Public Union Democracy
Unions should be about employees, not about politics
Originally published at The Hill “I’ll be honest with you,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in a recent podcast interview. “I’m a Democrat, but they have f—ed…
Read More: Unions should be about employees, not about politicsPennsylvania 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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Goliath, Drunk on Power—and On the Move!
What does a Middle Eastern battlefield from biblical times have to do with where you buy your booze? Actually, quite a lot. At the Commonwealth Foundation, we call the government…
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State Promotes California Wine, Local Wineries Puzzled
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Unsinkable: The True Story of Pennsylvania’s Sinking Pension System
The politics of pensions encourage lawmakers to "grant lavish benefts in good yearsand [decide] not to pay in bad years - precisely what created the current crisis."…
Poll
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New Bills Constitute Attack on Cyber Schools
Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and a trio of legislators today unveiled a package of bills aimed at reducing cyber school growth and limiting the popular schools’…
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Union Politics Hinder Prosperity
Businessman Jerry Shenk argues in today’s Harrisburg Patriot-News that tough economic realities forced lawmakers to reexamine union privileges in their traditional strongholds of Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana—and that Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Union Politics Hinder ProsperityPublic Union Democracy
Lottery Agreement Better Than Union Guesstimate
AFSCME’s counter proposal to the Pennsylvania Lottery private management agreement (PMA) provides no guaranteed revenue for senior services, no new jobs and no protections for taxpayers if profits fall…
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Read More: Lottery Agreement Better Than Union GuesstimatePublic Union Democracy
Union Attacks Won’t Improve Lottery
AFSCME Council 13, the union representing state lottery employees, released its “Alternatives” to a lottery private management agreement. However, their document doesn’t represent a serious counter-proposal that would…
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Read More: Union Attacks Won’t Improve LotteryPublic Union Democracy
Protecting Seniors and Taxpayers from the Lottery Cliff
From the greatest generation to the latest generation, our senior citizens have sacrificed to make Pennsylvania safe and prosperous. Our seniors deserve world-class care and assurance that their growing needs…
Memo
Read More: Protecting Seniors and Taxpayers from the Lottery CliffPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Cronies Collude Against Seniors
Here’s a letter to the editor I wrote identifying the connections between special interest groups who oppose a lottery contract, and their motives for undermining a deal that would generate…
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Read More: Government Union Cronies Collude Against SeniorsPublic Union Democracy
Private Lottery Management FAQ
To protect seniors from future service cuts, the Corbett administration is seeking a private management agreement (PMA) to ensure Lottery profits will meet seniors' needs. Lottery services company Camelot submitted…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Private Lottery Management FAQPublic Union Democracy
The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ Christmas
A faux-grassroots group funded by government unions is protesting a proposed contract for a private company to manage the Pennsylvania Lottery. The deal would guarantee a minimum of…
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Read More: The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ ChristmasPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Tighten Squeeze
Following the passage of Right to Work in Michigan, pundits are wondering about the prospects of similar reform here in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer correctly notes Right…
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Read More: Government Unions Tighten SqueezePublic Union Democracy
Are You a Freeloader?
Yesterday, Jon Delano of KDKA Pittsburgh asked the question: Could Pennsylvania be next for right-to-work legislation? As you know from the lessons learned from Michigan’s recent passage…
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More Wolverine Lessons
Friday, Charles commented on Michigan nearing passage of Right to Work, in line to become the 24th state where workers aren’t forced to pay fees to a union…
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Distilleries Despot Delivers Tinctures Tantrum
Desperately seeking to hold on to a shred of credibility and hope lawmakers aren’t watching the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board majestically implode under “Vinogate,” United Food and Commercial Workers…
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Read More: Distilleries Despot Delivers Tinctures TantrumPublic Union Democracy
New York? Fuhgeddaboudit. Lansing!
As I write this, most of Pennsylvania’s political glitterati has its mind on New York City, where the annual Pennsylvania Society gathering is underway. But my mind is on…
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Why We Launched Free to Teach
We’ve had several conversations over the last year with public school educators. One thing has stood out: Teachers don’t feel like they have a genuine voice on educational and professional…
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CF Welcomes New Board Member
A leader in delivering compassionate elderly care and longtime Pennsylvania community advocate has been elected to the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors, CF announced today. Jane Leader Janeczek, owner and…
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Commonwealth Foundation Elects New Board Member
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org A leader in delivering compassionate elderly care and longtime Pennsylvania community advocate has been elected to the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors,…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Elects New Board MemberPublic Union Democracy
Stones to Take on Goliath
My friend Jon Caldara of our sister think-tank in Colorado eloquently and humorously offers an important lesson from the election—the results stem not from a short-term campaign, but from…
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Read More: Stones to Take on GoliathPublic Union Democracy
Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania
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…
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