Education
Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s unaffordable budget worsens Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. The governor proposes nearly $53.26 billion in general fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase over the 2025–26 enacted budget. He…
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget ProposalPennsylvania’s complex state budget has enabled policymakers to keep taxpayers in the dark when it comes to state spending. Year after year, some elected officials use budget gimmicks to both make the budget appear balanced and to secure their own agendas. Pennsylvanians deserve reforms that bring true transparency to the budgeting process. We must limit spending growth to a sustainable rate, ensuring the state government—like hardworking taxpayers—live within its means.
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
A Budget You Can Afford
Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026–27 budget proposal is unaffordable. It calls for tax hikes that will raise the cost of living, wastes money on handouts to politically selected companies, and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: A Budget You Can AffordState 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 DebateEducation
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 ClubState Budget
Deficit Watch: April 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: April 2026State Budget
[MEDIA] Megan Martin Talks State Budget on PCN’s ‘Capitol Watch’
In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a $53.26 billion budget that will worsen the state’s deficit to over $6.5 billion while failing to address key issues like educational choice and…
Media Hit
Read More: [MEDIA] Megan Martin Talks State Budget on PCN’s ‘Capitol Watch’State Budget
Shapiro’s “Affordability” Agenda Has a $7 Billion Problem
Originally published in The Mercury. Gov. Josh Shapiro wants Pennsylvanians to believe that he is delivering affordability. But his unaffordable budget tells a different story. The…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s “Affordability” Agenda Has a $7 Billion ProblemRegulation
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.State Budget
Deficit Watch: March 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: March 2026State 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 PennsylvaniansRegulation
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 PennsylvaniaEducation
[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’Government Accountability
Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Vanity Tour Rages On
Recent reporting exposed the Shapiro administration’s reliance on artificial intelligence to write its newly released Housing Action Plan. And it’s no wonder Shapiro has outsourced his…
Blog
Read More: Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Vanity Tour Rages On