Media

Educational Choice in a Grandparent’s Words

• James Paul
• January 23, 2017

National School Choice Week, beginning today, is a celebration of opportunity. Each of the educational options in Pennsylvania—private scholarship programs, charter schools, online education, and the ability to homeschool—empower…

Media

Education

Budget Solution of the Week: School Choice

• January 20, 2017

Earlier this month, House Majority Leader Dave Reed challenged his colleagues to change the way Harrisburg operates: “Now is the time to reimagine and redesign government, our state and…

Media

Health Care

4 Obamacare Failures & How to Fix Them

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 19, 2017

For almost seven years the benefits of Obamacare have been exaggerated and the costs severely underestimated. As repeal efforts gain momentum, many are understandably uncomfortable about another dramatic shift in…

Media

Regulation

State Budget Solution #2: Liquor Privatization

• January 19, 2017

Getting Government Out of the Booze Business Could Bring $1 Billion+ Windfall January 19, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—This week marks the 98th anniversary of the ratification of the…

Press Release

Criminal Justice Reform

Budget Solution of the Week: Corrections Reform

• January 13, 2017

The Department of Corrections (DOC) recently announced its intentions to close two state prisons and reduce capacity at community corrections facilities (halfway houses). These decisions will cut state incarceration…

Media

Public Union Democracy

The Inquirer’s Problematic Budget Prescriptions

• January 11, 2017

A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial urges optimism about the forthcoming state budget debate. It’s certainly well-warranted. Gov. Wolf and legislative leaders have repeatedly expressed interest in redesigning state government to…

Media

State Budget

State Budget Solution #1: Corrections Reform

• January 11, 2017

Flawed Sentencing System Driving Spending Growth January 11, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—As state budget season begins, Governor Wolf and legislative leaders have signaled their desire to streamline government as…

Press Release

Officials Move to Streamline the Corrections System

• Jessica Barnett
• January 10, 2017

“We are again in the position where the Department of Corrections must make significant reductions because of the dire budget forecast.” Thus Corrections Secretary John Wetzel highlights the challenges…

Media

State Budget

Budget Solution of the Week: Government Efficiency Review

• January 6, 2017

With the budget deficit casting a shadow over the current fiscal year, and deficits projected for at least the next five years, policymakers are acting to stem the tide of…

Media

Regulation

Phila. Cigarette Tax to be Levied on Non-Philadelphia, Non-Smokers

• James Paul
• January 5, 2017

Since Philadelphia residents aren’t buying enough cigarettes, taxpayers across the state will chip in millions to fund Philadelphia schools. Huh? Julie Shaw of Philly.com attempts to make sense of…

Media

Regulation

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: January 2017

• January 4, 2017

Pennsylvania fell further into a financial hole during the month of December. According to the Department of Revenue, total General Fund collections came in $105.2 million below the state's official estimate. This marks…

Media

State Budget

What Population Trends Tell Us

• January 4, 2017

Before the holidays, CF publicized the historic decline in Pennsylvania’s population. The state was one of only eight to see an absolute decline in its number of residents. Domestic…

Media

Five Big 2016 Victories Across the States

• Elizabeth Stelle
• December 29, 2016

We love end-of-year lists. And while you can find boatloads of them across the internet (including our most popular blog posts of the year!), some of the most exciting policy…

Media

Education

The Student Debt Threat

• James Paul
• December 29, 2016

It shouldn’t be a debt sentence to get a college education. Yet in 2010, Americans’ student loan debt surpassed even that of credit card debt. In a testimony before…

Media

Top Blog Posts of 2016

• December 29, 2016

As 2016 comes to a close, we're counting down the most popular blog posts of the year, as determined by web traffic: 5. A Dramatic Shift in Pennsylvania  Election…

Media

Taxes & Economy

How to Grow PA’s Economy

• Elizabeth Stelle
• December 28, 2016

An intimidating budget shortfall this year and next has state leaders calling for a change to the status quo. That is: surging state spending. Governor Wolf is pulling back on corporate…

Media

The Case Against Tax Hikes

• December 22, 2016

Pennsylvania’s financial condition is challenging policymakers to change how state government operates. For example, House Majority Leader Dave Reed recently called for a “restructuring” of government as an…

Media

State Budget

An Early Christmas Present from Gov. Wolf

• Nathan Benefield
• December 22, 2016

Yesterday, Gov. Tom Wolf indicated he would not propose an income tax or a sales tax increase as part of his next budget. This comes as something of…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania is Shrinking

• Elizabeth Stelle
• December 21, 2016

For the first time in 31 years, Pennsylvania's population is shrinking. The Census Bureau reports Pennsylvania’s total population fell by more than 7,600 last year. In state-to-state migration,…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pa. Population Drops for First Time in 31 Years

• December 21, 2016

Pa. Population Drops for First Time in 31 Years Thousands Leave for Friendlier Tax Climates December 21, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.— For the first time since 1985, Pennsylvania’s…

Press Release

Education

School Choice: Helping One Student at a Time

• December 20, 2016

As a recent graduate from PA Leadership Charter School (PALCS), I’m familiar with school choice. In fact, for the past five years, I have joined my Student Government on an…

Media