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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Government Accountability
CF on Your iPhone or Kindle
Commonwealth Foundation iPhone app CF’s iPhone application is designed to keep you up-to-date with the latest CF news, policy analyses, events and more. Our app also features updates from…
Media
Read More: CF on Your iPhone or KindleGovernment Accountability
More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher Taxes
I have highlighted the taxpayer funded propaganda in the guise of a “newsletter,” titled the Marcellus Shale Examiner, before. The latest newsletter, which leads with Gov. Rendell’s “We…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher TaxesEducation
Are More Educational Options in PA’s Future?
Both gubernatorial candidates have voiced support for government-funded grants to allow parents to choose an alternative school for their children. Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, is…
Media
Read More: Are More Educational Options in PA’s Future?Government Accountability
Severance Tax Legislation: The Process Stinks Too
The Pennsylvania House amended legislation to impose a severance tax on natural gas last night, and will likely vote on the bill tonight. We wrote yesterday about the merits…
Media
Read More: Severance Tax Legislation: The Process Stinks TooGovernment Accountability
Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest Agenda
Earlier this year, we blogged on HB 2246, which would have allowed trial lawyers in auto cases to suggest the amount of compensation their plaintiffs should receive for their…
Media
Read More: Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest AgendaGovernment Accountability
Making PA Budgets Honest
American governments are built around the power of legislatures to challenge administrations through public debate. From this debate come better policy decisions. However, if one side has a monopoly on…
Commentary
Read More: Making PA Budgets HonestGovernment Accountability
State to CF: Transparency Denied
A couple months ago, we requested the salary information of state employees for our new openPAgov database (if you missed the launch, we currently have Pennsylvania school district…
Media
Read More: State to CF: Transparency DeniedGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Has Been Collecting Info on Citizens for Years
There has been a hullabaloo over the discovery that the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security (under the Emergency Management Agency), has been paying a private company to put together details about protests…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Has Been Collecting Info on Citizens for YearsGovernment Accountability
A Slap in the Face to Pennsylvania Taxpayers
The Tribune Review revisits the Rendell Administration’s leasing tens of thousands of acres of state forest lands via no-bid contracts. State records the Tribune-Review obtained show that, in…
Media
Read More: A Slap in the Face to Pennsylvania TaxpayersEducation
Teachers and their Unions, Part II
This is another look raising legitimate questions as to how, or even if, teacher unions can reasonably be said to recommend their members which, of course, they maintain they do. …
Commentary
Read More: Teachers and their Unions, Part IIPublic Union Democracy
How Could this Not Increase Costs?
The Tribune Review writes today about a project labor agreement (PLA) that Allegheny County Chief Executive (and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate) Dan Onorato is taking some flak for. Amazingly, a…
Media
Read More: How Could this Not Increase Costs?Education
Teachers and Their Unions
Teacher unions like to say they represent their members and look out for their best interests, including protecting their rights to speak out without reprisal. Teachers are by the nature…
Commentary
Read More: Teachers and Their UnionsEducation
Who Got PSEA Money?
The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) remains one of the most powerful special interest groups in Harrisburg, whether it be fighting school choice and merit pay for teachers,…
Media
Read More: Who Got PSEA Money?Public Union Democracy
Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher Taxes
Governor Rendell has proposed a series of tax increases to fill a $415 million transportation funding deficit created when the federal government rejected his plan to toll I-80 for a…
Commentary
Read More: Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher TaxesGovernment Accountability
Corrupt Courts Refuse Transparency
The Scranton Times reports that the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (OOR) is appealing a court ruling extending an exemption to open records to the judiciary branch. (HT…
Media
Read More: Corrupt Courts Refuse TransparencyGovernment Accountability
More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an email newsletter on Marcellus Shale (see PA Indy story). I, of course, signed up to see how my tax dollars were…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer Funded PropagandaGovernment Accountability
You Can Be Gov. Rendell’s Speechwriter
Want to write Gov. Rendell’s next speech? Just fill out the form below. Write…
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Read More: You Can Be Gov. Rendell’s SpeechwriterEducation
Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria Released
Welcome to part two on Philadelphia school Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s bonus. (If you missed “Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry,” click here.) The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, though…
Media
Read More: Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria ReleasedGovernment Accountability
Non-Competitive Contracts Don’t Compute
The PA Revenue Department’s main computer system was installed in 1975. The outdated system’s technological language, COBOL, is not even taught in universities anymore, narrowing the number of applicants…
Media
Read More: Non-Competitive Contracts Don’t ComputeGovernment Accountability
Lawmakers Call for Public Integrity Commission
In the wake of convictions, indictments, and investigations of Pennsylvania lawmakers and staff, several legislators have called for a new Public Integrity Commission. The Commission would replace the current…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Call for Public Integrity CommissionGovernment Accountability
I&R: Our Inalienable Right to Reform
It is clear our government will not reform itself. Article I, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution recognizes the right of the citizens to "alter, reform or abolish their government…
Commentary
Read More: I&R: Our Inalienable Right to Reform