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Education
New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss Up
Harrisburg, Pa., July 26, 2024—Public support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is evenly divided in Pennsylvania, according to a new statewide survey of Pennsylvania voters, with Harris leading Trump 47%…
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Education
TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”
Read More: TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”![shapiro capable of leading](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1244606495-900x692.jpg)
Education
Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
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Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Read More: President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris StigallRegulation
Counting All Pennsylvania State Employees
A state lawmaker sent along a Patriot New article, in which Gov. Rendell cites the relatively low number of Pennsylvania state employees compared to other states, to find out…
Media
Read More: Counting All Pennsylvania State EmployeesRegulation
HB 80 Will Increase Energy Costs
Clean energy proponents are attempting to reignite the fire under HB 80, which would increase the amount of electricity utilities the state must produce from alternative energy sources. In a…
Media
Read More: HB 80 Will Increase Energy CostsState Budget
Pennsylvania August Revenues Come in a Bit Short
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the preliminary collections report for August – the state collected just over $1.6 billion, $19 million (or 1%) below estimate. The consensus…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania August Revenues Come in a Bit Short
Police, firefighters reject pension overhaul bill
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Read More: Police, firefighters reject pension overhaul billEducation
PA’s Prepaid Tuition Program Under Fire
State Treasurer Robert McCord announced yesterday he is delaying increased premiums on Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Savings Plan, which allows parents to purchase college tuition credits at current prices and…
Media
Read More: PA’s Prepaid Tuition Program Under FireTaxes & Economy
Rendell Retreats from Natural Gas Tax
Yesterday, Governor Rendell took another of his proposed taxes off the negotiating table. His announcement perfectly demonstrates the points made in my new commentary on…
Media
Read More: Rendell Retreats from Natural Gas TaxHealth Care
Is Individual Mandate Worse than “Public Option”?
Cato’s Michael Cannon has a commentary on the effects of an individual mandate to buy health insurance. His poster child is chief spokesman critic of Obama’s health care proposals,…
Media
Read More: Is Individual Mandate Worse than “Public Option”?State Budget
Call to Action: Budget Must Keep PA Competitive
The Pennsylvania Prosperity Project has a new action alert on the Pennsylvania budget, with a form to contact your legislators and ask lawmakers to “focus on making Pennsylvania competitive…
Media
Read More: Call to Action: Budget Must Keep PA CompetitiveTaxes & Economy
New Study Shows Devastating Impact of High Corporate Tax Rates
The Tax Foundation, came out with a new study this month on the negative impacts of high state corporate tax rates. The results have coincided with previous research,…
Media
Read More: New Study Shows Devastating Impact of High Corporate Tax RatesHealth Care
What’s Wrong with Medicare
Defenders of national health care proposals try to make the claim – in response to critics – that government-run health care is pretty good, citing Medicare (and Medicaid). So what’s…
Media
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Pennsylvania needs competitive electricity market
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Read More: Pennsylvania needs competitive electricity market
Return Pennsylvania to prosperity’s path
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Facts show why state can’t keep upping taxes
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Read More: Facts show why state can’t keep upping taxesGovernment Accountability
Baby Boomers Dominate in State Legislatures
Interesting, if trivial analysis from NCSL on the age of state legislators. Only 4% of legislators nationally are under age 34. They also have a tool with demographic…
Media
Read More: Baby Boomers Dominate in State LegislaturesRegulation
Philadelphia Sales Tax Increase Bad for Business and for Pennsylvania
Chris Freind writes on how the proposed increase of Philadelphia’s sales tax from 7% to 8% (6% state rate, local rate to double from 1 to 2%) will harm…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Sales Tax Increase Bad for Business and for PennsylvaniaEducation
2009 SAT Scores by State
EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board has released data on 2009 SAT Scores. I’ve compiled the data into a spreadsheet of…
Media
Read More: 2009 SAT Scores by StateEducation
School District Makes Due Without Tax Hike
ABC 27 has a story about East Pennsboro School District – the first stop on Gov. Rendell’s bus tour – using fiscal restraint, not higher taxes, to deal…
Media
Read More: School District Makes Due Without Tax HikeRegulation
Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a Nutshell
Yesterday the Senate approved HB 1828, a long and complicated bill full of so-called pension reforms and potential local tax increases. Here’s a basic summary of the provisions following…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a NutshellHealth Care
Medicare’s Administrative Costs vs. Private Insurance
One of the myths is that Medicare has lower administrative costs than private insurance, and thus is the model for efficient health coverage. (This was an argument made by a…
Media
Read More: Medicare’s Administrative Costs vs. Private InsuranceHealth Care
The Success of Consumer-Driven Health Care
In the midst of debates over the right kind of health care reform, consumer-driven plans continue to attract consumers while keeping costs in check. Greg Scandlen of Consumers of…
Media
Read More: The Success of Consumer-Driven Health CareTaxes & Economy
Should Existing Interstate Highways Be Tolled?
Interesting question posed by National Journal on tolling of existing freeways, with particular focus on tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania, offering several experts the opportunity to respond. Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn…
Media
Read More: Should Existing Interstate Highways Be Tolled?