Category: Elections

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Chris Rabb for State Representative

  By 2022

You can read my post on all the races and ballot questions at the May 17 Primary here. And don’t forget to vote for me and Diane Gottlieb for member of the Democratic Committee from our division. ….. I’m part of an organization that works closely with members of the PA General Assembly, I never endorse candidates in Democratic primaries. This year I have a responsibility to make an exception to that rule. The Democratic primary in the 200th House District, which includes division 24 of Ward 21 which I serve as the Democratic committeeman, is unfortunately a contest between good two incumbents, Chris Rabb and Izzy Fitzgerald, who the new legislative map put in the same district. So I’m torn between my responsibility to my organization and to the voters who have elected me to this party position four times. So just this time I’m going to violate my rules… Continue reading

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The GOP Design

  By Congressional redistricting, Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties, Democracy, Elections, Fascism, Judicial Gerrymandering, Judicial Gerrymandering, Jurisprudence, Legislative Districts, PA Budget and Policy Center, PBPC Blog posts, Pennsylvania

“When people show you who they are, believe them.” It’s time to believe what Pennsylvania Republicans have shown us they are. Begin with what they have shown us they don’t care about: Public health: They have opposed efforts to encourage—not mandate–people to wear masks and be vaccinated. They have not funded programs to make COVID tests available to all of us. Relief from the burdens of the pandemic: Despite having huge sums of our tax money in the bank, they have provided insufficient housing assistance that was distributed unfairly. They have provided too little relief to small businesses and blocked a proposal to help the restaurant industry. Unlike other states, Pennsylvania has not used ARP money to provide paid family and medical leave or support for those with low incomes. Wages: Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 for 14 years, keeps falling farther and farther behind neighboring… Continue reading

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The Outrageous Decision on Vote by Mail

  By Elections, Elections and Voting, Voting

The party-line Commonwealth Court decision declaring mail-in ballots unconstitutional is immediately outrageous and portends a deepening crisis in our democracy. The PA Supreme Court must—and we believe will—move quickly to overturn it. The decision is outrageous for two reasons. As Judge Wojcik’s dissenting opinion clearly demonstrates, it is based on a one-sided analysis of the Pennsylvania Constitution and case law.  The majority opinion contains a close and highly textured reading of the Constitution and case law that leaves out of consideration a critical amendment to Article VII section 6 of the Constitution. Taking that amendment into account undermines the reasoning of the majority opinion. Second, the majority opinion outrageously disregards the non-severability clause in Act 77 that would require it to declare the entire Act unconstitutional if any part of it is so declared.  Act 77 was a compromise in which Republicans accepted vote by mail in return for Democrats… Continue reading

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The Trump Movement

  By 2016 Presidential race, Fascism, Philosophy, Politics

Many people were shocked as well as disturbed by the 2016 election results. Having written a few chapters of a book that explored the origins of support for far right political movements in the liberal societies I was disturbed, but not shocked. This essay draws on ideas I developed for a book I am completing—Civilization and Its Contents: Reflections on Eros and the Culture War. It seeks to explain not just the 2016 election but why fascism, or neo-fascism, is a permanent temptation in liberal democracies. To read full screen or print click here. Continue reading

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Krasner leads us towards justice

  By 2021 DA Race, Politics

This is a response to Wilfredo Rojas, a critic of Larry Krasner who complains about Krasner’s efforts to pursue justice in the loss of his son, a Temple student who was murdered. Wilfredo, first, let me say that I’m very sorry for your loss. I was talking with a friend yesterday about families, like my own, where parents have had to see their children die about how this is the most devastating that can happen to a person. Nothing the criminal justice system can do will stop the ache in your heart. And that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to provide justice for our communities. As I said to others, human civilization is based on recognizing that injuries to individuals have to be answered by the community not by individual or family revenge. That idea is the most enduring legacy of Greek thought and practice and was immortalized… Continue reading

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Mass Incarceration is on the Ballot in Philadlephia in May

  By Criminal Justice, Elections, Public Policy

Almost every time someone is arrested for murder in Philadelphia, he has a criminal record of some kind. In many cases it is for minor drug dealing or for possession of a gun. So, the tough on crime crowd that supports Carlos Vega for DA crowd blames the criminal justice system in general and the DA, Larry Krasner, in particular for the murder saying that if only the guy arrested for murder were in jail, the crime would not have been committed.  What people who advance this idea forget is how many people in this city are involved in minor drug dealing and are carrying illegal guns. Most of them will not murder anyone. We can’t just arrest the corner drug dealers with guns who are likely to commit murder in the future. We don’t know who they are. If we throw the book at every one corner drug dealer… Continue reading

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How to know who is telling the truth about the election

  By 2020

Some people are having a hard time figuring out the truth about the election. If you are too busy to explore all the claims by Trump and his supporters; read all the court cases in which they have put them forward, and understand why one judge after another has rejected them both because they have presented no evidence and made astoundingly unserious legal arguments, here is a simple cheat sheet. Trump’s claims about the election are supported by very conservative federal and state legislators who are either scared of or are opportunistically seeking to win the support of Trump and his supporters. Trump’s claims about the election have been rejected by equally conservative federal and state judges who are unconcerned by the views of Trump and his supporters. That should tell you all you need to know about the truth of those claims. And also should remind you of the… Continue reading

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How the General Assembly Can Try to Steal the Election, Why It Would Be Wrong to Do So, and How to Stop It

  By 2020, Policy reports, Presidential election process

Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. There has been loose talk among right-wing activists calling on the General Assembly to intervene in the choice of presidential electors and thus overriding the vote of the people. Here is what the PA General Assembly might try to do and why under the law and Constitutions of Pennsylvania and the United States, they should not be allowed to do it. Click here to print or read the report full-screen. Continue reading

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The General Assembly Cannot Unilaterally Stop Mail-In Ballots From Being Counted

  By 2020, Policy briefs, Presidential election process

Right-wing advocates and Trump supporters are urging the General Assembly to take action next week to override the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that allows ballots received after 8 pm on Election Day to be counted. This would be an appalling attack on the rights of Pennsylvanians to vote and have their vote counted, one of the most central rights we have as Americans. Here is what they appear to be planning and why it violates the constitutions of both Pennsylvania and the United States. Continue reading

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Select Committee Proposed by PA House Republicans is a Danger to our Democracy

  By 2020, Elections and Voting, Statements

Originally published by KRC-PBPC here. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center is a nonpartisan organization. We do not favor one party or another in partisan elections. But we do stand for elections in which everyone has an opportunity to vote and their votes are counted fairly. Thus, we can’t turn away from threats to fair elections even if they come from one political party, as they sadly do in Pennsylvania today. Just as President Trump has recently doubled down on his attempt to sow doubt and create chaos surrounding the upcoming election, Republicans in Harrisburg are proposing to create a select committee to “investigate, review, and make recommendations concerning the regulation and conduct of the 2020 general election.” This committee is a solution in search of a genuine problem. The preamble of the House resolution calls into question the good faith efforts of the administration, county officials, and the Pennsylvania… Continue reading