High 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.

Prosperity

Top Unemployment Compensation Reforms for Pennsylvania

  • November 3, 2021

Overview Pennsylvania should reform its unemployment compensation system to pay down state debt, incentivize hiring, increase labor participation, and minimize fraudulent claims. Reforms should protect unemployment compensation for the individuals…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Top Unemployment Compensation Reforms for Pennsylvania

Energy

Consequences of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 1, 2021

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a controversial compact designed to tax electricity producers for emitting carbon. The Wolf administration is attempting to join the initiative through regulation in…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Consequences of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Government Accountability

Fiscal Earmarks Reduce State Budget Transparency

  • Jessica Barnett
  • August 19, 2021

The 2021–2022 Fiscal Code contains at least $5.5 billion in federal and state funds earmarked for special projects across the state, up from $120 million last year. Most of this…

Backgrounder

Read More: Fiscal Earmarks Reduce State Budget Transparency

State Budget

TEL-Tale Heart: Crafting Effective Policies to Reduce Spending

  • Tirzah Duren
  • July 12, 2021

Executive Summary Increases in state spending do not result in greater prosperity for state residents, across an array of measures. In fact, increased state spending can reduce economic growth. Reducing…

Report

Read More: TEL-Tale Heart: Crafting Effective Policies to Reduce Spending

State Budget

2021 Budget Takeaways

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 29, 2021

Last week, the Pa. General Assembly passed a state budget deal that includes $40 billion in the General Fund budget, increases in tax credit scholarships, and a number of policy…

Fact Sheet

Read More: 2021 Budget Takeaways

State Budget

Wolf’s Big, Bad Budget Leaves Families Behind

  • Michael Torres
  • February 3, 2021

Feb. 3, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. —Following Gov. Tom Wolf’s pre-recorded state budget address, Commonwealth Foundation Vice President Nathan Benefield, who has been studying the state budget for more than a…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf’s Big, Bad Budget Leaves Families Behind

State Budget

Three Takeaways on Gov. Wolf’s 2021 Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2021

Our commonwealth faces a structural budget deficit. Families need education lifelines to get back on track. Small businesses need regulatory and tax relief to stay afloat. Patients need more options to access care.

Commentary

Read More: Three Takeaways on Gov. Wolf’s 2021 Budget

Taxes & Economy

Crucial Reforms Needed in End-of-Year Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2020

The recently completed state budget will dig Pennsylvania into a deep hole. Lawmakers passed a 7.5% increase in spending. The General Fund budget, including billions in one-time federal funds, is $36.54 billion—up from $33.98 billion last…

Media

Read More: Crucial Reforms Needed in End-of-Year Budget

State Budget

Balancing the State Budget Didn’t Have to Be This Hard

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 12, 2020

If lawmakers had enacted the Taxpayer Protection Act in 2018, they would face a $770 million gap between revenues and spending. Going one step further, if lawmakers had enacted the…

Commentary

Read More: Balancing the State Budget Didn’t Have to Be This Hard

State Budget

How to Balance the State Budget without Raising Taxes in a Pandemic

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 6, 2020

Reducing spending to reflect how the pandemic impacted state agencies and balance the budget without tax hikes or borrowing is the first step. Without additional structural spending changes laid out in…

Backgrounder

Read More: How to Balance the State Budget without Raising Taxes in a Pandemic

Energy

Op-Ed: Pennsylvania should keep fracking and oil as pro-energy policies

  • Kevin Mooney
  • October 28, 2020

The Keystone State is also the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas, third-largest producer of coal, 16th-largest producer of crude oil, and third-largest producer of electricity in general, according to…

Commentary

Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania should keep fracking and oil as pro-energy policies

Regulation

Help Restaurants by Privatizing the PLCB

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 26, 2020

Clearly, Gov. Wolf looks out of touch—and perhaps he knows it. Last week, following his veto, he released a proposal to waiver license fees collected by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Help Restaurants by Privatizing the PLCB

Health Care

Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too Late

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 24, 2020

Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program is a national leader in all the wrong ways. Sub-standard access to care and soaring enrollment, costs, and fraud crowd out services for people with intellectual disabilities and low-income…

Backgrounder

Read More: Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too Late

Health Care

COVID-19 Could Change the Way Pennsylvania Does Business

  • Stefanie Mason
  • September 16, 2020

Small business owners like Elvira, Jessa, and Andy deserve a fighting chance to keep their business dreams alive. That’s the only way to heal Pennsylvania’s economy.

Fact Sheet

Read More: COVID-19 Could Change the Way Pennsylvania Does Business

Energy

Lawmakers Fight Wolf on Cap and Trade Plan

  • Kevin Mooney
  • September 10, 2020

Governor Wolf is determined to pull Pennsylvania into a multi-state compact that restricts carbon dioxide emissions and raises the cost of power. But thanks to the natural gas revolution Pennsylvania…

Commentary

Read More: Lawmakers Fight Wolf on Cap and Trade Plan

Health Care

Lawmakers Push to Do Better, Rebuild Our Economy

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 2, 2020

Today the Republicans in the Pa. House attempted to override the Governor’s veto of HR 836, the bill that would end Pennsylvania’s 6-month long state of emergency and the…

Commentary

Read More: Lawmakers Push to Do Better, Rebuild Our Economy