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Public Union Democracy
National Unions are Bouncing Back—and Coming for State Legislatures
Harrisburg, Pa., September 7, 2026—The nation’s largest government unions are organizing new and unusual workplaces to overcome membership losses since the landmark Janus v. AFSCME case, according to the fifth edition of The Battle for Worker…
Read More: National Unions are Bouncing Back—and Coming for State Legislatures
Government Accountability
Pa. Supreme Court Protects Private Property in New Ruling
Read More: Pa. Supreme Court Protects Private Property in New Ruling
State Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
State Budget
Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency SavingsState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Harrisburg, Pa., June 25, 2026 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 44 to 6, advanced House Bill 1667, legislation that delivers meaningful tax relief to families and businesses while also expanding access to educational scholarships for thousands of students across the commonwealth. The Senate’s legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational OpportunityEducation
NEW ANALYSIS: Public School Enrollment Declines as State Spending Climbs
CORRECTION: A previous version of this release incorrectly stated enrollment data. The correct figure is as follows: “Today, there are 80,708 fewer K–12 students in Pennsylvania’s district schools than in…
Press Release
Read More: NEW ANALYSIS: Public School Enrollment Declines as State Spending ClimbsState Budget
New Poll: Pennsylvanians Reject Shapiro’s Budget, Demand More Educational Choice, and Oppose Costly Energy Mandates
Harrisburg, Pa., June 24, 2026 — A new poll commissioned by the Commonwealth Foundation finds Pennsylvanians rejecting Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget priorities, demanding affordable energy over costly climate mandates, and supporting school choice. Pennsylvania State Budget …
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: Pennsylvanians Reject Shapiro’s Budget, Demand More Educational Choice, and Oppose Costly Energy MandatesEducation
House Democrats Lead Charge to Gut Educational Opportunity
Harrisburg, Pa., June 22, 2026—Today, the Democrat-controlled Pennsylvania House passed HB 2632 with a vote of 105 to 97. Although House Democrats amended the bill after widespread public opposition, the legislation still targets…
Press Release
Read More: House Democrats Lead Charge to Gut Educational OpportunityEnergy
Alternative Energy Cost Ratepayers $3.3B in Hidden Subsidies, Research Finds
Harrisburg, Pa., June 18, 2026 — At the start of this month, families and businesses across Pennsylvania saw yet another rate hike hit their electricity bills. What they didn’t see, however, is that Pennsylvania ratepayers…
Press Release
Read More: Alternative Energy Cost Ratepayers $3.3B in Hidden Subsidies, Research FindsEducation
House Education Committee Votes to Cut Scholarships, Leaves 30,000 Students Stranded
Harrisburg, Pa., June 16, 2026 — Today, the Pennsylvania House Education Committee rushed passage of HB 2632 on a party line vote. The bill is an attack on students’ access to educational opportunities. The voting meeting was scheduled at the call of the chair, a move which bypasses the…
Press Release
Read More: House Education Committee Votes to Cut Scholarships, Leaves 30,000 Students StrandedEducation
U.S. Treasury Releases New Guidelines on Federal Scholarship Program
New guidance answers concerns about the federal program and removes excuses for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s indecision. Harrisburg, Pa., June 11, 2026 — Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released new guidance regarding the federal scholarship tax credit program, which passed into…
Press Release
Read More: U.S. Treasury Releases New Guidelines on Federal Scholarship ProgramState Budget
Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum Return
Media clips to accompany this release can be downloaded here. Harrisburg, Pa., May 20, 2026 — Under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal, Pennsylvania would spend $1.7 billion on corporate welfare programs. If lawmakers swapped corporate handouts for tax cuts, taxpayers could reap $530 per family of…
Press Release
Read More: Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum ReturnTaxes & Economy
New Report: Less than 1% of Pa. Workers Earn Minimum Wage
Harrisburg, Pa., May 18, 2026 — For the fourth consecutive year, Gov. Josh Shapiro has sought a $15-per-hour minimum wage in his 2026–27 budget proposal. New research from the Commonwealth…
Press Release
Read More: New Report: Less than 1% of Pa. Workers Earn Minimum WageEducation
25 Years of Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)
