PA Governor Candidates Respond to 7 Questions Posed by Black Coalition

McCord

AFRICAN AMERICAN GUBERNATORIAL FORUM COALITION

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Forum Questions

 

Poverty and Income Inequality

 

President Barack Obama and governors in several other states are progressively raising the minimum wage so that it will reach $10.10 per hour. Will you challenge the Pennsylvania Legislature to do the same?

 

I don’t think $10.10 goes far enough. My minimum wage proposal is the boldest of all the candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. It would immediately raise the rate to $10.70 an hour – restoring the wage to its peak purchasing power when adjusted for inflation – and it would raise the tipped minimum wage to $5 an hour. Both wages would be increased annually so incomes do not erode over time due to inflation. My plan is the only one that immediately lifts all three-­‐person households with only one minimum wage worker out of poverty – alleviating the burden on public assistance and health care programs.

 

As the Governor how will you use the opportunities and resources of the Commonwealth to reduce unemployment and poverty among the State’s minority populations?

 

Most of the state’s minority population is concentrated in core urban communities. We need to start reinvesting in these neighborhoods, as opposed to continuing subsidies for suburban development in ways that contributes to sprawl and unsustainable communities. Inner cities are the hubs of regional economies, investments in suburban communities do not translate into the same kind of growth as in urban areas.

 

Dr. Margaret Simms, a fellow at the Urban Institute, suggests we must do three things to get African Americans back to work:

 

·         Attract employers to African American neighborhoods. As noted earlier, most minorities live in urban centers. These areas were decimated after the fall of manufacturing. The high-­‐tech sectors that have replaced them have tended to locate in the suburbs. As a result, there are simply fewer jobs in minority communities, and that has had a disproportionately negative effect on minority employment. Consider that the average unemployment rate in 2013 for whites was 6.8%, but 14.4% for African Americans and 12.4% for Hispanics according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

·         Provide more job training opportunities. This is common sense, but we must ensure those training opportunities are aligned with the skills employers say the need. As governor, I plan on building relationships with existing and prospective employers to gauge their needs and figure out how we can meet those demands.

·         The key to employment is education. My plan not only restores 100% of Tom Corbett’s cuts in year one, it also invests an additional $300 million, the lion’s share of which ($220 million) will go to early childhood education for poorer families. Investments in early childhood education are critical to long-­‐term success, particularly for minorities and at-­‐ risk children. Students entering kindergarten from low-­‐income families demonstrate as much as a 60% lower level of knowledge in reading, math, and general knowledge than those from wealthier families. And research has found that the children of professionals are exposed to 30 million more words by the age of four as compared to children in poverty, which should make it no surprise that children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds tend to come to school less prepared to learn. Early childhood education can bridge these gaps, and it can subsequently lead to higher graduation rates. That’s important because the percentage of minorities without a high school diploma in 2011 was 21%, but only 9% for whites. Greater high school graduation rates may lead more minority students to go on to post-­‐secondary education, and would help to reduce other social problems like crime and health problems.

 

Lastly, I will note that I have proposed a $25 million micro-­‐loan program to help more women and minority entrepreneurs. Too often minority-­‐ and women-­‐owned businesses have trouble accessing the capital they need to create or expand their business. Helping minority and women entrepreneurs is an important part of creating economic security for both groups. According to a 2013 report from the Urban Institute, a considerable gap exists in the wealth of minorities  versus whites. For every $6 in wealth whites possess, blacks and Hispanics possess only $1.

Microfinance initiatives can help bridge that gap, as these types of loans are most commonly directed to minority-­‐ and women-­‐owned firms, and they can be a more efficient means of producing employment gains than conventional government subsidies.

 

 

How will you assure equal employment and contracting opportunities in state government, and especially among your cabinet and staff.

 

I have long been a believer in the virtues and benefits of diversity. I believe that Pennsylvania is stronger when it embraces diversity and gives everyone – regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation – an equal shot at happiness and success, personally and professionally. Yet today, too many Pennsylvanians are not treated fairly or equally.

I will bring to the governor’s office the same commitment to diversity and fairness that I have demonstrated during my decades as a business leader and since 2009 as state Treasurer. I’ve already committed to restoring the Office of Diversity Management in the Office of Administration and hiring a chief diversity officer to oversee the work there. Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to establish such an entity within state government in 2008, but neither the office nor the position exist in the Corbett administration. Second, I intend to restore Pennsylvania’s Women’s and minority commissions to full independent status. Prior to Governor Corbett, Pennsylvania’s commissions on Women, African American Affairs, Latino Affairs, and Asian American Affairs each benefited from a dedicated line item in the state budget –

indicating their respective and collective importance to the commonwealth. Corbett eliminated these line items, put each of the four commissions under the purview of the Office of Public Liaison, and substantially cut funding for their work.

