Public Union Democracy

Even in an Off-Year, Unions Spend Millions in Pennsylvania in 2025

  • April 22, 2026

Harrisburg, Pa., April 22, 2026 — Despite 2025 being an off-year election, Pennsylvania still saw heavy political spending by unions, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Foundation. The…

Press Release

Read More: Even in an Off-Year, Unions Spend Millions in Pennsylvania in 2025

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions vs. The Taxpayer [PODCAST]

  • Andrew Lewis
  • March 18, 2026

Public-sector unions were created to protect workers—so how did they become partisan political powerhouses? In this episode of Freedom Rising, Andrew Lewis speaks with David Osborne of the Commonwealth…

Blog

Read More: Government Unions vs. The Taxpayer [PODCAST]

Is Shapiro Responsible?

  • Common Sense Weekly
  • September 8, 2025

Here’s the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Have a great weekend!  New Poll: Pennsylvanians Hold Shapiro Responsible for Budget Impasse​​​​ By…

Blog

Read More: Is Shapiro Responsible?

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 PAC Spending in 2023

  • Andrew Holman
  • March 13, 2024

Summary Pennsylvania government union political action committees (PACs) spent $5.6 million in 2023, a record high for an odd-year election where there is not a presidential or midterm election. Of…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Government Union PAC Spending in 2023

Public Union Democracy

The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics

  • Andrew Holman, David Osborne
  • December 4, 2023

Key Findings The four largest government unions, the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Service Employees International…

Executive Summary

Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics

Public Union Democracy

Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and Teachers

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 18, 2023

Originally published at The American Spectator There’s a war brewing in education — and it’s not just on parents. It’s on the teachers themselves — and the same unions…

Commentary

Read More: Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and Teachers

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