Pennsylvania Policy Center

Pennsylvania Policy Center

@pennpolicycenter.bsky.social

PPC creates the tools that legislators, leaders, grassroots orgs, and the people of PA need to expand democracy, secure freedom, & seek economic justice.

384 Followers 246 Following 318 Posts Joined Nov 2024
Posts Following
4 days ago
Preview
Project Beloved Community: Teach-In & Rally · Democracy PA Philadelphia is strong, but many families are struggling. Some people don’t have livable homes, good jobs, or safe neighborhoods. We can’t wait for someone else to fix this. We must save ourselves by ...

Join PPC and our allies in the Coalition to Defend Democracy on Sat., 3/14, in North Philly. At this teach-in, we'll share strategies and develop plans to defend our families, our neighborhoods, and the city against attacks by authoritarians & racists. RSVP to join: www.mobilize.us/democracypa/...

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5 days ago
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What’s the cost of Trump’s war in Iran? US House Dem from Pa. asks budget agency to add it up Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle asked the CBO to detail how much the war would cost “under several scenarios.

“Congress should ensure we are spending taxpayer dollars to improve the quality of life for the American people, not paying for another endless war in the Middle East,” wrote Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle
keystonenewsroom.com/2026/03/06/w...

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5 days ago

Thank you, Freda!

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1 week ago

You tube recording

youtu.be/iOm5OvsLkS4?...

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1 week ago
Image reads: “Pennsylvania State Budget 2026-27 Resources. All the resources you need to understand the 2026-27 Pennsylvania State Budget and its implications.“

📌 And stay tuned - we’re dropping new policy briefs on key #PABudget issues every week - make sure to follow so you don’t miss them! And keep an eye on our budget resources page  pennpolicy.org/pa-budget-re...

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1 week ago
A text-heavy graphic titled “how to get the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. If you qualify for the federal EITC, you will automatically qualify for the state credit — helping to lower your taxes or increase your refund.” The rest of the text is available in the linked webpage, it covers who may qualify for the tax credit, and how to apply.

The 2026 tax season is the first time families will be able to claim this credit.

If you qualify for the federal EITC, you’ll automatically qualify for the WPTC — helping to lower your taxes or increase your refund.

Learn more and see if you qualify: bit.ly/4ksKeLK
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1 week ago
Colorful graphic reads “We’re organizing for a more just tax system and an equitable state budget!” Get Involved! Tell state legislators that you support a state budget For Our Common Wealth!” with a link that’s also provided in the post. It also reads “learn more at www . pennpolicy . org / pa-budget-resources26-27.”

The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit is a win for #TaxJusticePA!

It needs to be paired with policies that promote wage growth and modernize our tax system.

🗣️Tell state legislators that you want a budget that works For Our Common Wealth: www.bit.ly/FOCW-petition
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1 week ago
One-Pager: A Fair Share Tax Plan for Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Policy Center

PA needs to raise revenue, sustainably – not with one time gimmicks.

💰 The wealthy and large corporations are undertaxed in PA.

👀 Check out our recommendations on how we raise revenue:

The Fair Share Tax: pennpolicy.org/research_pub...
Combined reporting: pennpolicy.org/research_pub...
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1 week ago
Large title reads “In context…” and medium text below that reads “In PA, low- and middle- income workers provide a disproportionate share of ongoing revenue generation for the state budget. Refundable credits like the WPTC partially rebalance that by returning resources directly to workers.” Another large title and section break reads “But we need more…” and text below that “ Long-term fiscal sustainability requires a state budget with a fairer revenue mix. We need additional revenue from the wealthiest households and large, profitable corporations that are currently undertaxed relative to their capacity to pay”

PA has an upside-down tax system, which puts a higher burden on low- and middle- income families.

‼️The richest 1% – with an average income of $2M – pay taxes at HALF the rate of the rest of us. 

