No easy pass -- Spanish firm's deal faces uphill fight in Legislature

The Pennsylvania Turnpike could be turned over to a private operator if Gov. Ed Rendell gets his way. A private consortium submitted a winning bid of $12.8 billion to manage the turnpike for 75 years, the governor said Monday. Read More

GEN XERS AREN’T SAVING FOR RETIREMENT

From the story: The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College has calculated that 48% of Gen Xers are at risk of being unable to maintain their standard of living in retirement, says Andrew Eschtruth, the center's communication's director. Compared with the boomers, Eschtruth adds, the Gen Xers "always have the highest at-risk scores. The changing retirement landscape is gradually becoming more challenging."

USA Today

THE RELIGION OF ENVIRONMENTALISM

A great observation from Jonah Goldberg: I heard Gore on NPR the other day. He was asked what he made of evangelical pastor Joseph Hagee's absurd comment that Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath for New Orleans' sexual depravity. Naturally, Gore chuckled at such backwardness. But then the Nobel laureate went on to blame Katrina on man's energy sinfulness. It struck me that the two men were not so different. If only canoodling residents of the Big Easy had adhered to "The Greenpeace Guide to Environmentally Friendly Sex." (LA Times)

Meanwhile, a list of 31,000 scientists who disagree with all this global warming hysteria. (OISM)

OREGON, KENTUCKY VOTE TODAY

Obama expected to win Oregon, Hillary should take Kentucky. (FOX News)

The latest polls. (Oregon, Kentucky)

Hillary claims that, when Florida and Michigan are counted, she leads in the popular vote. (NY Times) Then comes word that Karl Rove has determined Hillary has a better chance against McCain than does Obama. (ABC News) The Rove maps and charts. (ABC News)

Farm Bill Billions

By Paul M. Weyrich
I was interviewing one of the most liberal Democrats in the House of Representatives, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), when suddenly he surprised me by saying, “I hope the President vetoes the farm bill and if he does I’ll try to round up votes on my side of the aisle to sustain the veto.” He went on to state that if the veto is sustained, “then we can start over and do it right.”

Indeed, the Heritage Foundation just issued a report entitled “Seven Reasons to Veto the Farm Bill.”

The author, Brian Riedl, points out that since the last farm bill was enacted in 2002 net farm income has more than doubled. Yet the new bill expands farm subsidies by some $25 billion. Moreover, the majority of these subsidies go to commercial farmers with an average income of $200,000 and a net worth of around $2 million. But the new bill continues the subsidies to multimillionaires and large agribusinesses.

This new bill also repeals income limits so some wealthy farmers will now be able to collect millions more than they are now receiving in annual subsidies.

House Rules require a PAYGO approach, so theoretically an increase in spending in a new bill requires a decrease in spending elsewhere. But the Congressional Budget Office reported that the bill is filled with gimmicks to get around the PAYGO requirements.

This bill, in addition, increases subsidy rates. As Riedl points out, despite sky-high crop prices, subsidy rates are increased for more than a dozen crops. So if prices drop from the current high levels subsidies would be triggered.

And no matter how high corn prices soar, the direct payment program states Riedl, “would force taxpayers to send $2 billion in direct payments to corn farmers every year. Wheat farmers would receive $1 billion and farmers of other crops would receive an additional $2 billion.”

The bill, which Blumenauer wants the President to veto, would create a new permanent disaster-aid program. The cost? $3.8 billion over five years. Farmers already receive $20 billion in annual commodity and conservation subsidies plus an additional $3 billion in crop insurance subsidies.

Finally, the bill utterly fails to modernize farm policy for the 21st Century. We are still operating within the framework established by FDR in the 1930s. Even Canada and Australia have updated their farm programs by substituting insurance plans instead of massive subsidies to even out the fluctuations caused by weather and pest invasions.

The problem for President George W. Bush is that the farm bill passed both Houses of Congress by veto-proof majorities. That would appear to doom the effectiveness of the President’s veto. But not necessarily. I recall when President Richard M. Nixon vetoed the Brademas Child Development Bill in 1971. The bill had passed with a single no vote in the House and only five no votes in the Senate. Yet after extraordinary arm-twisting the President’s veto was sustained in both Houses of Congress. Assuming the President does veto the farm bill, whether the veto is sustained likely will depend upon how much effort the President and his people are willing to work on the effort.

Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.

Federal Suit: PA Supreme Court Justice Cappy Traded Gambling Ruling For Judicial Pay Raises

From the story: The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging that former Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy negotiated a ruling in favor of legalized gambling in the state in exchange for legislative approval for a judicial pay raise.

The suit in U.S. Middle District Court cites unnamed legislators as providing information that former Chief Justice Cappy entered into "secret negotiations" with "various legislative leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly." Read More...

This is encouraging. It was previously published that PA Supreme Court Chief Justice Cappy was with the governor and legislative leaders working together regarding the pay raise legislation. So much for the separation of powers.

Add the fact that the slots legislation appeared to violate the "Original Purpose" and "Single Subject" rules of Article III of the Pennsylvania Constitution. On the July 4th weekend of 2004, a single-page, 33-line bill on background checks for people who work at the tracks was on its third consideration. Those 33 lines were crossed off and the bill was morphed into 144 pages that became the legislation to legalize slots in Pennsylvania. It passed that same weekend.

Despite the obvious constitutional issues, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in June of 2005 that the slots legislation was passed in compliance with the constitution.

With the Attorney General’s investigation into “Bonusgate”, perhaps more state representatives and senators are now willing to sing.

Key Changes in the Pittsburgh Area’s Job Mix

The past couple of months have seen a distinct pickup in the pace of 12 month gains in payroll employment in the Pittsburgh region. Impressive growth in health care continues along with large gains in the professional and business services category account for the bulk of the 8,000 rise from March 2007 to March 2008. Construction also enjoyed a solid increase over the last 12 months. Continue

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE EMERGENT CHURCH?

Plenty, according to one Wheaton grad and New York Times employee. From the column: Because emergent beliefs are so amorphous—as a result of complying to postmodernism—it is impossible for its teachers to assert their beliefs absolutely. As a result, real conviction is one of the great casualties of emergence. Writers such as Brian McClaren, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Peter Rollins, and Rob Bell are quick to write off historical doctrines and hesitant to assert anything other than approximate truths. Thus the emergent tone is dismissive, even when under the guise of profundity. And many of the challenges and inconsistencies of the emergent movement stem from the fact that it has intentionally not built itself on any foundation—an effort to avoid proposition, metanarrative, and tradition (First Things).

OBAMA COURTS RELIGIOUS VOTE

The controversy over Obama’s former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has not stopped Obama from pandering to the Christian vote—at least in Kentucky. From the story: In Kentucky, he is making a direct appeal to Evangelicals with flyers that mention his conversion experience and they highlight a big old cross. Remember Mike Huckabee’s supposed subliminal cross in his Christmas campaign ad? Well, the Obama campaign ditches the subliminal and goes for the in your face cross (CBN News). It will be interesting to see if the MSM is as critical of Obama as it was of Huckabee (Fox News).

Obama Wins

Obama won the endoresment of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Sen. Barack Obama. He walso won the title of being the most pro-abortion candidate. It a tug-o-war between abortion fans as and ally of NARAL, Emily's List, continues to support Clinton.

I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton," said Emily's List President Ellen Malcolm. "[She helped force] approval of Plan B and... spoke during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe v. Wade..." Both Clinton and Obama scored a 100% on the voting scorecard of abortion interest groups. Both have voted against a partial-birth abortion ban. But only one has the ability to win, and NARAL's money will literally be on Obama.

To pundits, this is yet another indication that the sun is setting on Clinton's candidacy. Still, no matter who prevails, the Democratic nominee will be the most radical pro-abortion candidate this country has ever seen.

Action Alert: Race for Marriage

The California Supreme Court 4-3 decision ruled that the California state statute defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman is unconstitutional. That means the voice of the people has been called " unconstitutional".

The ruling also means that California now joins several other states where courts have ordered the legal recognition of same-sex weddings. If you think this only matter to those living in California, you could not be more wrong. Here is just apiece of the court decision: "We cannot find that retention of the traditional definition of marriage constitutes a compelling state interest. Accordingly, we conclude that to the extent the current California statutory provisions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, these statutes are unconstitutional."

