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State of Pennsylvania | May 18, 2010 Election |
PROPOSAL TO REFORM STATE GOVERNMENTBy Jack WagnerCandidate for Governor; State of Pennsylvania; Democratic Party | |
This information is provided by the candidate |
As Governor, I will return integrity to Harrisburg. All plans for Pennsylvania start here. Until our government is fixed, it cannot fix the problems we face.Why is reform a top priority for the next Governor? The United States is in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Pennsylvanians are hurting. Our families are being squeezed by high and prolonged unemployment, by rising costs for gasoline, health care, and education, and have suffered a dramatic reduction in pensions and other forms of savings. One in five Americans is currently unemployed or underemployed. One in eight Americans is on food stamps. Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties each lost 20,000 jobs in fiscal year 2009, nearly 20 percent of the entire Commonwealth's job loss. There is no miracle on the horizon. We need to face up to the tough economic times and take the necessary steps to cope with the situation in a manner that does not further stress family finances. In order to accomplish these goals, Pennsylvania state government needs sweeping reform. The next Governor must immediately begin to restore the public's faith in government. Pennsylvanians are discontent and tired of the status quo and a state government that is politically paralyzed. Repairing the culture of corruption in Harrisburg requires a record of integrity and a commitment to reform. I have long fought to reduce the size of the General Assembly and to give the people the power to reform their government through a constitutional convention. I have worked with law enforcement to investigate, prosecute, and punish those who steal from the taxpayers. Quite simply, being Auditor General is about leading the fight for transparency, accountability, and reform in all areas of state government. I will continue to do so as Governor. What do we need to improve? Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve a government that puts their needs first and that addresses those needs in the most cost-effective way possible. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania's fiscal house is not in order and state government is not leading. The next Governor must assess the fiscal condition of state government and develop a comprehensive plan to maintain vital government services without raising taxes. My experience as Auditor General makes me uniquely suited for this task, knowing firsthand where the waste, fraud, and abuse are in government programs and where Pennsylvania can find sustainable savings. Consider the following audits and evidence:
o Special Performance Audit of the PLCB's Employee Training Contract: http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Reports/StateAgencies/Departmental/depPLCBMasterReport.pdf
o Special Performance Audit of DPW's Special Allowance Program: http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/Performance/Special/speSPAL081909.pdf o Special Performance Audit of DPW's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/stateagencies/departmental/deppublicwelfare062707.pdf
What is my vision for reforming state government? A constitutional convention is the core of my plan to reform state government. Pennsylvania citizens must become re-engaged and empowered to tell elected officials how government should run. The last Pennsylvania constitutional convention was held in 1968. Another one is overdue. Good, open dialogue between the public, Governor, and General Assembly must occur to determine priorities. All of the decisions that I have made as an elected official and will make as Governor will involve significant public input. Other reforms I will bring to state government:
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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 16, 2010 11:40
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