Research

Taxes & Economy

Dangers of a Severance Tax

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 7, 2014

Given the fiscal challenges facing the state, many advocacy groups are calling for new taxes on natural gas. However, lawmakers should be aware that a severance tax will make Pennsylvania…

Memo

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions’ Political Spending

• April 8, 2014

Currently, state and local governments, including school districts, use taxpayer-funded payroll systems and public employee time to collect union campaign contributions to candidates as well as union membership dues, a…

Fact Sheet

Taxes & Economy

The Harmful Effects of a Minimum Wage Increase

• April 7, 2014

In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama proposed increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. Although it sounds beneficial to low-wage workers, minimum wage…

Fact Sheet

Regulation

Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

• Elizabeth Stelle, Jessica Barnett
• February 3, 2014

Over the past six fiscal years, the commonwealth has spent more than it has taken in.  This fiscal gap is projected to widen as expenditures are on pace to grow…

Report

Government Accountability

Answering the Critics About Paycheck Protection

• Nathan Benefield
• January 23, 2014

Under current law and contracts, it’s permissible for a school district’s personnel office to act as the collection agent for Political Action Committee contributions and membership dues…

Memo

The Government Union Power Cycle

• October 15, 2013

Poll

Government Accountability

Government Unions’ Unfair Political Privilege

• September 19, 2013

Taxpayer resources should not be used for any political purposes. Every citizen and every organization—including government unions—should have an equal opportunity to engage in policy debates through a level playing field for…

Fact Sheet

Education

6 Trends in Public School Spending

• Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
• June 24, 2013

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently updated files from public schools’ annual financial reports and enrollment reports. Here are six key trends from those data.

Memo

Education

Cyber School Funding in Pennsylvania

• Elizabeth Stelle, Priya Brannick
• May 30, 2013

Cyber schools currently spend significantly less per student than school districts and only represent about 1% of spending on public education. Discrepancies in cyber school funding are the result of…

Memo

Taxes & Economy

The Economic Impact of Gov. Corbett’s Proposed Tax Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• May 22, 2013

This policy brief utilizes PA-STAMP to estimate the impact of Gov. Corbett’s proposed tax reform package.  Accordingly, by 2017-18, these reforms (compared with current policy) would result in: 1,259 additional…

Fact Sheet

Regulation

Public Pensions: Past, Present, and Future

• May 6, 2013

Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers.  This publication addresses the common myths and benefits…

Fact Sheet

Regulation

PLCB Boondoggles

• April 25, 2013

Getting government out of the booze business would eliminate conflicts of interest, stop government from freezing out Pennsylvania wineries, reduce opportunities for cronyism, eliminate taxpayer-funded boondoggles and allow the PLCB…

Fact Sheet

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and Facts

• April 25, 2013

Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these funds owe more than…

Fact Sheet

State Budget

Budget Facts 2013: Spending Increases By Department

• April 17, 2013

Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $28.4 billion in general fund spending and $67.6 billion in spending from all funds represents our highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…

Fact Sheet

Health Care

Medicaid Expansion Myths and Facts

• April 2, 2013

For our fiscal health, and the health of families, we desperately need the flexibility to allow state officials to design a solution that fits the needs of Pennsylvanians-not an…

Fact Sheet

Regulation

Summary of House Bill 790 as Passed by State House

• March 26, 2013

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 790 on March 21, 2013.  This legislation would allow private retailers to sell wine and spirits and end the state government monopoly over…

Memo

Regulation

Pennsylvania State Budget 2013

• March 26, 2013

Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $28.4 billion in general fund spending and $67.6 billion in spending from all funds represents our highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…

Fact Sheet

Liquor Privatization: Social Impacts

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2013

The PLCB has a conflict of interest-on the one hand controlling and monitoring alcohol, and on the other, advertising and marketing the sale of alcohol. Government control has not made…

Memo

Regulation

Principles of Liquor Privatization

• March 1, 2013

While the Governor's proposal will likely change throughout the legislative process, privatization efforts should not be diluted into "modernization," which preserves the inefficient and wasteful Prohibition-era liquor system.  Here are…

Fact Sheet

Regulation

Public Opinion of Liquor Privatization

• February 25, 2013

A strong majority of Pennsylvanians favor ending the government sale of wine and spirits according to a comprehensive poll conducted by nationally-renown pollster Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3).

Fact Sheet

Regulation

Liquor Privatization Myths & Facts

• February 21, 2013

More than 60 percent of Pennsylvania residents support getting government out of the booze business.  This is broad-based, bi­partisan support that finds even the majority of union house­holds want Liquor…

Fact Sheet