With respect to state contracting opportunities, I want to ensure minority-­‐ and women-­‐owned businesses are able to compete for state contracts. That is something I pride myself on based on our track record at Treasury. Since I took office, we’ve increased the number of MWBE vendors by 50% and the value of those contracts by more than 900%, going from only $167,000 in 2009 to $1.8 million last year.

 

What is the minority diversity on your campaign staff?

 

I’m proud of the diverse team we’ve assembled in this campaign. In terms of minority representation, one of my two deputy campaign managers is an African-­‐American and of the my three deputy directors, one is African-­‐American.

 

 

Education

 

The quality of schools in poor African American communities is significantly below any reasonable or acceptable standard. Academic achievement gaps abound, especially in minority and urban school districts. Equitable distribution of financial resources cannot be achieved under the current school funding formula based on property tax. What can/will you do to close racial achievement gaps and provide equitable resources so as to ensure all of Pennsylvania’s children receive a quality education, enter life on a level playing field, and have opportunities to thrive?

 

The disparity between rich and poor schools in Pennsylvania is a disgrace, and it is doing a tremendous disservice to our entire state. The current system relies too heavily on property taxes and does not provide a long-­‐term solution for what is becoming an increasingly dire situation. Instead, this system has divided our districts into two classes: winners and losers. Areas with a poor tax base or with falling property values simply cannot generate the revenue needed to maintain high quality schools.

 

We need a school funding formula that targets state dollars to challenged school districts and that takes into account the tax burden of local communities. Additionally, I want to see a funding formula that also factors in the poverty levels of each school district, as well as the number of students with learning challenges and disabilities, such as English language learners and special education students, respectively.

 

Aside from simply instituting a fair funding formula, the state also needs to step up its contributions. The commonwealth contributes only slightly more than a third of all school district funding, putting us at the bottom 20% nationally in terms of state contributions to

education. That is entirely irresponsible. We need to significantly raise Pennsylvania’s share of the burden. Remember, our state constitution says that we have a responsibility to fund a thorough system of public education. We’re not living up to that obligation today.

 

There is one last point that should not be overlooked: parental and community involvement. Students and schools perform best when families and communities come together to support learning. Students earn higher grades, attend school more regularly, stay in school longer, and enroll in higher-­‐level programs. If parents want better schools for their children – and who doesn’t? – they need to get involved and hold districts accountable for performance. My administration will be committed to fostering that kind of collaboration.

 

Voter ID

 

Despite the absence of widespread voter fraud in the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania is among several states that has attempted to impose “so-­‐called” Voter ID Laws. The courts have put a temporary halt to these efforts. If elected Governor of Pennsylvania, what would you do regarding the current Voter ID Legislation currently being considered by the courts?

 

I would abandon it entirely and push to repeal it. We should be making it easier, not harder, for people to vote. We should not be throwing up roadblocks to disenfranchise the elderly, minorities, and young people. That is exactly what the Corbett administration has done, and they’ve wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in the process.

 

The Commonwealth Court’s ruling in January that struck down the Voter I.D. law was a huge victory for those of us who believe that we should be looking for ways to get more people to participate in our democracy. After that decision, I called for a new effort to protect the rights of every Pennsylvania resident to cast his or her vote – and to encourage more participation in our elections, not less. My Pennsylvania Voting Rights Act proposal includes a vote-­‐by-­‐mail program, an early vote program, an increase in the number of polling places in communities where long lines discourage voting, and a permanent end to discriminatory voter ID practices.

 

 

Narcotics and Gun Trafficking and Homicides

 

Narcotics and Gun Trafficking permeate the Commonwealth’s urban and suburban communities. Subsequent homicides have taken the lives of far too many Black Pennsylvanians in the prime of their lives. Jails and prisons are filled to capacity with young men, uneducated and unemployed and mostly incarcerated for drug related crimes.

As Governor how would you rally the support of federal, state and local law enforcement and social service agencies to eliminate this scourge?

Generally, we need to do a better job of keeping illegal weapons off our streets. That includes doing a better job with background checks; keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill and

those with criminal records; and allowing communities to impose reasonable measures that address the challenges they face at the local level.

