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
Education
“Tax You More Bus Tour” Hits Speed Bump
The “Tax You More Bus Tour” is still puttering along in the taxpayer-funded luxury bus – or at least it was scheduled to. The Department of Education twice attempted…
Media
Read More: “Tax You More Bus Tour” Hits Speed BumpGovernment Accountability
10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax Hikes
Contrary to the Governor’s rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and spending cuts that can balance the budget without firing our police, evicting our elderly, or dumbing down our…
Media
Read More: 10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax HikesGovernment Accountability
PA General Assembly Costs $50,000 Per Day for One Hour Sessions
ABC 27 News has a story on the high cost of the General Assembly – $50,000 per day – to have sessions during the budget impasse. This is very…
Media
Read More: PA General Assembly Costs $50,000 Per Day for One Hour SessionsHealth Care
Democrats’ Health Care Plan: Tax the Middle Class, Loophole for Unions
We mentioned last week that a tax on employer-provided health care benefits would likely be part of ObamaCare. This despite the fact that Obama’s campaign criticized McCain for proposing…
Media
Read More: Democrats’ Health Care Plan: Tax the Middle Class, Loophole for UnionsEducation
The “Mis-education” of Ed Rendell
Gov. Rendell wants to increase taxes to continue the double-the-rate-of-inflation spending that has defined his tenure. In order to sell his state budget plan to an increasingly skeptical public, he…
Commentary
Read More: The “Mis-education” of Ed RendellGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Still Using Tax Dollars to Buy Votes
Mark Levy of the AP has a hard hitting story of Pennsylvania lawmakers use of WAMs – i.e. “Walking Around Money” made available to us at the discretion of legislative…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Still Using Tax Dollars to Buy VotesGovernment Accountability
State Spending Transparency Hearing
FYI by PLS has a brief summary of a hearing yesterday on proposals to create a state spending transparency for Pennsylvania, with particular attention paid to HB 1460…
Media
Read More: State Spending Transparency HearingGovernment Accountability
State Spending Transparency
Testimony of Elizabeth Bryan to the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee, June 18, 2009 Good morning, I am Elizabeth Bryan, a research associate with the Commonwealth Foundation, a free-market public…
Testimony
Read More: State Spending TransparencyPublic Union Democracy
State Agency Forces Private Sector to Pay Prevailing Wage
Due to a standing order by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), all public universities are required to pay prevailing wage rates on construction projects funded by…
Media
Read More: State Agency Forces Private Sector to Pay Prevailing WageGovernment Accountability
Will Rendell’s Closed-Door Cabinet Meeting Violate Sunshine Law?
Today, Governor Rendell announced an “emergency cabinet meeting” to discuss the state budget, and state the meeting will be closed to the public. But wouldn’t such a closed-door…
Media
Read More: Will Rendell’s Closed-Door Cabinet Meeting Violate Sunshine Law?Education
Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees Online
Stop Teacher Strikes has posted the 2007-08 salary information (collected by Asbury Park Press) for 195,000 Pennsylvania teachers and school employees, searchable by name, district, or position…
Media
Read More: Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees OnlineEducation
Fact Check: The Costing-Out Study
Today the Governor wraps up his “Tax You More Tour” with Matt Brouillette following stride for stride. Meanwhile, we’re debunking another spending myth: The Costing-Out Study…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: The Costing-Out StudyEducation
In What World is an 11.7% Increase Called a Decrease?
Harrisburg, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette continues to follow Gov. Ed Rendell’s taxpayer-funded bus campaign into the northeastern part of the state today. Today’s “Tax You…
Press Release
Read More: In What World is an 11.7% Increase Called a Decrease?Government Accountability
Two Cheers for Transparency
Good read on transparency effort in state government by Larry Reed in the latest issue of the Freeman.
Media
Read More: Two Cheers for TransparencyEducation
Brouillette to Counter Rendell’s “Tax You More” Bus Tour
Harrisburg, PA — Gov. Rendell’s week-long, state-wide bus tour to scare and mislead Pennsylvanians into thinking they pay too little in taxes and don’t spend enough on public education will…
Press Release
Read More: Brouillette to Counter Rendell’s “Tax You More” Bus TourGovernment Accountability
More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher Taxes
The Rendell administration is going on another taxpayer funded bus trip across the state for higher spending (and the higher taxes need to pay for them). The target this…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher TaxesPublic Union Democracy
Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
The Manufacturer & Business Association sent an action alert yesterday on Sen. Brubaker’s proposal to place a three-year moratorium on Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage requirement (SB 695). Click…
Media
Read More: Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage LawGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget Debate
With the approach of June 30th and the end of the state’s fiscal year comes the annual argument in Harrisburg over Pennsylvania’s budget. With Senate Republicans having passed a spending…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget DebateGovernment Accountability
PA Senate Passes Spending Transparency
Legislation which we have discussed many times on this blog (see previous posts here and here, and Elizabeth Bryan’s commentary here) to create an online database…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Passes Spending TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Last Chance to Enter Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest
The deadline for entering our Please, No More Taxes! video contest is midnight tonight (June 1). There are $4,000 in prizes available for the top 3 entries. Contest rules…
Media
Read More: Last Chance to Enter Please, No More Taxes! Video ContestGovernment Accountability
Transparency Needed in Pennsylvania Budget Debate
ABC 27 has a news story and video on proposed legislation that would create an online portal and database of state spending in Pennsylvania. What is most disappointing…
Media
Read More: Transparency Needed in Pennsylvania Budget Debate