Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh 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.
Taxes & Economy
Minimum Wage
Summary One percent of Pennsylvania workers earn the minimum wage, an all-time low.Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Recent analysis by Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal…
Fact Sheet
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Shapiro paid homage to conservative ideas in his budget address
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer The most notable part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address last week is what he left unsaid. He…
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Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield Responds to Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Priorities
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield Responds to Gov. Shapiro’s Budget PrioritiesEnergy
Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget Address
Profligacy Exacerbates Budget Deficit Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget calls for $45.9 billion in ongoing General Fund spending and $43 billion in net state revenues (after refunds). Thus, Pennsylvania has…
Report
Read More: Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget AddressProsperity
Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Statement of Governor Shapiro’s Budget Priorities
Harrisburg, Pa., Mar. 7, 2023 — Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued today the following response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget address: “The budget…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Statement of Governor Shapiro’s Budget PrioritiesProsperity
Reforms would reduce poverty, increase prosperity
Originally published on LNP On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his first annual state budget address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While he hasn’t unveiled the details of…
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Tearing Down Barriers to Prosperity: How More Economic Freedom Can Reduce Poverty and Boost Prosperity in Pennsylvania
Key Findings Economic freedom, specifically lower government spending, strongly and consistently offers both increases in prosperity and reductions in poverty.States that gained economic freedom from 2010 to 2019 tend to…
Executive Summary
Read More: Tearing Down Barriers to Prosperity: How More Economic Freedom Can Reduce Poverty and Boost Prosperity in PennsylvaniaProsperity
Tearing Down the Barriers to Prosperity: What Pennsylvanians Say About Poverty and Prosperity
Unlike most reports on poverty, this report combines statistics, a survey of Pennsylvanians with income below 200 percent of the poverty line, and in-depth interviews to identify common barriers to…
Executive Summary
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Assessing Gov. Tom Wolf’s Tenure
Key Points During Gov. Tom Wolf’s eight years in office, Pennsylvania ranked below the national average in income growth, job growth, and population growth.State government spending increased significantly under Wolf,…
Backgrounder
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Key to PA’s Success Isn’t More Bureaucracy – It’s More Business Innovation
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania brims with natural resources and human talent – but for the past eight years, the state’s heavy regulatory hand has often restrained opportunities for…
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Read More: Key to PA’s Success Isn’t More Bureaucracy – It’s More Business InnovationProsperity
Pa.’s Troubling and Continued Population Decline
December 22, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Pennsylvania lost over 40,000 residents between July 2021 and July 2022. These population…
Press Release
Read More: Pa.’s Troubling and Continued Population DeclineProsperity
Gone are the days when Republicans cared about fiscal responsibility
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In 2010, I was one of thousands of Americans marching in Washington, D.C., demanding to be heard by politicians who were putting…
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Pa.’s corporate welfare for select businesses keeps the state down
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Just before the end of the legislative season, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a package of tax credits that will, over time, dole out $2…
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Read More: Pa.’s corporate welfare for select businesses keeps the state downProsperity
Inflation is killing small business
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Deeanna Hilliard closed her bakery in August. Gluten Free by D&D in Volant had survived pandemic restrictions and persistent worker shortages, but it…
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Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano on Newsmax October 18, 2022
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano on Newsmax October 18, 2022Prosperity
Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano on News Nation with Marni Hughes
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano on News Nation with Marni HughesProsperity
Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on October 13, 2022
Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the day’s business headlines with Newsmax host Alex Kraemer and market analyst Seth Denson.
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on October 13, 2022Prosperity
Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on October 12, 2022
Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the day’s business headlines with Newsmax host Alex Kraemer.SHOW LESS…
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on October 12, 2022Energy
No Carbon Taxation Without Representation? Pennsylvania Decides
Originally published at the Daily Caller Pennsylvania voters who played an instrumental role in bringing an overreaching executive to heel during the COVID-19 pandemic will have the opportunity to…
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Pa. Economic Trends September 2022
Overview Families across the country continue to feel the pressure of rising prices. The Consumer Price Index is up 8.3% over the last year, and while gasoline prices have fallen…
Backgrounder
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Biden’s divisive rhetoric won’t hide the Democrats’ massive policy failures
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Democrats are demonizing Republican voters again — a sure tell that they are panicked about getting shellacked in the November midterm elections. That’s…
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Read More: Biden’s divisive rhetoric won’t hide the Democrats’ massive policy failures