House Democratic Policy Committee examines proposed state budget cuts

PHILADELPHIA, May 15 – At a public hearing today in Philadelphia, members of the House Democratic Policy Committee heard from advocates for education, the disabled and children regarding the cuts Gov. Tom Corbett included in his 2012-13 budget proposal, said Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.

State Rep. Michelle Brownlee, D-Phila., who requested the hearing, served as co-chairwoman. The hearing focused on the governor’s proposed 20 percent cut to programs for the disabled, and his near-billion-dollar recurring cut to basic education, which disproportionately impacts low-income school districts.

“As the budget debate is heating up in Harrisburg, the Policy Committee is still aiming to hear from the residents across the state that will see the negative impacts of the hazardous cuts in funding proposed by the Corbett administration,” Sturla said. “Representative Brownlee has been a strong advocate for her community at the Capitol and I thank her for bringing the committee here today.”

"Every week it seems we're voting on a new proposal to help multi-million-dollar corporations pad their profits just a little more at the expense of our most vulnerable," Brownlee said. "The governor keeps saying we have no money, but he has no problem giving it away to his big-money friends. Quite frankly, it is disturbing to see how Republican leaders justify tax cuts for businesses, while cavalierly cutting critical programs for children, seniors and the poor.

"There will be shock waves felt from the policies of this administration for years to come. Their legacy will be shameful and I can only hope that we can highlight just how bad their priorities are for the public to fully understand."

Those testifying at the hearing included: a panel from AFT Pennsylvania, including Jerry Jordan, president, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers; Bruce Rader, vice president, Temple Association of University Professionals; and Karen Schermerhorn, co-president emerita, Faculty & Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia; a panel from Maternity Care Coalition, including Letty Thall, public policy director; Erin Cusack, community engagement coordinator; Tamicka Stephens, Cribs for Kids advocate; and Aisha Coulson, EHS family and community partnerships coordinator. J. Bruce Hulick, executive director, The Arc of Philadelphia/PDDC; and Joe Willard, vice president of policy, People’s Emergency Center, also testified.

Op-ed by State Rep. Ronald G. Waters: Philadelphia is proud to have Dr. Ackerman

As Chairman of the Pennsylvania Black Caucus, I am expressing my unwavering and unequivocal support for Dr. Arlene Ackerman, the Superintendent of the Philadelphia School District. In light of a recent personal attack against her, including a call from one state lawmaker for her resignation, I believe it is necessary to set the record straight.

Dr. Ackerman has decided that she will defer any bonuses from the school district. She already had reported to the School Reform Commission in December 2010 that she would defer the upcoming scheduled bonuses. The bonuses were in Dr. Ackerman’s contract, but she made the decision in light of the state of the economy and the budget cuts the district must make this year. In addition, she announced she will take 20 furlough days as part of the budget cutting measures. It was the responsible thing to do. Her greatest concern is the education of Philadelphia’s children.

A Harvard-trained educator and former Columbia University professor, Dr. Ackerman recently was given the Richard R. Green Award as the nation’s top urban school leader. She turned things around in other school districts throughout the nation, including San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Seattle. And now, she’s doing the same for Philadelphia, and we are fortunate to have her. She deserves nothing but the praise of parents and students throughout our community who love her and say she is doing a great job.

In less than three years, Dr. Ackerman is making a positive change for our children with impressive achievement gains.

Her Renaissance Schools Initiative, only in its second year, is reaping big rewards. For the first time, over half of Philadelphia school students scored proficient or better on state standardized tests. Nearly 100 schools were given Keystone Achievement Awards for the progress they have made. The six-year graduation rate for high school students is 63 percent, up 4 percent in the past two years. A dropout recovery program is attracting thousands of former students back into school. And reading and math scores are up for eight straight years, while violent incidents have dropped 29 percent in two years.

Ackerman’s Promise Academies are turning around low performing schools. Her Parent University initiative allows parents to better themselves and gain new skills. This is a win-win for parents with young children in school, to get them up to speed on what is being taught, and to enable them to help with homework assignments. Schools are being funded fairly across the district. And Promise Neighborhoods provide cradle to career services to students, and helps them to pursue post-secondary education.

It also is clear that Dr. Ackerman is building for the future of Philadelphia, with investments in smaller classes, improved counseling and more support for struggling students and new immigrants. Internship programs are steering high school students to the teaching profession, and the “Grow-Your-Own” program is helping members of the community achieve their teaching certification.

