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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Public Union Democracy
New Video: UPS vs. FedEx & Unions
Reason TV has a new video explaining the intense lobbying between UPS and FedEx, in which UPS is calling for FedEx to be covered under the National Labor Relations…
Media
Read More: New Video: UPS vs. FedEx & UnionsGovernment Accountability
Good government groups unveil “A Citizens’ Guide to a Modern Constitutional Convention”
New Report Sets Framework for Meaningful Reform HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention Commission, in conjunction with the Civic Research Alliance, today unveiled “A Citizens’ Guide to a Modern…
Press Release
Read More: Good government groups unveil “A Citizens’ Guide to a Modern Constitutional Convention”Government Accountability
Majority of Union Members are now Government Employees
The Heritage Foundation points out an interesting fact – 51% of union members are government workers, according to the most recent data, an all-time high. And I assumed General…
Media
Read More: Majority of Union Members are now Government EmployeesGovernment Accountability
Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes
Following the indictment of 10 State House Republicans (a current lawmaker and a former lawmaker and 8 staff), the Pennsylvania Capitol has been abuzz (click here for a…
Media
Read More: Best and Worst Bonusgate QuotesGovernment Accountability
Shady State Contracts and the Need for Transparency
Auditor General Jack Wagner reprimanded the Department of General Services for their failure to execute and oversee state contracts. Since 2003 a large number of contracts have not been…
Media
Read More: Shady State Contracts and the Need for TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Tort Reform – Keep It a State Issue
The US House health care bill not only has little significant tort reform, it in fact limits states from enacting meaningful tort reform. This statement taken directly from the…
Media
Read More: Tort Reform – Keep It a State IssueGovernment Accountability
Full Time Legislator, Part Time County Councilman?!?
Capitolwire (subscription) is reporting that State Representative Mario Civera (R- Delaware), who was recently elected to the Delaware County Council, is now rethinking resigning, and planning both to stay…
Media
Read More: Full Time Legislator, Part Time County Councilman?!?Government Accountability
Break Up SEPTA
How can Pennsylvania lawmakers avoid this mess? The first step is to open mass transit in Philadelphia to competitive contracting, whereby private companies would compete to operate SEPTA's network.
Commentary
Read More: Break Up SEPTAGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Spending Transparency Moves a Step Forward
The Pennsylvania House State Government Committee advanced HB 1880, sponsored by Representative Rick Mirabito, that would create an online database of state spending, similar to legislation already enacted…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Spending Transparency Moves a Step ForwardEducation
Privatizing School Bus Drivers
In last Tuesday’s race for Central Dauphin school board candidates clashed over the privatization of the district’s busing. The pro-privatization candidate- Chris Judd narrowly won, but that hasn’t silenced the…
Media
Read More: Privatizing School Bus DriversPublic Union Democracy
If Your Erection Lasts Longer than a SEPTA Strike …
Alex Charyna points out this tidbit in the Philadelphia Daily News – one demand of the SEPTA union was more Viagra: Yes, it appears that labor issues…
Media
Read More: If Your Erection Lasts Longer than a SEPTA Strike …Government Accountability
Big Government Leads to Big Lobbying
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story today that Pennsylvania business groups – especially in natural gas, tobacco, and gambling industries – spent a lot of money lobbying during the…
Media
Read More: Big Government Leads to Big LobbyingGovernment Accountability
Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms
Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette notes that the Pennsylvania Senate is outlining a number of new rules, largely related to legislative staff and taxpayer dollars being used to support…
Media
Read More: Bonusgate Developments and Senate ReformsPublic Union Democracy
SEPTA Union Doesn’t Represent “The Working Class”
About 5,100 union workers for SEPTA went on strike early Tuesday, leaving 450,000 people to find new ways to travel. The union is demanding a 4% raise and an…
Media
Read More: SEPTA Union Doesn’t Represent “The Working Class”Government Accountability
Transparency and Performance in Government
The Mercatus Center has a new working paper on the importance of government transparency. Authors Jerry Brito and Drew Perrault argue that, “Transparency is a means to an end…
Media
Read More: Transparency and Performance in GovernmentGovernment Accountability
Size Isn’t Everything
Sen. Dave Argall has introduced another attempt to reduce the size of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. Pennsylvania is ranked 2nd in the nation for largest state legislator size (totaling…
Media
Read More: Size Isn’t EverythingGovernment Accountability
CF Blog Roundup
Here are some recent CF mentions in the blogosphere. Reason Out-of-Control notes many of the same concerns we have with giving the Turnpike Commission carte blanche to toll I-80…
Media
Read More: CF Blog RoundupGovernment Accountability
There is No Defense for WAMs
Among the many faults with WAMs, perhaps the most egregious is that taxpayers can never figure out where this money is going. For example,…
Media
Read More: There is No Defense for WAMsGovernment Accountability
Auditor General Says No-Bid Contracts are Costing State Taxpayers
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner issued a scathing rebuke of the Rendell administration’s use of no-bid contracts, specifically in relation to over a half-billion dollars given to Deloitte for…
Media
Read More: Auditor General Says No-Bid Contracts are Costing State TaxpayersGovernment Accountability
Common Sense on Legislative Size
Paul Jacob’s latest “Common Sense” deals with the size of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Jacob advises: [D]on’t cut the size of the legislature. But by all means cut the…
Media
Read More: Common Sense on Legislative SizePublic Union Democracy
Political Power of Public Sector Unions
The Weekly Standard has a good piece on the growing political power of public sector unions, with a short history lesson, and many of the consequences (e.g.
Media
Read More: Political Power of Public Sector Unions