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.
Public Union Democracy
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense Reform Could Have Freed Public Employees from Restrictive, Failing Pension System October 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—In a…
Press Release
Read More: Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ ExpenseRegulation
State Pension Reform This Week?
Pension reform talks are in full swing as state lawmakers finish up their fall session. The latest pension proposal offers a side-by-side hybrid system for new employees, including new…
Media
Read More: State Pension Reform This Week?Regulation
Pennsylvanians Want Pension Reform
A majority of Pennsylvanians want pension reform. In a poll conducted from October 4th to 9th, 54 percent of voters supported placing new state employees in a 401(k)-style…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Want Pension ReformGovernment Accountability
Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of Conservatism
What are the roots of conservatism? How has conservatism and its messengers changed over time and what are the consequences for the nation? Political commentator Matt Lewis, author of “…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of ConservatismRegulation
House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping Community
Gov. Wolf and the legislature clearly erred in their attempt to raise revenue on the backs of small vape shop business owners like Dori, Chris, Scottie, and…
Media
Read More: House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping CommunityHealth Care
Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. Exchange
Pennsylvanians shopping on the health care exchange are in for a rude awakening. Yesterday the Insurance Department announced premiums for individual plans will increase by an average of 32…
Media
Read More: Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. ExchangeGovernment Accountability
How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?
Why are taxpayers being charged for money left unspent? This question is posed by NBC 10 reporter Mitch Blacher to public school administrators in southeastern Pennsylvania districts. An NBC investigation…
Media
Read More: How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?Regulation
Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the Hook
In the past six years, Pennsylvania taxpayers’ unfunded pension liability has more than doubled from less than $30 billion to $63 billion. While the legislative debate over reform continues, Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the HookEducation
Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion?
Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion? Districts Stock Massive Reserve Funds While Seeking Tax Hikes October 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—A Montgomery County…
Press Release
Read More: Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion?Education
Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?
In June, CF published a searchable database showing fund balance data for each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts as of 2015. Given the recent…
Media
Read More: Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?Regulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016
Pennsylvania’s state budget is three months old and showing signs of a major budget deficit. Actual revenue collections are already behind $218.5 million through the first quarter, according to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016Criminal Justice Reform
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort Gutted
North Philadelphian Carol Johnson* saved $2,000 from her pension checks by storing the money in an upstairs bedroom. One day, the 87 year old's savings vanished in a matter…
Media
Read More: Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort GuttedRegulation
Fighting for Survival
Yesterday was an emotional day for many. Hundreds of people from Pennsylvania’s vaping community traveled to Harrisburg to save their livelihoods and their way of life. The rally to repeal…
Media
Read More: Fighting for SurvivalTaxes & Economy
House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops
House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops Bipartisan Vote Would Repeal 40-Percent Tax, Replace with Per-Milliliter Tax September 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the House Finance Committee voted 19-4 to…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Votes to Save Vape ShopsEducation
Pennsylvania’s Economy is Struggling
Americans finally got a raise! That's the gist of recent headlines hailing significant economic growth in 2015, but in Pennsylvania the economy is still struggling. From 1991 to 2015,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy is StrugglingTaxes & Economy
Tax Sends Vape Shops Up in Smoke
Imagine you find a way to help others live healthier lives, and this passion leads you to invest your savings to start a related small business. Now, imagine state government…
Commentary
Read More: Tax Sends Vape Shops Up in SmokeEnergy
Lessons from Fracking’s Borderlines
New Yorkers shouldn’t have to eye secession to tap the riches beneath their feet. Pennsylvanians shouldn’t have to worry that taxes and regulations will drive away opportunity and raise energy…
Commentary
Read More: Lessons from Fracking’s BorderlinesRegulation
How to Fix the Vape Tax
The House will return to session later today, with the Senate to follow early next week. The two chambers are in session for a total of nine days. This gives lawmakers a limited…
Media
Read More: How to Fix the Vape TaxEducation
Facts about the State Share of School Funding
Should the Pennsylvania Supreme Court order the Legislature to give billions more dollars to school districts? That's what a recent lawsuit demands. But to make their case to the public, the lawsuit's advocates…
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Read More: Facts about the State Share of School FundingState Budget
Gov. Wolf Is Exacerbating Inequality
Gov. Wolf is embracing a government that works for the wealthy and well-connected. Yesterday, his administration announced its intention to commit more than $20.5 million to Aramark just to…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Is Exacerbating InequalityTaxes & Economy
Podcast: Killing Jobs & Playing Favorites – Meet Pa.’s Tax Code
Did you know Pennsylvania has more than 3,000 taxing authorities? It’s a staggering number that exceeds almost any other state in the nation. Not only does this create confusion and…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Killing Jobs & Playing Favorites – Meet Pa.’s Tax Code