The Lehigh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees recently had a Meet the Legislators event at Iron Lakes Country Club, North Whitehall.

The meeting, chaired by member Jan Rush, offered a forum for discussing topics and providing updates on the efforts of local lawmakers.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, spoke of the recent gridlock in Harrisburg.

“We must change the way we redistrict in Pennsylvania,” she urged. “Unless we get more swing moderate districts, we will just become more paralyzed (partisan wise),” said Boscola, citing the constant redistricting in Pennsylvania.

She also discussed the need to re-examine property taxes.

“This is the only tax I know where you can lose an asset,” she said.

State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-134th, offered words of encouragement.

“The good thing is, I think what we do see are people who are very passionate about the issues,” he said. “We do need a basic education funding formula.

“We are one of only three states in the country that does not have one in place.”

He also promoted a “career bound” bill, which he is working on.

The concept would allow businesses to donate to school districts directly with the goal of working together to build career awareness and opportunities for students to forge future career paths.

State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-132nd, also spoke.

“Education is without a doubt the thing that I talk about the most with the people in my district,” he said.

Schlossberg said a story in the Washington Post recently claimed Pennsylvania has the most unequal education system in the country.

“It’s a system where school districts like Allentown get the short end of the stick,” Schlossberg said. “There is no doubt in my mind that implementing a basic education funding formula is a necessity.”

Ellen Kern attended on behalf of state Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th, who was in Harrisburg.

Kern addressed the funding inequity.

Sen. Browne is convinced there is a minimum amount that should be spent on each and every child no matter where that child lives, she explained.

Another hot topic was the status of the state pension system.

State Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131st, stressed the current depressed state of the pension system has been over a decade in the making.

“About the pension system, both sides are at fault,” Simmons said.

“In 2001, both sides made a decision to take money out of the pension system.”

“It was an irresponsible decision which left $54 billion in unfunded liability,” he said.

Simmons reassured the pensioners.

“If you’re currently in the system, your pension won’t be touched,” Simmons said.

State Rep. Julie Harhart, R-183rd, also attended.

“Education has always been a very important issue to me,” Harhart said, thanking everyone for their support over the years.

Currently in her 11th term, Harhart is not seeking re-election in November.

Nancy Wilt, staff member for state Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-122nd, also attended the event.