Public Union Democracy

PSEA Admits Using Dues for Politics

• Nathan Benefield
• December 29, 2014

The Pennsylvania State Education Association admitted using union members’ dues, via a “SuperPAC,” to fund an election mailer supporting Governor-Elect Wolf, following a public apology last month for the mailer’s…

Media

Teacher Pays for Politics She Never Supported

• Priya Brannick
• December 1, 2014

Just four days before the November mid-term elections, college professor Mary Trometter got a letter from her teachers union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Well, to be precise—Trometter's husband got…

Media

Government Accountability

Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural Gas

• Nathan Benefield
• November 14, 2014

A rehashed report from Common Cause PA and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania assert that Marcellus Shale drillers spent $8 million on campaign contributions and $41 million on lobbying in…

Media

Election 2014: What are the Real Adult Issues?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 27, 2014

Observers of the Pennsylvania governor’s race have been treated to a lot of adult-themed content in recent weeks, distracting from a discussion of the real policy differences between the candidates.

Commentary

Education

How the PFT Fails Philadelphia

• James Paul
• October 16, 2014

By standing in the way of tens of millions of new dollars for Philadelphia classrooms, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has revealed its true identity—a self-interested,…

Media

Education

For Teachers, Knowledge is Power

• Priya Brannick
• August 11, 2014

Like any other group of professionals, teachers are a diverse lot, holding vastly differing social, cultural, and political views. So why is it that they’re lumped together and forced to…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Millions in Special Interest Political Money Floods PA with Taxpayers’ Help

• July 28, 2014

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Special Interest Groups Inundate PA, Spend Millions on Political Ads at Worker & Taxpayer Expense No Limit on Amount of Union Dues Contributed to…

Press Release

Public Union Democracy

Union Dues Fund SuperPAC Spending Binge

• Nathan Benefield
• July 23, 2014

A new $2 million political TV ad campaign represents the first foray of “SuperPAC” spending into Pennsylvania. And taxpayers are forced to pay for this political spending. As…

Media

Public Union Democracy

What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Bills

• Nathan Benefield
• June 26, 2014

Taking a strong stand for taxpayers, the House and Senate State Government Committees passed paycheck protection legislation this week. Both committees amended original versions of their respective paycheck protection bills.

Media