The California decision shows exactly what we want to avoid here in Pennsylvania ---judges overturning a state statute defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It's up to the people to decide the definition of marriage, not judges and not politicians. A state constitutional amendment is the only way to protect marriage in Pennsylvania.

SB 1250, the proposed marriage protection amendment, would add the following language to the Pennsylvania Constitution: "No union other than a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage or the functional equivalent of marriage by the Commonwealth."

Whether or not Pennsylvania voters get to vote on the marriage amendment next year depends on the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and especially House Speaker Dennis O'Brien. The scheduled vote on SB 1250 in the State Senate was put on hold last week when, as reported by the Philadelphia Gay News.

The bill was tabled after Speaker of the House Rep. Dennis O'Brien (R-169th Dist.) contacted Republican senators during the May 6 debate and informed them that if introduced in the House, the bill would be sent directly to the State Government Committee. Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.), chair of the committee, has pledged to kill the measure.

Wanting the amendment to succeed, Sen. Brubaker asked his colleagues to hold off on a vote until the House leadership can be convinced by citizen contacts to place the bill in a committee where it can have a fair up or down vote. It is vitally important that Speaker O'Brien rescind his threat to send the bill to its death.

Opponents of the marriage amendment prefer that judges make the decision about marriage like they've done in California and Massachusetts, not you the voter. Here in Pennsylvania, marriage amendment opponents say it is not necessary, since we already have a law on the books defining marriage as the union of husband and wife. Well, so did California, a law passed by 61% vote of the people. Now that law is gone - ruled unconstitutional by four judges.

Throughout the last three months, opponents have tried a series of political maneuvers and made a number of false claims in a desperate attempt to block Pennsylvania voters from deciding the definition of marriage. That's why your action today is vitally important.

ACTION ITEMS:
Contact: Speaker of the House Dennis O'Brien (call 717-787-4610 or email dobrien@pahousegop.com) What to say: "Please support SB 1250. When the amendment comes over from the Senate, will you please place the bill into the House Judiciary Committee." Let us know you contacted him so we can have a good idea of the number of calls getting to the Speaker.

Contact: Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (call 717-783-3797 or email repbilldeweese@pahouse.net) What to Say: "I support SB 1250. As House Majority Leader, would you please tell Speaker Dennis O'Brien to assign SB 1250 to the Judiciary committee. SB 1250 deserves a vote so please do all that you can to see it pass."

Contact: Majority Whip Keith McCall (call 717-783-1375 or email kmccall@pahouse.net) What to Say: "I support SB 1250. Would you please tell Speaker Dennis O'Brien to assign SB 1250 to the Judiciary committee where it will be brought up for a vote in a timely fashion when it comes over from the Senate. SB 1250 deserves a vote so please do all that you can to see it pass."

Contact: your State Representative (Use our Citizen Action Center to find their name and contact information)What to Say: "Would you please support SB 1250 without any changes or amendments. Also, would you to tell your leaders in the House and Senate to allow it to come up for a vote."

Contact: your State Senator (Use our Citizen Action Center to find their name and contact information)What to Say: "Would you please support SB 1250 without any changes or amendment. How do you intend to vote on SB 1250?

Contact: Sen. Mike Brubaker (email mbrubaker@pasen.gov) and Sen. John Gordner (email jgordner@pasen.gov) What to Say: "Thank you so much for your extraordinary leadership on SB 1250"


Thank you for all your efforts to help protect marriage in Pennsylvania!

LA TIMES FEATURES JUDGE WHO HELPED USSHER IN CALIFORNIA GAY MARRIAGE

Treating him like a hero. (LA Times) Another story notes “The California Supreme Court's 4-3 decision last Thursday to create homosexual marriage was "a blockbuster" that sent a shockwave that will eventually reverberate in every state of the union, according to legal experts.” (CNS News)

Back Online

My thanks go out to Jim Powers for keeping things updated for a few days. I traveled with my family to Chicago to bid farewell to my Grandfather who passed away. He was 89 and leaves a wonderful legacy in 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

McCain Rebuffs Dobson: Will Evangelicals Bolt?

