Beast of a Feast on June 4

The Elmwood Park Zoo is hosting the annual Beast of a Feast fundraiser on June 4th. For $75.00 you get 3 1/2 hours of fun, food tastings, dancing, and casino style gaming. Details at: http://www.epzevents.com/

Planned Parenthood on HB 574

from the inbox:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD RESPONDS TO DRAMATIC AND DANGEROUS ABORTION FACILITY REGULATION BILL

HARRISBURG, PA - Today the Pennsylvania House of Representatives ignored the needs of thousands of Pennsylvania women and voted to pass H.B. 574, a dangerous bill that would regulate free standing abortion providers as ambulatory surgical facilities (ASF) and subject them to the ambulatory surgical facility regulations. Abortion is the only medical procedure with its own set of burdensome state regulations in existence today, but H.B. 574 would heap on additional unnecessary and costly requirements such as the tripling of procedure rooms from their current size.

“We are disheartened to see that so many house members are content to see ANY bill, rather then a good bill, pass” says Sari Stevens, Executive Director for Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates. “We had an opportunity to ensure that the tragedy of Kermit Gosnell would not be repeated in our state. Instead, we may see reputable, safe providers shutting their doors and more substandard clinics operating under the radar to fill that gap.”

Currently, Pennsylvania abortion providers operate under several forms of regulation including Ambulatory Gynecological Surgery in Hospitals and Clinics, the Abortion Control Act, the MCARE Act, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

Neither the Secretary of Health, Dr. Eli Avila, nor the Chairwoman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, Senator Pat Vance, believe including abortion providers under the ambulatory surgical facility regulation is necessary. “It’s surprising that a male attorney has become the expert on abortion regulation with no testimony or even so much as a public hearing on the matter, when the licensed doctor heading the Department of Health and the former nurse heading the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee both support a different legislative response to this situation” said Stevens.

Proponents of the bill point to the Grand Jury indictment of Kermit Gosnell, which initially recommended applying Ambulatory Surgical Facility regulations to independent abortion providers. Yet they fail to mention that the District Attorney himself clarified that position in a letter to House leadership last week, saying the following: “HB 574 goes beyond the scope of the Grand Jury report and would bring under the scope of both the Health Care Facilities Act and the ASF regulations facilities that are presently not included in either.”

Furthermore, the Grand Jury report and indictment of Kermit Gosnell actually praised the independent abortion facilities that would be forced to cease operations under the proposed legislation: “Many organizations that perform safe abortion procedures do their own monitoring and adhere to strict, self-imposed standards of quality. But the excellent safety records and the quality care that these independently monitored clinics deliver to patients are no thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.”

“The purpose of abortion regulations should be to protect women’s health, not shut down safe providers,” remarked Dayle Steinberg, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania. “Providers who conform to the regulations currently in place are providing a high level of care. What we saw with the events at the Gosnell clinic was someone who willfully disregarded these standards and regulations. Women need accessible care and better enforcement of existing regulations, not additional, unnecessary regulations and politically motivated attacks.”

The sponsor of H.B. 574 and its proponents continue to claim that this bill will not decrease access to safe medical care. Yet when anti-abortion organizations urged a previous victim of Kermit Gosnell to testify before the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee she made it clear that she had sought out his clinic because he was “the doctor she could afford.” By pushing H.B. 574, these hard-line anti-abortion organizations will severely increase the cost of an abortion by over 400% and decrease access to high quality providers. Despite their claims, H.B. 574 has one purpose - to close the safe, affordable abortion providers that Pennsylvania women trust. It has nothing to do with keeping women safe.

Seth Willliams Endorses Patrick Murphy

from the inbox:

Today, Philadelphia’s top law enforcement official, District Attorney Seth Williams, endorsed Iraq war veteran and former Congressman Patrick Murphy for Pennsylvania Attorney General.

“Tough and smart, Patrick Murphy has the experience and passion to protect the people of Pennsylvania. As Attorney General, Patrick will be the champion that local law enforcement needs to put dangerous criminals behind bars and keep our streets safe,” said Williams. “Patrick put his life on the line to defend our nation. He will bring that commitment to this job, and Pennsylvania will be safer for it.”

“Patrick understands that we owe it to Pennsylvanians to prevent crime, not just punish it. That means tackling the problems that lead to crime and providing alternatives to young people so we can keep them out of the criminal justice system,” Williams said.

“Law enforcement should be proactive, not reactive. Patrick and I share a comprehensive approach to fighting crime – one that goes beyond the courtroom and into communities, where we can empower residents and give them a role in making our neighborhoods safer,” Williams said. “I’m looking forward to working with Patrick on efforts like our Community Action Centers and reducing gun violence in our cities.”

“Seth Williams is a strong, innovative leader and prosecutor. He has an inspiring vision for a safer Philadelphia and he has done great work in a short period of time,” Murphy said. “I’m honored to have DA Williams’ support and I look forward to making sure he has the tools he needs to continue his aggressive agenda.”

A Brief Note on SB1

The shocking proposed cuts to the education budget, lack of a severance tax, and fights over public education have been widely aired in the traditional and online media. I haven't mentioned it much for a few reasons. Here are some random thoughts on education.

First off, from a very selfish standpoint, my household won't be that affected. Our school district has come to an understanding with the teachers' union, so there will be no strike or hyperbolic public media.

Over the past few years the percentage of educational funding from the state in my school district has been decreasing, and more and more comes from local revenue sources; residents seem willing to spend for education and the schools have kept tax increases low. At this point a cut in state funding is alarming but we'll survive. The school board has said they have enough money to cover the cuts for the next few years. I'm hoping by that time everyone comes to their senses. There isn't a big demand for charter schools in my area; in fact private schools have been closing because of declining enrollment.

