State Budget
Deficit Watch: June 2026
Background Pennsylvania continues to face serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2025–26 General Fund budget created a $4.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh…
Deficit Watch
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Shapiro’s “Spooky” Spending Spree
It is trick-or-treat time—but Gov. Josh Shapiro is hoarding the treats for himself while he tricks Pennsylvanians. As everyday Pennsylvanians struggle to afford the ever-increasing cost of living in the…
Blog
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Commonwealth Foundation Urges Legal Protection of State’s Rainy Day Fund
Letter calls on Treasurer Garrity to withhold any transfer from the budget stabilization reserve fund, pending legal adjudication. Harrisburg, Pa., September 8, 2025 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation…
Press Release
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Governor’s Proposed Budget Would Balloon Deficit to More Than $6 BILLION
Harrisburg, Pa., February 28, 2024 — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed $48.3 billion budget would expand Pennsylvania’s structural deficit to more than $6 billion by 2028 and lead to major tax increases,…
Press Release
Read More: Governor’s Proposed Budget Would Balloon Deficit to More Than $6 BILLIONState Budget
Takeaways from the Unfinished 2023–24 State Budget
Summary The state budget remains unfinished. While Gov. Josh Shapiro signed off on the general appropriation bill (House Bill 611), authorizing more than $40 billion in state general fund spending,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Takeaways from the Unfinished 2023–24 State BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania Fiscal Chart Book 2022
Eight charts summarizing how much state government spends and how to strengthen the fiscal health of the commonwealth.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Fiscal Chart Book 2022Government Accountability
Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying Costs
December 6, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvania taxpayers paid for at least $42 million in lobbying expenses from 2007–2020, according to two reports released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The $42 million…
Press Release
Read More: Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying CostsGovernment Accountability
How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Associations to Lobby
Prohibiting local governments and government agencies from diverting public funds to these associations would increase transparency and prevent taxpayers’ dollars from funding lobbying harmful to taxpayers.
Backgrounder
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Earmarks Double to $120 Million in State Budget
December 8, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Wolf used a shadowy process to bury $120 million of earmarks in the new state budget. That’s double last year’s…
Press Release
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