Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Favor School Choice

From the Commonnwealtlh Foundation:
Commonwealth Foundation sponsoring forum on education vouchers, state budget and spending cuts in wake of poll results
HARRISBURG, PA (11.09.10) — Pennsylvania voters elected a Governor last Tuesday who is committed to school choice, sending a message that our children's right to an excellent education is one they are not willing to compromise.

The Commonwealth Foundation reinforced this message by releasing a poll today that shows that half of Pennsylvanians support education vouchers in their state. The poll, conducted one day before the election, revealed that 50 percent of Pennsylvanians think that education vouchers should be used for those who want to send their children to a private school, rather than paying taxes to a public school that may be underperforming or failing.

Additionally, those polled feel strongly that all students should have the option to receive the vouchers, as opposed to merely low-income students in underperforming schools. Of the 500 polled, 67 percent prefer that all students be eligible to receive vouchers, with 20 percent stating that vouchers should go only to low-income students or those in schools with poor performance. Fourteen percent were undecided.

"These numbers are compelling," said Matthew J. Brouillette, President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation and a former teacher and school board member. "It's clear that Pennsylvanians not only want school choice for their own children, but support those in the quest to place their kids in schools and educational programs best-suited to these families. We've always argued that students should have the freedom to break away from underperforming schools rather than be forced to attend a school based merely on where they live. And now we see that most Pennsylvanians feel the same way."

The poll, conducted Nov. 1 by Pulse Opinion Research, asked 500 likely voters in the state their views on tax credit funded scholarships, education vouchers, and the students who should be eligible for these programs. Forty-six percent of those polled supported the concept of Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which provides companies with a 75 percent tax credit for donations to a non-profit scholarship or educational improvement organization. Thirty percent were opposed to the credits and 24 percent were undecided.

The complete poll results can be accessed at CommonwealthFoundation.org.

In light of these poll results, the Commonwealth Foundation will sponsor a Nov. 15 Policies & Principles Luncheon on issues surrounding the recent election, namely school choice, the state budget, spending cuts, and privatizing liquor sales.

Where The Action Ought To Be: A Once in a Generation Chance for the Midwest - Hugh Hewitt - Townhall Conservative

"But the states that have hemorrhaged jobs and opportunities over the past many years of misrule by Democratic governors and Democratic majorities have to take quick and decisive action on three fronts. The voters have delivered the legislative majorities these new governors need, and they should act especially in three areas." Corporate tax rates...education and liability laws: Visit: Where The Action Ought To Be: A Once in a Generation Chance for the Midwest - Hugh Hewitt - Townhall Conservative:

Sestak Too Radical

How radical is Rep. Joe Sestak's record on abortion? Sestak is radical enough to have earned the endorsement of the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) in all of his political campaigns, as well as contributions from them. According to their mission statement, NARAL "uses the political process to guarantee….the full range of reproductive choices, including … choosing legal abortion."
Sestak received NARAL's endorsement and a $5,000 campaign contribution in the PA primary against Arlen Specter according to a May 12 th press release by Nancy Keenan, NARAL's president. Sestak said he was "greatful" for NARAL's support.
Joe Sestak has been supported by the pro-abortion group NARAL consistently. In Sestak's "first successful campaign…NARAL...spent $232,000 on independent expenditures, including voter identification, polling, persuasion mail pieces…, and phone calls, reaching 86,000 households." according to Ms. Keenan's press release. NARAL's political action committee "contributed $10,000 to Sestak's 2006 campaign and $2,500 to his re-election bid in 2008" wrote Keenan. She added, Sestak's endorsement "continued the organization's strong ties with Sestak"
Pro-life voter's need to know about Sestak's pro-abortion stand and remember Sestak cast NO votes for pro-life legislation during his career in Congress according to the National Right to Life Committee scorecard.
Susan Cirba

Four-State Abortion Empire Crumbles Following Botched Abortion

Four-State Abortion Empire Crumbles Following Botched Abortion: "VOORHEES TWP, New Jersey, September 7, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The empire of a troubled New Jersey abortionist who headed a four-state abortion ring is slowly crumbling after Maryland began investigating the setup following a teenager's botched abortion. In addition to unveiling the illegality of the setup, the investigation resulted in one raid where police discovered a gruesome display of 35 frozen unborn children preserved in jars."