While some of the more hyperbolic speakers have backed down, let's be upfront about the fact that teachers have been trounced in the media. The implication has been that they are greedy, lazy, puppets of their union who care nothing about their students. C'mon, let's not sugarcoat it -- that's what teachers have been called lately. There's a lot of talk about weeding out the bad teachers, like their are oodles of them lurking about. As an involved parent I haven't found that at all. Not all teachers are a match for all students. But that doesn't make them bad teachers, just not the best teacher for that particular child. Most of our teachers are doing the best they can for a comparatively low salary.

If we aren't using statewide mandated testing and test scores, what criteria will be used to evaluate teachers? How can you compare districts? Who decides what is creativity and what is unorganized time wasting? A lot of that is in the eye of the beholder and innovative programs often take a few years to get off the ground. If teachers are afraid of losing their jobs or job security with one or two bad years no one is going to take a risk.

I don't understand the concept of charter schools very well. I don't see how you can compare a traditional public school to a charter school unless the charters are assigned students at random from the public schools. As long as a school can select students, even if they are selected by lottery from those who apply (because only the motivated parents will apply), it won't have to deal with the violent, the learning disabled, the students from disorganized non-functioning homes. As long as traditional public schools have to take every student who lives in the area regardless of the student's behavior or family history, there will be problems in public schools.

One factor that comes into play with public education is the critical mass. It's like the herd immunity that comes from a high percentage of vaccinations in a given area. A good school can absorb one or two violent students, provided those students are dealt with. When a critical mass of students start talking about college in elementary school it affects the rest of the students, giving them food for thought. A good school can improve the behavior of borderline students if the majority of the students are well-behaved but if that balance slips the entire school will slide downward. In my school district teachers for one grade can give a summer assignment to their incoming students. A critical mass will do the assignment which lets the class get off to an accelerated pace. The other students are carried along on the wave. A critical mass of involved parents gives a class more options in class events, guest speakers, enhanced activities. One of the unspoken factors in a good school is critical mass.

A student who is exposed to a larger vocabulary as a preschooler, whether hearing conversation among adults and other kids, or by being read to, or watching educational television, will do better in school that a student who hears fewer words and is not exposed to literature. Students whose parents put a premium on education, reward good school performance, and provide a positive homework environment and structure (helping the student break large assignments into steps and providing time management guidelines) are likely to do better in school than students whose parents don't. There is nothing a teacher can do to get rid of that gap.

It is foolish to assume that if experienced teachers are laid off or hounded out the profession, that a large group of better younger teachers who will work for less money is waiting in the wings, especially if teachers are held in low regard. A math or science major, the sort of people you want teaching math and science, just isn't going to go into teaching if it pays geometrically less than other careers open to them, and if it is viewed contemptuously by the general public. Cutting teacher pay and benefits won't help matters.

I'm confused about what happens if teachers lose the ability to collectively bargain. Would each individual teacher negotiate with the principal for their salary every year? Teachers only change jobs at certain times of the year. In a world where each teacher is a free agent there would be a flurry of poaching in the early spring as schools line up their teachers for the next year. Would schools pay their "stars" more to keep them? That would mean a smaller pie for the rest of the teachers. It would drive down the average salary. A school that imposed lower salaries for everyone would lose their best quality teachers to higher paying districts. The thing about union contracts is that people know what they are going to be paid for at least a few years into the future. While most contracts allow for "out of cycle" salary adjustments the vast majority of teachers stay put (unless, like a sizable percentage every year, they leave the profession altogether) because they have a secure job with a known salary a few years out. Tenure provides the security that allows for experimentation and innovation. A multi-year contract that spells out what criteria will be used for evaluation allows teachers to hone their skills. A constantly changing evaluation criteria makes it more difficult for teachers to meet that criteria.

Violent acts in school should not be permitted. First offenders need some punishment and counseling to learn better behaviors. After that any repeated violent acts should lead to a separation from the general population with a return earned with proven change. Most of us don't have to worry about being attacked in the course of our daily job; our children shouldn't either.

To sum it up, I like public schools and most importantly, I like the public schools my children attend. Those schools will survive the current economic situation with limited damage. We can ride it out. That's why I haven't been screaming about the budget or schools. Our teachers know they are valued. Teacher Appreciation Week is a fairly big deal around here with parent fueled events or activities in most if not all schools. We have school nurses and school librarians and libraries, art and music teachers, and guidance counselors; we have parent volunteers. It's easy for parents to interact with teachers and school administrators. Many classrooms have enough textbooks that there is a classroom set that stays at school and a second set that students can bring home and keep at home throughout the year. That means they don't have to haul them back and forth all the time. The population is stable enough that most of the books are returned at the end of the year. When a class reads a book there is usually a classroom set of the book so that all students get a copy to use. In at least one of the secondary schools the music department has a classroom set of guitars. Think about the options that opens up for the teachers. Things will tighten up but we'll be okay.

A lot of other schools won't ride it out, though. A lot of public schools are going to suffer significantly. At least a few grades at those schools will lose ground and either stay behind or have to work hard to play catch up. There will be a lost generation. The high school kids will be at a particular disadvantage as they won't be able to catch up before graduation or dropping out. My school district can hunker down and see what the next election brings. A lot of school districts can't. The divide between school districts will widen. It won't be good for the state's future workforce and it certainly won't be good for the property values or social fabric of the school districts that slide backward.

My school district will be okay. If yours won't you should be screaming about it.

Shapiro / Richards on Farmers Market Regulations

from the inbox:

Shapiro, Richards question county regs on farmers' markets

Abington, PA (May 9, 2011) - Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards, the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County commissioner, have sent a letter to the county health department on behalf of county farmers' markets urging the county to reconsider new regulations, which "go beyond" what the state Department of Agriculture requires.

The Montgomery County Commissioners are expected to address the new regulations at their weekly meeting on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

In their letter to Director of Health Dr. Joseph M. DiMino, Shapiro and Richards said, "Like you, we are committed to revitalizing our communities and helping to provide safe access to locally produced meats, fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, a number of the new county regulations threaten the livelihood of many vendors and put the markets in our county at a competitive disadvantage with surrounding counties."