With respect to drugs, we need to change the way we approach this issue. It is not purely a criminal justice issue; it is a health issue. We dedicate too many resources to prosecuting and incarcerating those who have been arrested or convicted of drug-­‐related offenses, and too few dollars on treatment and prevention. That is where we should be focusing our state program funding, because treatment is a far more effective and cheaper use of public dollars.

 

 

What is your position on the decriminalization of marijuana with lessor penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug?

My view on decriminalization is more complex than just “support” or “oppose.” While my inclination is to support decriminalization, I first want to study this issue further and the effects of similar recent movements in other states. Given that my parents were both academics, I am constantly driven by the quest for knowledge and information. The move to make marijuana legal in other states is a relatively new phenomenon. I hope to learn more from their experience. I believe we must carefully evaluate the data, assess the risks and potential for revenues, and examine the possible social externalities before arriving at any decision. My instinct is that data will show improved policy around marijuana will save money on corrections, increase tax revenues, create jobs, and increase freedom.

 

 

What is your position on Ban the Box and other initiatives to help formerly incarcerated persons gain employment, and live in public housing?

I agree we need to do a better job of giving people with criminal records a shot at finding employment. Allowing prospective employers to exclude people with criminal histories – especially when a past conviction may not pose a threat to that organization – seems counterproductive, so I support the “ban the box” proposal.

 

Secondly, I support expungement proposals, such as that put forth by state Sen. Tim Solobay (SB

391) that would allow certain misdemeanor offenses to be expunged from a person’s record. This bill, which is now in the House, could provide relief to many deserving people, plus it could do a great deal to reduce recidivism rates by allowing more former offenders to secure gainful employment and support themselves.

 

Marcellus Shale

What would be your administration’s position on taxation of corporate profits generated by this growing sector of the economy and using the revenue to fund schools and other public needs?

I have proposed the most aggressive drillers’ tax – a 10% levy based on the value of natural gas at the wellhead. My plan would generate as much as $1.6 billion in the first year, rising to more than $3.2 billion by 2020. The proceeds of this tax would be dedicated to local communities (at a rate similar to what local governments receive through the impact fee), the environment, and education.

 

 

Equitable and targeted public funding

As Governor what policies would you support to give equitable allocation of public dollars for community and economic development? What policies would you support to prioritize social service, economic and community development monies so that they go to the targeted census tracts and communities that qualify the State to receive the funds in the first place?

As a business leader and former entrepreneur, I am driven by the notion of generating a return on investment. We should target dollars to those areas that will generate the greatest level of good in terms of employment, tax revenues, and a better quality of life. In this era of limited resources and tight budgets, it’s incumbent on any community or region that wants to secure economic and community development dollars to develop a well-­‐thought-­‐out plan and to engage stakeholders to reach a consensus – or a plan that the entire community supports and can rally behind.

I recognize that core communities are the lifeblood of a region’s economy, and that investments in these inner-­‐city areas generate greater economic prosperity throughout the region. I intend to target state funding to municipal revitalization rather than focusing on green space development that continues to pull people out of cities and into new areas that require costly new infrastructure systems and that strains our transportation system.

 

 

Meeting the Needs of Western Pennsylvania

There is a tendency for those in office in Harrisburg to give more attention, consideration, and resources to counties in the eastern part of the state. How will you be more cognizant of    the concerns and needs of western PA counties? As Governor would you commit to meeting with the organizations sponsoring this Forum on a quarterly or biannual basis to discuss policy and legislative concerns that affect our communities?

My administration will have an open-­‐door policy. I am someone who values input and believes in the importance of engaging all parties, regardless of whether they agree or disagree with me. Governor Corbett has been too standoffish with too many leaders and constituency groups. That reflects his inability to lead. A McCord administration will always be willing to meet with stakeholders to solicit their input and hear their concerns.

Schwartz

AFRICAN AMERICAN GUBERNATORIAL FORUM COALITION

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Gubernatorial Forum Questions

 

Allyson Schwartz answers to questionnaire.

Poverty and Income Inequality

President Barack Obama and governors in several other states are progressively raising the minimum wage so that it will reach $10.10 per hour.  Will you challenge the Pennsylvania Legislature to do the same? As the Governor how will you use the opportunities and resources of the Commonwealth to reduce unemployment and poverty among the State’s minority populations? How will you assure equal employment and contracting opportunities in state government, and especially among your cabinet and staff. What is the minority diversity on your campaign staff?

Throughout my career in public service, I have fought to ensure that workers are paid a decent wage. In Congress, I successfully worked with fellow Democrats to increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in 2007. I currently am a cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act to increase the minimum wage nationwide to $10.10 and index is to inflation.

