Media

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…

Media

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…

Media

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…

Media

Health Care

Affordable Care Act Brings Unaffordable Premium Hikes

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 11, 2015

Pennsylvania insurance companies are asking for dramatic premium hikes on exchange plans. Highmark underestimated the cost of care for individuals on the exchange and is now requesting a 23%…

Media

State Budget

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Hurts Everyone

• Jonathan Reginella
• June 11, 2015

Despite Gov. Wolf campaigning on giving the middle-class a tax cut, his budget plan will raise taxes for every income group. Disapproval of his tax plan was made…

Media

Education

Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 10, 2015

As I pointed out yesterday in a chart and blog post, Pennsylvania spends significantly more per student on public schools than the national average. Moreover, increased spending has…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The Invisible Severance Tax

• June 10, 2015

Did you know Pennsylvania imposes a severance tax on natural gas workers? It’s known as an impact fee, but it operates just like a severance tax.    The fee…

Media

Gas tax critics champion, not oppose, progress

• June 10, 2015

Media Hit

Regulation

Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families, Sacrifices Jobs

• June 10, 2015

Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families,Sacrifices Jobs Prioritizing—Not Increasing—Spending is Better for Everyone Good morning, Gov. Wolf’s cradle-to-grave tax plan asks Pennsylvanians to sacrifice some big-ticket items—$1,400 per…

Press Release

Education

Chart: Education Funding Per Student

• Nathan Benefield
• June 9, 2015

There is an ongoing myth that Pennsylvania underfunds public schools because our “state share” is low. Let’s set the record straight. As a reminder, schools receive revenue from local, state,…

Media

PA overtime costs hit two-decade record last year

• June 9, 2015

Media Hit

Union stalls liquor privatization

• June 9, 2015

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Audio: The True Impact of a Severance Tax

• Jonathan Reginella
• June 8, 2015

Gov. Wolf justifies his proposed natural gas severance tax with populist rhetoric, claiming Pennsylvania’s gas drillers aren’t paying their “fair share.” This is far from accurate. Gas drillers paid more…

Media

Government Accountability

Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?

• June 8, 2015

Who killed Harrisburg? That’s the question award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst answers in his new book Capital Murder, which chronicles how Harrisburg became the only capital city in American…

Media

Philly school district’s fuzzy math clouds legit budget deficit

• June 8, 2015

Media Hit

State Budget

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income Levels

• Jonathan Reginella
• June 5, 2015

At the same time Gov. Wolf is claiming his budget proposal will bring a net tax reduction, an Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) study reveals his proposal would actually inflict…

Media

Regulation

Testimony: Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk

• June 4, 2015

Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk New Retirement Plan Will Protect Teachers, Troopers, State Workers, and Taxpayers Good morning, Despite Pennsylvania’s public pension costs jumping $2 billion—or $600…

Press Release

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

• Nathan Benefield
• June 3, 2015

The presumption of innocence is at the heart of our nation’s criminal justice system. Yet here in Pennsylvania you can lose your property without ever being convicted of a crime—and…

Media