Overspending, Not Undertaxing, Created PA Budget Deficit
Why does Pennsylvania have a state budget deficit? Simple: Overspending. If the state had grown spending by the rate of inflation and population growth over the last three years, the…
Media
Read More: Overspending, Not Undertaxing, Created PA Budget DeficitRegulation
The Unrelenting Demand for Tax Increases Illustrates Lessons Unlearned
For Gov. Wolf, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite the harm caused by last year’s tax increases, Gov. Wolf appears to be holding out—yet…
Media
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News Release: Don’t Hike Taxes—Examine Priorities in $3 Billion Off-Budget Spending
State lawmakers scrambling for revenue sources to balance their $32 billion spending plan are faced with a choice: higher taxes or real reform. The decision should be easy. Pennsylvanians…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Don’t Hike Taxes—Examine Priorities in $3 Billion Off-Budget SpendingPublic Union Democracy
Ghost Teachers Exposed by NBC Philadelphia
The ghost teaching phenomenon is continuing to garner major media coverage—this time, a multi-part NBC10 Philadelphia investigation. Investigative reporter Mitch Blacher gets to the bottom of union work on school…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teachers Exposed by NBC PhiladelphiaRegulation
Liquor Privatization’s Dual Purpose
State lawmakers have yet to agree on a plan to balance last year’s budget (2016-17) or this year’s budget (2017-18), despite authorizing large spending increases both years. In…
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Read More: Liquor Privatization’s Dual PurposeRegulation
Policy Memo: Ideas to Balance the 2017-18 Budget
With a spending plan in place, lawmakers should focus their efforts on reinventing state government to balance the budget, including ending horse racing subsidies.
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Ideas to Balance the 2017-18 BudgetState Budget
Lawmakers’ Choices: Higher Taxes or Real Reform
Half the state budget is done: the spending list. The Pennsylvania House and Senate passed a general appropriations bill on Friday. But the other half—how to pay for it—remains. The…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers’ Choices: Higher Taxes or Real ReformCriminal Justice Reform
How to Revamp Pa.’s Criminal Justice System
Pennsylvania can reduce its prison population by more than 1,000 people while saving approximately $108 million over five years, according to a Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) Working Group Report.
Media
Read More: How to Revamp Pa.’s Criminal Justice SystemPublic Union Democracy
Balancing Pennsylvania’s Budget: Tax or Reform?
Government unions are rallying in Harrisburg, demanding more money from Pennsylvanians to justify an even larger state budget. It’s worth asking, how did we get here again? And what…
Media
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