Public Union Democracy

Will the Union Party Win Again?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 15, 2012

On Tuesday, everyone in the Capitol anticipated a final vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on a bill to increase the “prevailing wage” threshold for public construction…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Who Would Oppose Reforming a Costly, Unnecessary Law?

  • Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
  • February 14, 2012

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives may vote today on a bill to reform the 1961 prevailing wage mandate.  The prevailing wage requires government to pay higher wages and benefits for…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law

  • February 14, 2012

Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Law was enacted in 1961 to protect construction workers from out-of-state competition, mandating that contractors pay the wages that "prevail" in each region on all government construction…

Fact Sheet

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Health Care

CF Joins More than 400 State Lawmakers in Brief on Health Care Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2012

The Commonwealth Foundation joined 17 other organizations and 333 state legislators from across the country in an amicus curiae brief challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act passed…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Corrections Spending

  • February 14, 2012

The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years.

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

House Moves Unemployment Compensation Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 13, 2012

More Unemployment Compensation reform is moving through the Pennsylvania House. Yesterday, HB 1754 sponsored by Rep. Ron Miller, and HB 1852 sponsored by Rep. Seth Grove, cleared the…

Media

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Criminal Justice Reform

Government Union Jeopardizes Criminal Justice Reform

  • February 10, 2012

As Pennsylvania takes a hard look at reforming its criminal justice system, prepare for the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association’s fear-mongering campaign against reducing prison populations. The officers’ union opposition…

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Education

School Choice Gives Students Hope

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 10, 2012

Chester-Upland School District in the Philadelphia area is in deep financial trouble, and it made news recently for suing the state for emergency funding to keep going. In a…

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Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Bill Summarized

  • February 9, 2012

Gov. Corbett is expected to sign HB 1950, a comprehensive bill addressing Marcellus Shale. What’s inside the bill? The Marcellus Shale impact tax included in HB 1950 falls short of…

Media

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