Raining on Shapiro’s Rainy Day Fund Raid
Here’s the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Can the ‘Rainy Day Fund’ Balance the Budget? Pennsylvania’s emergency savings account, contrary to…
Blog
Read More: Raining on Shapiro’s Rainy Day Fund RaidGovernment Accountability
Myth-Busting SEPTA
For the Pennsylvania state budget, mass transit funding is all the rage these days—literally. The primary debate in Harrisburg revolves around the question of whether to send more state dollars…
Blog
Read More: Myth-Busting SEPTAPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Spent $33 Million in Recent Pennsylvania Elections
When it comes to politics, government unions are big spenders—and they overwhelmingly favor one side of the political spectrum. In Pennsylvania, unions representing public sector workers spent millions of membership…
Blog
Read More: Government Unions Spent $33 Million in Recent Pennsylvania ElectionsPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2023–24 Election Cycle
Key Points Government unions enjoy a host of special legal privileges in Pennsylvania, which allow their executives to exert undue influence over Pennsylvania’s public policy process. Government union bosses use…
Backgrounder
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2023–24 Election CycleEducation
Pa. Senate Committee Advances Lifeline Scholarships for Students in Failing Schools
Harrisburg, Pa., May 7, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill (SB) 795, a bill to establish Lifeline Scholarships for children in failing schools. Sponsored by state…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate Committee Advances Lifeline Scholarships for Students in Failing SchoolsPublic Union Democracy
Government Union PAC Spending in 2023
Summary Pennsylvania government union political action committees (PACs) spent $5.6 million in 2023, a record high for an odd-year election where there is not a presidential or midterm election. Of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government Union PAC Spending in 2023Education
Lifeline and Education Choice Myths and Facts
Summary Lifeline Scholarships, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) program, would offer scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per year for students in the commonwealth’s lowest-performing…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Lifeline and Education Choice Myths and FactsEducation
Jennifer Stefano: Josh Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor of the last 50 years
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s lack of bipartisan leadership during his first nine months as governor has resulted in the passage of very few policy initiatives, notes Philadelphia Inquirer columnist…
Press Release
Read More: Jennifer Stefano: Josh Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor of the last 50 yearsEducation
Democrats once again vote against helping vulnerable kids
Harrisburg, Pa., October 5, 2023 — Today,Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued the following statement in response to the Pennsylvania House Democrats’ decision to advance a fiscal code bill…
Press Release
Read More: Democrats once again vote against helping vulnerable kids