July 8, 2022 PHILADELPHIA—Responding to the passage of the PA budget in the General Assembly, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: "I am pleased by much in the budget--but equally concerned by how many missed opportunities and misguided priorities are reflected in the final education code bills. "Further, I am disgusted by efforts by Pennsylvania Republicans to enact an abortion ban and racist voter ID laws. Full statement on these efforts here. "The historic increase in education funding, including a $525 million increase in basic education funding and a $225 million increase in level up funding (which will move funding towards the districts that need it most), is good news. Additionally, we are pleased by increases to mental health services, and language around increasing teacher diversity, an increase in CTE funding, and increase in library funding, and language around disability inclusive curriculum.  "However, the budget simultaneously increases voucher funding by an outrageous 41%, pouring an additional $115 million into a program that is essentially a corporate tax break at the expense of our young people. MORE

July 8, 2022 PHILADELPHIA—Responding to the PA Senate Republicans' passage of a multi-faceted constitutional amendment bill, including an abortion ban and voter ID regulations, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: "Time and again, the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania legislature has shown us their true character. Today, they did so by carrying out a disgraceful attack on the rights so many of us hold dear.  "The PA Senate Republicans are working to circumvent the Governor and legislate by constitutional amendment. Their villainous passage of Senate Bill 106 includes a ban on abortion, and it includes racist voter ID provisions. Their agenda has been clear for years. Their cruelty knows no limits.  MORE

July 8, 2022 PHILADELPHIA—Responding to President Joe Biden's efforts to safeguard abortions, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: "In the wake of SCOTUS' reprehensible decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and in light of the PA Republicans' nefarious efforts to outlaw abortion in Pennsylvania (underway right now), I am grateful that President Biden is taking important steps today to safeguard a woman's right to abortion access. The President's executive order today, which includes access to medication for abortion among a host of other measures, demonstrates important leadership when we desperately need it. MORE

July 8, 2022 PHILADELPHIA—Responding to the PA Senate Republicans' efforts to ban abortion in the Commonwealth, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:  "I am outraged and disgusted by the nefarious scheme that the PA Senate Republicans are carrying out in the State Capitol. While most of Pennsylvania was asleep last night, Senate Republicans unveiled a last ditch effort to ban abortion in the Commonwealth. "It is a cruel form of irony to claim to protect ‘life’ while believing that this obligation begins and ends before the birth of a child. MORE

July 7, 2022 To: Members of the General Assembly From: Jerry T. Jordan, President Re: Opposition to Abortion Ban It is a cruel form of irony to claim to protect ‘life’ while believing that this obligation begins and ends before the birth of a child. I am outraged by the General Assembly’s move to ban abortion in the Commonwealth via constitutional amendment.  The General Assembly should be laser focused on investing in programs and services (including women’s healthcare) that support our communities. The proposed abortion ban is the latest in a series of horrific proposals emanating from the state legislature, and it must be roundly rejected.  MORE

July 7, 2022 To: Members of the General Assembly From: Jerry T. Jordan, President Re: Opposition to EITC (Voucher) Expansion No matter the form, vouchers harm public schools. Whether in the form of EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) expansion, ESA (Education Savings Accounts) creation, or any other mechanism, vouchers siphon money from traditional public schools without any fiscal, operational, administrative, or academic performance accountability or transparency. We are opposed to any education bill that incorporates voucher expansion into an already over-funded program. MORE