The letter also said that the new regulations "will likely prohibit many vendors from participating in markets in Montgomery County."

Shapiro and Richards said that the "most burdensome" regulations are those requiring "significant physical upgrades at each vendor station along with hefty permitting fees."

While there are a multitude of new regulations in Montgomery County, the most controversial and damaging to the future viability of the markets are:

A requirement for a vendor to have a portable, hot-water sink on site (costs range from $750 to $1500), if they are handling any unpackaged food. This would include a vendor offering sample of fruits, or a winery offering samples in disposable cups.
A requirement of a $100 permitting fee for every market at which a vendor participates, instead of a single fee to do business at Montgomery County markets. Some vendors participate in several markets.

In recent news reports, vendors have claimed that these regulations alone would "overwhelm" annual sales.

Shapiro and Richards ask DiMino to join with them in creating "an environment where farmers' markets can thrive in Montgomery County by creating regulations that support farmers and our local economy, while ensuring customers have a safe and enjoyable shopping experience."

A Note from Joe Hoeffel

from last Friday's inbox:

May 6, 2011

Dear Friends:

Since my last report, government at all levels continues to face a number of challenges. The resurgent right wing in American politics is not getting it right. Progressive principles of social liberalism and fiscal responsibility are needed as never before to resolve these problems and improve the quality of life for all.

My focus as county commissioner continues in three areas: economic development, transportation funding and open space preservation. County staff is working hard to coordinate our investments in these programs to leverage our dollars, attract private investment and jump start economic activity.

In addition to the 600 jobs saved and created in our county seat by our investment in the newly-renamed Norristown Center, we are starting a micro grant program aimed at smaller businesses. We need more investment in our older communities and downtowns, and more jobs throughout the county.

We are re-directing open space dollars to focus on development of the Schuylkill River Greenway. With limited public dollars, we can improve access to the Valley Forge Trail by the river, connect more public land along the river, encourage small retail operations to supply services and equipment to trail users, and improve public use and enjoyment of the Schuylkill. People love rivers. Provide good access and amenities and the people will come.

I am working hard at the county and as chair of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to secure funding for two critical transportation projects, improving Rt. 422 and expanding commuter train service in the 422 corridor, and building a new turnpike interchange for Norristown. Governor Corbett has appointed a transportation funding commission to recommend ways to increase revenue, which could include registration increases, user fees, new tolls and public-private partnerships. You get what you pay for in this life, and Pennsylvania needs more investment in our roads, bridges and public transportation. Stay tuned for more developments when the commission makes its recommendations to the governor by August 1.

In the last few months as the GOP and the Tea Party have been flexing their muscles, the Republicans seems to have lost their collective minds. Lurching wildly to the right wing, they want to privatize Medicare and block grant Medicaid. They want to cut the top income tax rates for individuals and for corporations from 35% to 25%. Governor Corbett took $800,000 in campaign donations from the gas companies last year and won't tax them this year. The Governor wants to cut public schools 10% and start private school vouchers with public dollars. He wants to cut higher education 50% and urges state colleges to make up the difference by drilling gas wells on campus.

Progressives need to fight back. The voters don't like policies from the political extremes. We need to press the fight for socially liberal and fiscally responsible solutions to our mutual challenges. I will keep sending my ideas and proposals if you are willing to keep reading them. Please let me hear from you.

And to all you wonderful mothers, from all the people who love you, Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day Post: Read Tina Fey's Book

Tina Fey has written a book about her life, called Bossypants. Mother's Day is almost over but if you have not yet found a gift for your mother, or if you are a mother and did not get any presents you like, consider buying this book.

It is not an autobiography in the traditional sense. The chapters bounce around a little in time. It is more a collection of essays about her life. She grew up in the Philadelphia suburban area, Upper Darby to be exact. She was involved in area theater while in high school. She writes about important influence her father, always referred to as Don Fey, had on her life. Her mother sometimes acted as a translator and intermediary for teachers and the Greek immigrant community. In one example given a teacher asks Mrs. Fey to tell a mother that her child is disruptive. Mrs. Fey tells the mother the teacher says her son is a good boy, because she knew an accurate translation would bring punishment to the boy. We also learn that Greek families bought Italian cakes for children's birthday parties not for the taste but because it was the most expensive item in the bakery and was a sign of social status and financial stability. Fey also recounts driving across Pennsylvania at the holidays so she and her husband can both visit their families.

While I enjoyed the local flavor what I enjoyed more was Fey's chapters on being a woman in television. She has worked behind the cameras as well as in front of them. She writes about her "Saturday Night Live" years, as well as what she learned there from Lorne Michaels. She also writes about her various roles (creator, writer, actress) at "30 Rock."

It is not a gossip book (though there is a little of that -- such as her meeting with Sarah Palin) or a feminist manifesto, though I enjoyed the inclusion of comments about her left at websites and her responses to them. It is clearly written by a woman and I loved reading such a book from a female perspective.

The books' tone reminds me of Steve Martin's autobiography, but also Gilda Radner's. It has the light touch and humor of both.

In short, buy this book.

Schwartz on Health Care Quality Improvement

from the inbox:

On Friday May 6th, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Deputy Administrator Cindy Mann, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional Director Joanne Grossi, will join hospital officials, patients, industry representatives, and other key health care stakeholders at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to highlight the Partnership for Patients initiative.

The Partnership will help save 60,000 lives by stopping millions of preventable injuries and complications in patient care over the next three years and has the potential to save up to $35 billion, including up to $10 billion for Medicare. Over the next 10 years, it could reduce costs to Medicare by about $50 billion and result in billions more in Medicaid savings.

Schwartz has led the charge in Congress for health care quality improvement through innovation in the delivery system. Her work on the Affordable Care Act included the establishment of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, which will administer the Partnership for Patients.

