Issues
JOBS & THE ECONOMY
Economic freedom can only be reached when all of our citizens are able to find jobs that will support their families. All of us are affected by unemployment – even if we are not the ones without work!
Barbara understands that when many of our citizens are out of work, they cannot purchase the goods made in Pennsylvania’s factories; they cannot pay their utility bills; they cannot enjoy a vacation in our parks or recreation sites, and, even worse, they cannot pay their taxes, creating an even bigger tax burden on the rest of us.
As a small business owner herself, Barbara knows that making more loans available for businesses is critical to the creation of jobs in our Commonwealth. We cannot allow the very financial institutions who were bailed out by the taxpayers to turn their backs on those same citizens now.
Barbara will strongly support economic development initiatives, workforce training, and industry partnerships that can make the critical difference in job creation and retention.
EDUCATION
Trained as a teacher, Barbara knows that a good education system is critical to our livelihood as a country. Here in Pennsylvania, we have improved overall test scores consistently for the past eight years.*
But teachers and parents know that test scores alone do not predict success for young people, and the PSSA tests as required by “No Child Left Behind” can be a burden on school districts, teachers and students. Without proper funding, the federal mandates of high-stakes testing are one of the reasons why property taxes at the local level continue to rise.
In those school districts where students are still struggling to meet state and federal standards, Barbara knows that all our best practices and highest professional expertise must be put to bear to make a difference to those children and parents. But the property tax system as it is currently construed is inadequate to address those deep problem areas.
Barbara supports property tax reform that will focus on equity and fair practices while providing the level of support these students and parents so desperately need. She will fight for sufficient state funding for local districts, which can be a major key to reducing the burden of local property taxes on the citizens of Southeastern PA.
(*Source: Pa Dept of Education, News Release, 07-27-09.)
ENERGY
Unfortunately, our reliance on foreign oil puts us at the mercy of countries who often do not share our American values.
But this dilemma can provide us with unprecedented opportunities to put people back to work and to develop our own energy sources right here in Pennsylvania. From research to development, from delivery to service, we know that in Pennsylvania we have the resources to be a key producer of the energy needs of our state and nation, and to do so in a way that respects our environment. This means Pennsylvania can lead in renewable energy sources.
Barbara supports the proposed severance tax on drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Although natural gas is a plentiful resource in our own back yard, we must be environmentally responsible and set aside funds for the protection of our environment.
TRANSPORTATION and INFRASTRUCTURE
To move around at will is the hallmark of a free society. Here in Pennsylvania, the cost of that freedom has steadily increased while the comforts of travel, from poor road and bridge structures to overburdened public transit, have declined.
Barbara understands that without the proper initiatives and support, Pennsylvania could easily lose its prominence as a major national thoroughfare and gateway to the nation for goods and products traveling through our state. She will stand up for our share of federal transportation funds and insist on safe roads, bridges and trains to help re-grow our economy.