State Budget

Middle Class Loses Under Gov. Wolf’s Budget

  • April 26, 2016

The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a sober analysis of Gov. Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal. It examines the consequences of eight separate tax increases as well as a minimum…

Media

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Education

Budget Complete as Fiscal Code Becomes Law

  • James Paul
  • April 25, 2016

Late on Friday afternoon, Gov. Tom Wolf quietly announced the fiscal code will become law without his signature. This significant development closes the door on a tumultuous year of…

Media

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Government Accountability

Tomorrow’s Two Ballot Questions for Every Party

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 25, 2016

Tomorrow's primary election is largely a partisan affair in which only registered Republicans or Democrats can vote for the presidential nominee and nominees for state office. But there is one…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

(Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day!

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 22, 2016

(Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day! If you thought Tax Day was April 15, think again. Today, April 22, is actually the day by which Pennsylvanians…

Media

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Regulation

How Ridesharing Helps the Poor and Disabled

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 22, 2016

Earlier this week, I used Uber to get a ride in downtown Philadelphia. Curious, I asked my driver how long he’d been driving for Uber. “Two years,” he told me,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians Spend Nearly One-Third of Year Paying Taxes

  • April 22, 2016

Pennsylvanians Spend Nearly One-Third of Year Paying Taxes  Tax Bills Exceed Spending on Housing, Clothing, & Food Combined April 22, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—If you thought Tax Day was…

Press Release

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Education

Changing Lives with Education Savings Accounts

  • James Paul
  • April 20, 2016

Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) empower parents to personalize the academic experience for their children, as CF explains in a recent policy brief. But ESAs are about more than school…

Media

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State Budget

Take the Budget off Autopilot

  • April 18, 2016

As Pennsylvania inches closer to another budget battle, you’re likely to hear the term “structural deficit” used more often. The term is defined as a multi-year shortfall between projected spending and revenue…

Media

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Education

Give Children the Best: Education Savings Accounts

  • James Paul
  • April 14, 2016

Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) empower parents to design the best educational experience for their children. How do they work? Funding otherwise earmarked for K-12 education is deposited into an…

Media

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Government Accountability

Historic Victory for Transparency

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 14, 2016

Gov. Tom Wolf just signed Senate Bill 644, empowering the Independent Fiscal Office to estimate the cost of government union contracts before they are finalized. Matthew Brouillette, president and…

Media

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Government Accountability

Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts

  • April 14, 2016

Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Reform Shining Light on Collective Bargaining Costs    April 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf today signed…

Press Release

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State Budget

Five Ways to Avoid Another Budget Hostage Crisis

  • April 13, 2016

The state budget impasse may be over, but Pennsylvanians are still reeling from Gov. Wolf’s budget vetoes. The Times-Tribune reports the Women’s Resource Center of Scranton, which serves domestic…

Media

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Government Accountability

Commonwealth Foundation Board Names New President and CEO

  • April 12, 2016

Commonwealth Foundation Board Names New President & CEO Executive Vice President Charles Mitchell to Take Helm on July 1 April 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Commonwealth Foundation Board of…

Press Release

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Education

Wolf’s Cockamamie Concoction

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 6, 2016

Matt Brouillette pointed out in his latest commentary that Gov. Wolf  is taking a “lone-wolf” approach to governing. The latest example is his unilateral action to distribute school funding…

Media

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Government Accountability

Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature

  • April 6, 2016

Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his “Government that Works” plan to reform contracting practices and increase transparency in government. Now, the state Legislature has given Wolf…

Media

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Government Accountability

Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’?

  • April 6, 2016

Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’? Government Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature   April 6, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his “Government…

Press Release

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Regulation

Wolf’s False Choice

  • March 31, 2016

If lawmakers don’t raise taxes, Pennsylvanians should brace for drastic cuts to education and human services. This myth is promoted endlessly by the Wolf Administration to justify taking…

Media

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Regulation

Rhetoric vs. Reality

  • March 25, 2016

Pennsylvania’s nine-month budget saga has concluded, but not everyone is pleased with the ending. The Philadelphia Inquirer published a caustic editorial criticizing state lawmakers for failing to surrender…

Media

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Regulation

Audio: State Worker Costs & EPA Mandates Burden Pennsylvanians

  • Catherine Fitzhugh
  • March 25, 2016

State employee compensation costs have soared to nearly $93,000 per worker per year, with health care and pensions the largest contributors. Meanwhile, costly EPA mandates on carbon and mercury…

Media

Read More: Audio: State Worker Costs & EPA Mandates Burden Pennsylvanians