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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Education
Rep. Ryan Aument & Teacher Evaluations on The BOX
In our newest The BOX Program podcast, State Representative Ryan Aument discusses his role in spearheading education reform in the House with host Matt Brouillette. How would new teacher evaluation…
Media
Read More: Rep. Ryan Aument & Teacher Evaluations on The BOXGovernment Accountability
Government Unions Steal Worker Freedom
Pennsylvania is one of 28 states in which workers can be compelled to give part of their paycheck to a union just to keep their job. Moreover, even non-membership is…
Commentary
Read More: Government Unions Steal Worker FreedomGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania’s Government Unions
Pennsylvania is a forced union state, meaning that workers can be forced to join a union or pay a "fair share fee" just to keep their job. Most government units…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Government UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Prevailing Wage Reform Bills Pass Committee
Six bills to reform Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law passed the House Labor and Industry Committee today, and will now go to the full House for a vote. The state’s 1961…
Media
Read More: Prevailing Wage Reform Bills Pass CommitteePublic Union Democracy
New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to Work
New polling conducted by Douglas E. Schoen, LLC for the Manhattan Institute nationally and in 10 targeted states shows widespread bipartisan support to reduce state government spending rather than…
Media
Read More: New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to WorkPublic Union Democracy
Senseless Regulations Cause Job Loss
Tuesday’s Pennsylvania Independent article on the new state independent contract rules demonstrates the clear need for regulatory streamlining in the commonwealth. After Deborah Webster’s husband lost his job,…
Media
Read More: Senseless Regulations Cause Job LossPublic Union Democracy
Big Labor’s Stranglehold in Pennsylvania
Here’s a depressing, if unsurprising, statistic: In a new index assessing whether states favor government union bosses or taxpayers, Pennsylvania ranks 5th worst. The Competitive Enterprise Institute ranked…
Media
Read More: Big Labor’s Stranglehold in PennsylvaniaEducation
Teacher Strikes
Good afternoon, my name is Pearre Dean and I am Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank that crafts free-market policies, convinces Pennsylvanians of…
Testimony
Read More: Teacher StrikesPublic Union Democracy
When Union Bosses Make Stuff Up, We Offer Facts
In a story by PA Independent, AFL-CIO head honcho Rick Bloomingdale attempts to deny the incredible job growth in right-to-work states like Texas. Bloomingdale comments: “Most likely, the…
Media
Read More: When Union Bosses Make Stuff Up, We Offer FactsEducation
Texas vs. Pennsylvania on Educational Performance
At a hearing yesterday on right-to-work legislation, a number of testifiers remarked on the substantially greater job growth in right-to-work states, on the fact residents are moving from…
Media
Read More: Texas vs. Pennsylvania on Educational PerformanceEducation
PSEA Behind Phony Grassroots Effort
In 2009-10, the PSEA spent more than $2.6 million on political activities and lobbying. By the next year, that figure had ballooned to $4.2 million, an increase of about 60%.
Media
Read More: PSEA Behind Phony Grassroots EffortGovernment Accountability
Which Government Structure Reforms will Benefit Taxpayers?
This week, the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee held a hearing on bills to reduce the size of the General Assembly (i.e., the number of legislators). While CF did…
Media
Read More: Which Government Structure Reforms will Benefit Taxpayers?Government Accountability
Government Transparency in Pennsylvania Becomes a Reality
The last few months saw immense partisan animosity and demeaning comments during numerous spats under the Capitol Dome. But amid the fiscal fist fights over school choice, a natural gas…
Commentary
Read More: Government Transparency in Pennsylvania Becomes a RealityEducation
How Does Seniority Mandate Help Kids, Exactly?
Here’s a letter to the editor I sent to the Erie Times on furloughing teachers: National Education Association board member Sam Talarico unsurprisingly takes strong exception to the…
Media
Read More: How Does Seniority Mandate Help Kids, Exactly?Education
Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard
July signals the coming of two breaks in Pennsylvania—Major League Baseball's All-Star break and the end of the state budget season. Having endured his first budget as the commonwealth's chief…
Commentary
Read More: Corbett’s First Inning ScorecardEducation
Will the “Year of School Choice” Come to PA?
Today’s Wall Street Journal has an editorial that begins as follows: School may be out for the summer, but school choice is in, as states across the nation…
Media
Read More: Will the “Year of School Choice” Come to PA?Public Union Democracy
Disappointing Results from State Union Contract Deals
So far, the Corbett administration has concluded new four-year contracts with Pennsylvania’s two largest state worker unions, which represent 55,000 government workers—and the taxpayers are the losers. The deals with…
Media
Read More: Disappointing Results from State Union Contract DealsGovernment Accountability
Spending Transparency Coming to Pennsylvania at Last
Pennsylvania taxpayers are one step closer to finding out exactly how state government spends their money. Yesterday, the legislature passed HB 15 to establish PennWATCH—a free public spending database…
Media
Read More: Spending Transparency Coming to Pennsylvania at LastEducation
More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying from School Districts
Public schools complain of underfunding, yet they are spending your tax dollars to lobby for more funding and against school choice, as property taxes skyrocket. The latest salvo comes from…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying from School DistrictsEducation
Do Seven Rapes Get Your Attention?
Today, CF delivered Life Savers to state legislators to remind them they still have three days to be a life-saver for kids in failing and violent schools. One…
Media
Read More: Do Seven Rapes Get Your Attention?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania State Government Union Contracts
On June 30, 15 of the state's 19 government union contracts expire, with two more expiring in August. These 19 public sector unions represent 62,271 state employees, whose compensation from…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Government Union Contracts