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

Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2012

The Wall Street Journal today writes about “Big Labor’s Losses” in Tuesday’s election. This may seem hard for many Pennsylvanians to fathom, given the role government union bosses…

Media

Read More: Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania

Government Accountability

Election Night Live Chat

  • November 6, 2012

Election Day is here.  If you haven’t yet taken the time to go out and cast an informed vote, please be sure to do so before polls close at 8…

Media

Read More: Election Night Live Chat

Public Union Democracy

Election Day: 5 Things to Remember

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2012

1. The election results won’t slay Goliath.  The special interests who feed off of tax dollars—government union bosses, trial lawyers, extreme greens, crony capitalists that rely on corporate welfare,…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

What Mitt Is Missing

  • October 31, 2012

Union bosses always profess to care most about the rights of members. But a careful reading of a feverish sermon in the left-of-center magazine In These Times reveals that their…

Media

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Education

Pa. Teachers Unions Among America’s Most Powerful

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 31, 2012

Pennsylvania’s teachers unions rank fourth among all U.S. states in their strength and influence, according to a report released this week from the Fordham Institute. We trail only Hawaii,…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Union Members Protest Union Bosses Pay Grab

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 25, 2012

California DMV worker Mariam Noujaim is furious with how union bosses are spending her hard-earned dues. In 2010, she and many other DMV workers were laid off while leaders…

Media

Read More: Union Members Protest Union Bosses Pay Grab

Public Union Democracy

Unions Allowed to Stalk, Harrass, Threaten with WMDs

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 19, 2012

In August we told you about a U.S. Chamber of Commerce report that was pretty embarrassing for Pennsylvania. The report highlighted special protection for labor unions on activities that…

Media

Read More: Unions Allowed to Stalk, Harrass, Threaten with WMDs

Education

Union Party Kills Charter Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 18, 2012

Yesterday, I noted that despite watering down a proposed charter school reform bill, legislators were still hearing from government union bosses and other…

Media

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Education

Teachers Union Worse Than Hollywood Portrayal

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 17, 2012

Pennsylvania State Education Association President Mike Crossey takes issue with the film “Won’t Back Down” for not matching “real-life experience” on teachers unions. He’s right—in real…

Media

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Education

“Won’t Back Down” Captures Heart of Education

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 2, 2012

“Won’t Back Down” is a movie about education that fittingly begins and ends with a close-up of a child reading aloud. Education debates in America frequently whirl…

Media

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Government Accountability

Oh, Great, More “Convenience”

  • October 2, 2012

From the fine makers of the wine kiosk catastrophe, government-branded grapes of wrath, uncorked comedic cronyism  and wasteful wine surplus trailer parks comes “Convenience…

Media

Read More: Oh, Great, More “Convenience”

Education

5 Fixes for Property Tax Fires

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2012

Yesterday, I testified before the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform, presenting on the best tax policy to finance government operations, and on…

Media

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Education

7 Education Facts Unions Don’t Want You to Know!

  • Priya Brannick
  • September 25, 2012

Pennsylvania is reeling from the Friday release of student test scores for 2011-12, which show declining student performance in our public schools. Kids did worse on the Pennsylvania System…

Media

Read More: 7 Education Facts Unions Don’t Want You to Know!

Education

Harrisburg’s Horrid Decade of Despair

  • September 21, 2012

With soaring crime, a city in bankruptcy and families on the financial brink, children trapped in Harrisburg School District have to wonder how bad it can really get. …

Media

Read More: Harrisburg’s Horrid Decade of Despair

Public Union Democracy

Mailbag: Why Not Pay for Unused Sick Days?

  • Priya Brannick
  • September 17, 2012

Our post last week highlighting WGAL’s story on government workers receiving hefty payouts for unused sick days sparked a lively discussion. Here’s a question that popped up frequently: Do…

Media

Read More: Mailbag: Why Not Pay for Unused Sick Days?

Education

How Pennsylvania Teachers Salaries Stack Up

  • Priya Brannick
  • September 12, 2012

If the Chicago teachers union walk-out on school children or the WGAL story on sick-time pay has you wondering about teacher salaries in Pennsylvania, you’re in luck. Our…

Media

Read More: How Pennsylvania Teachers Salaries Stack Up

Education

“Mighty” Teachers’ Union Strikes Chicago

  • Priya Brannick
  • September 10, 2012

Some 25,000 members of the Chicago Teachers’ Union (CTU) went on strike today, leaving 400,000 students out of school and parents scrambling to find safe places for their children to…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Why Cities Fail

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 10, 2012

Harrisburg is broke.  Literally.  So are 26 other cities across the commonwealth that are stuck in the state's Act 47 program for financially strapped municipalities.  Many enter in – like…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

Indiana: Ending Forced Unionism Creates Jobs

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 29, 2012

It’s been only six months since Indiana became the 23rd right to work state in America, but it is already seeing a surge in business activity. Indiana adopted right…

Media

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Government Accountability

Labor Day is for Taxpayers, Not Unions

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • August 29, 2012

Comprising the government employee unions, private sector unions, trial lawyers, extreme greens, and other nonprofits that feed off taxpayer money, the Union Party is aligned for a single purpose:  To…

Commentary

Read More: Labor Day is for Taxpayers, Not Unions

Public Union Democracy

Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 15, 2012

CF Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified yesterday before the Pennsylvania House about how to make our public pensions current, affordable and predictable, proposing a five-step plan for doing…

Media

Read More: Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms