Government Accountability

Teachers’ Union Deceives on Dues Donations

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 15, 2016

Last week, the Commonwealth Court ordered the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to investigate Mary Trometter's allegation that the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) used her union dues to support Tom Wolf's run…

Media

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State Budget

Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is Needed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2014

We at the Commonwealth Foundation are pleased to welcome State Treasurer Rob McCord to the fight for fiscal restraint. McCord, along with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, held a press conference…

Media

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Education

Give Teachers the Freedom to Choose

  • June 24, 2014

Let teachers worry about teaching; let politicians worry about politics. That’s been my mantra throughout my career as an educator. But, sadly, most public school teachers in Pennsylvania don’t have…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

The Real Cost of Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2014

Critics of paycheck protection claim that the practice of our government deducting union dues and campaign contributions from workers’ paychecks “only costs $100.” That’s based on a letter from Treasurer…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Top 5 Reasons We Need a Paycheck Protection Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 12, 2014

Occasionally I get asked why we need a state law preventing taxpayer resources from being used to collect union political money (“paycheck protection“), when local government can choose to…

Media

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State Budget

Tax Cuts To Blame for Pennsylvania’s Budget Deficit?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2014

As we have pointed out in the past, Pennsylvania’s legacy of overspending has created a looming deficit, threatening to destroy our fiscal house. Yet, some lawmakers and public officials…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2014

Did you see the PSEA’s latest Voice magazine? It features a full two-page article, claiming, among other things, that “no dues money is given to candidates.” This is true…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Unions Pouring Big Money in Pennsylvania Elections

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 27, 2014

As we’ve pointed out in the past, unions—often using campaign contributions collected at taxpayer expense—dominate political spending and electioneering. Well, the first campaign…

Media

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Government Accountability

Political Power Cycle Comes Back to Treasurer McCord

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2013

State Treasurer Rob McCord received endorsements for governor last week from two government unions—UFCW 1776 and AFSCME. That means big money from union PACs to his campaign. The…

Media

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