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.
Related Issues
Government Accountability
PA House GOP Unveils Policy Agenda
Earlier this month, the PA House GOP put out a Policy Agenda for Pennsylvania. Not everything gets Commonwealth Foundation Approval – e.g., the “jobs package”, praise for…
Media
Read More: PA House GOP Unveils Policy AgendaGovernment Accountability
BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the Messenger
PennFuture’s Jan Jarrett launches a tirade against the Commonwealth Foundation’s exposé of PennFuture’s lobbying. For starters, she repeatedly labels it a “smear campaign” (and even includes…
Media
Read More: BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the MessengerGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Failure
From 1998-2002, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania spent no money on lobbying the federal government (although independent agencies – the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Higher Education Assistance Agency –…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying FailureGovernment Accountability
Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAP
In a somewhat welcome surprise, both candidates for governor (Onorato and Corbett) criticized Rendell’s RCAP projects in the budget amounting to some $300 million dollars. The political legacy projects are the…
Media
Read More: Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAPEducation
Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry
Last school year, taxpayers gave Philadelphia School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman $65,000 (in addition to her salary of $325,000, which could be close to $500,000 next year). But…
Media
Read More: Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers DryGovernment Accountability
PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying Launderers
According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced…
Commentary
Read More: PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying LaunderersGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Leads in Spending Taxpayer Money to Lobby Congress
A new analysis from Open Secrets finds that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (i.e., our state government) led all states in spending taxpayer money on federal lobbying in the first…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Leads in Spending Taxpayer Money to Lobby CongressGovernment Accountability
PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released a report on the activities and claims of PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future), the organization founded by current Pennsylvania Secretary…
Press Release
Read More: PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal LobbyingGovernment Accountability
CF Blog Roundup
Here’s some recent blog posts citing CF research and analysis: The Conservative Reform Network Blog highlighted some CF stats about the PA budget, deficit, and big government spending and…
Media
Read More: CF Blog RoundupGovernment Accountability
The Tort Anti-Reform of HB 2246
Citizens to Protect PA Jobs recently issued an action alert on HB 2246, which flies in the face of the type of tort reform Pennsylvania needs. A hindrance…
Media
Read More: The Tort Anti-Reform of HB 2246Government Accountability
I&R Makes Way for Liquor Store Privatization in WA
Washington, one of 24 states that enjoy initiative and referendum – a reform that allows citizens to place issues on the ballot – is expecting its November election…
Media
Read More: I&R Makes Way for Liquor Store Privatization in WAGovernment Accountability
Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?
The delay to include the proposed Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) is just legislators’ latest attempt to resist the transparency and accountability legislation Pennsylvanians deserve. According to John Micek at…
Media
Read More: Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?Government Accountability
Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?
With much to jeer in this year’s budget one silver lining is the proposed Independent Fiscal Office. That is, if House Democrats don’t kill the proposal. Language to create…
Media
Read More: Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?Public Union Democracy
When Unions get Violent
Last Wednesday, men clutching baseball bats attacked construction workers at the King of Prussia mall outside Philadelphia. Workers arriving to the site of the new Toys-R-Us store found their…
Media
Read More: When Unions get ViolentEducation
Politics Making a Mess of Education
It appears Gov. Rendell has succeeded in getting an increase in education spending for the FY 2010-11 budget. Despite the fact that enrollment is down across the Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: Politics Making a Mess of EducationGovernment Accountability
PA Senate Commission IDs Spending Cuts
In February, the Senate established a bipartisan commission to identify cost-savings measure for the Pennsylvania state budget could save money. David Argall, the chairman of…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Commission IDs Spending CutsGovernment Accountability
CF Blog Roundup
Here is what bloggers are giving CF some linkage for lately: Lehigh Valley Conservative and Bill Lawrence gave us some linkage for our breakdown of the recently…
Media
Read More: CF Blog RoundupGovernment Accountability
Disclosing the Assault on Free Speech
As election season approaches, Democrats in the House are scrambling to gather votes to pass the DISCLOSE Act. Even the ACLU criticizes the effect DISCLOSE would have on…
Media
Read More: Disclosing the Assault on Free SpeechGovernment Accountability
How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the Budget
The Rendell administration celebrated the end of the tax amnesty program bringing in $261 million, well above projected revenues. But Capitolwire (subscription only) reminds us the Governor was originally…
Media
Read More: How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the BudgetEducation
A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget. The report also offers…
Report
Read More: A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for PennsylvaniaEducation
The True Beneficiaries of Education Subsidies
Gov. Rendell's budget once again demands significant increases in public school spending. Ostensibly, these increases are "for the children," but a close examination of education spending and policy proposals reveals…
Commentary
Read More: The True Beneficiaries of Education Subsidies