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How to Create a Better Pennsylvania in 2023
America’s story began in Pennsylvania, but our state has fallen behind. Families are leaving for better jobs, educational opportunities, and quality of life in other states. But in 2023, policymakers…
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Public Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Public Union Democracy
Government Unions One Year after Janus v. AFSCME
One year after Janus unions lost significant fee-based revenue, fee-payers largely remain non-union, and existing members—frequently unaware of the ruling or restricted from resigning—often maintain membership…
Memo
Read More: Government Unions One Year after Janus v. AFSCMEEducation
Opportunity Denied Again: Despite Recent Increase, Thousands of Scholarships Still Denied
In 2017-18, the cap on Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program increased by $10 million. Yet, 49,356 scholarship applications were denied—49% of all applications. To meet demand, lawmakers need…
Memo
Read More: Opportunity Denied Again: Despite Recent Increase, Thousands of Scholarships Still DeniedEducation
EITC & OSTC Escalator: Because Kids Need a Longer Lifeline
Pennsylvania's successful education tax credit programs are oversubscribed, resulting in tens of thousands of families being denied scholarships. It's time to expand these programs. Here are answers to common questions…
Fact Sheet
Read More: EITC & OSTC Escalator: Because Kids Need a Longer LifelineState Budget
Making Bad Investments Won’t Restore PA
Governor Wolf’s Restore PA plan utilizes a natural gas severance tax and borrowing to fund infrastructure improvements. There’s a better way to improve our infrastructure.
Memo
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Climate Change
For decades state government has imposed subsidies, increased regulation and raised energy costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts have largely failed to make an impact. On the other…
Memo
Read More: Climate ChangeEducation
Expand Educational Choice with Tax Credit Scholarships
In 2016-17, the most recent year with scholarship data available, 52,857 K-12 scholarship applications were denied—52 percent of all K-12 applications. Businesses have applied for $180 million in EITC and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Expand Educational Choice with Tax Credit ScholarshipsCriminal Justice Reform
An Overview of Justice Reinvestment Initiative II
JRI II seeks to address high corrections spending, insufficient support for county probation, and inadequate pretrial and sentencing guidance. The result: fair and effective punishments that equip people for life after…
Fact Sheet
Read More: An Overview of Justice Reinvestment Initiative IIPublic Union Democracy
Restoring Government Workers’ Resignation Rights
Pennsylvania government workers are no longer forced to pay union fees to keep their jobs—but government and union leaders are imposing roadblocks to exercising their rights. Here's how legislators can help.
Memo
Read More: Restoring Government Workers’ Resignation RightsState Budget
The Taxpayer Protection Act: An Updated Legislator’s Guide
Pennsylvanians pay $4,589 per person in state and local taxes, which equals 10.2 percent of residents’ total income. This trend must be reversed by restraining spending growth through long-term reforms…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Taxpayer Protection Act: An Updated Legislator’s GuidePublic Union Democracy
Government Union 2018 Election Spending
Pennsylvania’s top government union political action committees spent over $12 million during the 2017-18 election cycle, making it the most expensive election cycle in the past ten years.
Fact Sheet
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A Better Tool for Student Opportunity
As the 2019 legislative session begins, lawmakers need to look beyond talking points and get to the root of problems with education. As Pennsylvania illustrates, more money does not guarantee…
Memo
Read More: A Better Tool for Student OpportunityState Budget
Five Ways to Promote Prosperity & Grow the Economy
Revenue collections are $400 million above projections. Next year’s budget should be easy to balance. Instead, lawmakers are looking at a projected $1.7 billion deficit. Why? Pennsylvania continues…
Memo
Read More: Five Ways to Promote Prosperity & Grow the EconomyCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania State Budget Trends
On February 5, Governor Wolf will lay out his proposal for the 2019-20 state budget. Here are some key facts on spending trends, last year’s enacted budget, and challenges going…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget TrendsGovernment Accountability
How Restoring Workers’ Rights Brings Fairness to All Pennsylvanians
For decades, public sector union leaders have used their unfair political advantages to block public policies that will help our state and citizens flourish. Restoring workers’ rights is critical for a fair…
Memo
Read More: How Restoring Workers’ Rights Brings Fairness to All PennsylvaniansCriminal Justice Reform
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative II
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative recommends fair and effective punishments that equip offenders for life, while controlling costs and improving safety.
Poll
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Pennsylvania’s Path to Tax Relief
Pennsylvania’s high state and local tax burden is hindering job growth, suppressing wages, and enabling wasteful government spending.
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Path to Tax ReliefEducation
Fact Sheet: School Funding and Student Outcomes
Conversations about improving education often devolve into who will spend more. This enables some policymakers to offer a one-dimensional solution—funding—to a multi-dimensional issue—education. Key questions are ignored when the only…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Fact Sheet: School Funding and Student OutcomesRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Pension Systems
In 2017, Pennsylvania passed landmark pension reform that will kick in come January. But our $70 billion plus liability is still growing and so is the municipal pension crisis.
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension SystemsRegulation
Corporate Welfare’s Record of Failure
In a free market economy, entrepreneurs succeed or fail based on their ability to meet their customers’ needs. Yet all too often, government disrupts this process by conferring tax credits,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Corporate Welfare’s Record of FailureEducation
Opportunity Denied: To Meet Demand, Tax Credit Scholarship Caps Must Expand
The 2018-19 state budget included a $25 million expansion of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. This will allow up to 15,000 additional students to receive scholarships. While helpful, 52,857…
Memo
Read More: Opportunity Denied: To Meet Demand, Tax Credit Scholarship Caps Must ExpandCriminal Justice Reform
Safer Communities, Smarter Spending
About 95 percent of those confined to state prison will eventually re-enter society. This is why reformers must focus attention on reducing recidivism and balance "tough on crime" practices of the past…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Safer Communities, Smarter Spending