Candidate for
State Representative; District 164

On Economy and Jobs

Like so many of their neighbors, Maureen and her husband Dennis sit down together every week in their kitchen and pay their bills. They do their best to save what they can and budget for the next month.

Families and small businesses in the 164th legislative District don't have the luxury of spending beyond their means. They can't just keep borrowing money and ignore their future obligations. They can't walk next door and hand their bills to a neighbor and say "we're out of money - pay this for us". They can't responsibly decide to spend money they don't have on luxury items and ignore their basic obligations to provide for their children.

But that is exactly what our state and federal government is doing. Today, our national debt represents a $40,000 debt for every man woman and child in the United States - and that debt is growing every day that our elected officials fail to act. Government needs to balance its checkbook and live within its means. This will require some tough decision-making and some rare but necessary political courage. Maureen believes that State Government needs to tighten its belt and cut spending before even contemplating broad-based tax increases - otherwise, we will never get off this endless treadmill of waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Maureen understands that our economy is driven, not by government, but by people like us who work hard every day to make ends meet. She will fight for the small business owners who are being taxed out of existence and workers who have seen their wages and benefits stagnate under the weight of government regulation and predatory taxes.

On Education

Maureen also understands the importance of setting goals and priorities. She believes in education funding because she knows that our children are the key to our future. They need to be educated and prepared to face the challenges of a global economy. They will be the architects and builders of our future. They will create the jobs, they will build our infrastructure, they will provide for our ever-aging population. Maureen cares about providing them with the tools necessary to compete and succeed.

On Property Tax Relief

Maureen knows that our seniors and families on fixed incomes need help now. She will join the fight to bring the promise of meaningful property tax relief to our community. She will work hard to protect each of us and promote our area businesses to protect and grow decent living-wage jobs.

On the Environment

Maureen appreciates the need to preserve and protect our environment. She supports the goal of promoting renewable energy and giving business incentives for being responsible to our environment. She favors the preservation of open space for our communities and hopes that our next generation will enjoy the same quality of life that we inherited.

On Public Safety

Maureen is tough on crime and supports our local police in protecting our people and keeping our communities safe. She has long supported the men and women of our emergency services - the firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and rescue workers who so selflessly put their own lives at risk to save others. She believes that these people are the very fabric of our community and they represent all that is good about the neighborhoods in which we live.

On the Role of Government

Nearly half of all Pennsylvania voters believe that our State Government is failing us. The Legislature has received poor grades for its performance - only a 29% approval rating in March 2010. Governor Rendell's numbers aren't much better at 48%. Why? Because people say that there is no accountability in government. They believe that government has abandoned its promise to serve the people. They believe that politics have replaced public service. Maureen has spent her entire adult life serving others as a volunteer, friend and neighbor. She will restore this ethic in Harrisburg and, by her actions, remind her colleagues that our communities need leadership, not lip service.