Pennsylvania

The first question is as follows:

“Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration—and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration—through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval?”

Vote NO.

If passed, this ballot measure would give partisan Pennsylvania legislators ultimate control over the handling and declaration of emergency or natural disasters and allow legislators to terminate an emergency declaration without cause or concern.

This is a Republican-driven measure that would insert partisan politics into emergency and natural disaster response, drastically affecting the speed and efficiency of state government to aid communities in crisis. Requiring the governor’s signature, as currently requisite, assures the handling of a disaster is thoroughly managed through the proper checks and balances. If a disaster declaration lapsed for any reason, emergency managers and first responders would lose precious time and resources, and communities risk losing relief and recovery funding from the state and federal governments. Such relief includes flood assistance and funding to rebuild homes and small businesses.

In the midst of vaccine distribution and continued threats from unknown variants, inserting partisan legislators into our public health response could be disastrous. Pennsylvania has made great strides to ramp-up vaccination efforts and we cannot allow politics to get in the way of our path toward ending the pandemic. Among those driving this measure are reckless Republican legislators who wanted to  eliminate mask and social distancing rules that keep communities safe while allowing businesses to be open.

This ballot measure is NOT progressive, vote ‘NO’.

The second question is as follows:

“Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management?”

Vote NO.

If passed, this measure would limit the total length of an emergency disaster declaration to 21 days, and said declaration could only be extended through passage of a concurrent resolution by partisan politicians in the Pennsylvania state legislature.

Disasters have no time limit and should be handled with the utmost care, not used as fodder for a partisan fight or reduced to a battleground for unnecessary legislation. If passed, this amendment would hand the partisan legislature a crucial and deciding role in response efforts to disasters in our communities.

Disaster response in the United States has been some of the best in the developed world because experts are able to move swiftly to save lives without career politicians jockeying for power and sound-bites. This amendment would create unnecessary bureaucracy and give politicians, not experts, the authority to disrupt emergency response for partisan reasons or incompetence.

This ballot measure is NOT progressive, vote ‘NO’.

The third question is as follows:

“Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended by adding a new section providing that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of an individual’s race or ethnicity?”

VOTE YES.

If passed, this amendment would prohibit restricting or denying an individual’s equal rights because of race or ethnicity and enshrine equal rights under the law for all Pennsylvanians.

Introduced by State Senator Vincent Hughes, this amendment would protect Pennsylvania from transgressions happening at the federal level. The Trump Administration appointed dozens of questionable and unqualified individuals with a track record of discrimination to the federal bench. If passed, this amendment would enshrine equal protection for all at the state level, despite ever-changing political winds in Washington. That includes protections around housing and healthcare, workplace rights, and policing reform.

Once added to the Pennsylvania Constitution, the right to be free from racial or ethnic discrimination under the law cannot be eliminated except by a judicial decision finding the amendment unconstitutional or the approval of a subsequent constitutional amendment. If approved, the General Assembly may pass new laws to implement the amendment, but it may not pass a law inconsistent with it. To ensure protections based on race and ethnicity for all Pennsylvanians, voters should vote YES on this question.

This ballot measure is progressive, vote ‘YES’.

The fourth question is as follows:

“Do you favor expanding the use of the indebtedness authorized under the referendum for loans to volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance services and volunteer rescue squads under 35 PA.C.S. §7378.1 (related to referendum for additional indebtedness) to include loans to municipal fire departments or companies that provide services through paid personnel and emergency medical services companies for the purpose of establishing and modernizing facilities to house apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles, and for purchasing apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles, protective and communications equipment and any other accessory equipment necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the fire companies and emergency medical services companies?”

VOTE YES.

If passed, this amendment would allow municipal fire departments and EMS companies with paid employees, in addition to volunteer departments and companies, to apply for critical state loans. Importantly, these funds can be used to modernize or purchase necessary safety equipment for first responders. This referendum is a common-sense way to help local emergency responders, especially in rural and underserved areas, keep Pennsylvania safe and ensure they have the equipment they need to help communities in crisis. Voters should vote 'YES' on this question.

This ballot measure is progressive, vote ‘YES’.