Managing America’s eighth largest school system is no easy task, and there is no one better prepared to lead it than Arlene Ackerman. At a time when women such as First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Arlene Ackerman are being denigrated for making a positive difference in young lives— the First Lady for encouraging children to make healthy choices, and Dr. Ackerman for placing Philadelphia’s children on a better path to success and adding value to their lives— we must embrace these arch “sheroes” among us and sing their praises. There’s no better time for celebrating these significant accomplishments than during Black History Month. The attacks on these black women are unjustifiable, and those who would encourage people to put them down should tell us who they really are. I say thumbs up to Dr. Arlene Ackerman, Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia School District.

Waters in favor of Marcellus Shale tax

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 21 - State Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Phila./Delaware, is calling on the Senate to pass the Marcellus Shale tax and says implementing the tax should be a top priority before the end of the year.

Waters said the Marcellus Shale tax would help to close the state's current budget deficit and relieve some of the burden on individual taxpayers.

"If we pass this tax we would be able to generate much needed revenue for the state where we would not have to continue to make deep, drastic cuts to services that some of our most vulnerable citizens need. These include educational programs, senior citizen services, health programs and other human services," Waters said." Every year we have to make cuts to these programs, yet we do not require rich oil and natural gas companies to pay their fair share. Does this make sense?"

Waters said the Marcellus Shale is one of the biggest natural gas fields in the U.S. and Pennsylvania is becoming a leader in natural gas extraction.

"Pennsylvania is one of the 32 states in the nation that produces natural gas and it ranks 15th in total production. The Marcellus Shale deposit alone reportedly holds 50 trillion cubic feet," Waters said. "There is almost an unlimited amount of wealth that can be derived from this natural resource by big oil and gas companies - Pennsylvania could practically be considered the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. However, Pennsylvania is the only state with significant extraction activity that does not impose a severance tax or conservation fee on the big companies drilling for natural gas."

Waters said he hopes the legislature will pass the tax and think more about its citizens and less about protecting big business.

"Our cities are hurting. For example, Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate of the ten largest cities in America according to the U.S. Census, with 25 percent of its residents in poverty, and one in three children under age 18 in poverty," Waters said. "The Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction in our state will mean major profits for the investors, and could yield billions in revenue at a time when our social service programs are in jeopardy. I see nothing wrong with asking these people with deep pockets to step up to the plate. As legislators we need to be more concerned about protecting the interests of our citizens before the profits of big business, We want to make sure our elected officials are voting the right way," Waters added.

"We successfully passed it out of the House of Representatives with bipartisan support," Waters said. "Some people are more concerned about the environment than anything else. This tax could be used to fund the Department of Environmental Protection, which has oversight, to ensure the environment is protected."

Waters also said taxing the natural gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale would not cost Pennsylvania jobs.

"If we have this natural resource to help generate the money we need to help bring us out of this state's recession, let us use it."

Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus expresses outrage at minority children kicked out of suburban swim club pool

HARRISBURG, July 9 -- Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus are expressing outrage after learning that more than 60 minority children from Creative Steps Day Camp, a summer camp in Northeast Philadelphia, were turned away from a private swim club in Huntingdon Valley that their parents had already paid for them to use.

According to news reports, the campers were turned away from the pool because of their race.

Horace Gibson, a parent of one of the children from the camp, e-mailed the news station and said, "When the minority children got in the pool, all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool." He added, "The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately."

Dymire Baylor, one of the campers, said he overheard a woman ask, "What are all these black kids doing here?" when he and his friends showed up.

PLBC chairman, state Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Delaware/Phila., described the incident as a human rights violation.

"It is hard to believe that this kind of discrimination is still happening in 2009," he said. "We live in a democracy and I am appalled that authorities at the pool would act in such an unprofessional manner to the point where they would kick children out based on the color of their skin. The owners of this establishment placed their personal prejudices before their professional duties.”

News reports say the Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1,900 to The Valley Swim Club, a private club that advertises open membership. However, the day after the campers were asked to leave the pool, the club told the camp director that the camp's membership was being suspended and their money would be refunded.

Parents are awaiting an apology from the camp while Waters personally looks into the matter.

Waters expressed his disappointment with the racial battles this country still faces and said, "Of all the places in the nation, it is quite ironic that it happened in the City of Brotherly Love."

Residents can view more on this story online at: nbcphiladelphia.com
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