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.
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.
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.
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.