Southeast PA rises to protect pre-K

Accusations of a state overreach flew swift and true over the past few weeks. At stake, 2,000 quality pre-K seats and nothing short of the right of every municipality in Pennsylvania to make local decisions without interference from Harrisburg.

This week, a House bill (HB 2241) meant to preempt Philadelphia’s Sweetened Beverage Tax was scheduled for a vote. In addition to the loss of soda-funded pre-K seats, the bill would have prevented all local governments from opting to levy a tax on soda sold within their borders to fund priorities as determined by those who live within their borders.

“Removing the ability of local governments to be responsive to their residents is wrong and is an action that is unsupported by the citizens of the Commonwealth,” wrote Mayor Kenney and Pittsburgh’s Mayor William Perduto in a joint letter to legislators.

Recent polling backs the mayors’ assertions, showing 71% of likely voters believe the government closest to the people governs best. [Susquehanna Polling and Research]

This striking disconnect between the actions of state legislators and the state’s history of local control is a result of a panicked but deep-pocketed soda industry, unable to stem the tide of consumers worldwide saying no to their confections. 

Preemtion-leaning legislators spouted the talking points of the soda industry, including unsupported claims of reduced sales as a result of the tax. Ongoing studies by Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Pennsylvania assert that the tax has no affect on overall store sales.

The most egregious claim made was that the beverage tax was hurting impoverished Philadelphians. Leaving aside the fact that the soda industry, like Big Tobacco, has long targeted their marketing on poor communities that suffer disproportionately from childhood obesity and diabetes. 

Southeastern Republican State Reps weren’t having it.
“I told my leaders if they want to help Philly,” Rep. John Taylor told PCCY, “I have a whole list of things they can do. [Preemption] isn’t one of them.”

During a GOP caucus meeting the morning of the scheduled vote, Reps, many of them from the Southeast, challenged the rationale of their colleagues suddenly turning their backs on their long held and principled support of the autonomy of local governments.

Southeastern Republican Reps, like their Democratic counterparts, stood up and spoke up not just for pre-K or the families in their districts, but for every local government in the state.   

The vote never made the floor.

Forty parents, teachers, and civic activists boarded PCCY buses and joined us in Harrisburg for the day of action and our message was heard loud and clear.

But the fight isn’t over. We must keep the pressure on. Join PCCY in Harrisburg on June 4th when HB 2241 may once again be put up for a vote. Reach us at info@childrenfirstpa.org to reserve your seat on the PCCY bus.

In the meantime, take a minute to thank your State Rep for doing right by our kids.