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.

Fairness

Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis of Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 Election Cycle

  • October 10, 2022

October 10, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation today released an analysis of government union political spending during the 2021–22 Pennsylvania election cycle. The report finds that government…

Press Release

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis of Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 Election Cycle

Fairness

Government unions have too much power

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 5, 2022

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette No one dominates political contributions like government unions. They spend millions on elections to buy their out-sized influence on officials and public policy. …

Media Hit

Read More: Government unions have too much power

Fairness

Unions should not trample the rights of government workers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2022

Originally published in The Patriot-News Four years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that no government worker could be forced to pay into a union they…

Media Hit

Read More: Unions should not trample the rights of government workers

Fairness

Government Union Membership Plummets Post Janus

  • September 28, 2022

September 28, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. – The nation’s four largest government unions lost almost 219,000 members combined after the U.S. Supreme Court ended forced unionism for government workers in Janus…

Press Release

Read More: Government Union Membership Plummets Post Janus

Fairness

New Numbers on Political Spending by Government Union Executives

  • September 2, 2022

Labor Day is a celebration of the American worker—their contributions and achievements that make this country great. Unfortunately, many American workers are sidelined—even bullied—by organizations that are meant to represent…

Memo

Read More: New Numbers on Political Spending by Government Union Executives

Fairness

How Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Stalls Education Reform Favored by Taxpayers

  • Kevin Mooney
  • March 22, 2022

Originally published at the Delaware Valley Journal Taxpayer-funded public school lobbyists who favor increased funding at taxpayer expense typically oppose legislation that would expand educational opportunities for the children…

Media Hit

Read More: How Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Stalls Education Reform Favored by Taxpayers

Fairness

Why Pennsylvania Needs Wisconsin-Style Government Union Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 24, 2022

Key Findings Government unions have enormous political power in Pennsylvania, due to a host of special legal privileges granted in state law.Government union executives use this power to trap government…

Report

Read More: Why Pennsylvania Needs Wisconsin-Style Government Union Reform

Fairness

Reforms would reduce corruption and restore workers’ rights

  • Stephen Bloom
  • February 14, 2022

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review In Harrisburg, lawmakers are building momentum for a series of reforms that will empower public sector workers and defend taxpayers. The House Labor…

Media Hit

Read More: Reforms would reduce corruption and restore workers’ rights

Fairness

Four Bills Would Empower Workers & Protect Taxpayer Resources

  • January 25, 2022

January 25, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Four bills approved by the House Labor and Industry Committee Tuesday could soon bring several key public-sector labor reforms to a House vote. Lawmakers…

Press Release

Read More: Four Bills Would Empower Workers & Protect Taxpayer Resources

Fairness

Op-Ed: How officials use tax dollars in lobbying efforts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 3, 2022

Originally published in the PIttsburgh Post-Gazette Used-car salesmen, members of Congress and telemarketers all rank near the bottom of least-trusted professions. The lowest, however, is lobbyist. For decades, media and…

Media Hit

Read More: Op-Ed: How officials use tax dollars in lobbying efforts

Fairness

Op-Ed: Gerrymandering won’t save unpopular candidates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 1, 2022

Originally published in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review With state and congressional redistricting underway in Harrisburg, many politicians have blamed “partisan gerrymandering” for past election losses. But this is another instance when the…

Media Hit

Read More: Op-Ed: Gerrymandering won’t save unpopular candidates

Government Accountability

Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying Costs

  • December 6, 2021

December 6, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvania taxpayers paid for at least $42 million in lobbying expenses from 2007–2020, according to two reports released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The $42 million…

Press Release

Read More: Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying Costs