Platform

By Michael Harry Schlossberg

Below is my entire campaign platform; please note that this is not all-inclusive and should be viewed as a starting point for what I'd like to accomplish in Harrisburg.

Unemployment in Pennsylvania is still far too high at 7.9%; in the Valley, it is at 8.6%. Job creation, business recruitment and business retention are the most important issue facing the Allentown area. As a former Urban Revitalization Specialist and someone who works with small businesses on a regular basis, I am the only candidate in this race who can say that I have personally worked with businesses on job recruitment and retention. This experience has given me a unique perspective into changes we need to make to state policy.

As State Representative, I promise to:

Rebuild and repair our outdated roads, bridges, water systems & sewer systems. Pennsylvania leads the nation with more than 5,200 structurally deficient bridges and more than 7,000 miles of state road in poor condition. I believe that we need to make significant investments in improving these roads and bridges, engaging in private-public partnerships wherever possible and leveraging every available federal funding source. An aggressive program to improve and repairs our roads, bridges, water and sewer systems can create 50,000 new jobs while also increasing Pennsylvania's long-term business competitiveness.

Targeted tax credits towards businesses that hire those who need jobs the most. Many sectors of our population have been hit harder than others in the recent economic turmoil. As such, I would support the creation of a tax credit, available to any and all businesses, that hired: Veterans Recent high-school or college graduates Long-term unemployed.

Enhanced funding to Workforce Investment Boards and Small Business Development Center: These two programs are incredibly helpful at putting people back to work, helping them develop new skills and creating new small businesses; yet, at a time when these services were most needed, funding for both programs was slashed in the 2011-2012 Corbett budget. I would fight to restore these cuts and ultimately further enhance both of these programs.

Pass legislation making it illegal to discriminate based on someone's long-term employment status: In Pennsylvania, it is still legal for an employer to choose not to hire someone simply because they have been unemployed for "too long" + this is unacceptable, as far too many of our residents have been unemployed for extended periods of time through no fault of their own. As such, I will work towards the passage of legislation that will make it illegal for an employer to choose not to hire someone only because of their unemployment status. Basic Education

There is no issue that is more critical to the long-term health of the Allentown area than education. The past year has been an absolutely awful one for education and demonstrative of the totally misplaced priorities of the current Governor and Republican legislature. Education needs more funding, not less!

As State Representative, I promise to:

Work to increase the state's share of funding in our education system: Over $900 million (10%) was cut from basic education this year, resulting in significantly reduced funding to the Allentown and Parkland school districts and over 100 teacher layoffs in Allentown. This is unconscionable. We must restore these funding cuts. Doing so will not only benefit our students, but will help control property taxes.

Support continued and enhanced investments in early childhood education and reduced class-sizes.

Oppose taxpayer-funded vouchers. We need to increase our investment in public schools, not decrease it by siphoning off critical funding to private and parochial institutions.

Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. Higher Education

The Corbett and Republican budget cut $220 million + almost 20% + from the 14 state-owned universities, plus another $212 million (10%) from community colleges. Again, these cuts are baffling + how can Pennsylvania hope to create family-sustaining jobs if we cannot provide students with the academic or technical skills that they need to compete in the 21st century?

As State Representative, I promise to:

Restore the massive funding cuts that have taken place under Governor Corbett.

Support continued investment in alternatives to "traditional" four-year Colleges, including Community Colleges and technical programs. Public Safety and Crime

I firmly believe that Pennsylvania must take a more active role in keeping our streets safe. Making the state more active in crime prevention will ultimate keep us all safer, create more business and jobs in Allentown and help to relieve the tax burden on our citizens.

As State Representative, I promise to:

Use whatever state resources are available to increase the amount of police officers patrolling our streets.

Increase state funding for proven crime reduction measures, including police cameras, technological improvements and other equipment.

Enhance state funding to state programs, including Drug Law Enforcement, Local Drug Task Forces and Joint Local-State Firearm Task Force.

Push for a total ban on the use of hand-held electronic devises while operating a motor vehicle. As an Allentown Councilman, I authored our hand-held ban, and I think this ban must be in force throughout the entire state in order to protect those on the road. Community & Economic Development

The Commonwealth can and should play a critical role when it comes to recruiting new businesses, assisting already existing businesses and helping to rebuild our beleaguered urban cores. For the past two years, I worked on exactly these issues as a member of Allentown City Council. Prior to that, as an Urban Revitalization Specialist for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, I worked in urban communities in the Lehigh Valley to help to revitalize their economies, bring in new jobs and create strong communities. As such, I believe that I have a unique perspective in this area that the legislature sorely needs.

