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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Public Union Democracy
Warren Buffett on Card Check: Short and Sweet
Warren Buffett bluntly expressed his views on card check during CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning, saying that “the secret ballot is pretty important in this country.” Buffett adds his voice…
Media
Read More: Warren Buffett on Card Check: Short and SweetPublic Union Democracy
Card Check Would Cost Millions in Jobs
A new study finds that “card check” legislation, if enacted, would increase unemployment by 1.5 million jobs for each 3% increase in union membership (HT Tony Phyrillas). If…
Media
Read More: Card Check Would Cost Millions in JobsGovernment Accountability
Transparency on PA’s Stimulus Money
Governor Rendell announced his ideas for “oversight” of the funding Pennsylvania will receive from the federal stimulus (related story here), and unveiled a new website – recovery.pa.gov…
Media
Read More: Transparency on PA’s Stimulus MoneyEducation
Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less Government
The Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) is tired of amassing unfunded regulations from state legislators that grow school bureaucracies instead of improving education. In response, the PSBA has proposed legislation…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less GovernmentCriminal Justice Reform
Reforming State Corrections
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story on a Pew study on the cost of incarceration/corrections in states. There is little question that the cost of our prisons…
Media
Read More: Reforming State CorrectionsGovernment Accountability
Transparency for PA Stimulus Money?
State Senator Mike Brubaker has a proposal to create greater oversight over how Pennsylvania spends its transparency money (HT: John Micek at Capitol Ideas). The proposal has two…
Media
Read More: Transparency for PA Stimulus Money?Government Accountability
PA House, Senate Refuse Request for Lobbyist Records
Here is an AP Story on the ruling by Pennsylvania House and Senate have ruled that lobbyist contact is not covered under the new Open Records law (HT…
Media
Read More: PA House, Senate Refuse Request for Lobbyist RecordsGovernment Accountability
Pay to Play Culture in Harrisburg
ABC 27 has a story/video highlighting the “pay-to-play” cronyism in Harrisburg, specifically the $11 million in outside legal fees (despite hundreds of lawyers on staff) going to Ballard Spahr…
Media
Read More: Pay to Play Culture in HarrisburgEducation
School District Consolidation is a Red Herring
In the movie Men in Black, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) carries a small device that flashes, allowing him to make people forget meeting him (or seeing aliens). Gov. Rendell…
Commentary
Read More: School District Consolidation is a Red HerringGovernment Accountability
Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009
Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009 identifies $5 billion in unhealthy state spending in FY 2008-09 and offers a series of recommendations to both resolve the current revenue shortfall…
Report
Read More: Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009Government Accountability
An end to cronyism in state government?
The Pennsylvania House GOP has unveiled several proposals to end “pay to play” – including cracking down on the ability of the administration to award of no-bid contracts. In…
Media
Read More: An end to cronyism in state government?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Legislature’s growing girth
Robert Swift has a good article on the “professionalization” of the Pennsylvania legislature, including breaking down the cost of a legislator: At $78,314, the annual salary…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Legislature’s growing girthEducation
Obama Transparency Standard Challenges School Boards
Pennsylvania school boards have been presented an opportunity to measure up to the standard set by our new President. In his inaugural address, Barack Obama promised that public business would…
Commentary
Read More: Obama Transparency Standard Challenges School BoardsPublic Union Democracy
Putting Taxpayers First?
A group of Pennsylvania House Republicans today announced a series of proposals intended to reduce government spending and revitalize the Pennsylvania economy. Among the proposals: Implementing constitutional or statutory…
Media
Read More: Putting Taxpayers First?Government Accountability
Deforming the Pennsylvania House?
Democracy Rising Pennsylvania has an alert about proposed rules changes in the Pennsylvania House of Representative, that would undo much of the reforms of 2007. The changes including easing…
Media
Read More: Deforming the Pennsylvania House?Government Accountability
Government Transparency Resources
Our latest CF NOW video highlights current efforts to create more government transparency in Pennsylvania: Here are some of the key resources on Open Government: CF…
Press Release
Read More: Government Transparency ResourcesGovernment Accountability
CF Now: Opening Pennsylvania Government
View our newest video on YouTube, highlighting current efforts to create more government transparency in Pennsylvania. Here are some of the key resources on Open Government: CF Projects…
Media
Read More: CF Now: Opening Pennsylvania GovernmentEducation
Some More “half” Truths on the PSEA
The Tribune-Democrat features an editorial by a PSEA member in which he calls Matt Brouillette’s commentary “a hodgepodge of distortions, half-truths and unadulterated flapdoodle”. I have no idea…
Media
Read More: Some More “half” Truths on the PSEAPublic Union Democracy
Is the secret ballot in danger?
As “the first hundred days” starts today, what is in the cards for the Obama administration? A couple of weeks ago, Kimberly Strassel of the Wall Street Journal reported…
Media
Read More: Is the secret ballot in danger?Government Accountability
Evaluation of Pennsylvania School District Websites
Our friends at the Sam Adams Alliance have reviewed websites from all 501 school districts in Pennsylvania on their Sunshine Review wiki. They found that there is a…
Media
Read More: Evaluation of Pennsylvania School District WebsitesGovernment Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Launches PennsylvaniaVotes.org
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today announced the launch of PennsylvaniaVotes.org, the state’s first and only web site that provides—at no cost—a nonpartisan, layman’s description of every bill…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches PennsylvaniaVotes.org