As governor, I will increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $10.10 and index it to inflation. This will lift wages for an estimated 721,000 workers and benefit businesses by putting more money in the pockets of their customers.

We cannot address poverty and grow the middle-class without family-sustaining jobs; and now, more than ever, those jobs require graduates with good skills and life-long learning ability. We must provide safe schools, with up-to-date technical equipment, materials, supplies, and curricula. We must support teachers and other school professionals, while fairly holding them accountable. And, above all, we must focus on our students. The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, in endorsing me for governor, understands my commitment to this. 

As governor, I will protect and support programs that help people gain a leg up. The Pennsylvania press reported just this week that the Corbett administration has been denying  welfare benefits to 75 percent of applicants for cash assistance. That is unacceptable, and it is the sort of misguided policy that will end in a Schwartz administration.

I will have a diverse administration, from my Cabinet on down. Our departments and agencies will reflect the talents of all our people and communities. I will increase opportunities for minority- and women-owned firms to obtain state contracts. And I will improve transparency and public disclosure of business practices, including numbers of minorities and women on boards of directors.

Diversity on my campaign staff starts at the top: My campaign manager, Corey Dukes, is an African-American male.  I also have African-Americans and other racial minorities in positions of leadership in my Communications, Finance and Field departments.  Throughout my career in public service I have valued diversity because it is a moral imperative, but also because an administration that seeks to be effective must reflect the communities that it represents. 

Education

The quality of schools in poor African American communities is significantly below any reasonable or acceptable standard.  Academic achievement gaps abound, especially in minority and urban school districts. Equitable distribution of financial resources cannot be achieved under the current school funding formula based on property tax. What can/will you do to close racial achievement gaps and provide equitable resources so as to ensure all of Pennsylvania’s children receive a quality education, enter life on a level playing field, and have opportunities to thrive?

Decades of research proves that quality preschool narrows the achievement gap, increases high school graduation rates, decreases the need for special education, helps prepare children to succeed in today’s economy, and reduces health care and social welfare costs over time.

To ensure that students start school ready to learn, I will make a transformational commitment to early education. I will launch Keystone Kids, an initiative to provide universal access to voluntary prekindergarten for 4-year-olds.  I will provide other support for early education, and I will make sure that all school districts are able to offer full-day kindergarten. I will undo Corbett's $1 billion in education cuts by the end of my first term. I will establish a transparent funding formula that recognizes student and school district characteristics, considers local effort, and provides sustained, adequate, and fair funding to every school in the state.

Voter ID

Despite the absence of widespread voter fraud in the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania is among several states that has attempted to impose “so-called” Voter ID Laws. The courts have put a temporary halt to these efforts. If elected Governor of Pennsylvania, what would you do regarding the current Voter ID Legislation currently being considered by the courts?

Nothing is more fundamental in a democracy than fair and open access to the ballot box, which is why I am committed to ensuring that all citizens are assured of their right to vote.

In 2012, citing supposed voter fraud, Corbett enacted a “Voter ID” law that deliberately created significant obstacles to voting. These changes were particularly harmful to seniors, the poor, young people, residents of urban areas, and anyone who might not hold a current driver’s license. After two years in court, the Corbett law was ruled unconstitutional “on its face.”

As governor, I will work to enact sensible reforms to build a 21st century voting system, including mail voting and same-day registration. If Corbett’s Voter ID law is revived in court, I will repeal it. No political leader or party should be working to disenfranchise Americans.

Narcotics and Gun Trafficking and Homicides

Narcotics and Gun Trafficking permeate the Commonwealth’s urban and suburban communities. Subsequent homicides have taken the lives of far too many Black Pennsylvanians in the prime of their lives. Jails and prisons are filled to capacity with young men, uneducated and unemployed and mostly incarcerated for drug related crimes. As Governor how would you rally the support of federal, state and local law enforcement and social service agencies to eliminate this scourge? What is your position on the decriminalization of marijuana with lessor penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug? What is your position on Ban the Box and other initiatives to help formerly incarcerated persons gain employment, and live in public housing?

You can count on me to stand up for every Pennsylvanian. I am a social worker by training, and served proudly in the administration of the first African American mayor of Philadelphia, W. Wilson Goode, by heading the Department of Human Services. One of my first acts was to remove from my office a photo of Philadelphia prisons. As Acting Commissioner, I oversaw juvenile justice, and I believed then, as a I do now, that we need to give all kids a good start in life. A picture of a prison sent exactly the wrong message.