The WTPC helps to rebalance that, but more is needed.
(5/8)

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1 week ago
Large text reads “The maximum credit for the WPTC is $805 for eligible working individuals and families.” more text reads “Over 30 states offer a similar state-level EITC, but most set their credit between 20% and 40% of the federal EITC. The maximum credit in Maryland is $4,000, and in Ohio it’s $2,400.” Another large text block reads “Pennsylvania’s 10% credit represents an important first step but places the Commonwealth below the national median for state EITC generosity.” And small text reads “Over time, policymakers should evaluate increasing the % in order to deepen the credit’s impact, especially considering rising costs of housing, child care, utilities, grocery, health care, and transportation.”

This new WPTC is set at 10% of the federal EITC which means the max that a household in PA can receive is $805.

That’s impactful, but we could do better!

Many states have a similar state EITC, but offer 20%-40%. The credit in MD goes up to $4,000.

Leaders should push to expand this program!
(4/8)

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1 week ago
Large text reads “Tax credits are effective tools for reducing poverty.” There is a flow chart, titled “Tax credits help by supplementing workers’ earnings.” One flow line connects boxes that read “Which improves long-term outcomes for children” and “which can lead to higher earnings in adulthood.” Another connects “Which lifts millions of people above the poverty line each year.” and “and reduces the severity of poverty for millions more.” a third reads “this also benefits local economies.” There is a chart showing that 17.5 people saw boosted income, and 8.2 million were lifted above the poverty line. This includes 10.7 children total who benefitted. Text next to it reads “The federal EITC and Child Tax Credit lifted millions of people above the poverty line and boosted income for people under the poverty line.”

Tax credits like the federal EITC and the Child Tax Credit are proven effective tools for reducing poverty.

Programs like the EITC and CTC have helped to lift people out of poverty and improve long-term outcomes for children.

The WPTC is an important additional support.
(3/8)

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1 week ago
Large text reads “The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit will provide up to $805 for households starting this year.” Smaller text reads “It’s a refundable state income tax credit equal to 10% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - and the eligibility requirements mirror the federal program, meaning most families can receive both. Because the credit is refundable, people can receive money back even if they owe little or no Pennsylvania personal income tax. About 802,000 households in Pennsylvania are eligible to receive the federal EITC. That means about $200 million in benefits flowing back to working families across Pennsylvania!”

Eligibility for the WPTC mirrors the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and it's equal to 10% of that federal EITC.

The WTPC could put ~$2M back into the pockets of low- and middle-income Pennsylvanians.

The max credit is $805, and we talk about that down thread ⬇️
(2/8)

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1 week ago
Large text reads “Have you heard? In November, Pennsylvania signed into law the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit!” There is six photos of various families and couples, smiling and doing activities like shopping, cooking, and playing together. Smaller text reads “This is a people-first tax policy that delivers direct relief to low- and moderate- income working families and affirms a broader commitment to building a more just tax system. The 2026 tax season is the first time families will be able to claim this credit. Read on to learn more!”

Have you heard?! PA has a new state EITC - the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit!
⬇️ Scroll through to learn more about the policy, how it works, who benefits, and how we can build on this win.
🔍 Want a deeper dive? Check out our policy brief: bit.ly/PA-WPTC
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1 week ago
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How Pennsylvania school districts benefit from a closed education funding gap School districts across Pennsylvania are starting to see the benefits of the commonwealth’s shrinking multi-billion dollar education funding gap between poorer and wealthier school districts.

Pennsylvania is finally shrinking the multi-billion dollar education funding gap between poorer and wealthier school districts, and school districts across the commonwealth are starting to see the benefits: keystonenewsroom.com/2026/02/24/p...

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1 week ago

PA: want to hear what's REALLY going on in the state of our union?

(Hint: things aren't as rosy as the President says)

Join us on Thursday, March 5 at 1 pm ET for a webinar with
@pennpolicycenter.bsky.social to break down how federal policy is hurting Pennsylvania, and how we're fighting back.

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1 week ago
Background image of protestors in front of the US capitol holding signs. Text reads: “Pennsylvania Policy Center presents: Federal Policy Action. The REAL State of the Union. Thursday, 3/5 at 1pm.”

Register here to join us on Thursday at 1pm: bit.ly/PolicyAction...

Can't make it? Keep an eye on our Facebook page to watch the livestream afterwards: www.facebook.com/pennpolicyce...