Already, more than 1,200 hospitals, as well as some 2,500 physicians and nurses organizations, consumer groups, and employers have pledged their commitment to this initiative. Among hospitals committed to patient safety, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is highly regarded in the industry and has been recognized at both the national and local level.

For more details on the Partnership for Patients, please go to http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/partnership04122011a.html .

Obama at Ft. Campbell

This is a longer "from the inbox" post than I usually run, but it resonates with me for more than the obvious reason. President Obama spoke at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky last week. I lived near Ft. Campbell twice as a girl, a year each time when my father was stationed there; I went to Ringgold Elementary School in Clarksville, Tennessee for first grade. Newscasters always pronounce the name of the base Ft. Cambell. In our house it was always Ft. Camel. The 101st Airborne was always pronounced hunnerd n furst. Whenever Ft. Campbell (however your pronounce it) is in the news I think of the house out in the country we lived in briefly (somewhere near Hopkinsville, or Hoptown as it was sometimes called), and the yellow brick house we lived in for most of the time. One of the years we lived there my father served as a platoon sergeant in Nam. One day after he got back we were driving onto the base and he pointed out all the little white crosses alone the road. The young men came back from the war thinking they were invincible, only to die in a car crash. Each time it happened the base put up a cross, as a deterrent and a reminder to drive carefully.

But I digress. Here are the remarks of Pres. Obama and V.P. Biden:

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT
TO THE TROOPS
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
3:23 P.M. CDT


THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hey, it’s good to be back with you all. I’ll tell you what. I want to thank General Colt for accompanying me up here. I get the honor of introducing the General.

I was back here on February 11th, to welcome home members of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan -- 155 of you got off that plane in the middle of the night, and the only thing that was more exciting than seeing you getting off is watching your families watch you all get off. So it’s an honor to be back here so soon.

I know many of you have just gotten home in the past few weeks -- so welcome home. And I know from experience that your families want more than anything to spend time with you. And so, every time I show up at a welcome home ceremony, I’m always worried about getting in the way. Because I remember when my son came back home from Iraq after a year, there were all these ceremonies. And I kept saying, hell, man, stop, I want to see my kid. (Laughter.)

So, anyway, I get it. So let me just say how much gratitude the President and I have, and all Americans do, for you all. You guys have been in the fight from the beginning. And the risk you’ve taken, the incredible sacrifices you’ve made, the comrades you’ve lost, the losses you’ve personally endured -- you’ve been in some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world.

I’ve been there a number of times, back up those damn mountains. I’d get a helicopter to go down 9,800 feet, and all I got on is a vest -- a bulletproof vest and a helmet and I’m out of breath climbing up about 40 clicks -- 40 feet. And you guys are up there, 60 to 80-pound packs running around. God, you’re amazing. You just are amazing. I’m in awe of the job you do, in awe of the job you do. (Applause.)

As I said back in February, I want to also thank your families. They made sacrifices as well, those intangible sacrifices -- those missed births and those missed birthdays, those missed graduations, those missed -- an occasional funeral. Perhaps more than anything else, just being missed, just not having you home.

The famous poet -- there was a famous poet I like to quote, John Milton, who said, “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Your families serve as well. And the rest of America owes your families a debt of gratitude as well. (Applause.) And so, to all the families that are listening, I want to say their service is as real as yours and it’s as appreciated.

To the soldiers here, you are the most capable warriors. Let me say this without any fear of contradiction, you’re the most capable warriors in the history of the world. There has never, never, never, never been a fighting force as capable as you are.

It’s my job today and my honor to talk a little bit about the man that I get to work with every day. We’ve just got to spend time with the assaulters who got bin Laden. (Applause.)

By the way, I shouldn’t say this, but I’m going to tell you anyway -- the President is going to be mad I’m taking so long -- (laughter) -- but today was “Grandfather’s Day,” so I went by earlier this morning before I came out here to my granddaughter’s little spring play. And after it’s all over she said, “Pop, come back to my classroom with me.” I said, “I can’t, honey.” She said, “Are you going someplace on Air Force Two?” I said, “Yeah, I am, babe.” She said, “Where are you going?” I said, going to -- true story -- I said, “I’m going to Fort Campbell.” I said, “We’re going to see the guys out there who got Osama bin Laden.” Absolutely true story. She said, “Pop!” and then she grabbed a little friend of hers and she said, “My Pop is going out to see the whales.” (Laughter.) Not the SEALs, the whales (Laughter.) Because if they’re that good they got to be big, man. They got to be big. (Laughter.) Well, you guys are the gorillas, I’ll tell you.

I want to tell you, look, I’ve watched -- I’ve been around a while with eight Presidents, so I’ve watched Presidents make some difficult decisions. They’ve all had to make difficult decisions. But sitting in every meeting getting ready and planning for this mission and assault, for the mission to get bin Laden, I saw something extraordinary. I saw a President who was told the odds -- told the odds weren’t but much more than 50/50 that he’d be there and we could do this, but they were considerably less than 100 percent.

And I, along with the all the rest of his national security team and Secretary of Defense, stayed -- everyone else, we sat around there and he asked our advice and we gave him our advice, and we told him told him a little this and that. And finally, he just looked at all of us and said, I got faith in the -- I got faith in these guys.

He walked off on his own without anybody giving him any guarantees at all and he decided -- because he believed in not only the SEALs, but believes in all of you. He has absolute total faith in all of you. And he made that determination, and it was an amazing thing to watch. But it was because he had the absolute confidence that you were there.

And so he decided, when he got into office, because of the fight you all were in from the beginning, that the number one priority was to get Osama bin Laden. And he knew the risks, he knew there were significant risks, and more importantly, special operations risks to the people who were risking their lives getting there. But he didn’t hesitate, nor did your guys.

