Regulation

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending

  • November 16, 2016

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending State Faces up to $900 Million Budget Hole This Year November 16, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Yesterday’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) mid-year…

Press Release

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Public Union Democracy

Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor Analysis

  • November 14, 2016

Study Reveals Most States Earn Low Grades in Public Employee Rights, Taxpayer Protections November 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania is one of 22 states ranking an abysmal “D” or “F” for…

Press Release

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The Taxpayer Protection Act is Crucial for Pa.

  • November 11, 2016

Under Gov. Wolf's administration, state spending has risen by $2.6 billion. For context, spending over the previous eight years grew by $2.7 billion. Total spending would be higher if it weren’t for fiscally…

Media

Read More: The Taxpayer Protection Act is Crucial for Pa.

Regulation

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016

  • November 10, 2016

Last month we raised concerns about Pennsylvania's fiscal trajectory. At the time, state revenue collections were more than $218 million below the official estimate. The current revenue picture is slightly…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

A Dramatic Shift in Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 9, 2016

From celebration to soul-searching, post-election analysis is everywhere. While top-of-the-ballot results dominate headlines and your news feed, don’t miss the dramatic shift that occurred last night in Pennsylvania. Republicans achieved…

Media

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Education

Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?

  • November 8, 2016

Dwight K. Schrute is an employee at Dunder Mifflin—a fictional Scranton paper company featured in NBC’s The Office. And he just may be the key to overcoming the city’s very…

Media

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Regulation

Who Pays for SEPTA?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 7, 2016

News reports today indicate SEPTA (the public transit agency serving the Philadelphia region) came to an agreement with the Transportation Workers Union Local 234—ending a six-day strike just before election…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections

  • November 2, 2016

Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections Taxpayers Help Union Leaders Target U. S. Senate, State Attorney General Races November 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Government union leaders have poured nearly…

Press Release

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Education

Children Benefit From School Choice, And So Do You

  • James Paul
  • November 2, 2016

The moral argument for school choice is irrefutable: Every child deserves access to a first-rate education. Families should not be limited by the supply of public schools within artificially-drawn district…

Media

Read More: Children Benefit From School Choice, And So Do You

State Budget

Prioritizing Tax Revenue over People

  • November 2, 2016

PennLive recently published an editorial analyzing the General Assembly’s actions—or lack thereof—on key issues during the last two weeks of the legislative session. Their views on the e-cigarette (vape) tax deserve special…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Missed Opportunities: Fall Legislative Session

  • Elizabeth Stelle, James Paul
  • November 1, 2016

Three critical bills stalled last week amidst a flurry of last minute legislative activity. Failure to reform pensions, repeal the e-cigarette tax, and prohibit ghost teaching were missed opportunities that…

Media

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Health Care

Painful Year for Pennsylvanians on the Obamacare Exchange

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 1, 2016

Today marks the fifth open enrollment season for Obamacare's insurance exchange. As predicted, premiums continue to skyrocket. In fact, Pennsylvania's premium increases are among the highest in the…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Unions Profit by Restricting Workers’ Choices

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 28, 2016

The gold standard for labor reform is right-to-work, according to the conventional wisdom. However, our latest policy report…

Media

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Regulation

State Pension Reform This Week?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 24, 2016

Pension reform talks are in full swing as state lawmakers finish up their fall session. The latest pension proposal offers a side-by-side hybrid system for new employees, including new…

Media

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Regulation

Pennsylvanians Want Pension Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 20, 2016

A majority of Pennsylvanians want pension reform. In a poll conducted from October 4th to 9th, 54 percent of voters supported placing new state employees in a 401(k)-style…

Media

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Education

APSCUF Threatens Faculty

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2016

This morning, APSCUF, the union representing 5,000 faculty at the State System of Higher Education schools, went on strike. As we pointed out a few weeks ago, one…

Media

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Government Accountability

Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of Conservatism

  • October 19, 2016

What are the roots of conservatism? How has conservatism and its messengers changed over time and what are the consequences for the nation? Political commentator Matt Lewis, author of “…

Media

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Health Care

Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. Exchange

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 18, 2016

Pennsylvanians shopping on the health care exchange are in for a rude awakening. Yesterday the Insurance Department announced premiums for individual plans will increase by an average of 32…

Media

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Government Accountability

How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?

  • James Paul
  • October 17, 2016

Why are taxpayers being charged for money left unspent? This question is posed by NBC 10 reporter Mitch Blacher to public school administrators in southeastern Pennsylvania districts. An NBC investigation…

Media

Read More: How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?