Education
Pa. Education Spending Soars to All-Time High
Key Points Pennsylvania school district spending per student increased to $19,900 in 2020–21.State support of public education is up 40 percent over the last decade, reaching an all-time high of…
Backgrounder
Read More: Pa. Education Spending Soars to All-Time HighTaxes & Economy
A Brief History of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Key Points Wolf proposed or supported 14 tax hike proposals. Twelve were stopped.Wolf’s proposals contained 52 individual tax increases.If Wolf’s first and most expansive tax proposal had come to fruition,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: A Brief History of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike ProposalsGovernment Accountability
Fiscal Earmarks Reduce State Budget Transparency
The 2021–2022 Fiscal Code contains at least $5.5 billion in federal and state funds earmarked for special projects across the state, up from $120 million last year. Most of this…
Backgrounder
Read More: Fiscal Earmarks Reduce State Budget TransparencyEducation
Pennsylvania Public Schools? Pandemic Profits
Since the early months of the pandemic, Pennsylvania school district bureaucrats and lobbyists have demanded additional funding, ostensibly to cover increased costs. A February Commonwealth Foundation report tracked the…
Media
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Op-Ed: With $7 Billion to Spend, Lawmakers Must Avoid Past Mistakes
The lesson is clear. If politicians use federal stimulus money to expand existing programs, their successors will face intense political pressure to make those spending increases permanent, compounding our structural…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: With $7 Billion to Spend, Lawmakers Must Avoid Past MistakesEnergy
Governor’s Lone Wolf Approach Leaves Families Wanting
Throughout his two terms in office, Governor Tom Wolf has showcased his preference to act unilaterally and consistent unwillingness to work with the state legislature. The unprecedented power Wolf has…
Fact Sheet
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A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Since taking office seven years ago, Governor Wolf has proposed or supported 14 tax hikes on working families.
Fact Sheet
Read More: A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
School Reserve Funds in Pandemic Times
Pennsylvania school officials are projecting local tax revenue losses for the upcoming year due to the wreckage from COVID-19 restrictions. Even if local tax revenue declines, most schools have…
Backgrounder
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Earmarks Double to $120 Million in State Budget
December 8, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Wolf used a shadowy process to bury $120 million of earmarks in the new state budget. That’s double last year’s…
Press Release
Read More: Earmarks Double to $120 Million in State Budget