Philadelphia, PA, USA - June 17, 2019; Tourist walk past a large chalk board, that reads How Will You Change The World, outside the historic Arch Street Friends Meeting House in Old City, Philadelphia, PA on June 17, 2019. During the high season large groups of tourists are drawn to the pre-colonial charm of Old City and the historic significance of Independence National Historical Park.
Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.
Philadelphia, PA, USA - June 17, 2019; Tourist walk past a large chalk board, that reads How Will You Change The World, outside the historic Arch Street Friends Meeting House in Old City, Philadelphia, PA on June 17, 2019. During the high season large groups of tourists are drawn to the pre-colonial charm of Old City and the historic significance of Independence National Historical Park.
There are more than a thousand lobbying firms and 12,000 lobbyists registered to lobby the federal government in Washington D.C. They present their views and try to influence government on many issues. Those that attract the most lobbying interests relate to business, healthcare, energy, pharmaceuticals and communications.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation is not a lobbying group that spends large sums of money like some other lobbyists. However, the lobbying group representing Quakers is the nation’s oldest faith-based lobbying group having formed in 1943.
According to the FCNL, they meet with members of Congress or their staffs to discuss issues of peace, equality and simplicity and they do it while usually focusing on one issue.
Right now, the Friends Committee is lobbying for “preventing endless war through the repeal of two outstanding Authorizations for Use of Military Force” that were enacted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and the lead up to war in Iraq in 2002. The issue has taken on more urgency since tensions have increases recently between the U.S. and Iran.
On Thursday’s Smart Talk, we’re joined by Beth Reeves and Anthony Crocamo — advocates from the Friends Committee on National Legislation to discuss the issues important to Quakers and how they go about lobbying members of Congress.