Public Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Key Points Government unions are a top interest group in Pennsylvania, spending more than $190 million on politics since 2007. Government union political action committee (PAC) spending continues to increase,…
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election CyclePennsylvania 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.
Related Issues
Education
The PHEAA raises: Another pay-jacking
More on the lobbyist/legislative operative who is now the highest paid state employee … in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Media
Read More: The PHEAA raises: Another pay-jackingPublic Union Democracy
Why Maryland is fighting windmills.
A George Will piece (Getting mugged in Maryland), explaining why the Maryland legislature has decided to attack the paper tiger of Wal-Mart. Will cites Wal-Mart’s ample benefits and pay,…
Media
Read More: Why Maryland is fighting windmills.Public Union Democracy
Union ousted
Montgomery County Court-related employees throw out AFSCME, reports The Times Herald.
Media
Read More: Union oustedEducation
PA is national leader on teacher strikes
Pennsbury School District parent, Simon Campbell, nails the teacher strike issue in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Media
Read More: PA is national leader on teacher strikesPublic Union Democracy
The best of the best, of course
The Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System and the Public School Retirement System are the envy of the government worker world. They are the most generous systems in the entire country.
Media
Read More: The best of the best, of courseGovernment Accountability
Will 2006 be the year of reform?
Democratic Representative Greg Vitali hopes so. Read his commentary in today’s Philly Inquirer.
Media
Read More: Will 2006 be the year of reform?Government Accountability
Go to Harrisburg to do good, and end up doing well…very well
WNEP-TV’s Scott Schaffer’s Lawmaker Retirements Won’t Come Cheap.
Media
Read More: Go to Harrisburg to do good, and end up doing well…very wellEducation
Unions Win: Florida Supreme Court Rules Against School Choice
News release from the Institute for Justice…. Florida Supreme Court Strikes Down School Choice Washington, D.C.-In a major blow to education reform in Florida, the Florida Supreme Court today struck…
Media
Read More: Unions Win: Florida Supreme Court Rules Against School ChoiceEducation
Rocky Mountain High
Denver enacts the nation’s first merit pay system for teachers in a large district. See this National Center for Policy Analysis summary of Denver’s new system and other pay…
Media
Read More: Rocky Mountain HighGovernment Accountability
Churches funding Pittsburgh
Several charities, including churches and religious groups, voluntary donated $4.6 million to the city of Pittsburgh, according to the Tribune-Review. Apparently the “separation of church and state” applies only…
Media
Read More: Churches funding PittsburghPublic Union Democracy
What’s “Education” got to do with it?
The Wall Street Journal highlights the political agenda (via its $65 MILLION in spending to support political causes) of the National Education Association. This would not be a problem…
Media
Read More: What’s “Education” got to do with it?Public Union Democracy
Teachers challenging union dues in California
California teachers have initiated a lawsuit against the two major teacher’s unions in that state over their rights: NRTW – December Foundation Action The Califonia Teacher Association and California…
Media
Read More: Teachers challenging union dues in CaliforniaGovernment Accountability
What We Are Up Against
Paul Jacob’s Common Sense… New York State Senator John Marchi of Staten Island is an old hand at politics. And he doesn’t think much of any idea to oust…
Media
Read More: What We Are Up AgainstPublic Union Democracy
Property Taxpayer Protections: Tax Referendum & Prevailing Wage
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is in the midst of discussing what to do about school property taxes. The discussion is an old one in Harrisburg. The complexity of this issue…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Property Taxpayer Protections: Tax Referendum & Prevailing WageEducation
Striking teachers strike again…and again…and again…
Students in the northeast PA school district of Crestwood may be getting a few more days off, thanks to the PSEA labor unions efforts to raise taxes on homeowners…
Media
Read More: Striking teachers strike again…and again…and again…Government Accountability
Capital Gains Tax Reform Benefits Seniors, Pennsylvanians
The Tax Foundation released an analysis of federal capital gains and dividend taxes: The Tax Foundation – Majority of Seniors Benefit from Reduced Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates.
Media
Read More: Capital Gains Tax Reform Benefits Seniors, PennsylvaniansGovernment Accountability
Republican group seeks disclosure by lobbyists, trim in size of state Legislature
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette… “Proposals that would force lobbyists to disclose their spending, reduce the number of legislators and require more openness in passing bills aren’t new. What is new…
Media
Read More: Republican group seeks disclosure by lobbyists, trim in size of state LegislatureEducation
Is the NEA Really a NUT?
Is the NEA really a NUT? By asking, I’m not casting aspersions on the National Education Association’s sanity, just on its choice of name. The NEA’s British counterpart really is…
Commentary
Read More: Is the NEA Really a NUT?Education
Throwing a Party for the Educational Status Quo
The National Education Association recently concluded its annual convention in Los Angeles, gathering 8,000 delegates in celebration of the status quo in public education. When attendees weren’t offering a vigorous…
Commentary
Read More: Throwing a Party for the Educational Status QuoEducation
The Union Behind the Curtain
California’s Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is giving his 49 colleagues across the country a quick tutorial in political courage. And Gov. Ed Rendell would be wise to sit up in class…
Commentary
Read More: The Union Behind the CurtainPublic Union Democracy
The Teachers Menace: Compulsory Unionism
“I want to urge devotion to the fundamental of human liberty—to the principles of voluntarism. No lasting gain has ever come from compulsion. … [T]he workers of America adhere to…
Commentary
Read More: The Teachers Menace: Compulsory Unionism