Bob Gates said something interesting. I’ve known Bob for a long time. He said, it was one of the gutsiest decisions I’ve ever seen made and one of the gutsiest raids. This is going to go down in history, what happened. This is going to go down in history.

And here to introduce your Commander-in-Chief, the guy that I’m proud to serve with, is one of the country’s leading warriors himself, Deputy Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division, General Jeffrey Colt. Ladies and gentlemen, General Colt. (Applause.)

GENERAL COLT: Thank you, sir.

I can only try to tell you today just how proud of you that this Division and this local community are. But more importantly, today, you’re going to get to hear from the Commander-in-Chief just how appreciative he is of all of your service and your sacrifices.

Please join me in this great privilege of welcoming the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Fort Campbell! (Applause.) 101st Airborne Division—Air Assault, hello! (Applause.)

General Colt, thank you for that great introduction -- it was great because it was brief. (Laughter.) More importantly, thank you for the extraordinary leadership that you’ve shown here at one of the largest Army bases in America. (Applause.)

And let me just say, I make a lot of decisions; one of the earliest and best decisions I made was choosing one of the finest Vice Presidents in our history -- Joe Biden, right here. (Applause.)

Chaplain Miller, thank you for the beautiful invocation.

I want to thank General Colt for welcoming me here today, along with your great Command Sergeant Major, Wayne St. Louis. (Applause.) The Quartet and 101st Division Band. (Applause.) All these troopers behind me —- you look great. (Applause.) You noticed they kind of hesitated. (Laughter.)

We got a lot of folks in the house. We’ve got military police and medical personnel. We’ve got the Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces Group. I think we’ve got a few Air Force here. Ohh -- (laughter.) Well, we thought we did. There they go -- okay. Come on. (Applause.) And, of course, the legendary Screaming Eagles. (Applause.) And although they’re not in the audience, I want to acknowledge the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment —- the Night Stalkers -— for their extraordinary service. (Applause.)

Now, I’ve got to say, some of you are starting to look a little familiar -- because last December, when we were at Bagram, I was out there to thank you for your service, especially during the holidays. And we had a great rally, a big crowd -- it seemed like everybody was there from the 101st.

And since then, I know we’ve had quite a few homecomings. The Rakkasans. (Applause.) Destiny. (Applause.) Strike. (Applause.) Bastogne. (Applause.) And some of the Division Headquarters —- the Gladiators. (Applause.) On behalf of a grateful nation —- welcome home. (Applause.)

Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with General Campbell, Command Sergeant Major Schroeder, and all of the Screaming Eagles and troops that are still risking their lives in theater. And I’m so pleased that Ann Campbell and Marla Schroeder, and some of the inspiring military spouses are here. Where are they at? Right over there. (Applause.) We are grateful to you. God bless you. There they are. Thank you so much. (Applause.) This happens to be Military Spouse Appreciation Day. (Applause.) And we honor your service as well.

Now, I didn’t come here to make a really long speech. I know you're hearing that. (Laughter.) It’s like, yeah, it’s hot! (Laughter.) What I really wanted to do was come down and shake some hands. I came here for a simple reason —- to say thank you on behalf of America. This has been an historic week in the life of our nation. (Applause.) Thanks to the incredible skill and courage of countless individuals -— intelligence, military —- over many years, the terrorist leader who struck our nation on 9/11 will never threaten America again. (Applause.)

Yesterday, I traveled to New York City, and, along with some of our 9/11 families, laid a wreath at Ground Zero in memory of their loved ones. I met with the first responders —- the firefighters, the police officers, the Port Authority officers —- who lost so many of their own when they rushed into those burning towers. I promised that our nation will never forget those we lost that dark September day.

And today, here at Fort Campbell, I had the privilege of meeting the extraordinary Special Ops folks who honored that promise. It was a chance for me to say —- on behalf of all Americans and people around the world —- “Job well done.” Job well done. (Applause.)

They’re America’s “quiet professionals” -- because success demands secrecy. But I will say this. Like all of you, they could have chosen a life of ease. But like you, they volunteered. They chose to serve in a time of war, knowing they could be sent into harm’s way. They trained for years. They’re battle-hardened. They practiced tirelessly for this mission. And when I gave the order, they were ready.

Now, in recent days, the whole world has learned just how ready they were. These Americans deserve credit for one of the greatest intelligence military operations in our nation’s history. But so does every person who wears America’s uniform, the finest military the world has ever known. (Applause.) And that includes all of you men and women of 101st. (Applause.)

You have been on the frontlines of this fight for nearly 10 years. You were there in those early days, driving the Taliban from power, pushing al Qaeda out of its safe havens. Over time, as the insurgency grew, you went back for, in some cases, a second time, a third time, a fourth time.

When the decision was made to go into Iraq, you were there, too, making the longest air assault in history, defeating a vicious insurgency, ultimately giving Iraqis the chance to secure their democracy. And you’ve been at the forefront of our new strategy in Afghanistan.

Sending you -- more of you -- into harm’s way is the toughest decision that I’ve made as Commander-in-Chief. I don’t make it lightly. Every time I visit Walter Reed, every time I visit Bethesda, I’m reminded of the wages of war. But I made that decision because I know that this mission was vital to the security of the nation that we all love.

And I know it hasn’t been easy for you and it hasn’t, certainly, been easy for your families. Since 9/11, no base has deployed more often, and few bases have sacrificed more than you. We see it in our heroic wounded warriors, fighting every day to recover, and who deserve the absolute best care in the world. (Applause.) We see it in the mental and emotional toll that’s been taken -- in some cases, some good people, good soldiers who’ve taken their own lives. So we’re going to keep saying to anybody who is hurting out there, don’t give up. You’re not alone. Your country needs you. We’re here for you to keep you strong.

