Fairness
Unions at a Crossroads: Democracy, Transparency, and Bridging Divides
Jake Altman, author of Socialism before Sanders, joins Disunion: The Government Union Report podcast host David R. Osborne to discuss labor unions and their challenges. Altman, a former union leader,…
Read More: Unions at a Crossroads: Democracy, Transparency, and Bridging DividesCompulsory 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
Union Dues Fund SuperPAC Spending Binge
A new $2 million political TV ad campaign represents the first foray of “SuperPAC” spending into Pennsylvania. And taxpayers are forced to pay for this political spending. As…
Media
Read More: Union Dues Fund SuperPAC Spending BingePublic Union Democracy
Sherlock Investigates: Politics on the Public Dime
On Tuesday, former House Speakers Bill DeWeese and John Perzel were issued public demerits in the form of gold plaques hung beneath their Capitol portraits. That same day, a…
Media
Read More: Sherlock Investigates: Politics on the Public DimePublic Union Democracy
Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into Politics
While union leadership continues to repeat the myth that union dues cannot be used for politics, the latest newsletter from the Pennsylvania State Education Assocation again reveals, in small…
Media
Read More: Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking Reform
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai took to the podium last week, providing press and spectators his response to the Governor’s criticisms, blue-line budget reductions, and House priorities. We applaud…
Media
Read More: Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking ReformGovernment Accountability
Government Unions’ Political Power Persists
While labor unions nationwide have been on the defensive for the past few decades—especially in light of pro-worker measures in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana—Pennsylvania remains a bastion of…
Media
Read More: Government Unions’ Political Power PersistsEducation
Teachers’ Views Matter
From my vantage point on the frontlines of Pennsylvania’s public schools, I see teachers’ unions with money to spend and power to wield who are unresponsive to the very people…
Commentary
Read More: Teachers’ Views MatterPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Update
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks at the Capitol and the entire CF team has been working around the clock to make Paycheck Protection a…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection UpdatePublic Union Democracy
Gov. Unions Block Pension Reform
Lawmakers may have agreed on a no-new-taxes budget, but the cost drivers behind this year’s budget shortfall and Pennsylvania’s annual budget crisis remain unchanged. Chief among those cost drivers is…
Media
Read More: Gov. Unions Block Pension ReformPublic Union Democracy
Court Slaps Gov. Union Overreach, Leaves Paycheck Protection in State Hands
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Supreme Court Slaps Government Union Overreach Bolsters Argument for Paycheck Protection June 30, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa—Today, the U.S.
Press Release
Read More: Court Slaps Gov. Union Overreach, Leaves Paycheck Protection in State HandsPublic 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 Debt