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
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
Read More: Research: ESAs Boost Teacher Pay, Create Jobs, and Reduce PovertyEducation
For Most Teachers, Status Quo Pension a Lousy Deal
Illuminating new research confirms what CF has been saying for years: Pennsylvania’s pension system is a bad deal for teachers. In EducationNext, authors Chad Aldeman and Kelly Robson…
Media
Read More: For Most Teachers, Status Quo Pension a Lousy DealTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s ‘Economic Iron Curtain’
Imagine discovering buried treasure on your property. Suddenly, you can provide for your family, send your kids to college debt-free, pay off your parent’s mortgage, or fund your retirement. It…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s ‘Economic Iron Curtain’State Budget
Charting Pennsylvania’s Past Can Shape Its Future
Decades of poor policy decisions have contributed to Pennsylvania’s current fiscal struggles. Not coincidentally, as the size and scope of government has increased, so have the commonwealth’s financial and economic…
Media
Read More: Charting Pennsylvania’s Past Can Shape Its FutureHealth Care
Obamacare Repeal Could Strengthen Medicaid
There is no shortage of dire warnings from the press, medical industry lobbyists, and other left-leaning organizations about the American Health Care Act's (AHCA) landmark Medicaid reforms. At the…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Repeal Could Strengthen MedicaidHealth Care
Five Pre-Existing Condition Myths Debunked
What happens when Obamacare mandates drive insurance companies out of the marketplace? One breast cancer survivor in Maricopa County, Arizona—which lost all but one Obamacare…
Media
Read More: Five Pre-Existing Condition Myths DebunkedState Budget
PA.’s Fiscal Picture in 10 Charts
Commentary
Read More: PA.’s Fiscal Picture in 10 ChartsHealth Care
Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort Full of Opportunity
As the past seven years have shown, no one in Congress is qualified to make healthcare decisions for Pennsylvanians. The latest version of the American Health Care Act will give…
Media
Read More: Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort Full of OpportunityTaxes & Economy
Perception v. Reality Check on Pennsylvania’s Economy
Yesterday, Elizabeth noted how Pennsylvania lost 13,000 college-educated millennials to other states in 2015. Overall, Pennsylvania lost 45,000 residents in interstate migration last year. Why are millennials and…
Media
Read More: Perception v. Reality Check on Pennsylvania’s EconomyState Budget
News Release: 5 Ways State Government Can Help Small Businesses Grow
“Jobs that pay” is one of Gov. Wolf’s three key priorities. But who creates these jobs? Not government. Small businesses provide 55 percent of all jobs and account for 66…
Media
Read More: News Release: 5 Ways State Government Can Help Small Businesses GrowTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Self-Inflicted Lobotomy
Every day, 36 college graduates flee Pennsylvania for better opportunities in other states, according to a new Independent Fiscal Office trends report. Overall, there was a net outflow of…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Self-Inflicted LobotomyState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017
Pennsylvania’s financial problems continue to mount. April’s revenue collections were well below the Department of Revenue’s official estimate, which means the state’s deficit will likely be larger than expected.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017Regulation
Should Pennsylvania Subsidize Horse Racing?
Last month the House passed a General Fund budget that included more than $56 million in corporate welfare reductions. At the time, we indicated even more reductions were possible given…
Media
Read More: Should Pennsylvania Subsidize Horse Racing?Education
Ten Reasons for Optimism
This week state lawmakers advanced a plethora of good policy, from legislation to finally end the government liquor monopoly to a bill that would improve health care in rural areas.
Media
Read More: Ten Reasons for OptimismRegulation
The Keystone State of Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania’s corporate welfare culture is pervasive. The state has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in subsidy payments since 2007—without getting much in return. This large transfer of wealth…
Media
Read More: The Keystone State of Corporate WelfareState Budget
Adventures in State Budget Wonderland
In Lewis Carroll’s classic wonderland tale, Alice famously asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” the…
Media
Read More: Adventures in State Budget WonderlandHealth Care
A New Wave of Welfare Reform
Governors across the country are proposing game-changing welfare reforms and Pennsylvania should follow their example. Yesterday, Maine submitted a waiver to the federal government asking for permission…
Media
Read More: A New Wave of Welfare Reform