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.
State Budget
Balancing the 2026 State Budget
Controlling and Prioritizing Spending Can Help Balance the Budget Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026–27 budget proposal spends $3.2 billion more than last year and drains the Rainy-Day Fund, increasing the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Balancing the 2026 State BudgetState Budget
Can Pennsylvania Afford This Budget? [PODCAST]
Pennsylvania is spending more than it takes in. What happens next? Andrew Lewis welcomes taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist to discuss the national tax landscape before turning to a pressing question…
Blog
Read More: Can Pennsylvania Afford This Budget? [PODCAST]State Budget
Deficit Watch: June 2026
Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: June 2026State Budget
Progressives’ Radical Tax Hike Proposals
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers have proposed a slew of tax increases and energy mandates that would significantly raise costs on families, workers, and businesses—while undermining the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Progressives’ Radical Tax Hike ProposalsState Budget
Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum Return
Media clips to accompany this release can be downloaded here. Harrisburg, Pa., May 20, 2026 — Under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal, Pennsylvania would spend $1.7 billion on corporate welfare programs. If lawmakers swapped corporate handouts for tax cuts, taxpayers could reap $530 per family of…
Press Release
Read More: Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum ReturnState Budget
Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Summary High taxes and burdensome regulations continue to drive outmigration. Rather than improving the state’s tax and regulatory environment, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–27 budget proposal seeks to…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s 2026–27 Budget ProposalState Budget
Don’t California My Pennsylvania [PODCAST]
What do California’s budget problems, homelessness crisis, and alleged welfare fraud scandals all have in common? According to California Policy Center CEO Will Swaim, they’re the predictable result of…
Blog
Read More: Don’t California My Pennsylvania [PODCAST]State Budget
New Report: Less than 1% of Pa. Workers Earn Minimum Wage
Harrisburg, Pa., May 18, 2026 — For the fourth consecutive year, Gov. Josh Shapiro has sought a $15-per-hour minimum wage in his 2026–27 budget proposal. New research from the Commonwealth…
Press Release
Read More: New Report: Less than 1% of Pa. Workers Earn Minimum WageState Budget
Markets Have Already Solved the Minimum Wage Debate
Originally published by TribLIVE. Raising the minimum wage would have minimal impact on Pennsylvania’s economy. That’s not just my opinion; that’s precisely what the current administration—the…
Media Hit
Read More: Markets Have Already Solved the Minimum Wage DebateRegulation
Minimum Wage 2026
Summary The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) numbers for 2025 show less than one percent of Pennsylvania workers (42,900) earn the minimum wage or…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Minimum Wage 2026Education
Deficit Watch: May 2026
Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: May 2026Education
[MEDIA] Andrew Lewis Addresses Pennsylvania Press Club
Andrew Lewis, President & CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, addressed the Pennsylvania Press Club on Monday afternoon. In his speech, Lewis outlined the path forward to make Pennsylvania the leading…
Media Hit
Read More: [MEDIA] Andrew Lewis Addresses Pennsylvania Press ClubTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Lackluster Economy Continues to Drive People, Businesses Away
Pennsylvania, once again, ranked poorly in national rankings due to its lackluster economy. Rich States, Poor States—an annual report compiled by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)—reveals many…
Blog
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Lackluster Economy Continues to Drive People, Businesses AwayTaxes & Economy
Stopping the Pennsylvania Exodus [PODCAST]
Pennsylvania isn’t just competing with neighboring states—it’s competing with the fastest-growing economies in the country. In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis examines how tax policy and government…
Blog
Read More: Stopping the Pennsylvania Exodus [PODCAST]Regulation
Pennsylvania Is Losing Businesses and Workers. These Commonsense Solutions Will Bring Them Back.
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Sadly, one of the nation’s biggest employers is closing in Pennsylvania. Saks & Company recently announced plans to shut down…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Is Losing Businesses and Workers. These Commonsense Solutions Will Bring Them Back.Taxes & Economy
Affordable Childcare Begins with Cutting Red Tape
Originally published by TribLive. Child care in Pennsylvania is expensive. Just one child in day care costs about 40% of the median household income of single-parent households…
Media Hit
Read More: Affordable Childcare Begins with Cutting Red TapeState Budget
Childcare Affordability Continues To Plague Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg, Pa., March 11, 2026 — Pennsylvania is one of the most overregulated states for childcare. And despite more than $50 million in additional state funding since 2023, too many families continue to find childcare…
Press Release
Read More: Childcare Affordability Continues To Plague PennsylvaniansEducation
[MEDIA] Andrew Lewis on ‘Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words’
Pennsylvania’s Policy Battles: Energy Independence, School Choice, and America 250 Andrew Lewis, President & CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, joins “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” to discuss why…
Media Hit
Read More: [MEDIA] Andrew Lewis on ‘Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words’Energy
Blue-State Energy Mandates and Deficit Spending Undermine Democrats’ Affordability Claims
Originally published by The Washington Times. Democrats have a new buzzword: “affordability.” Democratic strategists say “moderates” will lead the way to a more affordable cost of…
Media Hit
Read More: Blue-State Energy Mandates and Deficit Spending Undermine Democrats’ Affordability ClaimsState Budget
Yes, Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Raises Taxes
Originally published by PennLive. In his campaign-style budget address, Gov. Josh Shapiro claimed his budget neither enacts any new taxes nor requires future tax…
Media Hit
Read More: Yes, Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Raises TaxesState Budget
Has Governor Shapiro Actually Cut Taxes?
Gov. Josh Shapiro desperately wants Pennsylvanians to believe he isn’t a run-of-the-mill tax-and-spend Democrat. “The Governor has cut taxes seven times,” claims one of his latest…
Blog
Read More: Has Governor Shapiro Actually Cut Taxes?