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Blog PostPress Statements
September 27, 2024

Immigrants are a Vital Part of Pennsylvania’s Future

Click here to read full screen or print. https://pennpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EPI-IRC-PPC-immigration-one-page.pdf    
Blog PostPress Release
September 19, 2024

As Fair Share America Launches, New Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Support Higher Taxes on the Ultra-Rich and Big Corporations

As Fair Share America Launches, New Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Support Higher Taxes on the Ultra-Rich and Big Corporations As Pennsylvanians Together brought a group of 25 Pennsylvanians to Washington, D.C.,…
Blog PostPress Statements
September 13, 2024

New Census Data Shows Failure and Success of Pennsylvania Public Policy

The annual release of census data is often a guide to policy success and failure at both the national and state levels. This year is no exception. The American Community…
Blog PostPolicy BriefsPolicy Report
September 5, 2024

What Project 2025 Means for Pennsylvania Taxpayers

If the federal government in Donald Trump’s potential second term were to adopt the tax proposals in Project 2025, low- and moderate-income Pennsylvanians would pay far more in taxes than…
Blog PostPolicy BriefsPress Statement
July 21, 2024

Penn Policy Statement on President Biden’s Withdrawal

Joe Biden’s truly selfless act today exemplifies the authentic leadership that has made him the most effective Democratic President since Franklin Roosevelt. Under very difficult political circumstances, with a bare…
Blog PostPolicy BriefsPress Statements
July 11, 2024

Response to the 2024–25 PA State Budget — Education Funding

July 11, 2024 Governor Shapiro and the members of the General Assembly have had about 18 months to respond to the Commonwealth Court ruling that Pennsylvania’s system of funding K-12…
Blog PostPress Statements
July 3, 2024

Statement: PPC Opposes Senate School Voucher Bill 1280

The Pennsylvania Policy Center stands in opposition to Senate Bill 1280, which would force Pennsylvania taxpayers to give billions in handouts to private and religious institutions with virtually no accountability.…
Blog PostPA BudgetPress Statement
July 1, 2024

Statement: What We Are Looking for in a Budget Agreement

The Pennsylvania state budget is now officially late. By all reports, however, House and Senate negotiators, as well as the governor’s office, are working diligently to reach an agreement. We are not concerned by a brief…
Editorial Board Memo
June 27, 2024

ED. BD. MEMO: A State Earned Income Tax Credit Should Be Part of a Budget Deal in 2024

To: Members of the General Assembly, editorial board members, and political reporters From: Marc Stier, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Policy Center Subject: What we are looking for in a budget agreement Date: July…
Blog PostPolicy Briefs
June 26, 2024

K–12 School Funding in PA Remains Inadequate and Inequitable

Year after year, our predecessor organization and many others have released research showing both that the vast majority of Pennsylvania K–12 school districts are underfunded and that school districts with…
Picture of the PA State Capitol buildingBlog PostPolicy Briefs
June 25, 2024

From Work to Wealth and Back Again

From Work to Wealth and Back Again Americans suffer because we reward wealth more than work.  Here’s how we got here and how we can create an economy that works…
Blog PostPolicy Statement
June 21, 2024

Testimony to the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission

Our executive director, Marc Stier, presented this testimony at the first public hearing of the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission on June 17, 2021. Stier is also the senior advisor to…
Blog PostPolicy BriefsPolicy Report
June 17, 2024

Ballot Drop Boxes Make Voting Better

Access a version here to read, print, or download.   https://pennpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ballot-Drop-Boxes-Make-Voting-Better.pdf
Blog Post
June 14, 2024

Create a State Earned Income Tax Credit in 2024!

In our first post in this series, we argued that if the Pennsylvania General Assembly chooses to cut taxes in the budget that begins on July 1st, it should limit…
a bar chart showing what different income levels pay in state and local taxesBlog Post
June 14, 2024

Should We Cut Taxes in 2024–25, and If So—How?

In response to a Senate vote in favor of a small reduction in the personal income tax rate and the gross receipts tax on electricity, we pointed out that this…
Blog PostPress Statements
June 11, 2024

Statement on House Passage of HB 2370 for 7-Year Education-Funding Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2024 Contact: Erica Freeman, Deputy Director of Communications, Pennsylvania Policy Center (267) 496-5253 Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, released the following…
Blog Post
May 16, 2024

Pennsylvanians Together in Brief

Learn about our plan to create a better Pennsylvania.   https://pennpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PATG24001-Advocacy-Flyer-v07.pdf
Blog PostSpeech
May 8, 2024

Speech by Marc Stier — Education Funding Rally at the Capitol

The data is clear. The Courts have ruled. The defendants in the case didn’t appeal the decision. This Commonwealth has systematically discriminated against kids in low-income, Black and brown communities…
Blog PostPress Statements
May 7, 2024

Republicans Choose Tax Cuts for the Rich over Funding Education

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) introduced legislation to cut Pennsylvania’s personal income tax rate from the current 3.07% to 2.8%. This legislation is both deeply cynical and totally…
Blog Post
April 10, 2024

Join Us for Our Online Tax Justice Conversation!

