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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…
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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
School Choice Works!
In today’s Appropriations Committee hearing on education Sen. Pat Browne questioned Andy LeFevre of the Reach Foundation on the academic achievement effects of school choice. There has in…
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Groups argue merits of proposed pre-K state funding hike
From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Two private school groups told the state Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday not to support $75 million in new state funding for pre-kindergarten classes. State support…
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Attacking Charter Schools
This Philadelphia Inquirer article about the Chester-Upland school district’s proposed cap on charter school enrollment was brought to my attention. I now found that they did vote to…
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The Disaster that Is Dirigo
Michael Cannon on the failures and unintended consequences of Maine’s universal health care program, Dirigo.
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State legislators getting specific about government reform
Brad Bumsted on proposals to reduce wasteful spending with the legislature, as well as other reforms. Noted is Sen. Jane Orie’s proposal which would limit “pinstripe patronage” – the…
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The climb to high taxes
Morning Call story examines the growth of state and local taxes in Pennsylvania. The story uses both data on the rising state and local tax burden and individual…
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Top 5 Reasons to Lease the Turnpike
Matt Brouillette featured in this week’s Central Penn Business Journal talking about a Turnpike lease. Also read Geoff Segal’s letter in the same edition.
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Tax-shift votes likely to divide communities
Patriot News on the potential winners and losers tax-shift referendum vote on May 15. Read our Taxpayers’ Guide to the Rendell Property Tax Relief Act of 2006 for…
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A call to rein in state spending
Tribune-Review article on Thursday’s hearing on state spending limits. The Commonwealth Foundation’s newest fellow (and former Congresswoman) Melissa Hart testified: “Often elected officials have been unwilling or simply unable…
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Now you can start working for yourself
CBS 21 on Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania.
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Video from Health Care Reform Luncheon
Video from yesterday’s Policies and Principles Luncheon on health care reform, featuring Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute is now available online. You can also get more audio and…
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Energy Myths
Max Schulz offers a series of energy “myths” that are driving flawed public policy – appropriate given a press conference later today will discuss Gov. Rendell’s energy plan. MYTH…
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Is “Fair Share Tax” dead?
Times Tribune article suggests there is no support in the General Assembly for a payroll tax on businesses to pay for “Cover All Pennsylvanians”. The administration suggested (as they…
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‘Prescription for Pa.’ blasted for overregulation
Lancaster New Era with coverage of Michael Cannon’s take on RendellCare. Video of Cannon’s presentation today at the Commonwealth Foundation will be available on our website soon…
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Toast to progress
Post-Gazette editorial on the need to privatize state-run liquor stores.
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Most school districts to limit tax increases
Martha Raffaele on the tax increases for school districts, noting most will be “limiting” increases within the index. The index allows districts to increase taxes by 3.4 to 5.5…
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Some People Probably Shouldn’t Have Health Insurance
Michael Cannon blogs on why health care, not health insurance, is a priority at Cato-at-liberty. Cannon will be taking on the rhetoric of health care reform and offerign free-market…
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Rebutal to Keystone Rebutal
The union-backed Keystone Research Center issued a reply to my income vs wage commentary on their blog. I will add a couple more thoughts: Jobs:The job growth…
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Anti-oil Demagoguery
In a news release, Governor Rendell Calls on Bush Administration to Investigate Exorbitant Gas Prices. Governor Rendell is simply using demagoguery about the “profiteering oil companies” to justify his…
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Turnpike Xenophobia?
From Capitolwire (subscription): Will opponents dub turnpike-leasing plan “Dubai, Chapter II?” Some political analysts believe they have found the silver bullet to kill off Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed turnpike-leasing…
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State budget battle looms
Brad Bumsted in the Tribune-Review on the upcoming budget battle. Bumsted also touches on yesterday’s hearing on privatizing the state liquor stores (see related post here): On…
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Read More: State budget battle looms