Public Union Democracy

The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across the Country

  • 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

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Fairness

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

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Government Accountability

Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying Costs

  • December 6, 2021

December 6, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvania taxpayers paid for at least $42 million in lobbying expenses from 2007–2020, according to two reports released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The $42 million…

Press Release

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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

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Public Union Democracy

Super PACs Supersize Union Political Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 8, 2014

Super PACs are elbowing into state elections, promising to supersize the already dominating role unions play in electoral politics. Effectively, Super PACs can collect and spend an unlimited amount of…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

Big Labor’s Billions Targeting PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2014

Unions are spending millions on politics, and drumming up issues like a minimum wage increase, solely to win some elections, the New York Times reports today. Union leaders are…

Media

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Health Care

ACA a Boon to Special Interests

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2012

Tim Carney continues to highlight the role special interests— including the largest players in the health care industry—played in crafting the socalled Affordable Care Act, dispelling the myth that…

Media

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Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Leads in Spending Taxpayer Money to Lobby Congress

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2010

A new analysis from Open Secrets finds that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (i.e., our state government) led all states in spending taxpayer money on federal lobbying in the first…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’

  • June 23, 2010

Offering more evidence that CVPA’s call for Tom Corbett to return campaign contributions was a partisan stunt, Anadarko also gave Sen. Arlen Specter…

Media

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