Dear Friends – At Pennsylvania Policy Center we are continuing our call to reverse our upside-down tax system, and demand corporations and the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share! Please…
Blog PostFact Sheet
April 4, 2024

Why We Should Raise the Minimum Wage in PA to $15 Per Hour – 2024 Update

Go here for a printable and full-screen version.
Blog Post
April 1, 2024

End Local Minimum Wage Preemption

By Marc Stier, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center As I documented in a previous blog post, there is no question that the minimum wage is worth less than…
Blog Post
April 1, 2024

It’s Long Past Time to Raise the Minimum Wage

By Marc Stier, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Policy Center I took my first regular paid job as a hotel bellhop in 1966 when I was eleven. It was hard work—in many…
Blog Post
April 1, 2024

Seven Myths About Raising the Minimum Wage—Debunked (2024 update)

Note This is an updated version of a piece I wrote while I was director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. It was published in the Penn Capital–Star on…
Blog Post
March 27, 2024

Pennsylvanians Together 2024 Narrative and Agenda

Click here to read, print, or download.   https://pennpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pennsylvanians-Together-Agenda-2024.pdf
Blog Post
March 22, 2024

There’s a Crucial Need for OSHA Regulations in Safeguarding Public Sector Workers

In Pennsylvania, OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations apply to most private sector employers and employees. However, public sector employees, including those working for “Section (3)(5) of the…
Blog Post
February 14, 2024

Syringe Services Programs Would Save the Lives of Thousands in PA

The Pennsylvania Legislature needs to pass HB 1245, legislation that would legalize syringe services programs across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania families and communities are being devastated by the loss of loved…
logo for Penn Policy: Pennsylvania Policy CenterPA BudgetPress Statement
February 6, 2024

STATEMENT on Governor Shapiro’s 2024–25 Budget Address

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 2024 Contact: Kirstin Snow, Director of Communications, snow@pennpolicy.org STATEMENT on Governor Shapiro’s 2024–25 Budget Address, Pennsylvania Policy Center A Pennsylvania Budget To Celebrate Overview Governor…
logo for Penn Policy: Pennsylvania Policy CenterBudget AnalysisPA BudgetPolicy BriefsPolicy Statement
February 6, 2024

A Pennsylvania Budget to Celebrate

A Pennsylvania Budget to Celebrate Note: This is an initial review of the fiscal year 2024–25 budget proposed by Governor Josh Shapiro on February 6, 2024. As we delve deeper…
Blog PostPress Statements
January 19, 2024

Statement on Federal Child Tax Credit Expansion

STATEMENT on Child Tax Credit Expansion – Marc Stier, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Policy Center The House Ways and Means Committee today voted in favor of bipartisan tax legislation that includes…
Blog PostPolicy Statement
January 12, 2024

Statement in response to the Basic Education Funding Commission Report

The adoption of the Basic Education Funding Commission Report yesterday is a major step forward in meeting our constitutional and moral responsibility to fund education fully and fairly in Pennsylvania. The…
Blog PostPresentation
January 10, 2024

Presentation: Taxes in Pennsylvania Are Upside-Down

Slide deck from our press conference on January 10, 2024 Click here to print or read full-screen. 
Blog Post
January 10, 2024

ITEP Report: Tax Fairness in Pennsylvania

Every few years, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy releases its survey of taxes in the states, "Who Pays?" Click here to read the seventh edition, released on January…
Blog Post
January 4, 2024

Pennsylvania Voters Believe Wealthy Individuals and Profitable Corporations Are Not Paying Their Fair Share

Income and wealth are highly concentrated at the top in Pennsylvania, a situation that has worsened greatly in recent decades. Pennsylvania voters rightly believe that corporations and wealthy individuals aren’t paying…
Blog Post
January 4, 2024

Survey Results: Support for Higher Taxes on Profitable Corporations and Wealthy Individuals by PA Senate District

In November and December of 2022, Data for Progress conducted a survey of registered voters nationally to gauge voter support towards state action to hold profitable corporations and the wealthy…
Blog Post
January 4, 2024

Survey Results: Levels of Support for Higher Taxes on Profitable Corporations and Wealthy Individuals by PA House District

In November and December of 2022, Data for Progress conducted a national survey of registered voters to gauge voter support towards state action to hold profitable corporations and the wealthy…
Blog Post
January 4, 2024

