Prosperity
Deficit Watch: January 2025
Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit, with $47.6 billion in spending and only $43.9 billion in net…
Read More: Deficit Watch: January 2025Pennsylvania’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.
2025 state budget resources
State Budget
PA Budget Historical Numbers
I’ve received a couple of requests for historics Pennsylvania state budget numbers, so I thought I’d post the data here. The figures represent actual final spending from 1970-2007, while…
Media
Read More: PA Budget Historical NumbersState Budget
CAGW Names Rep. John Murtha Porker of the Year
Pennsylvania’s own Congresman John Murtha was named Porker of the Year by Citizens Against Government Waste: In fiscal year 2008, he brought home 72 pork projects worth $149.2…
Media
Read More: CAGW Names Rep. John Murtha Porker of the YearState Budget
State’s economy, budget are at odds
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review question the Rendell administration’s glorious reviews of the state’s economy. The size of the state’s economy grew about 20 percent from 1997 to 2006, but…
Media
Read More: State’s economy, budget are at oddsState Budget
Borrowing in 2008-09 Budget
Below is some more analysis of the proposed borrowing in Governor Rendell’s proposed budget – $2.6 billion in debt will be issued in 2008-09. (More on PA’s Total Debt…
Media
Read More: Borrowing in 2008-09 BudgetState Budget
New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”
In the Post-Gazette, Governor Rendell continues to argue that his insurance tax is a tax: Mr. Rendell strongly denies that the surcharge is a new tax. Instead,…
Media
Read More: New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”State Budget
Scarnati to Push Spending Limits?
The Patriot News profiles Senate Pro Tem Joe Scarnati and it looks like he will be putting the Taxpayer Protection Act as a top priority, and even suggests…
Media
Read More: Scarnati to Push Spending Limits?State Budget
The Truth About Spending Limits
Pennsylvanians want limits placed on the annual increases in state government spending. Despite the strong support of taxpayers, many special interest groups that profit from higher taxes and more government…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Truth About Spending LimitsState Budget
Put Government on a Spending Diet
Commonwealth Foundation analysis finds $6.7 billion in “unhealthy“ state spending HARRISBURG, PA — Today, in anticipation of Governor Rendell’s 2008-09 budget proposal, the Commonwealth Foundation released Government on a Diet:…
Press Release
Read More: Put Government on a Spending DietState Budget
Bush on Earmarks
If his State of the Union Address, Bush promised to veto and/or ignore earmarks in future appropriatiosn legislation. As CAGW and Heritage point out, this would only…
Media
Read More: Bush on EarmarksState Budget
CF Assesses Final Budget: Spending is up, WAMs are in, and the Spin begins
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation provided its perspective on the FY 2007-08 General Fund budget making its way to the governor’s desk. “During Governor Rendell’s first four years…
Press Release
Read More: CF Assesses Final Budget: Spending is up, WAMs are in, and the Spin beginsState Budget
Budget Deal Autopsy: The Good, the Bad, the Uglyand A Fistful of Unspent Dollars
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation offered a brief analysis (with apologies to Clint Eastwood) of the tentative Pennsylvania General Fund budget deal that is currently being finalized in…
Press Release
Read More: Budget Deal Autopsy: The Good, the Bad, the Uglyand A Fistful of Unspent DollarsState Budget
Pennsylvania Families Need Government to Prioritize Spending
All families must learn to live within a budget. They understand that they can’t spend more than what they earn—at least not for very long. Frequently this means saying “No”…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Families Need Government to Prioritize SpendingState Budget
Senate Takes Step to Put PA on Spending Diet
Commonwealth Foundation applauds WAM-free, low-growth budget HARRISBURG, PA — On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a 2007-08 budget in the spirit of the Taxpayer Protection Act. This $27.0 billion budget…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Takes Step to Put PA on Spending DietEducation
Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs
Governor Ed Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year includes $75 million for “Pre-K Counts”—a taxpayer-funded program which would provide grants to school districts, Head Start programs, and government-approved…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the CostsState Budget
A Diet Plan for an Obese State Government
Commonwealth Foundation launches campaign to “Put Pennsylvania on a Spending Diet” HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation announced the launch of a media campaign to educate Pennsylvanians about the…
Press Release
Read More: A Diet Plan for an Obese State GovernmentEducation
Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3
One of the most notorious abuses of taxpayers' money is the exercise of Walking-Around-Money (WAMs). These funds are set aside for use at each legislator's discretion to dish out to…
Commentary
Read More: Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3State Budget
We Need a People’s Budget
Good morning. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Turzai and the members of this committee for the invitation to be with you this morning. We are here today because Governor…
Testimony
Read More: We Need a People’s BudgetGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Need Protection
Delivered on Thursday, April 26, 2007 Good morning Chairman Corman, Senator Regola, and Senator Folmer. It is indeed a pleasure and an honor to be able to come before you…
Testimony
Read More: Taxpayers Need ProtectionEducation
Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy
Good morning. My name is Nathan Benefield; I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation, a research and policy institute in Harrisburg. I want to thank the…
Testimony
Read More: Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal PolicyEducation
Spending Restraint Needed
Good afternoon. My name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. I would like to thank Chairman Armstrong and the members of the…
Testimony
Read More: Spending Restraint NeededState Budget
State Government Spending
Over the last several decades, the growth in state government spending has exceeded both the rate of inflation and increases in the income of citizens. Unlimited government spending growth has…
Fact Sheet
Read More: State Government Spending