From the story: Sen. John McCain's campaign has so far turned a deaf ear to invitations to meet with politically powerful evangelical leader Dr. James Dobson at his Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., raising the possibility that the nation's sizable evangelical bloc will sit out the presidential race in November.

The move would all but assure the election of Sen. Barack Obama, columnist Robert Novak argues in a recent column.

Noting that Dobson has indicated he can't support McCain for president, Novak writes that Dobson's opposition to McCain "reflects continued resistance to the prospective presidential nominee among Christian conservatives who are unhappy with McCain's current positions on stem-cell research, immigration and global warming, not to mention his past sponsorship of campaign-finance reform." Read more…

State of Pennsylvania’s Marriage Protection Amendment

Coming on the heals of the California Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage, the Pennsylvania Senate is playing a shell game with the MPA effort in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Senate has the ball in their court, but is stalling, claiming that they need certain commitments from the Pennsylvania House before continuing. This is simply not true!

The MPA, House Bill 1250, is in the Senate, it is only voted upon by the Senate members. It needs to clear the Senate before a House vote can occur. Right now, there is NOTHING that the PA House needs to do in order for the Senate to vote.

Below is an excellent “lay of the land” by Peg Luksik:

The tactic is to stall the bill between the chambers, putting grassroots activists in a "no-man's land". The Senate side of this tactic could say they needed a particular commitment from the House before they could act, and the House side could claim that since they didn't have the bill at all, no promises could be made. The citizens were then effectively trapped between the chambers with no effective place to go. At the moment, that tactic is working.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE SENATE PASSES BILLS ALL THE TIME THAT DO NOT GET THROUGH THE HOUSE, AND VICE VERSA. EACH CHAMBER IS SEPARATE FROM THE OTHER. AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON A BILL IN THE SENATE. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT BILL GETS TO THE HOUSE SIDE IS OUR PROBLEM, NOT THE SENATORS' PROBLEM.

With that in mind, here is what we need to do:

1. Tell your Senator that if the bill doesn't get out of the Senate, the arguments about the House's possible actions are moot. Our concern today is to get the bill out of the Senate. And you need your Senator to agree to three votes.

2. The first vote we need is to take the bill off the table. We need 26 votes. If we win this vote, we need Sen. Pileggi to run the bill. He has 10 days to put it on the calendar. Senator Pileggi needs to hear from you so he knows that a vote in the Senate is necessary. If he, or any other Senator, mentions the House, tell them that we will deal with the House when the bill gets there - his job is to get it there.

3. The second vote is to oppose the Vance amendment. We only need 25 votes here because when the chamber is tied, the NO's win. Any amendment needs at least 26 votes to pass. [Senator] Vance’s amendment would allow for civil unions, gutting the heart of the bill. That is the amendment that must be defeated.

4. The last vote is passage of SB 1250 itself. We need 26 votes here. Contact your Senator to get a commitment on the three votes (YES on taking it off the table, NO on Vance, YES on 1250).

California Marriage Law: 4,618,673 to Four

(FRC) After a brief period of judicial restraint, California voters watched in horror this afternoon as judicial activism returned with a vengeance in one of the most egregious rulings in American jurisprudence. It took just four activist judges to overturn the historical definition of marriage, not to mention the vote of more than four and a half million Californians, as the state supreme court issued a much-anticipated ruling on the question of same-sex "marriage."

By a 4-3 margin, the justices struck down a law, adopted by 61 percent of voters in 2000, which defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. By imposing same-sex "marriage" on voters, the California Supreme Court knowingly usurped the right of the people to effect change in public policy. This outcome is even more troubling than Massachusetts', in that California voters had already won the right to put a marriage protection amendment on the ballot in November.

How can this be? The good folks at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette emphatically stated that the effort to protect traditional marriage with a constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania was not needed. This is from the Post Gazette just 4 days ago:

“Because marriage in Pennsylvania is already defined as the union of one man and one woman -- due to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act -- the effort to pass a constitutional amendment to make the same point was always pointless. The idea that activist judges might overturn existing law in this socially conservative state never deserved to be taken seriously.”

