Andrew Abramczyk

Senior Fellow

Andrew specializes in fiscal policy including the state budget and public finance. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.  
Prior to joining Commonwealth Foundation he worked in the investment business for nearly a decade.

Taxes & Economy

State Treasury: Soak the Rich

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 14, 2019

Last week the Pennsylvania state treasury tweeted a link to a New York Times opinion piece headlined The Rich Really Do Pay Lower Taxes Than You. The piece…

Media

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Regulation

Good Returns Won’t Close the Gap

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 9, 2019

The state teachers’ pension fund, PSERS, just reported a 6.7% return over the past twelve months. That is a very good investment return. Sadly, when starting from a deep…

Media

Read More: Good Returns Won’t Close the Gap

Taxes & Economy

How to Increase Economic Growth

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 3, 2019

The following testimony was given at the Pennsylvania Fiscal and Economic Summit at York College on August 22.       Good afternoon.  Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you…

Testimony

Read More: How to Increase Economic Growth

State Budget

How to Improve State Budgeting Practices

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 1, 2019

The following testimony was given at the Pennsylvania Fiscal and Economic Summit at York College on August 22, 2019. Thank you for the opportunity to address you this morning on…

Testimony

Read More: How to Improve State Budgeting Practices

Regulation

The Liquor Control Board is a Jobs Program, Not a Business

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • September 30, 2019

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) recently announced “record sales and record net income” for the year ended June 30th. Such wording is the language of a business proudly…

Media

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Regulation

The Broken Promise of Flexible Liquor Pricing

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • September 11, 2019

The Liquor Control Board told the public it would use its expanded pricing powers for consumer benefit.  Instead it has used them to benefit only itself.

Memo

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On Alcohol, Can We at Least Be Like Sweden?

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • August 27, 2019

What do Pennsylvania and Sweden have in common? Aside from Sweden’s short-lived colony on the Delaware River, very little. Except a government liquor monopoly. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board…

Media

Read More: On Alcohol, Can We at Least Be Like Sweden?

State Budget

Slicing Pennsylvania’s Finances, Part 1

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • August 21, 2019

Pennsylvania's largest budget items are growing unsustainably fast. The budget can only be brought under control only if these cost drivers are addressed.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Slicing Pennsylvania’s Finances, Part 1

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…

Media

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

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…

Media

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

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…

Media

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Let’s Stop the Gimmicks

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • June 21, 2019

If you took out a mortgage on your house and used it to buy groceries, would you say that you were covering your expenses with your income? How about if…

Media

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Regulation

Liquor Privatization: Time to Push Again

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • June 13, 2019

A Pennsylvania grocery or convenience store can be a confusing place. Out-of-state visitors are puzzled when they first encounter separate checkout lines for alcohol and non-alcoholic items. Last-minute party planners…

Media

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Education

Helping Kids Through EITC and OSTC

  • Andrew Abramczyk, Nathan Benefield
  • June 12, 2019

Governor Tom Wolf wants to be sure that children from poor parts of the state can get a good education. In his 2018 budget address he called…

Media

Read More: Helping Kids Through EITC and OSTC

Education

Fiscal Forgetfulness

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • June 12, 2019

Next year the governor wants to spend $1.4 billion more than he requested for this year, according to his recent budget proposal. Separately he’ll need as much as $750 million…

Media

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