Harrisburg, Pa., May 14, 2026 — Pennsylvania’s Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) turns 25 this year. Since its creation in 2001, the highly successful program has awarded more than 1 million scholarships in all 67 counties, according to a new…
Press Release
Read More: 25 Years of Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)Education
Public Schools Funding Hits Nearly $24,000 Per Student While Achievement Declines
Harrisburg, Pa., May 11, 2026 — New data reveals funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools spiked to nearly $24,000 per student in the 2024–25 school year. In addition to record-high spending, school districts continue to hoard reserve funds, with an average of $4,649 held for every public-school student. …
Press Release
Read More: Public Schools Funding Hits Nearly $24,000 Per Student While Achievement DeclinesPublic Union Democracy
Even in an Off-Year, Unions Spend Millions in Pennsylvania in 2025
Harrisburg, Pa., April 22, 2026 — Despite 2025 being an off-year election, Pennsylvania still saw heavy political spending by unions, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Foundation. The…
Press Release
Read More: Even in an Off-Year, Unions Spend Millions in Pennsylvania in 2025
Megan Martin Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award as a Leader in Law
Harrisburg, Pa., April 15, 2026 — Central Penn Business Journal has honored Megan Martin, chief operating officer and general counsel of the Commonwealth Foundation, with the Lifetime Achievement Leaders…
Organization Updates
Read More: Megan Martin Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award as a Leader in LawTaxes & Economy
Child care Affordability Continues To Plague Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg, Pa., March 11, 2026 — Pennsylvania is one of the most overregulated states for child care. And despite more than $50 million in additional state funding since 2023, too many families continue to find…
Press Release
Read More: Child care Affordability Continues To Plague PennsylvaniansState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on Governor Shapiro’s 2026 Budget Plan
Harrisburg, Pa., February 4, 2026 —Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2026 budget proposal, totaling $53.26 billion, is “completely unaffordable and will cost $2,100 per family of four in looming tax hikes” according to …
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on Governor Shapiro’s 2026 Budget PlanEducation
Governor Shapiro Presents Unaffordable State Budget
Gov. Josh Shapiro returns to Pennsylvania to pitch spending plan families cannot afford. Harrisburg, Pa., February 3, 2026 — In a campaign-style speech that doesn’t address the needs of Pennsylvanians, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his 2026 state budget address, proposing a $3.2 billion spending…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro Presents Unaffordable State Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Introduces the Pennsylvania Judicial Scorecard
Harrisburg, Pa., January 30, 2026 — Since 2020, total appeals in front of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court have risen by more than 50 percent. Increased cases mean more decision-making on…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Introduces the Pennsylvania Judicial ScorecardTaxes & Economy
National Rankings Reveal Pennsylvania’s Subpar Economy
A video companion of this press release for broadcast use is available here. Harrisburg, Pa., January 28, 2026 — Recent comments about Pennsylvania have left pundits asking, “Is the commonwealth’s economy ‘mediocre’?” According…
Press Release
Read More: National Rankings Reveal Pennsylvania’s Subpar Economy
Commonwealth Foundation Ranks as One of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pa., December 16, 2025 — Central Penn Business Journal and Lehigh Valley Business have named Commonwealth Foundation as one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania. Commonwealth Foundation…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Ranks as One of the Best Places to Work in PennsylvaniaEducation
Public School Districts Leave Special-Needs Students, Families with Few Options
Harrisburg, Pa., December 16, 2025 — Traditional public schools leave students with disabilities on months- or years-long wait lists for compliance with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), according to a new report from the Commonwealth Foundation. If a public school district fails to meet the…
Press Release
Read More: Public School Districts Leave Special-Needs Students, Families with Few OptionsPublic Union Democracy
Union Political Spending Heavily Targeted Pennsylvania during 2024 Election
Harrisburg, Pa., December 8, 2025 — Government unions steered $12.8 million to influence elections in Pennsylvania during the 2023-24 election cycle. Pennsylvania was the 5th highest recipient of union dollars,…
Press Release
Read More: Union Political Spending Heavily Targeted Pennsylvania during 2024 Election