The Unofficial* Region 7 Page
We are not a political site. And there are many factors to consider before voting for any candidate who is seeking a political office.
However, having said that, and considering the drop across the nation in Catholic school enrollment, largely due to the dwindling ability of the middle-class to pay the rising Catholic school tuitions AND their property taxes, we must be involved in at least one political issue...one which effects our schools - school choice and school voucher legislation in Pennsylvania.
Education associations such as the PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association) were VERY active AND organized the last time
legislation for the school voucher system was up for a vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the PA Senate.
Take a look at this excerpt from a bulletin put out by the FSEA to members shortly before it was time to vote on the school voucher issue in 1999:
"This may be our last chance to influence legislators before the vote. They want a vote for or against on vouchers and they want it now! Let’s make sure the vote is against vouchers.
Time is of the essence, please make calls, send letters, e-mail, and visits to your legislators as soon as possible, urging them to oppose vouchers in any form. Make sure your colleagues make these contacts also.
In addition to your contacts with legislators back home, we need your help in Harrisburg to lobby against vouchers.
Special Lobby Days are June 7, June 8, June 14, and June 15. We expect a major push to pass vouchers. A vote most likely will occur on June 15, but could happen earlier.
Please come to Harrisburg; bring as many colleagues with you as possible.
Special briefings will begin at 9 a.m. at PSEA Headquarters (400 North Third Street, just across the street from the Capitol). Briefings will continue periodically throughout the day. Come when you can and then visit your legislators. For the best opportunity to meet with your legislator make an appointment in advance.
NOTE: The pro-voucher forces will hold a rally on June 7 at the Capitol.
PSEA will pay for meals, mileage and hotel rooms (for PSEA members only, double occupancy.)"
And Catholics were just not active enough. The bill was defeated.
Enrollment in Catholic schools has been in a free-fall since that time. Obviously, getting our tax money to pay for our Catholic schools is the key to keeping our Catholic schools strong.
THe following is an e-mail exchange from a young woman, Christine Katsock, who is seeking a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. We have also sent an inquiry to her opposing candidate- an incumbent. We have not yet heard back from him regarding his stance - present and past - on school vouchers. When we do, we will post his response, as well. We will also publish the name of any other politician, incumbent or otherwise, who is openly promotes and pushes for legislation for school vouchers and school choice in PA.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Project Vote Smart (www.vote-smart.org) - Candidates, issues, and more
Follow The Money (www.followthemoney.org) - Reveals which state and federal politicians get campaign contributions, how much money they get, and from which organizations and individuals.
Luzerne County, PA 2003-2004 Legislators - Handy list of ALL NEPA lawmakers with contact info
Thanks for yur interest in my stance on school vouchers and school choice. Yes, I am still in favor and have always been in favor of a voucher program for the state. I am the product of a grade school, high school, and 2 times college graduate from Catholic schools.
The voucher program would allow parents to use the per student amount now given to our public schools, which in W-B is about $8,000 per child, directly to the parents for use toward tuition if in fact parents opt to send their children to a catholic school. It would no longer be the great burden that it is now on parishes and parents to fund their child's education while still paying school property taxes- in essence, paying twice.
I am also in favor or 100% elimination of the school property tax, which would make public schools much more accountable for how they spend the State's money, which is OUR money, because we're the ones who pay taxes. Thus, we would have the CHOICE of how our money is spent.
I will vigerously push legislation. I am aware that school voucher legislation already crafted has almost enough votes for its passage into the Senate. With my election and others who think the same way, this legislation WILL have enough votes to pass, giving us all the choice we deserve. Remember, it's OUR MONEY- we should decide where it goes and how it is used.
Hope that helps.
Let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Christine Katsock
Several weeks ago, you placed an entry in our Guest
Book regarding your stance on the School Voucher
issue.
In that entry, you said you were for vouchers.
As Catholic school parents, we have an interest in our
candidates and how they stand on this issue. Could you
please explain, again, your stance on school vouchers?
