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.
Government Accountability
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets Budget Companion Bill Picks Winners at Lobbyists’ Behest January 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—On Tuesday, the Pa. House passed a “fiscal code” which…
Press Release
Read More: Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark SecretsGovernment Accountability
Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks
Pennsylvania's fiscal code is intended to provide lawmakers with instructions for spending funds appropriated in the state budget. But it is also ground-zero for a host of earmarks that funnel limited…
Media
Read More: Fiscal Code Packed with EarmarksState Budget
Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget Future
Believe it or not, the state is approaching the unofficial start of a new budget cycle. Gov. Wolf plans to roll out his proposal for the 2016-17 budget on February…
Media
Read More: Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget FutureState Budget
Budget Hostages Finally Freed?
While Wolf released the hostages of the past six months, he made sure he could keep using children as “pressure points” by using his line-item veto to cut $3.1 billion…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Hostages Finally Freed?Education
Governor Wolf’s Budget Hostages
Tom Wolf finally admitted he held school children hostage in hopes of higher taxes: “We're now at a point where I don't want to hold the children of Pennsylvania hostage.” But…
Media
Read More: Governor Wolf’s Budget HostagesPublic Union Democracy
A Governor’s Resolution List for 2016
Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf promised he would take state government in a “different direction” and grow the middle class. He pledged to do this by making Pennsylvania a magnet for…
Media
Read More: A Governor’s Resolution List for 2016Education
Wolf’s Newest Education Funding Scheme
When Gov. Wolf finally agreed to sign the majority of an emergency funding bill, it remained unclear how his administration would distribute the increased education funding approved by the…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Newest Education Funding SchemeRegulation
The EPA’s Plan Will Hike Your Electricity Bill
A new analysis from NERA Economic Consulting projects Pennsylvania electricity bills will increase between 10 and 19 percent from 2022 to 2033…
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Read More: The EPA’s Plan Will Hike Your Electricity BillState Budget
Wolf Releases Budget Hostages in Budget Battle
Wolf Releases Hostages in Budget Battle After Six Months, Funding Finally Flows to Students & Needy December 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced he will finally release…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Releases Budget Hostages in Budget BattleState Budget
Wolf Signs Stop-Gap Budget With Punitive Line-Item Vetoes
This morning, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state budget on his desk, using his line-item veto (and item-reduction veto) power to cut the spending by more than $6 billion, targeting certain…
Media
Read More: Wolf Signs Stop-Gap Budget With Punitive Line-Item VetoesTaxes & Economy
Self-Worth, not Stuff, Should be Welfare’s Goal
In the movies, values like hope, joy, and peace ultimately triumph over materialism. Unfortunately, government has yet to grasp that stuff alone doesn’t bring lasting happiness…
Commentary
Read More: Self-Worth, not Stuff, Should be Welfare’s GoalState Budget
End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands
End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands Legislature Sends State Budget to Governor’s Desk December 23, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state legislature, with bi-partisan support, sent a $30.26…
Press Release
Read More: End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s HandsState Budget
Senate Passes Budget, Sends to Governor
Things have changed quickly in the Capitol this week. On Monday, we wrote about a potential House vote on an emergency funding bill. That plan was scrapped. Yesterday, we talked…
Media
Read More: Senate Passes Budget, Sends to GovernorState Budget
A Christmas Spending Spree is in the Works
In an unexpected move, the House voted to revive the Senate’s $30.8 billion budget yesterday, which many thought was dead after a pension reform bill went down in defeat…
Media
Read More: A Christmas Spending Spree is in the WorksEducation
Students Need Scholarships, Not Sympathy
Gov. Tom Wolf’s insistence on higher taxes blocks state funding from school districts and jeopardizes private school scholarships for thousands of low- and middle-income students.
Media
Read More: Students Need Scholarships, Not SympathyState Budget
Moving on From Budget Gridlock
Editor's note: Recent legislative developments have made an emergency funding plan unlikely. For the latest on the budget impasse, read this blog. Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee voted…
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Read More: Moving on From Budget GridlockState Budget
Santa Claus Budgeting
With Christmas fast approaching, children are busy creating wish lists for Santa Claus. While most kids eventually outgrow a belief in Santa — and realize it’s their family buying their…
Commentary
Read More: Santa Claus BudgetingTaxes & Economy
Latest Wolf Tax Plan Eliminates 6,500 Jobs
If Gov. Wolf succeeds in raising Pennsylvania’s personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.30 percent (an increase of 7.5 percent in the rate), what will be the impact on…
Media
Read More: Latest Wolf Tax Plan Eliminates 6,500 JobsState Budget
Lawmakers Must Reject Tax Hike of Christmas Past
Lawmakers Must Reject Tax Hike of Christmas Past New Tax Plan Would Hit Working Families of all Income Groups December 18, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Nearly six months into…
Press Release
Read More: Lawmakers Must Reject Tax Hike of Christmas PastPublic Union Democracy
Tax Hike of Christmas Past?
Given the rumblings of an imminent vote on higher income taxes, it's important to remember what happened 12 years ago (nearly to the day!) with our state budget. Ed Rendell was…
Media
Read More: Tax Hike of Christmas Past?Government Accountability
State Budget Should Consider Pa. Freedom Index
State Budget Should Consider Pa. Freedom Index Commonwealth Ranks Mediocre 21st in Economic Freedom December 16, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania may be home to the cradle of liberty, but…
Press Release
Read More: State Budget Should Consider Pa. Freedom Index