Public Union Democracy
Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education
Get ready for a riveting episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report! Host David Osborne is joined by The Daily Signal Investigative Columnist and WIBC radio host Tony Kennett for…
Read More: Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of EducationCompulsory public unions threaten individual worker rights and cost taxpayers billions. Reforms to the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act are needed to restore and protect workers’ rights. No one—including government employees—should be blocked from leaving a union. To increase government integrity and accountability, policies should be adopted that ensure all special interests groups, including government unions, interact with the state government on a level playing field.
Public Union Democracy
House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to Unionism
House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to Unionism Bill Would End Union Control over Employees’ Charitable Contributions May 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Most Pennsylvanians take for…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to UnionismEducation
Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to Wolf
In a crucial victory for both students and teachers, the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act passed the Senate this afternoon with a vote of 26 to 22. HB 805, championed…
Media
Read More: Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to WolfPublic Union Democracy
Pension Debt Grows by Another Billion
Last week the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) announced its total unfunded liability increased from $18.44 billion in 2015 to $18.79 billion. In truth, SERS'…
Media
Read More: Pension Debt Grows by Another BillionGovernment Accountability
Historic Victory for Transparency
Gov. Tom Wolf just signed Senate Bill 644, empowering the Independent Fiscal Office to estimate the cost of government union contracts before they are finalized. Matthew Brouillette, president and…
Media
Read More: Historic Victory for TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts
Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union Contracts Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Reform Shining Light on Collective Bargaining Costs April 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf today signed…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Brings Transparency to State Union ContractsPublic Union Democracy
8 Labor Reforms to Protect Public Workers and Taxpayers
Pennsylvania's labor laws and practices heavily favor union executives at the expense of public employees and taxpayers. To level the playing field, state lawmakers should work to eliminate the host of…
Memo
Read More: 8 Labor Reforms to Protect Public Workers and TaxpayersGovernment Accountability
Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his “Government that Works” plan to reform contracting practices and increase transparency in government. Now, the state Legislature has given Wolf…
Media
Read More: Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s SignatureGovernment Accountability
Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’?
Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’? Government Transparency Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature April 6, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his “Government…
Press Release
Read More: Will Wolf ‘Walk the Walk’ on ‘Government That Works’?Government Accountability
Big Win for Transparency
One year ago, Governor Tom Wolf began negotiating contracts worth billions of dollars with state employee unions. Despite his rhetoric about improving government transparency, these negotiations took place behind closed doors.
Media
Read More: Big Win for TransparencyGovernment Accountability
House Passes Historic Government Union Contract Transparency
House Passes Historic Government Union Contract Transparency Would Lift Veil of Cost Secrecy from Government Union Deals March 21, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state House passed…
Press Release
Read More: House Passes Historic Government Union Contract TransparencyGovernment Accountability
Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I do
Note: Gov. Wolf's press conference referred to below was cancelled. Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I Do Gov. Calls for Openness, Negotiates $3.6…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf on Transparency: Do As I Say, Not As I doEducation
No, We’re Not Underfunding Public Schools
My latest op-ed at PennLive debunks several school funding myths that continue to haunt Pennsylvania: While local school revenue is notably high (6th in the nation), state revenue…
Media
Read More: No, We’re Not Underfunding Public SchoolsPublic Union Democracy
How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union Members
Pennsylvania's labor laws keep union members in the dark. Union members rarely have the opportunity to voice their opinion through elections or resign their membership. A lack of transparency makes…
Memo
Read More: How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union MembersEducation
Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown Millions
Allentown School District is no stranger to financial troubles. The third largest public school system in the commonwealth has been in financial distress for years. In 2011, the district…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown MillionsPublic Union Democracy
The Pretense of Democratic Unions
Control over the largest local teachers union in Pennsylvania is up for grabs. The Caucus of Working Educators (WE) is challenging the leadership of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…
Media
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Taxpayer-Funded Union Politics in Philadelphia
It's no secret that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) plucks teachers out of the classroom to work as full-time union operatives. These individuals are known as ghost teachers—and their…
Media
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State Supremes Strike Down Charter Caps
Pennsylvania’s legislature granted extraordinary powers to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) when they created the body in 2001. Tasked with shoring up the district’s finances, the SRC was authorized to suspend…
Media
Read More: State Supremes Strike Down Charter CapsPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House
Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House 67 Percent of Likely Voters Want to End Gov. Union Political Privilege January 26, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Paycheck protection is one step closer…
Press Release
Read More: Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in HouseEducation
Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
In 2015, several states took action to improve the functionality of their public charter school laws. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania’s 130,000 charter students—as well as the thousands of students on currently…
Media
Read More: Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School LawPublic Union Democracy
Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues
Seeing a political attack ad on TV is nothing new. You probably roll your eyes and change the channel. But what if you learned you unwittingly helped put that ad…
Media
Read More: Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union DuesPublic Union Democracy
Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union Dues
Million-Dollar Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues America Works USA’s Ads Make Case for Paycheck Protection January 21, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Seeing a political attack ad on…
Press Release
Read More: Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union Dues