Pennsylvania will only become a beacon for opportunity when its policies are in the hands of taxpayers and citizens, not special interests and bureaucrats. It’s vital that our government is accountable to the people—not organizations or institutions. Policies that advance transparency and restore workers’ rights are the keys to this happening.

Public Union Democracy

Resigning from a Government Union is No Easy Task

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 31, 2018

Want to join a union? Easy, just sign on the dotted line. Want to leave a union? Sharpen your research skills, because it's no easy task. This fact was made…

Media

Read More: Resigning from a Government Union is No Easy Task

Government Accountability

State Budget Bill Packed with $35 Million in Earmarks

  • July 24, 2018

July 24, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa.—Nearly 50 obscurely-worded earmarks are buried in Pennsylvania’s fiscal code—amounting to $35 million in hidden expenses—according to a Commonwealth Foundation analysis. Click here for a searchable…

Press Release

Read More: State Budget Bill Packed with $35 Million in Earmarks

Public Union Democracy

Government Workers’ Rights Restored

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 18, 2018

In Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court righted a decades-old wrong, striking down a coercive system and clearing a pathway for 330,000 Pennsylvania government workers to regain their long-denied First…

Commentary

Read More: Government Workers’ Rights Restored

Public Union Democracy

More States Reject Prevailing Wage Mandates

  • July 16, 2018

Last month, Michigan took a step forward and joined 24 other states that have no prevailing wage law. Could Pennsylvania be the next? For far too long, Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage…

Media

Read More: More States Reject Prevailing Wage Mandates

Education

Statement on 2018 AFT Convention

  • July 15, 2018

Commonwealth Foundation VP and COO Nathan Benefield issued the following statement regarding the American Federation of Teachers convention taking place in Pittsburgh this weekend. The convention’s keynote speakers on Friday,…

Press Release

Read More: Statement on 2018 AFT Convention

Public Union Democracy

Protect the Right to a Union Secret Ballot Election

  • Jessica Barnett
  • July 13, 2018

In Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court stopped the unjust arrangement of forcing public sector workers to fund the political stances of a union they didn’t join. Instead of embracing…

Media

Read More: Protect the Right to a Union Secret Ballot Election

Government Accountability

Should Taxpayers Underwrite Union Work?

  • July 11, 2018

Separating taxpayer resources from private or political purposes is a principle ingrained in our society. It's one of the many reasons Pennsylvania politicians have spent a significant amount of time…

Media

Read More: Should Taxpayers Underwrite Union Work?

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Needs to Improve Healthcare Accessibility

  • July 11, 2018

Recent debates over health care reform in Washington have centered around reorganizing insurance markets, but improving America’s health care system requires a more comprehensive approach. And states can lead the…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Needs to Improve Healthcare Accessibility

Education

What does Janus mean for school choice?

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • July 1, 2018

On June 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a historic ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. The 5-4 decision found that forcing public sector workers to pay union fees—or lose their jobs—violates their…

Media

Read More: What does Janus mean for school choice?

Public Union Democracy

Janus v. AFSCME: SCOTUS Upholds Workers’ Rights

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 27, 2018

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld workers’ rights. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that forcing public sector workers to pay union fees—or lose their…

Media

Read More: Janus v. AFSCME: SCOTUS Upholds Workers’ Rights

Public Union Democracy

SCOTUS Champions Worker Freedom in Historic Decision

  • June 27, 2018

June 27, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa. — For decades, government workers in Pennsylvania and other forced-union states have faced an unjust workplace ultimatum: Pay a union, or lose your job. But with today’s…

Press Release

Read More: SCOTUS Champions Worker Freedom in Historic Decision

Education

Troubling Features of Pa. Teacher Contracts

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 14, 2018

Union-negotiated collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) dictate the compensation packages and workplace conditions of over 100,000 teachers in Pennsylvania's 500 school districts—regardless of their union membership. As the “exclusive representative” of all teachers…

Media

Read More: Troubling Features of Pa. Teacher Contracts

Public Union Democracy

Government Union Efforts to Restrict Workers’ Rights

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 1, 2018

June will bring a U.S. Supreme Court decision potentially restoring First Amendment rights to millions of public sector workers. The response from government union leaders? Schemes to continue—and further restrict—public…

Media

Read More: Government Union Efforts to Restrict Workers’ Rights

Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection Primer

  • May 23, 2018

Paycheck protection ends the use of public resources to collect government unions’ political money. Under current law, state and local governments (including school districts) take both union…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Paycheck Protection Primer

Education

Pittsburgh School District Rescinds Performance-Based Pay

  • May 21, 2018

In 2009, the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) utilized a $40 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement a comprehensive new K-12 education program.  The program, known…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh School District Rescinds Performance-Based Pay

Government Accountability

Transparency is Fundamental to Good Govt

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • May 11, 2018

Government transparency is a driving issue for Rep. Seth Grove. Without it, citizens can’t determine if state government is spending tax dollars efficiently. And hiding government operations from the public…

Media

Read More: Transparency is Fundamental to Good Govt

Public Union Democracy

Reading Schools Stop Paying Ghost Teachers

  • Jessica Barnett
  • May 10, 2018

Since 2011, Reading taxpayers have spent over $500,000 subsidizing the salaries of local teachers’ union officials. Finally, this unfair arrangement will end. In a practice known as “ghost teaching,”…

Media

Read More: Reading Schools Stop Paying Ghost Teachers

Government Accountability

Government that Works?in the Shadows

  • May 1, 2018

Legislation introduced by Rep. Seth Grove—House Bill 1843—injects a much-needed dose of transparency into the state budget. The proposal would give taxpayers access to critical budget documents and financial…

Media

Read More: Government that Works?in the Shadows

Public Union Democracy

PSU Graduate Students Reject Unionization

  • Jessica Barnett
  • April 25, 2018

According to preliminary results, Penn State graduate assistants have voted to reject joining the Pennsylvania State Education Association. If the Coalition of Graduate Employees convinced a majority of voting graduate…

Media

Read More: PSU Graduate Students Reject Unionization

Education

Teacher Strike Capitol of America

  • April 23, 2018

Pennsylvania is the teacher strike capital of America. Since 1999, Pennsylvania families have suffered through 131 strikes, affecting 300,000 students and causing 1,383 missed school days. This research, including county,…

Press Release

Read More: Teacher Strike Capitol of America

Public Union Democracy

Pa. Leads the Nation in Teacher Strikes

  • April 18, 2018

This report compares Pennsylvania's strike laws to other states, and highlights the impact on teachers and students.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pa. Leads the Nation in Teacher Strikes