Regulation
Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News Is Josh Shapiro the future of the Democratic Party? He certainly wants to be, but he just failed an early test. This…
Read More: Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for PennsylvaniaPennsylvania’s notoriously high level of regulation is a burden on our state economy. To make the Keystone State a competitive place to live, work, or grow a business, reforms are needed to rein in the regulatory process. Taxpayers deserve a streamlined regulatory process that scrutinizes proposed regulations to ensure frivolous reforms do not overburden the state economy and do not prevent job-seekers from accessing employment.
Regulation
Government Intervention—not Free Markets—Made Your Housing and Healthcare Unaffordable
Originally published by PennLive. Are socialists having their moment? Recent elections and polling suggest Democrats are increasingly favorable toward socialism. Sort of. When…
Media Hit
Read More: Government Intervention—not Free Markets—Made Your Housing and Healthcare UnaffordableEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Harrisburg, Pa., July 13, 2026 — Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an “improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget DealEducation
Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
While the deal blocks Gov. Shapiro’s worst budget priorities, spending remains a top concern. Harrisburg, Pa., July 12, 2026 — Moments ago, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a state budget deal, twelve days past the deadline. The deal totals $52.2 billion, more than a billion dollars less than Gov. Josh Shapiro’s record spending proposal,…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency SavingsEducation
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget Deal
Summary Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term structural…
Backgrounder
Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget DealEducation
Deficit Watch: July 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: July 2026Regulation
The Hidden Cost of Pennsylvania’s Zoning Laws: Fewer Babies, Fewer Residents, Less Prosperity
Originally published by PennLive. Keystone State leaders often bemoan “brain drain,” the loss of skilled, working-age residents through domestic migration to other states.
Media Hit
Read More: The Hidden Cost of Pennsylvania’s Zoning Laws: Fewer Babies, Fewer Residents, Less ProsperityEnergy
Pennsylvania Should be America’s Energy Capital. So, Why are Families Paying More?
Originally published by The Pottstown-Mercury. Pennsylvania families have every right to be frustrated when they open their electric bills this summer. Our utility bills are on…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Should be America’s Energy Capital. So, Why are Families Paying More?Regulation
Markets Raise Wages Better Than Politicians
Originally published by the Reading Eagle. Whenever debate about the minimum wage arises, it’s hard not to think back to the summer jobs we had as…
Media Hit
Read More: Markets Raise Wages Better Than PoliticiansRegulation
Forced Parental Leave Will Decimate Allegheny County Small Businesses
Originally published by TribLIVE. Once upon a time, I ran a construction business with my brother, and, like most small business owners, we faced the ceaseless…
Media Hit
Read More: Forced Parental Leave Will Decimate Allegheny County Small BusinessesRegulation
From Red Tape to Red Carpet [PODCAST]
Pennsylvania state government has been notorious for red tape. Now, lawmakers are working to roll out the red carpet to streamline the permitting process. Andrew Lewis sits down with…
Blog
Read More: From Red Tape to Red Carpet [PODCAST]Energy
PA Data Centers—No Roadblocks, No Special Favors
Companies have announced $90 billion in planned data center investment in Pennsylvania. That’s not a small number. It means jobs, better infrastructure, more energy development, and a bigger tax base…
Blog
Read More: PA Data Centers—No Roadblocks, No Special FavorsRegulation
A Free-Market Approach to Childcare
Testimony of Elizabeth Stelle, Vice President of PolicyCommonwealth FoundationHouse GOP Policy CommitteeHearing on Childcare AffordabilityJune 3, 2026 Chairman Rowe and members of the committee: Thank you for the invitation…
Testimony
Read More: A Free-Market Approach to ChildcareRegulation
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 2026Regulation
This One Law is Throttling High-Speed Internet in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is sitting on $711 million in federal broadband funding. But a bureaucratic misclassification, buried inside a Pennsylvania law, threatens to undermine the whole effort—and now…
Blog
Read More: This One Law is Throttling High-Speed Internet in PennsylvaniaRegulation
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.Regulation
Fixing the Childcare Affordability Crisis in Pennsylvania
Key Points Statewide numbers for 2024 show the average annual cost of center-based infant care in Pennsylvania at $14,910, or 11.5 percent of the median married…
Backgrounder
Read More: Fixing the Childcare Affordability Crisis in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Pennsylvania Permitting Feels the Need for SPEED
Permitting is a mess in Pennsylvania, leaving many businesses in the dark about when they can begin their work. This is especially true with those seeking permission from the Department…
Blog
Read More: Pennsylvania Permitting Feels the Need for SPEEDRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Economy Will Grow When Harrisburg Gets Out of the Way
Originally published by The Mercury. Gov. Josh Shapiro often brags about “moving at the speed of business.” But his efforts to draw private investment to Pennsylvania rely heavily on corporate…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Will Grow When Harrisburg Gets Out of the WayEnergy
Efforts to Kill Gas Industry Disguised as Environmental Protection
Originally published by the Times Leader. Newly proposed regulations on Pennsylvania natural gas purport to protect the environment. However, the restrictions, if passed, would shut down…
Media Hit
Read More: Efforts to Kill Gas Industry Disguised as Environmental ProtectionEnergy
Deregulation Didn’t Cause the Energy Crunch—but Re-Regulation Will Make It Worse
Originally published by Broad + Liberty. Pennsylvanians are feeling the financial pinch when they receive their monthly electricity bills. Statewide, electricity demand has reached record-level highs,…
Media Hit
Read More: Deregulation Didn’t Cause the Energy Crunch—but Re-Regulation Will Make It Worse