Priya Brannick
Senior Fellow
Priya Brannick is a Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation.
Priya has a Master of Arts in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University and graduated magna cum laude in 2002 with a degree in journalism from Texas Christian University. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, she was an international affairs journalist for WORLD Magazine and the Communications Director for the Institute on Religion and Public Policy.
Priya’s primary research areas include education reform and labor policy. Her expertise has been featured in various media outlets including: KDKA, WITF, WHYY, the Patriot News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer, amongst others.
A native of Zambia, Africa, Priya has lived, worked, and traveled across the United States (and still admits to a strong fondness for soccer). She is deeply passionate about America’s founding principles, crafting sound public policy to better people’s lives, and ballroom dance.
Fairness
The Battle for Worker Freedom in the States: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
KEY POINTS In the four years following the Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the nation’s four largest government unions—AFSCME, SEIU, NEA, and AFT—have lost almost 219,000 union…
Report
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom in the States: Grading State Public Sector Labor LawsGovernment Accountability
The Janus Impact and Grading of State Public Sector Labor Laws
In the Janus aftermath, pro-union forces make legislative headway counteracting the court decision, while workers push back in the courts. This report details the trends, and grades each state according to…
Report
Read More: The Janus Impact and Grading of State Public Sector Labor LawsPublic Union Democracy
Do Teachers Know About Their Rights?
A year after the path-changing Janus v. AFSCME decision that freed 5 million American government workers from having to pay union fees, there hasn’t been the exodus of union members…
Media
Read More: Do Teachers Know About Their Rights?Public Union Democracy
4 Facts on Pennsylvania Teacher Strikes
Between the nearly averted strike in Pittsburgh and statewide strikes in West Virginia and Oklahoma, the validity of teacher strikes is once again up for debate. Here are four facts…
Media
Read More: 4 Facts on Pennsylvania Teacher StrikesPublic Union Democracy
Ending the Government Union Skimming Scam
Imagine being disabled or sick and requiring help to bathe, eat, and even move from room to room within your own home. Medicaid, a taxpayer-funded health insurance program helps pay…
Media
Read More: Ending the Government Union Skimming ScamPublic Union Democracy
Fifty State Labor Report 2017
We've updated a nationwide comparison of public sector labor laws - Pennsylvania again scores a D.
Report
Read More: Fifty State Labor Report 2017Public Union Democracy
Transforming Labor
Executive Summary In the last five years, Americans have seen an unprecedented sweep of public sector labor reforms across several states. Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana—and most recently, West Virginia in…
Report
Read More: Transforming LaborPublic Union Democracy
Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor Unions
In the public’s eyes, labor unions have traditionally been the voice of working people. However, a closer look at how unions run their own…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor Unions
Government unions play a large role in influencing public spending and policies at the state and local level, but they are surprisingly undemocratic within their own organizations. The practice of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Bringing Democracy to Pennsylvania Labor UnionsPublic Union Democracy
Opening the Curtain on Government Unions
Because such labor contracts involve billions of taxpayer dollars, citizens have a right to know what each side is proposing before being legally obligated to fund them. In addition, Pennsylvania…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Opening the Curtain on Government Unions
Teacher Pays for Politics She Never Supported
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
Read More: Teacher Pays for Politics She Never SupportedHealth Care
When the Poorest Fall Through
On a Friday near noon, on the top floor of Christ Lutheran Church, John Kiessling has patients occupying both chairs at his charity dental clinic. He buzzes from one to…
Media
Read More: When the Poorest Fall ThroughEducation
Teachers Sue PSEA in Landmark Case
Jane Ladley was a special education teacher in Chester County for more than 25 years until she retired this year. She may have left teaching, but she has a bone…
Media
Read More: Teachers Sue PSEA in Landmark CaseEducation
Teachers Call for More Freedom, Choices
Heather Lister and Joe Connolly are both Pennsylvania educators, and they couldn’t be more different. Heather is a 25-year-old library media specialist and a registered Democrat. Joe is a veteran…
Media
Read More: Teachers Call for More Freedom, ChoicesEducation
For Teachers, Knowledge is Power
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
Read More: For Teachers, Knowledge is PowerHealth Care
My Obamacare Agony
I thought I was lucky. The last day to sign up for Obamacare had arrived, and I’d managed to purchase a plan on the national Obamacare exchange. I was just…
Commentary
Read More: My Obamacare AgonyPublic Union Democracy
Union Quietly Admits to Using Dues for Politics
Whenever we talk about how teacher and other government unions spend their members’ dues on politics, the most common reaction we hear is that simply isn’t true. Workers often hear…
Media
Read More: Union Quietly Admits to Using Dues for PoliticsHealth Care
My Obamacare Plan is Failing Me
Tuesday is the last day to sign up for health insurance on the Obamacare exchange. Luckily I’ve already purchased an exchange plan. But barely one month into my new health…
Commentary
Read More: My Obamacare Plan is Failing MeEducation
A Public School Funding SOS
The governor has proposed $10.1 billion for public schools, slightly higher than last year, which was then a record high. So what’s all the fuss about cuts? At the same…
Commentary
Read More: A Public School Funding SOSEducation
7 Little-Known Facts on Pennsylvania Public School Spending
For years, teachers unions in Pennsylvania have claimed the governor cut $1 billion from schools. But the real story is more complicated. A huge influx of federal stimulus funding expired,…
Media
Read More: 7 Little-Known Facts on Pennsylvania Public School SpendingPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania Next in Union Crosshairs
Government union leaders are ramping up their attack messaging machine in Pennsylvania and planning a rally to bully state lawmakers as they did in Wisconsin and Michigan. But…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Next in Union Crosshairs