Media

Public Union Democracy

Unions’ Pass to Harass Comes to End

• November 5, 2015

Unions' Pass to Harass Comes to End  Wolf Signs Bill Closing Union Violence Loophole November 5, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Eight days after anti-harassment bill HB 874 hit his desk,…

Press Release

Regulation

Corporate Welfare and Cronyism in Bethlehem

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 5, 2015

Election day was a quiet affair in most communities, but in Bethlehem residents used the a local election to protest the appearance of cronyism in connection with a new corporate…

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Public Union Democracy

Dear Kids

• Nathan Benefield
• November 4, 2015

On October 21, more than 100 days after his veto touched off Pennsylvania’s ongoing state budget impasse, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers…

Media

Transparency Trend Continues

• November 3, 2015

Here we go again. Yesterday the Pottsgrove School District reached an agreement with the local teachers union on a new contract. The details are, as Evan Brandt of The…

Media

Regulation

A PLCB Special: Red Ink

• November 3, 2015

Supporters of the state liquor monopoly defend the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) as a cash spigot for the state, which is one of the reasons they refuse to support privatization.

Media

Government Accountability

Union Dues fund SuperPAC Attack Ads

• Nathan Benefield
• November 2, 2015

Pennsylvanians for Judicial Reform—a new “SuperPAC” (technically an “Independent Expenditure Committee”) registered in August—has spent about $2.5 million on attack ads in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race. Who…

Media

Meet the Most Controversial Teacher in America

• Brittney Parker
• November 2, 2015

Rebecca Friedrichs is no stranger to controversy. A teacher and former union member, her case against the California Teachers Association will be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court…

Media

Education

Sobering Results on The Nation’s Report Card

• James Paul
• November 2, 2015

Over the last quarter century, national education scores in both reading and math have modestly trended upward—until this year. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) recently released its biannual…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Union Harassment Victim Urges Wolf to Sign Union Violence Bill

• November 2, 2015

Union Harassment Victim Urges Wolf to Sign Union Violence Bill Governor Has until November 7 to Sign Union Intimidation Bill November 2, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Philadelphia construction executive Sarina…

Press Release

Public Union Democracy

The Voluntary Deductions Facade

• October 29, 2015

Paycheck protection detractors defend using taxpayer resources for partisan politics by insisting union members can voluntarily deduct political donations from their paychecks, but this excuse misses the point. Taxpayers aren't offered a choice. They're…

Media

One Teacher Can Make a Difference

• Brittney Parker
• October 29, 2015

This past summer, veteran teacher Rebecca Friedrichs found herself in the limelight. The U.S. Supreme Court decided to take up her case against the California Teachers Association regarding union…

Media

Education

Holding All Schools Hostage

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 29, 2015

Fell Charter Elementary School near Scranton will stop paying teachers next month and the school is considering a four-day week thanks to the state budget stalemate. Fell's announcement is…

Media

Health Care

Obamacare Premiums Rise, Again

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 28, 2015

Mark your calendars (for disappointment)! On November 1 healthcare.gov will launch its third open enrollment season. Here in Pennsylvania, premiums for the second highest silver plan will climb, on average, by 11…

Media

State Budget

Wolf Increasingly Irrelevant in Budget Debate

• October 28, 2015

Wolf Increasingly Irrelevant in Budget Debate Veto Override Attempt Shows Gov’s Grip Slipping October 28, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state Senate attempted to send schools much-needed funding by overriding…

Press Release

Public Union Democracy

Justice for All

• October 28, 2015

Sarina Rose counted on the justice system to punish the person who harassed her during a labor dispute. The system let her down. The Philadelphia Inquirer covered her ordeal…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Ball in Wolf’s Court to End Union Violence Loophole

• October 27, 2015

Ball in Wolf's Court to End Union Violence Loophole Stalking, Harassment, Threats Currently Legal in Labor Disputes October 27, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Stalking, harassment, and personal threats…

Press Release

Public Union Democracy

Shades of Orie Melvin in State Supreme Court Race

• October 27, 2015

Shades of Orie Melvin in State Supreme Court Race Public Resources Used for Campaign Politics October 27, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Government union leaders are free to back their…

Press Release

Government Accountability

A Revolving Door of Corruption

• James Paul
• October 26, 2015

The revolving door of politics—when top government officials change careers and become consultants for the industry they once regulated—is alive and well in Pennsylvania. Except in the case of the…

Media

Corporate Welfare Fails Again

• October 26, 2015

Two stories published in the past week offer perfect examples of questionable returns from economic development spending, otherwise known as corporate welfare. In the first story, Keystone Crossroads examined…

Media

Five Ways Gov. Wolf is Sustaining the Status Quo

• Nathan Benefield
• October 26, 2015

During his budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf said “It's not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” More recently, taking to social media,…

Media

State Budget

Lawmakers Move to Protect Posterity

• October 23, 2015

The State House recently passed two bills designed to chip away at the commonwealth’s mountain of debt—12th highest among states as recently as 2012, and only growing since. The…

Media