Author: Marc Stier

Originally published at Pennsylvania Policy Center on December 23, 2024. Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are about to seek major cuts in Medicaid to pay for deep cuts to the taxes of the ultra-rich and wealthy corporations. We often talk, with pride, about our American civilization as a high mark of the West. Yet what makes for civilization? Human history is full of great and powerful kingdoms and empires led by, and mostly serving the good of, kings, emperors, and monarchs. They weren’t civilized by our standards. The aim of most of those grandees was not to help those they ruled but to take from them to enrich and elevate themselves. What makes the United States different and truly civilized is that we have attempted to create a government by and for the people, one in which the powerful are constrained by the people to serve the people. And… Continue reading

Originally published at Pennsylvania Policy Center on December 4, 2024. By Marc Stier, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Policy Center While our organization does not endorse candidates, we do have our favorite elected officials. Bob Casey has always been on that list—so we are sad to lose him as our senior senator. I want to say a few words about why the Senator has been a truly wonderful representative of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Senator Casey has been a progressive champion of so many issues on which Pennsylvania Policy Center and our allies have worked. Unlike many legislators, he truly understands the importance of working with advocacy groups. He gets that building up our profile and influence enables us to help him accomplish his legislative goals. That, plus his commitment to progressive public policy, is why he is the legislator on whom we’ve most relied, whether it was around a relatively small… Continue reading

Originally published at Pennsylvania Policy Center on November 15, 2024. by Marc Stier, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Policy Center Pennsylvania Policy Center doesn’t endorse candidates. But we can react to the results. And we, like you who follow us, are hurting today. We are frustrated and scared. While we need to take some time to deal with the emotional upheaval created by an election result that will no doubt undermine progress to our goals, it’s important that we understand where we are and what we can do to save our country and move it in a better direction. You may not yet be ready to think about that. But here are some initial thoughts for when you are. 1. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who worked so hard over the last weeks and months to stop this from happening. It was truly impressive and… Continue reading

Originally published at Pennsylvania Policy Center on November 13, 2024. We have one ray of really good election news. Even in the face of a red wave, Democrats remain in control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and Rep. Joanna McClinton remains speaker of the House. While, sadly, we didn’t pick up any seats, every Democratic incumbent won reelection. Here is why I think it happened. Under the leadership of Speaker McClinton and Majority Leader Matt Bradford, the PA House Democrats have had an incredible record of achievement in working for the people of Pennsylvania, even while holding only a one-seat majority. Most importantly, they took a huge step forward toward overcoming decades of inadequate and inequitable funding for education with the largest funding increase for our schools in history. They then passed legislation that cuts taxes for working people and seniors, taxes corporations that pay nothing, protects the safety… Continue reading