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.
Taxes & Economy
Residents are Still Leaving the Keystone State
Residents are fleeing Pennsylvania for other states, continuing a long and harmful trend. Pennsylvania’s population grew by a scant 0.13 percent last year, according to new Census Bureau estimates—but…
Media
Read More: Residents are Still Leaving the Keystone StateCriminal Justice Reform
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative II
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative recommends fair and effective punishments that equip offenders for life, while controlling costs and improving safety.
Poll
Read More: The Justice Reinvestment Initiative IITaxes & Economy
Santa and the Grinch visit Pennsylvania?s Energy Sector
The last two years brought renewed investment in Pennsylvania’s energy industry, but these shiny gifts remain threatened by grinchy taxes, fees, and regulations. Among the gifts are the…
Media
Read More: Santa and the Grinch visit Pennsylvania?s Energy SectorTaxes & Economy
Trump Administration’s Food Stamp Changes Could Affect 59 Pa. Counties
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to strengthen existing work requirements for work-capable adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps). The rule change…
Press Release
Read More: Trump Administration’s Food Stamp Changes Could Affect 59 Pa. CountiesHealth Care
Affordable Care Act Struggles Continue: Sarah’s Health Care Story
Sarah is a social service worker from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where she and her husband also homeschool their four young children. For four years her family received insurance through Medicaid.
Media
Read More: Affordable Care Act Struggles Continue: Sarah’s Health Care StoryRegulation
Taking the First Step Toward Pension Reform in 2017-18
In the Christmas classic Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, the Winter Warlock despairs, “It is so difficult to make a change.” Kris Kringle disagrees, “It’s as easy as taking…
Media
Read More: Taking the First Step Toward Pension Reform in 2017-18Taxes & Economy
Facts Refute Gov. Wolf’s Climate Change Concern
Editor's Note: A version of this blog was also published in the Daily Caller and appeared at NaturalGasNow.org. When Gov. Wolf uses the past…
Media
Read More: Facts Refute Gov. Wolf’s Climate Change ConcernHealth Care
Pursuing Permanent Poverty Solutions: 2018-17 Welfare & Health Care Reforms
Today, we continue our recap of the 2017-18 legislature by looking at the largest and most poorly understood aspect of state government, welfare and health care. Human services spending amounts…
Media
Read More: Pursuing Permanent Poverty Solutions: 2018-17 Welfare & Health Care ReformsTaxes & Economy
Bureaucrats are Keeping Pennsylvanians Dependent on Food Stamps
Great things are happening in our economy, including more job opportunities and rising incomes. Yet, Pennsylvania is continuing to see near-record food stamp enrollment. The Census Bureau's newly-released American…
Media
Read More: Bureaucrats are Keeping Pennsylvanians Dependent on Food StampsState Budget
Budget Outlook: Restrained Spending Growth
On Tuesday, Budget Secretary Randy Albright gave the mid-year budget briefing (slides available here) for the 2018-19 budget. If you’re expecting a repeat of the Wolf Administration’s tax-and-spend rhetoric…
Media
Read More: Budget Outlook: Restrained Spending GrowthTaxes & Economy
Will Carbon Taxes Bring Paris Protests to Pa?
“Nothing reveals the disconnect between ordinary voters and an aloof political class more than carbon taxation,” write the editors of the Wall Street Journal. As French “yellow vest”…
Media
Read More: Will Carbon Taxes Bring Paris Protests to Pa?Health Care
Four Ways Pa. Lawmakers Can Reduce the Cost of Health Care
Bureaucracy just makes things worse. Case in point: Obamacare. Pennsylvanians have faced soaring health care costs and far fewer options ever since the law was passed. Thankfully, a…
Media
Read More: Four Ways Pa. Lawmakers Can Reduce the Cost of Health CareRegulation
Just Say No To Corporate Welfare
“We prefer the term ‘corporate welfare.’” Elizabeth Stelle, CF’s Director of Policy Analysis, recently appeared on the KD/PG Sunday Edition to discuss the GM bailout, Amazon’s HQ2 forgoing Pennsylvania, and…
Media
Read More: Just Say No To Corporate WelfareRegulation
Our Christmas Wish: A Solvent Pennsylvania
“I’m dreaming of a solvent Penn’s Woods/Just like the one we used to know.” Lyrics not worthy of Bing Crosby, but still music to the ears of a…
Media
Read More: Our Christmas Wish: A Solvent PennsylvaniaRegulation
Turnpike Toll Hikes Highlight Missed Opportunities
There are three things Pennsylvanians have learned to count on: death, taxes, and Turnpike toll hikes. On January 6th, the state toll road will increase rates by another 6…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Toll Hikes Highlight Missed OpportunitiesRegulation
Harsh Conditions Continue: Pennsylvania’s 2017-18 Business Climate
After the recent decision by Amazon not to put an HQ2 location in Pennsylvania, business owners and taxpayers all across the state are asking the same questions: What barriers…
Media
Read More: Harsh Conditions Continue: Pennsylvania’s 2017-18 Business ClimateState Budget
2017-18 State Budget & Spending Trends
Over the next month, CF will recount what happened on major issues in the 2017-18 legislative session and what policies lawmakers need to prioritize in the 2019-20 session to make…
Media
Read More: 2017-18 State Budget & Spending TrendsState Budget
IFO Projects $1.7 Billion State Budget Deficit in 2019
Last year’s state budget boasted a series of firsts. It was the first budget in four years enacted before the June 30 deadline and represents the only budget Gov.
Media
Read More: IFO Projects $1.7 Billion State Budget Deficit in 2019Criminal Justice Reform
One Policy Where Trump and Wolf Agree
President Trump and Gov. Tom Wolf agree: minimum sentencing laws are counterproductive. Last Wednesday, President Trump announced his support of the FIRST STEP Act. The bill gives federal judges more…
Media
Read More: One Policy Where Trump and Wolf AgreeRegulation
Billions in Bribes Couldn’t Overcome Business Climate
As the old saying goes, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” Such is the case with the business climate in Pennsylvania. And it appears…
Media
Read More: Billions in Bribes Couldn’t Overcome Business ClimateTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Path to Tax Relief
Pennsylvania’s high state and local tax burden is hindering job growth, suppressing wages, and enabling wasteful government spending.
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Path to Tax Relief