Public Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Key Points Government unions are a top interest group in Pennsylvania, spending more than $190 million on politics since 2007. Government union political action committee (PAC) spending continues to increase,…
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election CyclePennsylvania 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.
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Public Union Democracy
Gov. Wolf Does Understand Economics
Last Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation passed by the general assembly that would allow private retailers to sell wine and liquor. As my colleague Bob pointed out,…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Does Understand EconomicsPublic Union Democracy
Pivotal Pension Reform Passes to Wolf
Yesterday, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation to free homeowners from skyrocketing property taxes, make school budgets go further, and protect public employees from politics. SB 1 bill reforms…
Media
Read More: Pivotal Pension Reform Passes to WolfGovernment Accountability
Contract Transparency Still Critical
Harrisburg is abuzz as the budget battle continues. With high profile legislation on liquor privatization, pension and education reform receiving much attention, it’s easy to lose sight of a fundamental…
Media
Read More: Contract Transparency Still CriticalGovernment Accountability
An Update on Union Contracts
Earlier this week, the House State Government Committee moved SB 644 and SB 645—bills which would provide taxpayers greater information about contracts with government unions—to the House floor.
Media
Read More: An Update on Union ContractsEducation
House Votes to Protect Excellent Teachers
Seniority-based teacher furloughs may soon become a relic of the past for Pennsylvania public schools. On Tuesday evening, the state House approved Rep. Stephen Bloom’s HB 805—the Protecting…
Media
Read More: House Votes to Protect Excellent TeachersEducation
Government Union Puts Politics Ahead of Teachers
One government union is putting its political preferences and self-interest above the interests of public school teachers. Now, teachers are fighting back. Jane Ladley, who recently retired from teaching after…
Media
Read More: Government Union Puts Politics Ahead of TeachersGovernment Accountability
Letter to Gov. Wolf: Side with Voters, Not Government Union Special Interests
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 Gov. Wolf: Side with Voters,Not Government Union Special Interests Wolf’s Stances Mirror His Major Donors’ at Taxpayers’…
Press Release
Read More: Letter to Gov. Wolf: Side with Voters, Not Government Union Special InterestsPublic Union Democracy
Opening the Curtain on Government Unions
Because such labor contracts involve billions of taxpayer dollars, citizens have a right to know what each side is proposing before being legally obligated to fund them. In addition, Pennsylvania…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Opening the Curtain on Government UnionsGovernment Accountability
Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?
Who killed Harrisburg? That’s the question award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst answers in his new book Capital Murder, which chronicles how Harrisburg became the only capital city in American…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?Government Accountability
Getting the Best Deal from Government
If you’ve ever spent hundreds on a smartphone or thousands on a new car, you know what it’s like to hunt for the best deal. Yet when paying for state…
Commentary
Read More: Getting the Best Deal from GovernmentGovernment Accountability
Union Contract Agreements Bolster Case for Collective Bargaining Transparency
The Wolf Administration finalized contracts with two government unions yesterday, perfectly encapsulating the failings of the current collective bargaining process. In a terse press release, the Wolf Administration announced…
Media
Read More: Union Contract Agreements Bolster Case for Collective Bargaining TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations
Public sector union contracts are a huge cost for the state government, and they have also become a conflict of interest for Gov. Wolf. He will be negotiating contract deals with…
Media
Read More: Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract NegotiationsPublic Union Democracy
Pension Reform Toolkit
Pension costs are ballooning so quickly, they threaten to consume funds for education, public safety and welfare. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher property taxes, and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pension Reform ToolkitEducation
Release Time: Diverting Public Resources to Unions
Release time allows government employees to take a leave of absence from their jobs to perform union work. Many government employees working for the union are paid by taxpayers while…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Release Time: Diverting Public Resources to UnionsGovernment Accountability
A Transparent Win for Taxpayers
Today the Senate took a significant step to make state government more transparent and accountable by approving SB 644 and SB 645. Here’s a brief description of the…
Media
Read More: A Transparent Win for TaxpayersGovernment Accountability
State Senate Passes Financial Transparency Bills
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact:717-671-1901 State Senate Passes Financial Transparency Bills Lets Public in on Secret Government Union Talks Worth Billions of Dollars May 6,…
Press Release
Read More: State Senate Passes Financial Transparency BillsEducation
Wolf’s Education Doctrine
Governor Wolf has wasted little time crystalizing his vision for public education—and it doesn’t look promising for families supportive of school choice. If his first few months are any indication…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Education DoctrineEducation
Wolf’s Education Agenda Discourages Choice
Gov. Tom Wolf has wasted little time staking out his vision for public education, and it doesn’t appear to have much room for school choice. In a recent…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Education Agenda Discourages ChoicePublic Union Democracy
Teachers Inspire New Legislation
No one should be forced to fund political activity that they don’t support. Jane Ladley, a teacher in Chester County, didn’t want her dues money being spent on partisan political…
Media
Read More: Teachers Inspire New LegislationHealth Care
Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme
A Commonwealth Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop full enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order to stealthily unionize home healthcare workers. For folks like…
Media
Read More: Judge Halts Stealth Unionization SchemeGovernment Accountability
Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Transparency Bills Move Forward
Government union contract negotiations—long shrouded in secrecy behind closed-door meetings—are one step closer to openness and transparency. Today, a series of bills passed the Senate State Government Committee that will…
Media
Read More: Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Transparency Bills Move Forward