Survey Results: Support for Higher Taxes on Profitable Corporations and Wealthy Individuals by PA Congressional District

In November and December of 2022, Data for Progress conducted a survey of registered voters nationally to gauge voter support towards state action to hold profitable corporations and the wealthy…
Blog Post
December 22, 2023

We Can’t Fix Education By Shuffling The Deck

In February 2023, Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer called for a new funding system in Pennsylvania to fulfill the state's obligation to provide a thorough and efficient education for its children.…
Blog Post
December 22, 2023

Education, Democracy, and Economic Growth

A year ago, Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer ruled that Pennsylvania violates its constitutional obligation to create a “thorough and efficient” system of school funding. In response, legislative leaders and Governor…
Blog Post
December 22, 2023

Education Funding and Education Achievement

A year ago, Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer ruled that Pennsylvania violates its constitutional obligation to create a “thorough and efficient” system of school funding. In response, legislative leaders and Governor…
Blog Post
December 15, 2023

Why Pennsylvanians Should Reject Vouchers

Why Pennsylvania Should Reject Vouchers Susan Spicka, Education Voters PA Diana Polson, Keystone Research Center Marc Stier, Pennsylvania Policy Center Here we quickly summarize three major reasons why the General…
Blog PostPress Statements
December 13, 2023

Statement on Completion of PA State Budget

Six months after the general appropriation bill was passed by the Pennsylvania House and Senate and signed by Governor Shapiro, the House, and Senate today took the necessary step to…
Blog PostPress Statement
December 10, 2023

Pennsylvanians Together Releases Holiday Wish List!

As we enter the holiday season, our thoughts are turned to all the ways the government of our state could be better serving the people of Pennsylvania, especially those who…
Blog PostPress Statement
December 1, 2023

PRESS STATEMENT: PA Will Lose $3.1 Billion to Corporate Tax Cuts by 2028

November 30, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kirstin Snow, Communications Director, Pennsylvania Policy Center, snow@pennpolicy.org; Ellie Blachman, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, (202) 325-8718, eblachman@cbpp.org   New report: Pennsylvania…
Blog Post
November 28, 2023

Making Our Votes Count for the Issues We Care About

Voting access. Abortion access. Climate change. Public education. Redistricting. Pennsylvanians continue to focus on critical issues that matter to our quality of life. In 2023, we showed up to elect…
Editorial Board MemoPolicy BriefsPress Statement
November 22, 2023

Editorial Board Memo on Education Funding in Pennsylvania

In February 2023, Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer called for a new funding system in Pennsylvania to fulfill the state's obligation to provide a thorough and efficient education for its children.…
Blog PostPress Statement
November 9, 2023

PPC Statement on PA Court’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Decision

The Pennsylvania Policy Center (PPC) joins several of its partners in expressing concern about last week’s Commonwealth Court ruling, which struck down Pennsylvania’s opportunity to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas…
Blog PostPolicy Briefs
November 8, 2023

Shuffling the Deck Won’t Solve the Pennsylvania School Funding Crisis

In February 2023, Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer called for a new funding system in Pennsylvania to fulfill the state's obligation to provide a thorough and efficient education for its children.…
Blog PostPolicy Briefs
November 8, 2023

The Contribution of K-12 Education to Economic Growth and Democracy

VIEW IN A PDF READER OR DOWNLOAD.     https://pennpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Contribution-of-Education-to-Economic-Growth-and-Democracy-1.pdf
Blog PostEditorial Board Memo
October 19, 2023

Parents Have Rights—But Not to Ban Books

The Senate is now considering SB 7, a bill proposed by Senator Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster),which would require schools to “identify sexually explicit content in school curriculum, materials, and books and…
Blog PostEditorial Board Memo
October 13, 2023

Is Harrisburg Ready for Change?

October 12, 2023 For Immediate Release Contact: Kirstin Snow, snow@pennpolicy.org Is Harrisburg ready for change? Is new leadership showing a new approach to legislating? Marc Stier, Executive Director Since Democrats…
Blog PostOp-Ed
September 18, 2023

What Would an Equitable Voucher System Look Like?

