Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 12:50:03 -0400 From: Maggie Heineman Subject: Pennsylvania Expose - 4/17/96 (Alert) Because I lost my harddrive, I had to revert to an earlier version of this alias. Two or three of you have asked to be dropped. Please tell me again if you don't want to receive this. Maggie ================================================================== Pennsylvania Expose - 4/17/96 Pennsylvania Expose(X-Poz) is a project of the Fight the Right Network Communications Working Group & People for the American Way. ================================================================== A. Affirmative Action Battles A1. Pennsylvania Senate A2. U.S. Congress B. Ridge Appoints Schenker to PennDot Post C. Speakout in Lancaster Follows on Heels of Ralph Reed Fundraiser D. FOF on Christian Educators, the NEA, and Extreme Environmentalism E. Calendar ================================================================== A. Affirmative Action Battles A1. Pennsylvania Senate by Larry Frankel, ACLU On March 18, 1996, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed an amendment that would put an end to affirmative action in PA. Rep. Gamble's amendment, which was added to House Bill 2217, passed by two votes. It is unknown when it will be taken up by the Senate. We can’t afford to wait; we need to generate letters and phone calls to all our state senators now and let them know that we support affirmative action. We can point out how it has helped to provide opportunities for women and minorities. State your commitment to promoting diversity rather than exclusivity. Pennsylvania Senate Switchboard - 717.787.7163 A2. U.S. Congress by Brian Gocial, PFAW To date, all attempts to end federal affirmative action policies have been unsuccessful. However, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) Affirmative Action Task Force anticipates further action in Congress and is establishing a Rapid Response Network which will be prepared to act on a moment's notice. Brian Gocial will forward all LCCR action alerts and updates to the pa-expose and ftr-pa Internet lists. If you can forward these alerts to members of your organization, or to other internet lists, please let Brian know so we can estimate how many people we can mobilize. In addition, we can provide you with an organizing kit to assist you in the affirmative action battles of 1996. The kit was produced by Women Employed and was extremely successful in defeating anti- affirmative action initiatives in 1995. Please respond via e-mail or phone, 800-326-7329, to let Brian know if you would be interested in receiving the organizing kit, or if you will be able to distribute action alerts through e-mail or some other means. ================================================================== B. Ridge Appoints Schenker to PennDot Post Condensed by Maggie Heineman from an Allentown Morning Call article, Sunday April 14, 1996, page A4. Richard Schenker, former executive director of Pennsylvania's Christian Coalition has been appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to be a community relations coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Schenker helped Ridge win anti-abortion votes in the 1994 election. He is seeking re-election to his seat on the Republican State Committee this year. "I think the governor's office recognized I had some abilities they wanted to use," Schenker said. "I wanted the experience this job offers. I have a public service mentality. I'm even thinking of running for public office in the future." The worker Schenker replaced had been prohibited from participating in political activities during her 10 years as a press aide. Editors note: The Allentown Morning Call did not explain that at the end of 1995 there was a split in the Pennsylvania Christian Coalition which led to the formation of two successor organizations. Peg Luksik supporters, who opposed Schenker’s endorsement of Ridge, are leading the Keystone Christian Coalition, an affiliate of Pat Robertson's national organization. Schenker leads the Pennsylvania Coalition which is independent of the national group. ================================================================== C. Speakout in Lancaster Follows on Heels of Ralph Reed Fundraiser by Maggie Heineman, FTRN/CWG On Sunday, April 28, The Alliance for Tolerance & Freedom and over 20 other progressive groups are sponsoring "Speakout 1996," at 2:00 p.m. at the Lancaster Jewish Community Center. A panel of experts will be followed by an open mike session beginning at 4:30. Interest in the Speakout has been heightened because Ralph Reed, Executive Director of the Christian Coalition, is appearing at a fundraiser in Lancaster on Friday, April 26 (see calendar). According to Laura Montgomery Rutt, organizer of the