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Education
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![shapiro record](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-17-at-2.38.29 PM-900x900.png)
Education
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
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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 FamiliesHealth Care
A New Wave of Welfare Reform
Governors across the country are proposing game-changing welfare reforms and Pennsylvania should follow their example. Yesterday, Maine submitted a waiver to the federal government asking for permission…
Media
Read More: A New Wave of Welfare ReformRegulation
News Release: House Passes Significant Liquor Reform Bills
Yesterday, the House passed significant liquor reforms designed to end state government’s senseless stranglehold on the wine and liquor industry. Sponsored by House Speaker Mike Turzai, HB 975 builds…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: House Passes Significant Liquor Reform BillsTaxes & Economy
News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax Fix
Today, in the latest attempt to fix an onerous tax responsible for as many as 100 vape shop closures across the state, the Senate Finance Committee advanced SB…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax FixGovernment Accountability
Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures
Today the Senate's State Government Committee advanced three bills to open up government collective bargaining negotiations to the public. SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano, would require all levels of government…
Media
Read More: Senate Moves Key Transparency MeasuresRegulation
Following Zippo’s Lead on Pensions
Zippo’s recent retirement plan transition is another example of why Pennsylvania state government should do the same. As Zippo CFO Don Hall said, defined contribution plans like 401(k)s carry…
Media
Read More: Following Zippo’s Lead on PensionsState Budget
Pa.’s Economic Outlook is Poor but Not Permanent
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released its annual Rich States, Poor States’ report, which includes economic rankings for each state. Unfortunately, the news isn’t good for Pennsylvania. The state…
Media
Read More: Pa.’s Economic Outlook is Poor but Not PermanentState Budget
News Release: Pa. Spends Nearly One-Third of Year Working to Pay Taxes
April 18 was this year’s tax return filing deadline, but how long do Pennsylvanians work to earn enough to pay their total tax bill? In 2017, that date—dubbed Tax Freedom…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Pa. Spends Nearly One-Third of Year Working to Pay TaxesPublic Union Democracy
Top 10 Recipients of Government Union Money
Government unions wield enormous influence in Pennsylvania politics. Since 2010, the commonwealth’s largest government unions have spent over $71 million on politics—including $26 million in political action committee (PAC)…
Media
Read More: Top 10 Recipients of Government Union MoneyRegulation
News Release: House Committee Advances Major Liquor Reforms
Bills Would Break Government Stranglehold Over Wine & Liquor Sales Today, the House Liquor Committee advanced two bills to the floor that represent a…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: House Committee Advances Major Liquor ReformsRegulation
The Strong Case for?and Weak Case Against?Pension Reform
Pennsylvania’s public pension plans are woefully underfunded, with enough assets to cover just 60 percent of liabilities. This poor financial showing has relegated the commonwealth to the bottom of the Tax Foundation’s ranking of…
Media
Read More: The Strong Case for?and Weak Case Against?Pension ReformHealth Care
Senate Acts to Improve Health Access, Lower Costs
All Pennsylvanians deserve access to quality, affordable health care. That's why it was encouraging to see the Senate advance SB 25 out of the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee.
Media
Read More: Senate Acts to Improve Health Access, Lower CostsEducation
Charter Reform Nears the Goal-line
Charter school reform is advancing in Harrisburg. Long in the works, HB 97 (previously HB 530) is a sweeping bill that includes several important revisions to Pennsylvania’s charter school law.
Media
Read More: Charter Reform Nears the Goal-lineHealth Care
Reforming Medicaid Is a Moral Imperative
Note: This op-ed was originally published in the Lancaster LNP. Do you know someone who desperately needs medical care but can’t access it? Few things are more heartbreaking. Helping people…
Media
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When a Spending Increase Is a Massive Cut
Last June, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a $31.53 billion General Fund budget. In February, Gov. Wolf proposed a $32.34 billion budget. This $800 million increase has actually been labeled “…
Media
Read More: When a Spending Increase Is a Massive CutState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2017
Revenue collections fell below expectations for the fifth consecutive month. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reported collections of approximately $4.4 billion last week, which was $229.6 million less than…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2017Public Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection: Where it Stands
In February, the state Senate passed paycheck protection, which would shield taxpayers from subsidizing government union leaders’ political fundraising. Now it’s up to the House to protect the interests of taxpayers…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection: Where it StandsRegulation
House Budget Represents a Step Towards Fiscal Stewardship
House Republicans committed to changing Pennsylvania yesterday. The caucus released its proposed 2017-18 budget, which stands in stark contrast to Gov. Wolf’s tax-and-spend proposals. The House Appropriations Committee has…
Media
Read More: House Budget Represents a Step Towards Fiscal Stewardship
News Release: ‘Ghost Teacher’ Ban Passes Senate Committee
Nearly 25% of Pa. School Districts Authorize Ghost Teachers March 29, 2017, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 494 banning “ghost teachers” who drain resources from…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: ‘Ghost Teacher’ Ban Passes Senate CommitteeGovernment Accountability
Paycheck Protection Benefits Teachers
Providing one more reason Pennsylvania needs paycheck protection, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) uses members’ dues to mislead teachers. In the March 2017 publication of PSEA’s dues-funded…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection Benefits TeachersState Budget
Should Pennsylvania Strive to Become #51?
Political realities forced Gov. Wolf to scale back his record tax-and-spend proposals from the past two years. Still, he didn’t completely abandon his government-centric approach, opting to include $1…
Media
Read More: Should Pennsylvania Strive to Become #51?
Committee Votes to Spend Smarter
Earlier this week, the House State Government Committee voted to tackle Pennsylvania’s spending problem. The committee advanced two pieces of legislation—HB 110 and HB 410. Both bills are…
Media
Read More: Committee Votes to Spend Smarter