Public Union Democracy

Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2023–24 Election Cycle

  • Andrew Holman
  • April 15, 2025

Key Points Government unions enjoy a host of special legal privileges in Pennsylvania, which allow their executives to exert undue influence over Pennsylvania’s public policy process. Government union bosses use…

Backgrounder

Read More: Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2023–24 Election Cycle

Public Union Democracy

Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle

  • Andrew Holman
  • March 21, 2023

Key Points Government unions are a top interest group in Pennsylvania, spending more than $190 million on politics since 2007. Government union political action committee (PAC) spending continues to increase,…

Backgrounder

Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle

Government Accountability

New Numbers on Political Spending by Government Union Executives

  • September 2, 2022

Labor Day is a celebration of the American worker—their contributions and achievements that make this country great. Unfortunately, many American workers are sidelined—even bullied—by organizations that are meant to represent…

Memo

Read More: New Numbers on Political Spending by Government Union Executives

Public Sector Union 2020 Election Spending

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 18, 2021

Public sector union political action committees (PAC) spent $16.7 million in Pennsylvania during the 2019–2020 election cycle, principally on behalf of Democratic politicians.

Backgrounder

Read More: Public Sector Union 2020 Election Spending

Government Accountability

Union Spokesmen Still Lying About Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2014

Yesterday, I pointed out that union leaders would use every bogeyman and slogan in their playbook rather than explain why taxpayers should collect their political money. As if on…

Media

Read More: Union Spokesmen Still Lying About Paycheck Protection

Public Union Democracy

Government Union Cronies Collude Against Seniors

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 3, 2013

Here’s a letter to the editor I wrote identifying the connections between special interest groups who oppose a lottery contract, and their motives for undermining a deal that would generate…

Media

Read More: Government Union Cronies Collude Against Seniors

Education

Union Think Tank Continues Assault on School Choice

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • April 18, 2011

The union-backed Keystone Research Center (KRC) released a so-called study of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC).  Not surprisingly, this study is an attack against tax credits for private…

Media

Read More: Union Think Tank Continues Assault on School Choice

Regulation

Why Taxing Natural Gas Won’t Solve PA Budget Woes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2010

Here is a letter I sent in to the Scranton Times Tribune (a slightly edited version was printed today) on the proposed natural gas severance tax and the Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: Why Taxing Natural Gas Won’t Solve PA Budget Woes

Do as We Say, Not as We Do

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 15, 2010

Public sector unions argue that “defined-benefit” pension plans are necessary to attract and retain good government workers. They also argue that we must pay people equitably — i.e., we…

Media

Read More: Do as We Say, Not as We Do