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President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Read More: President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Education
VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Read More: VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
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
Education
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic IneffectivenessTaxes & Economy
30,000 Future Jobs at Risk
Middle class job opportunities are at risk. We all know that strong middle class employment is at the heart of a healthy economy, but Gov. Wolf’s massive tax increases would…
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Teacher Defies Union Control of Charitable Donation
It’s a different day, but it’s the same story about the PSEA’s treatment of educators that religiously object to union membership. Last year, FTT told you about Chris Meier…
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Read More: Teacher Defies Union Control of Charitable DonationEducation
Devil in the Details for New Funding Formula
Much of the reaction to the Basic Education Funding Commission’s final report has been positive—and…
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Read More: Devil in the Details for New Funding FormulaState Budget
Who Pays For a Severance Tax?
Proponents of a new natural gas tax—which would be in addition to the existing impact fee (tax) and other taxes extractors already pay—ignore the consequences new taxes will have…
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Read More: Who Pays For a Severance Tax?State Budget
How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?
How out of whack is Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $4.6 billion tax increase? Pretty far out there compared with the rest of the nation, according to a new report…
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Read More: How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?Education
Government Union Puts Politics Ahead of Teachers
One government union is putting its political preferences and self-interest above the interests of public school teachers. Now, teachers are fighting back. Jane Ladley, who recently retired from teaching after…
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Read More: Government Union Puts Politics Ahead of TeachersEducation
Education Commission Proposes Smarter, Student-Based Spending
Education Commission Proposes Smarter,Student-Based Spending Commission Tailors Funding to Student Need, Rejects Broken Status-Quo Good afternoon, The Commonwealth Foundation has long advocated for an education funding formula…
Press Release
Read More: Education Commission Proposes Smarter, Student-Based SpendingEducation
Audio: A New Solution for Underperforming Public Schools
A piece of legislation recently passed the Senate Education Committee that would provide a new solution for underperforming public schools. CF’s James Paul spoke with WSBA’s Gary Sutton about…
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Read More: Audio: A New Solution for Underperforming Public SchoolsEducation
School Districts Overwhelmed by Pension Costs
Pennsylvania’s public sector pension crisis is undeniable. Consider the burden it places on local school districts, whose pension contributions increased from $1.4 billion in 2012-13 to $1.9…
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Read More: School Districts Overwhelmed by Pension CostsTaxes & Economy
Dubious Deficit Discussions
Just how big is Pennsylvania’s structural deficit? And what does that term even mean? Although some news outlets reported Gov. Wolf and legislative leaders came to an agreement on the…
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Read More: Dubious Deficit DiscussionsEducation
District Reserve Funds Continue to Rise
Contrary to claims about budget cuts to public education, Pennsylvania school districts continue to accumulate large reserve funds, up to $4.1 billion in 2013-14. This amounts to more than 15 percent…
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Read More: District Reserve Funds Continue to RiseRegulation
Pension Debt Strangles Local Government
Pension reform commands a great deal of attention in Harrisburg these days, and deservedly so. Pension systems for state and public school employees are in bad shape, and reform…
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Read More: Pension Debt Strangles Local GovernmentGovernment Accountability
Letter to Gov. Wolf: Side with Voters, Not Government Union Special Interests
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 Gov. Wolf: Side with Voters,Not Government Union Special Interests Wolf’s Stances Mirror His Major Donors’ at Taxpayers’…
Press Release
Read More: Letter to Gov. Wolf: Side with Voters, Not Government Union Special InterestsEducation
Examining State Aid for Public Schools
State revenue to school districts reached an all-time high in 2013-14, at $9.7 billion. In part 2 of our week-long series on education finance in the commonwealth, take a look at…
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‘Benefits cliff’ traps families in poverty
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Another Year, Another Record High in School Spending
Pennsylvania spent $26.1 billion on public schools in 2013-14. According to state data, this amounts to a $600 million increase over the 2012-13 baseline. As you can…
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Raising minimum wage bad for workers as well as employers | Letter
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Read More: Raising minimum wage bad for workers as well as employers | LetterEducation
A Solution for Persistently Failing Schools
Amidst a flurry of hearings on severance taxes, incomes taxes, and pension reform, a piece of legislation with less fanfare advanced with bipartisan support out of the…
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Read More: A Solution for Persistently Failing SchoolsState Budget
Four Facets of Wolf’s Tax Plan
On Wednesday, I testified before the Senate Finance Committee on the effects of Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax increases. My testimony covered four key areas. 1) Wolf’s plan represents more of…
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Read More: Four Facets of Wolf’s Tax Plan