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Energy
Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth Day
Originally published by The Daily Signal. As Earth Day approaches on Tuesday, climate activists remind us of the importance of cutting carbon emissions. Yet, one inconvenient truth escapes their green-tinged talking…
Read More: Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth Day
Prosperity
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Education
Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania Children
Read More: Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania Children
Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve School Choice, Too
Read More: Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve School Choice, TooEducation
Misconceptions Cloud School Funding Debate
Would you believe that nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s voters underestimate how much money we spend on schools? Shocking but true, according to a new poll testing the public’s knowledge of…
Commentary
Read More: Misconceptions Cloud School Funding DebateHealth Care
Falling Through the Cracks in Obamacare
Mark Ferkler is a Delaware County resident in his mid-thirties. He’s healthy, gainfully employed and now, thanks to Obamacare, is newly uninsured. Yes, you read that right — uninsured. Despite…
Commentary
Read More: Falling Through the Cracks in ObamacareEducation
For Teachers, Knowledge is Power
Like any other group of professionals, teachers are a diverse lot, holding vastly differing social, cultural, and political views. So why is it that they’re lumped together and forced to…
Commentary
Read More: For Teachers, Knowledge is PowerEducation
Taxing Business Won’t Save Students
Paul Battista told a Congressional subcommittee last year: “We can now pay a higher family-sustaining wage! We have people working for us that are the primary breadwinners of their household.”…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing Business Won’t Save StudentsRegulation
Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain
A contentious budget season has officially ended after Governor Corbett signed a $29 billion appropriations bill into law. But is it fiscally responsible? And what’s holding up reforms on the…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges RemainEducation
Teachers’ Views Matter
From my vantage point on the frontlines of Pennsylvania’s public schools, I see teachers’ unions with money to spend and power to wield who are unresponsive to the very people…
Commentary
Read More: Teachers’ Views MatterEducation
Give Teachers the Freedom to Choose
Let teachers worry about teaching; let politicians worry about politics. That’s been my mantra throughout my career as an educator. But, sadly, most public school teachers in Pennsylvania don’t have…
Commentary
Read More: Give Teachers the Freedom to ChooseState Budget
Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?
For the seventh consecutive year, Pennsylvania state government is projected to spend more money than it collects in taxes. Facing a deficit of nearly $1.3 billion, families may be asked…
Commentary
Read More: Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?Education
Why I Left Teaching: Union Politics
I taught science full-time for more than two decades and enjoyed a rewarding career educating a generation of public school students in Westmoreland County. I retired from teaching earlier than…
Commentary
Read More: Why I Left Teaching: Union PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
For Union Leaders, the Law Doesn’t Apply
Pennsylvania's government union executives should be at the top of any list of political power players in Harrisburg. With the kind of influence that millions in campaign contributions and political…
Commentary
Read More: For Union Leaders, the Law Doesn’t ApplyHealth Care
My Obamacare Agony
I thought I was lucky. The last day to sign up for Obamacare had arrived, and I’d managed to purchase a plan on the national Obamacare exchange. I was just…
Commentary
Read More: My Obamacare AgonyEducation
Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers
Standard & Poor’s recently issued a stern warning that they would lower Pennsylvania’s bond rating—making it more expensive for the state to borrow money—unless they “adopt meaningful pension reform.” This…
Commentary
Read More: Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
Severance Tax Benefits the Powerful at Citizens’ Expense
Washington County farmer Shawn Georgetti was living paycheck to paycheck before the Marcellus Shale boom. Thanks to a natural gas lease, he’s finally been able to upgrade his 30-year-old equipment.
Commentary
Read More: Severance Tax Benefits the Powerful at Citizens’ ExpenseHealth Care
My Obamacare Plan is Failing Me
Tuesday is the last day to sign up for health insurance on the Obamacare exchange. Luckily I’ve already purchased an exchange plan. But barely one month into my new health…
Commentary
Read More: My Obamacare Plan is Failing MePublic Union Democracy
Super PACs Supersize Union Political Spending
Super PACs are elbowing into state elections, promising to supersize the already dominating role unions play in electoral politics. Effectively, Super PACs can collect and spend an unlimited amount of…
Commentary
Read More: Super PACs Supersize Union Political SpendingRegulation
Booze Monopoly Bad for Business
This winter, a snow storm knocked the power out at the Continental Tavern, but Frank used a generator to keep his doors open and his customers in good spirits. The…
Commentary
Read More: Booze Monopoly Bad for BusinessEducation
Playing the Education Lottery
Last month, families from across Pennsylvania waited anxiously to hear if they had finally won the lottery. But these hopeful parents weren’t looking to win the MegaMillions—they were hoping for…
Commentary
Read More: Playing the Education LotteryPublic Union Democracy
Resolved: Pass Paycheck Protection
Across Pennsylvania, elected officials are passing resolutions urging the state legislature to act on paycheck protection legislation. Below is a list of bold government leaders who’ve resolved to do what…
Commentary
Read More: Resolved: Pass Paycheck ProtectionEducation
Time for Paycheck Protection in Pa
The government liquor monopoly, the pension time bomb, and Philadelphia’s public school crisis—what do they have in common? Each of these public policy disasters was supported by government unions. What’s…
Commentary
Read More: Time for Paycheck Protection in PaPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Union Politics Harm Employees and Taxpayers
Government unions aren’t about fighting for public employees and workers any more — they’ve become political operations with agendas that harm both their members and taxpayers. Americans, and even…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Union Politics Harm Employees and TaxpayersPublic Union Democracy
Why Paycheck Protection is Needed Now
On February 6th, Commissioner Mark Scott and I voted to support employee paycheck protection by passing resolution 41.14. With all the important issues facing Berks County, why have we chosen to…
Commentary
Read More: Why Paycheck Protection is Needed Now