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
Government Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady Activities
Harrisburg, Pa., October 9, 2023 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new webpage dedicated to exposing the myriad of shady actions that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has engaged in…
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Commonwealth Foundation Vice President Stephen Bloom joined The Breakfast Show Oct. 6, 2023
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Democrats once again vote against helping vulnerable kids
Harrisburg, Pa., October 5, 2023 — Today,Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued the following statement in response to the Pennsylvania House Democrats’ decision to advance a fiscal code bill…
Press Release
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Gov. Shapiro Poised to Raid Rainy Day Fund, Unprecedented Move Violates Law and Undermines Legislature
Harrisburg, Pa., September 29, 2023 – The Commonwealth Foundation expresses strong concern that Gov. Shapiro is ignoring the law and usurping the constitutional role of the legislative branch in the state…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Shapiro Poised to Raid Rainy Day Fund, Unprecedented Move Violates Law and Undermines LegislatureEducation
Gov. Shapiro’s New Hampshire Keynote Undermined by Legislative Failures, Incomplete Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., September 29, 2023 — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was recently announced as the keynote speaker at the 2023 New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention. His appearance in Bedford, New Hampshire—one of…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s New Hampshire Keynote Undermined by Legislative Failures, Incomplete BudgetEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Are Clear: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”
Harrisburg, Pa., September 28, 2023—Inflation continues to be the number one problem facing Pennsylvania voters, according to a poll released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The Common Ground in the Commonwealth…
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Are Clear: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”Education
State House Democrats need to do their jobs
Originally published at LNP Lawmakers have one job: Work for the people they represent. This job requirement is as old as Pennsylvania when William Penn founded the Provincial Assembly…
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Analysis: Shapiro Least Productive Governor with a Divided Government
Harrisburg, Pa., September 21, 2023 — Pennsylvania state lawmakers have enacted only 15 bills during the first six months of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, despite having a full-time legislature, according to…
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Read More: Analysis: Shapiro Least Productive Governor with a Divided GovernmentEducation
Shapiro’s Legislative Record: Last in Nation Among Divided Governments
Overview An analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation of bills enacted in the first half of 2023 reveals Pennsylvania has been the least productive among states with divided government. This analysis…
Fact Sheet
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Pa. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford’s failed leadership
Originally published in The Mercury The Pennsylvania budget remains unfinished, while Pennsylvania House lawmakers remain on vacation (in recess) until the end of September. While it’s up to Speaker…
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House Democrats Need to Get Back to Work
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Pennsylvania House Democrats have been acting busy during the state budget impasse—an impasse their own majority leader, Rep. Matt Bradford, inexplicably denied existed…
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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 BudgetRegulation
Gov. Shapiro’s First Six Months the Least Productive in 50 Years
Harrisburg, Pa., August 8, 2023 –Gov. Josh Shapiro has overseen the least productive freshman legislative session in at least 50 years, a new Commonwealth Foundation analysis has found. In the first…
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Shapiro’s First Six Months Least Productive Legislatively in 50 Years
Overview An analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation of bills signed reveals Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first six months were the least productive of any gubernatorial term in at least 50 years.
Fact Sheet
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Underserved students face uncertain future following Gov. Shapiro’s budget decision
Harrisburg, Pa., August 3, 2023 – Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued the following statement following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s decision to line-item veto the Pennsylvania Award for Student…
Press Release
Read More: Underserved students face uncertain future following Gov. Shapiro’s budget decisionEducation
Jennifer Stefano: Forget I-95, Gov. Shapiro should slash the bureaucracy for everybody
Gov. Josh Shapiro should expand the use of bureaucracy-slashing tactics like those that helped expedite I-95 repairs, columnist and Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano wrote Monday in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Read More: Jennifer Stefano: Forget I-95, Gov. Shapiro should slash the bureaucracy for everybodyEducation
Democrat House Legislator Calls on Governor, Colleagues to Support School Choice in State Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 1, 2023 – Democrat State Rep. Amen Brown today voiced his support for including school choice legislation in the final state budget deal. Brown’s statement of…
Press Release
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History shows Gov. Shapiro’s next move matters
Originally published in The Patriot-News The next few months are critical to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s legacy, and he knows it. The 2023–24 state budget, due June 30th, remains…
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What They Are Saying: Brutal Headlines for Shapiro, Strong Support for Scholarships
Harrisburg, Pa., July 28, 2023 – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has found himself in hot water after he reneged on a key campaign promise to implement Lifeline Scholarships. His decision…
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Read More: What They Are Saying: Brutal Headlines for Shapiro, Strong Support for ScholarshipsEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Statement On Senate-Shapiro Budget Progress
Harrisburg, Pa., July 28, 2023 – Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued the following reaction today on Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward’s statement that the Senate continues to work…
Press Release
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House Democrats’ Budget Bungle Leaves Programs Without Funding
Harrisburg, Pa., July 27, 2023 – More than a dozen notable Pennsylvania budget line-items risk going unfunded following Democrats’ unwillingness to uphold the bipartisan deal agreed to by Gov. Josh…
Press Release
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