Staff

Education

Open Floodgates of School Choice in Philadelphia

• James Paul
• January 29, 2016

How can we expect any single school - public, private, or home school—to adequately serve the unique needs of every student who passes through its doors? We can't—and we don't have…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House

• January 26, 2016

Paycheck Protection Moves Forward in House 67 Percent of Likely Voters Want to End Gov. Union Political Privilege January 26, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Paycheck protection is one step closer…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians Prosper as New Yorkers Pine

• Gordon Tomb
• January 26, 2016

They are similar in size, resources and population, but the past few years have brought prosperity to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and stagnation to Delaware County, New York. The big difference?…

Media

State Budget

Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?

• January 25, 2016

Last year, Pennsylvania lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes. In total, the state’s net domestic migration rate was negative: 41,607 more people moved out of Pennsylvania than…

Media

America Works Ad Buy

• January 25, 2016

  Since the end of December, the union-backed political group America Works USA has spent more than 1.1 million to air misleading ads slamming the state budget…

Poll

Education

Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law

• James Paul
• January 25, 2016

In 2015, several states took action to improve the functionality of their public charter school laws. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania’s 130,000 charter students—as well as the thousands of students on currently…

Media

State Budget

Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the Largest

• Nathan Benefield
• January 22, 2016

The Wolf administration continues to deny basic facts about their original proposed tax hike. Instead of responding with facts, the governor's staff relies on name-calling and personal attacks. The Altoona Mirror…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues

• Gina Diorio
• January 22, 2016

Seeing a political attack ad on TV is nothing new. You probably roll your eyes and change the channel. But what if you learned you unwittingly helped put that ad…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Million-Dollar Ad Attack Ads Funded by Union Dues

• January 21, 2016

Million-Dollar Attack Ads Funded by Taxpayer-Collected Union Dues America Works USA’s Ads Make Case for Paycheck Protection   January 21, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Seeing a political attack ad on…

Press Release

Public Union Democracy

The Undemocratic Nature of Government Unions

• January 21, 2016

The Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act (PERA) entrenches compulsory unionism among public sector workers. It stacks the deck in favor of powerful union executives, limiting state workers and teachers…

Fact Sheet

Criminal Justice Reform

2012 Corrections Reform Still Paying Off

• Nathan Benefield
• January 20, 2016

Yesterday, Gov. Wolf and Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel announced that Pennsylvania’s prison population declined last year by the largest amount since 1971. The number of imates declined by…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Voting for Your Union

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 19, 2016

Imagine if a political party could stay in power for four decades without facing reelection. Thankfully, we have regular elections in this country. But for Pennsylvania teachers, this is reality.

Media

Public Union Democracy

Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect

• January 19, 2016

Give Public Workers the Right to Re-elect Less than 1 Percent of Teachers had Chance to Elect Their Union January 19, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—As the country prepares for a…

Press Release

Public Union Democracy

Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor Unions

• Priya Brannick
• January 19, 2016

In the public’s eyes, labor unions have traditionally been the voice of working people. However, a closer look at how unions run their own…

Fact Sheet

Education

Wolf’s $3 Billion Education Cut

• James Paul
• January 18, 2016

Upon finally approving the majority of a state budget, Gov. Tom Wolf admonished the General Assembly for “cutting $95 million from public schools.” Yet it is the governor himself who…

Media

Education

Do Record-High Graduation Rates Matter?

• James Paul
• January 18, 2016

In America’s high schools, test scores are stagnant while graduation rates are soaring. How can both be true? A December press release from the Department of Education…

Media

Government Accountability

Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets

• January 13, 2016

Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets Budget Companion Bill Picks Winners at Lobbyists’ Behest January 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—On Tuesday, the Pa. House passed a “fiscal code” which…

Press Release

Government Accountability

Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks

• James Paul
• January 12, 2016

Pennsylvania's fiscal code is intended to provide lawmakers with instructions for spending funds appropriated in the state budget. But it is also ground-zero for a host of earmarks that funnel limited…

Media

State Budget

Fiscal Code Protects Kids and Jobs

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• January 12, 2016

Today, the Pennsylvania House passed a revised fiscal code, HB 1327, to implement parts of the state budget. The fiscal code explains how revenues will be distributed, including transfers…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Pay Up or Get Fired

• Gina Diorio
• January 12, 2016

Imagine being told you have a choice: Write a check for $450 to an organization you don’t support, or lose your job. For tens of thousands of teachers across Pennsylvania…

Media

Education

Freedom on the Horizon for Pa. Teachers?

• January 12, 2016

How much money will you have to pay a private political organization just to keep your job this year? If this question sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is—unless you…

Commentary