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Report Card on Schools - more money is not the answer

Written by djahn
Tuesday, 06 May 2008
Libertarian Party analyzes government school spending against SAT scores Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania 3915 Union Deposit Road #223 Harrisburg, PA 17109 www.lppa.org For Immediate Release: May 6, 2008 Contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) or Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org Harrisburg, PA – The Philadelphia Inquirer recently released their 2008 Report Card on the Schools which again indicates that government schools cannot spend their way to success. School districts in the five-county southeast Pennsylvania region increased spending 2% from 2007 to $12,819 per student. Meanwhile, SAT Math & Verbal scores continued a gradual decline of 5 points to an average of 956 per student. Since 2003, spending per student has increased 35% while SAT scores have dropped an average of 16 points per student. The results from individual schools highlight the inability of more and more tax dollars to enhance school performance. Since 2003, the three schools that have increased spending the most are Chester Upland (92%), Bristol Township (66%) and Norristown (50%). Meanwhile, their SAT scores are down 39, 41 and 45 points respectively. The schools that have exercised greatest control on spending are Radnor (6%), Methacton (10%) and Owen Roberts (11%). Their test scores are unchanged, up 52 points and down 1 point respectively. Montgomery County Libertarian Chair, James Babb declared “the cost of education continues to rise while quality declines. This is the inherent problem with any product or service provided by government. The only way I know to improve quality and reduce costs is the free market. I trust parents to make good choices about their children’s future much more than politicians.” The Report Card supports Mr. Babb’s point regarding the cost / quality advantage of the private sector. Despite the burden of competing against a large government monopoly, the average cost per student of a private/parochial school in the region is $10,651, 20% less than a government school. The average SAT score is 1152, 194 points above the average for government schools. Libertarian land value tax author, Harold Kyriazi, adds “School administrators without the power to fire incompetent teachers and exclude disruptive students, and parents without the power to withdraw their tax dollars from underperforming schools, virtually guarantees a bad outcome. On the other hand, we know that healthy competition, and genuine educational choice for parents and control for administrators, would guarantee that the best schools and teachers rise to the top.” Michael Robertson, LPPa Chair, notes “it has been sufficiently demonstrated that overall, performance has been declining while costs increase in the current public education system. It is clear that increased funding is not directly proportional to improved academic performance in Pennsylvania's public schools. State and federal mandates make it increasingly difficult for parents and local school boards to address issues of concern. Playing a shell game with increased earned income taxes and more sales taxes to perhaps allow for some property tax reductions does not address the problems of public education in our Commonwealth. Until this system changes the quality of public school education will continue to suffer as costs continue to rise” The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 May 2008 )

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania announces Executive Board

Written by djahn

Tuesday, 01 April 2008

LPPa elects new Board at recent State Convention

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania

3915 Union Deposit Road #223
Harrisburg, PA 17109
www.lppa.org

For Immediate Release: April 1, 2008

Contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) or
Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org

Malvern, PA – The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) elected a new Executive Board at their annual convention in March. Elected to the Board were

State Chair: Michael Robertson
Eastern Vice-Chair: David Jahn
Western Vice-Chair: Berlie Etzel
Treasurer: Chuck Boust
Secretary: Alan Yottey

Michael J. "Mik" Robertson works as a geologist with an environmental consulting firm. He and his wife Maggie along with three-year old daughter Claire have a farm in Clarion County where they raise certified naturally grown produce. Mik is vice-president of the Clarion County Association of Township Officials. He formerly served on the multi-municipal planning committee which prepared a comprehensive plan for the future of their township and adjacent borough. He is Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Clarion County.

David Jahn lives in Glenolden with his wife Peg. After serving in the United States Air Force, he pursued a career in industrial construction and currently works as a project planner and project management consultant. He has managed multi-million dollar construction projects at power houses, refineries, chemical plants, and paper mills. A former LPPa State Chair, he has also served on his local planning commission and zoning hearing board.

Berlie Etzel is a retired math and science teacher. He graduated from Clarion State College and served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy. He has been active in politics for 45 years, and a member of the Libertarian Party for almost 30 years. He served as LP of Delaware State Chair for several years before moving to Clarion County. He served as Ashland’s Township Auditor and is currently the township’s Constable. He is a delegate to the May LP National Convention in Denver Colorado. He and his wife, Rochelle, have three children and six grandchildren.

Chuck Boust lives in Newville on a small farm that he purchased in 1985. He graduated from PennState in 1973 with a B.S. in Animal Science. He worked for the Department of Defense for thirty years and retired in 2005. Mr. Boust and his wife, Letha, have two teenage children.

Alan Yottey is a project manager and business analyst. He has earned his PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. He specializes in information technology projects. Alan has an MBA from Penn State University and a B.A. in Philosophy from Penn State. Alan has been active in Toastmasters for more than twelve years. He has been Area Governor (Area 12, District 38) and is Past President and Webmaster of his club. Other interests include current events, business, the arts, writing, and fitness. Restoring liberty to the United States and taking it to the world are keen interests. Alan lives in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

“With our new Board in place, we are looking forward to the continued growth of the Libertarian Party in Pennsylvania, indicated Mr. Robertson, “and will renew our efforts to restore individual liberty and limited, efficient government in our commonwealth.”

