The number one issue facing the commonwealth today is jobs. Unemployment in Pennsylvania has doubled from 4.2% in November 2007 to 8.4% in November 2009, higher than it's been in over twenty years. The numbers aren't negative across the board: some economic sectors are showing improvement in our commonwealth, such as mining & logging; education & health; information & technology; and trade, transportation, & utilities. But the improvements aren't huge, and many Pennsylvanians are having a hard time filling these jobs.
THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED, AND SO MUST WE - Many see our situation as a problem to solve, but we also have an opportunity. Through bolstered education and job training programs, we can build a strong workforce. Through sound investment in the business sectors which have demonstrated that they will be the backbone of our 21st century economy, we can create high-paying jobs for Pennsylvania's workers. These are the two things we need most in order to not only recover from our current recession, but maintain a robust economy in the future.
Investing in the industries of Pennsylvania's future is critical to their growth and success here. We must adopt an "Invest Green In Green" strategy: invest our green dollars in the green economy. Support for green energy will create jobs in manufacturing, construction, and engineering. Much of that investment will come from the commonwealth. But we must also attract investments from out-of-state and overseas partners in alternative energy industries like wind and solar.
In addition, Tim has been a supporter of investing in Economic Development opportunities which assist in growing our economy and attracting more businesses to our Commonwealth.
Endorsed By: Main Line Chamber of Commerce, the Southeast Pennsylvania Chambers Coalition, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
We live in a region blessed with beautiful natural resources that enhance our quality of life. Tim is committed to preserving our open spaces, supporting our parks and recreation areas, and protecting our clean air and clean water. We need to implement smart growth strategies in our region that promote economic growth while planning for traffic improvements, enhanced public transit, storm water management and environmental stewardship. Tim has been endorsed by the Sierra Club.
THE COST OF NATURAL GAS AND THE WAY TO OFFSET IT -Pennsylvania rests on one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world. In fact, Pennsylvania might hold enough recoverable gas to fuel the nation’s needs for years. However, this opportunity comes at a cost—air pollution, road and transit damage, drinking water contamination, and billions of gallons of water taken from our streams. To protect our lands from the damages of gas drilling, Tim has been advocating for a severance tax on natural gas production to fund reclamation and key environmental programs.
RENEWABLE ENERGY -Tim will continue state support for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. He supports the development of cellulosic ethanol from sustainable raw sources like wood chips and agricultural waste, as well as biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil or animal fat. Tim knows we must reduce our reliance on non-renewable fuel sources that harm the environment. Tim supports implementation of a strong Green Building component designed to make our buildings more efficient.
As a father with four young children, Tim understands that educating our children is our best investment in the future of our community and our economy. Tim has made education a top priority, and wants to change how we frame the issue: education is an investment with a tremendous return for the commonwealth, and the best path is to invest wisely for the long-term by fully funding the programs that are proven to work, not to trim spending for short-term savings.
We need to target expenditures towards specific goals aimed to maximize student achievement, create the best possible learning environments for students, and build and maintain a strong, successful staff of teachers and education professionals. Tim received the Early Childhood Education Champion Award from the Montgomery County Childcare Consortium for his strong support of early childhood care and education, which helps children, students, families, and the commonwealth; Tim supports the use of accurate metrics to promote more effective student assessment, class sizes, and instructional time; and I support quality programs for teacher training, mentoring, evaluation, and continuing development.
INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION BENEFIT EVERYONE - Pennsylvania's early childhood and pre-K programs have been tremendously successful. Children entering kindergarten from early childhood programs are well prepared. This benefits those children, and it benefits all children: a classroom full of equally prepared students means a better, more educational, more enriching experience for everyone. The cost savings and benefits start immediately, but they continue for a lifetime: these children have higher graduation rates, and they are more likely to go to college and get better jobs; they are less likely to drop out of school, engage in criminal activity, and rely upon the state's resources. But our programs only reach 38% of eligible children. We must expand our early childhood programs and make them available to all eligible children across the commonwealth.
