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VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Harrisburg, Pa., July 22, 2024 — Some political pundits say Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would provide the Democratic presidential ticket a boost in a critical battleground state. That will only be…
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Education
Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
Education
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
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
Lawmakers Approve State Spending Limits
On Monday the state House passed HB 110—one of the most significant changes in how Harrisburg spends your tax dollars. HB 110, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA), would…
Media
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House Stands for Fiscal Sanity, Passes Responsible Spending Limits
For decades, state government has spent far beyond its means, leading to risky borrowing schemes and tax hikes on working families. But last night, the Pennsylvania House took a stand…
Press Release
Read More: House Stands for Fiscal Sanity, Passes Responsible Spending LimitsState Budget
Moving Toward a Better Budget Process
Pennsylvania received a bit of good news from Fitch Ratings last week, as the agency affirmed the commonwealth’s credit rating. However, the state’s outlook remains negative. A downgrade is…
Media
Read More: Moving Toward a Better Budget ProcessPublic Union Democracy
House Nears Vote to Protect Public Resources
This Monday, House lawmakers have a chance to vote for landmark ethics reform, Senate Bill 166 Passing this legislation – and sending it to the Senate and governor for approval…
Media
Read More: House Nears Vote to Protect Public ResourcesEducation
ESAs Offer a Path Forward for Erie Students
Erie students have been trapped in failing and violent schools for too long. While tax credit scholarships and charter schools help, families need more options. Education savings accounts…
Media
Read More: ESAs Offer a Path Forward for Erie StudentsPublic Union Democracy
SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA Government
Pennsylvania has a golden opportunity to enact good government reform, so it’s worth reiterating why SB 166, which House lawmakers continue to debate, deserves legislative approval and the governor’s…
Media
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How to Combat Harrisburg School Violence
“I have been kicked, punched, hit, scratched. I've had a student physically restraining me in front of my other students…. And many of the personal things that I have bought for…
Media
Read More: How to Combat Harrisburg School ViolencePublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania Needs Good Government Reform
Pennsylvanians deserve state and local government that enforces ethical standards across the board. Yet for years, a glaring exception has allowed government union leaders alone to use public resources to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs Good Government ReformPublic Union Democracy
Four Reasons to Pass SB 166
A House committee passed SB 166 last month to end taxpayer-funded collection of campaign money. Here are four reasons this legislation should garner the full support of House members…
Media
Read More: Four Reasons to Pass SB 166Regulation
Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More Reform
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently published an article detailing the $100,000+ pension payouts for 500 retired state employees—a jarring reminder that Pennsylvania’s state retirement system…
Media
Read More: Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More ReformTaxes & Economy
PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other State
Where are Pennsylvanians moving? Turns out, 44 states gained taxpayers from Pennsylvania last year. New data released yesterday by the IRS on state-to-state migration showed Pennsylvania gained residents moving from New…
Media
Read More: PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other StateRegulation
Making PA Competitive Again
Lower post-recession unemployment & labor force participation rates are hopeful signs for a historically-weak economy, but without permanent policy changes, other states will continue to surpass Pennsylvania’s economic performance. At…
Media
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Pennsylvanians Need Permission to Work
Great news! Pennsylvania has the least burdensome licensing laws in the nation. The bad news? Pennsylvania frequently licensees occupations that are not licensed by other states. Want to be a…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Need Permission to WorkGovernment Accountability
A Step Towards Smarter Spending
The governor and state lawmakers are taking a step towards tackling our spending problem. On Tuesday a bicameral group of state lawmakers introduced a zero-based budgeting bill. This proposal would…
Media
Read More: A Step Towards Smarter SpendingState Budget
Promising Budget Reforms on the Horizon
Pennsylvania’s latest budget impasse exposed a dysfunctional state budget process. Several members of the House of Representatives have introduced a package of reforms to correct the myriad of problems contributing to…
Media
Read More: Promising Budget Reforms on the HorizonState Budget
PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 Charts
Pennsylvania is in poor financial shape and staring down a consequential demographic shift. Check out the 5 charts below for more on the challenges facing our state and the…
Media
Read More: PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 ChartsPublic Union Democracy
Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society
In Pennsylvania, government unions enjoy a wealth of legal and political privileges not awarded to other organizations. Here are just a few: Government unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the…
Media
Read More: Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal SocietyPublic Union Democracy
Why Government Should Not Play with Politics
Government should never collect campaign contributions. House committee members agreed yesterday, passing legislation (SB 166 and HB 1174) that stops the taxpayer-funded collection of campaign contributions for government…
Media
Read More: Why Government Should Not Play with PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources
Today, the House State Government Committee passed legislation that protects public resources, a good government reform prioritizing ethics over political privilege. The first piece of legislation, SB 166, prohibits…
Media
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Guest Blog: The Hidden Cost of Tax Complexity
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series of occasional blogs by a Philadelphia resident highlighting policy problems holding back the City of Brotherly Love. As a Philadelphia…
Media
Read More: Guest Blog: The Hidden Cost of Tax ComplexityEducation
Philly’s School Reform Commission Ends, Questions Abound for Residents & Taxpayers
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission has voted to dissolve itself. The 16-year experiment has been a mixed bag. The school district continues to face tough financial times with a looming…
Media
Read More: Philly’s School Reform Commission Ends, Questions Abound for Residents & Taxpayers