State Budget
Corporate Welfare in the 2024–25 Budget
Summary Pennsylvania’s economy is largely uncompetitive, with the state routinely losing businesses and residents to more economically competitive states like Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposes…
Read More: Corporate Welfare in the 2024–25 BudgetPennsylvania’s complex state budget has enabled policymakers to keep taxpayers in the dark when it comes to state spending. Year after year, some elected officials use budget gimmicks to both make the budget appear balanced and to secure their own agendas. Pennsylvanians deserve reforms that bring true transparency to the budgeting process. We must limit spending growth to a sustainable rate, ensuring the state government—like hardworking taxpayers—live within its means.
2024 state budget resources
State Budget
People Everywhere Just Want to Be Free (Of Taxes)
Pennsylvanians work nearly four months a year just to pay the taxes imposed at the various levels of government. This is just one of the many findings in the Tax…
Media
Read More: People Everywhere Just Want to Be Free (Of Taxes)State Budget
How to Craft a Responsible Budget
Under Gov. Wolf, total state spending has risen by nearly $5.3 billion. This includes more than $2.9 billion in new General Fund spending—a sum exceeding the combined spending increases of…
Media
Read More: How to Craft a Responsible BudgetState Budget
Exposing the Shadow Budget
The state budget process needs an overhaul. Over the last two years, Pennsylvanians have witnessed unbalanced budgets, unsustainable spending increases, and harmful tax hikes. Additionally, a gross lack of financial…
Memo
Read More: Exposing the Shadow BudgetRegulation
House Committee Embraces Pro-Growth Reforms
On Tuesday the House State Government Committee voted to advance regulatory reforms that could restart Pennsylvania’s stagnant economy. Legislators advanced three bills included in a regulatory reform…
Media
Read More: House Committee Embraces Pro-Growth ReformsHealth Care
Pressure Mounts to Create a Pathway to Prosperity in Medicaid
During state budget hearings this week, Pennsylvanians learned some unwelcome news about healthy adults added to Medicaid under the Obamacare expansion: less than half are working. The Department of Human Services (DHS)…
Media
Read More: Pressure Mounts to Create a Pathway to Prosperity in MedicaidCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania’s Overspending Problem Still Proving Costly
To balance last year’s budget, Gov. Wolf and lawmakers agreed to dedicate a portion of Tobacco Settlement Fund payments to cover a $1.5 billion bond issuance. This decision to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Overspending Problem Still Proving CostlyState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposals vs. Reality
Last week, Gov. Wolf unveiled a budget that includes another energy tax and approximately $1 billion in new General Fund spending. (This doesn't include large spending increases in the shadow budget.) While the plan would take…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposals vs. RealityRegulation
The PLCB’s Relentlessly Unimpressive Business Model
If you enjoyed a glass of wine or shot of liquor during Sunday’s thrilling Super Bowl, chances are your beverage of choice passed through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).
Media
Read More: The PLCB’s Relentlessly Unimpressive Business ModelState Budget
A Budget of Contradictions
On Tuesday, Gov. Wolf did not deliver the budget address Pennsylvanians needed to hear. Instead, he offered more of the same: a dramatic increase in the size and…
Media
Read More: A Budget of ContradictionsState Budget
Wolf’s Budget: Nice Rhetoric, Wrong Solutions
After proposing massive tax hikes of $4.6 billion, $2.7 billion, and $1 billion in his first three budgets, Gov. Tom Wolf struck a different tone in today’s budget address.
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Budget: Nice Rhetoric, Wrong SolutionsState Budget
A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Since taking office, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed or supported 11 tax hikes on working families. Lawmakers voted to raise taxes in two of the past three years.
Memo
Read More: A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike ProposalsState Budget
Five Things to Know about Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Budget
On February 6, Governor Wolf laid out his plan for the 2018-19 Pennsylvania state budget. Here are the five things you need to know: 1) Spending Increase Exceeds Taxpayer Protection Act…
Media
Read More: Five Things to Know about Gov. Wolf’s Proposed BudgetState Budget
Lawmakers Call for Common Sense Spending Plan
In advance of next week's budget address by the governor, 10 House lawmakers held a press conference on Thursday to offer positive budget solutions. The Common Sense Caucus brought attention to…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Call for Common Sense Spending PlanState Budget
Tax Hike Redux? History Says Wolf’s Budget Address Could Cost You
In his first three budget addresses, Gov. Wolf proposed massive tax increases of $4.7 billion, $2.7 billion, and $1 billion. Will Wolf stick to his tax-and-spend budget formula and propose…
Press Release
Read More: Tax Hike Redux? History Says Wolf’s Budget Address Could Cost YouState Budget
More Money Coming to a Wallet Near You?
Pennsylvania's tax burden on individuals and the businesses that employ them is far from a warm welcome to the Keystone State. Earlier this month, a House appropriations subcommittee hosted…
Media
Read More: More Money Coming to a Wallet Near You?State Budget
Five Taxpayer Protection Act Facts Every Pennsylvanian Should Know
House Bill 110, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA), would amend Pennsylvania’s constitution to limit spending increases to the combined rate of inflation and population growth over a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Five Taxpayer Protection Act Facts Every Pennsylvanian Should KnowGovernment Accountability
Restoring State Budget Transparency
A House appropriations subcommittee hosted a hearing last week on Pennsylvania’s tax structure and fiscal policy. One of the issues highlighted – Pennsylvania’s lack of state budget transparency. Robert P.
Media
Read More: Restoring State Budget TransparencyCriminal Justice Reform
Criminal Justice Reforms Continue to Benefit Pennsylvanians
Pennsylvania’s bipartisan criminal justice efforts are continuing to pay dividends. According to statistics released by the Department of Corrections (DOC), the state’s prison population fell by 863 inmates—the…
Media
Read More: Criminal Justice Reforms Continue to Benefit PennsylvaniansRegulation
Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100k
This post was updated to reflect a change in private sector compensation. For the first time in Pennsylvania’s history, the average cost of a state employee exceeds $100,000, according…
Media
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Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?
Secretary of the Budget Randy Albright gave a surprisingly upbeat mid-year budget briefing yesterday. According to the state’s budget office, Pennsylvania’s structural deficit is virtually gone. Yet, reason…
Media
Read More: Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?State Budget
Moving Toward a Better Budget Process
Pennsylvania received a bit of good news from Fitch Ratings last week, as the agency affirmed the commonwealth’s credit rating. However, the state’s outlook remains negative. A downgrade is…
Media
Read More: Moving Toward a Better Budget Process