State Budget
Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum Return
Media clips to accompany this release can be downloaded here. Harrisburg, Pa., May 20, 2026 — Under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal, Pennsylvania would spend $1.7 billion on corporate welfare programs. If lawmakers swapped corporate handouts for tax cuts, taxpayers could reap $530 per family of…
Press Release
Read More: Corporate Hand-outs Cost Billions, Yield Minimum ReturnState Budget
Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Summary High taxes and burdensome regulations continue to drive outmigration. Rather than improving the state’s tax and regulatory environment, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–27 budget proposal seeks to…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Corporate Welfare in Governor Shapiro’s 2026–27 Budget ProposalRegulation
We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers
The Tribune Review reports that another Pennsylvania company is moving to China. A company that built saltwater-based battery systems at the former Sony Corp. plant near New Stanton will move to…
Media
Read More: We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, SuckersRegulation
Government Strikes Out, Yet Keeps Playing
For state government, it isn’t ‘three strikes and you’re out.’ Or even four strikes. In fact, state officials get to play by their own rules when it comes to economic…
Media
Read More: Government Strikes Out, Yet Keeps PlayingState Budget
Seven Threats to the 2017-18 Budget
The 2016-17 budget remains unbalanced. Without serious efforts to reduce spending or reform major cost drivers, like public pensions and the sprawling human services system, taxpayers should expect a push…
Memo
Read More: Seven Threats to the 2017-18 Budget
Of Volkswagens and Public Schools
In a story by Capitolwire (paywall), state Rep. Curtis Thomas is quoted as saying, “We cannot ask children to give us Cadillac performance when you give them Volkswagen dollars to…
Media
Read More: Of Volkswagens and Public SchoolsRegulation
End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All
Taxpayers have spent millions on four different occasions to subsidize the infamous “Sony site” in Westmoreland County. In the 1970’s Volkswagen got $70 million in state aid under Gov.
Media
Read More: End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for AllRegulation
Sony Site: Merely Renting Jobs with Corporate Welfare
Last week, the state gave $10 million to rehabilitate the former site of a Sony plant—marking the fourth time taxpayer funding has been used to “create jobs” at the exact…
Media
Read More: Sony Site: Merely Renting Jobs with Corporate WelfarePublic Union Democracy
Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”
Every other Tuesday, Matt Brouillette hosts The Politics of Business on Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio on WMNY 1360 AM from 2-6pm. This week he tackled a variety of issues that rankled at…
Media
Read More: Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”