Media

Local state lawmaker pushes to raise Pa. minimum pay

• November 15, 2013

Media Hit

PA Teacher Speaks on Union Representation

• November 15, 2013

Media

Public Union Democracy

How Taxpayers Subsidize Union Politics

• Priya Brannick
• November 14, 2013

Last year, Pennsylvania’s main government unions spent nearly $5 million of their members’ union dues on political activities that workers don’t get to approve. In 2011-12, these unions also…

Media

Health Care

Obamacare: Exchange Sign-ups Dwarfed by Cancellations

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 14, 2013

Yesterday, the federal government revealed that shockingly low numbers of Americans are purchasing health insurance on the dysfunctional Obamacare exchange. In Pennsylvania, it’s clear the law is doing more…

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Health Care

A Sign of Things to Come?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 13, 2013

Cancelled health care plans, an unusable exchange website—do we still trust the federal government to deliver on its health care promises? In what could be a sign of what’s to…

Media

Blame Legislature

• November 13, 2013

Media Hit

Food stamp cuts worry grocers in poor Philly neighborhoods

• November 13, 2013

Media Hit

Regulation

A Band-Aid for Broken PLCB

• November 12, 2013

A change has come to Pennsylvania’s state-controlled liquor monopoly that will improve the customer experience, according to the PLCB. Are we finally going to get liquor privatization after eight decades?…

Media

Regulation

Union Supports 401(k)s for Philadelphia Teachers

• Nathan Benefield
• November 12, 2013

Thousands of school teachers in Philadelphia will see their retirement plans switched to 401(k)-type plans next year—and the union representing those teachers is okay with the reform. Shocked? I should…

Media

Education

Teacher: Forced Union Dues a “Kick in the Teeth”

• November 11, 2013

This perspective on union spending by Pennsylvania public school teacher Rob Brough originally appeared at Free to Teach, a project of the Commonwealth Foundation. I left my teachers union…

Media

Despite perceptions, food stamp fraud low in state

• November 11, 2013

Media Hit

Education

False Claims Fuel Charter Attacks

• Nathan Benefield
• November 11, 2013

The Education Law Center has issued an attack on legislation to allow universities to approve new charter schools. In a single paragraph, a spokesman for the group makes makes…

Media

Education

School Spending Transparency Coming to Pa.?

• Nathan Benefield
• November 8, 2013

Pennsylvania earned a “C+” for providing citizens information on how public schools spend money, according to a recent report from the Cato Institute titled “Cracking the…

Media

Health Care

ObamaCare: Sub-Standard is the New Standard

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 7, 2013

“Junk policies,” “sub-standard plans,” “policies not worth keeping” and “bad apple insurance companies” are just a few of the terms used by the President and advocates of the ACA to…

Media

Government Accountability

Political Power Cycle Comes Back to Treasurer McCord

• Nathan Benefield
• November 6, 2013

State Treasurer Rob McCord received endorsements for governor last week from two government unions—UFCW 1776 and AFSCME. That means big money from union PACs to his campaign. The…

Media

Government Accountability

TV Report: Waste & Fraud in Public Welfare

• November 6, 2013

In a scathing investigative report, Chris Papst at CBS 21 revealed a widespread culture in Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare (DPW)—and orders from supervisors—to look past fraudulent claims to enroll…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Video: The Unintended Consequences of Labor Policy

• November 5, 2013

Did you know that raising the minimum wage harms the low-skilled workers the policy is meant to help? Or that prevailing wage laws artificially increase the cost of public works…

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Regulation

Let Markets Decide Natural Gas Role

• Gordon Tomb
• November 5, 2013

Could natural gas replace gasoline or diesel for Pennsylvania drivers? With natural gas certain to become even more plentiful, many people are asking whether that could someday be…

Media

Pa. pension reform plan hinges on union support

• November 4, 2013

Media Hit

Don’t cut charters; you will harm kids

• November 4, 2013

Media Hit

Government Accountability

PLCB Annual Report: I Read it So You Don’t Have To!

• November 1, 2013

This week, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board released its annual report. In case reading a 56-page government document isn’t in your weekend plans, here are my notes: Their stated…

Media