And most of all, we see the price of this war in the 125 soldiers from Fort Campbell who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice during this deployment to Afghanistan. And every memorial ceremony —- every “Eagle Remembrance” —- is a solemn reminder of the heavy burdens of war, but also the values of loyalty and duty and honor that have defined your lives.

So here’s what each of you must know. Because of your service, because of your sacrifices, we’re making progress in Afghanistan. In some of the toughest parts of the country, General Campbell and the 101st are taking insurgents and their leaders off the battlefield and helping Afghans reclaim their communities.

Across Afghanistan, we’ve broken the Taliban’s momentum. In key regions, we’ve seized the momentum, pushing them out of their strongholds. We’re building the capacity of Afghans, partnering with communities and police and security forces, which are growing stronger.

And most of all, we’re making progress in our major goal, our central goal in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and that is disrupting and dismantling -- and we are going to ultimately defeat al Qaeda. (Applause.) We have cut off their head and we will ultimately defeat them. (Applause.)

Even before this week’s operation, we’ve put al Qaeda’s leadership under more pressure than at any time since 9/11, on both sides of the border. So the bottom line is this: Our strategy is working, and there’s no greater evidence of that than justice finally being delivered to Osama bin Laden. (Applause.)

But I don’t want to fool you. This continues to be a very tough fight. You know that. But because of this progress, we’re moving into a new phase. In the coming months, we’ll start transferring responsibility for security to Afghan forces. Starting this summer, we’ll begin reducing American forces. As we transition, we’ll build a long-term partnership with the Afghan people, so that al Qaeda can never again threaten America from that country.

And, as your Commander-in-Chief, I’m confident that we’re going to succeed in this mission. The reason I’m confident is because in you I see the strength of America’s military -- (applause) -- and because in recent days we’ve all seen the resilience of the American spirit.

Now, this week I received a letter from a girl in New Jersey named Payton Wall. She wrote to me on Monday after the news that bin Laden had been killed, and she explained how she still remembers that September morning almost 10 years ago. She was only four years old. Her father, Glen, was trapped inside the World Trade Center. And so, in those final, frantic moments, knowing he might not make it, he called home. And Payton remembers watching her mom sobbing as she spoke to her husband and then passed the phone to Payton. And in words that were hard to hear but which she’s never forgotten, he said to her, “I love you Payton, and I will always be watching over you.”

So yesterday, Payton, her mom, and her sister, Avery, joined me at Ground Zero. And now Payton is 14. These past 10 years have been tough for her. In her letter, she said, “Ever since my father died, I lost a part of me that can never be replaced.” And she describes her childhood as a “little girl struggling to shine through all the darkness in her life.”

But every year, more and more, Payton is shining through. She’s playing a lot of sports, including lacrosse and track, just like her dad. She’s doing well in school. She’s mentoring younger students. She’s looking ahead to high school in the fall. And so, yesterday she was with us —- a strong, confident young woman -— honoring her father’s memory, even as she set her sights on the future.

And for her and for all of us, this week has been a reminder of what we’re about as a people. It’s easy to forget sometimes, especially in times of hardship, times of uncertainty. We’re coming out of the worst recession since the Great Depression; haven’t fully recovered from that. We’ve made enormous sacrifices in two wars. But the essence of America -- the values that have defined us for more than 200 years -- they don’t just endure; they are stronger than ever.

We’re still the America that does the hard things, that does the great things. We’re the nation that always dared to dream. We’re the nation that’s willing to take risks -- revolutionaries breaking free from an empire; pioneers heading West to settle new frontiers; innovators building railways and laying the highways and putting a man on the surface of the moon.

We are the nation -- and you’re the Division -- that parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day, freeing a continent, liberating concentration camps. We’re the nation that, all those years ago, sent your Division to a high school in Arkansas so that nine black students could get an education. That was you. Because we believed that all men are created equal; that everyone deserves a chance to realize their God-given potential.

We’re the nation that has faced tough times before -- tougher times than these. But when our Union frayed, when the Depression came, when our harbor was bombed, when our country was attacked on that September day, when disaster strikes like that tornado that just ripped through this region, we do not falter. We don’t turn back. We pick ourselves up and we get on with the hard task of keeping our country strong and safe.

See, there’s nothing we can’t do together, 101st, when we remember who we are, at that is the United States of America. (Applause.) When we remember that, no problem is too hard and no challenge is too great.

And that is why I am so confident that, with your brave service, America’s greatest days are still to come. (Applause.)

God bless you. God bless the 101st. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

The PA Supreme Court on DROP

In it's infinite wisdom, the city of Philadelphia decided in 1999 to let some city employees set their retirement date in advance and collect pension payments (which would go to an account) and paychecks at the same time. On their retirement date they would receive the accrued pension payments.

A problem comes up when elected officials decide to participate in the program. Speaking solely for myself, it seems odd for an elected official to select a retirement date, unless that is a statement that he or she intends to leave office. Being re-elected, retiring for a day, taking the DROP payment and then staying in office just seems wrong somehow. But I'm not a lawyer or an elected official.

This year candidates for city commissioner and city council took City Commissioner Margaret Tartaglione and City Council members Frank Rizzo and Marian B. Tasco to court over DROP. The case went to the state Supreme Court. (See "Court: DROP is no reason to drop Philadelphia candidates from ballot," by Jeff Shields and Marcia Gelbart, Philadelphia Inquirer 5/01 for more information).

The court ruled 5-2 that DROP could stay. Tartaglione's lawyer, Dan McCaffery, who ran for city district attorney last year and has just announced his candidacy for state attorney general, had to sit out the Supreme Court case since his brother Seamus is a judge on the Supreme Court.

Joe Doherty, attorney for two people related to one of Tasco's challengers, sent out this release:

Earlier today, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a one-page order affirming the Common Pleas court ruling that Commissioner Tartaglione, Councilwoman Tasco, and Councilman Rizzo are permitted to seek reelection despite their participation in the DROP. The Court gave no indication of the basis for the ruling. This is fairly typical in expedited appeals such as these.

