Corporate Welfare in 3 Charts

• Tirzah Duren
• March 4, 2021

The Governor’s Executive budget includes updated estimates for spending on corporate welfare, which is government favoritism of one sector or business over others. This favoritism is disquised under less innocuous…

Fact Sheet

Op-Ed: PA Suburbs Signal a National ‘Eds-and-Meds’ Realignment

• Charles F. McElwee
• February 14, 2021

A booming “eds-and-meds” economy is fueling Wyomissing’s gradual political shift. The Knitting Mills complex, for example, houses the corporate offices of Tower Health, which oversees its flagship, Reading Hospital, but…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Pa. Can Energize Its Energy Sector by Cutting Red Tape—Not with Industry Subsidies

• Gordon Tomb, Tirzah Duren
• July 17, 2020

This week the state legislature passed House Bill 732. The bill—designed to exempt volunteer service providers from a 1 percent realty transfer tax— now offers tax credits to the…

Memo

Everything You Need to Know About the State Budget

• May 10, 2017

The Good Spends less than Gov. Wolf’s proposal. The $33.3 billion budget Gov. Wolf outlined was never seriously considered, given how far it was outside the realm of political possibility.

Commentary

Everything You Need to Know About the State Budget

• May 10, 2017

The Good Spends less than Gov. Wolf’s proposal. The $33.3 billion budget Gov. Wolf outlined was never seriously considered, given how far it was outside the realm of political possibility.

Commentary

State Budget

An Analysis of the 2016-17 Budget

• July 18, 2016

On June 30, the legislature passed a $31.6 billion General Fund Budget. Gov. Wolf allowed this budget to become law without his signature on July 12. On July 13, the…

Fact Sheet

Are WAMs Back in the Budget?

• December 9, 2015

Bad news for good government: After reforms a few years ago eliminated “WAMs” in the state budget, these discretionary funds seem to have been resurrected. On Monday, the state Senate…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Super Rendell Finds Bailout For Failing Port Authority

• December 6, 2010

Gov. Rendell has “found” $45 million dollars of Federal Transportation Funds (for Economic Development) to bail out the failing Port Authority. Proponents claim it as a success, stating that…

Media

Regulation

Now is the Time to Practice Fiscal Restraint

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 21, 2009

Testimony of Mathew J. Brouillette President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation, to the PA House Appropriations Committee Thank you for the invitation to share the Commonwealth Foundation’s analysis and perspective on…

Testimony