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1 week ago
Text reads: Pennsylvania Policy Center presents: Federal Policy Action! The REAL State of the Union. Congresswoman Summer Lee, Anna Aurillio, Economic Security Project, Gracie Bouwer, Families Over Billionaires, Gina Plata-Nino, Food Research & Action Center, John Foti, Americans for Tax Fairness. Thursday 3/5 at 1pm.” Behind the text is a background image of protestors in front of the US capitol holding signs.

Don't miss it! Our Federal Policy Action call will cut thru the post–SOTU spin + cover the real story on how federal budget & tax decisions impact everyday Pennsylvanians.
W/ @repsummerlee.bsky.social, @economicsecurity.us, @fobaction.bsky.social, @fracposts.bsky.social, & @4taxfairness.bsky.social

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1 week ago
Pennsylvania Budget 2026 Resources – Pennsylvania Policy Center

📌 And stay tuned - we’ll be dropping policy briefs on key #PABudget issues every week - make sure to follow so you don’t miss them! And keep an eye on our budget resources page  pennpolicy.org/pa-budget-re...

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1 week ago
Colorful graphic reads “Get Involved! Tell state legislators that you support a state budget that works For Our Common Wealth!” with a link that’s also provided in the post. It also reads “learn more at www . pennpolicy . org / pa-budget-resources26-27.”

PA’s budget challenge isn't a shortage of wealth. It’s an unjust tax system. And we need to act ASAP.

This change requires pressure from those of us who want #TaxJusticePA!

🗣️Tell state legislators that you want millionaires & big corporations to pay their fair share: www.bit.ly/FOCW-petition

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1 week ago
Text reads “And so…What would the Fair Share Tax Plan mean for you? If you earn your income from a paycheck, you would likely see a tax cut. The wealthiest households, who earn significant income from investments and assets, would contribute more.” smaller text reads “Pennsylvania could raise billions to address our budget shortfall without cutting essential services.” and at the bottom, big text reads “The Fair Share Tax would raise more than $2.6 billion in new revenues in the first year.”

The Fair Share Tax plan! We can raise revenue while ALSO giving everyday people a break. And without cutting essential services.

The Fair Share Tax would raise more than $2.6B in new revenue in the 1st year alone 🎉

Get more in-depth info here: pennpolicy.org/research_pub...
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1 week ago
Text reads “Pennsylvania’s challenge is not a shortage of wealth. It’s an unjust tax system. Enter: The fair share tax plan for PA. Instead of taxing people differently based on how much they earn, we can tax different types of income.” There are illustrations of a family, and another one with a man in a suit, carrying a bag of money standing in front of a car and a large house.. A chart shows the average tax change under the Fair Share Tax plan, showing people in the lower to middle incomes will get a tax cut, while the top 1%, average income 1.75M, will pay $25k more in taxes. Text below reads “Wages are taxed at one uniform rate. Income from wealth is taxed at a different uniform rate. This complies with the "uniformity clause" in our constitution.”

It's time for our tax code to reward work, not just wealth.

PA’s uniformity clause means that we can’t do what other states do and apply add-on taxes to very high incomes.

BUT we can tax income from work at a different rate than income from wealth. (6/9)

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1 week ago
Text reads “If we don’t make policy changes and modernize the tax code, we can’t balance the budget without cutting essential investments.” There are little illustrations next to four points reading “transit systems will get cut. We won’t have enough revenue to invest in housing. Our schools will continue to be underfunded. Social services will struggle to function.” more text reads” People will be left behind. Our fair share tax proposal offers a constitutional path forward.”

A budget is how the state allocates $$ to schools, transit, housing, social programs, public health, and much more.

Without new sources of revenue, the only way PA can balance our budget is by taking from those essential investments.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.
(5/9)

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1 week ago
A pie chart of sources of collected revenue in the PA state budget, showing that wage taxes are 33% of the total. Text reads “Taxes collected from wages are the largest source of revenue in our state budget. When we rely on working families to contribute such a large share to our state budget, while the ultra-wealthy receive tax giveaways, we lose out on critical revenue needed to maintain the services that drive our economy. Pennsylvania’s budget has a structural deficit, and we’re approaching a fiscal cliff. To address the budget deficit for the upcoming year, Gov. Shapiro proposed pulling $4.6B from the Rainy Day Fund, which would leave only an estimated $3.3B in that fund. The Rainy Day Fund is intended for emergencies, not yearly budget balancing.”

