State Budget

Deficit Watch: April 2026

• April 6, 2026

Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…

Deficit Watch

State Budget

Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget Proposal

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2026

Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s unaffordable budget worsens Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. The governor proposes nearly $53.26 billion in general fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase over the 2025–26 enacted budget. He…

Fact Sheet

The Myth of Increased Education Spending

• Rachel Langan
• January 13, 2026

Testimony of Rachel LanganSenior Education Policy AnalystThe Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy AlternativesHearing on Improving Reading Outcomes in PennsylvaniaBefore the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy CommitteeThe Honorable David Argall, ChairJanuary…

Testimony

Education

What Pennsylvania Lawmakers Must Prioritize in 2026

• Megan Martin, Stephen Bloom
• January 5, 2026

Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Pennsylvania stands at a pivotal moment. Families are stretched thin by higher costs, and employers are weighing whether to invest here or elsewhere. We can’t…

Commentary

Energy

The Top Five Policy Victories of 2025—and a Look Ahead to 2026

• December 31, 2025

Pennsylvania saw no shortage of controversies and political battles in 2025, including a four-month-long budget impasse. But this year also saw lawmakers enact several pro-growth policies—from expanding educational choice to…

Blog

Energy

The Future Of Energy Policy Begins In Pennsylvania

• Andrew Lewis
• December 15, 2025

Originally published by the Daily Caller. As states grapple with rising electricity prices, lawmakers struggle to strike a balance between affordable energy and responsible environmental stewardship. Achieving both…

Media Hit

Education

Pennsylvania Courts Never Ordered More Funding for Public Schools

• Rachel Langan
• December 10, 2025

One of the best-kept secrets in Pennsylvania is the outcome of the 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling on public education funding. Myths and disinformation abound. But few are as pernicious as…

Blog

A Brighter Future for PA Energy?

• Common Sense Weekly
• November 22, 2025

Here’s the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.We hope you have a great weekend and a happy Thanksgiving! Pennsylvania’s Future Looks Much…

Blog

Educational Choice Win: Pennsylvania Doubles Scholarship Program for Marginalized Students

• November 20, 2025

School choice scored a big win in Pennsylvania’s newly minted budget. Last week, lawmakers negotiated a $50 million increase to the Economically Disadvantaged Schools (EDS) program,…

Blog