As governor, I will reexamine Pennsylvania's sentencing guideless, which have become a factor in over-incarceration. In 1995, as a state senator, I voted against the automatic transfer of juveniles convicted of certain violent crimes to adult court. I said at the time on the Senate floor: "The question, Mr. President, is whether this is the best step we can take to assure that juveniles who commit violent crimes are punished ... and where possible given a chance to be more productive citizens when they re-enter the community."

Right now, far too many individuals – disproportionately minority – land in prison or get criminal records because of possession of small amounts of marijuana. This is devastating communities, hurting families, negatively impacting our state budget, and doing little to make our communities safer. As governor, I will push for reducing or eliminating penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

As governor, I will strongly support Pennsylvania’s job training programs,  including seeking innovative ways to integrate them with our community colleges, and improve coordination between businesses and schools to meet regional employment needs. I will streamline these programs, publicize them, and bring them under one section of the state Department of Labor and Industry. I will make a push to ensure that these workforce programs work with the long-term unemployed, ex-offenders, and high school dropouts.

Being eliminated from even a chance to make your case for a job is all too common due to check-off boxes, and, as governor, I will work with all stakeholders, including business, labor, clergy, minority advocacy organizations, and civil justice groups, to address this very serious issue to ensure that qualified individuals don’t have harmful roadblocks stand in their way of employment.

I am proud to have a strong record on standing up on gun violence. I am committed to building a Pennsylvania where citizens can feel safe in their homes, schools, and communities. I have been one of Pennsylvania’s strongest champions for commonsense gun measures, first as a state senator and currently as a member of the U.S. House Democratic Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in Congress.  CeaseFirePA,  a statewide coalition, gave me a "100 percent" rating for my stance on preventing gun violence.

As governor, I will make gun-violence prevention a priority in Pennsylvania. I will:
-- Ban military-style assault rifles and large-magazine clips.
-- Limit handgun purchases to one a month, to control straw purchases.
-- Eliminate the background-check loophole for private gun sales.
-- Expand background checks to include rifles and shotguns, not just handguns.
-- Require background checks for gun shop employees.
-- Require the reporting of lost and stolen guns.
-- Allow Pennsylvania cities to enact local gun-violence measures.
-- Require a Pennsylvania permit to carry a concealed handgun in Pennsylvania.

Marcellus Shale

What would be your administration’s position on taxation of corporate profits generated by this growing sector of the economy and using the revenue to fund schools and other public needs?

Pennsylvania's natural gas resources, buried under our soil for millennia, belong to everyone. Last September, I was the first candidate for governor to announce that I will seek to enact a Marcellus Shale natural gas severance tax. My proposed 5 percent tax, similar to our neighbor West Virginia's, would raise $13.2 billion for the people of Pennsylvania over the course of a decade. I will use the revenue to transform public education, relieve pressure on school property taxes, rebuild our roads and bridges, and support other critical priorities.

Equitable and targeted public funding

As Governor what policies would you support to give equitable allocation of public dollars for community and economic development? What policies would you support to prioritize social service, economic and community development monies so that they go to the targeted census tracts and communities that qualify the State to receive the funds in the first place?

Economic development dollars need to be targeted at older, often-struggling communities. Some of the most successful efforts have been affiliated with the Main Street program, aimed at business districts. While some of these are are in our boroughs and smaller cities, many are in the neighborhoods of Pennsylvania's biggest cities, including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.  Corbett cut funding for these efforts and allowed the Department of Community and Economic Development to become so understaffed that it can barely manage the programs.

I will reinvigorate these initiatives. I will follow best practices in revitalization and sustainability to create environments that attract businesses and jobs, and improve quality of life.    

I will also enhance the neighborhood assistance tax credit, and implement the Historic Preservation Tax Credit. Both of these programs can make big differences in reviving corridors in our cities.

Meeting the Needs of Western Pennsylvania

There is a tendency for those in office in Harrisburg to give more attention, consideration, and resources to counties in the eastern part of the state.  How will you be more cognizant of the concerns and needs of western PA counties? As Governor would you commit to meeting with the organizations sponsoring this Forum on a quarterly or biannual basis to discuss policy and legislative concerns that affect our communities?

In my campaign and public-service career, I have been a regular visitor to Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. You need have no worries that I will forget the region when I am governor. 

