Common Sense Weekly

Welcome to Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.

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PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending Bill

Pennsylvania House Democrats passed the General Appropriations Act (HB 1330), their version of a budget bill, which includes a $2.9 billion spending increase.

The bill would increase general fund spending to $50.6 billion—exacerbating Pennsylvania’s structural deficit, by spending $5.3 billion more than revenue. Lawmakers would need to drain state reserves to cover the cost of such reckless spending this year, followed by tax increases next year. Pennsylvania families could expect a $2,000 tax hike in 2026 if this overspending becomes law.

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Pennsylvania Energy Returns to the National Spotlight—No Thanks to Governor Shapiro

This week, lawmakers and business executives convened in Pittsburgh to celebrate Pennsylvania’s bright future—all thanks to the commonwealth’s robust energy sector.

The event, titled the “Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit,” brought prominent political and business leaders to Carnegie Mellon University. Such political figures included U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (who hosted and organized the event), Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and President Donald Trump.

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Pennsylvania Cyber Students Thrive — No Thanks to Gov. Shapiro

As an elementary student, Luke Woodmender struggled to read. “I would cry when I read,” he says. “And [my school] didn’t really do anything to help me.”

He chokes up while recounting these childhood struggles. Now, Luke, a 17-year-old resident of Somerton, devours books. “He asks for huge book sets for Christmas and his birthday,” says Jenn, Luke’s mother.

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Pennsylvania Can Learn from Ohio and West Virginia

Over the last decade, Pennsylvania has lost population and businesses to more competitive states. But this outmigration offers clues on how Pennsylvania can once again become a thriving destination state.

Since 2020, Pennsylvania has lost 49,000 residents to domestic migration, according to Census data. The commonwealth has also lost interstate migration in 13 of the past 14 years. Over the last decade, Pennsylvania lost about 280,000 residents to other states.

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What Pennsylvania Can Learn From Louisiana About Energy Policy

Louisiana, the third-largest producer of natural gas nationally, has capitalized on President Donald Trump’s energy policies, which represent an about-face turn from the previous administration.

The Bayou State recently signed Act 462—a bill that reclassifies natural gas as “green energy”—into law. “This bill sets the tone for the future and will help the state pursue energy independence and dominance,” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

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