So we have no worries because we live in a “socially conservative state”. Hardly reassuring, since the 3 of the 4 California judges voting to approve gay marriage were Republicans.

School 'Stonewalls' Over Pregnancy Poll

(WorldNetDaily) Parents whose children attend a Mississippi school embroiled in controversy after a science teacher had 6th-graders vote on who was most likely to become pregnant – or be dead – by age 19 say officials now are stonewalling them.

Parent Curtis Lyons wants to see the assignment given his daughter, but is being told he won't be allowed to review it.

"I have a right to see that assignment," he told WND today, "but I've been refused."

The controversy erupted when a science teacher at Chastain Middle School in Jackson, Miss., asked 6th-graders to vote from among themselves who was the most likely to be pregnant, infected with HIV, or dead by the age of 19.

The students initially refused to vote, but the teacher overruled them. The 6th-graders then were horrified to see their names listed on a chalkboard, ranked in lists for everyone to see.

Parents like Lyons, whose 12-year-old daughter was voted among those most likely to be pregnant, were outraged. Lyons' concerns were heightened when he sought to see the assignments his daughter's class was given, and he discovered the school had confiscated them. Read more…

Zogby Poll: 48% of Voters Dissatisfied With Candidates

From the story: Nearly half of likely voters — 48 percent — are not satisfied with the current candidates for president, with Republicans and conservative voters the most unhappy about their likely candidate choices in November, a new nationwide Zogby Interactive poll shows.

The vast majority of conservatives (76 percent) and Republicans (76 percent) expressed significant dissatisfaction with the current candidates, as did more than half of political independents (55 percent).

Pro-Life, Pro-Gun, and Pro-Pelosi

(FRC): The pundits are painting the latest special election in Mississippi as the harbinger of doom for the Republican Party in the fall. A closer look at yesterday's runoff election for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District shows that the Democrats' strategy is starting to pay dividends in red states. To help unseat Republicans, Democrats are infusing more Dixiecrats--candidates that are essentially Republican on the core social issues but Democratic in party affiliation--into local races across the country.

In this instance, Mississippi's two candidates, Travis Childers (D) and Greg Davis (R), were nearly identical on key social issues like abortion, marriage, and gun rights. In the end, Davis's inability to distinguish himself ideologically resulted in a victory for Childers, turning over a longtime GOP seat to Democrats.

The Democrats have used this same tactic to their advantage in Louisiana and Illinois, where traditional Republicans lost by narrow margins to blue "conservatives" in districts that have historically belonged to the GOP. The unfortunate reality is that once these Democrats reach Congress, they cast votes for liberal leaders like Nancy Pelosi.

Burgeoning Polar Bear Population Listed as Threatened

From the story - Even though polar bears have more than doubled in number in recent decades, the federal government has decided to list them as a "threatened" species.

"Today's decision is based on three findings," [Interior Secretary Dirk] Kempthorne said, explaining the government's logic. "First, sea ice is vital to polar bear survival. Second, the polar bear's sea-ice habitat has dramatically melted in recent decades. Third, computer models suggest sea ice is likely to further recede in the future." Read more…

Fourth, we must prevent any and all future oil drilling in the arctic regions….

Write for PowerBlog!

I'm currently looking to add a few writers to our line up here. If you are interested in sharing your comments on news, politics or religion with PowerBlog! readers please email me.

There's no money involved but often times posts here are picked up by other sources. I'll be taking a brief blogging break soon and would like to provide an opportunity for contributors to join us.

Email me your name and writing interests. Feel free to include samples or a web link.

Thanks,

Powerball

Did gaming board break law?

Six state lawmakers called Tuesday for the state attorney general to investigate whether state gaming regulators broke the law when they, according to sources, ordered their investigators to change a background report on Mount Airy Casino Resort owner Louis DeNaples. Read More

Get ready for less college aid

For thousands of Pennsylvania college students, turmoil in the financial aid sector will hit home this fall, with average state grants that could be $500 smaller than last year, the head of the state's loan agency said yesterday. Read More

Save the Earth.... DIE

If you really want a pristine planet then we must get rid of all the humans messing it up. That's the opinion of a new organization called the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement.

