Public Union Democracy
National Unions are Bouncing Back—and Coming for State Legislatures
Harrisburg, Pa., September 7, 2026—The nation’s largest government unions are organizing new and unusual workplaces to overcome membership losses since the landmark Janus v. AFSCME case, according to the fifth edition of The Battle for Worker…
Press Release
Read More: National Unions are Bouncing Back—and Coming for State LegislaturesPublic Union Democracy
The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
Key Findings Union executives are prioritizing recruitment. The fastest-growing category of public sector labor legislation expands collective bargaining into new workplaces. On the strength of these new laws, union executives…
Report
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor LawsPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Contracts Increase Again
Summary Pennsylvania elected officials routinely and secretly negotiate billion-dollar labor contracts with government union leaders from whom they often receive political donations. These labor contracts are a major cost of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government Union Contracts Increase AgainCriminal Justice Reform
Juvenile Justice Reform
Key Points The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force (Task Force) found most youth entering the juvenile justice system committed low-level offenses and are “low risk to reoffend.”[1]Studies…
Backgrounder
Read More: Juvenile Justice ReformHealth Care
Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too Late
Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program is a national leader in all the wrong ways. Sub-standard access to care and soaring enrollment, costs, and fraud crowd out services for people with intellectual disabilities and low-income…
Backgrounder
Read More: Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too LateHealth Care
Where Have All the Human Service Dollars Gone?
Nearly half of Pennsylvania's budget goes to human services or welfare. Governor Wolf wants to increase human service spending by $1.4 billion next year. But how well are these programs…
Commentary
Read More: Where Have All the Human Service Dollars Gone?Taxes & Economy
Feds Restore Foodstamp Rules: Providing a Pathway to Independence
Pennsylvanians are experiencing the lowest unemployment rates on record and wages are rising, including wages at the lower end of the pay scale. Across the country 16 states have restored…
Media
Read More: Feds Restore Foodstamp Rules: Providing a Pathway to IndependenceTaxes & Economy
New Evidence Shows Work is the Path to Prosperity
Poverty and unemployment are vicious cycles. The longer you remain unemployed, the harder it is to find work—and poverty becomes more entrenched. As the Urban Institute puts it, “long-term…
Media
Read More: New Evidence Shows Work is the Path to ProsperityCriminal Justice Reform
Today’s Opportunities in the Spirit of King
It’s been a shame that we’ve collectively spent so much time this month talking about the wrong King (Rep. Steve King) and views that harken back to our worst…
Media
Read More: Today’s Opportunities in the Spirit of King