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State Budget

PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 Charts

• November 28, 2017

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…

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Public Union Democracy

Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society

• November 27, 2017

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…

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Public Union Democracy

Why Government Should Not Play with Politics

• Jessica Barnett
• November 22, 2017

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…

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Public Union Democracy

State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources

• Jessica Barnett
• November 21, 2017

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…

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Guest Blog: The Hidden Cost of Tax Complexity

• November 17, 2017

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…

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Education

Philly’s School Reform Commission Ends, Questions Abound for Residents & Taxpayers

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 16, 2017

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…

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State Budget

New Budget Report Demands Urgent Action

• November 16, 2017

By 2023, the state deficit could reach more than $2 billion. By 2030, Pennsylvania will have just 2.4 workers for every 1 person of retirement age. These were some of the most…

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Regulation

PLCB Borrowing Panned, Time to Privatize

• Colleen Hroncich
• November 15, 2017

There hasn’t been much to praise in this year’s budget battles. However, the governor’s announcement that he won’t try to borrow $1.25 billion against Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)…

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PA’s Poor Budget Report Card

• November 15, 2017

Pennsylvania’s 2017 budget is finally complete, but Pennsylvania’s fiscal house is in disarray. The Volcker Alliance, an organization which seeks to “improve the administration of government at all levels,” recently…

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State Budget

Pennsylvania’s Sin Tax Addiction

• November 14, 2017

Pennsylvania’s excess of excise—or so-called “sin”—taxes was the subject of a recent story in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The piece focused on the amount working people pay in taxes on…

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Education

Another Step Forward for Kids

• Colleen Hroncich
• November 6, 2017

Governor Wolf allowed HB 178, an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code, to become law on Sunday. The bill is a big win for Pennsylvania's families. It includes three…

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Government Accountability

Inconvenient Facts: Debunking Climate Alarmists

• Gordon Tomb
• November 2, 2017

Governments should focus on supporting economic prosperity to enable better adaption to climate changes instead of controlling carbon footprints. Consider the contrast in hurricane recoveries between Florida, where an…

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Taxes & Economy

Wolf Tax Reform Hypocrisy

• Nathan Benefield
• November 2, 2017

Gov. Wolf has criticized recent federal tax reform proposals—which would lower most tax rates and simplify the tax code by reducing loopholes—because it would eliminate the state and local…

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State Budget

What’s on the November Ballot: Property Taxes and Judges

• November 1, 2017

In addition to several statewide judicial races, the upcoming November election includes a ballot measure that could change the way Pennsylvanians pay taxes or make no difference at all. Judicial Races…

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Regulation

Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 Budget

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 30, 2017

Pennsylvania’s four-month budget battle is just about over, thanks to an assortment of targeted tax hikes and fee increases along with borrowing and one-time transfers. However, lawmakers and the governor…

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Education

School Reforms Put Families and Students First

• October 27, 2017

State lawmakers embraced a trio of significant reforms with the passage of HB 178—an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code. The legislation would expand a popular scholarship program, protect…

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Education

ESA Opponents Want to Keep Kids Trapped in Failing Schools

• Colleen Hroncich
• October 25, 2017

Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) are waging a fear campaign against education savings accounts (ESAs). Both have complained ESAs “don’t help students learn” and “don't hold…

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State Budget

Debt Ahead, but Reform Is Coming, Too

• October 25, 2017

The General Assembly is on the verge of authorizing HB 785, which could add more than $1.2 billion to the state’s debt load. The legislation would amend the Capital…

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State Budget

Gov. Wolf’s Borrowing Schemes Won’t Work

• October 25, 2017

Gov. Wolf’s careless decision to overspend last year has played a significant role in this latest budget impasse. Frustrated with the pace of the process, the governor decided to…

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Education

UPDATED: Senate Committee Passes Education Savings Accounts Bill?

• October 24, 2017

Update: After a proxy vote was filed by Sen. Tomlinson, a member of the Senate Education Committee member who was absent from today’s committee meeting, the vote on Senate Bill…

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Brouillette Launches ‘Brews & Views’ Podcast with Guest Mike Veon

• October 20, 2017

Since stepping down from CF in 2016 to launch Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs, former CF president Matt Brouillette has continued to be a leading voice on the most pressing…

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