennsylvania budget by the June 30th deadline, voters overwhelmingly support increased bipartisanship in the budget process,…
Read More: New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget ProcessPennsylvania’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.
2024 state budget resources
Regulation
How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania Businesses
For the second year in a row, Gov. Rendell has proposed a tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, assuming this will have no impact on jobs or the economy. (As…
Media
Read More: How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania BusinessesState Budget
Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?
The Pennsylvania Senate’s new Cost Study Commission met for the first time on Friday, discussing the cost of the state fleet – which currently maintains 16,000 vehicles, half of…
Media
Read More: Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?Criminal Justice Reform
New PA Task Force on Prison Spending
Following testimony that inmates might riot if the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections didn’t a funding increase, the state House Appropriations Committee decided to create a task force to…
Media
Read More: New PA Task Force on Prison SpendingState Budget
PA’s Biggest Porkers
Taxpayers for Common Sense has a new database on FY 2010 earmarks by Congress. As a state, Pennsylvania ranks 6th in value of earmarks, getting $366 million from 457…
Media
Read More: PA’s Biggest PorkersState Budget
The Unemployment Compensation Hole
Yesterday, Secretary of Labor and Industry Sandy Vito testified before the House Appropriations Committee in the usual round of budget hearings. She reported that the unemployment compensation fund is $2.2…
Media
Read More: The Unemployment Compensation HoleState Budget
The True Cost of Unemployment Compensation
Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt. Beginning in March 2009, the Keystone State borrowed over $2 billion from the federal government to keep it solvent. Unfortunately, unemployment continues to grow,…
Commentary
Read More: The True Cost of Unemployment CompensationCriminal Justice Reform
Instituting Meaningful Corrections Reform
Eric Boehm has a good article on the opportunity to help balance the state budget by reforming prison and probation. The inmate population in Pennsylvania’s prisons is growing at…
Media
Read More: Instituting Meaningful Corrections ReformGovernment Accountability
The End of Taxpayer-Funded Newsletters?
Darwyyn Deyo reports that the PA House of Representatives is moving from away from paper newsletters to email newsletters to registered voters. This is a good move, likely to…
Media
Read More: The End of Taxpayer-Funded Newsletters?State Budget
The Merits of an Expanded Sales Tax
Josh Barro of the Manhattan Institute has a recent op-ed on the idea of states broadening their sales tax base, noting that several states are looking this direction.
Media
Read More: The Merits of an Expanded Sales TaxRegulation
Still More Job Security in Pennsylvania Government
Gov. Rendell once again touted the reduction in and relatively-low number of state government employees. But as we noted last year, the “state complement” includes only about half of…
Media
Read More: Still More Job Security in Pennsylvania GovernmentState Budget
No Solutions in Rendell’s Budget
The Keystone State for years has been afflicted by government inefficiency and overspending. Since Gov. Rendell took office in 2003, Pennsylvania’s burden of state and local taxes has increased from…
Commentary
Read More: No Solutions in Rendell’s BudgetState Budget
Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion Categories
As part of his budget, Gov. Rendell has proposed lowering Pennsylvania’s sales tax from 6% to 4% (Philadelphia has an additional 2% and Allegheny County 1% on top of the…
Media
Read More: Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion CategoriesState Budget
Rendell Budget Treats Symptoms, Ignores Disease
HARRISBURG, PA (02.09.10) – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette released the following statement in response…
Press Release
Read More: Rendell Budget Treats Symptoms, Ignores DiseaseState Budget
Pennsylvania Budget Address Live Updates
CF will be offering live comments via Twitter on Governor Rendell’s budget address, beginning at 10:30 am. Updates will show up below. You can also follow CF staff here,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Address Live UpdatesState Budget
It’s Time for a Taxpayer’s Budget
Harrisburg, PA (02.08.10) – The Commonwealth Foundation today called upon Governor Ed Rendell to propose a taxpayer’s budget, a fiscal blueprint adhering to three principles of responsible spending for Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvania…
Press Release
Read More: It’s Time for a Taxpayer’s BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2010
Following January’s estimate, Pennsylvania General Fund revenues are $374 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the Department of Revenue. Tax collections have been below estimate…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2010State Budget
Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 Million
In a news release, PA Auditor General Jack Wagner estimates that – using the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare’s (DPW) estimated error rate – improper Medicaid payments cost Pennsylvania taxpayers…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 MillionRegulation
Pennsylvanians Heavy Laden With State Debt
A recent report from Forbes finds that Pennsylvania faces a serious challenge with state government debt. Pennsylvania ranked 35 among all states in the Forbes debt rating. According to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Heavy Laden With State DebtState Budget
Pennsylvania Unemployment Fund is $2 Billion in the Hole
Propublica.org has a great, and terrifying, tracker of states’ unemployment insurance funds. Pennsylvania fund is in woeful shape, with $125 million balance, and owing $2.05 billion in money borrowed…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Unemployment Fund is $2 Billion in the HoleState Budget
Example of Why There’s No Money to Fix Bridges
As I pointed out in a recent post, much of Pennsylvania’s transportation funding goes not to fix decaying infrastructure, but to beautification and other…
Media
Read More: Example of Why There’s No Money to Fix BridgesState Budget
What is Rendell Cutting in Pennsylvania Budget?
In his mid-year budget address, Governor Rendell outlined a plan to cut spending by $170 million in the Pennsylvania state budget. This week, he identified $161 specific cuts (see…
Media
Read More: What is Rendell Cutting in Pennsylvania Budget?