The conference will feature experts from Fair Districts PA, Open Primaries, the Pennsylvania Department of State and Common Cause PA.
A Conference on Political Reform: Election Edition will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Philadelphia Protestant Home, 6401 Martins Mill Road.
The legislative summit will feature experts from Fair Districts PA, Open Primaries, the Pennsylvania Department of State and Common Cause PA.
The event is sponsored by the Committee of Seventy, the League of Women Voters, state Rep. Jared Solomon and the Northeast Times.
To register, go to the Committee of Seventy page on Facebook.
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During a visit last week to the American Legion Post 109 in Mechanicsburg, Republican gubernatorial nominee Scott Wagner released a plan to support Pennsylvania’s veterans, active duty military and their families.
Wagner’s plan will increase access to care and employment opportunities for those who have returned to Pennsylvania after serving their country.
“There is no greater sacrifice one can make than serving our country in the military, and we need to do everything we can to reward those that answer the call of duty,” Wagner said. “The statistics of veterans in Pennsylvania who are unemployed, living in poverty or homeless are unacceptable, and as governor I will work to curb those problems.”
Jeff Bartos, Wagner’s lieutenant governor running mate, added, “We are grateful to the women and men who have dedicated their lives to service and keeping us safe, and it is now our duty as a state government to serve veterans. Our veterans possess tremendous skills and abilities that can help our commonwealth grow and prosper. By strengthening the relationship between veterans and Harrisburg, we will ensure that those returning from service will be honored with the excellent care and increased employment opportunities that they have earned and deserve.”
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The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association last week announced it has endorsed Republican Lou Barletta for the U.S. Senate.
“Congressman Barletta has been a tremendous advocate for law enforcement in Washington,” said PSTA President David Kennedy. “We need more people in the United States Senate who will fight for the resources police need to protect and serve their communities across the nation. Nowhere is that more necessary than Pennsylvania, where our department of 4,400 troopers is responsible for policing 85 percent of the commonwealth.”
The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association represents 4,440 active State Police officers and 5,000 retirees.
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Daryl Boling was among the Montgomery County Democratic candidates for the General Assembly who last week endorsed the “We The People” policy agenda on the steps of the county courthouse in Norristown.
Boling is challenging Republican Rep. Tom Murt in a district that includes portions of eastern Montgomery County and Bustleton.
The agenda consists of raising wages and improving work conditions; adequately and equitably funding education; protecting healthcare and housing; investing in infrastructure and safeguarding the environment; reforming the “rigged” tax system; and making sure everyone has a voice in government.
“Unfortunately, we have people in our district that are governing reactively, not proactively. I am here, not as a career politician, but with a background in management I am hoping to bring to bear so we can bring a little sanity and humanity to our state legislature.”
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Green Party statewide candidates recently joined supporters in the ballroom of the William Way LGBT Community Center.
The candidates are Paul Glover (governor), Jocolyn Bowser-Bostick (lieutenant governor) and Neal Gale (U.S. Senate).
Glover said, “I can tell you right now, that as your next governor, I will create a new department called the Green Labor ADministration (GLAD), which will create 500,000 new jobs that respond to climate change: cleaning our water and air, cooling and warming our homes without fossil fuels, installing solar and wind energy, expanding organic agriculture, extending public transit and teaching related skills.”
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The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Organization for Women is amending its endorsement process moving forward to ensure that it is supporting only candidates who speak out against sexual harassment and assault in general and against suspected elected perpetrators.
NOW will be asking candidates whether or not they have publicly spoken out against elected officials who have been found guilty of sexual harassment, misconduct and/or assault following due process.
Additionally, it will be asking candidates to sign a petition calling for the resignation of the following elected officials: state Sen. Daylin Leach, state Rep. Nicholas Miccarelli and Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams. ••