Speakout, "The symposium will give information and tools to be able to let your voice and your opinion be heard." Rutt says, "Religious Right intolerance and exclusiveness permeates America at every level: ethical, social and political. They have out-financed every other political organization. The followers of the Christian Coalition and other far right groups are motivated to vote, to call congress, to write letters, and to run for office. And it is time for the rest of us to speak up!" The Speakout is free, but donations are appreciated. For additional information call 717- 581-8292. ================================================================== D. FOF on Christian Educators, the NEA, and Extreme Environmentalism by Marti Miller, PSEA In the April 1996 Focus on the Family Publication, "Teachers in Focus," the "Coffee Club" chat about the National Education Association (NEA) hits on several points of conflict between the religious right and the NEA (abortion, homosexuality, politics). Six Indiana teachers were interviewed. They joined the NEA for the solidarity and professional connection and are unhappy with the 'ideological distance' between members and the organization. Not all are leaving the Association. Some are staying to work from within. Readers are asked to respond to the question, "Should a Christian educator stay involved in the NEA, or run and not look back?" In the same issue, the article "Green Is Good...But What about People" introduces the hard right arguments against environmental protection. Under a list of suggestions for a 'balanced approach' are 1) include industries' point of view, 2) realize that most news reporters support extreme environmentalism and 3) require students to read Readers' Digest or National Review. ================================================================== E. Calendar April 19 Friday, 3:30 PM, "Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error" featuring Jeff Cohen, Ex. Dir., FAIR. University of Pittsburgh, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium. -7:30 PM "Media Merger Mania and the Public Interest" featuring Jeff Cohen, Carnegie Mellon University, Doherty Hall, Rm 2315, Pittsburgh. Call Jan Neffke, Alliance for Progressive Action at 412.363.4410. April 20 Saturday, 9 AM-1 PM "Healing the Wounds of Racism: Racial Reconciliation" Workshop. $20 members, $25 non-members, Bucks County Peace Centers. Call 215.750.7220 April 20 Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Conference. Friends Meeting, 1515 Cherry Street. Philadelphia. -6:30 PM Interfaith service celebrating the institution of marriage. Philadelphia Tabernacle United Church 3700 Chestnut St. Call the Interfaith Working Group at 215-389-1400 (box 2). April 23 Tuesday, Citizen Action. Election Day Volunteers Needed. Volunteer for Citizen Action on election day. Call Mike Morrill at 215-592-4474. April 26 Friday, Ralph Reed, Exec. Dir., Christian Coalition. will be in Lancaster. For info, contact Laura Montgomery Rutt at 717-581-1029, Lmrutt@postoffice.ptd.net. April 28 Sunday, 2:00 PM Speaking Out & Speaking Up for Tolerance, Diversity & Equality, Lancaster Jewish Community Center. Call Laura Montgomery Rutt, Alliance for Tolerance & Freedom at 717- 581-1029, Lmrutt@postoffice.ptd.net. May 3,4,5, The Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) experimental program Cost $50, Sponsored by & held at Bucks County Peace Centers, 215.750.7220. May 4, 1:30-3:00 PM Seminar on Grassroots Lobbying Skills. Sponsored by PA League of Gay & Lesbian Voters and Human Rights Campaign. Temple Univ. Center City Campus, 16th & Walnut. Call Steve Black, 215-735-0852. May 7, 10:00 AM Rally to oppose Medical Malpractice reform & news conference. Citizen Action, Capitol Building, Harrisburg. Call Mike Morrill, 215-592-4474 May 11, 10 AM - 1 PM Cross-cultural Dialogue for Women discussion group Cost $30, Sponsored by & held at Bucks County Peace Centers call 215-750- 7220. May 18-20 Paula Xanthopoulou of c.c.Watch. Saturday in Philadelphia, Sunday in Erie, Monday in Southeast PA. Call Maggie Heineman, Fight the Right Network at 215.389.1400 (Box 6), maggie@critpath.org. =================================================================== Pennsylvania Expose - April 17, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose is published three times a month. It is based on postings to the pa-expose@critpath.org Internet mailing list and available as an e-letter or fax-letter. mail to: pa-expose-request@critpath.org in the body: info pa-expose Send news, and inquiries about faxletter distribution, to: ---FTRN Communications Working Group --- 215.389.1400 http://www.critpath.org/ftrn/ ---People for the American Way --- 800.326.7329 http://www.pfaw.org/ ==================== Permission to Repost ========================