Candidate for
State Representative; District 201; Democratic Party

A PLAN TO ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES FOR FIXED-INCOME SENIORS AND LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS

I believe that our system of school funding, which relies heavily on property taxes, discriminates against communities of color and low-income communities like Philadelphia that do not have a tax base to support their schools. As my first priority, I will fight for a constitutional amendment to establish a graduated state income tax based on ability to pay, and I will shift school financing away from local property taxes and onto income taxes and other sources of revenue.

NEW JOBS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF A NEW ECONOMY

The United States is in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Philadelphia County lost 20,000 jobs in 2009. The official unemployment rate in Philadelphia is more than 11.6% and many areas of the city are facing unemployment rates as high as 30%. The citywide poverty rate is 28%. Families are being squeezed by high and prolonged unemployment, rising costs for gasoline, health care and education.

TRANSFORMING EDUCATIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES FROM FACT MEMORIZATION TO CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS MASTERY

I believe that we should give all of our young people the opportunity to pursue their dreams by having access to affordable and accessible higher education in Pennsylvania. This is vital to the economic future of our Commonwealth.