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
State Budget
Pennsylvania Families Need Government to Prioritize Spending
All families must learn to live within a budget. They understand that they can’t spend more than what they earn—at least not for very long. Frequently this means saying “No”…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Families Need Government to Prioritize SpendingState Budget
Senate Takes Step to Put PA on Spending Diet
Commonwealth Foundation applauds WAM-free, low-growth budget HARRISBURG, PA — On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a 2007-08 budget in the spirit of the Taxpayer Protection Act. This $27.0 billion budget…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Takes Step to Put PA on Spending DietEducation
Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs
Governor Ed Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year includes $75 million for “Pre-K Counts”—a taxpayer-funded program which would provide grants to school districts, Head Start programs, and government-approved…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the CostsState Budget
A Diet Plan for an Obese State Government
Commonwealth Foundation launches campaign to “Put Pennsylvania on a Spending Diet” HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation announced the launch of a media campaign to educate Pennsylvanians about the…
Press Release
Read More: A Diet Plan for an Obese State GovernmentEducation
Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3
One of the most notorious abuses of taxpayers' money is the exercise of Walking-Around-Money (WAMs). These funds are set aside for use at each legislator's discretion to dish out to…
Commentary
Read More: Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3State Budget
We Need a People’s Budget
Good morning. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Turzai and the members of this committee for the invitation to be with you this morning. We are here today because Governor…
Testimony
Read More: We Need a People’s BudgetGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Need Protection
Delivered on Thursday, April 26, 2007 Good morning Chairman Corman, Senator Regola, and Senator Folmer. It is indeed a pleasure and an honor to be able to come before you…
Testimony
Read More: Taxpayers Need ProtectionEducation
Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy
Good morning. My name is Nathan Benefield; I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation, a research and policy institute in Harrisburg. I want to thank the…
Testimony
Read More: Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal PolicyEducation
Spending Restraint Needed
Good afternoon. My name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. I would like to thank Chairman Armstrong and the members of the…
Testimony
Read More: Spending Restraint NeededState Budget
State Government Spending
Over the last several decades, the growth in state government spending has exceeded both the rate of inflation and increases in the income of citizens. Unlimited government spending growth has…
Fact Sheet
Read More: State Government SpendingState Budget
Rendell hype costs Pa. $12.5M a year
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on the$12.5 million in the administration’s public relations budget. Just one advantage of being an incumbent.
Media
Read More: Rendell hype costs Pa. $12.5M a yearGovernment Accountability
Judge sues to refuse pay raise
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin’s lawsuit to not have her pay raised. I guess she doesn’t agree with Chief Justice Cappy that judges are…
Media
Read More: Judge sues to refuse pay raiseState Budget
Analysis: With election nearing, Rendell spreads state cash around
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlights the amount of taxpayer cash Rendell is spreading around Allegheny County for “Political Development” under the guise of “economic development.”…
Media
Read More: Analysis: With election nearing, Rendell spreads state cash aroundRegulation
A $2-Trillion Fiscal Hole
Wall Street Journal article estimates the unfunded liabilities of state and local government’s retiree health care plans to be $1.4 trillion, about double the unfunded pension liabilities of $700…
Media
Read More: A $2-Trillion Fiscal HoleRegulation
Pennsylvanias Unlimited Government Equals Limited Economic Growth
In a few months, the tumultuous 2005-06 session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly will come to a close—and will likely do so without further action on the “Taxpayer Fairness Act,”…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvanias Unlimited Government Equals Limited Economic GrowthGovernment Accountability
EDITORIAL | State judges underpaid?
Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorializes on judges’ pay.
Media
Read More: EDITORIAL | State judges underpaid?State Budget
Both parties share blame for bloated budget
Read Matthew Brouillette’s commentary in today’s Patriot News.
Media
Read More: Both parties share blame for bloated budgetGovernment Accountability
‘Smart Talk’ on pay raise
Alison Hawkes summary of Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of the judicial pay raise: “He said judges needed a pay hike because salaries were slipping compared to other states, although…
Media
Read More: ‘Smart Talk’ on pay raiseGovernment Accountability
Pa. courts say judges’ pay will rise with feds
AP Report that court adminstrators say PA judges pay are now tied to federal judges. While this differs from my reading of the court ruling on cost-of-living-adjustments, and…
Media
Read More: Pa. courts say judges’ pay will rise with fedsState Budget
Pennsylvania growing a gut, We need fiscal corset
Editorial from the Press Enterprise on the need for fiscal restraint in Pennsylvania.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania growing a gut, We need fiscal corsetState Budget
How States are Solving the Tax and Spending Problem
An overview of the provisions of various tax and spending limit initiatives on the ballot in other states, from the National Taxpayers Union.
Media
Read More: How States are Solving the Tax and Spending Problem