Republican PA. Legislators Proudly Describe How they Ignore Public Protests (News Article)

[JPZenger]

Last edited Tue May 29, 2012, 11:02 AM - Edit history (1)

http://cumberlink.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/pa-lawmakers-say-rotunda-rallies-unpersuasive/article_4224691a-a86c-11e1-88b1-001a4bcf887a.html

Excerpts:

"Many legislators say these boisterous, colorful events do little to shape their opinions or alter votes....

Read more: http://cumberlink.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/pa-lawmakers-say-rotunda-rallies-unpersuasive/article_4224691a-a86c-11e1-88b1-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz1wDVQ5dK0“What I care about is hearing from my constituents. ... The rallies in the Capitol, that doesn’t really move me at all because they bus people in,” said Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield. “When somebody sends me an email personally, I pay attention.”...

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, said he wants people to tell him in one-on-one meetings how the legislation they’re advocating fits into a mindset of fiscally responsible spending or private-sector job creation. “In the end, those are kind of my benchmarks for determining whether we’re going in the right direction,” Turzai said...

Chris Borick, a pollster and political scientist at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, said campaign contributions from interest groups also play a role in legislative voting habits. “Money matters. Candidates need it, they spend a lot of time raising it, and they need a lot of it to get back into office,” Borick said. “The idea that money is coming with no strings attached is really hard to believe. Of course there are strings.”

[Marie Marie]

1. "Strings"?? More like Chains.

[Historic NY]

2. Perhaps, pitchforks, torches, ropes and ladders would get their attention....

or just flowers from FTD.

[Pat Riot]

3. Yeah, right.

So we're just "colorful, boisterous" crazy kids to them? Turzai wants one-on-one meetings to pay attention to constituents. Like anybody without an envelope full of cash is going to get one of those. The noive. You work for us, you fucks!

[PA Democrat]

4. Kim Ward is a heartless right wing tool and a liar.

I've sent her personal emails and she still votes for budget cuts and legislation that harm people with disabilities.

[JPZenger]

5. Religious Leaders "Thrilled" They are allowed inside Governor's outer office, unlike other groups

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pittsburghers-of-faith-protest-cuts-in-harrisburg-637152/?p=0

"Pittsburghers representing many religious groups crowded the steps in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg Tuesday, protesting proposed cuts to education and mass transit.

... both the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches are lobbying to save a similar list of programs for the poor. These include low-interest home loans for people facing foreclosure due to illness or job loss, a general assistance program that provides small cash grants to elderly disabled people without children and other highly vulnerable people, and a block grant for human services including mental health, homelessness, addiction treatment and child welfare.

"This seems to have mobilized people more than in the past, said the Rev. Sandra Strauss, director of public advocacy for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. "The cuts are getting deep enough that people are starting to see what it does in their own community, and churches are seeing an uptick in the number of people who go to their food pantry or soup kitchen or just show up asking for help."

Ms. Ballance was thrilled with the attention their protest drew in the capitol. ... Contrary to warnings from other activists, they were allowed into the governor's outer office to deliver their postcards. "We felt like it was a small victory that he didn't shut us down," she said."

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Yeah, right, emails matter but rallies don't!

How much effort does it take to send an email? And how much more effort is involved in people travelling to Harrisburg for a protest? This sounds to me like these tools are just trying to keep people from protesting----just send emails, please. They are so much easier to delete!

[Mc Mike]

7. +1, thanks. nt.