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.

Public Union Democracy

Rendell caught trying to help union buddies

  • April 10, 2006

The Rendell Administration recently made a rules change that he changed again. Gov. Rendell’s Department of Labor and Industry had advised state and municipal governments that they would have to…

Media

Read More: Rendell caught trying to help union buddies

Public Union Democracy

“The truth is in the toilet”

  • April 6, 2006

Michael Smerconish of the Philadelphia Daily News writes about the REAL reason his newspaper is being sold — the labor unions.

Media

Read More: “The truth is in the toilet”

Government Accountability

Cohen hits the books: $28,200 worth

  • April 3, 2006

Rep. Cohen, the #3 leader of the House Dems, is a self-described “voracious reader.” The bad news is that we taxpayers are being compelled to support his habit. According to…

Media

Read More: Cohen hits the books: $28,200 worth

Government Accountability

TV Coverage of Commonwealth Foundation at PLC

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2006

If you won’t be able to attend the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, you will still be able to catch it all live on PCN – Pennsylvania Cable Network, starting…

Media

Read More: TV Coverage of Commonwealth Foundation at PLC

Public Union Democracy

Union membership continues slide in Pa.

  • March 25, 2006

No surprise. It is 2006, not 1926. But, having milked the private-sector cash cow dry, PA AFL-CIO President Bill George is turning to government sector jobs so he can…

Media

Read More: Union membership continues slide in Pa.

Government Accountability

Rendell Vetoes “Fair Share Act”

  • March 24, 2006

From the PA Manufacturers Association… FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2006 GOV. RENDELL VETOES BILL CANDIDATE RENDELL ENDORSEDFair Share Act vetoed by governor was identical to measure passed in…

Media

Read More: Rendell Vetoes “Fair Share Act”

Education

Let Common Sense Prevail on School Construction Projects

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 14, 2006

In the current debate over school property tax reform in Pennsylvania, all of the plans under consideration in Harrisburg focus solely on the revenue side of the school finance equation…

Commentary

Read More: Let Common Sense Prevail on School Construction Projects

Public Union Democracy

PA is the Teacher Strike leader of the USA

  • March 12, 2006

The Penn-Trafford Education Association is planning to strike this week. Some parents have had enough. See what Simon Campbell is doing about it at www.StopTeacherStrikes.com.

Media

Read More: PA is the Teacher Strike leader of the USA

Public Union Democracy

Hypocrisy Knows No Bounds

  • March 11, 2006

Unions seem to spend much of their time these days railing against companies that don’t pay high enough wages and don’t provide health benefits. They try to force these companies…

Media

Read More: Hypocrisy Knows No Bounds

Government Accountability

Sound Policy IS Sound Politics!

  • March 7, 2006

We are encouraged by the very familiar-sounding policy stance of these candidates for office. Sound policy IS sound poilitics! ______________ Text of March 7 news release…. Coalition of GOP challengers…

Media

Read More: Sound Policy IS Sound Politics!

Public Union Democracy

Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good

  • March 7, 2006

The Hempfield Area School District is expecting nearly 90 employees (mostly teachers) to retire this year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This is a district where the average salary…

Media

Read More: Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good

Public Union Democracy

Teachers set strike date

  • March 2, 2006

Penn-Trafford’s teachers may be on the picket line…again, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. More fodder for Simon Campbell’s www.StopTeacherStrikes.com.

Media

Read More: Teachers set strike date

Public Union Democracy

Union facts: The ugly truth

  • February 18, 2006

“The Leftist agenda, the racketeering, the fines, the convictions, the magnificent, unearned salaries for union bosses. It’s all here. “ Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial.

Media

Read More: Union facts: The ugly truth

Education

How schools lock themselves into raising taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2006

Article on USATODAY.com explores how health care and other benefits promised to public teachers’ unions will cost school districts a fortune over the coming years. Anyone who thinks…

Media

Read More: How schools lock themselves into raising taxes

Public Union Democracy

The New Union Label: Closed!

  • February 14, 2006

From the New York Times: The Center for Union Facts shot onto the public stage yesterday by running full-page ads in The New York Times, The Washington Post…

Media

Read More: The New Union Label: Closed!

Public Union Democracy

“Don’t be talkin’ bad about me” protest

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2006

Teachers’ union rally to protest “20/20” piece (John Stossel’s “Stupid in America,” which details how unions have stood in way of school reform) will occur on March 8.

Media

Read More: “Don’t be talkin’ bad about me” protest

Government Accountability

Thinking about running for public office?

  • February 11, 2006

The Associated Press provides a good Q&A on what it takes to run for the Pennsylvania Legislatures. Interested? Click here to learn more.

Media

Read More: Thinking about running for public office?

Government Accountability

City Slickers #1 and #2

  • February 10, 2006

This is funny. The Lt. Governor’s office issued this news release announcing that she and Gov. Rendell purchased the first and second fishing license. Talk about two fishies out of…

Media

Read More: City Slickers #1 and #2

Government Accountability

How a Bill Becomes a Law … PA style

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2006

In an effort to settle a dispute between some shareholders of Philly-based Sovereign Bank, as reported by the Patriot News, some “ghost voting” ocurred in the Senate. The bill,…

Media

Read More: How a Bill Becomes a Law … PA style

Government Accountability

#254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking

  • January 31, 2006

Philly Democratic Senator Vince Fumo (who scored the worst on our Liberty Index) has proposed a graduated income tax to further punish the producers in Pennsylvania. Nevermind that the “rich”…

Media

Read More: #254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking