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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Government Accountability
Time for Term Limits Again
Unfortunately, this spirit of civic virtue yielded to self-aggrandizement. Early on, legislators served a few terms in a public office and then returned to private life to live under the…
Commentary
Read More: Time for Term Limits AgainPublic Union Democracy
Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80
A recent Pocono Record article calls the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s proposal to toll I-80 “a riddle with no easy answers” (HT GrassrootsPA). However, there are alternatives to that…
Media
Read More: Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80Government Accountability
Book Review: Money, Greed, and God
Jay Richards’ book Money, Greed, and God offers a defense of capitalism from a Christian perspective. Richards goes further, noting that capitalism depends on a virtuous society. A…
Media
Read More: Book Review: Money, Greed, and GodGovernment Accountability
Bonusgate Makes National Headlines
Though it wasn’t one of their top 10 scandals of 2009, Time Magazine has a story today on “bonusgate”, and the subsequent corruption investigation, and its implications on Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Bonusgate Makes National HeadlinesGovernment Accountability
Onorato’s Economic Plan: Some Good Ideas, Some Bad Ideas
Pennsylvania Governor Candidate Dan Onorato outlined his economic development proposals yesterday. He has some good ideas in there, but a lot of the…
Media
Read More: Onorato’s Economic Plan: Some Good Ideas, Some Bad IdeasGovernment Accountability
Democrat Party Finally Condemns Pay Raise
An interesting response to State Senator Dave Argall’s announcement that he would challenge Congressman Tim Holden is that Democrats are going after Argall’s role in the 2005 Pennsylvania pay…
Media
Read More: Democrat Party Finally Condemns Pay RaisePublic Union Democracy
Pittsburgh Prevailing Wage Proposal Still on Table
The Pittsburgh City Council is once again considering imposing a prevailing wage rule on workers in city-subsidized buildings. (HT to Grassroots PA). In contrast to what the article…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Prevailing Wage Proposal Still on TableEducation
PA’s “Race to the Top” Plan Upsets Cyber Schools and PSEA
The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s “Race to the Top” plan – attempting to get about $400 million from federal taxpayers via the “stimulus” – has drawn a number of critics.
Media
Read More: PA’s “Race to the Top” Plan Upsets Cyber Schools and PSEAGovernment Accountability
Intern for Liberty: the IHS Summer Fellow Program
Are a student or do you know a student looking to advance their career while advancing liberty? The Charles G. Koch Summer Fellows Program provides summer internships at over…
Media
Read More: Intern for Liberty: the IHS Summer Fellow ProgramGovernment Accountability
A Constitional Convention of Crazies?
Political consultant Larry Ceisler penned an op-ed denouncing a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. (Hat Tip: GrassrootsPA) While there are legitimate concerns about a Con Con, Ceisler addresses none of those,…
Media
Read More: A Constitional Convention of Crazies?Government Accountability
Right-to-Know Law Still on a Learning Curve
Since the new Open-Records law took effect last January, the number of requests for information have skyrocketed; increasing by as much as 130%, according to the Patriot News. The…
Media
Read More: Right-to-Know Law Still on a Learning CurveGovernment Accountability
Book Review: Liberal Fascism
I finally got around to finishing Jonah Goldberg’s 2007 tome, Liberal Fascism, a compelling and important read. Goldberg both attempts to make the case that fascism has always been…
Media
Read More: Book Review: Liberal FascismGovernment Accountability
PennsylvaniaVotes.org Year in Review
Below is a handy set of indicators as to how your state legislators performed in 2009, courtesy of PennsylvaniaVotes.org, the Commonwealth’s first and only website that…
Media
Read More: PennsylvaniaVotes.org Year in ReviewGovernment Accountability
Capitol Cafeteria Another Rendell Sweetheart Contract
While some have pointed to the rodent-poo filled cafeteria at the Pennsylvania state capitol as a failure of the free market (as a private firm…
Media
Read More: Capitol Cafeteria Another Rendell Sweetheart ContractGovernment Accountability
More Evidence for Term Limits
State Rep. Bryan Lentz, a Democrat from Delaware County, has provided the latest evidence that term limits are very healthy for representative democracies. First elected to the state House of…
Media
Read More: More Evidence for Term LimitsGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Legislative Audit Says Little
A new audit of the Pennsylvania Legislature’s accounts was released earlier this month, and is available via state Rep. Josh Shapiro. The big news on the audit is that…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Legislative Audit Says LittleGovernment Accountability
CF Blog Roundup
Here are some recent mention of Commonwealth Foundation in state and national blogs. Michelle Malkin uses our research in a post about “slacker mandates” Pennsylvania Guardian links to…
Media
Read More: CF Blog RoundupEnergy
Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s Prosperity
Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth,…
Commentary
Read More: Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s ProsperityGovernment Accountability
Tweet Pennsylvania: Latest Updates from PA Lawmakers
The Commonwealth Foundation has a new project page, where you can follow all the Pennsylvania state lawmakers on Twitter, even if you don’t have a Twitter account yourself. Check…
Media
Read More: Tweet Pennsylvania: Latest Updates from PA LawmakersGovernment Accountability
Qualifications for Governor (HB 2083)
Testimony of Joe Sterns, Director of Communcations, Commonwealth Foundation to the Pennsylvania House State Government CommitteeDecember 14, 2009 Chairwoman Josephs, Chairman Benninghoff, Members of the Committee: The Commonwealth Foundation…
Testimony
Read More: Qualifications for Governor (HB 2083)Government Accountability
Talking Constitutional Convention
Tim Potts talks about a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention with Ron Morris on Pittsburgh Business Radio.
Media
Read More: Talking Constitutional Convention