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AUGUST 17, 2010 | Commentary by NATALIE ROGOL
Time to Exit Rendell's Road to Higher Taxes
Governor Rendell has proposed a series of tax increases to fill a $415 million transportation funding deficit created when the federal government rejected his plan to toll I-80 for a third time. The state's highway system is in sorry condition, but not because taxpayers pay too little. Pennsylvania spends more on transportation
JUNE 23, 2010 | Policy Report by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget. The report also offers a series of recommendations for resolving the current revenue shortfall and reducing the size and burden of government on
APRIL 12, 2010 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD
Cost-Saving Ideas for Pennsylvania State Budget
Government has no money of its own to spend; it only has that which it first takes out of the pockets of working Pennsylvanians in the form of taxes or out of our children's future paychecks in the form of debt. Every dollar you tax, borrow and spend is a dollar that cannot be spent, saved, or invested by the people who earned it. Ther
Recent Blog Posts
MAY 25, 2010
Union Boss Honored for Decline in Union Membership
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a crucial piece of legislation - a resolution honoring our old "friend" Bill George, outgoing head of the PA AFL-CIO. What was Bill George honored for?
Since George took charge of the AFL-CIO in 1990:
- Pennsylvania Union membership declined 24%. Workers covered by unions declined 26%.
- Private union membership declined 36%.
- Union membership in Construction and Manufacturing declined 25% and 69%.
- Only public sector unionism increased.
- Overall employment in Pennsylvania grew by a scant 4%.
- Employment in construction and manufacturing - two segments of the private sector most heavily unionized - declined 5% and a whopping 42%, respectively.
| Pennsylvania Employment and Union Membership | |||||
| Sector | Employment | Members | Covered | %Mem | %Cov |
| 1990 | |||||
| Total | 5,014,845 | 1,022,997 | 1,136,939 | 20.4 | 22.7 |
| Private | 4,334,640 | 676,514 | 745,195 | 15.6 | 17.2 |
| Public | 680,205 | 346,483 | 391,744 | 50.9 | 57.6 |
| Priv. Construction | 277,357 | 70,972 | 75,695 | 25.6 | 27.3 |
| Priv. Manufacturing | 1,113,826 | 316,212 | 333,827 | 28.4 | 30 |
| 2009 | |||||
| Total | 5,220,376 | 781,678 | 844,028 | 15 | 16.2 |
| Private | 4,562,101 | 429,892 | 461,033 | 9.4 | 10.1 |
| Public | 658,275 | 351,786 | 382,995 | 53.4 | 58.2 |
| Priv. Construction | 262,977 | 53,319 | 53,319 | 20.3 | 20.3 |
| Priv. Manufacturing | 645,966 | 98,712 | 103,024 | 15.3 | 15.9 |
| Change 1990-2009 | |||||
| Total | 4% | -24% | -26% | ||
| Private | 5% | -36% | -38% | ||
| Public | -3% | 2% | -2% | ||
| Priv. Construction | -5% | -25% | -30% | ||
| Priv. Manufacturing | -42% | -69% | -69% | ||
| Source: http://unionstats.gsu.edu/ | |||||
The resolution passed 187-1, with only Rep. Daryl Metcalfe voting no. We're not sure if Metcalfe was upset with the decline in union membership under Bill George's leadership. Or that George has worked tirelessly to drive manufacturing jobs out of Pennsylvania. Or that George's work to preserve prevailing wage laws has driven up overspending and higher taxes, and his effort to keep Pennsylvania a forced unionism state makes us economically uncompetitive. Or that the AFL-CIO continues to lobby for higher taxes. Or that George primarily works in election politics, almost exclusively helping Democrats. Thanks, Bill George!
posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 08:53 AM | 0 comment
FEBRUARY 11, 2010
The Impact of Unions on Public Policy
The latest Cato Journal takes on the topic of "Are Unions Good for America?" The journal features a number of good articles on issues of relevance nationally and in Pennsylvania.
- Chris Edwards tackles the issue of public sector unions and rising compensation for government workers (For PA example, see Elizabeth Bryan & Katrina Anderson's commentary during the most recent SEPTA strike.)
- David Tuerck looks at the costs of Project Labor Agreements. (Also see Commonwealth Foundation policy points on PLAs.)
- Richard Vedder examines the economic benefits of Right-to-Work laws. (Indeed, passing a Right to Work law is one of the six opportunities for Pennsylvania we noted.)
- George Leef writes about the special interests driving prevailing wage laws. (See this CF commentary for more on how that issue effects Pennsylvania.)
As private sector unions continue to shrink, while government unions grow, union leadership increasing looks to government programs to bail them out. It is important to note the impact of these laws they push for and defend, and - as Gov. Rendell noted in his budget address - put good policy ahead of special interests.
posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 00:12 PM | 0 comment
FEBRUARY 4, 2010
Dude, Where's My Raise?
A struggling economy and high unemployment left many without their yearly raise or bonus in 2009. That is, of course, unless you were a government employee.
As originally reported on the Heritage Foundation's blog, government employees received twice the average raise in 2009 than those in the private sector, with total employee compensation in the public sector growing by 2.4% compared to just 1.4% in the private sector.
One of the major factors contributing to this disparity in public v. private compensation is government labor unions. Government workers, on the federal, state and local level, represent more than half of all union members. These unions bring lobbyists and special interests to the legislative table, continuously bartering for increased benefits and compensation, much to the detriment of your wallet.
There are several ways Pennsylvania can level the playing field for private industry. First, we should repeal the burdensome "prevailing-wage" laws that force government to pay higher-than-market wages. Second, we should enact "right-to-work" laws which end compulsory unionization. Finally, we should outlaw strikes for public employees in public services monopolies.
posted by MICHAEL NEROZZI | 10:06 AM | 0 comment
