Pennsylvania 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.

Education

Wolf’s Actions Speak Louder Than Words

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • June 18, 2019

Governor Wolf talks the talk. In his 2018 budget address, he called for ensuring “your zip code doesn’t determine what kind of education you can get.” In his …

Media

Read More: Wolf’s Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Government Accountability

The Shadow Budget Comes to Light

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Tirzah Duren
  • June 6, 2019

The shadow budget is coming into the light in an unlikely way this…

Media

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Government Accountability

Transparency Deferred During Union Contract Negotiations

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 3, 2019

Public dollars, secrecy, and politics should never mix. Yet, it’s a disturbingly common practice in Pennsylvania as public officials negotiate costly government employee contracts with their campaign donors—behind closed…

Media

Read More: Transparency Deferred During Union Contract Negotiations

Public Union Democracy

Employee Rights Notification Becomes Imperative Following New Court Ruling

  • Jessica Barnett
  • May 23, 2019

Laws contradicting U.S. Supreme Court decisions should be removed from the books, or at least that’s what Pennsylvania teachers Greg Hartnett, Elizabeth Galaska, Rob Brough, and John Cress rationally argued…

Media

Read More: Employee Rights Notification Becomes Imperative Following New Court Ruling

Public Union Democracy

Pa. Attorney General Agrees: Workers Should Know Their Rights

  • Jessica Barnett, Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2019

Attorney General Josh Shapiro recently demonstrated why Pennsylvania government workers need the Employee Rights Notification Act (House Bill 785 and Senate Bill 371). In a tweet, Shapiro…

Media

Read More: Pa. Attorney General Agrees: Workers Should Know Their Rights

Government Accountability

Union Medicaid Dues Skimming Scheme Finally Ends

  • Jessica Barnett
  • May 3, 2019

Six years ago, Pam Harris fought in court to keep her disabled son at home. A portion of her limited caregiver stipend was being funneled to union she never…

Media

Read More: Union Medicaid Dues Skimming Scheme Finally Ends

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Unions: Pennsylvania’s Biggest Political Spenders

  • Jessica Barnett
  • April 29, 2019

We all know that government unions are big players in American politics. However, new research gives us some perspective on just how big they play. According to an analysis by…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

‘Stuck in My Union’

  • April 24, 2019

Shalea Oliver is suing her union, because "No Pennsylvanian should have his or her rights ignored."…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

Guest Post: Shattering Myths About Government Unions

  • April 15, 2019

As a former public school teacher, I can tell you: plenty of false messages circulate about union membership. Is union membership required? Why do government employees belong to unions and…

Media

Read More: Guest Post: Shattering Myths About Government Unions

Criminal Justice Reform

Fighting Poverty can be a Bipartisan Effort

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2019

Here's a letter I submitted to the Philadelphia Daily News on how Pennsylvanians of any ideology can share good intent, and work toward a common goal. I was disappointed…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

The Facts about Pa.’s Employee Rights Notification Act

  • April 9, 2019

The Employee Rights Notification Act (HB 785) is exactly what its name suggests: notifying employees of their existing rights. So what are these rights, and why must workers be…

Media

Read More: The Facts about Pa.’s Employee Rights Notification Act

Public Union Democracy

For Union Members, Knowledge is Power

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 8, 2019

Francisco Molina is standing up for himself and other public workers because he believes everyone deserves the opportunity to know and act on their rights. That’s the kind of bedrock…

Commentary

Read More: For Union Members, Knowledge is Power

Public Union Democracy

Lawsuits by Trapped Union Members Piling Up

  • Jessica Barnett
  • April 2, 2019

Curtis Thompson loves his school, his district, and helping students succeed. He considers his job as an education aide for at-risk students in the Cumberland Valley School District “an opportunity to…

Media

Read More: Lawsuits by Trapped Union Members Piling Up

Public Union Democracy

Restoring Government Workers’ Resignation Rights

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 25, 2019

Pennsylvania government workers are no longer forced to pay union fees to keep their jobs—but government and union leaders are imposing roadblocks to exercising their rights. Here's how legislators can help.

Memo

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Public Union Democracy

HB 785: Transparency or Deception

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 19, 2019

Yesterday, the House Labor Committee voted to advance HB 785, the Employee Rights Notification Act. Unfortunately, this innocuous proposal became a partisan issue, with the vote falling along party lines.

Media

Read More: HB 785: Transparency or Deception

Public Union Democracy

Employee Rights Notification Bill Passes House Committee

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 18, 2019

Today, the House Labor and Industry Committee passed the employee rights notification bill, HB 785. Sponsored by Rep. Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), this legislation ensures public employees can make informed…

Media

Read More: Employee Rights Notification Bill Passes House Committee

Public Union Democracy

Union Leader Lies Prove Need for Notification

  • March 15, 2019

“It is a condition of employment with this company that you become a member in good standing with Local 1776.” That’s UFCW president Wendell Young, IV, writing to John Kabler…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

UFCW Lies, Forcing Workers to Join

  • March 14, 2019

“I absolutely love my job, I love the people I work with, I love the customers. Everything about it is magnificent, except one thing.” That one…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Unions Renew Attack on Election Privacy

  • March 11, 2019

The principle of secret ballot elections has existed since the second century B.C. in ancient Rome. Now, over two thousand years later, union special interests want to strip government workers…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Do Union Members Sign in Blood?

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 6, 2019

Flagrantly violating a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Pennsylvania government union leaders are rejecting many workers’ efforts to resign from their unions. While they’re keeping workers trapped, union officials continue siphoning…

Media

Read More: Do Union Members Sign in Blood?