From our board rooms to our kitchen tables, voting rights are being debated in light of other states’ haphazard voting legislation proposals. Thankfully, Ohio’s election policies have historically been more innovative and inclusive than in other states and we must protect them.
Forward-thinking practices including four weeks of early voting, absentee ballot tracking capabilities, weekend voting and a bipartisan county board of elections decision-making process have ensured secure elections while also increasing voter turnout. This commitment to expanding access while maintaining security must remain at the heart of our election laws.
Leaders in the business community are aware that voting rights legislation may soon be introduced in the Ohio General Assembly.
REP. MAUREEN MADDEN
“They say they built the train tracks over the Alps… before there was a train that could make the trip. They built it anyway. They knew one day the train would come.” This familiar line comes from a popular motion picture, “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Decades later, the train did come to Italy. In fact, the Italian railway system is one of the most important parts of the infrastructure of Italy and has grown with a new high-speed rail network.
So, if Italy can be the European pioneer despite a challenging terrain of mountains, why can’t Pennsylvania transportation thrive on our rails?
Chris Comisac
HARRISBURG During a Pennsylvania General Assembly voting session recently, the state House of Representatives focused on passing drug addiction-related legislation.
House lawmakers voted unanimously to send to the Senate three bills supporters say will strengthen protections for addicts in treatment or in recovery houses.
House Bill 220 would clarify that a person does not need to test positive for drugs in order to begin addiction treatment.
According to the bill, a person could not be denied admission to a public or private treatment and rehabilitative facility based solely on a negative drug test, though facilities would still be able to deny treatment for reasons in addition to a negative test.
Reading Eagle (AP)
Advocates for fair school funding in Pennsylvania are watching the calendar, but the anticipated date isn’t on the docket of the state legislature. A lawsuit filed seven years ago by parents and school districts against state government has been given a tentative trial date in September and has the potential to change the way schools are funded throughout the state.
The lawsuit alleging the Pennsylvania General Assembly has violated the state’s constitution by failing to provide fair and adequate funding for public education was given a tentative trial date of Sept. 9 in Commonwealth Court in an April 1 order from Commonwealth Court Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer.
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