By Holly Otterbein

– State Senator Vincent Hughes’ upcoming legislation would register all citizens when they sign up for a state benefit, service or license.

– State Sen. Vincent Hughes traveled to Selma, Alabama this past weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement in which police brutally beat non-violent activists. The events led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Hughes, a Philadelphia Democrat, says he is now introducing legislation that would implement universal voter registration across Pennsylvania in order to honor those who demonstrated in 1965.

“Fifty years ago, thousands of people marched in Selma, Alabama, to fight for the right to vote for all Americans. Many gave their lives in that struggle,” he says in a statement. “We have made much progress as a nation since then, but the dream of universal access to the polls is something that is still yet to be obtained.”

Under his upcoming legislation, Hughes says government agencies would automatically register Pennsylvania residents to vote.

“Under current law, citizens are given the option to ‘opt-in’ by filling out a voter registration form when they apply for a public benefit, service or license through the Department of Transportation or other state agencies currently authorized to assist with registering voters,” he says. “Under my proposal, a state agency would automatically collect an individual’s relevant voting-related information with the application and send it electronically to the Department of State and to the counties for purposes of registering the voter.”

Hughes is planning to introduce the legislation next week. It will likely face an uphill battle in the GOP-controlled General Assembly. Conservatives tend to argue that universal voter registration is costly and that residents should decide for themselves whether to sign up. There are also political implications: It is generally understood that the Democratic Party stands to benefit the most from universal voter registration because many non-voters are part of demographic groups that typically support Dems.

Spokespersons for Republican leaders in the state House and Senate did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the proposal.

Source: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/03/10/vincent-hughes-pa-needs-automatic-universal-voter-registration/

By Michael Madowitz & Danielle Corley

– The labor market is much healthier today than at any point since the Great Recession, but beneath the top-line numbers, it still has a long way to go before it returns to historically healthy conditions. Policymakers and pundits have taken far too much comfort in the decline in the headline unemployment rate. The extent to which unemployment has dropped depends on how it’s measured, especially in this recovery. When policymakers talk about the need to let off the gas pedal and start tightening policy, which Congress has been proudly doing since 2010, they are consciously or unconsciously taking a myopic view of the labor market’s recovery and causing permanent damage to the economy.

If we do not aggressively reintroduce the workers who have left the labor force and reduce the number of long-term unemployed, not only would it be an injustice to them, but it would also be a huge, permanent shrinking of the American economy as a whole.

Source: http://app.mx3.americanprogressaction.org/e/es.aspx?s=785&e=785474&elq=de7e9a05844b4d45b5c1f880c58db023&elqaid=24880&elqat=1&elqTrackId=8581aac56ecd4290885bec2ab22701cf

(3/4 – PODCAST) – Today In PhillyLabor Radio Podcast Featuring Pa. State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo and Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, Apprentice Coordinators, Joe Frick and Bob Paul.

Featured Topics – Modernization “Not” Privatization of PA.’s Liquor Stores, A Spotlight On Union Apprenticeship Programs.

To Listen, go to: http://wwdbam.com/2015/03/04/jk030415_mono/

By The PA. AFL-CIO

– Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder are pleased with Governor Tom Wolf’s budget proposal today in keeping with the campaign promises he made to the working people of Pennsylvania.

“Governor Wolf’s budget makes the much needed investments in education, health, and human services that will restore our state as a leader in job creation, prosperity and economic growth for years to come. It eliminates the budget deficit by making sure corporations pay their fair share, providing tax relief to middle class working families, and proposes improvements in wages and opportunities for working families. The Governor’s budget is a good blueprint to help begin the work of expanding our middle class and restoring Pennsylvania’s economic strength. It is what we need to get Pennsylvania moving again.” Bloomingdale said.

“Working families are the backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy. This budget pursues the policies that protects and grows more good jobs for Pennsylvania, improves wages, protect pensions, and boosts workforce development and training, which will expand of our middle class. This budget proposal is our opportunity to put our state back on the map as a leader in job creation and economic opportunity for all. Putting Pennsylvania first – that’s what this budget does,” Snyder said.

http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5824

By Dale Mezzacappa

– Gov. Wolf has asked Marjorie Neff to take over as the chair of the School Reform Commission, ousting Bill Green from that role.

“The School District of Philadelphia is in dire financial straits, and our children are being put at a disadvantage as a result of misguided cuts and poor decisions,” the governor said in a statement. “The district was forced to make major cutbacks in transportation, security, and janitorial services just to open on time last year. We must make new investments in education and provide a fresh path forward for Philadelphia’s schools.”

Green, who gave up his City Council seat when he was appointed by former Gov. Tom Corbett, said he was “concerned by the Governor’s belief that he can influence this body. The School Reform Commission is a governing body that has taken hard decisions and is built to stand apart from political influence.” He said he believed that Wolf had “no legal basis” for naming another commissioner as chair.

Jeffrey Sheridan, Wolf’s spokesman, said via email that Wolf is “well within his authority to name a new chair of the SRC.”

Neff, who was appointed by Mayor Nutter, was the only one of the five commissioners to vote against approving any new charter schools last week. With 39 applications, the SRC approved five. The SRC was under pressure from Wolf, on the one hand, who said the District couldn’t afford more charter schools, and Republican legislative leaders, on the other, who wanted all “qualified” applicants approved.

Neff, a 38-year veteran of the District, retired last year as principal of Julia R. Masterman Demonstration School, the city’s premier special admission school.

“Marjorie has dedicated her entire career to education, and she shares my vision for investing in public education so our children have the resources they need to succeed in a modern economy,” Wolf said in the statement. “I am confident that Marjorie will be able to engage in a collaborative way the different interests involved in leading the school district and it will be refreshing to have an educator who understands the needs of our schools as chair. I look forward to working with her to restore cuts and reverse the public education deficit in Philadelphia.”

Neff, reached by telephone in Florida, said that the governor asked her to assume the chair this past week.

“I thought about it, I talked to my family about it, and I decided I would do it,” she said. “The governor said it was an opportunity to work with him on his vision for public education. I thought about my skill set, experiences I’ve had — I thought I could do it.”

She said she didn’t know exactly why Wolf made the decision. “He asked me to make a contribution. I feel for the first time in a long time we have a governor interested in reinvesting in public education, and I’m excited to work with him on that.”

She said that she had “no quarrel with Bill Green,” and that “he’s been a good chair during very difficult times this past year. I’m glad he’s going to stay on the SRC.”

Last week, the SRC decided to take to the the Supreme Court its effort to void the contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and redirect savings on benefit costs into schools. While Neff didn’t say directly whether she thought this was a good idea, she said it is important to have “clarity” on the extent of the SRC’s powers. It was given special powers when the state took over the District due to its fiscal distress.

“I think we need clarification on what we can and what we can’t do,” she said. “The Commonwealth Court decision was not clear.”

Neff said that while the situation is now “awkward” for the five-member panel, she has no doubts about its ability to continue to work together. “I feel this is a group of people that is going to rise above it. Certainly, Bill has risen above it. We are five different people with five views on almost everything, but we work together very well.”

Feather Houstoun, another Corbett appointee, said, “I think Bill has been a terrific chair, and Marge will be also. We have worked together with Bill Hite and his team and will continue to do so.”

Source: http://thenotebook.org/blog/158277/gov-wolf-names-marjorie-neff-chair-src-green-says-hell-fight-move