MARCH 5, 2012 | Policy Report by PRIYA ABRAHAM, CARA DOCHAT

The Squeeze: Government Unions' Grip on Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania's government unions wield tremendous political influence and advance policies that harm the commonwealth's taxpayers, children, and even their own members. Pennsylvania is a forced union state, meaning even workers who are not official union members must pay fees to the union as a condition of their employment. A single union usuall

OCTOBER 27, 2011 | Commentary by CARA DOCHAT, PRIYA ABRAHAM

Government Unions Steal Worker Freedom

Pennsylvania is one of 28 states in which workers can be compelled to give part of their paycheck to a union just to keep their job.  Moreover, even non-membership is costly. Those able to evade union coercion are still compelled to pay hundreds of dollars in fair share fees, or agency fees, to cover their supposed share of benefits

OCTOBER 27, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania's Government Unions

Pennsylvania is a forced union state, meaning that workers can be forced to join a union or pay a "fair share fee" just to keep their job.  Most government units in Pennsylvania are "agency shops," with a specified union to which workers must pay a fee. When state and local governments automatically deduct dues and fair share fees from g

JUNE 21, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Government Union Contracts

On June 30, 15 of the state's 19 government union contracts expire, with two more expiring in August.  These 19 public sector unions represent 62,271 state employees, whose compensation from taxpayers exceeds $4.6 billion.

JUNE 16, 2011 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE, NATHAN BENEFIELD

How Taxpayers are Funding Big Labor's Education Failures

More than $92 million in taxpayer dollars for public education is being funneled through school districts back to these special interest groups, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA). These groups that profit from the $26 billion Pennsylvania taxpayers dole out on public schoo

APRIL 12, 2011 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Millions Funneled to Lobbyists by Public Schools

CF uncovers more than $59 million being used against taxpayers' and children's interests

The Commonwealth Foundation announced today preliminary results from extensive Open Records Requests that found more than $59 million dollars of taxpayer money is being funneled through taxpayer-funded public school districts directly to organizations frequently involved in lobbying against the interests of taxpayers and underserved children

JULY 9, 2010 | Commentary by PAUL CHESSER

PennFuture: Harrisburg's Lobbying Launderers

According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced Gov. Ed Rendell and the general public to support a bond issue for environmental funding. Yet for all these accomplishments - most of which it

JULY 8, 2010 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying

Report identifies activities of nonprofit eco-activist group

Chesser's report, PennFuture's Lobbying: Hypocritical, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal, describes how the eco-activist organization received nearly $1 million during the last five years from alternative energy companies. 

MAY 24, 2010 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

The Real "Special Interest" Problem in PA

Everyone loves to hate "special interests."  They spend millions of dollars in electing and lobbying public officials in order to gain political or legislative favor.  So it was no surprise when groups like PennFuture and the Keystone Research Center's Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joined with Common Cause PA and th

MARCH 9, 2010 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

For Whom The Turnpike Tolls

Tolls are appropriate because they are imposed directly upon travelers for their use of roads.  However, the plan to toll I-80 represents more than a toll.  It is also a tax on drivers because more than $160 million in toll dollars from the highway will be funneled to mass transit systems, primarily in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.&