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
Tax Breaks for Select Few Companies Not Creating Jobs
A study by Good Jobs First indicates that Pennsylvania’s tax incentives for high-tech companies has not been able to attract investment from other states. A net 43 high-tech companies…
Media
Read More: Tax Breaks for Select Few Companies Not Creating JobsState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: January 2010
Six months through the 2009-10 fiscal year, state revenues are $254 million below budget expenditures, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Tax collections have been below estimate in…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: January 2010State Budget
The Stimulus and State Budgets
The Wall Street Journal had a recent editorial on the impact of the stimulus on state budgets – noting that while the legislation create a one-time bailout to states,…
Media
Read More: The Stimulus and State BudgetsRegulation
Private Funding for Historical Sites
The historical site of Washington’s Crossing saw a cut in taxpayer subsidies this year, and some forecast doom and gloom for history. Instead, Lockheed Martin and other private donors…
Media
Read More: Private Funding for Historical SitesGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Legislative Audit Says Little
A new audit of the Pennsylvania Legislature’s accounts was released earlier this month, and is available via state Rep. Josh Shapiro. The big news on the audit is that…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Legislative Audit Says LittleHealth Care
Legislators Pack Health Care Legislation with Christmas Presents – For Themselves
This is the time of the year when most people are so busy with holiday preparations they lose track of what the government is doing with their hard-earned tax money.
Media
Read More: Legislators Pack Health Care Legislation with Christmas Presents – For ThemselvesRegulation
PA Lawmakers Need Table Games to Fund Pork Projects
Mario Cattabiani writes in the the Philadelphia Inquirer about all the pet projects funded in the table games bill. He writes: It parcels out the local share in…
Media
Read More: PA Lawmakers Need Table Games to Fund Pork ProjectsRegulation
PA Senate Approves $1.7 Billion in New Borrowing
While the debate over table games continues, another piece of legislation passed with little debate was the $1.7 billion in borrowing for the state capital budget. HB…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Approves $1.7 Billion in New BorrowingRegulation
Earmarks in Table Games Bill
I mentioned previously that the legislation authorizing table games at Pennsylvania casinos included a number of earmarks (directing funds to a specific project) and WAMs (creating a pot of money…
Media
Read More: Earmarks in Table Games BillState Budget
The Condition of the PA Budget According to Rendell
Governor Rendell, in his mid-year budget briefing, provided an optimistic if not misleading outlook. The Governor claims the commonwealth ended…
Media
Read More: The Condition of the PA Budget According to RendellState Budget
Pew Study Says Little about Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Health
In his budget mid-year briefing, Gov. Rendell cited, repeatedly, a Pew study on states’ fiscal outlook. While it is true that Pennsylvania is in better shape than states like…
Media
Read More: Pew Study Says Little about Pennsylvania’s Fiscal HealthState Budget
Time for Real Spending Reductions
HARRISBURG, PA — As Gov. Rendell delivers his mid-year budget briefing, with General Fund collections $217 million below projections, now is the time to consider the causes of…
Press Release
Read More: Time for Real Spending ReductionsState Budget
Revisiting a Natural Gas Severance Tax
The state budget passed in October did not include a severance tax on natural gas. The tax would’ve impeded the development of…
Media
Read More: Revisiting a Natural Gas Severance TaxRegulation
Legislators Wambling with PA Table Games
After reportedly taking “WAMs” out of the state budget, it appears Pennsylvania lawmakers are may create a new pot of funds for WAMs in the table games bill – i.e.
Media
Read More: Legislators Wambling with PA Table GamesState Budget
Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0
The Wall Street Journal has a good discussion of yet another stimulus – correctly identify it as Stimulus III (noting both the $787 billion stimulus from earlier this year,…
Media
Read More: Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0Regulation
An Ethnic Taste of Corporate Welfare
The benevolent Department of Community and Economic Development most recently bestowed its generosity on the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Pennsylvania by awarding it $20,000. This money will…
Media
Read More: An Ethnic Taste of Corporate WelfareRegulation
Is the Harley Handout Constitutional?
Governor Ed Rendell just announced $15.4 million in economic development assistance to renovate its York County factory and train workers. $14 million of the $15.4 million comes from Capital…
Media
Read More: Is the Harley Handout Constitutional?State Budget
Pennsylvania’s Growing Revenue Shortfall
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released November revenue collections yesterday. Once again, the actual General Fund collections were somewhat below projections; $56 million (or 3%) for the month. The…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Growing Revenue ShortfallRegulation
Failing to Learn from Past Gambles
The Patriot New ran in an article on property tax “relief” the day after Thanksgiving, giving homeowners a reason not to be thankful. The governor’s dream to make…
Media
Read More: Failing to Learn from Past GamblesState Budget
Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar Givewaways
ABC 27 reports that both the Pennsylvania House and Senate will not be printing calendars to give away this year (which typically featured a “courtesy of Rep. Name”) sticker.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar GivewawaysPublic Union Democracy
State Tax Trends
ATR has a new report on state tax trends. In addition to a roundup of state tax changes, the new report highlights trends with policy implications. While we pointed…
Media
Read More: State Tax Trends