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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Education
PA Teacher Speaks Out on Union Issues
Last Wednesday, CF President Matt Brouillette guest hosted WHP580’s Ken Matthews Show in Harrisburg. Matt spent some time talking to Keith Williams, a high school English teacher from New Oxford…
Media
Read More: PA Teacher Speaks Out on Union IssuesPublic Union Democracy
Government Union CEOs Make Their Own Rules
When questioned about why he failed to register as a lobbyist, UFCW president Wendell Young IV excused himself with a special exemption from the law that doesn’t exist. He told…
Media
Read More: Government Union CEOs Make Their Own RulesPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Unions Play Fast & Loose with the Law
They’re exempt from stalking and harassment laws during labor disputes, and they’re allowed to use taxpayer resources to collect money for candidates and political ads on a daily…
Media
Read More: Gov. Unions Play Fast & Loose with the LawPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Union Executives Ignore Law, Harm Workers & Taxpayers
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Gov. Union Executives Ignore Law, Harm Workers and Taxpayers Play Fast and Loose With Members’ Money, Fail to Register as…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Union Executives Ignore Law, Harm Workers & TaxpayersPublic Union Democracy
Top 5 Reasons We Need a Paycheck Protection Law
Occasionally I get asked why we need a state law preventing taxpayer resources from being used to collect union political money (“paycheck protection“), when local government can choose to…
Media
Read More: Top 5 Reasons We Need a Paycheck Protection LawPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Debate Heats Up
In the statewide debate over paycheck protection, a pair of dueling letters to the editor in Lancaster County cut to the chase. First, a Mount Joy resident who received a…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection Debate Heats UpPublic Union Democracy
CBS Investigates: Government Unions & Politics
Last night, CBS 21’s Waste Watch program investigated how government unions use public resources to collect their members’ dues and spend that money on politics. Chris Papst reports: “Government…
Media
Read More: CBS Investigates: Government Unions & PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
What’s Paycheck Protection Really All About?
A lot of ink has been spilled on paycheck protection already, but few people have summarized its essence as well as my colleague Katrina Anderson, CF’s Director of Government Affairs,…
Media
Read More: What’s Paycheck Protection Really All About?Government Accountability
Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!
Happy Tax Freedom Day! It took from January 1 until today for Pennsylvanians to have earned enough income to pay off their federal, state, and local taxes for the year. …
Media
Read More: Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!Government Accountability
Government Unions’ Political Power Grows
Despite claims that union dues aren’t used for politics, the amount Pennsylvania’s five largest government unions reported spending from union dues on “political activities and lobbying” increased in…
Media
Read More: Government Unions’ Political Power GrowsPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions’ Political Spending
Currently, state and local governments, including school districts, use taxpayer-funded payroll systems and public employee time to collect union campaign contributions to candidates as well as union membership dues, a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government Unions’ Political SpendingPublic 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 SpendingPublic Union Democracy
Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?
Did you see the PSEA’s latest Voice magazine? It features a full two-page article, claiming, among other things, that “no dues money is given to candidates.” This is true…
Media
Read More: Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?Public 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 ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
Union Bosses? Paycheck Protection Deceptions
CF President Matt Brouillette and Simon Campbell of Pennsylvanians for Union Reform recently appeared on Business Matters to debate government union bosses Wendell Young IV of UFCW 1776…
Media
Read More: Union Bosses? Paycheck Protection DeceptionsEducation
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
Senator Uses Public Money for Politics — So What?
All this hyperventilating over allegations that State Senator LeAnna Washington’s summer birthday bash included some surreptitious use of taxpayer resources for campaign fundraising is really a…
Media
Read More: Senator Uses Public Money for Politics — So What?Public 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
Super PAC will Super Size Union Dues in Politics
You may have read articles about a federal judge allowing a “Super PAC” to operate in Pennsylvania to attack Republicans. Effectively, Super PACs can collect and spend unlimited amounts…
Media
Read More: Super PAC will Super Size Union Dues in PoliticsGovernment Accountability
State House to Tackle Union Violence
Federal charges of racketeering and arson against several Philadelphia union members, who called themselves The Helpful Union Guys (or T.H.U.G.s) has renewed interest in closing a loophole in…
Media
Read More: State House to Tackle Union ViolencePublic Union Democracy
Union Dues Still Fund Politics & Union Members Don’t Like It
Last night, I spoke with ABC 27 about polling that shows the vast majority of union household support ending taxpayer collection of union political money. See the video…
Media
Read More: Union Dues Still Fund Politics & Union Members Don’t Like It