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Education
Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
HARRISBURG, PA., July 18, 2024 — Amid growing speculation about President Joe Biden’s future as a candidate, political pundits, operatives, and donors are touting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a potential…
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Education
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness![shapiro lifeline scholarships](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-16-at-1.17.42 PM-900x900.png)
Education
New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families
Read More: New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families![personal option pa health care](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-15-at-4.01.55 PM-900x900.png)
Health Care
In Case You Missed It Pa. Health Care Experts Propose the Personal Option as a Solution to the State’s Health Care Woes
Read More: In Case You Missed It Pa. Health Care Experts Propose the Personal Option as a Solution to the State’s Health Care WoesPublic Union Democracy
Respecting Workers’ Rights
Do you really have liberty if it is not legally protected? Five Pennsylvanian corrections officers likely asked themselves that question when their union, the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association…
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How Many Kids Should We Save?
Last week, local mom Thalia McClenton visited the Capitol to tell her tax credit scholarship story. Thalia’s sons attend Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School thanks to scholarship funding. Thalia explained:…
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Read More: How Many Kids Should We Save?Education
Five Things Lawmakers Should Know About the State Budget Deal
Less than a week before the start of the 2019-20 fiscal year, legislative leaders unveiled a proposed state budget—including both the spending and revenue outline, and several policy changes that…
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Read More: Five Things Lawmakers Should Know About the State Budget DealPublic Union Democracy
Do Teachers Know About Their Rights?
A year after the path-changing Janus v. AFSCME decision that freed 5 million American government workers from having to pay union fees, there hasn’t been the exodus of union members…
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Read More: Do Teachers Know About Their Rights?Education
Which Wolf Was It? Gov. Wolf’s Hypocrisy on Education Tax Credits
Tom Wolf the private citizen and business owner benefited from and lauded private school choice and the EITC program. But Governor Tom Wolf has used his political clout to deny…
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Read More: Which Wolf Was It? Gov. Wolf’s Hypocrisy on Education Tax CreditsTaxes & Economy
The RGGI Offers Nothing to Pennsylvania
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Read More: The RGGI Offers Nothing to Pennsylvania
Let’s Stop the Gimmicks
If you took out a mortgage on your house and used it to buy groceries, would you say that you were covering your expenses with your income? How about if…
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Read More: Let’s Stop the GimmicksEducation
Pennsylvania Kids Need School Choice Heroes
I must confess, my superhero education is lacking. Much to the chagrin of my children, I don’t know the difference between DC and Marvel or the characters in each universe.
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Read More: Pennsylvania Kids Need School Choice HeroesRegulation
Consumers not Bureaucrats Should Determine the Number of Liquor Licenses
The return of expired liquor licenses—miraculous resurrection or terrifying zombification? Well, depends on who you ask. Since 2016, when Act 39 allowed expired liquor licenses to return to the…
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Read More: Consumers not Bureaucrats Should Determine the Number of Liquor LicensesState Budget
Future Growth Depends on Today’s Lawmakers
Federal tax cuts made Pennsylvania’s current economic growth possible, but state reform could make it sustainable. Today Pennsylvanians are enjoying $866 million in surplus state revenue, an all-time low unemployment rate,…
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Wolf Vetoes Scholarship Bill, Disparages Program His Business Supported
June 18, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.— Today, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed HB 800, which would have expanded Pennsylvania’s popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit—a program providing private school scholarships to low- and middle-income…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Vetoes Scholarship Bill, Disparages Program His Business SupportedEducation
New Report: Education Tax Credits Save School Districts Billions
Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarships are life-changing programs that help students succeed and taxpayers save. According to brand new analysis by Martin F. Lueken, Ph.D. of EdChoice, tax credit scholarships…
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Read More: New Report: Education Tax Credits Save School Districts BillionsEducation
Wolf’s Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Governor Wolf talks the talk. In his 2018 budget address, he called for ensuring “your zip code doesn’t determine what kind of education you can get.” In his …
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Read More: Wolf’s Actions Speak Louder Than WordsState Budget
Lawmakers Show Signs of Budget Restraint
When state revenues outpace spending there’s always a temptation to spend more—in fact, even when revenues fall short…
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Pa. Governor to Block Education Opportunity for Thousands of Students
June 13, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—According to news reports, Governor Tom Wolf plans to veto a school choice bill, HB 800, that would expand tax credit scholarships in Pennsylvania.
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Governor to Block Education Opportunity for Thousands of StudentsRegulation
Liquor Privatization: Time to Push Again
A Pennsylvania grocery or convenience store can be a confusing place. Out-of-state visitors are puzzled when they first encounter separate checkout lines for alcohol and non-alcoholic items. Last-minute party planners…
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Read More: Liquor Privatization: Time to Push AgainEducation
Magic 8 Ball, What Lies Ahead for HB 800?
I asked my Magic 8 Ball if Gov. Wolf would sign HB 800—legislation increasing the caps on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. “My sources say no,” was the unfortunate…
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Read More: Magic 8 Ball, What Lies Ahead for HB 800?Education
Helping Kids Through EITC and OSTC
Governor Tom Wolf wants to be sure that children from poor parts of the state can get a good education. In his 2018 budget address he called…
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Read More: Helping Kids Through EITC and OSTCEducation
Champions for Pa. Students
Yesterday the Senate took bold, swift action on behalf of Pennsylvania kids by passing HB 800—which would increase the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) K-12 tax credit scholarship cap by…
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Fiscal Forgetfulness
Next year the governor wants to spend $1.4 billion more than he requested for this year, according to his recent budget proposal. Separately he’ll need as much as $750 million…
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Momentous School Choice Expansion Lands on Gov. Wolf’s Desk
June 11, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 800, which would expand a hugely popular K-12 scholarship program, giving Governor Wolf the chance to provide a lifeline to…
Press Release
Read More: Momentous School Choice Expansion Lands on Gov. Wolf’s Desk