Please include whether, if you are still for vouchers,
how you plan, if elected, on promoting legislation to
make school vouchers legal in Pennsylvania.
Webmaster
Wed, 23 Jun 2004 18:26:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Christine Katsock"
Subject: Re: School Vouchers/School Choice
To: "Catholic Schools"
Candidate, 121st District
Catholic Schools
Hi Ms. Katsock,
Thank you,
Kevin Blaum, who is the incumbent running against Christine Katsock in the next election, has not answered THREE e-mails asking for his stance, present and past, on the school voucher system. As you know, there was a vote taken in 1999 on School Choice in Pennsylvania. The School Voucher system was defeated. We simply wanted to know how Mr. Blaum voted in 1999, and his stance now.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 4th, 2004:Kevin Blaum was re-elected on November 2nd without ever answering our e-mails. Christine Katsock ran a valiant race and got nearly 40% of the vote.
If you want to know more about Kevin Blaum, you can find out here at PROJECT VOTE SMART
We have verified his e-mail address as kblaum@pahouse.net and have sent a second e-mail asking for his position on school vouchers.
You may want to call his office yourself: 825-5934. Thank you.
Pennsylvania State Senators List
Alphabetical List of PA State Senators by city or town
Ask them if they are for or against the SCHOOL VOUCHER SYSTEM
Ask them what they are doing NOW about a bill FOR the School Voucher System
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Charles W. Dent (R) - Senate District 16
801 Hamilton Mall, Allentown, PA 18101 Local Tel: 610-821-8468 * Capitol Tel: 717-787-1349 E-mail: cdent@pasen.gov
Jake Corman (R) - Senate District 34
Robert M. Tomlinson (R) - Senate District 6
Lisa M. Boscola (D) - Senate District 18
Terry L. Punt (R) - Senate District 33
Charles D. Lemmond Jr. (R) - Senate District 20
Joe Conti (R) - Senate District 10
Edwin B. Erickson (R) - Senate District 26
Richard A. Kasunic (D) - Senate District 32
J. Barry Stout (D) - Senate District 46
Jeffrey E. Piccola (R) - Senate District 15
Noah W. Wenger (R) - Senate District 36
Jane M. Earll (R) - Senate District 49
Mary Jo White (R) - Senate District 21
Robert D. Robbins (R) - Senate District 50
John C. Rafferty, Jr. (R) - Senate District 44
Donald C. White (R) - Senate District 41
John N. Wozniak (D) - Senate District 35
Constance H. Williams (D) - Senate District 17
Gibson E. Armstrong (R) - Senate District 13
Robert C. Wonderling (R) - Senate District 24
David J. Brightbill (R) - Senate District 48
Harold F. Mowery Jr. (R) - Senate District 31
James J. Rhoades (R) - Senate District 29
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Dominic F. Pileggi (R) - Senate District 9
Sean Logan (D) - Senate District 45
John R. Pippy (R) - Senate District 37
Edward W. Helfrick (R) - Senate District 27
Allen G. Kukovich (D) - Senate District 39
Robert J. Mellow (D) - Senate District 22
Allyson Y. Schwartz (D) - Senate District 4
Christine M. Tartaglione (D) - Senate District 2
Shirley M. Kitchen (D) - Senate District 3
Anthony H. Williams (D) - Senate District 8
Vincent J. Fumo (D) - Senate District 1
Michael J. Stack (D) - Senate District 5
Jim Ferlo (D) - Senate District 38
Jack Wagner (D) - Senate District 42
Jay Costa Jr. (D) - Senate District 43
Jane Clare Orie (R) - Senate District 40
Raphael J. Musto (D) - Senate District 14
Michael A. O'Pake (D) - Senate District 11
Gerald J. LaValle (D) - Senate District 47
Joseph B. Scarnati (R) - Senate District 25
Robert J. Thompson (R) - Senate District 19
Roger A. Madigan (R) - Senate District 23
Stewart J. Greenleaf (R) - Senate District 12
Michael L. Waugh (R) - Senate District 28
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