Who knew we had our own Man of La Mancha right here in Delaware County?

Actually, Nick Micozzie spends a lot of his time in Harrisburg. He’s the Republican state rep in the 163rd legislative district in Upper Darby.

For years Micozzie has been tilting at windmills when it comes to how this state funds education. He has seen – and heard – first-hand the devastating effect of rising property taxes on many of his elderly constituents in Upper Darby, Aldan and Darby Township.

Unlike many of his cohorts in Harrisburg, Micozzie has tried to do something about it. A few years back he rolled out what he called the “Successful Schools Model,” which would hike the state income tax and use the money to offset property taxes.
The plan went nowhere. Even the Republican members of the Delco delegation were plain in saying Micozzie’s plan had no chance.

Property taxes are once again being debated in Harrisburg this week. It comes on the heels of a move by the state House to form a special committee that will look to enact the recommendations suggested by a costing-out study of the state education system last fall.

That study told the rest of the state something Micozzie already knew: The Commonwealth seriously underfunds education, and the method is flawed, making spending per student terribly inequitable across the state. The “haves” do fine. The “have-nots,” including many in the struggling Upper Darby and William Penn school districts Micozzie represents, not so great.

Micozzie has not gone away. And he is not being quiet.

He has been clear this week in letting his colleagues know the importance of the task in front of them.

How clear? This is a sampling of what he had to say on the House floor:
“I urge you, members of the General Assembly, to have the courage to do what’s right. We can not allow another generation of children to slip through the cracks.”
You tell ‘em, Nick.

We concur. Now it’s time for the Legislature to act. Ladies and gentlemen, the ball’s in your court.