Media

Education

Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union Approval

• May 18, 2016

Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union Approval Governor Vetoes Protecting Excellent Teachers Act May 18, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf today chose to side with teachers’ union leaders over…

Press Release

State Budget

Bad Budget Trends Must Be Reversed

• May 18, 2016

Government spending has gradually risen for decades, until it suddenly exploded during Gov. Ed Rendell’s tenure. After the profligacy of the Rendell years, spending growth stabilized, but it’s still on an…

Media

Regulation

New Plan Doesn’t Protect Taxpayers from Pension Politics

• Nathan Benefield
• May 17, 2016

Today, the House State Government Committee passed a pension reform bill featuring an unproven “stacked hybrid” plan. This proposal falls short of the pension reform taxpayers needs to protect…

Media

State Subsidies for International Billionaire

• May 17, 2016

Last year the state financed a $1 million purse (prize money) for a multi-billionaire whose horse won the Pennsylvania Derby. Seriously. The billionaire also happens to be the vice…

Media

Education

Restoring Teachers’ Rights

• Gina Diorio
• May 17, 2016

Teacher Linda Misja is a religious objector to unionism, and as such, can donate the equivalent of her fair share fee–otherwise owed to the union–to charity. But four years ago,…

Media

Public Union Democracy

House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to Unionism

• May 17, 2016

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

Regulation

Liquor Liberty Loophole for DNC

• Nathan Benefield
• May 17, 2016

As Pennsylvania residents and visitors know quite well, our state's liquor laws are outdated. Pennsylvania remains one of only two states where the government completely controls the sale of wine and…

Media

Unions Targeting Vulnerable Pennsylvanians

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 16, 2016

Dave Smith’s life was turned upside down when Gov. Wolf issued an Executive Order letting the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) with the help of AFSCME (American Federation of…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The $20 Billion Energy Tax

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 13, 2016

More than ten years after its passage, Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards continue to stunt our economy. The standards cost the state $4 billion annually, according to a study…

Media

Education

Growing Chorus says “Last-in, First-out” Must Go

• May 12, 2016

Growing Chorus Says “Last-in, First-Out” Must Go To Protect Teachers, Wolf Must Sign Seniority Reform Bill May 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Thousands of Pennsylvania teachers put in extra hours, study…

Press Release

Education

Sugary Drink Tax: Not So Sweet for Philadelphia

• James Paul
• May 11, 2016

Such a believer is Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney in universal preschool that he supports a punitive tax on low-income residents to pay for it. During his stint on City…

Media

Cigarette Taxes Aren’t a Budget Fix

• May 10, 2016

Gov. Wolf’s plan to raise taxes by more than $2.7 billion stands little chance of passing the legislature. Indeed, Republican legislative leaders effectively nixed the governor’s proposal last…

Media

Gov. Wolf Threatens Veto, Denying Schools Flexibility they Want

• Nathan Benefield
• May 10, 2016

Yesterday, James wrote about the passage of HB 805—legislation that would protect excellent teachers by using performance, not seniority, as the primary factor in furlough decisions. You can view the…

Media

Education

Pa. Senate Votes to Protect Great Teachers

• May 9, 2016

Pa. Senate Votes to Protect Great Teachers Gov. Wolf Urged to Sign Bill Ending Archaic Last-In-First-Out Policy May 9, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—In a victory for public school students and…

Press Release

Education

Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to Wolf

• James Paul
• May 9, 2016

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

Health Care

Free Market Solution Expands Access to Care

• James Paul
• May 5, 2016

Harmful regulations prevent Pennsylvania’s nurse practitioners—highly-trained medical professionals who interpret diagnostic tests, treat chronic conditions, and prescribe medication—from doing what they do best: providing quality health care for patients in…

Media

Regulation

The Consequences of Concentrated Power

• May 4, 2016

We aren't the type of people to begrudge anyone a well-deserved raise. But when it's a $9,000 raise for an inessential position running a government booze monopoly…well, that raises some…

Media

Education

Obama, Wolf at Odds over Charter Schools

• May 4, 2016

Obama, Wolf at Odds over Charter Schools As Obama Recognizes National Charter Schools Week, Wolf Wants to Slash Charter…

Press Release

Education

Tom Wolf vs. Barack Obama on Charters

• James Paul
• May 3, 2016

It’s safe to assume Governor Tom Wolf and President Barack Obama agree on many policy issues. But when it comes to public charter schools, Wolf and Obama are worlds apart.

Media

Public Union Democracy

Pension Debt Grows by Another Billion

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 3, 2016

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

Education

Making the Most of New Funding Formula

• James Paul
• April 27, 2016

A recent report from ABC 27 asks: “Will lawmakers stick with new education funding formula next year?” At issue is whether Pennsylvania’s student-based formula will be retained in…

Media