Staff

State Budget

Horse Racing Subsidies vs. Property Tax Relief

• November 13, 2015

Is a $600 million tax increase needed to end a five month-long budget impasse? Lawmakers are considering it. Yet, a shortage of tax revenue is not the source of…

Media

State Budget

Budget Hope on the Horizon?

• Nathan Benefield
• November 13, 2015

After nearly five months of gridlock, a new state budget framework was announced this week. At this point, it’s tempting to call any progress on budget agreement a victory, but…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Union Political Spending in the 2015 Pennsylvania Elections

• Nathan Benefield
• November 12, 2015

The problem isn't that unions give a lot, or even that they dominate political spending. The problem is that government union dues and campaign contributions are collected at taxpayer expense…

Memo

Education

Cyber Schools: Serving an Important Need

• James Paul
• November 12, 2015

In light of stagnating achievement among K-12 students, the last thing Pennsylvania should do is crack down on alternative educational options. Yet a growing chorus says 35,000 students enrolled…

Media

Education

Another Education Spending Record?

• James Paul
• November 11, 2015

The conventional wisdom in Harrisburg suggests Gov. Wolf is nearing an agreement with the legislature on a state budget. The specific details remain largely unclear, although it appears the…

Media

Regulation

Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in America

• November 10, 2015

Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in America Latest Budget Plan Seeks Biggest Sales Tax Hike Since 1956 November 10, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvanians may soon pay more for…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

New Details on Proposed Tax Increase

• Nathan Benefield
• November 10, 2015

As movement towards a budget deal progresses, more details have emerged regarding the sales tax increase we reported on yesterday. Let's remember that before we ask working families…

Media

Regulation

Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored Deal

• November 9, 2015

Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored Budget Deal Sales Tax for Property Tax Swap Rumor Leaves Taxpayers on the Hook November 9, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—The…

Press Release

State Budget

A Stealth Tax Increase?

• Nathan Benefield
• November 9, 2015

Rumors about a proposed budget continue to swirl in Harrisburg. One such rumor is that the deal would include an increase in the sales tax rate to be used for…

Media

Drop the “Phony Baloney” Liquor Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• November 9, 2015

Rumors around the state capitol suggest legislative leaders are closer to a state budget deal. But shockingly, Gov. Wolf continues to hold out for his ill-advised liquor improvement scheme.

Media

Education

For Latinos, Education is Key to Success

• Brittney Parker
• November 5, 2015

For the Hispanic community, education is the key to making the American Dream a reality. Yet far too many Latinos remain victims of their ZIP code and socio-economic status when it…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Unions’ Pass to Harass Comes to End

• November 5, 2015

Unions' Pass to Harass Comes to End  Wolf Signs Bill Closing Union Violence Loophole November 5, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Eight days after anti-harassment bill HB 874 hit his desk,…

Press Release

Regulation

Corporate Welfare and Cronyism in Bethlehem

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 5, 2015

Election day was a quiet affair in most communities, but in Bethlehem residents used the a local election to protest the appearance of cronyism in connection with a new corporate…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Dear Kids

• Nathan Benefield
• November 4, 2015

On October 21, more than 100 days after his veto touched off Pennsylvania’s ongoing state budget impasse, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

Protect Property Owners from Unreasonable Forfeiture

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 4, 2015

Our justice system is supposed to presume innocence until guilt is proven, but every year, Pennsylvanians are stripped of about $14 million on allegations that their property was involved in…

Commentary

Transparency Trend Continues

• November 3, 2015

Here we go again. Yesterday the Pottsgrove School District reached an agreement with the local teachers union on a new contract. The details are, as Evan Brandt of The…

Media

Regulation

A PLCB Special: Red Ink

• November 3, 2015

Supporters of the state liquor monopoly defend the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) as a cash spigot for the state, which is one of the reasons they refuse to support privatization.

Media

Government Accountability

Union Dues fund SuperPAC Attack Ads

• Nathan Benefield
• November 2, 2015

Pennsylvanians for Judicial Reform—a new “SuperPAC” (technically an “Independent Expenditure Committee”) registered in August—has spent about $2.5 million on attack ads in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race. Who…

Media

Meet the Most Controversial Teacher in America

• Brittney Parker
• November 2, 2015

Rebecca Friedrichs is no stranger to controversy. A teacher and former union member, her case against the California Teachers Association will be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court…

Media

Education

Sobering Results on The Nation’s Report Card

• James Paul
• November 2, 2015

Over the last quarter century, national education scores in both reading and math have modestly trended upward—until this year. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) recently released its biannual…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Union Harassment Victim Urges Wolf to Sign Union Violence Bill

• November 2, 2015

Union Harassment Victim Urges Wolf to Sign Union Violence Bill Governor Has until November 7 to Sign Union Intimidation Bill November 2, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Philadelphia construction executive Sarina…

Press Release