Pennsylvania will only become a beacon for opportunity when its policies are in the hands of taxpayers and citizens, not special interests and bureaucrats. It’s vital that our government is accountable to the people—not organizations or institutions. Policies that advance transparency and restore workers’ rights are the keys to this happening.

Education

Taxpayers Notch Another Win Against Ghost Teaching

  • December 22, 2017

Reading residents received an early Christmas present this week, as the city’s teachers’ union agreed to reimburse taxpayers for the costs of ghost teaching in the Reading School District.

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection Timeline

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 22, 2017

Paycheck protection is a commonsense reform that moves Pennsylvania a significant step closer to ethical government. Though recently stalled in the House, a brief history of paycheck protection demonstrates…

Media

Read More: Paycheck Protection Timeline

Public Union Democracy

Fifty State Labor Report 2017

  • Jessica Barnett, Priya Brannick
  • December 20, 2017

We've updated a nationwide comparison of public sector labor laws - Pennsylvania again scores a D.

Report

Read More: Fifty State Labor Report 2017

Public Union Democracy

SB 166 Falls Short in the House

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 13, 2017

Last night, Pennsylvania’s government union leaders preserved their exclusive political privilege. By a close vote of 90-102, the state House voted down SB 166 which would have prohibited…

Media

Read More: SB 166 Falls Short in the House

Government Accountability

Overhauling Pennsylvania’s Budget Practices

  • December 11, 2017

Pennsylvania’s broken budget process hurts working Pennsylvanians. In the last two years, the state legislature passed spending packages, which Gov. Wolf allowed to become law without his signature, before authorizing…

Memo

Read More: Overhauling Pennsylvania’s Budget Practices

Public Union Democracy

House Nears Vote to Protect Public Resources

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 10, 2017

This Monday, House lawmakers have a chance to vote for landmark ethics reform, Senate Bill 166 Passing this legislation – and sending it to the Senate and governor for approval…

Media

Read More: House Nears Vote to Protect Public Resources

Public Union Democracy

SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA Government

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 6, 2017

Pennsylvania has a golden opportunity to enact good government reform, so it’s worth reiterating why SB 166, which House lawmakers continue to debate, deserves legislative approval and the governor’s…

Media

Read More: SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA Government

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Needs Good Government Reform

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 4, 2017

Pennsylvanians deserve state and local government that enforces ethical standards across the board. Yet for years, a glaring exception has allowed government union leaders alone to use public resources to…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Needs Good Government Reform

Public Union Democracy

Four Reasons to Pass SB 166

  • December 3, 2017

A House committee passed SB 166 last month to end taxpayer-funded collection of campaign money. Here are four reasons this legislation should garner the full support of House members…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection Toolkit

  • December 1, 2017

Currently, state and local governments, including school districts, use taxpayer-funded payroll systems and public employee time to collect union campaign contributions as well as union membership dues, a portion of…

Fact Sheet

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Government Accountability

A Step Towards Smarter Spending

  • November 29, 2017

The governor and state lawmakers are taking a step towards tackling our spending problem. On Tuesday a bicameral group of state lawmakers introduced a zero-based budgeting bill. This proposal would…

Media

Read More: A Step Towards Smarter Spending

Public Union Democracy

Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society

  • November 27, 2017

In Pennsylvania, government unions enjoy a wealth of legal and political privileges not awarded to other organizations. Here are just a few:  Government unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the…

Media

Read More: Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society

Public Union Democracy

Why Government Should Not Play with Politics

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 22, 2017

Government should never collect campaign contributions. House committee members agreed yesterday, passing legislation (SB 166 and HB 1174) that stops the taxpayer-funded collection of campaign contributions for government…

Media

Read More: Why Government Should Not Play with Politics

Public Union Democracy

State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 21, 2017

Today, the House State Government Committee passed legislation that protects public resources, a good government reform prioritizing ethics over political privilege. The first piece of legislation, SB 166, prohibits…

Media

Read More: State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources

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

Read More: Ending Taxpayer-Funded Collection of Campaign Contributions

Education

Another Step Forward for Kids

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • November 6, 2017

Governor Wolf allowed HB 178, an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code, to become law on Sunday. The bill is a big win for Pennsylvania's families. It includes three…

Media

Read More: Another Step Forward for Kids

Government Accountability

Inconvenient Facts: Debunking Climate Alarmists

  • Gordon Tomb
  • November 2, 2017

Governments should focus on supporting economic prosperity to enable better adaption to climate changes instead of controlling carbon footprints. Consider the contrast in hurricane recoveries between Florida, where an…

Media

Read More: Inconvenient Facts: Debunking Climate Alarmists

Education

School Reforms Put Families and Students First

  • October 27, 2017

State lawmakers embraced a trio of significant reforms with the passage of HB 178—an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code. The legislation would expand a popular scholarship program, protect…

Media

Read More: School Reforms Put Families and Students First

Government Accountability

Union Advantages Yield Undue Influence

  • October 11, 2017

In today’s political landscape big money is usually associated with corporations and industries like oil or gas, however, government unions are the most advantaged special interest in Pennsylvania. CF’s Nathan…

Media

Read More: Union Advantages Yield Undue Influence

Education

Gov. Wolf Reverses Unlawful Moves

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 11, 2017

Admist the budget stalemate, there is some welcome news out of Harrisburg. Within a single week, thousands of home care workers, educators, and taxpayers were relieved from the governor’s punitive…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf Reverses Unlawful Moves