Education
What Happens in Philly Schools’ “Rubber Rooms”?
Originally published by the Philadelphia Citizen. What happens in Philadelphia schools stays in Philadelphia schools—or so it seems based on the District’s lack of transparency. As The…
Read More: What Happens in Philly Schools’ “Rubber Rooms”?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.
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Education
Teachers Call for More Freedom, Choices
Heather Lister and Joe Connolly are both Pennsylvania educators, and they couldn’t be more different. Heather is a 25-year-old library media specialist and a registered Democrat. Joe is a veteran…
Media
Read More: Teachers Call for More Freedom, ChoicesEducation
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 PowerPublic Union Democracy
New Poll: 81% in PA Believe Unionization Should be a Choice
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 New Poll: 81 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Worker Freedom This is National Employee Freedom Week, Educating Union Employees…
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: 81% in PA Believe Unionization Should be a ChoiceGovernment Accountability
Agreed: Public Resources Should not be used for Politics
“Public resources are not supposed to be used for partisan political purposes.” So says Barry Kauffman of Common Cause PA in a Tribune Review article. What Mr. Kauffman…
Media
Read More: Agreed: Public Resources Should not be used for PoliticsEducation
Seniority Reform is Pro-Child, not Anti-Teacher
It seems clear that there is widespread agreement—across party lines and ideological barriers—that we must address school seniority rules and tenure reform. Check out this stunning video from MSNBC’s Morning…
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Read More: Seniority Reform is Pro-Child, not Anti-TeacherEducation
Teacher Evaluation System to Continue in Pittsburgh
Good news from the Pittsburgh School District, where the Pennsylvania Department of Education granted three year approval of Pittsburgh’s new teacher evaluation system. This despite the Pittsburgh Federation…
Media
Read More: Teacher Evaluation System to Continue in PittsburghPublic Union Democracy
Millions in Special Interest Political Money Floods PA with Taxpayers’ Help
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Special Interest Groups Inundate PA, Spend Millions on Political Ads at Worker & Taxpayer Expense No Limit on Amount of Union Dues Contributed to…
Press Release
Read More: Millions in Special Interest Political Money Floods PA with Taxpayers’ HelpPublic Union Democracy
Union Dues Fund SuperPAC Spending Binge
A new $2 million political TV ad campaign represents the first foray of “SuperPAC” spending into Pennsylvania. And taxpayers are forced to pay for this political spending. As…
Media
Read More: Union Dues Fund SuperPAC Spending BingePublic Union Democracy
Sherlock Investigates: Politics on the Public Dime
On Tuesday, former House Speakers Bill DeWeese and John Perzel were issued public demerits in the form of gold plaques hung beneath their Capitol portraits. That same day, a…
Media
Read More: Sherlock Investigates: Politics on the Public DimePublic Union Democracy
Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into Politics
While union leadership continues to repeat the myth that union dues cannot be used for politics, the latest newsletter from the Pennsylvania State Education Assocation again reveals, in small…
Media
Read More: Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking Reform
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai took to the podium last week, providing press and spectators his response to the Governor’s criticisms, blue-line budget reductions, and House priorities. We applaud…
Media
Read More: Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking ReformGovernment Accountability
Government Unions’ Political Power Persists
While labor unions nationwide have been on the defensive for the past few decades—especially in light of pro-worker measures in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana—Pennsylvania remains a bastion of…
Media
Read More: Government Unions’ Political Power PersistsEducation
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 MatterPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Update
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks at the Capitol and the entire CF team has been working around the clock to make Paycheck Protection a…
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Read More: Paycheck Protection UpdatePublic Union Democracy
Gov. Unions Block Pension Reform
Lawmakers may have agreed on a no-new-taxes budget, but the cost drivers behind this year’s budget shortfall and Pennsylvania’s annual budget crisis remain unchanged. Chief among those cost drivers is…
Media
Read More: Gov. Unions Block Pension ReformPublic Union Democracy
Court Slaps Gov. Union Overreach, Leaves Paycheck Protection in State Hands
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Supreme Court Slaps Government Union Overreach Bolsters Argument for Paycheck Protection June 30, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa—Today, the U.S.
Press Release
Read More: Court Slaps Gov. Union Overreach, Leaves Paycheck Protection in State HandsPublic Union Democracy
Taxpayer Collection of Union Political Money is Unique
Paycheck protection opponents claim that other groups, like charities and insurance companies, are allowed to use taxpayer resources for their deductions, just like government unions. But are all paycheck deductions…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Collection of Union Political Money is UniquePublic Union Democracy
What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Bills
Taking a strong stand for taxpayers, the House and Senate State Government Committees passed paycheck protection legislation this week. Both committees amended original versions of their respective paycheck protection bills.
Media
Read More: What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection BillsPublic Union Democracy
Another Step Forward for Paycheck Protection
This morning, the Senate State Government Committee advanced Senate Bill 1034 to the floor. We applaud the Committee’s determination to make all levels of Pennsylvania government fairer and empower public…
Media
Read More: Another Step Forward for Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
Momentum Builds for Paycheck Protection
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Committee Advances Paycheck Protection State House and Senate Bills Positioned for Floor Votes June 26, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa—Today, the…
Press Release
Read More: Momentum Builds for Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
AFL-CIO Convention Spotlights Dues Spent on Politics
Yesterday, the House State Government Committee voted in favor of paycheck protection legislation that promises to empower teachers like Bill Frye and John Cress with more control…
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Read More: AFL-CIO Convention Spotlights Dues Spent on Politics