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
Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)
The Blackhawk Education Association sparked ligation costing taxpayers in the Blackhawk School District over $160,000. The district was paying tutors the rate of substitute teachers, but the union had…
Media
Read More: Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)Government Accountability
Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it Illegal
A new study finds that 25% of individuals admit they send text messages while driving. Astonishingly, however, 83% want to make it illegal to do so. I am…
Media
Read More: Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it IllegalGovernment Accountability
Conservative Intellectualism vs. Populism
The discussion between Jerry Taylor, Dan Mitchell, and Brink Lindsey on the Cato Institute blog (and NRO’s Corner) on Rush Limbaugh, tea parties, and conservative thought have been…
Media
Read More: Conservative Intellectualism vs. PopulismGovernment Accountability
Judicial Selection Revisited
John Baer has an interesting column on judicial elections, noting that, when looking at a list of yesterday’s election winners, that “Nobody’s heard of these people” and cites a…
Media
Read More: Judicial Selection RevisitedPublic Union Democracy
Keep Harley in PA – Pass Right to Work
Last week, Harley Davidson announced the possibility of relocating their York County manufacturing plant to a state with better long-term economic competitiveness. (Spokesman Bob Klein stated that all alternate…
Media
Read More: Keep Harley in PA – Pass Right to WorkGovernment Accountability
Follow Pennsylvania State Government on Twitter
Twitter is a good way to keep tabs on what is happening in Harrisburg on the state budget and other policy issues. For those who are unfamiliar with Twitter,…
Media
Read More: Follow Pennsylvania State Government on TwitterGovernment Accountability
Paying for Criminals’ Pensions
Yesterday, the PA House passed an amendment making it illegal for public employees to request lump-sum pension payments after they have been convicted of a crime related to their…
Media
Read More: Paying for Criminals’ PensionsPublic Union Democracy
McGovern on Card Check
Former Senator and Presidential nominee George McGovern – and though I hate the cheap labels used by the media, they would probably call him an “ultra-liberal” – writes in…
Media
Read More: McGovern on Card CheckGovernment Accountability
Shining Some Light on Pennsylvania Spending
Kevin Ferris has a good piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer on proposals to create online databases of state spending in Pennsylvania, as well as the success of other states…
Media
Read More: Shining Some Light on Pennsylvania SpendingGovernment Accountability
New Video Contest Entries
There is one month remaining to submit videos in our Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest with $4,000 in prizes available. Upload videos to our YouTube Group here.
Media
Read More: New Video Contest EntriesPublic Union Democracy
Right-to-Work Works
Mark J. Perry queries, using the ALEC report Rich States, Poor States: “What feature do 15 out of the top 16 states for economic outlook have in…
Media
Read More: Right-to-Work WorksGovernment Accountability
Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?
Governor Rendell has declared that Pennsylvania no longer has a “crisis” in medical malpractice lawsuits, citing recent declines in the number of suits filed. Critics claimed that reform have…
Media
Read More: Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?Government Accountability
Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePA
Some coverage of our inaugural Live Free PA event featuring Ted Nugent. Lancaster Online: Open Season: Guitarist Ted Nugent rocks local crowd with riffs on gun control and…
Media
Read More: Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePAPublic Union Democracy
Prevailing Wage Law Harms Philadelphias Black Workers
Since construction began on the Philadelphia Convention Center, the city's black construction workers have protested, with good reason, the lack of opportunity for minority workers on public construction projects. Unwilling…
Commentary
Read More: Prevailing Wage Law Harms Philadelphias Black WorkersPublic Union Democracy
The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
Apparently my recent commentary on Philadelphia’s prevailing wages has stirred the city’s union waters, so I am posting the data analysis to support the article’s statement: The…
Media
Read More: The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage LawPublic Union Democracy
PA’s Prevailing Wage Law – Abused and Misused
A federal court today issued an injunction against the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) in its effort to “debar” the firm Worth & Company from bidding on…
Media
Read More: PA’s Prevailing Wage Law – Abused and MisusedGovernment Accountability
Big Government, Big Corruption
Dan Mitchell from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity links the connection between government growth and corruption in this clip. He notes that rather than promoting honest dealings,…
Media
Read More: Big Government, Big CorruptionGovernment Accountability
Audit: PA Not Ready for Stimulus Oversight
Auditor General Jack Wagner believes Pennsylvania is ill-suited to provide transparency and oversight on the stimulus money coming to the state in a letter he sent to the federal Government…
Media
Read More: Audit: PA Not Ready for Stimulus OversightGovernment Accountability
Government Spending Databases are Cheap
The Mercatus Center has a new analysis on the cost of state spending databases showing that it typically costs far less to produce online websites tracking government spending than…
Media
Read More: Government Spending Databases are CheapGovernment Accountability
Schroder Bills to Save PA Taxpayers Over $600 Million
State Rep. Curt Schroder has unveiled a number of legislative proposals which, by his estimates would save Pennsylvania taxpayers well over $600 million annually. House Bill 1056…
Media
Read More: Schroder Bills to Save PA Taxpayers Over $600 MillionPublic Union Democracy
PA Businesses Feeling the Affects of Recession
According to the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. and it’s Keystone Business Climate Survey, 76% of respondents said business conditions in PA have deteriorated over the past…
Media
Read More: PA Businesses Feeling the Affects of Recession