Staff

Education

No, We’re Not Underfunding Public Schools

• James Paul
• February 29, 2016

My latest op-ed at PennLive debunks several school funding myths that continue to haunt Pennsylvania: While local school revenue is notably high (6th in the nation), state revenue…

Media

Education

School Funding Myths Debunked

• James Paul
• February 29, 2016

Can Pennsylvania do better when it comes to educating our children? Absolutely. But playing “myths for money” will never lead to real solutions for families and students.

Commentary

State Budget

No One Person is to Blame for Pennsylvania’s Problems

• February 26, 2016

Proponents of bigger goverment have crafted a narrative that government has been cut to the bone. Pennsylvania needs massive tax hikes, they say, to repair the damage done by Gov. Corbett, whose slash-and-burn budgeting…

Media

Public Union Democracy

How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union Members

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 25, 2016

Pennsylvania's labor laws keep union members in the dark. Union members rarely have the opportunity to voice their opinion through elections or resign their membership. A lack of transparency makes…

Memo

Education

Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown Millions

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 25, 2016

Allentown School District is no stranger to financial troubles. The third largest public school system in the commonwealth has been in financial distress for years. In 2011, the district…

Media

Governor Wolf’s Sixth Tax Hike Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• February 24, 2016

As noted in previous posts, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed tax hike totaling $2.7 billion over a full year—or $850 per family of four. About half of this increase…

Media

Regulation

Addressing the Confusion on Compensation

• February 23, 2016

Yesterday we issued a press release on public employee compensation, which is now causing quite a stir on social media. One commenter accused us of engaging in “shenanigans.” Another…

Media

Public Union Democracy

The Pretense of Democratic Unions

• February 22, 2016

Control over the largest local teachers union in Pennsylvania is up for grabs. The Caucus of Working Educators (WE) is challenging the leadership of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…

Media

Regulation

Pennsylvania Must Control Compensation Costs

• February 22, 2016

The soaring costs of public employee compensation, if left unchecked, could aggravate Pennsylvania’s financial troubles. The growth in employee benefits, which have skyrocketed since 2006, is driving this upward trend…

Media

Contract Transparency Action Alert

• February 22, 2016

Media

Regulation

Secret Contracts Push State Worker Costs Near $100K Each

• February 22, 2016

Secret Contracts Push State Worker Costs Near $100K Each Benefit Costs Tripled Since 2000 February 22, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As Gov. Wolf calls for a record-high $80 billion…

Press Release

State Budget

Wolf’s Policies Send Pennsylvanians Packing

• Nathan Benefield
• February 19, 2016

Last year, we lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes—a net migration of 41,600 residents, gone. That’s nearly the entire population of York, Gov. Wolf’s hometown. Ironically, Wolf…

Commentary

Education

A Tale of Two School Districts

• James Paul
• February 19, 2016

North Allegheny School District and Pittsburgh School District are barely a dozen miles apart, but their budgeting approaches for the next fiscal year are worlds apart.   Thanks to rising pension…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The Fair Share Fallacy

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 18, 2016

What is the natural gas industry's “fair share” of taxes? The answer depends on the calendar year. An analysis from the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) finds the current “impact fee” is effectively a 5.5…

Media

Education

Taxpayer-Funded Union Politics in Philadelphia

• James Paul
• February 18, 2016

It's no secret that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) plucks teachers out of the classroom to work as full-time union operatives. These individuals are known as ghost teachers—and their…

Media

Take Action: Budget 2016

• February 18, 2016

Media

Education

State Supremes Strike Down Charter Caps

• James Paul
• February 17, 2016

Pennsylvania’s legislature granted extraordinary powers to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) when they created the body in 2001. Tasked with shoring up the district’s finances, the SRC was authorized to suspend…

Media

State Budget

One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want to Move Away

• Nathan Benefield
• February 17, 2016

Residents in states with high taxes to want to move out, according to a recent Gallup poll. This includes 33 percent of Pennsylvania residents.  This shouldn't be a shocker—Pennsylvania families…

Media

State Budget

One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want Out

• February 17, 2016

One-Third of Pa. Residents Want Out High Taxes Driving Thousands of Pennsylvanians Across State Lines February 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—One-third of Pennsylvanians would rather move to another state than…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Press Pause on Clean Power Plan

• Elizabeth Stelle, Gordon Tomb
• February 16, 2016

In a historic move, the US Supreme Court stayed the EPA's Clean Power Plan, otherwise known as Obama's energy tax or stealth cap and trade. The court’s actions halt implementation…

Media

Education

Wolf Tops $1 Billion in New Education Spending

• James Paul
• February 12, 2016

As expected, a cornerstone of Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal is a massive increase in state support of public schools. The administration seeks a $1.1 billion increase over the record-high funding…

Media