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.
Taxes & Economy
Report Finds Pennsylvania Welfare System Unsustainable, Hurting Poor
The Commonwealth Foundation released today an alarming new report on Pennsylvania public welfare that finds widespread abuse of tax dollars, with spending growing faster than the economy and exceeding education…
Press Release
Read More: Report Finds Pennsylvania Welfare System Unsustainable, Hurting PoorHealth Care
Ending the Cycle: Reforming Welfare in Pennsylvania
Government welfare, with its goal to provide a helping hand to those in need, has instead become a vast series of programs that fall far short of the good intentions…
Report
Read More: Ending the Cycle: Reforming Welfare in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Which County will be Duped into Imposing Marcellus Tax?
On Monday, Gov. Tom Corbett signed House Bill 1950, the Marcellus Shale impact tax, into law. The funding formula funnels the first $23 million in revenue to statewide programs. Local…
Media
Read More: Which County will be Duped into Imposing Marcellus Tax?Health Care
CF Joins More than 400 State Lawmakers in Brief on Health Care Law
The Commonwealth Foundation joined 17 other organizations and 333 state legislators from across the country in an amicus curiae brief challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act passed…
Media
Read More: CF Joins More than 400 State Lawmakers in Brief on Health Care LawCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Corrections Spending
The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Corrections SpendingPublic Union Democracy
House Moves Unemployment Compensation Reform
More Unemployment Compensation reform is moving through the Pennsylvania House. Yesterday, HB 1754 sponsored by Rep. Ron Miller, and HB 1852 sponsored by Rep. Seth Grove, cleared the…
Media
Read More: House Moves Unemployment Compensation ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Government Union Jeopardizes Criminal Justice Reform
As Pennsylvania takes a hard look at reforming its criminal justice system, prepare for the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association’s fear-mongering campaign against reducing prison populations. The officers’ union opposition…
Media
Read More: Government Union Jeopardizes Criminal Justice ReformEducation
It’s Not About Tuition, It’s About Mo’ Money
Over at PA Independent, Stacy Brown has an important story on the ongoing fight over Gov. Corbett’s budget proposal. There, Duquesne University professor Antony Davies, a member of CF’s…
Media
Read More: It’s Not About Tuition, It’s About Mo’ MoneyTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Bill Summarized
Gov. Corbett is expected to sign HB 1950, a comprehensive bill addressing Marcellus Shale. What’s inside the bill? The Marcellus Shale impact tax included in HB 1950 falls short of…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Shale Bill SummarizedPublic Union Democracy
Turn on the Fiscal Fire Hose
Since Gov. Corbett unveiled his 2012-13 budget Tuesday, we’ve noted how it reduces overall spending for only the second time in 40 years. We’ve also explained that despite…
Media
Read More: Turn on the Fiscal Fire HoseTaxes & Economy
PA House Roll Call Vote on Marcellus Shale Billl
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House passed the HB 1950 Conference Committee Report by a 101-90 margin with 99 Republicans and 2 Democrats FOR it and 10 Republicans and 80 Democrats AGAINST…
Media
Read More: PA House Roll Call Vote on Marcellus Shale BilllTaxes & Economy
Senate Votes on Natural Gas Tax (HB1950)
On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 1950 Conference Committee Report by a 31-19 margin with 26 Republicans and 5 Democrats FOR it and 4 Republicans…
Media
Read More: Senate Votes on Natural Gas Tax (HB1950)Taxes & Economy
Don’t Feed the Sharks!
Many Republicans, who once opposed raising taxes, are justifying their anticipated vote to increase taxes on the natural gas industry (it’s not a FEE to pay for uncompensated costs…something…
Media
Read More: Don’t Feed the Sharks!State Budget
Fireproofing Pennsylvania’s Economy
It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that without swift action Pennsylvania's fiscal house will soon burst into flames. State lawmakers have adequate warning about the threats to our…
Commentary
Read More: Fireproofing Pennsylvania’s EconomyState Budget
Stop the Fiscal Inferno!
Burn, baby, burn, it’s a fiscal inferno! Okay, perhaps that’s not exactly how the old disco song goes, but that’s certainly how some politicians are singing it in Harrisburg.
Media
Read More: Stop the Fiscal Inferno!Taxes & Economy
Stop the Job-Killing Marcellus Tax!!!
A job-killing Marcellus Shale tax is being rammed through the legislature right now! With great speed and little transparency, House Bill 1950 was turned into a job-killing tax, littered with…
Media
Read More: Stop the Job-Killing Marcellus Tax!!!Regulation
Pennsylvania State Budget Background & 2012 Preview
The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Background & 2012 PreviewTaxes & Economy
Job-Killing Marcellus Energy TAX Emerges
A new TAX on Marcellus Shale appears on the horizon. Below is a summary of the behind-closed-doors deal struck by a handful of legislators and staff, according to a memo…
Media
Read More: Job-Killing Marcellus Energy TAX EmergesEnergy
Memo on Marcellus Shale Impact Fee “Deal”
Memo from Matthew Brouillette to Pennsylvania General Assembly on Marcellus Shale Impact Fee "Deal."…
Commentary
Read More: Memo on Marcellus Shale Impact Fee “Deal”Taxes & Economy
Largest Growth in Pennsylvania Private Sector Jobs Since 1999
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has updated their employment data by state through the end of 2011 (subject to revision). Looking at December job data (“not seasonally adjusted”) over…
Media
Read More: Largest Growth in Pennsylvania Private Sector Jobs Since 1999Criminal Justice Reform
Is State Corrections Spending Sustainable?
The chart below shows the unsustainable growth in Pennsylvania state corrections spending and inmate population. The criminal justice system’s goal shouldn’t be to simply lock up as many people…
Media
Read More: Is State Corrections Spending Sustainable?