Education

Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2026

Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s unaffordable budget worsens Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. The governor proposes nearly $53.26 billion in general fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase over the 2025–26 enacted budget. He…

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

Deficit Watch: May 2025

  • May 2, 2025

Pennsylvania cannot afford more mass transit bailouts. Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit. Gov.

Deficit Watch

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State Budget

Mass Transit Bailout

  • April 28, 2025

2025 Budget Proposal Seeks to Further Subsidize Inefficient Agencies Summary Mass transit agencies, including Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) in Pittsburgh, have seen…

Fact Sheet

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Government Accountability

12 Reasons Why We Shouldn’t Bail Out SEPTA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 11, 2025

As Commonwealth Foundation outlined in our “Mass Transit Bailout” fact sheet, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and other mass transit agencies should not rely…

Blog

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Education

Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending Binge

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2025

Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s radical overspending exacerbates what is already a massive budget deficit. His plan imposes new taxes this year and will force extreme tax hikes on working families…

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

Transit Bailout Could Derail Shapiro’s Budget

  • Andrew Holman, Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro thinks mass transit is too big to fail. In his recent budget address, Shapiro pitched sending roughly $300 million…

Media Hit

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Education

Key Takeaways from Governor’s 2024 Budget Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2024

Key Points Gov. Josh Shapiro’s startling spending increases and myriad of new initiatives would explode the budget deficit and invite massive tax hikes on working families in the coming years.

Backgrounder

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Taxes & Economy

Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2012

PA Independent reports that Pennsylvania state taxpayers will give $30 million to the Port Authority of Allegheny County to entice the local union to sign a contract: Pittsburgh’s…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians Have Good Reasons to Oppose Higher Fuel Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2010

Grove City College economist Tracy Miller explains why Pennsylvania drivers are resistant to a higher gasoline tax. In contrast to prior periods when the tax was viewed as a…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Have Good Reasons to Oppose Higher Fuel Taxes