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Education
Key Takeaways from Governor’s 2024 Budget Proposal
Key Points Gov. Josh Shapiro’s startling spending increases and myriad of new initiatives would explode the budget deficit and invite massive tax hikes on working families in the coming years.
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Energy
Pa. Travelers’ Guide: Summer Gasoline Prices
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State Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that through the end of February, state General Fund revenues are $477 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010State Budget
Budget Facts 2010: Spending Increases by Department
Pennsylvania faces a projected General Fund tax revenue shortfall of at least $500 million. Governor Rendell proposed a $29 billion budget for 2010-11, that increases businesses taxes, imposes new taxes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2010: Spending Increases by DepartmentState Budget
Budget Facts 2010: Pennsylvania State Budget Overview
Pennsylvania faces a projected General Fund tax revenue shortfall of at least $500 million. Governor Rendell proposed a $29 billion General Fund budget for 2010-11, that increases businesses taxes, imposes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2010: Pennsylvania State Budget OverviewEnergy
Business Guide to Electric Choice & Competition
In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania's electricity rates were 15% above the national average, despite the abundance of low-cost coal generation in the Commonwealth. At that time, electricity was sold by…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Business Guide to Electric Choice & CompetitionEducation
Climategate & Penn State
Just days after news broke about what has been dubbed "Climategate," Penn State University (PSU) announced that it would investigate the conduct of Michael Mann, a professor in PSU's Department…
Fact Sheet
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Citizen’s Guide to Electric Choice & Competition
In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania's electricity rates were 15% above the national average, despite the abundance of low-cost coal generation in the Commonwealth. At that time, electricity was sold by…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Citizen’s Guide to Electric Choice & CompetitionGovernment Accountability
Spending Transparency & Accountability
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Spending Transparency & AccountabilityRegulation
Pennsylvania Pensions and Taxes
Pennsylvania's statewide pension plans for public school employees, state workers, legislators, judges and other government employees - the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System…
Fact Sheet
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Alternative Energy Mandates
Pennsylvania law requires utility companies to produce a certain percentage of their electricity from alternative sources in future years. Proposed legislation would increase this percentage and require new carbon sequestration…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Alternative Energy MandatesRegulation
Government-Run Liquor Stores: The Social Impact of Privatization
Evidence from 48 states over time shows no link between market controls and these social goals. Divestiture of Pennsylvania's state liquor stores would represent a financial windfall to the state,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government-Run Liquor Stores: The Social Impact of PrivatizationHealth Care
Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals
President Obama has pushed national health care reform, making it a priority. While there is no official "Obama plan," and several different proposal in Congress, the leading proposals have several…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Guide to National Health Care Reform ProposalsState Budget
Budget Facts 2009: Budget Deal = Budget Deficits
Unfortunately, even if the Pennsylvania economy recovered to unprecedented level in next two years, there is no way it could possibly produce enough tax revenue to bridge the budgetary canyon…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2009: Budget Deal = Budget DeficitsTaxes & Economy
Repealing Death Tax Will Create Jobs and Boost Economy in Pennsylvania
Eliminating the Death Tax could create over 1.5 million jobs for small and family business workers, including 64,442 jobs in Pennsylvania. An increase in the Death Tax rates to 55%…
Report
Read More: Repealing Death Tax Will Create Jobs and Boost Economy in PennsylvaniaCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Corrections Spending
Facing a massive budget deficit, and with sizeable financial obligations looming, Pennsylvania needs to re-examine how taxpayer dollars are spent. Spending on the Department of Corrections has grown far beyond…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Corrections SpendingState Budget
Pennsylvania State Debt
In addition to the state operating budget, Pennsylvania lawmakers each year pass a capital budget, outlining how much the state can borrow, and detailing projects which may be funded through…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State DebtHealth Care
The Prognosis for National Health Insurance: A Pennsylvania Perspective
In 1960, the private sector funded over three quarters of the nation’s health care expenditures. Individuals paid nearly one-half of the total national health care expenditures through out of pocket…
Report
Read More: The Prognosis for National Health Insurance: A Pennsylvania PerspectiveState Budget
How Do Pennsylvania Taxes Stack Up?
Since 1990, Pennsylvania has gone from 24th in state and local tax burden to 11th. Yet Gov. Rendell has proposed another round of tax hikes—including raising the state…
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Do Pennsylvania Taxes Stack Up?Regulation
Pennsylvania’s Flawed Film Tax Credit: What the ERA study won’t tell you
The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee contracted with Economics Research Associates (ERA)1 to analyze Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit (FTC). In general, the ERA report, “Pennsylvania’s Film Production Tax Credit…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Flawed Film Tax Credit: What the ERA study won’t tell youEnergy
Electricity Restructuring and Rate Caps
With electricity rate caps expiring, state lawmakers are concerned that Pennsylvanians will see steep increases in their utility bills. What will happen as the electricity deregulation, which is more accurately…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Electricity Restructuring and Rate CapsState Budget
Budget Facts 2009: PA State Budget Overview
Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing spending.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2009: PA State Budget OverviewRegulation
Budget Facts 2009: Cigarette Taxes
Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2009: Cigarette Taxes