Government Accountability

Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying Costs

  • December 6, 2021

December 6, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvania taxpayers paid for at least $42 million in lobbying expenses from 2007–2020, according to two reports released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The $42 million…

Press Release

Read More: Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying Costs

Op-Ed: Limited Government Can Make a Comeback in Pandemic Era

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2021

States like Pennsylvania are also pushing against unbridled gubernatorial powers. In the past, Republicans and Democrats criticized executive overreach when the opposing party was in power. Both parties, however, rarely…

Commentary

Read More: Op-Ed: Limited Government Can Make a Comeback in Pandemic Era

Education

Concentrating Resources on Failing Systems Instead of Students

  • Stefanie Mason
  • July 20, 2021

The 2021-22 budget has the largest state education funding increase in Pennsylvania history despite public schools receiving over $6.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds. The funding increase includes a…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Concentrating Resources on Failing Systems Instead of Students

New Research Shows Pathway to Fiscal Stability for States

  • Michael Torres
  • July 12, 2021

July 13, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. — A new Commonwealth Foundation study investigating the impacts of Taxpayer and Expenditure Limits (TELs) has found that the policies can ward off tax increases…

Press Release

Read More: New Research Shows Pathway to Fiscal Stability for States

State Budget

2021 Budget Takeaways

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 29, 2021

Last week, the Pa. General Assembly passed a state budget deal that includes $40 billion in the General Fund budget, increases in tax credit scholarships, and a number of policy…

Fact Sheet

Read More: 2021 Budget Takeaways

Education

Pennsylvania Public Schools? Pandemic Profits

  • Stefanie Mason
  • June 18, 2021

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

Read More: Pennsylvania Public Schools? Pandemic Profits