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.

Public Union Democracy

The Attack on the Secret Ballot

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 11, 2009

Tom Gies has an article in The American on the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as card check, which would do away with the secret ballot in union…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Warren Buffett on Card Check: Short and Sweet

  • March 9, 2009

Warren Buffett bluntly expressed his views on card check during CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning, saying that “the secret ballot is pretty important in this country.” Buffett adds his voice…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Card Check Would Cost Millions in Jobs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 6, 2009

A new study finds that “card check” legislation, if enacted, would increase unemployment by 1.5 million jobs for each 3% increase in union membership (HT Tony Phyrillas).  If…

Media

Read More: Card Check Would Cost Millions in Jobs

Education

Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less Government

  • March 4, 2009

The Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) is tired of amassing unfunded regulations from state legislators that grow school bureaucracies instead of improving education. In response, the PSBA has proposed legislation…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less Government

Public Union Democracy

Putting Taxpayers First?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2009

A group of Pennsylvania House Republicans today announced a series of proposals intended to reduce government spending and revitalize the Pennsylvania economy. Among the proposals: Implementing constitutional or statutory…

Media

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Education

Some More “half” Truths on the PSEA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 21, 2009

The Tribune-Democrat features an editorial by a PSEA member in which he calls Matt Brouillette’s commentary “a hodgepodge of distortions, half-truths and unadulterated flapdoodle”. I have no idea…

Media

Read More: Some More “half” Truths on the PSEA

Public Union Democracy

Is the secret ballot in danger?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 20, 2009

As “the first hundred days” starts today, what is in the cards for the Obama administration? A couple of weeks ago, Kimberly Strassel of the Wall Street Journal reported…

Media

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Education

The PSEA: A Worm in the Apple

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 7, 2009

Every taxpayer in the Commonwealth should be aware of the influence and agenda of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA).  Despite its name, the organization’s top priority is not educating…

Commentary

Read More: The PSEA: A Worm in the Apple

Education

Why Pennsylvania leads the nation in teacher walkouts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 22, 2008

The Wall Street Journal features an article on teacher strikes in Pennsylvania, noting that the Keystone State leads the nation in school employees strikes. The piece cites a…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 17, 2008

Every other Tuesday, Matt Brouillette hosts The Politics of Business on Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio on WMNY 1360 AM from 2-6pm. This week he tackled a variety of issues that rankled at…

Media

Read More: Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”

Public Union Democracy

PSEA: Sampling the Best of PA on Your Tab

  • December 16, 2008

The Department of Labor recently added 2008 Union LM2 records to its website. A perusal of PSEA’s LM2 (file number: 512989) reveals that the state’s largest teacher union continues…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

PA Congressional Delegation Ratings on Worker Freedom

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 26, 2008

The Alliance for Worker Freedom has their new scorecard on the 2nd session of the 110th Congress.  Key votes include a number of expansion of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage laws…

Media

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Education

We’re Number One! In Teacher Strikes…still

  • November 21, 2008

The Allegheny Institute, one of our sister think tanks, posted a brief about teacher strikes. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania maintains its reputation of being the “teacher strike capital” of the world.

Media

Read More: We’re Number One! In Teacher Strikes…still

Public Union Democracy

Ending secret ballot elections: Change you can believe in?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2008

Rick Berman of the Center for Union Facts writes in the DC Examiner that the first priority of the Obama Administration may well be outlawing secret ballots…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Which Obama Will Be President?

  • Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

Will an Obama presidency bring a lurch to the political Left in America?  This is of great concern for those of us who believe that our prosperity and security do…

Commentary

Read More: Which Obama Will Be President?

Education

Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians & Increasing Taxes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • November 12, 2008

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 of the…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians & Increasing Taxes

Education

Harrisburg’s Most Powerful Special Interest

  • November 12, 2008

New policy brief addresses the impact of unions on public education HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today released Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians &…

Press Release

Read More: Harrisburg’s Most Powerful Special Interest

Public Union Democracy

Worker Freedom Ensures Economic Prosperity

  • November 10, 2008

Along with the rest of the nation, Pennsylvania is struggling to rebound from the recent economic turmoil. Unfortunately, being a compulsory union state puts the Commonwealth at a marked disadvantage.

Commentary

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Public Union Democracy

Voters still like limited government, lower taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2008

A poll from the Club For Growth surveyed voters in 12 competitive Congressional districts; eleven of the 12 switched hands from Republican to Democrat following Tuesday’s elections. The results…

Media

Read More: Voters still like limited government, lower taxes

Public Union Democracy

PSEA uses union dues to support Obama

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 29, 2008

Even though 60% of teachers’ union members consider themselves conservative, the PSEA – the union for most Pennsylvania school districts – is using union dues to support the Obama-Biden…

Media

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