 

 

 Wolf

AFRICAN AMERICAN GUBERNATORIAL FORUM COALITION

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Forum Questions

Poverty and Income Inequality

 

President Barack Obama and governors in several other states are progressively raising the minimum wage so that it will reach $10.10 per hour. Will you challenge the Pennsylvania Legislature to do the same?

 

As governor, I will support efforts to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 and index it to inflation.

 

As the Governor how will you use the opportunities and resources of the Commonwealth to reduce unemployment and poverty among the State’s minority populations?

 

As governor, I will give Pennsylvania a fresh start – I will work to make the Commonwealth the nation’s “Keystone” for economic growth with its abundant natural resources, vibrant agricultural sector, world class universities and colleges, and its ideal location as the transportation and telecommunications hub between the East Coast, Midwest, and world markets.

 

I will take state government in a different direction with a strategic focus on making Pennsylvania a dynamo for economic development and a magnet for private sector entrepreneurs who will create good, high wage jobs. My fresh start will level the playing field, focus state government on preparing residents for 21st century jobs, leverage the innate strengths of Pennsylvania’s economy, and use our resources to our full advantage.

 

My goal is to lead Pennsylvania to a future that is bright and promising for all Pennsylvanians.

 

How will you assure equal employment and contracting opportunities in state government, and especially among your cabinet and staff. What is the minority diversity on your campaign staff?

 

My administration will reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania, and my goal will be to have the best possible people in every position regardless of race, gender, or sexual identity. This is what I have done in business, it is what I have done on my campaign, and it is what I will do as governor. As a business owner, I recruited the best and brightest to senior positions. My Chief Financial Officer and my Chief Technology Officer are both African American.

 

As governor, I will increase women-­‐, minority-­‐, and disabled-­‐owned business participation in government procurement and construction contracts. By carving out a percentage of

 

 

government contracts that should be awarded to women-­‐, minority-­‐ and disabled-­‐owned businesses, Pennsylvania can create more high-­‐paying, skilled jobs. As governor, I will issue an executive order to increase the participation of these types of businesses in state contracting with the goal of 30% of total dollars committed to these contracts over the current 22%.

 

Diversity is important and minorities hold positions at all levels and in different areas of my campaign including as Deputy Campaign Manager. In addition, my Campaign Treasurer is African American.

 

Education

 

The quality of schools in poor African American communities is significantly below any reasonable or acceptable standard. Academic achievement gaps abound, especially in minority and urban school districts. Equitable distribution of financial resources cannot be achieved under the current school funding formula based on property tax. What can/will you do to close racial achievement gaps and provide equitable resources so as to ensure all of Pennsylvania’s children receive a quality education, enter life on a level playing field, and have opportunities to thrive?

 

I support our state's public education system, and I know that Pennsylvania is home to some of the best public schools in the country but there are also too many struggling schools that are failing our children. My two daughters attended York County public schools, where they developed a strong academic foundation that prepared them to go on to top-­‐notch colleges and build successful careers. There is still a lot of work to be done.

 

Where Tom Corbett has gutted Pennsylvania’s schools, I will make education a priority. I believe we have not only a constitutional obligation to provide for a thorough and efficient public education system but also have a rational self-­‐interest to ensure that our youngest residents receive an education that will allow them to reach their full potential. A good public education system is not just the right thing to do, it is what drives a healthy, vibrant economy – something that’s good for all of us in Pennsylvania.

 

As governor, I will restore Governor Corbett's $1 billion in cuts to education, implement a fair funding formula, and institute reforms to help local school districts innovate and improve student performance.

 

Adequately funding K-­‐12 education will be a top priority of my administration. We can ensure that every student in the Commonwealth has access to the necessary resources by:

·         Putting education first. This includes examining where the state is spending money, cutting waste, and redirecting funds to education.

·         Changing the funding streams. The State should increase its share of public education dollars to help relieve tax pressures on local property owners.

·         Enacting a five percent extraction tax on natural gas and diverting some of that funding stream to education programs.

 

 

·         Instituting brick-­‐and-­‐mortar and cyber charter school funding formulas, which former Auditor General Wagner projects will save up to $365 million per year. For more information on my charter school reform plan, visit http://wolfforpa.com/sections/page/charter-­‐school-­‐reform.

 

We need to make sure these additional funds are spent in the most efficient, effective, and transparent manner possible. That's why, as governor, I will institute a fair funding formula and develop a plan to fully fund it.

