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.
Health Care
One Step Towards Redesigning Human Services
Governor Wolf’s proposal to merge four state agencies into the Department of Health and Human Services has the potential to benefit taxpayers and beneficiaries by eliminating bureaucratic redundancies and providing…
Media
Read More: One Step Towards Redesigning Human ServicesRegulation
Policy Points: Pennsylvania’s Debt Burden
State and local debt levels have exploded since 2002. When combined with the commonwealth’s unfunded liabilities, total state obligations exceed $17,600 for every Pennsylvania resident.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Policy Points: Pennsylvania’s Debt BurdenHealth Care
Obamacare’s Cost Increase Aren’t “Just Fine”
This week, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller sent a letter suggesting that an 8.8 percent increase in insurance premiums next year was a good thing, and…
Media
Read More: Obamacare’s Cost Increase Aren’t “Just Fine”Regulation
Pennsylvania Ranks Poorly…Again
Redesigning state government has never been more important. For evidence, check out Pennsylvania’s poor performance in U.S. News & World Report’s recent Best States Rankings. Overall, the study puts the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Ranks Poorly…AgainCriminal Justice Reform
Policy Memo: Principles for State Budget
With the 2017 budget, lawmakers have an opportunity to double down on the idea of reinventing government and adopt meaningful reforms that will save taxpayers money, stimulate economic growth, and improve services…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Principles for State BudgetRegulation
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.
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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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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,…
Media
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…
Media
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 Overhaul