Pennsylvania's Republican legislators support a voucher program they say is meant to help a small number of students who attend schools they claim are failing. (They don’t mention that those…
Blog PostPress Statement
September 18, 2023

Anti-Worker S.B. 803 Would Gut Worker Protections

Blog PostPennsylvania Policy CenterPress Statement
August 30, 2023

Senate Again Refuses to Fund State’s Most Dire School Districts

Senate Again Refuses to Fund State’s Most Dire School Districts - Marc Stier, Executive Director, Penn Policy Center "The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate came back today for a rare August session.…
Blog Post
August 22, 2023

Economic Opportunity, the Dignity of Work, and the Minimum Wage

Raising the minimum wage has always been about the dignity, as well as the wages, of working people. We who place so much value on our ability to provide for…
Blog PostPA BudgetPress Statement
August 3, 2023

STATEMENT: The (First Part) of the Budget Standoff Is Over

After Governor Shapiro signed the General Appropriation bill today, the Pennsylvania Policy Center released the following statement by our executive director, Marc Stier: "Today, Senate Republicans blinked in the budget…
Blog PostPress ReleasePress Statement
July 5, 2023

Penn Policy Center Statement on PA Budget Passage

July 5, 2023 For Immediate Release Contact: Kirstin Snow, snow@pennpolicy.org Penn Policy Center Statement on Budget Passage Governor Shapiro’s letter announcing that he would line-item veto the appropriation for vouchers…
Blog PostOp-Ed
July 5, 2023

Saving Public Education in Pennsylvania, Where It Began

Originally published on PennCapital-Star.com The budget stalemate in Harrisburg hasn't been primarily about whether some budget line items go up or down by a few hundred million dollars. Those kinds…
Blog Post
July 3, 2023

Update on Pennsylvania Budget Negotiations

With $13 billion in accumulated surplus and a budget from the governor that proposed modest additions to state spending on policies that have broad support, one would expect that making…
Blog PostPress Statement
June 30, 2023

Pennsylvania Policy Center Statement on PA Senate’s Proposed State Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: June 30, 2023 Contact: Kirstin Snow, Communications Director, snow@pennpolicy.org, 215-510-9336   Harrisburg, PA – Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, today released the…
Blog PostPress Statement
June 30, 2023

Pennsylvania Policy Center Update on Pennsylvania Budget

With $13 billion in an accumulated surplus and a budget proposal from the governor that only proposed modest additions to state spending on policies that have broad support, one would…
Blog PostTestimony
June 29, 2023

It’s Time for Combined Reporting

To read full-screen or print, click here.
Blog PostRemarks
June 28, 2023

The Lifeline Scholarship Program Would Undermine Public Education

My name is Marc Stier. I’m the executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center.  I’m here today with my fellow advocates for education—including the leaders of teachers' unions, who have…
Blog PostOp-Ed
June 23, 2023

The Time Is Right for PA to Finally Raise its Minimum Wage | OPINION

Originally published in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star By Marc Stier House Bill 1500, co-sponsored by Democratic Reps. Jason Dawkins of Philadelphia and Patty Kim of Dauphin County, would increase the minimum wage to $15…
Blog PostPolicy Briefs
June 23, 2023

We Need To Let Local Communities Set Their Own Minimum Wage

The state of Pennsylvania does not allow local governments—whether counties or municipalities—to set a higher minimum wage than that set by the state. It should do so. The reason it…
Blog PostPennsylvania Policy CenterPress Statement
June 20, 2023

Penn Policy Statement on House Passage of HB 1500, the Minimum Wage Bill

Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, released the following statement after the PA House passed HB 1500. House passage of House Bill 1500 is a major step…
Blog PostPress Statement
June 15, 2023

Penn Policy Speaks in Support of House Budget on K-12 Education

Remarks by Marc Stier, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, at a PA School Work press conference in support of the House passed budget for 2023-2024 In March, Governor…
Blog PostPolicy BriefsPress Statement
June 14, 2023

Why We Should Raise the Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania to $15 Per Hour

  Click here to read a full-screen version, download, and print. A high minimum wage ensures we have an economy that works for all of us. It protects workers and…
Blog Post
June 13, 2023

PA House Passes Proposals to Reduce Taxes for Working People

Four Major Proposals Will Make Pennsylvania Taxes Fairer The Pennsylvania House today passed the second and third of four major tax proposals: an expansion of the Child and Dependent Care…
Blog PostPennsylvania Policy Center
June 8, 2023

Pennsylvania Policy Center Announces Leadership Team

June 8, 2023 For Immediate Release Contact: Kirstin Snow, snow@pennpolicy.org Pennsylvania Policy Center Announces Leadership Team PA’s State Affiliate to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Harrisburg, PA—Today, Pennsylvania…
Blog PostPress Statement
June 6, 2023

Pennsylvania Policy Center Statement on General Fund Budget Passed by PA House

VIEW STATEMENT AS PDF For Immediate Release Contact: Kirstin Snow, Communications Director, snow@pennpolicy.org; 215-510-9336 Harrisburg, PA–Marc Stier, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, today released the following statement after…
Blog PostPolicy Briefs
May 1, 2023

The Real Cost of Opening a Window for Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Pennsylvania

By Marc Stier I was asked to testify about the claims made in a paper by the Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy that opening a two-year window for childhood…