Energy
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate’s Passage of Historic Tax Cuts
Harrisburg, Pa., May 7, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 269, a bill to substantially reduce personal income taxes and lower Pennsylvanians’ electricity bills. Advanced by a…
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate’s Passage of Historic Tax CutsHigh taxes make for a slow-growing economy. And communities feel the pinch of high taxes as more and more native Pennsylvanians leave the Keystone State to prosper elsewhere. To remain economically competitive, Pennsylvania must lower state taxes and ensure businesses have the opportunity to succeed. Lower taxes will incentivize more individuals to call Pennsylvania their home, ultimately spurring our statewide economy forward.
State 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
Energy Markets Need Reform, Not Subsidies
How many industries can withstand a more than threefold increase in regulatory costs in a decade? Few, if any. Yet that's the reality for nuclear power plants. An…
Media
Read More: Energy Markets Need Reform, Not SubsidiesState 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 ContradictionsTaxes & Economy
Disco Governor Wants Money, Money, Money
Money, money, money/Always sunny/In a rich man’s world. Sung by ABBA in 1976. A governing mantra of Tom Wolf in 2018. More tax dollars seem to be Gov. Wolf's answer…
Media
Read More: Disco Governor Wants Money, Money, MoneyState 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 BudgetTaxes & Economy
PA Companies Raise Starting Wages After Tax Reform
Since the passage of federal tax reform, more than 300 companies have announced bonuses, raises, and new investments. This includes some major national companies, like Disney,…
Media
Read More: PA Companies Raise Starting Wages After Tax ReformState 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?Education
The Invisible School District Income Tax
Editor’s Note: This is the second of a series of occasional blogs by a Philadelphia resident highlighting policy problems holding back the City of Brotherly Love. If a tree…
Media
Read More: The Invisible School District Income TaxState 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
Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?
Every year, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) produces a report announcing the “Judicial Hellholes” across the nation. In the 2017 edition, Pennsylvania makes their list- twice. The…
Media
Read More: Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?Government 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 TransparencyTaxes & Economy
Residents Still Moving out of PA, So Will Congressional Districts
Overlooked in yesterday’s news about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordering a new Congressional district map was the fact that—regardless of the outcome of that case—Pennsylvania will likely lose a congressional…
Media
Read More: Residents Still Moving out of PA, So Will Congressional DistrictsRegulation
Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory Burdens
Tackling one regulation at a time, House lawmakers released a regulatory overreach report aimed at responsibly lightening the commonwealth's heavy regulatory burden. It takes 18 weeks to read the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory BurdensHealth Care
States Get Green Light to Propose Medicaid Work Requirements
It's official: The Trump administration has formally endorsed the policy of work requirements for healthy Medicaid recipients. For years states have sought this flexibility to help beneficiaries of Medicaid—government-run health insurance…
Media
Read More: States Get Green Light to Propose Medicaid Work RequirementsTaxes & Economy
Coal and Nuclear Subsidies Rejected, Time to End All Energy Subsidies
Government subsidies for so-called green energy are contributing to the closings of coal and nuclear plants that keep Pennsylvania’s electricity system reliable. In response, the U.S. Department of Energy…
Media
Read More: Coal and Nuclear Subsidies Rejected, Time to End All Energy SubsidiesRegulation
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
Read More: Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100kTaxes & Economy
Lawmakers Seek to Restore Dignity of Work
In the first press conference of 2018, House Republicans introduced a package of bills aimed at breaking generational poverty. Rep. Tobash urged reform given the desperate state of…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Seek to Restore Dignity of Work