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‘I like unions, I just don’t like my union’

“I like unions. I just don’t like my union.” Time and time again, I hear this sentiment from employees nationwide. Most will express frustration with their union officials, who’ve disappointed or even mistreated them and other members. Some tell me how they tried and failed to improve their own union from within. They imagine there’s a better union out there — one where union officials actively improve the workplace and help employees achieve some measure of personal freedom. Polling confirms this sentiment. Gallup found that about two-thirds of Americans broadly approve ...

Pennsylvania deserves the truth — help us keep delivering it

We pay for our government, and it should answer to us. But too often, that’s not how it works. Records get buried. Agencies stonewall. Officials wait out the news cycle or attack reporters rather than answer hard questions. Spotlight PA files hundreds of public records requests every year, pushes back when the door slams shut, and publishes what we find — regardless of who it implicates. Spotlight PA was built on a simple premise: the powerful in this state count on the public not paying attention. We exist to make sure that doesn’t work, but we need your help now. The work ...

For the love of the game — and country

Paul Skenes is smiling from ear to ear, draped in red, white and blue, along with the rest of his teammates, as they begin the first exhibition game representing Team USA at the World Baseball Classic at Papago Sports Complex in Phoenix. Skenes told the MLB Network why it means so much to represent his country in the games. “First and foremost, I care because I’m from America. I love America. I’ve seen the WBCs in the past, and there’s no bigger stage or no greater honor than wearing USA across your chest,” he said ahead of the game. There was another reason Skenes said he ...

Protect Pennsylvania’s hunting economy

For more than 50 years, the first Monday after Thanksgiving served as the traditional opening day of statewide firearms deer season, drawing families, friends and sportsmen from every corner of the state into our forests and towns. But that tradition was upended in 2019 when the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) moved the opener to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a decision that has had unintended and harmful consequences for local economies. That’s why I’ve joined with Sen. Lisa Boscola to soon introduce legislation that would restore the traditional opening day and revitalize ...

In the middle of a country at war

It is my practice on Fridays, before the onset of Shabbat, to send a message to everyone in the office. I try to be at least a little bit inspiring and encouraging. In this pre-Shabbat message, I simply said: “Pray for peace, but pass the ammunition.” I knew that war would shortly ensue. When I arose in Israel Saturday morning to go to Schule, I peered out of the balcony. The streets are always quiet on Saturday mornings, but this morning seemed different than others. There were absolutely no cars on the street whatsoever. No people. What I did see, which mildly bemused me, ...

State’s economy will grow when Harrisburg gets out of the way

Gov. Josh Shapiro often brags about “moving at the speed of business.” But his efforts to draw private investment to Pennsylvania rely heavily on corporate welfare, rather than addressing the burdensome regulations that bog down the commonwealth’s economy. On paper and at public events, Shapiro says the right things about regulatory reform. The governor recently boasted about how his administration “repealed or modernized 10 outdated regulations. However, more than 164,000 regulations remain on the books, making Pennsylvania the 14th-most regulated state, according to the ...