Staff

Wolf’s Veto Blocks Pathway out of Poverty for Thousands in Pa.

• October 19, 2017

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

State Budget

Pennsylvania Needs (Tax) Climate Change

• October 19, 2017

What does it take to be #26? The Tax Foundation has the answer. The independent tax policy group released its latest State Business Climate Tax Index, which ranks each…

Media

Education

Education Savings Accounts Bill Introduced in State Senate

• October 18, 2017

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

Health Care

Obamacare Creates Another Round of Premium Hikes

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• October 18, 2017

Governor Wolf announced exchange insurance premiums will increase by 30 percent next year thanks to President Trump and Congress. The problem is insurance rates have increased every year under…

Media

State Budget

What’s in the Latest House Revenue Plan

• October 18, 2017

The state House approved another revenue plan late last night, potentially signaling an end to the 2017-18 budget negotiations. The bill, HB 542, would allow the commonwealth to…

Media

Regulation

How Should Pennsylvania Attract Amazon?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 17, 2017

Amazon has been dominating Pennsylvania business news since announcing its interest in creating a second U.S. headquarters (HQ2). Several regions of the state are expected to contend for this new…

Media

Health Care

Restoring the Dignity of Work

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 17, 2017

The benefits of work are widely known. Yet major welfare programs treat work as a burden instead of the pathway to prosperity. Restoring work in food stamps alone could improve…

Report

Regulation

Liquor Store Loan? Don’t Bank on It

• Nathan Benefield
• October 16, 2017

Gov. Wolf’s plan to borrow more than $1 billion against PLCB revenue to balance the budget makes little sense. Under Wolf’s plan to “monetize” our liquor system, the state’s General…

Commentary

Work Requirements Promote Independence, Wolf Should Embrace Them

• October 12, 2017

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

Government Accountability

Union Advantages Yield Undue Influence

• October 11, 2017

In today’s political landscape big money is usually associated with corporations and industries like oil or gas, however, government unions are the most advantaged special interest in Pennsylvania. CF’s Nathan…

Media

Education

Gov. Wolf Reverses Unlawful Moves

• Jessica Barnett
• October 11, 2017

Admist the budget stalemate, there is some welcome news out of Harrisburg. Within a single week, thousands of home care workers, educators, and taxpayers were relieved from the governor’s punitive…

Media

State Budget

Fact Check: Did the budget deal include an agreement to raise taxes?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 10, 2017

Gov. Wolf has angrily accused the House of refusing to pass a tax increase, implying it was agreed to when the spending plan passed on June 30. But a check…

Media

Health Care

Wolf’s Wrongheaded Veto Threat

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 9, 2017

Governor Wolf intends to veto Pennsylvania’s welfare code (HB 59) due to a reform contained within the bill—even though the reform can reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. The modest reform instructs the…

Media

Education

What to Make of the PSSA Results

• Colleen Hroncich
• October 6, 2017

Newly released Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores show little to no change in academic achievement across the commonwealth. What do these scores mean? The PSSAs posted on…

Media

Regulation

Tapping Indebted PLCB to Pay Down Debt a Risky Bet

• October 5, 2017

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

Regulation

Gov. Wolf Proposes Using Debt-Ridden Agency to Pay Down Debt

• October 5, 2017

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 plan, the state’s…

Media

Education

Wolf Administration’s Disregard for the Law is Hurting Pennsylvanians

• October 5, 2017

Gov. Wolf's refusal to release approval letters for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs is causing needless pain for families, students, schools, and…

Media

Regulation

An Inhospitable Tax Increase

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 4, 2017

Another day, another tax. The newest plan to fill a $2.2 billion budget hole includes a 5 percent increase to the hotel tax, along with a new tax on fireworks and third-party online…

Media

Regulation

Devil in the Details of PLCB Finances

• October 3, 2017

It was another banner year for the government liquor monopoly—or so the PLCB claims. The agency recently released its finances, touting all-time high sales and a record $720.6 million…

Media

State Budget

Four Alternatives to the Warehouse Tax

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• October 3, 2017

The latest tax proposal to balance the $2.2 billion budget shortfall is receiving a cool reception. The tax hike under consideration would extend the sales tax to commercial warehouses. The…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Good News for Forced Union Fee Payers

• Jessica Barnett
• September 29, 2017

For public employees forced to subsidize union politics—or lose their jobs—a U.S. Supreme Court announcement yesterday signals a potential end to this workplace coercion.   The Court indicated it will…

Media