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Taxes & Economy
New Poll: Voters Demand Affordable Energy, More Educational Options, and Lower Taxes
Affordability is top of mind for Pennsylvanians, with 58 percent of voters naming either rising prices and inflation or the economy and jobs as the single most important issue…
Read More: New Poll: Voters Demand Affordable Energy, More Educational Options, and Lower Taxes
Education
U.S. Treasury Releases Final Guidelines on Federal Scholarship Program
Read More: U.S. Treasury Releases Final Guidelines on Federal Scholarship Program
Government Accountability
Shapiro Administration Rescinds Dept. of Health Rule Due to Public Pressure
Read More: Shapiro Administration Rescinds Dept. of Health Rule Due to Public Pressure
Government Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Comments on Gov. Shapiro’s Executive Overreach
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Comments on Gov. Shapiro’s Executive OverreachEducation
House-Passed Spending Plan Holds Line on Taxes
Today, the Pennsylvania House passed a $32.7 billion 2018-19 spending plan in an overwhelming, bipartisan vote (188-10). The legislation, House Bill 2121, avoids tax increases and pulls back from…
Press Release
Read More: House-Passed Spending Plan Holds Line on TaxesState Budget
PA Legislature Moves to Protect Taxpayers from Habitual Overspending
Today, the Senate State Government Committee took a positive step toward putting Pennsylvania’s finances back on solid ground by passing the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) or House Bill 110—sponsored…
Press Release
Read More: PA Legislature Moves to Protect Taxpayers from Habitual OverspendingEducation
Senate Committee Passes Major Education Reform Bill
Every student deserves an education that best fits his or her unique needs. But this vision of education equality is beyond the reach of thousands of Pennsylvania families. That’s why…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Committee Passes Major Education Reform Bill
School Districts’ Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion
Despite annual complaints of underfunding, Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts grew their massive reserve funds again this year, according the latest data available from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. School district reserves…
Press Release
Read More: School Districts’ Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 BillionTaxes & Economy
State House Strengthens Food Stamps Work Requirements
Today, the state House passed HB 1659, which strengthens existing work requirements for able-bodied adults in Pennsylvania’s food stamp program. This follows a work requirement measure for Medicaid,…
Press Release
Read More: State House Strengthens Food Stamps Work RequirementsEducation
Teacher Strike Capitol of America
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,…
Press Release
Read More: Teacher Strike Capitol of AmericaTaxes & Economy
House Passes Work-Promoting Medicaid Reform
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…
Press Release
Read More: House Passes Work-Promoting Medicaid ReformPublic Union Democracy
Pa. Teachers Support Worker Freedom Case Before Supreme
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.
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Teachers Support Worker Freedom Case Before SupremeState Budget
Wolf’s Budget: Nice Rhetoric, Wrong Solutions
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.
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Budget: Nice Rhetoric, Wrong SolutionsState Budget
Tax Hike Redux? History Says Wolf’s Budget Address Could Cost You
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…
Press Release
Read More: Tax Hike Redux? History Says Wolf’s Budget Address Could Cost YouEducation
Education Savings Accounts Earn High Marks from Pa. Voters
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…
Press Release
Read More: Education Savings Accounts Earn High Marks from Pa. VotersHealth Care
Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Support Medicaid Work Requirements
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…
Press Release
Read More: Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Support Medicaid Work Requirements
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act a Win for Pennsylvanians
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
Read More: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act a Win for Pennsylvanians
House Stands for Fiscal Sanity, Passes Responsible Spending Limits
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…
Press Release
Read More: House Stands for Fiscal Sanity, Passes Responsible Spending Limits
Wolf’s Veto Blocks Pathway out of Poverty for Thousands in Pa.
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…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Veto Blocks Pathway out of Poverty for Thousands in Pa.Education
Education Savings Accounts Bill Introduced in State Senate
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…
Press Release
Read More: Education Savings Accounts Bill Introduced in State Senate
Work Requirements Promote Independence, Wolf Should Embrace Them
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,…
Press Release
Read More: Work Requirements Promote Independence, Wolf Should Embrace ThemRegulation
Tapping Indebted PLCB to Pay Down Debt a Risky Bet
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…
Press Release
Read More: Tapping Indebted PLCB to Pay Down Debt a Risky BetState Budget
House Plan Taps Shadow Budget Stash to Pay State’s Bills
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…
Press Release
Read More: House Plan Taps Shadow Budget Stash to Pay State’s BillsPublic Union Democracy
News Release: Majority of Union Employees Want Worker Voting Rights
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…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Majority of Union Employees Want Worker Voting RightsGovernment Accountability
News Release: $65 Million in Earmarks Hidden in State’s Fiscal Code
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…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: $65 Million in Earmarks Hidden in State’s Fiscal Code