Taxes & Economy
The Basic Economic Mistake Both Candidates Make
Originally published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Poll after poll reveals what’s on voters’ minds: It’s the economy, stupid, as it was in 1992 when Bill Clinton’s campaign advisor James Carville…
Read More: The Basic Economic Mistake Both Candidates MakeHigh 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.
Taxes & Economy
We Need to Stop Chasing Residents Out of the State With High Taxes
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Every April, Pennsylvanians are reminded of their crushing tax burden—one of the highest in the nation. And a growing number of Pennsylvanians have…
Commentary
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Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano on OAN 4.12.2023
Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano appeared on OAN to discuss the findings of the Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll.
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Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll Findings
Summary The Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll, conducted March 24-29, is the first in a series of quarterly surveys taking the pulse of voters on the “state of the…
Memo
Read More: Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll FindingsTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage
Summary One percent of Pennsylvania workers earn the minimum wage, an all-time low.Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Recent analysis by Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal…
Fact Sheet
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Shapiro paid homage to conservative ideas in his budget address
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer The most notable part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address last week is what he left unsaid. He…
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Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield Responds to Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Priorities
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Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget Address
Profligacy Exacerbates Budget Deficit Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget calls for $45.9 billion in ongoing General Fund spending and $43 billion in net state revenues (after refunds). Thus, Pennsylvania has…
Report
Read More: Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget AddressProsperity
Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Statement of Governor Shapiro’s Budget Priorities
Harrisburg, Pa., Mar. 7, 2023 — Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued today the following response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget address: “The budget…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Statement of Governor Shapiro’s Budget PrioritiesProsperity
Reforms would reduce poverty, increase prosperity
Originally published on LNP On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his first annual state budget address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While he hasn’t unveiled the details of…
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Tearing Down Barriers to Prosperity: How More Economic Freedom Can Reduce Poverty and Boost Prosperity in Pennsylvania
Key Findings Economic freedom, specifically lower government spending, strongly and consistently offers both increases in prosperity and reductions in poverty.States that gained economic freedom from 2010 to 2019 tend to…
Executive Summary
Read More: Tearing Down Barriers to Prosperity: How More Economic Freedom Can Reduce Poverty and Boost Prosperity in PennsylvaniaProsperity
Tearing Down the Barriers to Prosperity: What Pennsylvanians Say About Poverty and Prosperity
Unlike most reports on poverty, this report combines statistics, a survey of Pennsylvanians with income below 200 percent of the poverty line, and in-depth interviews to identify common barriers to…
Executive Summary
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Assessing Gov. Tom Wolf’s Tenure
Key Points During Gov. Tom Wolf’s eight years in office, Pennsylvania ranked below the national average in income growth, job growth, and population growth.State government spending increased significantly under Wolf,…
Backgrounder
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Key to PA’s Success Isn’t More Bureaucracy – It’s More Business Innovation
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania brims with natural resources and human talent – but for the past eight years, the state’s heavy regulatory hand has often restrained opportunities for…
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Pa.’s Troubling and Continued Population Decline
December 22, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Pennsylvania lost over 40,000 residents between July 2021 and July 2022. These population…
Press Release
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Gone are the days when Republicans cared about fiscal responsibility
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In 2010, I was one of thousands of Americans marching in Washington, D.C., demanding to be heard by politicians who were putting…
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Pa.’s corporate welfare for select businesses keeps the state down
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Just before the end of the legislative season, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a package of tax credits that will, over time, dole out $2…
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Inflation is killing small business
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Deeanna Hilliard closed her bakery in August. Gluten Free by D&D in Volant had survived pandemic restrictions and persistent worker shortages, but it…
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Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano on Newsmax October 18, 2022
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano on Newsmax October 18, 2022Prosperity
Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano on News Nation with Marni Hughes
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Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on October 13, 2022
Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the day’s business headlines with Newsmax host Alex Kraemer and market analyst Seth Denson.
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on October 13, 2022Prosperity
Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on October 12, 2022
Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the day’s business headlines with Newsmax host Alex Kraemer.SHOW LESS…
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