I can't make this stuff up! They are recruiting people to remain childless for "the benefit of the Earth." I'm really thankful these folks have at least opted out of reproducing but I'm not signing up for their group.

It sound crazy to most people, but we do have birth rates falling well below replacement levels in some countries. While this can be blamed on several factors ranging from the sexual revolution to delayed childbearing, we can't overlook the impact that the global warming debate has had on society's opinion of the family.

The green crowd continues to twist the so-called "climate crisis" into an excuse to push their agenda of population control. As a result, children are being viewed by some not as blessings but burdens who consume precious natural resources.

I don't understand how we have arrived at this way of thinking. We don't value human life. Abortions are fine. Yet when it comes to polar bears and spotted owls it's a different story.

We have lived far too long pretending that human life does not matter. If we don't change our thinking now, we do in fact volunteer for our own extinction.

You Decide

Years ago I worked at a large concert venue. The line for the restroom was always much longer for the women. Women in dire need would often attempt to sneak in and use the men's room. That can lead to trouble....

So from time to time it was my job to make sure that everyone went where they were supposed to go.

I'll never forget seeing this person with long flowing blond hair heading into the men's room. As I went to stop "her" I discovered it was not a her, but a biker dude with long blond hair. He was nice about it and went on his way without trying to kill me.

Take a look at the photo. You see this person going into the woman's restroom and you have one second to decide if it's a man or woman. A bouncer guessed Man and it cost $35,000. A restaurant has agreed to pay $35,000 to settle a lawsuit with Khadijah Farmer, a lesbian who said a bouncer chased her out of the women's bathroom and forced her to leave because she looked masculine. Does she not own a mirror? Lady, you DO look masculine!

Farmer said the confrontation occurred after she attended New York City's annual Gay Pride march. While she may be proud to be gay, she should be ashamed of herself for expecting people to understand her twisted view of reality. I hope she uses that money for a make over and buys a dress or something.

Story

MOHLER RESPONDS TO EVANGELICAL MANIFESTO

From Mohler: In the end, I must judge "An Evangelical Manifesto" to be too expansive in terms of public relations and too thin in terms of theology. I admire so much of what this document states and represents, but I cannot accept it as a whole. I want it to be even more theological, and to be far more specific about the Gospel, I agree with the framers that Evangelicals should be defined theologically, rather than politically, culturally, or socially. This document will have to be much more theological for it to accomplish its own stated purpose. (Albert Mohler)

DEMOCRATS VOTE TO INCREASE TAXES

With Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross insisting the victims are “not going to miss it.”

If any of you has money that you are not going to miss please email me for an address where to send it!

AP

CLINTON WINS IN WEST VIRGINIA

The numbers. (CNN) Story notes “the Clinton win prolongs the race and fuels the New York senator’s argument that she is able to carry groups that will be important to Democrats in November.” (FOX News)

One telling statement from an exit poll: Though Obama has denounced his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, for saying the U.S. invited the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other statements, half said they believed the Illinois senator shares Wright's views a lot or somewhat. Eight in 10 of them backed Clinton. (Washington Times)

Time Magazine blames racism. (Time)

Graduation Exam Plan Sparks Great Debate

From the story: The plan to require Pennsylvania high school students to pass graduation competency exams will be the hot topic at a state Senate Education Committee hearing in Harrisburg today.

Much of today's testimony, including that of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association, is expected to be negative toward the state Board of Education's plan to require high school students to pass certain tests to graduate, beginning with the class of 2014.

The PSEA yesterday issued a release stating that 22 statewide organizations oppose the plan and 130 school boards have passed resolutions against it. Critics argue it's unfair to allow the tests alone to prevent graduation and that the state is taking away local control. Read more….

This may be the only time that I’ll ever agree with the PSBA and PSEA, but for different reasons. The assessment being used by the PA Dept. of Education, the PSSA, has a long sorry history of asking non-academic, psychological questions. It is subjectively scored, and last time that I looked, cost about 3 times as much as other comparable tests.