Public Union Democracy

Full Court Press: Pennsylvania Union Political Spending in 2025

  • David Osborne
  • April 21, 2026

Key Points Political action committees (PACs) affiliated with trade unions and government unions spent $22.4 million in monetary and in-kind political activity in 2025, a year with few legislative elections…

Backgrounder

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Public Union Democracy

Unions Spend Big on Politics—Often at the Expense of Their Members

  • David Osborne
  • November 13, 2025

Originally published by Broad + Liberty. Pennsylvania’s judicial-retention election was the biggest in the commonwealth’s history. This seemingly innocuous off-year election drew at least …

Media Hit

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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

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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

Paycheck Protection Primer

  • May 23, 2018

Paycheck protection ends the use of public resources to collect government unions’ political money. Under current law, state and local governments (including school districts) take both union…

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

Ending Taxpayer-Funded Collection of Campaign Contributions

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Jessica Barnett
  • November 21, 2017

The House State Government Committee recently advanced SB 166, which restores integrity to an unfair system by stopping taxpayer-funded collection and distribution of campaign contributions for any entity. We explain…

Memo

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Public Union Democracy

New Home Healthcare Scheme from Wolf Administration

  • July 24, 2017

Despite having his home health care executive order struck down by the Commonwealth Court last year, Gov. Wolf seems intent on funneling state money to his pals at the Service…

Media

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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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