Press Releases

Education

Teacher Strike Capitol of America

• April 23, 2018

Pennsylvania is the teacher strike capital of America. Since 1999, Pennsylvania families have suffered through 131 strikes, affecting 300,000 students and causing 1,383 missed school days. This research, including county,…

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Taxes & Economy

House Passes Work-Promoting Medicaid Reform

• April 17, 2018

Today, the state House passed legislation, HB 2138, promoting independence among healthy, adult Medicaid recipients by requiring them to find part-time work or engage in job training to continue receiving…

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Public Union Democracy

Pa. Teachers Support Worker Freedom Case Before Supreme

• February 26, 2018

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in a historic case, Janus v. AFSCME, that could free thousands of Pennsylvania teachers and other government workers from workplace coercion.

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State Budget

Wolf’s Budget: Nice Rhetoric, Wrong Solutions

• February 6, 2018

After proposing massive tax hikes of $4.6 billion, $2.7 billion, and $1 billion in his first three budgets, Gov. Tom Wolf struck a different tone in today’s budget address.

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State Budget

Tax Hike Redux? History Says Wolf’s Budget Address Could Cost You

• February 1, 2018

In his first three budget addresses, Gov. Wolf proposed massive tax increases of $4.7 billion, $2.7 billion, and $1 billion. Will Wolf stick to his tax-and-spend budget formula and propose…

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Education

Education Savings Accounts Earn High Marks from Pa. Voters

• January 23, 2018

As parents and students celebrate National School Choice Week with events in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, a new poll shows Pennsylvanians want to put more educational choices…

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Health Care

Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Support Medicaid Work Requirements

• January 16, 2018

In other states, thousands of Americans previously dependent on government programs have transformed their lives and achieved independence thanks to work requirements. But Pennsylvania’s human services system still traps people…

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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act a Win for Pennsylvanians

• December 20, 2017

Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Charles Mitchell released the following statement in reaction to Congress passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: In the 31 years since Congress last…

Press Release

House Stands for Fiscal Sanity, Passes Responsible Spending Limits

• December 12, 2017

For decades, state government has spent far beyond its means, leading to risky borrowing schemes and tax hikes on working families. But last night, the Pennsylvania House took a stand…

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Wolf’s Veto Blocks Pathway out of Poverty for Thousands in Pa.

• October 19, 2017

Despite evidence that work requirements improve lives and boost incomes for those on government programs, Gov. Wolf has vetoed the Human Services Code, which instructs him to request a…

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Education

Education Savings Accounts Bill Introduced in State Senate

• October 18, 2017

Today, Senator John DiSanto (R-Dauphin County) introduced Senate Bill 2, which would establish education savings accounts (ESAs) in Pennsylvania. ESAs are an innovative education choice program providing alternatives for…

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Work Requirements Promote Independence, Wolf Should Embrace Them

• October 12, 2017

Work requirements are helping thousands of Americans rise above poverty and gain independence from government programs. In fact, when states like Kansas and Maine implemented work requirements for food stamps,…

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Regulation

Tapping Indebted PLCB to Pay Down Debt a Risky Bet

• October 5, 2017

In a press conference yesterday, Gov. Wolf announced a plan to borrow from future PLCB “profits” to pay off last year’s budget deficit. Under the governor’s proposal, the state’s…

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State Budget

House Plan Taps Shadow Budget Stash to Pay State’s Bills

• September 5, 2017

In a potential breakthrough in the state’s two-month budget stalemate, House Republicans today unveiled a plan to use state government fund surpluses to help balance the budget. The funds in…

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Public Union Democracy

News Release: Majority of Union Employees Want Worker Voting Rights

• August 23, 2017

Regular elections are foundational to representative democracy. Yet thousands of Pennsylvanians who work in the public sector are bound by a single vote held more than four decades ago to…

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Government Accountability

News Release: $65 Million in Earmarks Hidden in State’s Fiscal Code

• August 16, 2017

Pennsylvanians shouldn’t need a decoder ring to know how their tax dollars are being spent. But lawmakers have hidden more than $65 million in vaguely worded earmarks in the Senate-passed…

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State Budget

News Release: Analysis: Senate Tax Hikes Would Cost 3,600 Jobs, $1 Billion in Income

• August 9, 2017

In July, the state Senate narrowly approved a $600 million tax-hike package, raising taxes on home heating, natural gas drilling, electricity, and even cell phone service. The bill comes to…

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Education

News Release: State Senate to Introduce Education Savings Accounts

• August 8, 2017

In a step toward dramatically increasing educational opportunity for students in Pennsylvania’s lowest-performing schools, today Senator John DiSanto unveiled his plan to introduce legislation establishing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in…

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State Budget

News Release: Senate’s Broad-Based Tax Hikes Should Be Rejected by House

• July 27, 2017

In an effort to close a budget gap created by their own overspending,  Senate lawmakers today passed a series of broad-based tax hikes that will hit nearly every Pennsylvania family…

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Education

News Release: Wolf Rewards Ghost Teacher, Union Campaign Contributor with Cabinet Nomination

• July 26, 2017

Failing to show up for work is usually grounds for dismissal, but for Gov. Wolf, it’s reason for promotion. In nominating Jerry Oleksiak as the next Secretary of Labor &…

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State Budget

News Release: State House Promotes Pathway to Independence in Welfare Code

• July 12, 2017

House lawmakers yesterday passed significant welfare reforms to reinforce the safety net for those most in need while helping more Pennsylvanians escape the cycle of poverty and move from dependency…

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