High 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.

Criminal Justice Reform

Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice Reforms

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 24, 2020

Pennsylvania General lawmakers moved two key criminal justice reform bills aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s onerous probation system and limiting the excessive burdens of a criminal record.

Memo

Read More: Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice Reforms

Government Accountability

Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levels

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2020

More than 13% of Pennsylvania workers were officially unemployed in May, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Friday. That’s an improvement from April’s record-setting 15.1% unemployment rate, but still the second highest rate…

Media

Read More: Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levels

Criminal Justice Reform

Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal Records

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 16, 2020

With a unanimous committee vote, the state House has opened the door to prosperity for 3 million Pennsylvanians. This week, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee passed legislation helping incarcerated citizens…

Media

Read More: Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal Records

Government Accountability

Fed Data Shows Wolf’s Shutdown Caused Unemployment Spike

  • Michael Torres
  • June 5, 2020

June 5, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s shutdown was done earlier, was more expansive, and had fewer exemptions than most other states, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of…

Media

Read More: Fed Data Shows Wolf’s Shutdown Caused Unemployment Spike

Regulation

PLCB is Bad for Business

  • June 2, 2020

The PLCB harms Pa. businesses in an industry that has been decimated by COVID-19.

Fact Sheet

Read More: PLCB is Bad for Business

Regulation

PLCB’s Mishandling of COVID-19

  • June 1, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has shown the state liquor control board's inability to provide Pennsylvanian's the service the deserve.

Fact Sheet

Read More: PLCB’s Mishandling of COVID-19

Regulation

Economic Aspects of Liquor Privatization

  • May 28, 2020

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is a highly unprofitable monopoly with extraordinary powers that have recently been used to increase prices and harm businesses.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Economic Aspects of Liquor Privatization

Government Accountability

Solutions to Preventing Tax Increases in 2021

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 26, 2020

Lawmakers can respect the Pennsylvania constitution’s balanced budget amendment and act to prevent tax increases that will drive more families and businesses out of the state, further shrinking the revenue…

Memo

Read More: Solutions to Preventing Tax Increases in 2021

Health Care

How Bad are April’s Unemployment Numbers for Pa?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 22, 2020

More than 15% of Pennsylvania workers were unemployed—the highest level on record—according to U.S. Department of Labor data released today. More than 1.1 million payroll jobs were lost since February,…

Media

Read More: How Bad are April’s Unemployment Numbers for Pa?

Taxes & Economy

Wolf Does What Lawmakers Want Him to Do, Just Slower

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 19, 2020

The reality is this: when Wolf vetoes a bill, he often follows his veto with similar executive action later, taking credit for the changes. This has been true since he…

Commentary

Read More: Wolf Does What Lawmakers Want Him to Do, Just Slower

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Turnpike Blues

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • May 6, 2020

A sudden drop in traffic has exposed the toll road's reckless debt load.

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Blues

Government Accountability

Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at risk

  • Kevin Mooney
  • May 5, 2020

Industry leaders who are directly affected by the governor’s orders do not dispute that Wolf has authority to take action aimed at halting the spread of COVID-19. But it’s that…

Commentary

Read More: Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at risk

Health Care

Breaking Down Barriers Following COVID-19

  • Tirzah Duren
  • May 1, 2020

COVID-19 has kept many Pennsylvanians from frequenting the neighborhood coffee shops, nail salons, or retailers they once took for granted. But that’s not the real tragedy—even after stay at home…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Breaking Down Barriers Following COVID-19

Health Care

Top 10 Corona Virus FAQ’s for Pennsylvanians

  • April 30, 2020

Since the COVID-19 pandemic spread to Pennsylvania, we’ve been deluged with questions about what state government is doing. Below are the top 10 questions we’ve been asked with our quick…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Top 10 Corona Virus FAQ’s for Pennsylvanians

Government Accountability

Persistent Leadership will Safely Reopen Pa.

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Tirzah Duren
  • April 24, 2020

Governor Wolf continues to take positive steps toward a safe and gradual opening of the Pennsylvania economy because lawmakers continue to advance good policy that protects lives and livelihoods.

Memo

Read More: Persistent Leadership will Safely Reopen Pa.

Government Accountability

Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency

  • April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf vetoed a bill, SB 613, that would have brought clarity to Pennsylvania’s controversial business shutdown and provided hope for the future. But…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency

Criminal Justice Reform

How Pa. Can Keep Prisons and Communities Safe During Coronavirus

  • April 6, 2020

Pennsylvania’s prisons and jails are particularly vulnerable to the quick spread of COVID-19. Here are several recommendations for mitigating the risk in our corrections system while protecting public safety.  …

Fact Sheet

Read More: How Pa. Can Keep Prisons and Communities Safe During Coronavirus

Health Care

Wolf’s Business Shutdown is Broken, Here’s How to Fix It

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 6, 2020

Gov. Wolf’s shutdown of “non-life-essential" businesses has caused more than 1.1 million Pennsylvania workers to lose their jobs in the last three weeks alone. This unprecedented loss of income is…

Commentary

Read More: Wolf’s Business Shutdown is Broken, Here’s How to Fix It