Pennsylvania Policy Center (Penn Policy)

Background

Penn Policy was initially created as a project of the Keystone Research Center, a left-of-center public policy organization that is part of the State Priorities Partnership (SSP) network of left-of-center think tanks. By June 2023, Penn Policy became an independent nonprofit organization. ¹

Advocacy

Penn Policy claims to advocates for policies that ensure “tax justice,”  which it defines as increasing tax rates on the wealthy and those it labels as “greedy, multinational corporations.” ³  Penn Policy is listed as a coalition member of Fair Share America, a left-of-center “federal and multistate initiative” which advocates for “the wealthy and corporations [to] pay their fair share.” ⁴

Penn Policy has previously advocated for legislation to increase the state of Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. ⁵

Penn Policy has opposed the SAVE Act federal legislation, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. ^{6 7}

At its “2025 Federal Fightback Summit,” Penn Policy expressed opposition to immigration policies of the second Trump administration while discussing issues such as deportation efforts, the removal of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals, and President Donald Trump’s executive order purporting to curtail birthright citizenship. ⁸

People

Marc Stier is the executive director of Penn Policy. Stier previously worked as the director for the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) from 2015 through 2023. Stier also worked as a director of Penn ACTION. ⁹

Deputy director of Penn Policy Levana Layendecker was previously an associate director at the Keystone Research Center. ²

Penn Policy director of communications Kristin Snow previously worked as the communications director for both the Keystone Research Center and PBPC. ²

Jeff Garis, outreach and partnerships director for Penn Policy, coordinated state level policy advocacy campaigns for both Keystone Research Center and PBPC prior to joining Penn Policy. ²

Erica Freeman, deputy director of communication for Penn Policy, worked previously as deputy director of communications for both the Keystone Research Center and PBPC. ²