Education

PA Education-Funding Lawsuit Opens the Floodgates for Reform

• David Osborne
• March 6, 2023

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania In February, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a controversial decision that could end a long-running, high-profile lawsuit over the state’s funding of public schools. The…

Media Hit

State Budget

Pennsylvania State Budget Outlook

• January 9, 2023

In November, the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released its Five Year Economic and Budget Outlook. Here are several trends for lawmakers. Pennsylvania’s Economy Remains Stagnant IFO forecasts Pennsylvania’s…

Fact Sheet

Pennsylvania Back-to-School Education Trends

• September 12, 2022

As students head back to school, there are many claims of teacher shortages and funding shortfalls. In reality, public school spending is at a record high and Pennsylvania ranks among…

Research

State Budget

Op-Ed: Pa.’s out-of-control spending is driving away residents

• Nathan Benefield
• January 25, 2022

Originally published in the Pittsiburgh Tribune-Review Gov. Tom Wolf recently declared 2022 a “magical year” for the Pennsylvania budget, citing the possibility of a surplus. However, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal…

Media Hit

Op-Ed: With $7 billion windfall, Pa. should focus on jobs, students

• Nathan Benefield
• June 21, 2021

With this budget, lawmakers should enact policies that help our citizens find work and ensure that every kid has access to a high-quality education.

Commentary

Op-Ed: With $7 Billion to Spend, Lawmakers Must Avoid Past Mistakes

• June 16, 2021

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

State Budget

Pennsylvania COVID-19 Relief Funds

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 19, 2021

During the pandemic, Pennsylvania directed more funding to closed schools than to health care.

Fact Sheet

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: Don’t raise taxes while PA families are hurting

• Nathan Benefield
• November 16, 2020

Months into this severe pandemic response, the economy is slowly recovering, as are state revenues, but lawmakers face a budget shortfall of at least $3 billion, according to the Independent Fiscal Office’s…

Commentary