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State Budget
PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending Bill
Harrisburg, Pa., July 14, 2025 — Today, Pennsylvania House Democrats passed the General Appropriations Act (HB 1330), their version of a budget bill, which includes a $2.9 billion spending increase.
Read More: PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending Bill
Education
OBBB Delivers Historic Expansion of Educational Choice, Sweeping Reforms
Read More: OBBB Delivers Historic Expansion of Educational Choice, Sweeping Reforms
State Budget
WATCH: Megan Martin on PCN Discussing State Budget, Mass Transit Bail-out, and More
Read More: WATCH: Megan Martin on PCN Discussing State Budget, Mass Transit Bail-out, and More
State Budget
Shapiro, House Democrats Miss the Budget Deadline Again, With No Deal in Sight
Read More: Shapiro, House Democrats Miss the Budget Deadline Again, With No Deal in SightRegulation
DEP is Successfully Regulating Gas Drilling
Environmental drilling opponents have jumped all over a new report by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association identifying almost 1,500 violations by 43 Marcellus Shale drilling companies by the PA…
Media
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Can Tom Corbett keep his no-tax pledge?
Media Hit
Read More: Can Tom Corbett keep his no-tax pledge?
State funding for Scranton ballpark a mystery
Media Hit
Read More: State funding for Scranton ballpark a mysteryTaxes & Economy
Fact Check: PA Transportation Spending
Gov. Rendell starts his “Tax You More” bus tour today, heading around Pennsylvania to call for more taxes to fill the “transportation funding crisis”. Here are some facts…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: PA Transportation SpendingEducation
Pay Kindergarten Teachers Like Baseball Players?
The New York Times reports on some research – HT to Greg Mankiw – on the value of kindergarten improvement, and teachers, on earnings later in life. However,…
Media
Read More: Pay Kindergarten Teachers Like Baseball Players?Government Accountability
Non-Competitive Contracts Don’t Compute
The PA Revenue Department’s main computer system was installed in 1975. The outdated system’s technological language, COBOL, is not even taught in universities anymore, narrowing the number of applicants…
Media
Read More: Non-Competitive Contracts Don’t ComputeState Budget
What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP Money
Gov. Rendell is supposed to meet with lawmakers today to discuss options if Congress doesn’t approve the $850 million in federal FMAP funds. Pete DeCoursey (subscription) breaks down the…
Media
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Can Tom Corbett keep his ‘no tax’ pledge?
Media Hit
Read More: Can Tom Corbett keep his ‘no tax’ pledge?Taxes & Economy
Physics Supports Fracking Safety
When the head of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Management says, There has never been any evidence of fracking ever causing direct contamination…
Media
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CF Blog Roundup
Check out CF’s recent mentions in the blogosphere: Keystone Conservative highlighted a CF post on the harm ObamaCare could bring about in Pennsylvania. Capitol Ideas and…
Media
Read More: CF Blog RoundupTaxes & Economy
Tough Questions for Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The PA Turnpike Commission (PTC) testified before the Senate Transportation Committee during this summer’s special session on transportation funding. Most senators on the committee expressed concern on several aspects regarding…
Media
Read More: Tough Questions for Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionTaxes & Economy
Lancaster Co. Human Relations Commission
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this issue. My name is Nate Benefield, I am Director of Policy Research with the Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg. We are a…
Testimony
Read More: Lancaster Co. Human Relations CommissionEducation
More on Government Jobs in Recession
The Rockefeller Institute of Government recently analyzed a Bureau of Labor Statistics report on jobs at this point in the recession. The report finds that with 9.2% unemployment,…
Media
Read More: More on Government Jobs in RecessionState Budget
How to Reduce Welfare Fraud
Following Matt Brouillette’s commentary on whether Tom Corbett (should he win) can balance the budget and keep his ‘no tax’ pledge,…
Media
Read More: How to Reduce Welfare FraudTaxes & Economy
Corbett on Death Tax and Farmers
Governor hopeful, Tom Corbett, has voiced support for phasing out the state’s death tax. At a meeting organized by Farm Families for Tom Corbett and Pennsylvania Agricultural Republicans, Corbett cited…
Media
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Can Pennsylvania Grow Money from Trees?
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) today released Growing Money on Trees: An Analysis of PA’s Climate Change Action Plan, offering a cost-benefit analysis…
Press Release
Read More: Can Pennsylvania Grow Money from Trees?State Budget
What if State Government Hired a Psychic?
The Tribune Review adds on to the continuing Orie sisters saga, that not only did they seek the advice of a clairvoyant, but that clairvoyant asked for a…
Media
Read More: What if State Government Hired a Psychic?Regulation
Tax For Soccer
It’s not soccer players or fans that will be taxed to pay for the Major League Soccer stadium in Chester, but the visitors who patronize bed and breakfasts or hotels…
Media
Read More: Tax For Soccer