Taxes & Economy

Taxpayer Protection Act: Facts & Myths

• March 3, 2022

Summary The Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) controls the growth of state spending by tying budget increases to the average rate of inflation and population growth. Moreover, the TPA requires a…

Fact Sheet

Public Union Democracy

Why Pennsylvania Needs Wisconsin-Style Government Union Reform

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• February 24, 2022

Key Findings Government unions have enormous political power in Pennsylvania, due to a host of special legal privileges granted in state law.Government union executives use this power to trap government…

Report

Energy

Wolf’s RGGI fixation will slow Pennsylvania’s recovery

• Gordon Tomb
• February 17, 2022

Originally published at City & State Gov. Tom Wolf’s timing for imposing a new energy tax could hardly be worse. Pennsylvania’s economy is trying to recover from the pandemic’s…

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Population Problems

• February 8, 2022

The Problem New data[1] from the United States Census Bureau shows Pennsylvania’s population problems remain: Pennsylvania’s population decreased by 25,000 from July 2020 to July 2021. Natural population…

Fact Sheet

State Budget

How Government Overspending Hurts Pennsylvania Families

• Andrew Holman, Nathan Benefield
• January 31, 2022

Key Points Excessive government spending and borrowing is causing record-setting inflation and severe supply chain shortages.Voters want fiscal restraint from their government.High taxes and spending are making Pennsylvania uncompetitive, costing…

Backgrounder

State Budget

2022 Pa. Budget Checklist

• January 31, 2022

Limit spending growth to the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) index The total General Fund spending increase should not exceed the TPA limit of 3.46 percent, or an additional $1.376 billion.

Fact Sheet

Education

Pa. Senate Committee Passes School Choice Bill

• January 19, 2022

January 19, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee approved a bill to expand Pennsylvania’s successful and popular tax credit scholarship programs. SB 527, sponsored by Sen. Mike…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Why Pennsylvania Needs Probation Reform

• Brandon Van Dyck
• December 15, 2021

Pennsylvania has an overburdened probation system that delivers substandard results. The commonwealth’s recidivism rate is 41 percent—one of the highest in the nation.

Backgrounder

Op-Ed: Pa. lawmakers can end educational chaos by passing HB 1

• Nathan Benefield
• September 30, 2021

Educational choice policies like those in the Excellent Education for all Act (House Bill 1) empower parents.

Commentary