Here's Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.
Happy New Year!
The Top Five Policy Victories of 2025—and a Look Ahead to 2026
Pennsylvania saw no shortage of controversies and political battles in 2025, including a four-month-long budget impasse.
But this year also saw lawmakers enact several pro-growth policies—from expanding educational choice to freeing Pennsylvanians from a devastating energy tax. Here are the top five pro-taxpayer policy victories of 2025 (in reverse order).
Shapiro Should Opt in to New Federal Scholarship Program
Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis surprised many when he announced his intentions to opt in to a new federal scholarship program — a program championed by Republican lawmakers and codified by the Working Families Tax Cut (also known as the “One Big, Beautiful Act”). Will Shapiro follow suit?
Government Unions Put Politics Before Workers
Over the past 15 years, public sector unions across the country have used membership dues to advance overtly political agendas, often behind the backs of their own members. Here are the facts.