Tim has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and Education Voters of Pennsylvania.
Over the last few budget cycles, the Commonwealth has made drastic cuts to State sending. I support smart reductions and responsible cuts, especially when it comes to funding levels for the legislative caucuses but many vital services and state programs have been cut too deep. In addition, Pennsylvania has one of the most regressive tax systems in the nation. The poorest 20% of wage earners pay 12 cents in state taxes per dollar earned, while the richest 1% pay only 4.3 cents after the federal deduction for state and local taxes. Middle Class wage earners also pay more than the wealthiest Pennsylvanians.
Our tax dollars fund critical services that Pennsylvanians depend on every day, and Tim stands ready to lead the fight to make our tax system fairer.
Middle class and lower income families should not be forced to bear an unfair share of the cost of critical services.
CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES - Tim is working to close corporate tax loopholes that allow huge corporations to hide their Pennsylvania earnings in other states to avoid paying their fair share of taxes in PA. This is also unfair to companies that pay their fair share. Tim is fighting for “combined reporting” which has been adopted by many states and eliminates the ability of corporations to shift earnings among subsidiaries and effectively reduce their Pennsylvania tax obligation.
ENACT A "SEVERANCE TAX" ON NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION - While the development of the natural gas industry is a positive development for our commonwealth and our workers, there is a real impact on our local communities, our infrastructure, and our environment. Other states have set reasonable tax rates for this extraction, so that local and state taxpayers are not left holding the bag. Tim is a leader in fighting for a severance tax on natural gas production.
TAX ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS - Tim strongly believes it is time to end Pennsylvania’s distinction as the only state that does not tax smokeless tobacco.
Our Community has an amazing group of volunteers who dedicate their time, skills and efforts to protect our communities. The safety infrastructure they support is critical to a community where people want to live, work and enjoy life. Tim was raised with a strong personal appreciation of the commitment that these men and women make to our community, as the son of a former Assistant Fire Chief and Chief Engineer of Norriton Fire Company (#61) and the brother of a former Deputy Fire Chief and President of Jefferson Fire Company (#46). Tim has personally been a state certified volunteer fireman for many years and previously served on the relief committee of the Jefferson Fire Company. Tim will honor these volunteers by focusing on securing funding for emergency services and fighting to support the fire and emergency medical services delivery systems in the Commonwealth. Tim was elected as vice chair of the influential House of Representatives Fire Caucus where he been focusing on issues to help wit recruitment and retention of our volunteers.
Tim supports common sense gun laws to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who should not have them, including criminals and children. Tim appreciates a law abiding individual's right to bear arms and never would seek to interfere in any way with ones ability to hunt. But, Tim's top priority is be to protect our law enforcement and children from the threat of unnecessary gun violence.
Endorsed by: CeaseFirePA, Lower Merion FOP, Lodge 28, Montgomery County FOP, Lodge 14, and the Pennsylvania State Fraternal Order of Police.
Tim sees women's health care needs through the eyes of his mother, his sisters, his wife, Robyn, and his three daughters. When it comes to improving women's health care, Tim won't let them -- or any Pennsylvania woman -- go without the care they need. Tim believes people, not politicians, should have the final say in their health care decisions. That's why Tim will protect women's rights and ensure they have access to the health care information and services they need. Tim will work for better prenatal and pediatric care, promote preventive health education and ensure that every woman has access to early screenings for breast and cervical cancer.
Endorsed By: Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
Tim understands that, as a public servant, he will be working for you. That is why Tim is committed to running a responsive and open legislative office. Pennsylvania's new Open Records law is a good first step, but Tim believes we must go further. Tim will advocate for important reforms including lobbying disclosure and campaign finance reform. Tim is working to maintain an open and transparent state government with responsible reform while protecting Pennsylvania’s economic resources to the benefit of taxpayers and local communities. Tim has been fighting for the people's interests, not the special interests.