What+Now?

= WHAT NOW!? = = By Passing a Budget That Needlessly Cuts $860 Million From Our Public Schools, The Governor and Republican Legislature Have Sold Out Pa.'s Kids and The Poor In Favor of Special Interests Funneling Millions Into Their Coffers! =

= But the fight is far from over! =



= ACTION ITEMS =



= 1) We need to file a lawsuit against the Governor and legislature. =


 * = What the Republican's have done clearly violates Pennsylvania's Constitution which states, "The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth." =


 * = The inequality of the funding cuts - that poorer districts are impacted more than richer ones - may also raise legal flags. Wisconsin's schools are considering just such legal action. =


 * = We'd be following a precedent that's already been set. New Jersey was in a similar situation of approximately $1 billion in unnecessary education budget cuts. They filed a lawsuit to their state's Supreme Court and won. We need to do the same. =


 * = The only downfall is this took a year to reach fruition in Jersey. It will take time here, too. =


 * = The question is who will file the lawsuit - a coalition of public school districts, the PSEA, grassroots organizations like T.E.A.C.H., the Democratic Caucus or a federation of all of them? We need to find out and TAKE ACTION! =

= 2) We need new legislation and an amendment to the state constitution allowing for recall elections in Pennsylvania. =


 * = Pennsylvania does not have a legal provision to allow recall elections as they have in Wisconsin and California. =


 * = Rep. Jarrett Gibbons put forth two bills during this legislative session for this very purpose - HB 921 and 922. HB 921 would put forth a joint resolution to revise the state constitution to allow for recalls. HB 922 puts forth the rules and regulations allowing recalls of public officials. =


 * = Both of these bills have sat in front of the **State Government Committee** since March 3. **Rep. Darryl Metcalfe, the Majority Chairman**, has to call for a vote. He hasn't and won't. After all, why would the leader of the far right wing of the Republican Party allow the people the right to change their minds!? =


 * = Recall that with few exceptions the new Republican wave of legislators sworn in just six months ago were voted in by slim margins. State Rep. Rick Saccone, for example, only won by 150 votes! Even Gov. Tom Corbett only won by 5 percentage points. Yet these legislators are acting as if they have some overwhelming public mandate for their policies. They don't. If Pennsylvanians had the option to recall public officials, legislators would feel less secure to make such radical changes as our current lot have done. After all, their "day of reckoning" wouldn't necessarily be four years away. It could be tomorrow! =


 * = If Republicans really believe the voters are behind them, why would they oppose a measure to find out? =

= 3) We need to come out in force in a year and a half and vote these bums out! =


 * = Election day is only a year and a half away. When that day comes, we can make these people pay for the damage they're reaping on our children, our poor, our environment, our state. =

= DON'T LOSE HOPE! = = THE GOOD GUYS ALWAYS WIN IN THE END! = = THAT'S US! = =Legislator urges schools to sue Pa. over education fund cut= =Pa. Districts urged to sue over cutbacks= =Schools encouraged to sue Corbett over budget cuts= =MASD Urged to File Lawsuit Against State=

= RAISE YOUR VOICE! = = TAKE A PA. SENATE SURVEY! =



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