I’m not going to take a stand on the action taken this week in Harrisburg by the Legislative Black Caucus.
Led by Caucus Chairman Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, of Chester, the group walked out of a crucial House session, bringing work on an Open Records bill to a grinding halt.
Kirkland explained his group was frustrated by the Legislature’s refusal to consider bills targeting gun-control legislation.
Some would call it grandstanding, a publicity stunt that amounts to holding work in the Legislature hostage. The only member of the caucus, which consists of House and Senate members, who remained at his post was Rep. Dwight Evans, a Philly Democrat and unsuccessful mayoral candidate.
“Dwight, as a leader in the caucus, believes that you should work through the process in a deliberate way,” said a spokesperson for Evans.
It’s a perfectly legitimate point.
But you have to feel for the caucus, which has been seeking help reining in the rampant spread of gun violence that is overrunning so many of our cities, including Chester.
Earlier in the week they heard a group of Democrats flat-out tell their leadership they would not support gun-control efforts.
The debate will go on. Whether or not the bills targeting guns will work to cut the violence is not known.
What I do know is this. I work with words. And I know a killer quote when I hear one. The award this week goes to Kirkland, who gave us one of the best quotes I can remember when we contacted him about the walkout.
Kirkland was talking about the effect of the walkout on the open records bill.
“Open records are nice, but we are trying to get people to understand that we’re tired of open caskets.”
That’s called game, set and match.
Well said, Rep. Kirkland.
Led by Caucus Chairman Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, of Chester, the group walked out of a crucial House session, bringing work on an Open Records bill to a grinding halt.
Kirkland explained his group was frustrated by the Legislature’s refusal to consider bills targeting gun-control legislation.
Some would call it grandstanding, a publicity stunt that amounts to holding work in the Legislature hostage. The only member of the caucus, which consists of House and Senate members, who remained at his post was Rep. Dwight Evans, a Philly Democrat and unsuccessful mayoral candidate.
“Dwight, as a leader in the caucus, believes that you should work through the process in a deliberate way,” said a spokesperson for Evans.
It’s a perfectly legitimate point.
But you have to feel for the caucus, which has been seeking help reining in the rampant spread of gun violence that is overrunning so many of our cities, including Chester.
Earlier in the week they heard a group of Democrats flat-out tell their leadership they would not support gun-control efforts.
The debate will go on. Whether or not the bills targeting guns will work to cut the violence is not known.
What I do know is this. I work with words. And I know a killer quote when I hear one. The award this week goes to Kirkland, who gave us one of the best quotes I can remember when we contacted him about the walkout.
Kirkland was talking about the effect of the walkout on the open records bill.
“Open records are nice, but we are trying to get people to understand that we’re tired of open caskets.”
That’s called game, set and match.
Well said, Rep. Kirkland.
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