Keystone Progress Summit 2016

This session will explore how rights-based work is being driven into fundamental constitutional frameworks -- at the local and state level -- across Pennsylvania. Participants will hear about how over 100 PA communities have stopped corporate harms by passing local laws that assert and protect their rights. Participants will also hear about how those local laws elevate the rights of communities above the claimed "rights" and privileges of corporations; how those local laws assert and protect the rights of nature; and how those local laws challenge the authority of our state government to "legalize" and permit harmful corporate activities to be forced upon PA communities that do not want them. 

No matter the issue — marriage equality, voting rights, employment discrimination, environmental regulation, health care, immigration — our federal judiciary plays an important role in the lives of hardworking Americans. Panelists will discuss how the courts can shape policy just as much, if not more, than the legislative branch, and how many judicial seats are vacant because of unprecedented obstruction in Washington. The backlog in the courts undermines our system of justice and makes it difficult for most Americans to have their cases heard in a timely manner. The panel will discuss what you can do to be sure the court vacancies are not only filled, but filled with diverse judges. 

This panel discussion will acquaint attendees with the constitutional and health policy questions before the U.S. Supreme Court as it reviews the most important abortion rights case in over 20 years: Whole Woman's Health v. Cole. This case challenges a Texas hospital admitting privileges and facilities regulation law which threatens to close all but a handful of abortion facilities in the nation's second largest state

This summer we saw a huge increase in anti-refugee and anti-immigrant rhetoric from presidential candidates, mayors and public figures across the country. Using misinformation to feed fear and hatred, this rhetoric has resulted in attacks on immigrant and refugee communities in PA and across the country. On the other hand, while preaching tolerance and acceptance, President Obama has deported more people than any other President in history. Just this year, the Department of Homeland Security has begun targeting refugee families from Central America who are fleeing horrible violence for fast-track deportation. In this panel we will unpack the myths surrounding immigration policies and how immigration is used to score political points at the expense of real people and their families.

Electing judges has resulted in jurists’ campaign coffers filled by the very same lawyers and parties who will appear before them.  A national record of over $16 million was spent in last fall’s Supreme Court races. There have been too many scandals in PA’s courts. While there are many good judges, it is time to consider a system that is actually designed to get the most qualified, fair, impartial, and diverse judiciary.