Regulation

Cigarette Taxes Target the Poor

  • Tirzah Duren
  • August 12, 2019

The founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, believed strong liberty of conscience was essential to a flourishing society. But Pennsylvania’s current slough of sin taxes shrug off Penn’s warning. Pennsylvania’s sin…

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Education

A Better Strategy for Students in the “City of Champions”

  • Lenny McAllister
  • August 6, 2019

If there’s one team that has stopped the “City of Champions” from having more Super Bowl championships, it’s the Evil Empire from up north: the New England Patriots. And if…

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Regulation

Corporate Welfare Is the Gift That Just Keeps Taking

  • Tirzah Duren
  • August 6, 2019

Less than a year ago Pennsylvania’s state government offered Amazon billions in tax incentives to bring its HQ-2 location here. Amazon said no. But, when the commerce giant decided to open…

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State Budget

A $673 Million Mistake…Isn’t a Mistake

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • August 5, 2019

In June, when the state legislature passed the budget, they included something extra: a $673 million “supplemental appropriation” to cover overspending in the previous fiscal year. In other words, the Wolf…

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Read More: A $673 Million Mistake…Isn’t a Mistake

Taxes & Economy

The Battle Over General Assistance and Our Poverty Problem

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 2, 2019

In 2012, lawmakers ended a small cash welfare program called General Assistance. Despite all the recent Democratic hubbub, none of the members actually tried to restart the program through the…

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Education

Can School Choice Solve “Lunch Shaming”?

  • August 1, 2019

On July 9th, Wyoming Valley West School District in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania took reckless steps in “lunch shaming” hundreds of students and ordering repayment of their student meal debts. …

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Regulation

No More Food Stamps for Millionaires

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 31, 2019

Leroy Fick won $2 million playing the Michigan lottery. He bought a new home and a costly car, all while collecting taxpayer-funded food stamps. Fick and stories like his…

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Public Union Democracy

Are Unions Preparing to Charge Fair Share Fees Once Again?

  • Jessica Barnett
  • July 30, 2019

It’s been one year since Janus v. AFSCME overturned 40 years of government labor precedent. Now, public employees who decide not to join their workplace union are no longer forced…

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Education

Students Lose in the “City of Champions”

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • July 29, 2019

Pittsburgh Pirates fans recently gathered at PNC Park to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1979 World Series Championship. When it comes to sports, people in the “City of Champions”…

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Education

Tax Hoarders Strike Again

  • Marc LeBlond
  • July 25, 2019

Last month Governor Wolf vetoed House Bill 800, which could have opened new educational opportunities to 50,000 low- to middle-income students. The legislation sailed through both chambers and would have…

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Public Union Democracy

Pa. Union Membership Declines Post-Janus

  • Jessica Barnett
  • July 24, 2019

In the year following Janus v. AFSCME, which stopped unions from charging nonmembers “fair share fees,” a central question emerged: how would this ruling impact total union membership? Official reports…

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State Budget

Pennsylvania is NOT Taking Care of Business

  • July 24, 2019

Pennsylvania is the 5th worst state to start a business, according to a new study by Wallethub. Only Connecticut, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island fare worse. Then,…

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Education

Last Rites for Blaine Amendments?

  • July 22, 2019

The election of President John F. Kennedy was a milestone that went a long way in sealing the tomb on anti-Catholic sentiments. With the election of an Irishman from Massachusetts,…

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Taxes & Economy

Tax Data Agrees, Everyone Wins from Tax Reform

  • Tirzah Duren
  • July 22, 2019

Who benefits from tax reform? That question has been a hot topic since the 2017 passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and the answer is everyone.  However,…

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Regulation

Government-Run Booze Losing Across the Nation: Will Pa. be Next?

  • July 18, 2019

The Supreme Court delivered several high-profile rulings this summer on issues including partisan gerrymandering and the census citizenship question. A lesser-known case, Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas, will also…

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Education

How to Help Harrisburg Students, Right Now

  • July 16, 2019

There’s plenty of fights and rule-breaking going on in Harrisburg School District. But I’m not talking about the kids: it’s the adults who perpetrate this conflict and corruption. Meanwhile, the…

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State Budget

Applause for ‘Mature’ Debt Reform, but More Needed

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • July 15, 2019

Good policy isn’t always controversial. House Bill 24, which was signed into law on July 2, caused no floor theatrics, mass tweeting, or activist howls. The bill, proposed by Rep. John Lawrence…

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Read More: Applause for ‘Mature’ Debt Reform, but More Needed

Criminal Justice Reform

School Choice on Behalf of Pa.’s Poorest Should Be a Bipartisan Issue

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • July 14, 2019

In Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and throughout the country, Republicans and Democrats have come together to pass smart criminal justice reforms that help people achieve independence and prosperity…

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Government Accountability

Budget Earmarks: Sneaky and Unconstitutional

  • Andrew Abramczyk, Jessica Barnett
  • July 12, 2019

A wise buyer should always read the fine print, but it isn’t easy. Documents like cell phone contracts and software user agreements can be hard to read, often by design. The dense language…

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