Pa. Earmark Spending Hits All-Time High
August 26, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa.— A new Commonwealth Foundation analysis shows a steep increase in earmarks in the 2021–2022 state budget. Approximately $5.5 billion in both federal and state…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Earmark Spending Hits All-Time HighGovernment Accountability
Fiscal Earmarks Reduce State Budget Transparency
The 2021–2022 Fiscal Code contains at least $5.5 billion in federal and state funds earmarked for special projects across the state, up from $120 million last year. Most of this…
Backgrounder
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Op-Ed: Young Pennsylvanians want to fight climate change. Our leaders want to pretend they are.
Governor Wolf’s push to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is more about appearances than real change. It’s time for Pennsylvania to instate policy that helps the environment, boosts revenue,…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Young Pennsylvanians want to fight climate change. Our leaders want to pretend they are.Education
Concentrating Resources on Failing Systems Instead of Students
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
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New Research Shows Pathway to Fiscal Stability for States
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 StatesHealth Care
How Pennsylvania Is Progressing in the Race to Rebuild
The 2021 state budget includes some policy changes to spur recovery and better governance, but much more needs to occur.
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Pennsylvania Is Progressing in the Race to RebuildEducation
Excellence in Education for All Act Summary
What is the Excellence in Education for All Act? The Excellence in Education for All Act (Senate Bill 1) is an exciting bill that seeks to ensure more Pennsylvania…
Fact Sheet
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New Study: Pa. K-12 Scholarship Bill Would Create Billions in Economic Benefits
June 15, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. — A new study from the Commonwealth Foundation and the American Federation for Children shows that Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarships are a powerful tool for…
Press Release
Read More: New Study: Pa. K-12 Scholarship Bill Would Create Billions in Economic Benefits
The Untapped Potential of Expanded Tax Credit Scholarships
This study reviews the most rigorous evidence on school choice and student outcomes in the United States and estimates the economic impacts of expanding access to Pennsylvania’s K-12 tax credit…
Report
Read More: The Untapped Potential of Expanded Tax Credit Scholarships