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information.

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Libertarian Party nominates candidates at Pennsylvania state convention

Written by djahn
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Pennsylania Libertarians energized by successful convention Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania 3915 Union Deposit Road #223 Harrisburg, PA 17109 www.lppa.org For Immediate Release: March 25, 2008 Contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) or Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org Malvern, Pa. – The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) and the New Jersey Libertarian Party (http://www.njlp.org/) held an action-packed joint convention March 14-16 in Malvern, PA. Nine LP Presidential candidates attended the convention, presented their views on the issues to more than 100 attendees and took part in a lively debate. Attendees also participated in a series of workshops. The workshop on ballot access was particularly important as Pennsylvania has very restrictive ballot access regulations. Despite requiring 24,666 valid signatures to be on the ballot, the LPPa is determined to provide Pennsylvanians with the choice to vote for a Libertarian for President in November. Delegates nominated two statewide candidates: Betsy Summers for Auditor General and Berlie Etzel for State Treasurer. Betsy Summers is a graduate of Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ, and has 25 years of business sales experience. She has volunteered with numerous organizations, and served for two years as an elected member of the Luzerne County Home Rule Study Commission. She also served as President of her local chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. Ms. Summers was the LPPa candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004. Berlie Etzel is a retired math and science teacher. He graduated from Clarion State College and served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy. He has been active in politics for 45 years, and a member of the Libertarian Party for almost 30 years. He served as LP of Delaware State Chair for several years before moving to Clarion County. He served as Ashland’s Township Auditor and is currently the township’s Constable. Mr. Etzel is the Western Vice-Chair of the LPPa and a delegate to the LP National Convention. He and his wife, Rochelle, have three children and six grandchildren. LPPa Chair Mik Robertson commented “this year our convention demonstrated that the Libertarian Party has numerous Presidential candidates every bit as capable and competent as those in the old entrenched parties if not more so. I am confident all of our nominees will present the best choices for the voters to promote individual liberty, personal responsibility, and a return to the ideals upon which American government was founded.” The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information. # # # Additional Information – link to the LP Presidential debate - http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/qdrxk6ydCBbCkEaDJQ82Qw

Federal REAL ID Jeopardizes Civil Liberties and Security

Written by djahn
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Bipartisan Coalition urges Pennsylvania to reject REAL ID Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) For Immediate Release January 14, 2008 For more information contact: Michael Robertson (LPPA Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org Hillary Aisenstein (GPPA Chair) at 1-267-971-3559 / hillarya@pobox.upenn.edu Harrisburg, PA – Two of Pennsylvania's political parties found common ground and issued a joint announcement to fellow Pennsylvanians calling on the General Assembly to reject the federal REAL ID Act. In 2008, Pennsylvania will be required to begin implementation of the REAL ID Act, mandating that driver’s licenses contain specific personal information, providing the federal government with a database of all records, and developing the ability to track citizens. This will result in a never before seen massive collection of personal information. Intended to enhance domestic security, REAL ID instead makes us more vulnerable. According to Berks County State Representative Samuel Rohrer, “There are no safeguards in this Act to sufficiently guarantee that this massive national database will not be compromised.” To make matters worse, negotiations are underway to share database access among participants in the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) to allow bureaucrats in Mexico and Canada access to our personal information. Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Chair Michael Robertson noted “There is opposition to REAL ID because of the costs to implement this system, but the threat posed by this Act to civil liberties and personal security cannot be measured in dollars.” Governments could easily require the REAL ID for bank and credit card transactions; healthcare purchases; public event admittance; or firearm and ammunition purchases, all of which would become part of the database. Marakay Rogers, a civil rights attorney from York, who also serves on the Green Party of PA Steering Committee, said “Under the cover of a so-called War on Terror, our government has steadily eroded the rights and liberties of citizens, immigrants, and visiting foreigners. The REAL ID legislation is one more effort to invade our privacy at the state level.” "A national ID system will redefine privacy as we know it,” observed State Senator Mike Folmer, “[It will] create a mountain of new bureaucracy and increase fees and taxes – without making us any safer.” The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has estimated the cost of REAL ID implementation at $100 million, but the loss of liberty for Pennsylvanians will be incalculable. Concerned members of the Pennsylvania Senate have introduced S.B. 1220, a bill strongly rejecting the federal REAL ID. Pennsylvania's Green and Libertarian Parties urge all Pennsylvanians to contact their state senators and ask them to support S.B. 1220 by becoming a co-sponsor. In addition, we urge Pennsylvanians to contact their Congressional representatives and Senators Specter and Casey. Remind them of Pennsylvania’s growing opposition to the REAL ID and urge them to work to repeal REAL ID at the federal level. The Libertarian and Green Parties of Pennsylvania stand together in support of the rights of Pennsylvanians and in opposition to a federal mandate that will erode our liberty and make us no more secure. Green Party of Pennsylvania P.O. Box 11962 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1962 1-888-PA1-GREE(N) www.greenpartypa.org Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania 3915 Union Deposit Road #223 Harrisburg, PA 17109 1-800-R-RIGHTS www.lppa.org info@lppa.org End of press release
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 05 February 2008 )