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Education
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Harrisburg, Pa., July 13, 2026 — Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an “improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term…
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Education
Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
Education
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Education
NEW ANALYSIS: Public School Enrollment Declines as State Spending Climbs
Read More: NEW ANALYSIS: Public School Enrollment Declines as State Spending ClimbsRegulation
Public Pension Price Tag
Wall Street Journal piece on the difficulties facing pension plans for state and local government employees.
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Excess at PHEAA
Following Commonwealth Foundation president Matthew Brouillette’s chat about PHEAA on Wednesday’s Bob Durgin Show, a number of newspapers have run stories of the staff bonuses, “profit,” and extravagant trips…
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Fight over signatures – literally
While county and verifying signatures on a petition doesn’t seem seem like physical labor, you’d better hit the weight room before you volunteer for that gig. The Associated Press…
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New Test Scores In
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has posted the 2005-2006 PSSA Results (the state’s standardized test for 3rd through 8th grade and 11th grade students). It has data statewide, for…
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Read More: New Test Scores InRegulation
The Other Pension Crisis
Wall Street Journal editorial on the underfunding and looming crisis in pensions for state and local government workers.
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Read More: The Other Pension CrisisHealth Care
Rendell Doing It For The ‘Kids’ – And His Image
Jim Panyard’s editorial in The Evening Bulletin on the forthcoming “Cover All Kids” taxpayer-funded health care plan.
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Mythology Of The Minimum Wage
CBS News article on how raising the federal minimum wage increases poverty and unemployment…
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Pennsylvania 41st “Best State for Business”
Pennsylvania ranks 41st among the 50 states in Forbes Magazine’s ranking of the the “Best States for Business.” While PA ranks high on “Quality of Life” (12th) it…
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State Tax Trends
Americans for Tax Reform report on state tax trends over the past 25 years. They find that (1) income tax increases have been less steep more recently, (2) increase…
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Loan agency chief rakes in cash
The Patriot News reports that the head of PHEAA – the state agency which issues and manages student loans – will earn a bonus of nearly $200,000 (on top…
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If you’re angry now …
Check out where your city ranks on the “100 Angriest Cities,”from Men’s Health. Philadelphia ranks #27, while Pittsburgh sits (relatively happily) at #90. Number 1? Home of the…
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Read More: If you’re angry now …Public Union Democracy
No Means No!
Human Events Online article on the Washington State case in which teachers’ mandatory union dues are being used for political activity – and a law requiring such contributions to…
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Tax Policy Under President Bush
An overview of recent tax policy (and unresolved issues) from Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute. He makes the keen observation that the reason the tax cuts have yet…
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Boom time for state finances
Stateline.org article on the surge in state tax revenues. However the NCSL’s “budget experts expect state spending to surpass money coming in to state coffers this fiscal year. State…
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Read More: Boom time for state financesRegulation
Automatic 401(k)s
NCPA Brief Analysis describing the 401(k) reforms contained in the recently passed federal pension bill. Among the main reforms are that employees will have to “opt out” of their…
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Read More: Automatic 401(k)sHealth Care
The next step to socialized health care
Philadelphia Inquirer coverage of the forthcoming “Cover All Kids” program.
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Read More: The next step to socialized health careGovernment Accountability
The Fumo Legal Defense Fund
State Sen. Vince Fumo, under federal investigation for corruption, used $900,000 of taxpayer’s dollars for his legal defense (in addition to $300,000 of campaign contributions) the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
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Sowell on the Minimum Wage
Thomas Sowell on minimum wage laws, from Real Clear Politics: “Minimum wage laws play Russian roulette with people who need jobs and the work experience that will enable them…
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Gaming board raking in fat paychecks
Even without slot machines up and running in Pennsylvania, there have already been some big winners from gambling – the Gaming Control Board. The Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice reports that…
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Minimum wage reality check
Walter Williams in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on why he’s a “decent person” who wants to “help low-skilled workers” and yet opposes a minimum wage increase.
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Read More: Minimum wage reality checkPublic Union Democracy
PA leads the nation in teacher strikes again
Patriot News coverage of teacher strikes data. In 2005, 65% of all teacher strikes occured in Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania school children felt the effects of 13 strikes, compared with…
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