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.
State Budget
Cronyism Undermines Cargo Airport
It appears the Hazleton Airport project is now dead in the water, after Rep. Todd Eachus (the local sponsor and now Majority Leader) has dropped his support after…
Media
Read More: Cronyism Undermines Cargo AirportState Budget
Even more reasons to oppose the stimulus
NTU’s blog has a long list (via Tom Coburn) of wasteful spending and bad policy in the federal “stimulus” bill, including: $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen,…
Media
Read More: Even more reasons to oppose the stimulusPublic Union Democracy
Putting Taxpayers First?
A group of Pennsylvania House Republicans today announced a series of proposals intended to reduce government spending and revitalize the Pennsylvania economy. Among the proposals: Implementing constitutional or statutory…
Media
Read More: Putting Taxpayers First?State Budget
Rendell to layoff workers, keep rewarding allies
Governor Rendell today announced that he projects Pennsylvania’s revenue shortfall to reach $2.3 billion, updated from $1.6 billion a month ago and $1.9 billion a week ago, suggesting their…
Media
Read More: Rendell to layoff workers, keep rewarding alliesState Budget
Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall Projections
For those who are following Pennsylvania’s revenue shortfall closely, the state Budget Office provided on request (and were kind enough to waive the 25-cent cost) me the monthly…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall ProjectionsState Budget
Shovel Ready?
In discussion of a “stimulus” plan/bailout of state and local governments, a lot of has been made of funding “shovel ready” projects – thus leading to governors and mayors putting…
Media
Read More: Shovel Ready?State Budget
The façade of Pennsylvania’a state budget
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a story on how state taxpayer funding is available for business façades. The real façade is that the state budget is “cut to the…
Media
Read More: The façade of Pennsylvania’a state budgetState Budget
Rendell, Legislature have left a fiscal mess in Pennsylvania
Tony Phyrillas has an excellent editorial on the state budget deficit and the history of recent overspending by Governor Rendell and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Media
Read More: Rendell, Legislature have left a fiscal mess in PennsylvaniaState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | January 2009
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the December revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $815 million short for the fiscal year to date. This shortfall exceeds the…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | January 2009Government Accountability
Pennsylvania budget shortfall more than expected
In our latest Pennsylvania Deficit Watch update, we take a look at the current state revenue shortfall, noting Governor Rendell’s revised estimate of a $1.6 Billion shorftall for…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania budget shortfall more than expectedState Budget
Return of Pennsylvania Legislature’s Reserves?
An audit of the General Assembly found there is $200 million in legislative surplus, and called for most of it to be returned to the taxpayers who paid for…
Media
Read More: Return of Pennsylvania Legislature’s Reserves?State Budget
Earmarks Galore
Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn has a new report on the most outrageous examples of federal spending. Some of the top examples, courtesy of the Center for Fiscal Accountability:…
Media
Read More: Earmarks GaloreRegulation
Rendells Wicked Game
People are but mere pawns for Gov. Ed Rendell’s use as political leverage in an inexorable pursuit of his policy agenda. Thousands of state employees were unnecessarily furloughed…
Commentary
Read More: Rendells Wicked GameState Budget
Pennsylvania’ $1.6 billion budget shortfall, and Rendell’s fixes
Governor Rendell gave his mid-year budget briefing earlier today – you can download the presentation here, but let me save you the time – the only thing new or…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’ $1.6 billion budget shortfall, and Rendell’s fixesRegulation
Where to Find WAMs
I have gotten a couple of requests today for lists of WAMs and other recent spending. We put together a list of recent grants the Governor has awarded/announced in…
Media
Read More: Where to Find WAMsState Budget
How far will freezing pay go in solving Pennsylvania’s budget crisis?
Governor Rendell’s recent pronouncement that he will freeze the pay of 13,600 Pennsylvania state workers (this doesn’t apply to 62,000 unionize employees) is estimate to save about $14…
Media
Read More: How far will freezing pay go in solving Pennsylvania’s budget crisis?State Budget
Pennsylvania budget shortfall grows to $658 million
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has released the November Revenue Collections, showing the state General Fund collections now $658 million below estimate.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania budget shortfall grows to $658 millionState Budget
Spend Like It’s 2007
Commonwealth’s revenue shortfall grows to $658 million HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today renewed its call for restrained state government spending in the wake of a growing revenue…
Press Release
Read More: Spend Like It’s 2007Government Accountability
Cut Legislature First
The Philadelphia Inquirer editorializes that the first item to be cut from the budget should be the legislature’s budget, noting this is the source of funding for bonuses, no-work…
Media
Read More: Cut Legislature FirstState Budget
Budget shortfall, but money (and giant checks) for pork is plentiful
Even though Pennsylvania is facing a massive budget shortfall, don’t expect Governor Rendell to stop touring the state handing out taxpayer funds. Yesterday, he announced $44 million in “investments”…
Media
Read More: Budget shortfall, but money (and giant checks) for pork is plentifulState Budget
Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakers
Dennis Owens of ABC 27 has a story that the latest Capitol Calendars (“courtesy” of your legislator) are now available. Owens recalled our breakdown of the cost of…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakers