News | Posts Filtered by Month

As PA's Attorney General, Josh Shapiro fought to enable women to access the reproductive health care, including abortion, that they chose. As governor, he is expanding protections for PA residents and also for out-of-state patients who seek such care.

A page on the State of Pennsylvania website offers support and links to resources which women seek reproductive healthcare need.

Vote Democrat to protect every woman's bodily autonomy and healthcare options.

Share this:

Link: https://newtowndemocrats.org/blog/Women-Have-the-Right-to-Choose-in-Pennsylvania-14/

April 8, 2023
Fitzpatrick's Vote for the Parents' Bill of Rights Puts Children at Risk
by Lynda Mintz

Brian Fitzpatrick's vote for the "Parents' Bill of Rights" puts children at risk. Teachers' unions should no longer endorse our divisive Congressman.

Fitzpatrick recently voted for HR 5, the "Parents' Bill of Rights." The title is misleading. Parents don't need a bill of rights, they have all the rights they need. This bill is supported by Moms for Liberty, and is strongly opposed by the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA).

The reality of this bill and of the parents' rights movement is that they aim to empower a reactionary minority of parents who want to dictate curriculum and school climate to our entire community. The goal is to ban books about transgender children and about other disadvantaged and vulnerable students, and to prevent teachers from sharing facts related to race and gender.

The bill aims to ban books and restrict curricula, all in the name of "parents' rights" and "transparency." In addition, parents are given the "right to know" about a school's bathroom policy and sports policy regarding transgender kids.

Consider the implications of a book ban against transgender youth. Sometimes a book may be all they have to get through the tough, ugly times in middle and high school. I remember those times, do you? If a book – "When Harry Became Sally." "Found in Transition", "I Am Jazz" – could help them with their situation in life, why would that be denied?

Diversity, inclusion, and acceptance are what makes good productive citizens. This legislation is dangerous. I am calling on NEA and PSEA to end their support for Brian Fitzpatrick. He is not a friend of education.

Lynda Mintz is a retired school nurse and singer/songwriter.

Share this:

Link: https://newtowndemocrats.org/blog/Fitzpatricks-Vote-for-the-Parents-Bill-of-Rights-Puts-Children-at-Risk-12/

April 8, 2023
Ashley Ehasz Runs Again

Ashley Ehasz will once again seek to represent Bucks County in the U.S. Congress.

Ashley Ehasz in 2022. From her campaign website.

Ehasz was defeated by incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick in 2022. Ehasz expects that the shifting political climate here and in the United States as a whole will bring about a different outcome in 2024. Quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Ehasz said, "In my heart of hearts, I believe democracy needs this seat flipped." We could not agree more.

Share this:

Link: https://newtowndemocrats.org/blog/Ashley-Ehasz-Runs-Again-13/

April 5, 2023
Video: In Defense of Public Education

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten breaks down right-wing attacks on public education, a charts a way forward.

Newtown Democrats support public education and work to strengthen our public schools in Bucks County. If you value our schools, one way to help is to vote for and campaign for our excellent slate of Council Rock Board of School Directors.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten

Share this:

Link: https://newtowndemocrats.org/blog/Video-In-Defense-of-Public-Education-11/

April 2, 2023
Golden Years... On $30 Per Month
by Steve Cickay

A recent article by Associated Press reporter Matt Sedensky, “In nursing homes, impoverished live final days on pennies,” exposed the hardships so many of our elderly experience in nursing homes across our great nation. We should and can do better.

The article reminds us that we are failing the test Hubert Humphrey challenged us with many decades ago: “The moral test of government is how it treats those.. who are in the twilight of life, the elderly.”

What touched my soul was the story of Philadelphia nursing home resident Alex Morisey, a Quaker who spent his life serving others, who now has trouble replacing his tattered shorts or even buying a can of Diet Pepsi.

As Sedensky explains:

Nearly two-thirds of American nursing home residents have their care paid for by Medicaid and, in exchange, all Social Security, pension and other income they would receive is instead rerouted to go toward their bill. The [Medicaid] personal needs allowance is meant to pay for anything not provided by the home, from a phone to clothes and shoes to a birthday present for a grandchild.

Incredibly the personal needs allowance rate hasn’t changed in 36 years and some receive a mere $30 a month.

The personal needs allowance has received scant attention in Congress. Notes Sedensky:

Some politicians have tried to fix the problem, including Rep. Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat from Virginia who in 2019 introduced a bill to raise the minimum allowance to $60 and cement annual increases tied to those for Social Security. It didn’t even get a hearing.

Congress should be hard at work helping those in need by passing legislation to link the Medicaid personal stipend to the cost-of-living index.

Our leaders should be addressing real problems real Americans face every day. Our senior citizens should not be spending their golden years wondering whether their toothpaste will last until the end of the month in our great United States of America.

Share this:

Link: https://newtowndemocrats.org/blog/Golden-Years-On-30-Per-Month-10/

April 1, 2023
Single Use Plastics Ordinance Moves Forward

At a meeting on April 3, the Newtown Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) will unveil a draft single use plastics ordinance for review by businesses and by the public.