Research

Energy

Natural Gas Taxes and Fees

• May 5, 2011

The Marcellus Shale is a large and difficult-to-drill geological formation roughly a mile or more underground throughout more than two-thirds of Pennsylvania that contains natural gas.

Fact Sheet

Public Union Democracy

How Labor Unions Politicize Public Schools

• May 2, 2011

Graphic showing how unions politicalize public schoools.

Poll

Pennsylvania Education Spending

• April 22, 2011

K-12 public education spending has dramatically increased in Pennsylvania.  Pennsylvania's education spending increased from $4 billion in 1980 to more than $25 billion in 2009—a 133% increase in per-student spending,…

Fact Sheet

Education

School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax Relief

• April 22, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

SB1 for Smarties

• April 15, 2011

Not sure how SB1 will affect you, the taxpayer or parent? Here are some important things you need to know!  …

Fact Sheet

State Budget

Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer Debt

• April 15, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

State Budget

Spending Increases by Department

• April 15, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

Pennsylvania State Budget Overview

• April 6, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

Education

Higher Education Spending & Performance

• April 6, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania State Budget Resources 2011

• April 6, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

Public Union Democracy

Streamlining State Government

• March 15, 2011

Pennsylvania businesses must navigate a complex web of regulations from more than 340 independent state agencies, offices, state departments, boards, commissions, and committees stemming from the executive branch. Several other…

Report

State Budget

Understanding the Pennsylvania State Budget

• Nathan Benefield
• March 7, 2011

Pennsylvania's total state operating budget for FY 2010-11 is approximately $65.4 billion-or $5,193 for every man, woman and child in the commonwealth.  This policy brief looks at the entire state…

Fact Sheet

State Budget

Reality-Based Budgeting

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 7, 2011

Pennsylvania state government will tax and spend more than $65 billion this fiscal year.  With the loss of federal stimulus money and the exhaustion of all one-time expenditures, the legislature…

Fact Sheet

Education

School Choice: Questions & Answers

• February 17, 2011

The Pennsylvania School Board Association is circulating "Questions about vouchers your legislator should be asking." Others have legitimate questions and concerns.  This Policy Brief answers them all.

Fact Sheet

Education

15 School Choice Myths

• February 16, 2011

In an attempt to thwart efforts to give children better educational opportunities, the public school establishment is trying to divert the attention of policymakers through a series of oft-repeated myths…

Fact Sheet

Education

Pennsylvania School Choice Resources

• February 8, 2011

Senate Bill 1, The Opportunity Scholarship Act sponsored by Sen. Jeff Piccola (R) and Sen. Tony Williams (D), would expand scholarships available to children in lower- and middle-income families through…

Fact Sheet

Education

School Choice: Why, What, and How

• February 7, 2011

Nine of the 10 "gold standard" evaluations of voucher programs reported statistically significant gains in achievement for all or some voucher recipients.  In 18 out of 19 academically rigorous studies,…

Fact Sheet

Education

Senate Bill 1: Analysis & Recommendations

• February 7, 2011

Senate Bill 1, The Opportunity Scholarship Act sponsored by Sen. Jeff Piccola (R) and Sen. Tony Williams (D), would expand scholarships available to children in lower- and middle-income families through…

Fact Sheet

Energy

Citizen’s Guide to Electric Choice & Competition 2011

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 24, 2011

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

Education

80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

• January 17, 2011

Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition.  To provide a roadmap for…

Report

State Budget

Five Ways to Cut $5 Billion

• January 11, 2011

Tom Corbett campaigned for Governor of Pennsylvania on a pledge not to raise taxes or fees to balance the state's $66 billion budget. With the loss of nearly $3 billion…

Fact Sheet