As State Representative, I promise to:

Enhance Small Business loan and grant programs: The greatest hurdle any small business owner faces is securing enough funding to start their business. In the current economic climate, credit is tight, and many businesses that could be successful cannot get off the ground. If I am elected, I will fight to restore and enhance programs designed to assist small businesses. Doing so will create more jobs and help to revitalize our communities.

Expand the Main Street and Elm Street Programs. These programs represent the very best of private-public partnerships; they have helped to create thousands of new jobs across the state and leverage millions in private and public investment. Allentown has two very successful Main Street programs and one very successful Elm Street program. As State Representative, I will fight to create more programs in the Allentown area.

Support regionalization efforts: Successful regionalization efforts can cut wasteful spending, increase government efficiencies and better use tax dollars. Successful, modern governments are working together to combine efforts whenever possible, and Pennsylvania's governments should absolutely move in that direction. As State Representative, I will work to increase planning dollars for regional efforts and seek to identify and remove impediments that make it harder for municipalities to work together.

Expand the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP): NPPs give corporate tax credits to businesses that sponsor a neighborhood organization that is seeking to implement a neighborhood revitalization plan. These outstanding programs encourage corporations to make substantial improvements to local neighborhoods and created tremendous successes throughout Allentown and Pennsylvania. As State Representative, I will work to increase funding to this program. Good Government

At a time when the average person's faith in government is at an all-time low, I promise to do everything I can to restore your trust in government. People should expect nothing but the highest standards from their government, and I promise to live up to those standards.

As State Representative, I promise to:

Support the creation of an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission: As the most recent redistricting effort has proven, politics can destroy any efforts to create a fair and equitable redistricting map. The 2012 revisions sought only to protect Republican incumbents and maximize Republican electoral gains. This leads to atrocious public policy that does not reflect the will of the voters. As State Representative, I will support efforts to create an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission that engages in redistricting efforts based on creating compact and similar communities, not election wins for political parties.

Campaign finance reform: Currently, Pennsylvania has an unlimited cap on donations to state and local candidates. I believe this is unacceptable and would favor legislation that tied Individual and PAC donations to the federal limits.

Post all government expenses on my website.

Demand Cost-Benefit Analysis is done to any spending cuts: It these economic times, spending cuts are necessary; that being said, there are too many instances where spending cuts ultimately create further problems down the road by killing jobs and further reducing tax dollars. As State Representative, I will fight to ensure that any spending cut be subjected to a rigorous cost-benefit analysis, ensuring that all cuts are driven by real numbers, not ideological posturing.

Encourage performance audits: Financial audits of Commonwealth programs are a common and acceptable practice. I also believe, however, that Pennsylvania should engage in performance audits whenever possible. These specific types of audits can be used to ensure that any program was fulfilling its intended goals and that tax dollars were not being wasted. Equal Rights

I firmly believe that all people are created equal, and should be treated with equal rights. As an Allentown City Councilmember, I was proud to co-sponsor legislation that made Allentown the 4th municipality in Pennsylvania to provide domestic partner benefits for city employees. This law makes Allentown competitive in attracting and retaining a top-talented workforce at a next-to-nothing cost.

As State Representative, I promise to:

Support legislation that will make it illegal to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression in housing, employment, education, or public accommodation.

Support anti-bullying legislation that will protect youth in our public schools. Current laws do not go far enough to have any effect on our schools, and it does not specifically address the recent surge in bullying against LGBT youth, who are disproportionately affected by bullying.

Support the reenactment of a Hate Crimes law that will increase sentencing for offenders who are motivated by hatred against minorities.

Support legislation that gives same-sex couples the same rights that my wife, Brenna, and I enjoy. I unequivocally support marriage equality and will work towards that goal. Until that day comes, I will support efforts to advance relationship recognition for same-sex couples in Pennsylvania.

Join the legislature's LGBT Equality Caucus. Women's Health

I am a firm believer in a woman's right to choose. I believe that the recent passage of so-called "safety" rules to abortion clinics represent nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to limit a woman's access to safe and legal health-care options, and if I were in the House, I would have voted against these changes.

As State Representative, I promise to:

Oppose any effort that would limit a woman's right to safe and legal health care, including abortion services.

Oppose any effort to require that a woman get an ultrasound before having an abortion.

Expand the access of all individuals to birth control, including emergency contraception.

Support legislation that requires the teaching of comprehensive sex education in our schools that includes information about abstinence, birth controls and healthy relationships.