April 2021

The Democrat Women of Mercer County heard from quite a few candidates over Zoom this month. Candidates for judge and for local offices are asking to serve us and do the hard work of protecting our rights and keeping our towns and schools running. The primary elections on May 18th may not be as exciting as a Presidential or Senate race, but our daily lives are affected more by the leaders we choose for our city councils and courts. DWMC gave members suggestions and links to phone banking organizers to promote voter registration through the May 3rd deadline and voting in the primary. Voters can see their list of candidates on the Mercer County government website at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us/election/ElectionGuides/2021.UMOVA.Primary.Notice.pdf.
There are three proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. The first limits the power of the Governor to declare an emergency; the second automatically ends a state of emergency after 21 days unless the legislature votes to extend it. They would severely limit the Governor—and any future Governor—in keeping Pennsylvanians safe before, during, and after any disaster, natural or man-made. When disasters strike and lives are at stake, there is no time to wait for 253 politicians in Harrisburg to have a political debate. It is impossible to predict how or how long the impacts of a disaster will affect any one community. This proposal subjects disaster emergency declarations to the political winds. If a devastated community is not of interest to the party in power, it may be left to suffer. Democrats are urged to vote NO on the first two proposed amendments.
The third amendment creates a constitutional prohibition against restricting or denying an individual’s equal rights under Pennsylvania law because of race or ethnicity and applies to all state, county and local governmental entities. If approved, the General Assembly may pass new laws to implement the amendment, but it may not pass a law inconsistent with it. Democrats are urged to vote YES.

NO, NO, YES. Alphabetical and easy to remember.
Back to national affairs, members were encouraged to push Senator Pat Toomey to vote for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO-Act). Sen. Bob Casey is a co-sponsor and Rep. Mike Kelly has already voted against this bill that would empower workers to organize and bargain.