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Three Reforms that Transcend Party Lines
Budget gridlock is hamstringing Harrisburg, but when it comes to transparency and accountability, a bipartisan majority of Pennsylvanians support three key reforms.
Paycheck protection, transparency in government union contract negotiations, and state spending limits earned widespread support in a recent Susquehanna Polling and Research survey of 700 registered voters.
67% support paycheck protection
Two-thirds of Pennsylvanians believe taxpayer resources should not be used to collect campaign contributions. Among union households, support is 80 percent, according to a 2014 poll.
Last election cycle, 10 government unions gave more than $10 million to political candidates. That money was funneled through public payroll systems, essentially making taxpayers an unwilling third party in furthering government union leaders’ political agendas. Click here for more information on paycheck protection.
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Poll Results: Paycheck Protection Support |
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|
Overall |
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
|
Total Support |
67% |
75% |
59% |
69% |
|
Total Oppose |
26% |
16% |
34% |
22% |
|
Undecided |
7% |
7% |
6% |
9% |
|
Poll Results: Paycheck Protection by Region |
||||||||
|
NW |
SW |
Central |
NE/Lehigh |
S Central |
SE |
Allegheny |
Philadelphia |
|
|
Total Support |
72% |
75% |
67% |
55% |
76% |
68% |
72% |
53% |
|
Total Oppose |
21% |
24% |
22% |
30% |
18% |
25% |
19% |
43% |
|
Undecided |
7% |
1% |
9% |
12% |
6% |
7% |
8% |
4% |
73% support transparency in government union contract negotiations
School districts and municipalities regularly approve secret contracts, worth billions, with state government unions. Recently Monessen School District approved a new teachers’ contract with secret terms. Likewise, Crestwood Area School District tentatively agreed to an undisclosed contract with the local union. District taxpayers are later handed the bill for millions of dollars.
The state Senate has already passed two transparency bills: SB 644, sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer, empowers the Independent Fiscal Office to give taxpayers cost estimates on state public sector union contracts before ratification. Sen. Patrick Stefano's SB 645 requires public sector collective bargaining agreements to be posted on state, school district, or local government websites two weeks before signing. Click here for more information on contract transparency.
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Poll Results: Gov. Union Contract Transparency |
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|
Overall |
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
|
Total Support |
73% |
77% |
70% |
74% |
|
Total Oppose |
16% |
12% |
20% |
20% |
|
Undecided |
10% |
11% |
10% |
6% |
|
Poll Results: Gov. Union Contract Transparency by Region |
||||||||
|
NW |
SW |
Central |
NE/Lehigh |
S Central |
SE |
Allegheny |
Philadelphia |
|
|
Total Support |
75% |
72% |
68% |
55% |
66% |
65% |
69% |
51% |
|
Total Oppose |
17% |
15% |
16% |
29% |
17% |
23% |
19% |
35% |
|
Undecided |
7% |
12% |
16% |
14% |
16% |
11% |
12% |
15% |
64% support state spending limits like the Taxpayer Protection Act
Decades of out of control spending make Pennsylvania unattractive for those wanting to start a family and a career. Pennsylvania ranks just 49th in job growth, 48th in population growth, and 45th in personal income growth in the past two decades.
Reasonable guard rails on state spending are needed to make our state competitive again. Click here for more information on the Taxpayer Protection Act.
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Poll Results: Taxpayer Protection Act |
||||
|
Overall |
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
|
Total Support |
64% |
71% |
62% |
59% |
|
Total Oppose |
22% |
13% |
27% |
30% |
|
Undecided |
13% |
14% |
10% |
11% |
|
Poll Results: Taxpayer Protection Act by Region |
||||||||
|
NW |
SW |
Central |
NE/Lehigh |
S Central |
SE |
Allegheny |
Philadelphia |
|
|
Total Support |
72% |
80% |
75% |
71% |
74% |
69% |
72% |
75% |
|
Total Oppose |
2% |
7% |
19% |
24% |
10% |
23% |
18% |
12% |
|
Undecided |
26% |
12% |
6% |
6% |
15% |
8% |
9% |
12% |
The strong support for these reforms shows Pennsylvanians value real—not rhetorical—transparency and accountability in government.