Manufactured Crisis

• Common Sense Weekly
• August 23, 2025

Welcome to the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Follow us on X for the latest updates—and help us reach…

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State Budget

SEPTA’s Manufactured Crisis Has Delayed State Budget Long Enough

• August 22, 2025

Harrisburg, Pa., August 22, 2025 — This Sunday, after eight consecutive weeks of public fearmongering, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will enact self-imposed service cuts. Though completely avoidable, these…

Press Release

State Budget

SEPTA, Shapiro, and House Dems Own This Budget Stalemate

• Kevin Kane
• August 22, 2025

Originally published by the Delaware Valley Journal. The Pennsylvania budget is, once again, late. Budget negotiations have come to a standstill over one issue: bailing out…

Media Hit

State Budget

New TV/Digital Ad: Shapiro’s Budget Impasse is Failing Kids & Families

• August 22, 2025

Harrisburg, Pa., August 22, 2025 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new ad, calling for Gov. Josh Shapiro to end the budget impasse with a compromise that protects families…

Press Release

Education

Pennsylvania Students Can’t Succeed if They Aren’t Safe

• Rachel Langan
• August 20, 2025

Originally published by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. According to federal and state law, the Keystone State owes parents of students attending dangerous schools the chance to transfer…

Media Hit

Energy

Electricity Bills Too High? Bad Energy Policies Are to Blame.

• Megan Martin
• August 18, 2025

Originally published by RealClearEnergy. Hot enough for you? If this muggy Pennsylvania heat doesn’t have you sweating, your monthly electricity bills will. Power usage surged during…

Media Hit

Government Accountability

Shapiro’s Shadow Campaign: Taxpayer Funds Power National PR Machine

• Erik Telford
• August 18, 2025

Originally published by RealClearPolitics. As speculation around his presidential ambitions swirls, make no mistake: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is already campaigning. And his national shadow…

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Home Care Workers Should Welcome Deregulation

• August 18, 2025

In July, President Donald Trump and his administration proposed more than 60 rule changes designed to deregulate several industries, including mining, farming, and construction. These measures will have a noticeable…

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Education

Pennsylvania has a Problem with Dangerous Schools

• August 15, 2025

A sweeping new analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation reveals that Pennsylvania’s approach to identifying and responding to dangerous conditions in public schools falls short and may…

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