Pennsylvania was gerrymandered Republican for many years and subsequently they had complete control of appropriations (expenditures) for our state. After 2020 and a long fight, fairer district maps were designed.

Forbes, July 2023, “Cyber-Charter Reform Could Finally Be Coming to Pennsylvania and there’s a new sheriff in town.”

Let me refresh your memory from Times News 2021: “Taxpayers pay for Legislature, but get few details.” In a yearlong grueling investigation by Spotlight according to a database of 400,000 transactions, from 2017 to 2020, of the $203 million the General Assembly spent to run their offices, that amount averaged to more than $51 million a year and that was on top of their salaries!

Pennsylvania Democrats finally succeeded in helping school districts and the working class. Over $400 million for public education. There are funds ($300 million to libraries), career-technical schools, community colleges, county mental health programs, increased child tax credits, and school breakfast. $900 million remains in the rainy day fund. The (acquisitive capitalists) got (EITC) big tax write-offs for the wealthy who make donations to private and religious schools.

The 1997 PA Charter school law (no transparency) will finally be addressed in HB 1422 and will save school districts at minimum $456 million a year. It is well known Republican leaders want to transfer public ownership to the private sector in many different areas in our country. Cyber-Charter schools have become big business at taxpayer expense, as they run public education into the ground. In December, there was stunning information just conveyed to the legislature from Cyber teachers.

In addition, local Reps. Heffley, Twardzik, and Rader voted no on:

• Minimum wage increase.

• Red flag law to reduce suicides, especially among veterans. Carbon County has the highest veteran suicide rate in Pennsylvania.

• Gun safety background checks.

• Abortion privacy and legal shield law to protect PA doctors and females coming to our state for an abortion.

• Corporate tax reform which closes loopholes for very large companies in Pennsylvania, who pay little or no taxes.

There’s a new sheriff in town.

Debra Becker

Effort