Notably, however, Justice Thomas Saylor, joined by Chief Justice Ronald Castille, dissented from the majority. In doing so, the dissenters accepted the principal argument made by the Tartaglione and Tasco challengers -- i.e., that the candidates have not and cannot meet the legislatively-mandated requirement that they retire upon ceasing participation in the DROP. On behalf of the dissenters, Justice Saylor wrote, "It is undisputed that the candidates' contemplated 'retirements' occurred (or will occur) for only a single day or several days, and only after their contemplated or actual reelection to the same post. Under these circumstances, I would find that Appellees' supposed 'retirements' amount to a mere pretense, or sham, designed solely to obtain the lump-sum DROP benefit involved and then to continue on in the same position as before."

As with any legal loss, we are disappointed with this outcome. We believe that there are compelling legal reasons why DROP participants should not be permitted to seek reelection, as set forth in our briefing, the briefing in opposition to Councilman Rizzo, the amicus briefs filed by various organizations including the Committee of Seventy, and Justice Saylor's dissent. Nevertheless, we respect the Supreme Court's decision and appreciate its willingness to consider the appeals.

In my opinion, elected officials should not be eligible for DROP.

Treatman Knocks on 15,000 Doors

An update from the Howard Treatman campaign:

8th District City Council candidate Howard Treatman earned the endorsement of an important Philadelphia progressive organization last night as the candidate’s field program achieved a canvassing milestone. Members of Philly for Change overwhelmingly voted to endorse Treatman for City Council at the group’s monthly meeting. Meanwhile, the Treatman campaign yesterday knocked on the door of its 15,000th voter.

Beat a Lawyer: Win $200

from the inbox:

Neill Clark is a class action lawyer for firm, Berger & Montague, graduate of Temple law school and legendary Philadelphia runner who has won the law division of The Philadelphia Bar Association 5K Run a historic12 years in a row! This year the retail store, Philadelphia Runner is offering a bounty: $200 for the lawyer who can finally beat Clark!

Due to Clark ’s victories and success, the Berger &Montague team membership has increased annually. “It’s exciting to know that I’m inspiring others to come out to the race, even co-workers who have never run before. It’s a well organized, fun event for people at every level, even kids! And to top it off it benefits a wonderful charity, Support Center for Child Advocates which provides free legal and social services to abused and neglected children,” adds Clark who is also a star in the court room having been selected as a “Rising Star” by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and listed as one of the Top Young Lawyers in Pennsylvania in the December 2005 edition of Philadelphia Magazine.

All proceeds from the 32nd Annual Philadelphia Bar Association 5K Run/Walk will benefit Support Center for Child Advocates (www.advokid.org), the nation’s largest agency providing free legal and social services to abused and neglected children.

The 32nd Annual Bar Association Run/Walk
Sunday, May 15, 2011
8:30am
Martin Luther King Drive (adjacent to the Philadelphia Museum of Art)
Kid’s Dash for children 5-10 years olds will start immediately following.
For registration and additional information, visit: www.charityrun2011.com

Pres Honors Outstanding Math and Science Teachers

Last week President Obama named 85 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The educators will receive their awards in Washington, D.C. later this year.

Pennsylvania teachers honored were Gail Romig, State College (Math) and Phyllis Glackman, Merion (Science).

Philly Lawyers on the Run

It is really tempting to make some old jokes about lawyers here but I'll resist. Feel free to add your own.

from the inbox:

On Sunday, May 15, 2011 the Philadelphia Bar Association will host their 32nd Annual 5K Run/Walk to benefit Support Center for Child Advocates, the nation's oldest and largest pro bono program providing free legal and social services for abused and neglected children. More than 1,500 Bar Association and community members are expected to converge on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive at 8:30 am for the 3.1. mile race, an open walk and the Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Kids' Dash. Radio station, B101 will provide music, face painting and activities for all ages.

Proceeds from the race will support Child Advocates in their continued efforts to serve more than 800 children, train upwards of 350 volunteer attorneys and team staff social workers with child clients to ensure them with permanent and nurturing homes.

"The Bar Association 5K Run/Walk has been an incredible event for 32 years. We are grateful for the support of the Bar Association, our corporate and legal sponsors and the everyday people who participate in this tremendous affair helping Child Advocates change the story for abused and neglected children in Philadelphia," said Child Advocates' Executive Director, Frank Cervone, a nationally recognized legal expert on child abuse issues.

Pre-registration for individuals and corporate/legal teams will take place May 9-13 (10:00 am - 7:30pm) at Philadelphia Runner located 1601 Sansom Street. The local specialty running shop and event sponsor is offering a $200 cash prize for the lawyer who defeats the historic 12-year legal competition champion, Neill W. Clark of Berger & Montague Associates. All runners who beat their 2010 race time will receive a gift from Brooks footwear.

For more information about the Philadelphia Bar Association 32nd Annual 5K Run/Walk, visit www.charityrun2011.com. To register, visit www.active.com.

Event Sponsors: Brooks, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Caesar, Rivise, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd., Capital Project Management, Inc., Document Technologies, First Trust , Iron Mountain, Landmark Legal Solutions, Mainlineapts.com, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Runner, Reliable, The Legal Intelligencer, USA Affinity, Veritext, Wawa,

Video Contest

World Class Philadelphia is hosting a video contest:

As part of the World Class Greater Philadelphia initiative, the Economy League is challenging filmmakers to create original short videos about life in the Philadelphia area in 2026, as described in our report 2026: Future Histories of Greater Philadelphia.

Winning submissions will contribute to region-wide discussion about the key issues that our region’s leaders must focus on to make Greater Philadelphia a world class place to live, work, and play. Plus, entrants have the chance to win cash prizes and have their work viewed around the region!

See details at: www.worldclassgreaterphila.org

Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year

Pennsylvania's Teacher of the Year is Jeffrey S. Chou, who teachers 6th grade at Highland Elementary School (Abington Township, Montgomery County).

