What I want to do if elected to the State Senate

By Linda Small

Pennsylvania must get back to a structurally sound, fiscally responsible government which gets the basics right. If elected, I'll help the man I hope becomes our new governor, Tom Wolf, get Pennsylvania back on track.

Let's make government work for ordinary people.

We must invest in our children and young adults, restore state funding for education and stop increasing local taxes while cutting school programs.

Let's unleash the power of Pennsylvania workers to create a strong economy with good jobs. Let's end special favors for Wall St. corporations so small businesses can compete in a fair market and create jobs. Pennsylvania has a proud history of strong union workers. Unions improve wages and benefits not just for union workers, but for all workers. Unions create a strong business climate.

Let's act on global warming science. We must protect our children from extreme weather, and make sure they have clean air and water by using American know-how and the clean, renewable energy technology that is available today. We'll get a bonus of a stronger economy by lowering energy costs, creating great new jobs, and achieving real energy independence for America with solar and wind energy. We must stop subsidizing fossil fuel drilling and stop unhealthy pollution from burning oil and coal to ensure a bright future for our children.

There are many other important issues to address, such as raising the minimum wage, access to affordable health care, and government reform.

My opponent has endorsed Gov. Corbett. Yet under Corbett, Pennsylvania no longer gets the basics of government right. Schools are cutting teachers and property taxes are rising, yet the latest state budget left both problems unsolved. Pennsylvania is near the bottom in job creation and the minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 Less than 3 months into the new budget, Pennsylvania has had to borrow money to keep operating because the state budget was put together with unrealistic assumptions and one-time funding sources. Pennsylvania has had credit downgrades in the last two years.

Pennsylvania must get back to a structurally sound, fiscally responsible government which gets the basics right. If elected, I'll help the man I hope becomes our new governor, Tom Wolf, get Pennsylvania back on track.