Regulation

Pennsylvania State Budget Background & 2012 Preview

  • February 7, 2012

The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years.

Fact Sheet

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Taxes & Economy

Job-Killing Marcellus Energy TAX Emerges

  • February 6, 2012

A new TAX on Marcellus Shale appears on the horizon. Below is a summary of the behind-closed-doors deal struck by a handful of legislators and staff, according to a memo…

Media

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Welfare

Even Big Government Advocates Understand the Welfare Trap

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 6, 2012

Big government lobbyists and CF don’t agree on much with welfare, but funnily enough, even they acknowledge that Pennsylvania’s welfare system keeps people in poverty. It [a food…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Largest Growth in Pennsylvania Private Sector Jobs Since 1999

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2012

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has updated their employment data by state through the end of 2011 (subject to revision). Looking at December job data (“not seasonally adjusted”) over…

Media

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Criminal Justice Reform

Is State Corrections Spending Sustainable?

  • February 2, 2012

The chart below shows the unsustainable growth in Pennsylvania state corrections spending and inmate population. The criminal justice system’s goal shouldn’t be to simply lock up as many people…

Media

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Regulation

Will our Grandchildren be Budget Losers?

  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • February 2, 2012

As the Governor's state budget address approaches, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate budgetary "winners…

Commentary

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Education

Happy Digital Learning Day

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 1, 2012

Today is national Digital Learning Day, during which groups across the country will commemorate how technology is changing education for the better. So what exactly IS digital learning? Digital…

Media

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