Public Union Democracy
Why have teacher salaries become stagnant?
Join host David Osborne and guest Christian Barnard (Assistant Director of Education Reform at Reason Foundation) as they delve into the intricate dynamics behind the stagnant teacher salaries despite soaring…
Read More: Why have teacher salaries become stagnant?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
School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax Relief
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
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Taxpayers First: The New, New Deal
Today, the average government employee enjoys better health care benefits, better pensions, better job security, and an earlier retirement than the average private-sector worker. To pay for this, however, taxpayers…
Commentary
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Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania
Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania represents a partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation and the department of economics at Duquesne University. Key findings in these five papers include Over…
Commentary
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Prevailing Wage in Pennsylvania
Thank you, Chairman Miller and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify. I’m Matt Brouillette, President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a nonprofit…
Testimony
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Enacting Effective Merit Pay
Merit pay for teachers, proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett in his budget address, would tie teacher salaries to student progress, instead of increasing salaries annually regardless of performance. Only…
Media
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Streamlining State Government
Pennsylvania businesses must navigate a complex web of regulations from more than 340 independent state agencies, offices, state departments, boards, commissions, and committees stemming from the executive branch. Several other…
Report
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Streamlining State Government Testimony
Thank you Chairman Smucker and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify before you today. I’m Nate Benefield, Director of Policy Research at the Commonwealth Foundation for…
Testimony
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The Tide Against Public Sector Collective Bargaining
Earlier this week, I blogged on state bankruptcy and how some believe budget problems can be solved if states are willing to challenge the…
Media
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School Choice: Questions & Answers
The Pennsylvania School Board Association is circulating "Questions about vouchers your legislator should be asking." Others have legitimate questions and concerns. This Policy Brief answers them all.
Fact Sheet
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15 School Choice Myths
In an attempt to thwart efforts to give children better educational opportunities, the public school establishment is trying to divert the attention of policymakers through a series of oft-repeated myths…
Fact Sheet
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Union: We’ll Get ‘Em Next Year?
Spring has almost sprung – seriously, it’s true. Want to see the signs? Pitchers and catchers have reported to the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, it’s looking like 60 degrees in…
Media
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Rescuing Children from Failing Schools
Chairman Piccola, and members of the Senate Education Committee, thank you for the invitation to testify today on Senate Bill 1. I’m Matt Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth…
Testimony
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Union Dues for More Lobbyists
Last month, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) announced it was raising mandatory dues on teachers and school employees by 11%. Where is that money going? You’d better believe…
Media
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New Ad Takes on Teacher Unions
A new full page advertisement for school choice is appearing in newspapers throughout the state this week. Cutting straight to the point, the ad goes after teacher unions and school…
Media
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80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition. To provide a roadmap for…
Report
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How Corbett can Balance the Budget without Raising Taxes
Even before Gov.-elect Tom Corbett raises his right hand high Tuesday swearing to tackle the problems left from the previous administration's tax-borrow-and-spend agenda, doubters are lining up to take potshots…
Commentary
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What to Do About Teacher Strikes
Pennsylvania once again led the nation in teacher strikes. Although only 13 states permit them, Pennsylvania tops the chart again as more students are deprived of up to 180…
Media
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Where do Union Dues Go?
Here is a great new video from the Competitive Enterprise Institute tracking the use of union dues. In forced-union states like Pennsylvania—in which employees can be required to join…
Media
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School Union Continues to Deceive Its Members
Matt wrote earlier about the millions of dollars public sector unions have poured in political campaigns to get their union pension bailout.
Media
Read More: School Union Continues to Deceive Its MembersGovernment Accountability
Newspapers Decry Union Pension Bailout by Lame Duck PA House
Today, Speaker McCall called the Pennsylvania House back into voting session on November 15th. Members are expected to vote a couple of key pieces of legislation including the ill-conceived…
Media
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Bethel Park Teachers Strike
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that Bethel Park teachers were on strike for the sixth time in thirty years. Interrupting classes in order to negotiate taxpayer-funded salaries and benefits…
Media
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