State Budget

Tracking State Budget Trends

  • December 2, 2016

The 2016-17 General Fund budget added to Pennsylvania’s fiscal challenges. Lawmakers approved the $31.6 billion budget without implementing meaningful reforms or authorizing enough revenue to balance the budget. Despite lacking…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Tracking State Budget Trends

Regulation

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016

  • December 2, 2016

State revenue collections came in at $79.5 million below the official estimate for November, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Lackluster collections wiped away the little progress made during October when revenue collections…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions’ Election Impact

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 22, 2016

One can't understate the scope of government unions' financial involvement in some of the key Pennsylvania races this fall. While final campaign finance numbers are still a few weeks away,…

Media

Read More: Government Unions’ Election Impact

Public Union Democracy

The Rust Belt’s Labor Reform Wave

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 18, 2016

Lagging job growth, rising taxes and coercive union tactics created an appetite for labor reform throughout Rust Belt states. Transforming Labor, our latest policy report, ranks states on their…

Media

Read More: The Rust Belt’s Labor Reform Wave

Big Budget Deficits Show Need for Big Changes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 16, 2016

Pennsylvania is in a pickle unless lawmakers make fundamental changes. That’s the message of yesterday’s Independent Fiscal Office Economic and Budget Outlook report. Each November the IFO looks at…

Media

Read More: Big Budget Deficits Show Need for Big Changes

Regulation

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending

  • November 16, 2016

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending State Faces up to $900 Million Budget Hole This Year November 16, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Yesterday’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) mid-year…

Press Release

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Public Union Democracy

Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor Analysis

  • November 14, 2016

Study Reveals Most States Earn Low Grades in Public Employee Rights, Taxpayer Protections November 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania is one of 22 states ranking an abysmal “D” or “F” for…

Press Release

Read More: Pa. Gets a ‘D’ in First Ever 50-State Public Sector Labor Analysis

The Taxpayer Protection Act is Crucial for Pa.

  • November 11, 2016

Under Gov. Wolf's administration, state spending has risen by $2.6 billion. For context, spending over the previous eight years grew by $2.7 billion. Total spending would be higher if it weren’t for fiscally…

Media

Read More: The Taxpayer Protection Act is Crucial for Pa.

Regulation

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016

  • November 10, 2016

Last month we raised concerns about Pennsylvania's fiscal trajectory. At the time, state revenue collections were more than $218 million below the official estimate. The current revenue picture is slightly…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016