State Budget

Supplemental Appropriations

  • Tirzah Duren
  • March 24, 2021

Supplemental appropriation is another term for overspending. In theory, this practice covers unforeseeable expenses, but it has become a normal part of the state budget process.

Fact Sheet

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Public Sector Union 2020 Election Spending

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 18, 2021

Public sector union political action committees (PAC) spent $16.7 million in Pennsylvania during the 2019–2020 election cycle, principally on behalf of Democratic politicians.

Backgrounder

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State Budget

Opportunity Finds a Way

  • Marc LeBlond
  • March 11, 2021

The 2018-19 budget increased EITC by $25 million, providing an additional 8,000 student scholarships. Each child deserves an exceptional education—one that fits their unique gifts and talents. Parents should have…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Opportunity Finds a Way

Steps to Enhance Election Integrity

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 10, 2021

In 2020, Pennsylvania’s newly amended election law struggled under unprecedented mail-in voting, yet last minute state guidance and judicial decisions not only skirted election law, but further delayed results and…

Fact Sheet

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Corporate Welfare in 3 Charts

  • Tirzah Duren
  • March 4, 2021

The Governor’s Executive budget includes updated estimates for spending on corporate welfare, which is government favoritism of one sector or business over others. This favoritism is disquised under less innocuous…

Fact Sheet

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School Reserve Funds in Pandemic Times

  • Stefanie Mason
  • February 26, 2021

Pennsylvania school officials are projecting local tax revenue losses for the upcoming year due to the wreckage from COVID-19 restrictions. Even if local tax revenue declines, most schools have…

Backgrounder

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Caring for Kids and Communities: The 2021 State Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 22, 2021

A successful recovery is not dependent on government aid; it requires education lifelines for families, regulatory and tax relief for small businesses, and health care reforms to bolster patient access…

Backgrounder

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State Budget

The Taxpayer Protection Act

  • Tirzah Duren
  • January 21, 2021

KEY POINTS Pennsylvania’s frequent budget deficits are the consequence of chronic overspending. Pennsylvanians pay $4,589 per person in state and local taxes, which equals 10.2 percent of residents’ total…

Backgrounder

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The Race to Rebuild: How Pennsylvania Can Bounce Back After COVID-19

  • Jessica Barnett
  • January 19, 2021

Pennsylvanians continue to struggle amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions. Small business owners face permanent closure, children’s schooling is in disarray, and job seekers have few prospects. Families need…

Report

Read More: The Race to Rebuild: How Pennsylvania Can Bounce Back After COVID-19

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

Are Public Schools Underfunded?

  • October 27, 2020

Pennsylvania spends more per student than the vast majority of states. Education spending has significantly increased over the past decade. Scroll down to see how much funding your district receives…

Fact Sheet

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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

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And Then What? Reforms Beyond the Current Budget

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 22, 2020

In any case, the budget will get balanced. For Pennsylvanians, the real question is: “And then what?” Pennsylvania’s budget problems preceded the virus shutdown and will continue long after it without real reform. Listed below are areas where lawmakers…

Backgrounder

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Health Care

How to Vote in PA Q&A

  • Stefanie Mason
  • October 6, 2020

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. In Pennsylvania, voters are navigating how to cast their ballots during this pandemic era. …

Fact Sheet

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Fairness

Protecting the Rights of Pennsylvania Public Employees

  • October 3, 2020

Key Points Pennsylvania state law grants unions exclusive bargaining rights in government workplaces, makes it difficult for workers to leave their union, and allows taxpayer collection of union political money.Through…

Backgrounder

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How to Balance the Budget: Revenue Options

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 2, 2020

Pennsylvania’s partial-year budget to fund the government through November relied on federal emergency aid to patch a prospective deficit. The state cannot count on such extra resources in the future.

Backgrounder

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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

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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