Government Accountability
Dems are determined to stop voter ID, even if it comes at the expense of their top legislative goal
Originally published at City & State PA For two months, Democrats and left-wing activists stonewalled the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to prevent a vote on the voter ID and…
Read More: Dems are determined to stop voter ID, even if it comes at the expense of their top legislative goalThe 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
A Transparent Win for Taxpayers
Today the Senate took a significant step to make state government more transparent and accountable by approving SB 644 and SB 645. Here’s a brief description of the…
Media
Read More: A Transparent Win for TaxpayersGovernment Accountability
State Senate Passes Financial Transparency Bills
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact:717-671-1901 State Senate Passes Financial Transparency Bills Lets Public in on Secret Government Union Talks Worth Billions of Dollars May 6,…
Press Release
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Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Transparency Bills Move Forward
Government union contract negotiations—long shrouded in secrecy behind closed-door meetings—are one step closer to openness and transparency. Today, a series of bills passed the Senate State Government Committee that will…
Media
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Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in Senate
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in Senate Openness Sought in Closed-Door Negotiations Costing Billions…
Press Release
Read More: Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in SenateGovernment Accountability
Contract Transparency: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
State union contracts worth billions of taxpayer dollars would be available for public inspection before being signed by the governor, if proposals unveiled by two state Senators become law. The…
Media
Read More: Contract Transparency: An Idea Whose Time Has ComeGovernment Accountability
Shine a Light on the Collective Bargaining Process
Gov. Tom Wolf has an opportunity to deliver a fresh start to Pennsylvania’s collective bargaining process. Over the next few months, the governor and his administration will be negotiating…
Media
Read More: Shine a Light on the Collective Bargaining ProcessGovernment Accountability
Anti-Competitive Prevailing Wage Mandates Cost $1 Billion Annually
Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 Anti-Competitive Prevailing Wage Mandates Cost $1 Billion Annually Artificial Wage Inflation Harms School Districts, Local Governments, and Taxpayers Wouldn’t a billion…
Press Release
Read More: Anti-Competitive Prevailing Wage Mandates Cost $1 Billion AnnuallyGovernment Accountability
Wolf Negotiates Billions with Unions Who Gave Him Millions
Wolf received more than $2.6 million in campaign contributions from six of the government unions with whom he will be negotiating. How does Wolf square these contributions to his…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf Negotiates Billions with Unions Who Gave Him MillionsGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Deserve A Transparent Government
Did you know the Wolf administration is in the process of negotiating contracts with some of the governor’s biggest campaign contributors? It’s true. Government unions gave more than $2.6 million…
Media
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Collective Bargaining Transparency
Government union contract negotiations can have far reaching implications because they set compensation for tens of thousands of public employees, costing taxpayers billions each year. Despite the enormous impact, the…
Fact Sheet
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‘Transparency’ Governor Negotiates $3.8 Billion Contracts with Campaign Funders in Secret
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 ‘Transparency’ Governor Negotiates $3.4 Billion* Contracts with Campaign Funders in Secret Budget Secretary Evades Questions on Negotiations, Keeping Taxpayers…
Press Release
Read More: ‘Transparency’ Governor Negotiates $3.8 Billion Contracts with Campaign Funders in SecretGovernment Accountability
PA Union Campaign Contributions Exceed $10 Million
Pennsylvania government unions gave more than $10.5 million to candidates last election cycle. We updated our analysis of union political spending using the latest reports filed with the PA…
Media
Read More: PA Union Campaign Contributions Exceed $10 MillionGovernment Accountability
Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced Budget
This year, Pennsylvania lawmakers have the formidable task of eliminating a projected $1.7 billion budget deficit. Bob Dick, a CF policy analyst, spoke with Gary Sutton about what can be…
Media
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Political Spending by Government Unions During the 2014 Election
The evidence is overwhelming: Unions use members' dues and taxpayer resources to push their political agenda. By passing paycheck protection, Pennsylvania can move toward leveling the political playing field, making…
Memo
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No More Silent Treatment, Lehigh Commissioners Want Transparency
Lehigh County commissioners are getting the silent treatment during labor contract negotiations, and they aren’t happy about it. Reportedly, the current county executive, Tom Muller, refused leadership…
Media
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Will Gov. Wolf Stay True to “Openness” in Government?
Gov. Tom Wolf’s first week in office included several moves to paint a picture of ethics and transparency in state government. First Wolf issued executive orders banning executive staff from…
Media
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Wolf’s Multi-Million Dollar Conflict of Interest
Governor-elect Tom Wolf has come out of the gate leading a charge for ethics reform in government. But if accepting a small gift creates a conflict of interest, the gov.-elect…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Multi-Million Dollar Conflict of InterestGovernment Accountability
Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural Gas
A rehashed report from Common Cause PA and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania assert that Marcellus Shale drillers spent $8 million on campaign contributions and $41 million on lobbying in…
Media
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Audio: Election Lessons
This week a “Republican wave” swept the country and propelled many fiscally conservative governors to reelection. And in Pennsylvania, candidates that ran on pension reform, liquor privatization, choice in education,…
Media
Read More: Audio: Election LessonsGovernment Accountability
Why Did Corbett Miss the Wave?
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Why Did Corbett Miss the Wave? Voters rejected persona, not policies, amidst union-funded demonization Last night, candidates embracing free-market policies won legislative seats across…
Press Release
Read More: Why Did Corbett Miss the Wave?Education
Union-Backed Report Rife with Hypocrisy
Three union-affiliated groups released a report alleging that Pennsylvania charter schools defrauded taxpayers to the tune of $30 million since 1997. Predictably, this story has been greeted…
Media
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