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.
Education
If Josh Shapiro wants to compete with Ohio, he needs to imitate Ohio
Originally published at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Gov. Josh Shapiro is right: Pennsylvania is losing to Ohio. In the last two years, Pennsylvania witnessed a net loss of 2,425 residents and…
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Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2024 Budget Proposal
Harrisburg, Pa., February 8, 2024 — The spending increases proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in his recently released 2024 budget proposal “would explode the budget deficit and invite massive tax hikes on…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2024 Budget ProposalEducation
Key Takeaways from Governor’s 2024 Budget Proposal
Key Points Gov. Josh Shapiro’s startling spending increases and myriad of new initiatives would explode the budget deficit and invite massive tax hikes on working families in the coming years.
Backgrounder
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Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Demonstrates Startling Fiscal Irresponsibility
Harrisburg, Pa., February 6, 2024 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his 2024 Pennsylvania budget address in the Capitol rotunda. His speech, lasting approximately an hour and a half, included proposals…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Demonstrates Startling Fiscal IrresponsibilityEducation
Stefano: Do-nothing Dems in the Pa. House hold bipartisan reforms hostage
Pennsylvania is losing people and industries to other states as a result of the state’s “crippling economic policies,” writes Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano in her Monday Inquirer …
Press Release
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Do-nothing Dems in the Pa. House hold bipartisan reforms hostage
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In the last two years, tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians have fled the state. This trend is not new. For 12…
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Read More: Do-nothing Dems in the Pa. House hold bipartisan reforms hostageState Budget
Spice Up Gov. Shapiro’s 2024 Budget Speech with Budget Address BINGO
Harrisburg, Pa., February 5, 2024 — Ahead of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s second annual budget address, the Commonwealth Foundation invites you to spice up the governor’s upcoming speech with a game of Budget…
Press Release
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How Gov. Shapiro Can Help ‘Every Child of God’
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania “I believe every child of God deserves a shot here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said last year, “and one of the…
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Shapiro’s Budget Better Be “Competitive as Hell”
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro likes to brag about being “competitive as hell.” Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is losing—and I’m not talking about football. U.S. News &…
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Read More: Shapiro’s Budget Better Be “Competitive as Hell”State Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Video and Materials from Nathan Benefield’s 2024 Budget Briefing
Harrisburg, Pa., January 25, 2024 — Commonwealth Foundation’s state budget expert Nathan Benefield yesterday provided reporters background on the state’s current financial situation and budget projections in anticipation of the 2024 Pennsylvania…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Video and Materials from Nathan Benefield’s 2024 Budget BriefingEducation
Saving Billy Penn was good, but Shapiro needs to find focus on bigger problems
Originally published in the Delaware County Daily Times All eyes are on the Keystone State in 2024. Whoever wins Pennsylvania, the nation’s largest swing state, will likely occupy the…
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Read More: Saving Billy Penn was good, but Shapiro needs to find focus on bigger problemsState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation to Brief on Gov. Shapiro’s Upcoming Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., January 18, 2024 — Commonwealth Foundation’s budget expert Nathan Benefield will host a media conference call on January 24, 2024, to discuss Gov. Josh Shapiro’s upcoming budget…
Press Release
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Takeaways from the (Mostly) Finalized 2023–24 Pennsylvania State Budget
Overview With the passage of Fiscal Code and School Code bills in December, work on the 2023–24 Pennsylvania state budget ended mostly done, six months late. The budget is as…
Fact Sheet
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Shapiro’s New Year’s resolution
Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s the season to shed bad habits. And Gov. Josh Shapiro, as he enters year two in office, should consider dropping this overdone…
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Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Struggling to Pinpoint Governor Shapiro’s Successes
Harrisburg, Pa., December 19, 2023 — When asked to list significant accomplishments by Gov. Josh Shapiro, 61 percent of Pennsylvania voters either stated he had not (36 percent) or were unsure…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Struggling to Pinpoint Governor Shapiro’s SuccessesEducation
A Tale of Two Chambers in Pennsylvania
Originally published in The Mercury The Pennsylvania General Assembly is currently a Dickensian tale of two chambers. One chamber — the Senate — exemplifies the best of the times:…
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Pa. Tracking Poll: Biden Faces Political Headwinds on Eve of Pa. Visit
Harrisburg, Pa., December 7, 2023 – As President Biden prepares for his ninth visit to Pennsylvania in 2023—his most-visited state aside from Delaware, his home state—he is struggling to connect with…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Tracking Poll: Biden Faces Political Headwinds on Eve of Pa. VisitEducation
Pennsylvania exports a lot — especially bad political leadership
Originally published at Broad + Liberty As the nation’s sixth-largest manufacturing state, Pennsylvania exports a lot of things — from food and pharma to energy and defense. Unfortunately, as…
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Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell joins the Dawn Stensland Show on November 7, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell discusses Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s shift on education policy.
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell joins the Dawn Stensland Show on November 7, 2023Education
Jennifer Stefano: Josh Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor of the last 50 years
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s lack of bipartisan leadership during his first nine months as governor has resulted in the passage of very few policy initiatives, notes Philadelphia Inquirer columnist…
Press Release
Read More: Jennifer Stefano: Josh Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor of the last 50 yearsEducation
Josh Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor of the last 50 years
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Republicans were in a lather last November after Josh Shapiro sailed into the governorship and Democrats took the state House of Representatives…
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