Education
2024–25 State Budget Analysis
Key Points Pennsylvania’s $47.6 billion 2024–25 budget creates a $3.6 billion structural deficit. This will exhaust General Fund reserves, which will require draining from the Rainy Day fund—illegally—or raising taxes…
Read More: 2024–25 State Budget AnalysisPennsylvania’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
Education
Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
HARRISBURG, PA., July 18, 2024 — Amid growing speculation about President Joe Biden’s future as a candidate, political pundits, operatives, and donors are touting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a potential…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice PresidentEducation
Broken promises
Originally published at the Philadelphia Inquirer The Inquirer left someone out in its coverage of the “winners and losers” of the new state budget: kids in Pennsylvania’s low-achieving…
Commentary
Read More: Broken promisesEducation
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Harrisburg, Pa., July 17, 2024 — Convention delegates, leaders of both political parties, and the national political media will see a new ad telling the truth about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s ineffectiveness.
Press Release
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic IneffectivenessEducation
Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., July 11, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a seriously flawed 2024–25 state budget deal. The deal fails to address the educational needs of students trapped in failing…
Press Release
Read More: Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed BudgetEducation
New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget Process
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — As Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to enact the 2024–25 Pennsylvania budget by the June 30th deadline, voters overwhelmingly support increased bipartisanship in the budget process,…
Media
Read More: New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget ProcessEducation
Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — In The Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn explores claims that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, currently floated by some pundits as a possible replacement for President Joe Biden…
Press Release
Read More: Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?Education
Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of Accomplishment
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 2024 — Despite speculation of replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, Gov. Josh Shapiro has been an ineffective leader with few legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of AccomplishmentEducation
Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 Years
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 2024 — Despite speculation of replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, Gov. Josh Shapiro has been an ineffective leader with few legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 YearsEducation
Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”
Overview Governor Josh Shapiro has made “Get Sh*t Done,” profanity and all, the official slogan of his administration, but when it comes to legislative accomplishments, his governing abilities have…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”Education
Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà Vu
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s budget battle feels oddly familiar – like we’ve been here before. Our sense of déjà vu is valid: The 2024–25 fiscal battle looks strikingly…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà VuEducation
Charles Mitchell: Josh Shapiro Plays to the Middle While Pleasing the Left
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s handling of Lifeline Scholarships threatens to upend the moderate image that drives his popularity among Pennsylvania voters, writes Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Charles Mitchell in Thursday’s Pittsburgh…
Press Release
Read More: Charles Mitchell: Josh Shapiro Plays to the Middle While Pleasing the LeftEducation
Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the left
Originally published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Perhaps you’ve heard: Our governor is a moderate president-in-the-making. Josh Shapiro is leaning into this image as the state legislature negotiates next year’s budget,…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the leftEducation
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Media Hit
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansState Budget
Pa. Senate’s Proposed Tax Cuts Would Save Families $900 Per Year
Harrisburg, Pa., May 29, 2024 — Senate Bill (SB) 269 would slash taxes across Pennsylvania and save the average family of four $400 in fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 and $900 in…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate’s Proposed Tax Cuts Would Save Families $900 Per YearState Budget
Proposed Tax Cuts and the 2024 State Budget
Key Points A responsible budget in fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 must grapple with Pennsylvania’s aging and shrinking workforce challenges through sound tax and regulatory reform. State Senate Republicans proposed two…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Proposed Tax Cuts and the 2024 State BudgetEducation
Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challenge
Originally published at The Patriot-News Following his budget address in February, Gov. Josh Shapiro challenged critics, saying, “If you don’t like my plan, show me yours.” Last week,…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challengeEducation
Pa. School Funding Reached $22,000 per student in 2023
Harrisburg, Pa., May 21, 2024 — Pennsylvania per-student spending increased to $21,985 in the 2022–23 school year, according to recently released data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This represents a…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. School Funding Reached $22,000 per student in 2023Education
Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023
Pennsylvania Public School Spending Is Growing Over the last decade, state spending on Pennsylvania public schools reached all-time highs year after year. Pennsylvania per-pupil public school funding increased to $21,985…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023Education
Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is Selling
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania As inflation persists, Pennsylvania voters are rejecting increased government spending, according to new polling data released by the Commonwealth Foundation. Inflation and the rising cost of…
Media Hit
Read More: Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is SellingEnergy
Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle on the Bobby Gunther Walsh Show April 25, 2024
Find out more at www.CommonGroundPoll.com…
Media Hit
Read More: Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle on the Bobby Gunther Walsh Show April 25, 2024Education
Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of Harrisburg
Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s a presidential election year, with voters riveted on national politics and issues. Inflation — caused by federal deficit spending — and immigration consistently…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of Harrisburg