Prosperity
New Year, New Taxes in Pennsylvania
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The new year is always a great opportunity to shed vices like smoking and binge eating. For state and local lawmakers, their guilty pleasure tends…
Read More: New Year, New Taxes in PennsylvaniaHigh 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.
State Budget
A Broken Promise Could Break the Bank
During the gubernatorial campaign, Tom Wolf promised not to raise taxes on middle class Pennsylvanians. Despite this promise, the governor proposed a budget including the largest tax increase in…
Media
Read More: A Broken Promise Could Break the BankGovernment Accountability
Collective Bargaining Transparency
Government union contract negotiations can have far reaching implications because they set compensation for tens of thousands of public employees, costing taxpayers billions each year. Despite the enormous impact, the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Collective Bargaining TransparencyState Budget
Alternative Energy: The Promise That Never Pans Out
One third of the $675 million in new corporate welfare under Governor's Wolf budget proposal is reserved for alternative energy programs. In this week's House budget hearings Community & Economic…
Media
Read More: Alternative Energy: The Promise That Never Pans OutState Budget
Wolf’s Tax Plan: Three Things Every Family Needs to Know
Here are three things to know about Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax plan: Wolf’s budget calls for a net tax increase of about $1,400 more per family of four this year (with…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Tax Plan: Three Things Every Family Needs to KnowState Budget
Summary of Governor Wolf’s 2015-2016 Budget Proposal
General Fund spending is projected to reach $31.6 billion—the largest spending increase (8.7 percent) in 25 years. Gov. Wolf is proposing to move $1.75 billion in school pension payments to a…
Memo
Read More: Summary of Governor Wolf’s 2015-2016 Budget ProposalState Budget
Audio: Governor Wolf’s Big, Bad Budget
Gov. Wolf’s budget plan spends taxpayers’ money at $1,000 per second and would burden a family of four with an additional $1,419 in taxes at a time when Pennsylvanians…
Media
Read More: Audio: Governor Wolf’s Big, Bad BudgetState Budget
Wolf’s $1,000 Per Second Spending Plan
Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a budget with a spending rate clocking in at a blistering $1,000 per second. That means in the time it takes you to read this…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s $1,000 Per Second Spending PlanTaxes & Economy
Families Benefit from Natural Gas Without Tax
Of the many tax hikes in Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal, the natural gas severance tax on the surface seems less damaging to Pennsylvania families. But a severance tax could hit…
Media
Read More: Families Benefit from Natural Gas Without TaxState Budget
Thirty Cents in Tax Relief for Every Dollar in New Taxes
Gov. Tom Wolf touts property tax relief in his new budget, but fails to mention taxpayers are going to pay more—a lot more—in higher state taxes. Over the next two…
Media
Read More: Thirty Cents in Tax Relief for Every Dollar in New TaxesState Budget
What Would $1,400 Buy? The True Cost of Wolf’s Tax Plan Revealed, News Conference Today
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf Tax Plan Devastating to Families, Elderly, and Small Businesses $1,400 in Groceries Illustrates Sacrifice Wolf Requires of…
Press Release
Read More: What Would $1,400 Buy? The True Cost of Wolf’s Tax Plan Revealed, News Conference TodayState Budget
How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?
The first point of contention on Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget isn’t about his tax increases, or any specific policy item, but rather over the true size of his proposals.
Media
Read More: How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?Taxes & Economy
Historic Spending and Tax Hikes Will Hurt Pennsylvanians
Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal expands the size of government and shrinks the size of your wallet. His 2015-2016 budget calls for a net $4.5 billion tax increase, which amounts to …
Media
Read More: Historic Spending and Tax Hikes Will Hurt PennsylvaniansEducation
Audio: Smarter Spending, not More Spending, Key for State Budget
Education proved to be the centerpiece of Gov. Wolf’s budget address, but his facts on school funding get a failing grade. This morning, Nate Benefield, CF’s Vice President of…
Media
Read More: Audio: Smarter Spending, not More Spending, Key for State BudgetHealth Care
Supreme Court’s Obamacare Case Could Open Door to Real Healthcare Solutions
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Supreme Court’s Obamacare Case Could Open Door to Real Healthcare Solutions Lawmakers Can Spare Pennsylvanians from Obamacare Regulations, Mandates, and Taxes Good morning,…
Press Release
Read More: Supreme Court’s Obamacare Case Could Open Door to Real Healthcare SolutionsTaxes & Economy
Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History Middle-Class Families Foot the Bill for Massive Tax-and-Spend Plan…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa HistoryTaxes & Economy
Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes Compare
Pennsylvania is the only top natural gas producing state that doesn’t tax drilling. Sound familiar? It’s a favorite argument of tax proponents, but it misses the big picture. Pennsylvania taxes…
Media
Read More: Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes CompareTaxes & Economy
Talk of Severance Tax Reduces Drilling
What a shock! A gas exploration company says it is reevaluating plans to drill for natural gas in Southwestern Pennsylvania because of Gov. Wolf’s proposed severance tax, reports…
Media
Read More: Talk of Severance Tax Reduces DrillingState Budget
Lawmakers Stand Up for Taxpayers
Earlier today, Senators Camera Bartolotta and Mike Folmer and Rep. Tim Krieger announced their intentions to usher in an era of fiscal responsibility with the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) and…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Stand Up for TaxpayersState Budget
Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act Responsible Spending Boosts Job, Population, and Income Growth February 23, 2015,…
Press Release
Read More: Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection ActEducation
Student Funding Reform
Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s leaders in education spending per student. Although spending levels are high, the system for distributing state funding is outdated. Weighted student funding (WSF) is a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Student Funding ReformGovernment Accountability
Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced Budget
This year, Pennsylvania lawmakers have the formidable task of eliminating a projected $1.7 billion budget deficit. Bob Dick, a CF policy analyst, spoke with Gary Sutton about what can be…
Media
Read More: Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced Budget