Commonwealth Foundation Unveils Its “Better Pennsylvania Agenda”
Offers 30 bipartisan solutions, reforms to address economic, education, energy and budgetary issues
January 23, 2025
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Offers 30 bipartisan solutions, reforms to address economic, education, energy and budgetary issues
The Commonwealth Foundation released a policy roadmap this morning designed to help Pennsylvania’s lawmakers address the challenges facing citizens of the Commonwealth.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” offers 30 bipartisan solutions and reforms to address economic, education, energy and budgetary issues that are causing residents to flee the state to more welcoming environs.
A free-market think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation’s proposals include measures to help low-income children escape failing schools, cut taxes to unleash economic development, empower Pennsylvania’s energy sector to prioritize affordability and security, and ensure that workers are no longer at the mercy of special interest groups.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” also calls out Gov. Josh Shapiro with initiatives that he said he supported during his successful 2022 campaign for the office, but the Foundation says he has failed to deliver. These include reducing the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) and enacting Lifeline Scholarships.
“Having sent a clear message in the 2024 elections, a majority of voters feel that Pennsylvania has ‘pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track’” Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Erik Telford said.
“As state lawmakers embark on the final legislative session of Governor Shapiro’s term, Pennsylvanians are demanding a new path forward and an end to the partisan gridlock. Shapiro has said he’s ready to work with President Trump. Is he ready to live up to his campaign pledge of working with Republicans and Democrats in Harrisburg?” Telford asked. “Pennsylvanians are eager for Shapiro to deliver on a laundry list of unfulfilled campaign promises from regulatory reform, to tax cuts, and scholarships for poor kids in low performing schools.”
The statewide survey, which has a margin of error of +/- 3.9%, starts off with more than half of the respondents saying the Commonwealth is on the wrong track (52%).
While it is not surprising to see rising prices and inflation at the top of the list of issues for the Governor and state legislature to address in this legislative session, nearly 1-in-6 (17%) want Harrisburg to address the economy and jobs, while 13 percent indicated taxes and spending should be the most pertinent issue.
When asked how those surveyed would grade Pennsylvania’s K-12 system, nearly half (44%) gave the Commonwealth a “C.” And using the traditional 4.0 grading average, Pennsylvanians gave the state’s education system a 2.2 GPA.
When it comes to the state’s economy, respondents were split 50-50, saying that Pennsylvania economic competitiveness is average among states.
Respondents also spoke positively about privatizing liquor and wine sales in the Commonwealth (76% support), modernizing election laws with voter ID and consistent rules for mail-in ballots (91%), and enrolling all new government employees in a 401(k) retirement plan, instead of a guaranteed pension for life (86%).
The survey also asked about federal policy proposals supported by the Trump administration.
“Pennsylvanians went to the ballot box demanding a new direction at the state and federal level. More than 8-in-10 voters support key Trump proposals including renewal of tax cuts enacted during his first term, regulatory relief, and an end to policies that have crippled energy production. 84% support ending Biden’s pause on exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which Trump has since reversed on his first day in office.
“The Better Pennsylvania plan provides a roadmap for policymakers to enact policies with overwhelming, bipartisan support, that will set the commonwealth on a path to a more prosperous future where all Pennsylvanians can thrive,” said Elizabeth Stelle, vice president of policy. “Pennsylvanians have demanded change, now it’s time for lawmakers to deliver.”
The policies outlined in this agenda are not just politically effective, but popular with Democrat, Independent, and Republican voters. A list of policy proposals from the Better Pennsylvania Agenda follows below, along with the level of total voter support for each policy.
The Commonwealth Foundation released a policy roadmap this morning designed to help Pennsylvania’s lawmakers address the challenges facing citizens of the Commonwealth.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” offers 30 bipartisan solutions and reforms to address economic, education, energy and budgetary issues that are causing residents to flee the state to more welcoming environs.
A free-market think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation’s proposals include measures to help low-income children escape failing schools, cut taxes to unleash economic development, empower Pennsylvania’s energy sector to prioritize affordability and security, and ensure that workers are no longer at the mercy of special interest groups.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” also calls out Gov. Josh Shapiro with initiatives that he said he supported during his successful 2022 campaign for the office, but the Foundation says he has failed to deliver. These include reducing the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) and enacting Lifeline Scholarships.
“Having sent a clear message in the 2024 elections, a majority of voters feel that Pennsylvania has ‘pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track’” Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Erik Telford said.
