State Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformHigh taxes make for a slow-growing economy. And communities feel the pinch of high taxes as more and more native Pennsylvanians leave the Keystone State to prosper elsewhere. To remain economically competitive, Pennsylvania must lower state taxes and ensure businesses have the opportunity to succeed. Lower taxes will incentivize more individuals to call Pennsylvania their home, ultimately spurring our statewide economy forward.
Education
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Harrisburg, Pa., July 13, 2026 — Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an “improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget DealEducation
Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
While the deal blocks Gov. Shapiro’s worst budget priorities, spending remains a top concern. Harrisburg, Pa., July 12, 2026 — Moments ago, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a state budget deal, twelve days past the deadline. The deal totals $52.2 billion, more than a billion dollars less than Gov. Josh Shapiro’s record spending proposal,…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency SavingsEducation
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget Deal
Summary Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term structural…
Backgrounder
Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget DealEducation
Deficit Watch: July 2026
Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: July 2026Education
Inside Pennsylvania’s Budget Battle [PODCAST]
What really happens behind closed doors during Pennsylvania’s budget negotiations? Andrew Lewis sits down with former Pennsylvania Senate Secretary-Parliamentarian Megan Martin (now the Commonwealth Foundation’s chief operating officer and…
Blog
Read More: Inside Pennsylvania’s Budget Battle [PODCAST]State Budget
7 Ways to Balance the PA Budget Without Raising Taxes
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s latest spending plan would increase spending by $3.2 billion, drain the Rainy Day Fund, and push the state’s structural…
Blog
Read More: 7 Ways to Balance the PA Budget Without Raising TaxesEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Harrisburg, Pa., June 25, 2026 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 44 to 6, advanced House Bill 1667, legislation that delivers meaningful tax relief to families and businesses while also expanding access to educational scholarships for thousands of students across the commonwealth. The Senate’s legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational OpportunityState Budget
Shapiro’s $5.6 Billion Deficit Threatens Pennsylvania Families with Massive Tax Hikes
Originally published by PennLive. As we enter the final month before the June 30 state budget deadline, Pennsylvania remains on a collision course with its…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s $5.6 Billion Deficit Threatens Pennsylvania Families with Massive Tax HikesEducation
New Poll: Pennsylvanians Reject Shapiro’s Budget, Demand More Educational Choice, and Oppose Costly Energy Mandates
Harrisburg, Pa., June 24, 2025 — A new poll commissioned by the Commonwealth Foundation finds Pennsylvanians rejecting Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget priorities, demanding affordable energy over costly climate mandates, and supporting school choice. Pennsylvania State Budget …
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: Pennsylvanians Reject Shapiro’s Budget, Demand More Educational Choice, and Oppose Costly Energy MandatesState Budget
The $6 Billion Question for Gov. Shapiro
Pennsylvania families are already squeezed financially by record-high electricity bills and the ever-increasing cost of living. Now, Gov. Josh Shapiro is asking them to cover the cost of his reckless spending spree. In February, Shapiro proposed…
Blog
Read More: The $6 Billion Question for Gov. ShapiroState Budget
Balancing the 2026 State Budget
Controlling and Prioritizing Spending Can Help Balance the Budget Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026–27 budget proposal spends $3.2 billion more than last year and drains the Rainy-Day Fund, increasing the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Balancing the 2026 State BudgetState Budget
Can Pennsylvania Afford This Budget? [PODCAST]
Pennsylvania is spending more than it takes in. What happens next? Andrew Lewis welcomes taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist to discuss the national tax landscape before turning to a pressing question…
Blog
Read More: Can Pennsylvania Afford This Budget? [PODCAST]State Budget
Deficit Watch: June 2026
Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: June 2026State Budget
Progressives’ Radical Tax Hike Proposals
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers have proposed a slew of tax increases and energy mandates that would significantly raise costs on families, workers, and businesses—while undermining the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Progressives’ Radical Tax Hike ProposalsState Budget
Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum Return
Media clips to accompany this release can be downloaded here. Harrisburg, Pa., May 20, 2026 — Under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal, Pennsylvania would spend $1.7 billion on corporate welfare programs. If lawmakers swapped corporate handouts for tax cuts, taxpayers could reap $530 per family of…
Press Release
Read More: Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum ReturnState Budget
Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Summary High taxes and burdensome regulations continue to drive outmigration. Rather than improving the state’s tax and regulatory environment, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–27 budget proposal seeks to…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s 2026–27 Budget ProposalState Budget
Don’t California My Pennsylvania [PODCAST]
What do California’s budget problems, homelessness crisis, and alleged welfare fraud scandals all have in common? According to California Policy Center CEO Will Swaim, they’re the predictable result of…
Blog
Read More: Don’t California My Pennsylvania [PODCAST]State Budget
New Report: Less than 1% of Pa. Workers Earn Minimum Wage
Harrisburg, Pa., May 18, 2026 — For the fourth consecutive year, Gov. Josh Shapiro has sought a $15-per-hour minimum wage in his 2026–27 budget proposal. New research from the Commonwealth…
Press Release
Read More: New Report: Less than 1% of Pa. Workers Earn Minimum WageState Budget
Markets Have Already Solved the Minimum Wage Debate
Originally published by TribLIVE. Raising the minimum wage would have minimal impact on Pennsylvania’s economy. That’s not just my opinion; that’s precisely what the current administration—the…
Media Hit
Read More: Markets Have Already Solved the Minimum Wage DebateRegulation
Minimum Wage 2026
Summary The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) numbers for 2025 show less than one percent of Pennsylvania workers (42,900) earn the minimum wage or…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Minimum Wage 2026Education
Deficit Watch: May 2026
Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: May 2026