Compulsory 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.

Education

School Choice: Questions & Answers

  • February 17, 2011

The Pennsylvania School Board Association is circulating "Questions about vouchers your legislator should be asking." Others have legitimate questions and concerns.  This Policy Brief answers them all.

Fact Sheet

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Education

15 School Choice Myths

  • February 16, 2011

In an attempt to thwart efforts to give children better educational opportunities, the public school establishment is trying to divert the attention of policymakers through a series of oft-repeated myths…

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

Union: We’ll Get ‘Em Next Year?

  • February 16, 2011

Spring has almost sprung – seriously, it’s true.  Want to see the signs?  Pitchers and catchers have reported to the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, it’s looking like 60 degrees in…

Media

Read More: Union: We’ll Get ‘Em Next Year?

Education

Rescuing Children from Failing Schools

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 16, 2011

Chairman Piccola, and members of the Senate Education Committee, thank you for the invitation to testify today on Senate Bill 1. I’m Matt Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth…

Testimony

Read More: Rescuing Children from Failing Schools

Education

Union Dues for More Lobbyists

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2011

Last month, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) announced it was raising mandatory dues on teachers and school employees by 11%. Where is that money going? You’d better believe…

Media

Read More: Union Dues for More Lobbyists

Education

New Ad Takes on Teacher Unions

  • January 27, 2011

A new full page advertisement for school choice is appearing in newspapers throughout the state this week. Cutting straight to the point, the ad goes after teacher unions and school…

Media

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Education

80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • January 17, 2011

Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition.  To provide a roadmap for…

Report

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Education

How Corbett can Balance the Budget without Raising Taxes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 17, 2011

Even before Gov.-elect Tom Corbett raises his right hand high Tuesday swearing to tackle the problems left from the previous administration's tax-borrow-and-spend agenda, doubters are lining up to take potshots…

Commentary

Read More: How Corbett can Balance the Budget without Raising Taxes

Education

What to Do About Teacher Strikes

  • December 7, 2010

Pennsylvania once again led the nation in teacher strikes. Although only 13 states permit them, Pennsylvania tops the chart again as more students are deprived of up to 180…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Where do Union Dues Go?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2010

Here is a great new video from the Competitive Enterprise Institute tracking the use of union dues. In forced-union states like Pennsylvania—in which employees can be required to join…

Media

Read More: Where do Union Dues Go?

Public Union Democracy

School Union Continues to Deceive Its Members

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2010

Matt wrote earlier about the millions of dollars public sector unions have poured in political campaigns to get their union pension bailout.

Media

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Government Accountability

Newspapers Decry Union Pension Bailout by Lame Duck PA House

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 10, 2010

Today, Speaker McCall called the Pennsylvania House back into voting session on November 15th. Members are expected to vote a couple of key pieces of legislation including the ill-conceived…

Media

Read More: Newspapers Decry Union Pension Bailout by Lame Duck PA House

Education

Bethel Park Teachers Strike

  • November 5, 2010

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that Bethel Park teachers were on strike for the sixth time in thirty years. Interrupting classes in order to negotiate taxpayer-funded salaries and benefits…

Media

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Education

Are More Educational Options in PA’s Future?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 30, 2010

Both gubernatorial candidates have voiced support for government-funded grants to allow parents to choose an alternative school for their children. Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, is…

Media

Read More: Are More Educational Options in PA’s Future?

Government Accountability

Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest Agenda

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 29, 2010

Earlier this year, we blogged on HB 2246, which would have allowed trial lawyers in auto cases to suggest the amount of compensation their plaintiffs should receive for their…

Media

Read More: Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest Agenda

Education

Teachers and their Unions, Part II

  • August 26, 2010

This is another look raising legitimate questions as to how, or even if, teacher unions can reasonably be said to recommend their members which, of course, they maintain they do. …

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

How Could this Not Increase Costs?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 19, 2010

The Tribune Review writes today about a project labor agreement (PLA) that Allegheny County Chief Executive (and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate) Dan Onorato is taking some flak for. Amazingly, a…

Media

Read More: How Could this Not Increase Costs?

Education

Teachers and Their Unions

  • August 19, 2010

Teacher unions like to say they represent their members and look out for their best interests, including protecting their rights to speak out without reprisal.  Teachers  are by the nature…

Commentary

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Education

Who Got PSEA Money?

  • August 18, 2010

The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) remains one of the most powerful special interest groups in Harrisburg, whether it be fighting school choice and merit pay for teachers,…

Media

Read More: Who Got PSEA Money?

Public Union Democracy

Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher Taxes

  • August 17, 2010

Governor Rendell has proposed a series of tax increases to fill a $415 million transportation funding deficit created when the federal government rejected his plan to toll I-80 for a…

Commentary

Read More: Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher Taxes

Public Union Democracy

When Unions get Violent

  • June 30, 2010

Last Wednesday, men clutching baseball bats attacked construction workers at the King of Prussia mall outside Philadelphia. Workers arriving to the site of the new Toys-R-Us store found their…

Media

Read More: When Unions get Violent