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State Budget

Budget Protects Working Families from Massive Tax Increases

• June 27, 2015

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder, 570-490-1042 PA Budget Protects Working Familiesfrom Massive Tax Increases No-Tax-Hike Spending Plan Good for Low & Middle Income…

Press Release

Health Care

Losers Outnumber Winners Under King v Burwell Decision

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 26, 2015

Yesterday’s US Supreme Court decision to uphold taxpayer subsidies on healthcare.gov brought a collective sigh of relief to Pennsylvanians, like Barbara, who depend on subsidies to make health insurance…

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Government Accountability

An Update on Union Contracts

• Nathan Benefield
• June 25, 2015

Earlier this week, the House State Government Committee moved SB 644 and SB 645—bills which would provide taxpayers greater information about contracts with government unions—to the House floor.

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Health Care

King v. Burwell Highlights Need for Obamacare Alternatives

• June 25, 2015

King v. Burwell Highlights Need forObamacare Alternatives Exchange Plans Restrictive and Unaffordable Even with Subsidies Good morning, Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in King v. Burwell that…

Press Release

Regulation

Strip Clubs and the Case for Liquor Privatization

• June 24, 2015

Strip club entertainment A stay at the Ritz Carlton Pittsburgh Steelers tickets Philadelphia Eagles tickets iPad 2 World Series ticket This is a just a short list of the items…

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Education

House Votes to Protect Excellent Teachers

• James Paul
• June 24, 2015

Seniority-based teacher furloughs may soon become a relic of the past for Pennsylvania public schools. On Tuesday evening, the state House approved Rep. Stephen Bloom’s HB 805—the Protecting…

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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

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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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