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Taxes & Economy

30,000 Future Jobs at Risk

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 23, 2015

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

• Brittney Parker
• June 23, 2015

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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Education

Devil in the Details for New Funding Formula

• James Paul
• June 23, 2015

Much of the reaction to the Basic Education Funding Commission’s final report has been positive—and…

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State Budget

Who Pays For a Severance Tax?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 22, 2015

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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State Budget

How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 18, 2015

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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Education

Government Union Puts Politics Ahead of Teachers

• June 18, 2015

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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Education

Education Commission Proposes Smarter, Student-Based Spending

• June 18, 2015

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

Education

Audio: A New Solution for Underperforming Public Schools

• Jonathan Reginella
• June 18, 2015

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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Education

School Districts Overwhelmed by Pension Costs

• James Paul
• June 18, 2015

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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Taxes & Economy

Dubious Deficit Discussions

• June 17, 2015

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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Fix ‘benefits cliff’

• June 17, 2015

Media Hit

Education

District Reserve Funds Continue to Rise

• James Paul
• June 17, 2015

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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Regulation

Pension Debt Strangles Local Government

• June 17, 2015

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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Government Accountability

Letter to Gov. Wolf: Side with Voters, Not Government Union Special Interests

• June 17, 2015

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

Education

Examining State Aid for Public Schools

• James Paul
• June 16, 2015

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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Four Facets of Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan

• June 16, 2015

Media Hit

‘Benefits cliff’ traps families in poverty

• June 16, 2015

Media Hit

Education

Another Year, Another Record High in School Spending

• James Paul
• June 15, 2015

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

• June 12, 2015

Media Hit

Education

A Solution for Persistently Failing Schools

• James Paul
• June 12, 2015

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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State Budget

Four Facets of Wolf’s Tax Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• June 12, 2015

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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