State Budget

State Spending to Blame for Low Economic Opportunity in Pa.

• December 13, 2016

State Spending to Blame for Low Economic Opportunity in Pa. New Report Shows Need for Government Spending Restraint December 13, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—When it comes to controlling…

Press Release

Regulation

The PLCB: A Winner in a Race with No Competitors

• December 12, 2016

In 2013, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) released its first annual report, emphasizing record sales and “profits.” Neither of these is impressive when analyzed in context, but the…

Media

Regulation

Don’t Wait on Washington for Manufacturing Jobs

• Gordon Tomb
• December 12, 2016

During his campaign stops in Pennsylvania, President-elect Donald Trump touted his intention to bring manufacturing jobs back to the state. That’s a worthy goal, but the truth…

Commentary

Education

Will Lower Standards Help Pa. School Performance?

• James Paul
• December 9, 2016

Pennsylvania’s primary tool for grading schools—the School Performance Profile (SPP)—is being overhauled. The current SPP is not particularly straightforward, but it’s based mainly on test scores and academic…

Media

Regulation

What Pennsylvania’s Budget Trends Mean for You

• December 8, 2016

State government is growing at a startling rate. Since 1970, spending has risen by $4,010 per person—an inflation-adjusted increase of 189 percent. This is one of many findings in our…

Media

Education

Magnum, P.I. Comes to Bethlehem

• James Paul
• December 7, 2016

Bethlehem School District employs private investigators to track down students with fraudulent home addresses. According to The Morning Call, DBM Investigations and Consulting has identified 35 students…

Media

Taxes & Economy

PA’s Conflicted Relationship with Natural Gas

• Gordon Tomb
• December 6, 2016

The government giveth, and the government taketh away. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Pennsylvania’s relationship with the natural gas industry. On the one hand, Gov. Wolf offers a…

Media

Policy Briefing Handbook

• December 5, 2016

State Budget & Tax Policy 3 Steps to an Honest Budget…

Commentary

Education

Hits and Misses from the 2015-16 Legislative Session

• Elizabeth Stelle
• December 5, 2016

That's a wrap. The 2015-16 legislative session is officially in the history books. Despite a $650 million tax hike, Pennsylvanians have a lot to celebrate from the past two years.

Media