Educational Choice Changes Lives

Inside Pennsylvania's Budget Battle

What really happens behind closed doors during Pennsylvania's budget negotiations? Andrew Lewis sits down with former Pennsylvania Senate Secretary-Parliamentarian Megan Martin (now Commonwealth Foundation's COO and General Counsel) for an insider's look at how the Commonwealth's most important legislation gets negotiated, debated, and passed. Then, Commonwealth Foundation Chief Policy Officer Nathan Benefield breaks down why this year's budget fight matters, from record spending and the Rainy Day Fund to school choice and the reforms needed to protect taxpayers. If you've ever wondered why the state budget is about far more than dollars and cents, this episode takes you inside the process.

The Choice That Changed My Life

A single educational opportunity can change the course of a life.   Andrew Lewis sits down with two Pennsylvanians whose lives were transformed by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which is under attack by the Democrat majority in the state House of Representatives.    National champion wrestler Bo Bassett shares how EITC helped him find an environment where he could thrive—setting him on a path to Virginia Tech and international competition. Then, Soviet immigrant Kate Pukhovich reflects on growing up without educational or religious freedom and explains why EITC scholarships gave her daughter opportunities she never imagined possible.   As lawmakers debate the future of Pennsylvania's scholarship programs, these personal stories remind us that behind every policy are real families, real dreams, and life-changing opportunities.

Trust Parents, Not Bureaucracies

Pennsylvania spends nearly $24,000 per student each year, yet fewer than one-third of eighth graders are proficient in math and reading. In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis sits down with State Rep. Joe D'Orsie and Empower Mississippi CEO Grant Callen to explore why more spending isn't translating into better results, and what can be done about it. They discuss school choice, Lifeline Scholarships, education savings accounts, cyber charters, and the growing movement to give parents more control over their children's education. They also examine Mississippi's remarkable academic turnaround and what Pennsylvania can learn from it. What we learn could reshape the future of education in Pennsylvania.

From Red Tape to Red Carpet

Pennsylvania state government has been notorious for red tape. Now lawmakers are working to roll out the red carpet to make the permitting process more efficient. Andrew Lewis sits down with Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill to discuss the surprising history of "red tape," the fight to reform Pennsylvania's permitting system, and the policies helping projects move faster without sacrificing accountability. It's a conversation about transparency, economic growth, and what happens when government starts serving the people instead of the process.

Can Pennsylvania Afford This Budget?

Pennsylvania is spending more than it takes in. What happens next? Andrew Lewis welcomes taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist to discuss the national tax landscape before turning to a pressing question closer to home: Can Pennsylvania sustain a budget that spends billions more than projected revenues? The conversation includes topics from state tax competition to government spending, school choice, and economic growth. This episode examines how policy decisions today will shape Pennsylvania's future for decades to come.