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
State Budget
Cash for Clunkers Crash and Burns
The New York Times reports that car dealers in New York have pulled out of the government’s cost-shifting program to aid automakers in Detroit under the banner…
Media
Read More: Cash for Clunkers Crash and BurnsEducation
Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never Enough
The Patriot News has an AP story by Marc Levy, highlighting recipients of taxpayer funding that want more taxpayer funding. It seems these groups are living in another world. …
Media
Read More: Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never EnoughRegulation
Cost of Government Represents 61% of U.S. Income – Higher for Pennsylvania
Americans for Tax Reform has a new report on the Cost of Government, finding that Aug. 12 – day 224 of 2009 – is how long it takes Americans…
Media
Read More: Cost of Government Represents 61% of U.S. Income – Higher for PennsylvaniaState Budget
How Do Pennsylvania Taxes Stack Up?
Since 1990, Pennsylvania has gone from 24th in state and local tax burden to 11th. Yet Gov. Rendell has proposed another round of tax hikes—including raising the state…
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Do Pennsylvania Taxes Stack Up?State Budget
Putting Rendell’s Layoffs in Perspective
Yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced layoffs for 255 state workers at a press conference, and said more might be coming if lawmakers don’t pass a budget to Rendell’s liking. But…
Media
Read More: Putting Rendell’s Layoffs in PerspectiveHealth Care
Rendell Declares Autism Mandate a Failure
In 2008, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed, and Gov. Rendell signed, a new mandate that private insurers would have to cover autism services. At the time, we said the new…
Media
Read More: Rendell Declares Autism Mandate a FailureState Budget
Cash for Clunkers Falls Prey to Laws of Economics
Congress’s ill-named “cash for clunkers” program has, like so many programs before it, failed to defy the laws of economics. As typically happens when government subsidizes something – the…
Media
Read More: Cash for Clunkers Falls Prey to Laws of EconomicsGovernment Accountability
Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of Problems
The Philadelphia Inquirer exposes another nonprofit with ties to a state lawmaker – this time House Democrat Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans – whose use of tax dollars seems sketchy…
Media
Read More: Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of ProblemsState Budget
Ed Rendell Demands More Taxes
At a press conference yesterday, Gov. Rendell says he will “compromise” on the budget – so long as he gets $1.6 billion in new revenue. That he, he needs…
Media
Read More: Ed Rendell Demands More TaxesState Budget
State of Pennsylvania has 5,000 Vacant Positions
In response to a recent question posed us – about how many actual workers vs. unfilled positions Gov. Rendell would have to eliminate when he talks about cutting state…
Media
Read More: State of Pennsylvania has 5,000 Vacant PositionsState Budget
What Do July Revenue Collections Mean?
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the July 2009 revenue collections yesterday. The state collected $1.65 billion in General Fund revenue in July. Normally, this report would include how…
Media
Read More: What Do July Revenue Collections Mean?State Budget
States Have Only Themselves to Blame for Fiscal Mess
Steve Chapman writes on Reason.com that there’s nothing surprising about the crises in state budgets though it apparently caught many governors and legislators by surprise. States dramatically increased spending…
Media
Read More: States Have Only Themselves to Blame for Fiscal MessState Budget
If Only Congress Passed an “Economics for Dummies” Program
It always amuses me to see “cash for clunkers” ads on TV these days. This government subsidized program, like hundreds of others, has been a tremendous failure. The transportation…
Media
Read More: If Only Congress Passed an “Economics for Dummies” ProgramState Budget
What the #$#! is Going on with Pennsylvania Budget?
If you are following any of the proceedings on the Pennsylvania budget – such as #pabudget on Twitter – you will find a lot has changed with nothing really…
Media
Read More: What the #$#! is Going on with Pennsylvania Budget?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Pulls the Shade on Sunshine
Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette issued the following statement today in response to closed-door budget negotiations between Gov. Rendell and selected legislative leaders: “A mere…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Pulls the Shade on SunshineGovernment Accountability
Victory for Transparency in State Government
HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matt Brouillette issued the following statement today in response to the General Assembly’s decision to make Conference Committee meetings on the state…
Press Release
Read More: Victory for Transparency in State GovernmentState Budget
PA Senate Democrats Still Playing Games
Yesterday, the Senate rejected a bill to fund the University of Pittsburgh by a 30-20 vote. (It was actually 30 ‘yes’ votes, but the bill needed 2/3 majority to pass. …
Media
Read More: PA Senate Democrats Still Playing GamesState Budget
Post-Gazette’s Nonsense on Pennsylvania Budget
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette editorial board cribs Gov. Rendell’s talking points on the state budget, and pastes it into an editorial. They state that lawmakers should not “balance…
Media
Read More: Post-Gazette’s Nonsense on Pennsylvania BudgetEducation
Who’s For the Children?
In the television comedy The Office, dim-witted boss Michael Scott remarks that he likes giving presents because they are “like this tangible thing that you can point to and say…
Commentary
Read More: Who’s For the Children?State Budget
Pennsylvania Budget Proposals Compared
Here are some resources for comparing the various Pennsylvania state budget proposals. Pennsylvania House Democrats Budget, By the Numbers PA House GOP Budget by the Numbers PA…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Proposals ComparedState Budget
Is Rendell Violating the Federal Minimum Wage Act?
Here’s a note from a state worker that asks us an interesting question: Is Rendell violating the federal Minimum Wage Act (which goes up again this week)…
Media
Read More: Is Rendell Violating the Federal Minimum Wage Act?