Media

Education

Breaking: Charters Receive Funding to Educate Students

• James Paul
• February 22, 2017

Advocacy group Education Voters of PA—notorious critics of parental choice and defenders of a one-size-fits-all education system—made a few…

Media

Regulation

Employee Compensation Drives Spending Growth

• Nathan Benefield
• February 21, 2017

PennLive released a list of state government employees earning more than $100,000 in salary today. While the list should open some eyes, it doesn’t capture the full cost of…

Media

Education

Education Savings Accounts Across the Country

• James Paul
• February 17, 2017

The movement to provide children with better education is building momentum in 2017 as education savings accounts (ESA) advance in nearly a dozen states. Legislation has been filed in…

Media

Government Accountability

Government Unions Outspend the Natural Gas Industry

• Jessica Barnett
• February 16, 2017

Proponents of a natural gas severance tax argue the natural gas industry wields undue political influence in Harrisburg. State representative Greg Vitali laments: They [natural gas industry] just always…

Media

Regulation

Examining the Staggering Cost of Pensions

• February 16, 2017

CF senior policy analyst James Paul recently spoke with WURD Radio’s Stephanie Renee on Pennsylvania’s skyrocketing pension costs—and what can be done about them. Pennsylvania’s unfunded pension liability stands at…

Media

Controlling Spending is A Moral Imperative

• February 14, 2017

In an effort to improve the state’s finances, the Wolf Administration commissioned a government efficiency review—an idea CF included in a recent policy brief, which focused on driving…

Media

Senate Passes Paycheck Protection!

• February 8, 2017

Today, the Senate took a stand to protect the integrity of public dollars, give union members a greater voice in how their money is spent, and restore fairness to the…

Media

Public Union Democracy

News Release: Paycheck Protection Passes State Senate

• February 8, 2017

Legislation Would End Use of Taxpayer Resources to Aid Political Activity February 8, 2017, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The State Senate today passed paycheck protection legislation, SB 166, which would end the…

Press Release

State Budget

News Release: Wolf Pivots on Massive Tax Hikes, Offers Limited Structural Reforms

• February 7, 2017

Budget Includes Belt-Tightening But Relies on $1 Billion in New Taxes February 7, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pivoting from the past two years, Governor Tom Wolf today proposed a state budget that…

Press Release

State Budget

Five Takeaways From the Governors Budget Proposal

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2017

This morning Governor Wolf laid out his plan for the 2017-18 state budget. Here are the five things you need to know: 1. Shift to redesigning government. This is a…

Media

Education

Crucial School Choice Expansion Passes Committee

• James Paul
• February 7, 2017

In a bipartisan vote, the House Education Committee advanced legislation to boost Pennsylvania’s crucial private school scholarship programs, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Budget Solution: Stop Paying Extra for Construction Projects

• February 6, 2017

'Prevailing Wage' Costs Pennsylvanians Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Yearly February 6, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—Can you imagine taking your car to the shop for a major repair, learning…

Media

When First is Worst: Pa. Leads Nation in Corporate Welfare

• February 3, 2017

Pennsylvania leads the nation in corporate welfare spending since 2007—and second place isn’t even close. At $6 billion, the commonwealth outspent its nearest corporate handout competitor, Ohio, by more than…

Media

State Budget

Budget Solution of the Week: Welfare Reform

• February 3, 2017

No series on budget solutions would be complete without a taking a look at the fastest growing state department, the Department of Human Services (DHS). The Independent Fiscal Office projects…

Media

State Budget

State Budget Solution #5: Tackle the Shadow Budget

• Gina Diorio
• February 3, 2017

General Fund Budget Is Just 40 Percent of State Government’s True Cost February 3, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—With budget season launching, most public discussion will focus on the General Fund…

Press Release

State Budget

Fixing the Spending Problem: Cutting Corporate Welfare and Privatizing Liquor

• February 2, 2017

Recently, CF’s Elizabeth Stelle appeared on WNPV Radio’s “Regarding Your Money” with host George Toth to discuss Pennsylvania’s growing deficit. Our budget deficit this year is projected to pass…

Media

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2017

• February 2, 2017

Revenue collections underperformed again in January, according to the Department of Revenue. This is the third straight month—and the sixth of the last seven—in which revenue collections fell short of official…

Media

State Budget

Opportunity Knocks for State Budget Innovation

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 2, 2017

“Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.” Pennsylvanians should heed these words from author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. in the upcoming budget season. Governor Wolf and key legislative…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection Solves $96 Million Problem

• Jessica Barnett
• February 1, 2017

Yesterday, the Senate State Government Committee passed paycheck protection legislation, which would prevent taxpayer resources from being used to collect money earmarked for political activity. SB 166 and…

Media

State Budget

State Budget Solution #4: Cut Corporate Welfare

• Gina Diorio
• February 1, 2017

Pa. Leads Nation in Wasteful Corporate Subsidies at $6 Billion Since 2007 February 1, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—This year state government will transfer more than $800 million from Pennsylvanians…

Press Release

Health Care

The Case for Block Granting Medicaid

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 31, 2017

Governor Wolf is decrying efforts in Washington to give states more control over Medicaid through a block grant. This will have a devastating impact for many Pennsylvanians, and…

Media