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Education
Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Harrisburg, Pa., May 15, 2025 — Pennsylvania school districts increased overall revenue collected in 2023–24 to $23,000 per student, while expanding general fund reserves to $7.4 billion, according to new…
Read More: Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Energy
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Read More: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Education
Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Read More: Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Spending Increases = Cuts
Rep. Tim Solobay issues the first press release calling spending increases “cuts” (though several House Democrats did so in the floor debate): “The Senate removed millions from education” –…
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Rendell’s Compromise: $3.7 billion in new spending
Gov. Rendell has been recently quoted naming all his “concessions” during budget negotiations. Even with “concessions” the Governor is still demanding $3.7 billion more in new taxes, fees/tolls, and debt…
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Read More: Rendell’s Compromise: $3.7 billion in new spending
Stealth Lawmaking Lives
From Democracy Rising….Stealth Lawmaking Lives: House Suspends Rules, Commits $1.65 BillionThis week the PA House proved why changing the rules doesn’t…
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Budget Updates
Some stories on the state budget negotiations:Patriot NewsPost-GazetteInquirer/APAP on tolling I-80, quoting PennDot study from two years ago: “Based on the long…
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Read More: Budget UpdatesTaxes & Economy
Higher Taxes, More Debt Coming Down the Pike
Commonwealth Foundation warns against transportation funding proposal Harrisburg, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation warned against the higher fees and long-term debt encompassed in the transportation funding proposals winding their…
Press Release
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Senate votes to ban lame duck session
The state Senate voted to pass a Constitutional amendment, authored by Sen. Regola that would ban the “lame duck” session. One small step for reform.
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Higher Debt and tolls coming soon
Marc Levy of the AP reports that the Turnpike Commission’s Mike Long’s Vince Fumo’s “Senate compromise” plan to toll I-80, issue $4 billion in new debt, and increase Turnpike…
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Read More: Higher Debt and tolls coming soon
Taxes on the Poor
NCPA report looks at how certain taxes disproportionately fall on low income holder – specifically taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and the most regressive of all, lottery/gambling. Funny how those…
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State looking at 6,000 retirees
Patriot News on the unusually high number of state workers set to retire this year. Perfect opportunity to reform the pension system.
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Legislature should vet numbers on leasing
The Patriot News calls on the Governor and lawmakers to “finish the script” and take bids for a Turnpike lease – even if it takes a little longer than…
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Rendell, GOP clash over kindergarten cash
Philadelphia Inquirer on the debate over state funded and controlled Preschool. Read our Policy Brief on the inflated benefits of universal preschool.
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Updates on the Budget Negotiations
The AP’s Marc Levy on the behind-the-scenes budget negotiations. Of particular interest is this: The House Republican leader, Sam Smith of Jefferson County, said that if budget negotiations…
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Anti-Universal Coverage Club
Cato’s Michael Cannon has launced the Anti-Universal Coverage Club, which questions the dogmatic mantra of “universal” health insurance. The guiding principles of the Anti-Universal Coverage Club are: 1. Health…
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Turnpike lease idea detoured to future
Charles Thompson in the Patriot News on Gov. Rendell giving up, for now, the idea of leasing the Turnpike. Some supporters of free enterprise see this as a…
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More on SCHIP
After noting yesterday that Governor Rendell demanded more federal SCHIP money to fund his “Cover All Kids” initiative, I saw this recent Heritage Foundation WebMemo summarizing research that…
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Orie wants to change turnpike commission
Post-Gazette on Sen. Orie’s three proposals to reform the Turnpike Commission: Prohibit the commission from hiring outside lobbyists. Turnpike contracts and bond work would be competitively bid. Future employees…
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Rendell begs for more federal tax money for SCHIP
Governor Rendell calls for more federal funding for the state’s Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Why? Because without it, the “Cover All Kids” plan passed last year would cost…
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Read More: Rendell begs for more federal tax money for SCHIP
Alternatives to Penn Pike lease flout federal law
Toll Roads News on the fact that the House Democrats plan to toll I-80 to generate revenue for roads isn’t legal under federal law. That hasn’t stopped Republican Sens.
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Was Rendell’s “Turnpike Lease” a ruse?
Brad Bumstead believes that Governor Rendell’s proposal to lease the Turnpike was all part of a conspiracy theory to make the Turnpike Commission’s proposal to expand its authorities, raise…
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Success in Philadelphia
Wall Street Journal editorial on the success of the private managers in Philadelphia schools. See my Commentary on the issue.
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Will Rendell and Senate GOP sell out on transportation?
Capitolwire.com reports that Governor Rendell, and possibly Senate Republicans, will go along with House Democrats plan to toll I-80 and raise Turnpike tolls, and have higher local taxes…
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Read More: Will Rendell and Senate GOP sell out on transportation?