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
Taxpayer Collection of Union Political Money is Unique
Paycheck protection opponents claim that other groups, like charities and insurance companies, are allowed to use taxpayer resources for their deductions, just like government unions. But are all paycheck deductions…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Collection of Union Political Money is UniquePublic Union Democracy
What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Bills
Taking a strong stand for taxpayers, the House and Senate State Government Committees passed paycheck protection legislation this week. Both committees amended original versions of their respective paycheck protection bills.
Media
Read More: What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection BillsPublic Union Democracy
Another Step Forward for Paycheck Protection
This morning, the Senate State Government Committee advanced Senate Bill 1034 to the floor. We applaud the Committee’s determination to make all levels of Pennsylvania government fairer and empower public…
Media
Read More: Another Step Forward for Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
Momentum Builds for Paycheck Protection
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Committee Advances Paycheck Protection State House and Senate Bills Positioned for Floor Votes June 26, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa—Today, the…
Press Release
Read More: Momentum Builds for Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
AFL-CIO Convention Spotlights Dues Spent on Politics
Yesterday, the House State Government Committee voted in favor of paycheck protection legislation that promises to empower teachers like Bill Frye and John Cress with more control…
Media
Read More: AFL-CIO Convention Spotlights Dues Spent on PoliticsEducation
Give Teachers the Freedom to Choose
Let teachers worry about teaching; let politicians worry about politics. That’s been my mantra throughout my career as an educator. But, sadly, most public school teachers in Pennsylvania don’t have…
Commentary
Read More: Give Teachers the Freedom to ChooseGovernment Accountability
The Real Cost of Paycheck Protection
Critics of paycheck protection claim that the practice of our government deducting union dues and campaign contributions from workers’ paychecks “only costs $100.” That’s based on a letter from Treasurer…
Media
Read More: The Real Cost of Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
Critical Vote Advances Paycheck Protection
Today, the House State Government Committee advanced House Bill 1507 to the floor, taking the first step towards ending the taxpayer collection of government union campaign contributions and political money.
Media
Read More: Critical Vote Advances Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
Teacher-Backed Paycheck Protection Bill Moves in State House
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Lawmakers Move to Empower Teachers, Public Employees with Paycheck Protection PA Teachers Urge Bill's Passage in New Ad Campaign June…
Press Release
Read More: Teacher-Backed Paycheck Protection Bill Moves in State HousePublic Union Democracy
Mailbag: How will SuperPACs Affect Pennsylvania?
A PolicyBlog reader asked if we could explain a recent “SuperPAC” ruling we covered in an op-ed back in April, along with its implications for state and national elections.
Media
Read More: Mailbag: How will SuperPACs Affect Pennsylvania?Public Union Democracy
End Teacher Bullying with Paycheck Protection
As most PolicyBlog readers already know, union dues are being used for political action. Moreover, taxpayer resources are used to collect both union dues and union campaign contributions. We at…
Media
Read More: End Teacher Bullying with Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
Triple Threat Pension Debt
At more than $50 billion in debt our pension plans for state and school workers are among the worst funded in the country. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher…
Poll
Read More: Triple Threat Pension DebtEducation
Why I Left Teaching: Union Politics
I taught science full-time for more than two decades and enjoyed a rewarding career educating a generation of public school students in Westmoreland County. I retired from teaching earlier than…
Commentary
Read More: Why I Left Teaching: Union PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
AFSCME Memo Lies About Dues & Politics
Some union leaders are bullying their members to support their political agenda. Don’t believe me? Read this: Each fair share fee payer is a sign of weakness. It tells…
Media
Read More: AFSCME Memo Lies About Dues & PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
Spreading the Paycheck Protection Message
It’s crunch time in Harrisburg. With lawmakers scheduled to break for summer recess in two weeks, the push for paycheck protection has intensified. To help spread the message of paycheck…
Media
Read More: Spreading the Paycheck Protection MessageEducation
Union Leaders’ Lobbying Hurts Teachers, Students
Last week we highlighted a California judge who ruled that laws enforcing teacher seniority and tenure were unconstitutional and violated students’ rights to a quality education. But here in…
Media
Read More: Union Leaders’ Lobbying Hurts Teachers, StudentsPublic Union Democracy
The Government Union Billion Dollar Tax Hike
In 2012, Americans paid more in taxes than they did for food, clothing and shelter combined. In Pennsylvania, residents labor under the 10th highest tax burden in the…
Media
Read More: The Government Union Billion Dollar Tax HikeEducation
Students Win over Seniority Laws
Big news out of California, where a state judge struck down that state’s teacher seniority and tenure laws. The lawsuit was filed by 9 students who believed that…
Media
Read More: Students Win over Seniority LawsPublic Union Democracy
For Union Leaders, the Law Doesn’t Apply
Pennsylvania's government union executives should be at the top of any list of political power players in Harrisburg. With the kind of influence that millions in campaign contributions and political…
Commentary
Read More: For Union Leaders, the Law Doesn’t ApplyPublic Union Democracy
CF, Teachers & Taxpayers Speak Up for Paycheck Protection
CF President Matt Brouillette, Keith Williams and Kristi Lacroix—two public school teachers—along with a host of good government and business groups testified yesterday before a House committee in favor of…
Media
Read More: CF, Teachers & Taxpayers Speak Up for Paycheck ProtectionPublic Union Democracy
Union Leaders Lie to Lawmakers
While public school teachers, taxpayer advocates and business leaders supporting paycheck protection answered pointed questions yesterday from lawmakers, government union executives refused to attend the House…
Media
Read More: Union Leaders Lie to Lawmakers