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.
Regulation
Making the Most of Philadelphia’s Upswing
Last week I blogged about Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s misplaced confidence in government energy mandates to grow the Steel City. On the other side of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney…
Media
Read More: Making the Most of Philadelphia’s UpswingRegulation
Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Pension Reform
Yesterday Governor Wolf signed transformative pension reform. SB 1 will establish a side-by-side hybrid plan for new employees, greatly reducing taxpayer risk and laying the foundation for further reform.
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Pension ReformEducation
Growing Chorus Urges School Boards to Protect Taxpayers
In response to CF’s research on school district reserve funds, reporters and editorial boards have weighed in on the question: Why are districts holding millions in reserve while seeking…
Media
Read More: Growing Chorus Urges School Boards to Protect TaxpayersHealth Care
PA’s Unaffordable Health Care Act Premiums
If there’s ever a contest for least accurately named law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would certainly be in the running. In the aftermath of the ACA, more commonly called…
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Read More: PA’s Unaffordable Health Care Act PremiumsHealth Care
Saving Medicaid
Obamacare proponents insist the American Health Care Act (AHCA) will cut $800 billion from Medicaid and jeopardize care for the disabled and children. This claim is oft-repeated, but it is patently false.
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Read More: Saving MedicaidState Budget
Three States Offer a Glimpse into Pennsylvania’s Three Possible Futures
Raising taxes on the wealthy is the answer to Pennsylvania’s fiscal problems. At least, that’s what we’re told by government union executives and their allies. But Connecticut's experience paints a very…
Media
Read More: Three States Offer a Glimpse into Pennsylvania’s Three Possible FuturesRegulation
Can Environmental Mandates Reverse Pittsburgh’s Decline?
President Trump summed up his opposition to the Paris Climate Accord by saying he was elected to represent Pittsburgh, not Paris. In response, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued an…
Media
Read More: Can Environmental Mandates Reverse Pittsburgh’s Decline?Regulation
Making Sense of Pension Reform Legislation
Yesterday, the state Senate passed pension reform legislation—Senate Bill 1—which begins to transform the state’s pension systems into a sustainable model for public employees and taxpayers. We have already…
Media
Read More: Making Sense of Pension Reform LegislationRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2017
For the first time in seven months, the commonwealth’s revenue collections exceeded expectations. Pennsylvania collected $2.6 billion in May—$98.5 million more than anticipated. Still, total collections remain approximately…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2017Regulation
5 Reasons to Enact Pension Reform Now
Pennsylvania is on the brink of transformative pension reform. Under SB 1, new school teachers and state employees, including new lawmakers and judges, would automatically be enrolled in a…
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Read More: 5 Reasons to Enact Pension Reform NowEducation
Are Soda Taxes Worth Their Cost?
Philadelphia’s soda tax is going flat. The new levy has raised prices, diminished sales, and led to industry layoffs. It’s also failing to meet revenue projections,…
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Read More: Are Soda Taxes Worth Their Cost?Regulation
Policy Memo: Pension Reform in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s $71 billion unfunded pension liability is unsustainable for taxpayers and puts public employees at risk. Without timely reform, pension payments will crowd out funding for other services, property taxes…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Pension Reform in PennsylvaniaCriminal Justice Reform
Senate Advances Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform
Should bureaucratic inefficiencies decide the fate of parole violators? The obvious answer is no. That's just one reason why 38 senators voted in favor of SB 522. The legislation…
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Read More: Senate Advances Bipartisan Criminal Justice ReformRegulation
Sports Teams Thrive at Taxpayer Expense
While sports teams across the county reap the benefits of lavish government subsidies to build stadiums, taxpayers bear the brunt of the cost, according to a working study by…
Media
Read More: Sports Teams Thrive at Taxpayer ExpenseTaxes & Economy
Moving From Welfare to Work
Last week state house lawmakers gathered to gain a better understanding of the challenges people face when moving from the welfare system to work. Chief among those challenges is a…
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Read More: Moving From Welfare to WorkRegulation
News Release: State Senate Committee Advances Critical Pension Overhaul
Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee approved SB 1, a critical overhaul of Pennsylvania’s troubled public pension system. The bill offers new public workers a side-by-side hybrid pension option that…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: State Senate Committee Advances Critical Pension OverhaulEducation
News Release: Is Your School District Hoarding Cash?
When does a school district’s “rainy day” fund start raising eyebrows? New information from the state Department of Education shows that as state funding for schools reaches an all-time high,…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Is Your School District Hoarding Cash?Regulation
Senate Introduces Substantive Pension Reform
Now, more than ever, transformative reform in needed to address Pennsylvania’s undeniable pension crisis. Last week, the state Senate began this process by introducing pension reform bill SB…
Media
Read More: Senate Introduces Substantive Pension ReformRegulation
Government Strikes Out, Yet Keeps Playing
For state government, it isn’t ‘three strikes and you’re out.’ Or even four strikes. In fact, state officials get to play by their own rules when it comes to economic…
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Read More: Government Strikes Out, Yet Keeps PlayingEducation
School District Spending, Rainy Day Funds are Surging—Again
Americans love Springtime—and for good reason! With Spring comes warm weather, blooming flowers, and baseball season. Most importantly, Spring is time for new data from Pennsylvania’s Department of Education—which yesterday…
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Read More: School District Spending, Rainy Day Funds are Surging—AgainEducation
Research: ESAs Boost Teacher Pay, Create Jobs, and Reduce Poverty
Pennsylvania is among a dozen states pursuing education savings accounts—innovative school choice tools that empower parents to customize their child’s education. ESAs are flexible spending accounts, controlled by…
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Read More: Research: ESAs Boost Teacher Pay, Create Jobs, and Reduce Poverty