 

I will start by updating the 2007 costing out study to determine the true costs of a high-­‐quality education. In addition to a nationally competitive base rate, the funding formula will tie additional funds to district size, poverty levels, local tax efforts, and student makeup. This formula will:

·         Lead to increases in state funding, which will help alleviate the tax burden on property owners;

·         Ensure that state funds are distributed in an equitable, transparent, and predictable manner so that school district leaders have the ability to plan for the long term; and

·         Incentivize school districts to develop innovative programs that improve student achievement.

 

I will fight every day to build a strong public education system so that we can keep, create, and attract good jobs right here in Pennsylvania.

 

Voter ID

 

Despite the absence of widespread voter fraud in the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania is among several states that has attempted to impose “so-­‐called” Voter ID Laws. The courts have put a temporary halt to these efforts. If elected Governor of Pennsylvania, what would you do regarding the current Voter ID Legislation currently being considered by the courts?

 

The most fundamental test of fairness and access to the political system in Pennsylvania is the ability to vote. It is a right protected by the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions and is one of the most cherished gifts granted by our Founding Fathers. Yet, Tom Corbett and other Republicans want to place arbitrary restrictions on the right to vote based upon unsupported claims that voter fraud is widespread and that photo IDs are necessary to address the alleged voter fraud.

 

I will lead the fight to protect Pennsylvania’s voting rights by overturning the arbitrary requirement for photo IDs. At least one Pennsylvania Court of Appeals has already held that the mandatory photo ID requirement is unconstitutional. Instead of making it difficult to vote, Pennsylvania lawmakers should be enacting reforms similar to those in neighboring states that make it easier for residents to participate in the electoral process. I will support measures to protect and expand the right to vote, while making participation convenient for voters. I will:

 

 

·         Expand the ability to vote by mail and vote online – Pennsylvanians should be encouraged to vote, not discouraged. Today, state residents who cannot make it to the polling booth on Election Day are required to provide an explanation prior to receiving their absentee ballot. As governor, I will expand absentee voting by eliminating the excuse requirement and giving these voters the option of casting their ballot online.

·         Create early voting periods – In past elections, Pennsylvania residents have had to spend hours waiting in line to vote and some have been denied that right because the polling place did not have their card on file. I will support legislation that allows for early voting at suitable, well equipped polling places such as schools.

·         Allow for same day registration – Researchers have found that when states allow for same day registration, voter participation increases by up to four percentage points. I will advocate for legislation that allows Pennsylvania voters to register on election days.

 

Narcotics and Gun Trafficking and Homicides

 

Narcotics and Gun Trafficking permeate the Commonwealth’s urban and suburban communities. Subsequent homicides have taken the lives of far too many Black Pennsylvanians in the prime of their lives. Jails and prisons are filled to capacity with young men, uneducated and unemployed and mostly incarcerated for drug related crimes. As Governor how would you rally the support of federal, state and local law enforcement and social service agencies to eliminate this scourge?

As governor, I will adopt policies that reduce pressure on Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system to free up funding that can be used to address the root causes of criminal activity. These policies will include decriminalizing marijuana, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences, and expanding the use of specialized courts to help non-­‐violent offenders address mental health and addiction issues. I will also expand prison education and job training initiatives and improve access to post-­‐incarceration treatment to help reduce the recidivism rate.

What is your position on the decriminalization of marijuana with lessor penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug?

Pennsylvania’s court and probation systems are being clogged with offenders convicted of possessing minor amounts of marijuana. A 2006 report by the Office of National Drug Control Policy found that on average, Pennsylvania spends more than $325 million a year on marijuana arrests. As governor, I will support legislation to decriminalize marijuana, which would make possession of one ounce or less a civil offense that would be accompanied by a fine. I will also support legalizing the use of medical marijuana because he believes we should not deny doctor recommended treatments that could help people suffering from diseases or illnesses.

What is your position on Ban the Box and other initiatives to help formerly incarcerated persons gain employment, and live in public housing?

 

 

I know the important role steady employment plays in lowering the recidivism rate. At the Wolf Organization, we make a concerted effort during the hiring process to consider individuals who have been convicted of minor drug and other non-­‐violent offenses. Unfortunately, many government and private sector employers do not provide the same second chance employment opportunities to ex-­‐offenders. As governor, I will work with the private sector to support efforts, like “Ban the Box” policies, to improve job prospects and housing options for ex-­‐ offenders.

Marcellus Shale

 

What would be your administration’s position on taxation of corporate profits generated by this growing sector of the economy and using the revenue to fund schools and other public needs?

With Pennsylvania sitting on one of the largest deposits of natural gas in the world, I believe the Marcellus Shale must be a key component of any plan for Pennsylvania's future. We must ensure that we take advantage of this resource and opportunity in a way that benefits all Pennsylvanians and protects our water and environment.