PA’s budget relies quite a bit on taxes collected from wages. When the ultra-wealthy and large corporations don’t pay their fair share, we lose out on critical revenue.

Which has left us with a structural deficit, and approaching a fiscal crisis.
(4/9)

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1 week ago
Text “Did you also know? Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% wage tax. That means a nurse, teacher, or construction worker pays the same rate as a multimillionaire or billionaire investor! Higher-income people are more likely to have other, non-employment-related sources of income, like profits from stock trading, bonds, and inheritance. Income from wealth. So they pay a far lower % of their overall income in taxes than low- and middle-income families. PA Taxes are amongst the most unjust in the entire country.” There is a bar chart showing that the lowest income 30% of people pay 15.1% of their income in taxes, while the top richest 1% pay only 6.0%.

Not fun fact: Pennsylvania’s tax system is amongst the most unjust *in the entire country.*

‼️The richest 1% pay taxes at HALF the rate of the rest of us, as a portion of their income.

Our flat wage tax means a much higher burden on low- and middle-income families.
(3/9)

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1 week ago
Pennsylvania’s Untapped Wealth – Pennsylvania Policy Center

tl;dr: Taxing the rich doesn’t make them run for the hills!
We go into a much deeper dive on the issue in this week’s policy brief: “Pennsylvania’s Untapped Wealth”
pennpolicy.org/research_pub...
(2/9)

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1 week ago
Text reads “Did you know? Pennsylvania has more millionaires and billionaires than Massachusetts and Washington, but we tax them less, leaving much-needed revenue on the table. Despite these tax giveaways, the amount of ultra-wealthy households (aka households with over $50 million in assets) is growing FASTER in Washington (263%) and Massachusetts (166%) than in PA (159%).” there is a bar chart showing this data. more text “The data shows: Taxing the ultra-rich does not push them away or stifle their growth.”

Despite PA’s tax giveaways, ultra-wealthy households in MA and WA are growing FASTER than in PA!

Meanwhile, PA has more millionaires & billionaires than MA or WA, but we tax them less. We’re leaving much-needed revenue on the table.

Dig in to learn more ⬇️🧵
(1/9)

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1 week ago
Background image of protestors in front of the US capitol holding signs. Text reads: “Pennsylvania Policy Center presents: Federal Policy Action. The REAL State of the Union. Thursday, 3/5 at 1pm.”

On this Policy Action call, we'll cut through the post–State of the Union spin and get the real story. We’ll break down what’s happening, share legislative updates, and talk through next steps to take action together thru Pennsylvanians Together: For Our Common Wealth!
RSVP: bit.ly/PolicyAction...

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2 weeks ago
Preview
A Year in Review: How the Trump Administration’s Economic Policies Made Life Less Affordable for Americans The first year of the Trump administration has left Americans struggling with increased costs of living due to its unprecedented tariffs, fewer job opportunities, and more expensive health care and ut...

The first year of the Trump administration has left Americans struggling with increased costs of living due to its unprecedented tariffs, fewer job opportunities, and more expensive health care and utilities: www.americanprogress.org/article/a-ye...

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3 weeks ago
What to know about Pennsylvania’s 2026 special elections Several seats in the state House of Representatives will be up for grabs in the next few months.

Check in! If you have a friend who lives in PA state House district 22 (parts of Allentown and Salisbury twp.) or 42 (parts of Allegheny county), make sure they’re ready to vote in the special election on Tuesday, February 24th!
www.cityandstatepa.com/politics/202...

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3 weeks ago
Text reads "Join us for a lunch & learn webinar. Feb 26, 12pm, Zoom. Understanding the governor's budget: what it means for Pennsylvania Schools." Light blue graphic with red, dark blue, and gold elements and a PA Schools Work logo.

Join the PA Schools Work coalition at noon on 2/26 for a "Lunch & Learn" conversation about the state budget and its impact on PA's 500 school districts and 1.7 million students.
RSVP to save your spot: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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