State Budget

Optimizing State Spending

  • February 25, 2025

Summary Pennsylvania faces a $3.6 billion structural budget deficit in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024–25. The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) calculates Gov. Josh Shapiro’s FY 2025–26 budget…

Fact Sheet

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Education

Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending Binge

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2025

Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s radical overspending exacerbates what is already a massive budget deficit. His plan imposes new taxes this year and will force extreme tax hikes on working families…

Fact Sheet

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Energy

Corporate Welfare, No Boost to Business Climate

  • August 16, 2022

Summary Pennsylvania’s economy continues to struggle. In June, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate reached 4.5 percent, the fifth highest in the nation.[1], [2] As of June…

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

Gov. Wolf’s Budget Plan & Working Families

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 23, 2021

Chairman Causer and members of the House Majority Policy Committee, thank you for inviting the Commonwealth Foundation to testify on the impact of Governor Wolf’s budget proposal. My name is…

Testimony

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Health Care

Liquor Licensing: Too Hot for PLCB to Handle

  • Tirzah Duren
  • May 12, 2020

For restaurant owners in Pennsylvania, the new release Too Hot To Handle is more than pure entertainment, the winnings are almost enough for them to purchase an elusive liquor license. …

Commentary

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Health Care

Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?

  • Tirzah Duren
  • April 21, 2020

For Pennsylvanians, mixing up their favorite cocktail and following the adventures of an off-the-wall zoo owner named Joe Exotic might be easier said than done. State-run liquor stores shut down…

Commentary

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Criminal Justice Reform

Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. Wolf

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2018

In the last four years Pennsylvania has experienced rapid state spending growth. On the plus side, constant tax hike proposals have been largely rejected and policies like pension reform, school…

Memo

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State Budget

Op-Ed: Should Pennsylvanians Pay More for The Walking Dead?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 24, 2017

Thanks to last year’s state budget, you’re paying more to watch House of Cards. This year, The Walking Dead—and a host of other cable TV shows—could cost you more, too. …

Commentary

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