“As state lawmakers embark on the final legislative session of Governor Shapiro’s term, Pennsylvanians are demanding a new path forward and an end to the partisan gridlock. Shapiro has said he’s ready to work with President Trump. Is he ready to live up to his campaign pledge of working with Republicans and Democrats in Harrisburg?” Telford asked. “Pennsylvanians are eager for Shapiro to deliver on a laundry list of unfulfilled campaign promises from regulatory reform, to tax cuts, and scholarships for poor kids in low performing schools.”
The statewide survey, which has a margin of error of +/- 3.9%, starts off with more than half of the respondents saying the Commonwealth is on the wrong track (52%).
While it is not surprising to see rising prices and inflation at the top of the list of issues for the Governor and state legislature to address in this legislative session, nearly 1-in-6 (17%) want Harrisburg to address the economy and jobs, while 13 percent indicated taxes and spending should be the most pertinent issue.
When asked how those surveyed would grade Pennsylvania’s K-12 system, nearly half (44%) gave the Commonwealth a “C.” And using the traditional 4.0 grading average, Pennsylvanians gave the state’s education system a 2.2 GPA.
When it comes to the state’s economy, respondents were split 50-50, saying that Pennsylvania economic competitiveness is average among states.
Respondents also spoke positively about privatizing liquor and wine sales in the Commonwealth (76% support), modernizing election laws with voter ID and consistent rules for mail-in ballots (91%), and enrolling all new government employees in a 401(k) retirement plan, instead of a guaranteed pension for life (86%).
The survey also asked about federal policy proposals supported by the Trump administration.
“Pennsylvanians went to the ballot box demanding a new direction at the state and federal level. More than 8-in-10 voters support key Trump proposals including renewal of tax cuts enacted during his first term, regulatory relief, and an end to policies that have crippled energy production. 84% support ending Biden’s pause on exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which Trump has since reversed on his first day in office.
“The Better Pennsylvania plan provides a roadmap for policymakers to enact policies with overwhelming, bipartisan support, that will set the commonwealth on a path to a more prosperous future where all Pennsylvanians can thrive,” said Elizabeth Stelle, vice president of policy. “Pennsylvanians have demanded change, now it’s time for lawmakers to deliver.”
The policies outlined in this agenda are not just politically effective, but popular with Democrat, Independent, and Republican voters. A list of policy proposals from the Better Pennsylvania Agenda follows below, along with the level of total voter support for each policy.
The Commonwealth Foundation released a policy roadmap this morning designed to help Pennsylvania’s lawmakers address the challenges facing citizens of the Commonwealth.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” offers 30 bipartisan solutions and reforms to address economic, education, energy and budgetary issues that are causing residents to flee the state to more welcoming environs.
A free-market think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation’s proposals include measures to help low-income children escape failing schools, cut taxes to unleash economic development, empower Pennsylvania’s energy sector to prioritize affordability and security, and ensure that workers are no longer at the mercy of special interest groups.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” also calls out Gov. Josh Shapiro with initiatives that he said he supported during his successful 2022 campaign for the office, but the Foundation says he has failed to deliver. These include reducing the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) and enacting Lifeline Scholarships.
“Having sent a clear message in the 2024 elections, a majority of voters feel that Pennsylvania has ‘pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track’” Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Erik Telford said.
“As state lawmakers embark on the final legislative session of Governor Shapiro’s term, Pennsylvanians are demanding a new path forward and an end to the partisan gridlock. Shapiro has said he’s ready to work with President Trump. Is he ready to live up to his campaign pledge of working with Republicans and Democrats in Harrisburg?” Telford asked. “Pennsylvanians are eager for Shapiro to deliver on a laundry list of unfulfilled campaign promises from regulatory reform, to tax cuts, and scholarships for poor kids in low performing schools.”
The statewide survey, which has a margin of error of +/- 3.9%, starts off with more than half of the respondents saying the Commonwealth is on the wrong track (52%).
While it is not surprising to see rising prices and inflation at the top of the list of issues for the Governor and state legislature to address in this legislative session, nearly 1-in-6 (17%) want Harrisburg to address the economy and jobs, while 13 percent indicated taxes and spending should be the most pertinent issue.
When asked how those surveyed would grade Pennsylvania’s K-12 system, nearly half (44%) gave the Commonwealth a “C.” And using the traditional 4.0 grading average, Pennsylvanians gave the state’s education system a 2.2 GPA.
When it comes to the state’s economy, respondents were split 50-50, saying that Pennsylvania economic competitiveness is average among states.
