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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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Fairness
The Battle for Worker Freedom in the States: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
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Pennsylvania Back-to-School Education Trends
Read More: Pennsylvania Back-to-School Education TrendsRegulation
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
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Protecting Home Care Workers from Gov. Wolf’s Invasive Executive Order
Legislative action must correct Gov. Wolf's executive overreach into the daily lives of home care workers and elderly and disabled Pennsylvanians.
Memo
Read More: Protecting Home Care Workers from Gov. Wolf’s Invasive Executive OrderCriminal Justice Reform
Removing Barriers to Work for Ex-Offenders
Pennsylvania has a 3-year recidivism rate of nearly 61 percent. Research shows one of the most critical components of successful re-entry is a job. But for 255…
Memo
Read More: Removing Barriers to Work for Ex-OffendersState Budget
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in Pennsylvania
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides tax relief to working people across all income levels. Since its passage, more than 660 businesses have announced raises, bonuses, or enhanced retirement benefits…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in PennsylvaniaPublic Union Democracy
Restoring Public Sector Workers’ Resignation Rights
Many public sector employees remain unaware of their new-found rights to not pay fair share fees, while also facing onerous resignation restrictions. Luckily, lawmakers are working to promote workers' Janus…
Memo
Read More: Restoring Public Sector Workers’ Resignation RightsPublic Union Democracy
Restoring Worker Voting Rights
Most Pa. public sector employees have never voted for their union. They deserve to gain the right to regularly vote for their workplace representation.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Restoring Worker Voting RightsCriminal Justice Reform
Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. Wolf
In the last four years Pennsylvania has experienced rapid state spending growth. On the plus side, constant tax hike proposals have been largely rejected and policies like pension reform, school…
Memo
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The Urgent Need for Tax Credit Scholarships
Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship programs have helped many students, but thousands of students are turned away each year. Senate Bill 1204 would end the supply problem by allowing tax credit…
Memo
Read More: The Urgent Need for Tax Credit ScholarshipsEducation
Education Spending Trends 2016-17
$4.5 billion—that's the collective balance in Pennsylvania school district reserve funds. Reserve balances are at an all-time high and hold enough money to cut every Pennsylvania student a $2,860 check,…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Education Spending Trends 2016-17Public Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Primer
Paycheck protection ends the use of public resources to collect government unions’ political money. Under current law, state and local governments (including school districts) take both union…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Paycheck Protection PrimerEducation
Nine Irrefutable Facts About Education Savings Accounts
Children deserve an education that fits their unique needs. It’s time to bring education savings accounts to Pennsylvania and make that dream a reality. How do they work? Is there…
Memo
Read More: Nine Irrefutable Facts About Education Savings AccountsState Budget
2018 State Budget Trends
On February 6, Governor Wolf laid out his plan for the 2018-19 state budget. His proposal includes a $250 million energy tax and nearly $1 billion in new General Fund…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2018 State Budget TrendsEducation
Education Tax Credit Escalator Basics
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs have offered a lifeline to Pennsylvania students, delivering more than 570,000 scholarships since the programs began. Last…
Memo
Read More: Education Tax Credit Escalator BasicsState Budget
The Taxpayer Protection Act: A Legislator’s Guide
Pennsylvania’s high state and local tax burden is the consequence of a decades-long spending binge. Pennsylvanians currently pay $4,589 per person in state and local taxes, which equals 10.2 percent…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Taxpayer Protection Act: A Legislator’s GuidePublic Union Democracy
Pa. Leads the Nation in Teacher Strikes
This report compares Pennsylvania's strike laws to other states, and highlights the impact on teachers and students.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pa. Leads the Nation in Teacher StrikesTaxes & Economy
The State of Natural Gas in Pa.
Pennsylvania’s regulatory and tax environment is stunting job growth and deterring investment. A decade after the Marcellus Shale boom, lawmakers are still debating how to tax the industry instead of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The State of Natural Gas in Pa.State Budget
Exposing the Shadow Budget
The state budget process needs an overhaul. Over the last two years, Pennsylvanians have witnessed unbalanced budgets, unsustainable spending increases, and harmful tax hikes. Additionally, a gross lack of financial…
Memo
Read More: Exposing the Shadow BudgetHealthcare
Improving Medicaid through Work & Community Engagement
For the first time, the federal government is allowing states to require recipients to pursue work, education, or community engagement to maintain Medicaid benefits. With wide support in Pennsylvania, this…
Fact Sheet
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