Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage

• March 23, 2023

Summary One percent of Pennsylvania workers earn the minimum wage, an all-time low.Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Recent analysis by Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal…

Fact Sheet

Public Union Democracy

Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle

• Andrew Holman
• March 21, 2023

Key Points Government unions are a top interest group in Pennsylvania, spending more than $190 million on politics since 2007. Government union political action committee (PAC) spending continues to increase,…

Backgrounder

Welfare

Ending Poverty Starts With Increasing Work And Paychecks, Not Government Budgets

• Charles Mitchell
• March 21, 2023

Originally published at The Federalist Lawmakers across the spectrum agree that poverty is a perennial crisis. But if they are ever going to come together to find an effective…

Media Hit

Pennsylvanians in poverty need government to get out of the way

• Nathan Benefield
• March 19, 2023

Originally published in The Patriot-News Who is in poverty—and why—is often mischaracterized by both the political right and left. Some blame the poor for lacking a work ethic.

Media Hit

State Budget

Governor Shapiro’s First Budget Falls Short

• Andrew Holman, Nathan Benefield
• March 19, 2023

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first state budget proposal perpetuates unsustainable spending and fails to address the most promising ideas he put forward during his campaign. For…

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Will Teachers Unions’ Political Contributions Prevent School Choice in Pennsylvania?

• Kevin Mooney
• March 17, 2023

Originally published at The Daily Signal A well-funded network of government unions stands in opposition to parents, students, and lawmakers eyeballing education reform in Pennsylvania. Until recently, they have cowed…

Media Hit

Pennsylvania Musician Opposed To Funding Lefty Causes Challenges Forced Unionization

• Kevin Mooney
• March 9, 2023

Originally published at The Federalist Instead of plying his trade as a musician during the height of the Covid pandemic, Glen Wilkofsky’s union dues were paying for political activism…

Media Hit

State Budget

Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield Responds to Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Priorities

• Nathan Benefield
• March 7, 2023

Media Hit

State Budget

Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget Address

• Nathan Benefield
• March 7, 2023

Profligacy Exacerbates Budget Deficit Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget calls for $45.9 billion in ongoing General Fund spending and $43 billion in net state revenues (after refunds). Thus, Pennsylvania has…

Report