Skip to comments.
SCHOOL CHOICE NON DEBATE
Philadelphia Magazine ^
| 9 March 2011
| Chris Freind
Posted on 03/09/2011 5:36:59 AM PST by grace522
The Great School Choice Debate, hosted by The Independence Hall Tea Party Association on March 6, was a passionate discussion of Senate Bill 1, the school choice bill currently in the state senate. At issue was whether SB 1, a limited-scope bill granting a voucher to low-income families (in which the state subsidy would follow the child, not the school), is the only legislation achievable at this time, or whether a broader, more comprehensive bill can be passed.
Unfortunately, it wasnt the healthy debate that it should have been because Senator Anthony Williams, one of the bills prime sponsors and a confirmed panelist, arrived well after the event had ended. It seems he was misinformed of the time, despite everyone else getting it right.
Although mistakes happen, it is curious that this is the second time in one month that the senator committed to a school choice discussion, and failed to show. Some may chalk that up to bad staffing, but others who have been around politics dont believe in such coincidence.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.phillymag.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: choice; giordano; school; williams
Sen. Williams is not a reliable vote IMHO. This bill is too weak, especially given the fact the Republicans control the PA House, Senate, and Governor. A very weak effort indeed!
1
posted on
03/09/2011 5:37:02 AM PST
by
grace522
To: grace522; Tribune7; Kid Shelleen; TAdams8591; HonestConservative
Column from Chris Freind:
Participants:
- Reverend Joe Watkins, former Lt. Gov. candidate, MSNBC commentator and Executive Director of the Students First organization.
- Dom Giordano, talk-show host extraordinaire on 1210 WPHT, the regions largest talk-radio station. Giordano was slated to be the moderator, but sat with Watkins so the discussion wouldnt be lopsided.
- State Representative Curt Schroder, a proponent of statewide school choice. Schroder was a House member in the mid-90s when a comprehensive school choice bill barely missed passage;
- Chris Freind, author of numerous columns and participant in several television segments advocating school choice, including why SB 1 is flawed legislation that will most likely fail if it is not amended in the House to expand choice. I was also Executive Director of the REACH Alliance, the preeminent statewide school choice organization, during the school choice battles in the 90s.
I've seen other reports with some of this, plus added info from our own Freepers. We need full choice access as soon as practicable. To do that it looks like we need to revise the PA Constitution. How do we accomplish that?
2
posted on
03/09/2011 7:58:25 PM PST
by
brityank
(The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
To: Owl_Eagle; brityank; Physicist; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; GOPJ; abner; baseballmom; Mo1; Ciexyz; ...
3
posted on
03/09/2011 8:41:03 PM PST
by
Tribune7
(The Democrat Party is not a political organization but a religious cult.)
To: brityank
To do that it looks like we need to revise the PA Constitution. Even the critics of SB1 don't think it school choice will be unconstitutional as per the state constitution providing the money goes to the parents first and comes from the general fund.
4
posted on
03/09/2011 8:43:04 PM PST
by
Tribune7
(The Democrat Party is not a political organization but a religious cult.)
To: Tribune7
SB1 only gives partial choice, not full. Full is what my comment was referencing.
I know - "Dream on, Mikey!" ;^)
5
posted on
03/09/2011 8:54:31 PM PST
by
brityank
(The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
To: brityank
Sorry Brit, my eyes are not on this ball.
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson