Press Releases

Regulation

State Budget Solution #2: Liquor Privatization

• January 19, 2017

Getting Government Out of the Booze Business Could Bring $1 Billion+ Windfall January 19, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—This week marks the 98th anniversary of the ratification of the…

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State Budget

State Budget Solution #1: Corrections Reform

• January 11, 2017

Flawed Sentencing System Driving Spending Growth January 11, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—As state budget season begins, Governor Wolf and legislative leaders have signaled their desire to streamline government as…

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Taxes & Economy

Pa. Population Drops for First Time in 31 Years

• December 21, 2016

Pa. Population Drops for First Time in 31 Years Thousands Leave for Friendlier Tax Climates December 21, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.— For the first time since 1985, Pennsylvania’s…

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State Budget

State Spending to Blame for Low Economic Opportunity in Pa.

• December 13, 2016

State Spending to Blame for Low Economic Opportunity in Pa. New Report Shows Need for Government Spending Restraint December 13, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—When it comes to controlling…

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Regulation

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending

• November 16, 2016

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending State Faces up to $900 Million Budget Hole This Year November 16, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Yesterday’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) mid-year…

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Public Union Democracy

Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor Analysis

• November 14, 2016

Study Reveals Most States Earn Low Grades in Public Employee Rights, Taxpayer Protections November 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania is one of 22 states ranking an abysmal “D” or “F” for…

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Public Union Democracy

Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections

• November 2, 2016

Government Unions Pour Millions into Pa. Elections Taxpayers Help Union Leaders Target U. S. Senate, State Attorney General Races November 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Government union leaders have poured nearly…

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Public Union Democracy

Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense

• October 27, 2016

Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense Reform Could Have Freed Public Employees from Restrictive, Failing Pension System October 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—In a…

Press Release

Education

Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion?

• October 12, 2016

Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion? Districts Stock Massive Reserve Funds While Seeking Tax Hikes October 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—A Montgomery County…

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Taxes & Economy

House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops

• September 27, 2016

House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops  Bipartisan Vote Would Repeal 40-Percent Tax, Replace with Per-Milliliter Tax September 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the House Finance Committee voted 19-4 to…

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Education

In School Funding, Pa. High Court Must Not Usurp Legislature

• September 13, 2016

In School Funding, Pa. High Court Must Not Usurp Legislature Student Based Funding Formula, Not Court Mandate, Is Best for Pa. Students   September 13, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As the Pennsylvania…

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Regulation

Exposed: State Agency Pension Debt Revealed for First Time

• September 7, 2016

Exposed: State Agency Pension Debt Revealed for First Time $18 Billion SERS Unfunded Liability Breakdown Shows Urgent Need for Reform September 7, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As lawmakers mull major…

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Education

Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights

• August 16, 2016

Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights Forced Unionism, Ghost Teachers Among Ways Contracts Exploit Teachers August 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As students across Pennsylvania head back to…

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Public Union Democracy

Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too Powerful

• August 11, 2016

Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too Powerful Just 25% of Current or Former Union Members Say Union Leaders Represent Workers Well August 11, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Out of…

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Commonwealth Foundation Launches Bi-Weekly Podcast

• August 10, 2016

Commonwealth Foundation Launches Bi-Weekly Podcast 'Commonwealth Insight’ to Feature Entrepreneurs, Policy Makers, & Thought Leaders August 10, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Commonwealth Foundation today launched Commonwealth Insight, a bi-weekly podcast…

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Taxes & Economy

Punitive e-Cigarette Tax Could Ax 300 Shops, 1,500 Jobs

• August 8, 2016

Punitive e-Cigarette Tax Could Ax 300 shops, 1,500 Jobs Bill Would Reverse 40-Percent Retroactive Tax Poised to Crush Pa. Small Businesses August 8, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Chris Hughes…

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State Budget

Games? eBooks? Music? There’s a Tax for That

• August 1, 2016

Games? eBooks? Music? There’s a Tax for That Digital Downloads Tax Takes Effect Today August 1, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvanians who didn’t stock up on iTunes, eBooks, and game apps…

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Public Union Democracy

DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City

• July 22, 2016

DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City Philadelphians Suffering, Fleeing Due to Policies that Hurt Economic Growth July 21, 2016, Philadelphia, Pa.—As all…

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State Budget

Budget: Still Irresponsible, Still Unbalanced

• July 14, 2016

Budget: Still Irresponsible, Still Unbalanced Despite Fanfare, Budget Remains $300 Million in the Red July 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Yesterday, Gov. Wolf and lawmakers approved a tax and revenue package…

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State Budget

Legislature Sends $600 Million Tax Increase to Gov. Wolf

• July 13, 2016

Legislature Sends $600 Million Tax Increase to Gov. Wolf Pennsylvanians to Pay More for Cigarettes, eBooks, Apps, Streaming Video July 13, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Hoping to balance the unconstitutional, unbalanced…

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State Budget

Pa. Enters Day #1 of Illegal, Unbalanced State Budget

• July 12, 2016

Pa. Enters Day #1 of Illegal, Unbalanced State Budget Gov. Wolf Abdicates Constitutional Responsibility to Correct Legislature’s Error July 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today is uncharted territory for Pennsylvania.

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