Letters: Casey doesn’t support farmers; Learn more about the impact of school vouchers

Casey doesn’t support farmers

For most of Pennsylvania’s history, our farms and mighty agriculture were a source of pride. Then came Senator Bob Casey’s catastrophic policies. Under Casey, our state has seen the closure of more than 6,000 farms and over 400,000 acres of farmland.

Casey’s out-of-touch politics have destroyed commonwealth farmers by driving up the cost of fuel, fertilizer, and our key input costs. He’s allowed unelected bureaucrats to enact more and more regulations, burying agriculture communities under a mound of red tape. And he’s failed to achieve real wins for rural Pennsylvania — bringing no new broadband connections or infrastructure investments to the areas that desperately need it.

The result? Hundreds of thousands of younger Americans are projected to leave rural Pennsylvania in the coming years, all but guaranteeing the fate of our farms. This exodus is a direct result of Bob Casey’s failure to strengthen and expand our agriculture.

There’s no question that losing more family farms will devastate Pennsylvania’s economy and jeopardize America’s food security.

Casey’s November opponent, Dave McCormick — a seventh-generation Pennsylvanian — seems to be the only candidate who recognizes the urgency of our situation. He has a clear plan to lower costs, support agriculture, and cut red tape. McCormick’s policies will end the nightmare too many family farms are experiencing across the commonwealth, boost growth, and usher in a new era of hope and prosperity for Pennsylvania agriculture.

Learn more about the impact of school vouchers

School vouchers benefit private schools, but what is the effect on public schools? The money spent on vouchers comes from state taxes and leaves fewer dollars for public schools. Private schools lack the accountability of public schools, are able to choose their students allowing for discrimination and are not required to teach a curriculum that meets state standards. Public schools are required to educate all students and must meet state standards.

AAUW State College is sponsoring a program on this topic on Thursday, Sept. 26, open to the community, to shed light on this question. The program speakers are Susan Spicka, Executive Director of Education Voters PA and Sandra Miller, Advocacy Director of Education Voters PA, and it will be moderated by AAUW State College branch member Carline Crevecoeur.

Join us for “The Impact of School Vouchers on Public Schools,” Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30-8 p.m., in-person and also via Zoom. Attend in-person at the College Township Building Community Room, 1481 E. College Avenue. Registration is required. To register, visit the AAUW State college website — aauwstatecollege.org — and click on “Coming Events” on the homepage to find the calendar entry.