Respondents also spoke positively about privatizing liquor and wine sales in the Commonwealth (76% support), modernizing election laws with voter ID and consistent rules for mail-in ballots (91%), and enrolling all new government employees in a 401(k) retirement plan, instead of a guaranteed pension for life (86%).
The survey also asked about federal policy proposals supported by the Trump administration.
“Pennsylvanians went to the ballot box demanding a new direction at the state and federal level. More than 8-in-10 voters support key Trump proposals including renewal of tax cuts enacted during his first term, regulatory relief, and an end to policies that have crippled energy production. 84% support ending Biden’s pause on exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which Trump has since reversed on his first day in office.
“The Better Pennsylvania plan provides a roadmap for policymakers to enact policies with overwhelming, bipartisan support, that will set the commonwealth on a path to a more prosperous future where all Pennsylvanians can thrive,” said Elizabeth Stelle, vice president of policy. “Pennsylvanians have demanded change, now it’s time for lawmakers to deliver.”
The policies outlined in this agenda are not just politically effective, but popular with Democrat, Independent, and Republican voters. A list of policy proposals from the Better Pennsylvania Agenda follows below, along with the level of total voter support for each policy.
The Commonwealth Foundation released a policy roadmap this morning designed to help Pennsylvania’s lawmakers address the challenges facing citizens of the Commonwealth.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” offers 30 bipartisan solutions and reforms to address economic, education, energy and budgetary issues that are causing residents to flee the state to more welcoming environs.
A free-market think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation’s proposals include measures to help low-income children escape failing schools, cut taxes to unleash economic development, empower Pennsylvania’s energy sector to prioritize affordability and security, and ensure that workers are no longer at the mercy of special interest groups.
The “Better Pennsylvania Agenda” also calls out Gov. Josh Shapiro with initiatives that he said he supported during his successful 2022 campaign for the office, but the Foundation says he has failed to deliver. These include reducing the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) and enacting Lifeline Scholarships.
“Having sent a clear message in the 2024 elections, a majority of voters feel that Pennsylvania has ‘pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track’” Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Erik Telford said.
“As state lawmakers embark on the final legislative session of Governor Shapiro’s term, Pennsylvanians are demanding a new path forward and an end to the partisan gridlock. Shapiro has said he’s ready to work with President Trump. Is he ready to live up to his campaign pledge of working with Republicans and Democrats in Harrisburg?” Telford asked. “Pennsylvanians are eager for Shapiro to deliver on a laundry list of unfulfilled campaign promises from regulatory reform, to tax cuts, and scholarships for poor kids in low performing schools.”
The statewide survey, which has a margin of error of +/- 3.9%, starts off with more than half of the respondents saying the Commonwealth is on the wrong track (52%).
While it is not surprising to see rising prices and inflation at the top of the list of issues for the Governor and state legislature to address in this legislative session, nearly 1-in-6 (17%) want Harrisburg to address the economy and jobs, while 13 percent indicated taxes and spending should be the most pertinent issue.
When asked how those surveyed would grade Pennsylvania’s K-12 system, nearly half (44%) gave the Commonwealth a “C.” And using the traditional 4.0 grading average, Pennsylvanians gave the state’s education system a 2.2 GPA.
When it comes to the state’s economy, respondents were split 50-50, saying that Pennsylvania economic competitiveness is average among states.
Respondents also spoke positively about privatizing liquor and wine sales in the Commonwealth (76% support), modernizing election laws with voter ID and consistent rules for mail-in ballots (91%), and enrolling all new government employees in a 401(k) retirement plan, instead of a guaranteed pension for life (86%).
The survey also asked about federal policy proposals supported by the Trump administration.
“Pennsylvanians went to the ballot box demanding a new direction at the state and federal level. More than 8-in-10 voters support key Trump proposals including renewal of tax cuts enacted during his first term, regulatory relief, and an end to policies that have crippled energy production. 84% support ending Biden’s pause on exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which Trump has since reversed on his first day in office.
“The Better Pennsylvania plan provides a roadmap for policymakers to enact policies with overwhelming, bipartisan support, that will set the commonwealth on a path to a more prosperous future where all Pennsylvanians can thrive,” said Elizabeth Stelle, vice president of policy. “Pennsylvanians have demanded change, now it’s time for lawmakers to deliver.”
The policies outlined in this agenda are not just politically effective, but popular with Democrat, Independent, and Republican voters. A list of policy proposals from the Better Pennsylvania Agenda follows below, along with the level of total voter support for each policy.
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