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.
Criminal Justice Reform
Embracing Innovation in State Government
Conventional governing is hampering Pennsylvania’s progress. Growing state budgets combined with one-time revenue transfers and targeted tax hikes are delaying the structural reforms essential to improving the quality…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Embracing Innovation in State GovernmentTaxes & Economy
One of the Worst Run States in America?
Pennsylvania is in a slump. The latest grades from 24/7 Wall St. have the Keystone State ranked 42nd in terms of The Best Run State in America. This is…
Media
Read More: One of the Worst Run States in America?Regulation
A Turning Point in Pennsylvania?s Budget Debate?
Pennsylvania must confront a $604 million deficit, according to Budget Secretary Randy Albright. This sober assessment was offered during the mid-year budget briefing earlier today. The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO)…
Media
Read More: A Turning Point in Pennsylvania?s Budget Debate?Public Union Democracy
Watch for Sweeping Changes Outside the Beltway
The political landscape has experienced a seismic shift, and it isn't centered in Washington DC. This past weekend Kyle Peterson of the Wall Street Journal highlighted Pennsylvania and six other…
Media
Read More: Watch for Sweeping Changes Outside the BeltwayState Budget
State Spending to Blame for Low Economic Opportunity in Pa.
State Spending to Blame for Low Economic Opportunity in Pa. New Report Shows Need for Government Spending Restraint December 13, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—When it comes to controlling…
Press Release
Read More: State Spending to Blame for Low Economic Opportunity in Pa.Regulation
Don’t Wait on Washington for Manufacturing Jobs
During his campaign stops in Pennsylvania, President-elect Donald Trump touted his intention to bring manufacturing jobs back to the state. That’s a worthy goal, but the truth…
Commentary
Read More: Don’t Wait on Washington for Manufacturing JobsTaxes & Economy
No Doubt About it: PA has a Severance Tax
What do Christmas festivities, a new office building, and a Ford Explorer have in common? They were all paid for with impact fees on natural gas, raising doubts about the necessity of…
Media
Read More: No Doubt About it: PA has a Severance TaxRegulation
What Pennsylvania’s Budget Trends Mean for You
State government is growing at a startling rate. Since 1970, spending has risen by $4,010 per person—an inflation-adjusted increase of 189 percent. This is one of many findings in our…
Media
Read More: What Pennsylvania’s Budget Trends Mean for YouTaxes & Economy
PA’s Conflicted Relationship with Natural Gas
The government giveth, and the government taketh away. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Pennsylvania’s relationship with the natural gas industry. On the one hand, Gov. Wolf offers a…
Media
Read More: PA’s Conflicted Relationship with Natural GasEducation
Hits and Misses from the 2015-16 Legislative Session
That's a wrap. The 2015-16 legislative session is officially in the history books. Despite a $650 million tax hike, Pennsylvanians have a lot to celebrate from the past two years.
Media
Read More: Hits and Misses from the 2015-16 Legislative SessionState Budget
Tracking State Budget Trends
The 2016-17 General Fund budget added to Pennsylvania’s fiscal challenges. Lawmakers approved the $31.6 billion budget without implementing meaningful reforms or authorizing enough revenue to balance the budget. Despite lacking…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Tracking State Budget TrendsRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016
State revenue collections came in at $79.5 million below the official estimate for November, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Lackluster collections wiped away the little progress made during October when revenue collections…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016Public Union Democracy
The Rust Belt’s Labor Reform Wave
Lagging job growth, rising taxes and coercive union tactics created an appetite for labor reform throughout Rust Belt states. Transforming Labor, our latest policy report, ranks states on their…
Media
Read More: The Rust Belt’s Labor Reform WaveRegulation
New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending
New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending State Faces up to $900 Million Budget Hole This Year November 16, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Yesterday’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) mid-year…
Press Release
Read More: New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform SpendingRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016
Last month we raised concerns about Pennsylvania's fiscal trajectory. At the time, state revenue collections were more than $218 million below the official estimate. The current revenue picture is slightly…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016Public Union Democracy
A Dramatic Shift in Pennsylvania
From celebration to soul-searching, post-election analysis is everywhere. While top-of-the-ballot results dominate headlines and your news feed, don’t miss the dramatic shift that occurred last night in Pennsylvania. Republicans achieved…
Media
Read More: A Dramatic Shift in PennsylvaniaEducation
Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?
Dwight K. Schrute is an employee at Dunder Mifflin—a fictional Scranton paper company featured in NBC’s The Office. And he just may be the key to overcoming the city’s very…
Media
Read More: Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?Regulation
Who Pays for SEPTA?
News reports today indicate SEPTA (the public transit agency serving the Philadelphia region) came to an agreement with the Transportation Workers Union Local 234—ending a six-day strike just before election…
Media
Read More: Who Pays for SEPTA?State Budget
Prioritizing Tax Revenue over People
PennLive recently published an editorial analyzing the General Assembly’s actions—or lack thereof—on key issues during the last two weeks of the legislative session. Their views on the e-cigarette (vape) tax deserve special…
Media
Read More: Prioritizing Tax Revenue over PeoplePublic Union Democracy
Missed Opportunities: Fall Legislative Session
Three critical bills stalled last week amidst a flurry of last minute legislative activity. Failure to reform pensions, repeal the e-cigarette tax, and prohibit ghost teaching were missed opportunities that…
Media
Read More: Missed Opportunities: Fall Legislative SessionHealth Care
Painful Year for Pennsylvanians on the Obamacare Exchange
Today marks the fifth open enrollment season for Obamacare's insurance exchange. As predicted, premiums continue to skyrocket. In fact, Pennsylvania's premium increases are among the highest in the…
Media
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