The state government is ultimately held accountable to the people through the electoral process—but that should not be the only line of defense against government overreach or waste. Taxpayers deserve a transparent government that works for them. Reforms are needed to reduce corruption and limit the scope of government to its constitutional authority. Additionally, reforms that ensure a transparent budgeting process, a fair electoral process, and a streamlined regulatory process should be pursued to increase the government’s integrity.

Government Accountability

Three Ways Government Unions Marginalize Members

  • Jessica Barnett
  • February 13, 2018

Unionization doesn’t guarantee representation. Penn State graduate assistants may soon learn this lesson. Shortly after the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruled the graduate assistants can unionize, the Pittsburgh Federation…

Media

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Education

Transparency a Must for Philly School Board Nominations

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • January 26, 2018

“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.” These words are as true today as…

Media

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Government Accountability

Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?

  • January 25, 2018

Every year, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) produces a report announcing the “Judicial Hellholes” across the nation. In the 2017 edition, Pennsylvania makes their list- twice. The…

Media

Read More: Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?

Government Accountability

Restoring State Budget Transparency

  • Jessica Barnett
  • January 24, 2018

A House appropriations subcommittee hosted a hearing last week on Pennsylvania’s tax structure and fiscal policy. One of the issues highlighted – Pennsylvania’s lack of state budget transparency. Robert P.

Media

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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

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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

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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

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

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Government Accountability

News Release: $65 Million in Earmarks Hidden in State’s Fiscal Code

  • August 16, 2017

Pennsylvanians shouldn’t need a decoder ring to know how their tax dollars are being spent. But lawmakers have hidden more than $65 million in vaguely worded earmarks in the Senate-passed…

Press Release

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Education

Audio: “Rainy Day” Funds Raining on Taxpayers

  • June 22, 2017

School districts across Pennsylvania have stashed away millions of surplus funds for a “rainy day,” yet some continue to request higher taxes at the same time. Of course, for…

Media

Read More: Audio: “Rainy Day” Funds Raining on Taxpayers

Education

Will Philly Union Contract Require State Bailout?

  • James Paul
  • June 20, 2017

Philadelphia’s new teacher contract could be so expensive as to require teacher layoffs to pay for it. But there’s another way the $395 million pact could be financed: with…

Media

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Education

Philly Union Contract Underscores Need for Transparency

  • James Paul
  • June 19, 2017

On Monday evening, members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) voted to approve a new labor contract with the School District of Philadelphia. Scant details have emerged on…

Media

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Education

Growing Chorus Urges School Boards to Protect Taxpayers

  • James Paul
  • June 9, 2017

In response to CF’s research on school district reserve funds, reporters and editorial boards have weighed in on the question: Why are districts holding millions in reserve while seeking…

Media

Read More: Growing Chorus Urges School Boards to Protect Taxpayers

Government Accountability

Lawsuit Seeks to End Ghost Teaching in Reading

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 6, 2017

Across Pennsylvania, school districts are struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of education driven by unsustainble penion expenses. Yet, a special perk built into over 20 percent…

Media

Read More: Lawsuit Seeks to End Ghost Teaching in Reading

Education

School District Spending, Rainy Day Funds are Surging—Again

  • James Paul
  • May 18, 2017

Americans love Springtime—and for good reason! With Spring comes warm weather, blooming flowers, and baseball season. Most importantly, Spring is time for new data from Pennsylvania’s Department of Education—which yesterday…

Media

Read More: School District Spending, Rainy Day Funds are Surging—Again

Government Accountability

Taxpayers Collect Millions for Government Unions

  • Jessica Barnett
  • May 10, 2017

Since 2010, Pennsylvania state government has used taxpayer resources to transfer $244 million to government union treasuries. This figure includes millions for highly political activities. According to records obtained via…

Media

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Government Accountability

Paycheck Protection Closes Corruption Loophole

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2017

Philly Corruption All-Stars, that's the title of the recent Philadelphia Citizen series featuring a decade-by-decade rundown of the most corrupt city politicians. Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's reputation for political corruption…

Media

Read More: Paycheck Protection Closes Corruption Loophole

Education

Ten Reasons for Optimism

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 28, 2017

This week state lawmakers advanced a plethora of good policy, from legislation to finally end the government liquor monopoly to a bill that would improve health care in rural areas.

Media

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Government Accountability

Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2017

Today the Senate's State Government Committee advanced three bills to open up government collective bargaining negotiations to the public. SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano, would require all levels of government…

Media

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Government Accountability

Policy Memo: Government Union Political Spending Trends

  • Jessica Barnett
  • April 19, 2017

Union leaders spend millions each year to further their own political agenda. Regardless of public sector employees’ personal political convictions, the highly partisan trend continued to the tune of $19 million…

Memo

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Government Accountability

Paycheck Protection Benefits Teachers

  • Jessica Barnett
  • March 27, 2017

Providing one more reason Pennsylvania needs paycheck protection, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) uses members’ dues to mislead teachers.   In the March 2017 publication of PSEA’s dues-funded…

Media

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