Many congratulations to Mr. Chou. Good teachers (and most are) are worth their weight in gold.

Prez O on Subsidies for Oil Companies

from the inbox last week:

Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
Saturday, April 30, 2011

After the worst recession since the Great Depression, our economy is growing again, and we’ve gained almost 2 million private sector jobs over the last 13 months. But I also know that a lot of folks aren’t feeling as positive as some of those statistics might suggest. It’s still too hard to find a job. And even if you have a job, chances are you’re having a tougher time paying the rising costs of everything from groceries to gas. In some places, gas is now more than $4 a gallon, meaning that you could be paying upwards of $50 or $60 to fill up your tank.

Of course, while rising gas prices mean real pain for our families at the pump, they also mean bigger profits for oil companies. This week, the largest oil companies announced that they’d made more than $25 billion in the first few months of 2011 – up about 30 percent from last year.

Now, I don’t have a problem with any company or industry being rewarded for their success. The incentive of healthy profits is what fuels entrepreneurialism and helps drives our economy forward. But I do have a problem with the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies we’ve been handing out to oil and gas companies – to the tune of $4 billion a year. When oil companies are making huge profits and you’re struggling at the pump, and we’re scouring the federal budget for spending we can afford to do without, these tax giveaways aren’t right. They aren’t smart. And we need to end them.

That’s why, earlier this week, I renewed my call to Congress to stop subsidizing the oil and gas industries. Understand, I’m not opposed to producing oil. I believe that if we’re serious about meeting our energy challenge, we need to operate on all cylinders, and that means pursuing a broad range of energy policies, including safe and responsible oil production here at home. In fact, last year, America’s oil production reached its highest level since 2003.

But I also believe that instead of subsidizing yesterday’s energy, we should invest in tomorrow’s – and that’s what we’ve been doing. Already, we’ve seen how the investments we’re making in clean energy can lead to new jobs and new businesses. I’ve seen some of them myself – small businesses that are making the most of solar and wind power, and energy-efficient technologies; big companies that are making fuel-efficient cars and trucks part of their vehicle fleets. And to promote these kinds of vehicles, we implemented historic new fuel-economy standards, which could save you as much as $3,000 at the pump.

Now, I know that in this tough fiscal environment, it’s tempting for some in Washington to want to cut our investments in clean energy. And I absolutely agree that the only way we’ll be able to afford the things we need is if we cut the things we don’t, and live within our means. But I refuse to cut things like clean energy that will help America win the future by growing our economy and creating good-paying jobs; that will help make America more secure; and that will help clean up our planet in the process. An investment in clean energy today is an investment in a better tomorrow. And I think that’s an investment worth making. Thanks for listening, and have a great weekend.

Amazon Shout Out

A note of thanks to Amazon.com for great customer service. I had a problem with an order last month and after getting the run around from both shipping firms I contacted Amazon. It is actually possible to talk to a live person there. The lady did not sound like a native speaker of English. She didn't have an accent but seemed to speak phonetically -- pronouncing clusters of letters opposed to words, like a gps systems sometimes does. Regardless, she took care of the problem and my book arrived the next day.

Giving credit where credit is due, it was an impressive response. Thank you, Amazon.

Ben Waxman Moderates Row Officers Debate

Wednesday, May 4th, Candidates for Philadelphia Row Offices will debate at the Philadelphia Free Library's Central Branch (1900 Parkway. The debate will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Ben Waxman, former contributor to WHYY, Philadelphia Daily News and Young Philly Politics.com will moderate.

The debates is sponsored by: Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Coalition of Labor Union Women, Keystone Progress, National Lawyers Guild,Philadelphia Chapter, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, Philadelphia NOW, Philly for Change, Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC),Philadelphia Democratic Progressive Caucus,Women's Community Revitalization Project (WCRP)

What Makes a Good School?

For what it is worth this is my list:

Safe environment – you can’t learn if the roof leaks or if people are going to jump you from behind. The actual physical setting doesn’t need to be decorated or cutting edge but it should be in good condition, functional bathrooms and water fountains, classrooms, chairs and desks. Equipment doesn’t have to be state of the art but reasonably current. Each school should have a library and a librarian with at least one computer classroom, two in a large school. All schools will have some amount of tussling or fighting but there should be consequences for it. A strong code of conduct enforced with some consistency

School administration – sets tone and decides curriculum. School administrators (principals and superintendents ) decide who is in what class, both teachers and students, how monies are distributed, what sort of parental involvement is allowed and encouraged, and how much leeway teachers have. School board members also have a say in these decisions. Administrators who play favorites among the teachers for reasons other than ability and compassion (a lighter workload for someone taking chemo that year, for example), sour the sense of camaraderie among the staff. A good administrator will encourage innovation and cooperation.

Teachers – knowledgeable in their subject, interested in their students, and able to teach. Before becoming a teacher, students wanting to earn a teaching certificate must student teach for part of a year. This lets them work under a seasoned teacher and learn the ropes. Many students manage the curriculum with group instruction but there will always be some who march to a different drummer, and might need a little extra attention with one thing or another. A teacher who is willing to put in the time, work with support staff, and engage parents, to help that student develop coping mechanisms or learning paths. First and foremost a teacher knows the material and can express it to the students. While some good teachers are born most learn set skills either in college or on the job.
Students – fed, able to pay attention. Students with high expectations for themselves, in a group, raise the bar for everyone.

Parents – interested and involved. Students whose parents quiz them over their spelling words the night before the test are likely to do better than students whose parents don’t. Students whose parents place an emphasis on studying and getting good grades are likely to do better than students whose parents do. That isn’t a function of money or social status. That is a function of parenting. Parents who are involved in their children’s school and volunteer provide much needed labor and creativity.

Those aren’t the only factors in a great school but they’re the basics.