Latest Content
Education
Why Are Kids Falling Behind in PA?
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. By most measures, Pennsylvania has invested more in public education than ever. However, despite increased spending, academic achievement has flattened, leaving many…
Read More: Why Are Kids Falling Behind in PA?
Why Teachers Unions Fear—and Fib About—New Federal Program
Read More: Why Teachers Unions Fear—and Fib About—New Federal Program
Regulation
To Stop Brain Drain, Pennsylvania Must Undo Regulations That Were Meant to Keep Young Families Out
Read More: To Stop Brain Drain, Pennsylvania Must Undo Regulations That Were Meant to Keep Young Families Out
Public 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 NowEducation
A Public School Funding SOS
The governor has proposed $10.1 billion for public schools, slightly higher than last year, which was then a record high. So what’s all the fuss about cuts? At the same…
Commentary
Read More: A Public School Funding SOSPublic Union Democracy
A War on Truth
Should you be forced to subsidize government union politics? That’s the question asked by a reform gaining steam in Harrisburg called paycheck protection. But you wouldn’t know it by listening…
Commentary
Read More: A War on TruthState Budget
State Budget Déjà Vu
Ceremonies in Punxsutawney have come and gone, but every year Groundhog Day reminds me of the film of the same name—in which Bill Murray lives the same day over and over…
Commentary
Read More: State Budget Déjà VuEducation
Paycheck Protection Benefits Teachers and Taxpayers
Pennsylvania’s AFL-CIO union boss Rick Bloomingdale is absolutely right that there is a “war on workers” here in Pennsylvania—he should know, because he is waging it. His recent opinion piece…
Commentary
Read More: Paycheck Protection Benefits Teachers and TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
The True Cost of Minimum Wage
If a higher minimum wage benefits workers, why not push it to $20 or $30 or even higher? Because experience shows minimum wage increases actually hurt the very workers they…
Commentary
Read More: The True Cost of Minimum WageState Budget
Budget Burdens Bring Consequences
Know that feeling a month after Christmas when the credit card statement shows you blew your holiday budget? Imagine the pain you’d experience after six consecutive years of spending beyond…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Burdens Bring ConsequencesEducation
Union Dues Exploit Teachers, Taxpayers
What if I told you that regardless of your political beliefs, several hundred dollars will be deducted from your paycheck each year to support politicians whose views you may not…
Commentary
Read More: Union Dues Exploit Teachers, TaxpayersEducation
Keeping Teachers in the Classroom
Given our still-sputtering economy, Americans have grown used to their public schools facing tight budgets. This fiscal squeeze has drawn out a hidden crisis in public education: How do we…
Commentary
Read More: Keeping Teachers in the ClassroomPublic Union Democracy
The Unemployed Need Opportunities, Not Handouts
Those suggesting the federal government continue its temporary extension of unemployment benefits point to our stagnant economy and high unemployment as justification. But, in truth, these results have been caused…
Commentary
Read More: The Unemployed Need Opportunities, Not Handouts