Public Union Democracy
Six Ways Prevailing Wage Increases Taxpayers’ Costs
This week, the Pennsylvania House is set (yet again) to consider basic reforms to Pennsylvania’s outdated prevailing wage law, which mandates that union-scale wages be paid on taxpayer-funded construction projects…
Media
Read More: Six Ways Prevailing Wage Increases Taxpayers’ CostsState Budget
Human Services Programs Must Deal with Wasteful Spending
Last week, you couldn’t swing a dead cat in the state capitol without hitting someone protesting Gov. Corbett’s welfare spending reductions. The governor proposed combining six human service line items, such…
Media
Read More: Human Services Programs Must Deal with Wasteful Spending
Taxpayers to Unions: We Won’t Get Fooled Again
So Pennsylvania taxpayers, lawmakers and Pete Townshend walk into a bar… ouch! Seriously though, this week in Harrisburg could produce one heck of a punch line as lawmakers…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers to Unions: We Won’t Get Fooled AgainHealth Care
Not Why I’m Here
“Why am I here?” That’s an excellent question to ask yourself if you work in Harrisburg. This week, as I read a piece by Karen Langley in the Pittsburgh…
Media
Read More: Not Why I’m Here
Unions Nailed on Prevailing Wage
To hear the union boss of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council tell it from his cushy offsite confines, prevailing wage is all about helping local communities…
Media
Read More: Unions Nailed on Prevailing WageState Budget
Do Government Programs Grow the Economy?
While decades of increased government spending have resulted in economic stagnation, many advocates of increasing government spending claim that their favored program will “grow the economy.” They argue that…
Media
Read More: Do Government Programs Grow the Economy?Education
School Choice in Milwaukee Increases Graduation Rates
The latest analysis of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program finds that students receiving scholarships to attend the school of their choice are more likely to graduate from high…
Media
Read More: School Choice in Milwaukee Increases Graduation Rates
Union Tactics Killing Teaching Jobs, Raising Taxes
For all you 16th century war buffs, you know a petard was a miniature bomb used to blow breaches in gates or walls. But because technology wasn’t so hot…
Media
Read More: Union Tactics Killing Teaching Jobs, Raising TaxesTaxes & Economy
Chart of the Day: Welfare Overlap
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) encompasses much more than Food Stamps and Medicaid. There are numerous federally-funded and state-only aid programs. In fact, most of the 2.7 million…
Media
Read More: Chart of the Day: Welfare Overlap