Hot Topics in Lower Merion Narberth

Hot Topics in Lower Merion Narberth

 

School Funding Lawsuit
 

After nearly four months of testimony, Commonwealth Court heard closing arguments on Thursday, March 10, addressing the central question of this historic trial: Does Pennsylvania’s current system of funding schools violate the state’s constitution and deprive students in low-wealth communities of the quality public education they need and deserve?

Presenting closing arguments for the school districts, parents, and organizations who filed this lawsuit, attorney Katrina Robson emphasized the principal point:  “Let me say it again, because it’s the whole case. Low-wealth districts do not have the resources that they need to prepare all children for college, career and civic success.”

What Now?
With the trial complete, the case now moves to a post-trial phase for several months, involving legal briefs. A February scheduling order set a timeline for post-trial briefing, with the final brief due July 6, to be followed by argument over legal issues in the case. Then, weeks or months later, the court will make its decision.
 
Who brought the lawsuit?
he six school districts challenging Pennsylvania’s school funding system in court are a representation of our state. Whether urban or rural, farmland or coal country, all of these communities have experienced the effects of a system that leaves them dependent on local wealth to meet their students’ basic needs.What are parents and school districts asking for?They are asking for sustained, substantial new investments in state funding for public education, distributed based on need, so that local wealth no longer determines whether Pennsylvania students receive a quality public education.T

 

What's the issue? 

Where you live should not dictate whether you receive the quality education you need.  Every child in Pennsylvania has the right to an education that prepares them for sucess.   In fact the Pennsylvania Constitution speaks to the right of a "thorough and efficient" education.  For years it has been clear that many schools have not received adequate and equitable funding to meet our children's needs.

 

In 2014, in response to the failure of the legislature to provide "adequate and equitable funding" the Public Interest Law Center and Education Law Center-PA filed a lawsuit against state officials on behalf of parents, school districts, and organizations, claiming that the funding system (decided by the legislature) in Pennsylvania is not only wrong, it violates the state Constitution. 

For more information on the problems with school funding and the trial, visit https://edvoterspa.org/school-funding-lawsuit/

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The Senate failed to pass the Freedom to Vote Act: John R. Lewis Act.
Passage of this legislation was high priority for the League of Women Voters and the effort to protect voting rights will continue.

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THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Abolish the Electoral College or Keep It?

The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that the direct-popular-vote method for electing the President and Vice-President is essential to representative government. The League of Women Voters believes, therefore, that the Electoral College should be abolished.

None of the Founders' original intentions remain relevant today. The Electoral College is an imperfect system that is damaging to our democracy.

The Electoral College:

*  Puts the choice of president in the hands of voters in only a few so- called swing states;
*  Decreases participation in our democracy;
*  Polarizes our electorate into "red" and "blue;"
*  Has resulted five times in a presidential winner who did not receive a majority of the  votes.
 
How Can the Electoral College be Abolished?
1. By constitutional amendment. A constitutional amendment has been introduced many times. January 3, 2019 House Joint Resolution 7 "proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the electoral college and to provide for the direct election of the President and Vice-President of the United States" was introduced by several representatives.

 

2. A constitutional amendment can take years to pass. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an acceptable interim solution. States agree to give all their electoral votes to whomever wins the national popular vote. To date 15 states and DC have signed the compact for a total of 196 votes. In order to go into effect, the compact must have a minimum of 270 votes.  For more information, www.nationalpopularvote.com.

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 IS IT TIME TO SHIFT TO OPEN PRIMARIES IN PENNSYLVANIA?

Pennsylvania is one of nine states that does not allow unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections. This means that on Primary Day 2019, one quarter of a million Pennsylvania voters were unable to cast a vote. Independent voters are the fastest growing political demographic in PA, and in the country, and it’s vital that all voices are heard.

In Pennsylvania 13% of all registered voters are Independents in comparison to 38% Republicans and 48% Democrats which means that 13% of registered voters are not allowed to vote for candidates in the Primary although they may vote on statewide and local ballet questions. 

Issues: 

.  If Independent voters feel that they can’t vote in the Primary they may miss having a voice on the ballet questions. 

.  Many voters new to Pennsylvania who register as Independents may not realize we have closed primaries.

.  National voter registration shows 40% of registered voters are Indepents while in Pennsylvania the number is 13%, suggesting that closed primaries discourage voters from registering in a way that aligns with their true beliefs and values.