Compulsory public unions threaten individual worker rights and cost taxpayers billions. Reforms to the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act are needed to restore and protect workers’ rights. No one—including government employees—should be blocked from leaving a union. To increase government integrity and accountability, policies should be adopted that ensure all special interests groups, including government unions, interact with the state government on a level playing field.

Education

Taxpayers Notch Another Win Against Ghost Teaching

  • December 22, 2017

Reading residents received an early Christmas present this week, as the city’s teachers’ union agreed to reimburse taxpayers for the costs of ghost teaching in the Reading School District.

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection Timeline

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 22, 2017

Paycheck protection is a commonsense reform that moves Pennsylvania a significant step closer to ethical government. Though recently stalled in the House, a brief history of paycheck protection demonstrates…

Media

Read More: Paycheck Protection Timeline

Public Union Democracy

Fifty State Labor Report 2017

  • Jessica Barnett, Priya Brannick
  • December 20, 2017

We've updated a nationwide comparison of public sector labor laws - Pennsylvania again scores a D.

Report

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Public Union Democracy

SB 166 Falls Short in the House

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 13, 2017

Last night, Pennsylvania’s government union leaders preserved their exclusive political privilege. By a close vote of 90-102, the state House voted down SB 166 which would have prohibited…

Media

Read More: SB 166 Falls Short in the House

Public Union Democracy

House Nears Vote to Protect Public Resources

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 10, 2017

This Monday, House lawmakers have a chance to vote for landmark ethics reform, Senate Bill 166 Passing this legislation – and sending it to the Senate and governor for approval…

Media

Read More: House Nears Vote to Protect Public Resources

Public Union Democracy

SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA Government

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 6, 2017

Pennsylvania has a golden opportunity to enact good government reform, so it’s worth reiterating why SB 166, which House lawmakers continue to debate, deserves legislative approval and the governor’s…

Media

Read More: SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA Government

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Needs Good Government Reform

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 4, 2017

Pennsylvanians deserve state and local government that enforces ethical standards across the board. Yet for years, a glaring exception has allowed government union leaders alone to use public resources to…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Needs Good Government Reform

Public Union Democracy

Four Reasons to Pass SB 166

  • December 3, 2017

A House committee passed SB 166 last month to end taxpayer-funded collection of campaign money. Here are four reasons this legislation should garner the full support of House members…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection Toolkit

  • December 1, 2017

Currently, state and local governments, including school districts, use taxpayer-funded payroll systems and public employee time to collect union campaign contributions as well as union membership dues, a portion of…

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society

  • November 27, 2017

In Pennsylvania, government unions enjoy a wealth of legal and political privileges not awarded to other organizations. Here are just a few:  Government unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the…

Media

Read More: Political Privileges Create an Unfair and Unequal Society

Public Union Democracy

Why Government Should Not Play with Politics

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 22, 2017

Government should never collect campaign contributions. House committee members agreed yesterday, passing legislation (SB 166 and HB 1174) that stops the taxpayer-funded collection of campaign contributions for government…

Media

Read More: Why Government Should Not Play with Politics

Public Union Democracy

State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 21, 2017

Today, the House State Government Committee passed legislation that protects public resources, a good government reform prioritizing ethics over political privilege. The first piece of legislation, SB 166, prohibits…

Media

Read More: State House Committee Votes to Protect Public Resources

Public Union Democracy

Ending Taxpayer-Funded Collection of Campaign Contributions

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Jessica Barnett
  • November 21, 2017

The House State Government Committee recently advanced SB 166, which restores integrity to an unfair system by stopping taxpayer-funded collection and distribution of campaign contributions for any entity. We explain…

Memo

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Education

Another Step Forward for Kids

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • November 6, 2017

Governor Wolf allowed HB 178, an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code, to become law on Sunday. The bill is a big win for Pennsylvania's families. It includes three…

Media

Read More: Another Step Forward for Kids

Education

School Reforms Put Families and Students First

  • October 27, 2017

State lawmakers embraced a trio of significant reforms with the passage of HB 178—an act amending Pennsylvania’s Public School Code. The legislation would expand a popular scholarship program, protect…

Media

Read More: School Reforms Put Families and Students First

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

Read More: Union Advantages Yield Undue Influence

Education

Gov. Wolf Reverses Unlawful Moves

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 11, 2017

Admist the budget stalemate, there is some welcome news out of Harrisburg. Within a single week, thousands of home care workers, educators, and taxpayers were relieved from the governor’s punitive…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf Reverses Unlawful Moves

Public Union Democracy

Good News for Forced Union Fee Payers

  • Jessica Barnett
  • September 29, 2017

For public employees forced to subsidize union politics—or lose their jobs—a U.S. Supreme Court announcement yesterday signals a potential end to this workplace coercion.   The Court indicated it will…

Media

Read More: Good News for Forced Union Fee Payers

Public Union Democracy

Major Win for Taxpayers in Allentown Ghost Teaching Fight

  • September 1, 2017

The free ride is over for one local teachers' union. This week, The Morning Call reported on a major change to ghost teaching in the Allentown School District. The…

Media

Read More: Major Win for Taxpayers in Allentown Ghost Teaching Fight

Education

Diverse Students Need Diverse Choices

  • August 31, 2017

Were a doctor to give every patient an aspirin regardless of their diagnosis, most would consider the doctor unqualified. Sure, the patients with a fever or a headache might be satisfied, but…

Media

Read More: Diverse Students Need Diverse Choices