I believe we have an obligation to get this new energy era right. The urgent challenge facing our state leaders, now and into the future, is how to manage this remarkable natural resource so that its benefits are broadly shared by the residents of Pennsylvania for many years to come.

I will take a responsible approach to natural gas development that includes enacting a 5 percent extraction tax so that we make gas companies pay their fair share and have the resources to fund schools and other key priorities. If done right, natural gas development can be a bridge to a clean energy future and create good-­‐paying energy jobs.

In addition to a 5 percent extraction tax, I will protect our environment and hold drillers accountable by enacting practical regulatory actions, and increasing funding for the Department of Environmental Protection so that it is sufficiently staffed and able to provide proper oversight of drillers. I will work to bring greater transparency to the fracking process by requiring drillers to publicly disclose chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process (similar to Senator Casey’s federal proposal), and lifting the current gag order on physicians.

Additionally, I will support an increase in the annual permit application fee as well as an increase in the fee for drilling on state lands.

 

 

Equitable and targeted public funding

 

 

As Governor what policies would you support to give equitable allocation of public dollars for community and economic development?

I know that community and economic development often go hand-­‐in-­‐hand. In partnership with my fellow community members, I’ve worked to revitalize the city of York -­‐-­‐ the economic anchor of my community.

I served as the president of Better York, which hired David Rusk to develop a regional plan to help revitalize the city, I chaired the board of York College, where I helped to integrate the school into the city by having it invest in the surrounding neighborhood, and I worked as the board chair of Historic York to find new residential and commercial uses for existing buildings. My work with these organizations led to redevelopment as well as new jobs, new social supports for city residents, and new tools to attract middle-­‐class families back to the city.

I’ve also worked with numerous social support nonprofits, including Crispus Attucks, the South George Street Community Partnership, and the United Way of York County, to ensure our residents are connected with essential services.

I know we need to breakdown government silos and develop a more comprehensive approach to serving Pennsylvania residents. As governor, I will personally lead and strategically deploy existing state resources through an Economic Development Partnership – a Cabinet Level initiative with public/private participation that will include representatives from state departments, the private sector, labor, and local government.

The goal of this partnership will be to break down barriers between departments and programs and provide more focused and effective leadership to the State’s economic development efforts. By bringing all parties to the table, we can move away from this idea that economic development is strictly related to attracting new businesses to Pennsylvania, and we can better understand how the vast majority of the work our government does relates directly to job creation – whether it is education, health services, or community development.

What policies would you support to prioritize social service, economic and community development monies so that they go to the targeted census tracts and communities that qualify the State to receive the funds in the first place?

I want to restore fairness in Pennsylvania and level the playing field so that we can rebuild our middle class. With our current systems, there is often no logic in how resources are distributed to the community, and as a result many of our neediest residents don’t receive services they need. As governor, I will work to make the distribution of the funds fair by ensuring that they are appropriately targeted.

 

 

Meeting the Needs of Western Pennsylvania

 

There is a tendency for those in office in Harrisburg to give more attention, consideration, and resources to counties in the eastern part of the state. How will you be more cognizant of    the concerns and needs of western PA counties?

As governor, my job will be to promote the needs of all Pennsylvanians. I believe that to truly transform Pennsylvania we need to implement policies that serve the needs of all residents, regardless of where they live in the state.

I am running for governor because want to give Pennsylvania a fresh start. I will work to make the Commonwealth the nation’s “Keystone” for economic growth with its abundant natural resources, vibrant agricultural sector, world class universities and colleges, and its ideal location as the transportation and telecommunications hub between the East Coast, Midwest, and world markets.

I will take state government in a different direction with a strategic focus on making Pennsylvania a dynamo for economic development and a magnet for private sector entrepreneurs who will create good, high wage jobs. My fresh start will level the playing field, focus state government on preparing residents for 21st century jobs, leverage the innate strengths of Pennsylvania’s economy, and use our resources to our full advantage.

As Governor would you commit to meeting with the organizations sponsoring this Forum on a quarterly or biannual basis to discuss policy and legislative concerns that affect our communities?

I believe that it is extremely important for our elected leaders to engage residents in the policy process. As Secretary of Revenue, I drove my own car all across Pennsylvania to meet with more than 2,000 department workers to learn about their jobs and solicit advice on how to improve the department. As governor, I will take a similar approach by engaging residents and key stakeholders as we work to develop policies that strengthen our economy and rebuild our middle class.