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

The Union Behind the Curtain

  • April 7, 2005

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

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Public Union Democracy

The Teachers Menace: Compulsory Unionism

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 29, 2005

“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

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Education

The Somerset Nine: Pennsylvanias Magnificent Seven

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 10, 2005

What does it take for school board members to be fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money? For the nine members of the Somerset Area School District (SASD) board of directors, the…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Give Taxpayers Same Deal Legislators Get

  • November 10, 2004

Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly are set to receive their annual automatic pay increase on December 1. Now keep in mind that our state legislators are already, according to…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

Time to Labor to End Compulsory Unionism

  • October 31, 2004

"We want a legislative program led by leaders and staff with sufficient clout that they may roam the halls of Congress and collect votes to reorder the priorities of the…

Commentary

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Education

Union Propaganda Can’t Hide Charter Schools’ Success

  • October 24, 2004

There they go again. Back in July 2002, during a slow news period, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a school employee labor union, issued a widely cited report "showing"…

Commentary

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Education

Set Our Teachers Free!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 14, 2004

Remarks of Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, The Commonwealth Foundation I'm Matthew Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation. Prior to moving into the world of public policy, I…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

More “Takers” Than “Makers”

  • August 27, 2003

Another Labor Day is upon us, but the organized labor union movement in Pennsylvania has very little to celebrate this year. Union membership in the private sector continues its decades…

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

The Impact of Compulsory Unionism on Economic Development

  • November 1, 2002

Executive Summary With increasing global competition taking a toll on U.S. manufacturing jobs, and state governments and municipalities struggling to achieve greater operating efficiencies in the face of declining revenues…

Report

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Public Union Democracy

Nobody should be forced to pay for someone elses politics!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 22, 2002

Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of the House Labor Relations Committee for the invitation to testify this morning on an important…

Commentary

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Education

The Pennsylvania State (Everything But) Education Association

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 25, 2002

Almost as predictable as the beginning of the football season is the start of the strike season by public school employees in Pennsylvania. And the kick-off to the 2002-03 school…

Commentary

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Education

The Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Lobbying Politicians, and Increasing Taxes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 3, 2002

Executive Summary Originally founded as the Pennsylvania State Teachers Association in 1852, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) has transformed itself from a professional development organization for educators into one…

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Businesses Can Now Spend Less Time In The Courtroom

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 21, 2002

By their very nature, businesspeople are willing to take significant risks to compete in the marketplace. Indeed, every day the profit motive compels people to invest their life savings in…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Businesses Can Now Spend Less Time In The Courtroom