(The Lion) — The culture war and politics are interfering with education in the Keystone State, Pennsylvania state Sen. Scott Martin tells The Lion.

Martin, a Republican from Lancaster County, told Lion Week in Review host Chris Stigall that men have no business competing in women’s sports, citing Penn swimmer “Lia” Thomas who defeated Riley Gaines as proof.

“It makes no sense to me,” said Martin, who chairs the state’s Athletic Oversight Commission. “There’s a reason why we have weight classes in wrestling and boxing, and it’s for safety.”

Martin was a national champion in high school wrestling and two-time collegiate All American in football. “Even amongst the men, safety and a level playing field is always a consideration.

“And so when you add that on to having men competing in female sports, the safety factor and the growth of it, especially post COVID, has been really troubling. And if people really did their research … I know President Trump highlighted a young lady who got knocked unconscious, but you know, you have cases more severe” than that, he said. The bottom line? “It makes no sense how anyone could think that this is a safe thing for our girls, or how it doesn’t take away opportunities for them.”

Martin’s conversations with constituents confirm the polling on the issue: a majority oppose males in women’s sports.

Stigall then asked if politics was to blame for preventing changes in state law.

Martin agreed and added that the same was true for school choice.

“I do think there’s more support, like when we pass Lifeline Scholarships in the General Assembly,” he said. “I would have told you on the surface, if that bill had the ability to run, that it would have passed ‘bipartisanly.’ However, obviously, the House Democratic leadership never allowed that to happen.”

The scholarships, for low-income students trapped in failing schools, have faced a rocky road since they were first proposed in 2022.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, campaigned on them but later withdrew his support after pressure from House Democrats, who control that chamber.

Currently, Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the House but Republicans control the Senate.

Martin blamed school choice’s defeat on pressure from teachers’ unions, which support Democrats almost exclusively.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s all about that political support that they get from those teachers’ (unions),” he said.

He also lamented the state spending an average of $22,000 per student, and some schools almost $40,000, yet reading and math scores are still low.

Growing states tend to have school choice, he said, which would help Pennsylvania.

“It would be a good thing for a state that, by the way, is losing young people and losing families and struggling demographically,” Martin said. “The Philadelphia School District’s lost close to 20% of their students in the last four or five years. And then you overlay the proficiency outcomes.

“There’s no doubt in my mind, money is not the answer to this, though they will claim that, ‘just give us more money.’ We’re sixth or seventh in the nation right now in terms of the amount of money spending on education, but we’re nowhere near that same number when it comes to actually getting proficient results.”

Still, the state’s political climate makes it unlikely big changes will be approved, unless Republicans can gain ground in the Legislature.

“Could we, perhaps, if there’s special elections in the House where we somehow eke out a majority with the House Republicans, because there always seems to be a vacancy, and put it on (Shapiro’s) desk? It would be really interesting to see because he’s, you know, ‘every child of God,’ as he says, and really have him put the money where his mouth is.”