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Fairness
New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Government unions spent more than $33 million on political causes and only 5.2 percent of PAC contributions went to non-Democratic candidates. Harrisburg, Pa., April 16, 2025 — Government unions…
Read More: New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Prosperity
Independent Fiscal Office Exposes Shapiro’s Overinflated Revenue Projections
Read More: Independent Fiscal Office Exposes Shapiro’s Overinflated Revenue Projections
Education
Senate Republicans School Shapiro Administration, Stand up for Students and Taxpayers
Read More: Senate Republicans School Shapiro Administration, Stand up for Students and Taxpayers
Commonwealth Foundation Announces Promotion of Elizabeth Stelle to Vice President of Policy
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Announces Promotion of Elizabeth Stelle to Vice President of Policy
Min. Wage, Jobs, and Unemployment
In his Weekly Newsletter, Gov. Rendell takes credit for “improving the lives” of workers who received a minimum wage increase. In it the Governor note: “Pennsylvania’s…
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Tolling I-80
Here is the link to the letter from US DOT to Sen. Madigan we refenced in our letter to the Governor and lamwakers on the legality and merits…
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Read More: Tolling I-80Taxes & Economy
Transportation Letter to Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly
CF expresses concerns over transportation bill July 14, 2007 The Honorable Edward G. RendellOffice of the GovernorCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA 17120 Members of the General AssemblyCommonwealth…
Press Release
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Idiot Vs. Crazy
Pennsyltucky Politics asks, “Is it worse to be called an idiot (Matt Brouillette) or crazy (Eric Epstein)?” Current poll results indicate a tight race.
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Morning Call on Energy Plan
Christina Gostomski from the Morning Call on how Gov. Rendell’s energy plan could end up being financed by higher gross receipts taxes, once electricity rates go up.
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Celebrate the Good Half
Lowman Henry’s Commentary gets me thinking how much we really need to enact a Taxpayer Protection Act. As much as we have criticized the budget deal, it…
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Legislator Voting with Leader Record
Democracy Rising PA has put together spreadsheets looking at the percentage that both freshmen and veteran state legislators voted with their party leader on non-unanimous votes. It…
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On Second Thought
Tony Phyrillas has reconsidered his earlier overly-rosy reading of the budget deal. He used our Good, Bad, and Ugly budget autopsy to back up his coversion, though…
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The TRUTH About Spending Increase
Before he called us imbeciles, Governor Rendell sent us (along with the PA Club for Growth) a letter calling for us to stop making statements about the…
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At Least We’re Not Cannibals
After we accurately pegged the tentative budget deal to a 5.3% increase, Gov. Rendell decides to call us imbeciles. As hurt as I was, I think we come…
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How the Pa. budget deal was sealed
Inquirer Story on how the budget deal was made. If you have a weak stomach, read how sausage is made, that won’t be as sickening as this. “You folded…
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Watchdog’s remark sends Rendell on a tear
Governor Rendell talking about Rock the Capital’s Eric Epstein to the Philadelphia Inquirer “Eric Epstein,” boiled Rendell, “is about as mentally stable as that guy who ate all…
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Why the Teachers’ Unions are backing Univeral Preschool
Seeking to Expand Ranks and Increase Salaries, Not Improve Education – from Human Events online…
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5.3% Increase, with No Tricks
Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire.com tries to explain all the tricks that are being used to disguise the real agreed-to budget increase of 5.3%: Less than 16…
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Read More: 5.3% Increase, with No TricksState Budget
Budget Deal Autopsy: The Good, the Bad, the Uglyand A Fistful of Unspent Dollars
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation offered a brief analysis (with apologies to Clint Eastwood) of the tentative Pennsylvania General Fund budget deal that is currently being finalized in…
Press Release
Read More: Budget Deal Autopsy: The Good, the Bad, the Uglyand A Fistful of Unspent Dollars
Reader questions about budget
Questions from a PolicyBlog Reader: Q: What is this $1.6 billion dollar fund referenced in the Post-Gazette? It appears to be slots money which, I thought,…
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Oh yeah – the budget is higher
The agreed-to budget figure Gov. Rendell reported last night was lower. From Pennsylvania Legislative Services: GOVERNOR ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIABy Kimberly CollinsThis afternoon the…
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Lame Duck, or Big Winner?
Tony Phyrillas celebrates Rendell’s losses in the budget deal – too bad that doesn’t do taxpayers any good. Phyrillas likes the “no new taxes” – but new taxes…
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Read More: Lame Duck, or Big Winner?
Economics of Smoking Bans
Some more resources on the economic impact of smoking bans, for legislators considering a smoking ban – see also our Policy Point on Smoking Bans: ECONOMIC LOSSES…
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Secondhand Smoke Facts
Some more resources on the scientific evidence of second hand smoke, for legislators considering a smoking ban – see also our Policy Point on Smoking Bans: Secondhand Smoke…
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Read More: Secondhand Smoke Facts