YouTube - Congressman Paul Kanjorski's Scandal

Moveon.org in Scranton is having a protest at the courthouse on Sept. 8 at noon. Their goal is to supposedly call for the cleanup of corruption in Congress. I wonder if any will cross the street to Congressman Kanjorski's office to chastise him? I just stumbled upon this news report on Kanjorski.
YouTube - Congressman Paul Kanjorski's Scandal: ""

Gardasil - The Damage is Done: From A Best Friend's View

The Associated Press: Schwarzenegger orders government worker furloughs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger brought back furloughs for thousands of state workers until California passes a budget that addresses a $19 billion deficit.
Schwarzenegger released a new executive order requiring state workers to take three unpaid days off per month starting in August. Last year state workers were furloughed a total of 46 days resulting in a pay cut of about 14 percent Visit:The Associated Press: Schwarzenegger orders government worker furloughs:

California corruption: Prosecutors probe Bell for possible election fraud, conflicts of interest, improper salaries | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

"Until now, the district attorney has said it was looking at what it called high salaries paid to City Council members, who earned nearly $100,000 until they cut their own salaries on Monday. But Cooley said that part of the probe is specifically looking at whether council members received pay for meetings they didn’t attend." Visit:Prosecutors probe Bell for possible election fraud, conflicts of interest, improper salaries | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times:

White House backed release of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi | The Australian

"THE US government secretly advised Scottish ministers it would be 'far preferable' to free the Lockerbie bomber than jail him in Libya.
Correspondence obtained by The Sunday Times reveals the Obama administration considered compassionate release more palatable than locking up Abdel Baset al-Megrahi in a Libyan prison." Visit:White House backed release of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi | The Australian:

Scott Gottlieb: No, You Can't Keep Your Health Plan - WSJ.com

"President Obama guaranteed Americans that after health reform became law they could keep their insurance plans and their doctors. It's clear that this promise cannot be kept. Insurers and physicians are already reshaping their businesses as a result of Mr. Obama's plan." Visit: Scott Gottlieb: No, You Can't Keep Your Health Plan - WSJ.com:

The Mad Tea Party | NetRight Daily

Yesterday, the Senate voted 60 to 39 to take over the nation’s financial system. The bill now proceeds to Barack Obama, who will sign it, and it shall be law. Included is a hidden, permanent bailout that will enable faceless bureaucrats to levy taxes, bail out privileged institutions, and to seize disfavored ones, redistributing their assets to favored constituencies, like unions." visit:The Mad Tea Party | NetRight Daily:

Press release from James Madison Center for Free Speech

James Madison Center for Free Speech
1 South Sixth Street
Terre Haute, Indiana 47807-3510
www.jamesmadisoncenter.org

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Contact: James Bopp, Jr.
Phone: 812.232.2434; Fax: 812.235.3685; jboppjr@aol.com

Candidate and Supporters Sue Virginia For Violating First Amendment Right To Circulate and Sign Candidate Petitions

On Tuesday, Herb Lux, an independent candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District, and three of his supporters sued Virginia to protect their right to circulate and sign a candidate petition in support of Herb Lux’s candidacy. The State Board of Elections rejected a majority of Mr. Lux’s petitions and refused to certify him for the ballot, citing a Virginia law that requires petition circulators to be residents of the congressional district. The group has asked the court to rule that the residency requirement violates their freedom of speech and to order the State Board of Elections to count the excluded signatures.

The Board of Elections rejected Mr. Lux’s signatures because Virginia law requires all petition circulators to live in the congressional district. When applied to Mr. Lux, the law prevents him from circulating his own petitions. The First Amendment clearly protects Mr. Lux’s freedom to circulate his own candidate petitions. It also protects his supporters’ freedom to help further his candidacy by signing a petition. If the Board counts all of the signatures collected by Mr. Lux, the group is more than confident that he will have collected more than the 1,000 signatures necessary to appear on the November ballot.

James Bopp, Jr., lead counsel for Mr. Lux and his supporters, stated, “The Supreme Court has clearly stated that a state may not prohibit large classes of people from circulating petitions unless it has a really good reason. There is simply no reason for prohibiting Mr. Lux from circulating his own petitions. It’s a silly rule and it makes no sense. And it’s really hurting Mr. Lux because he has been forced to place his campaign on hold while the court sorts out this thing. Hopefully, he will get the relief he seeks soon enough for him to wage an effective campaign.”

The case is before the Honorable Robert E. Payne in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. The case is Lux v. Rodrigues, No. 3:10-cv-482. The complaint and the brief in support of motion for preliminary injunction may be viewed at www.jamesmadisoncenter.org.

James Bopp, Jr. has a national federal and state election law practice. He is General Counsel for the James Madison Center for Free Speech, former Co-Chairman of the Election Law Subcommittee of the Federalist Society, and was recently recognized as the Republican Lawyer of the Year by the National Republican Lawyers Association.