We Need Leadership, Not the Status-Quo

By Justin J. Simmons

My Plan For Pennsylvania

This is on top of all the other problems our state faces: An upcoming crisis for two large public-sector pension funds, a potential $500 million budget deficit, rate caps coming off of utilities, and 7,000 miles of highways that are in poor or mediocre condition.

I know we can do better. I've always had a deep-found love for Pennsylvania. I was born and raised here but when I was 6 years old, my father was transferred to Illinois and we relocated there. I was upset because I didn't want to leave this great state and I had to leave my late grandfather, who was a hero in World War II, earning two purple hearts. He represented Pennsylvania to me. Born and raised in upstate Drums, Pennsylvania, my grandfather had to quit school in the 6th grade in order to work on his father's farm. He eventually settled in Levittown, Pennsylvania with my grandmother and provided a good life for my mother and her family. He worked hard as a machinist for Circle F Industries in Trenton, New Jersey and was a member of the District 15 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers AFL-CIO. He is Pennsylvania.

As a child living in Illinois, I used to look around for ideas on how to improve Pennsylvania. I'll admit that it's quite unusual for a child to be thinking about Pennsylvania's economy rather than playing with toys but a prosperous Pennsylvania has been true to my heart since I was 5 years old. At the age of 11, my Dad accepted a new job and I was thrilled to move back to Pennsylvania.

Now more than ever, we need public servants who care about our great state. This isn't a game anymore. Pennsylvania can't print money like the federal government; we have to have a balanced budget. As a 23 year old and 2008 graduate of St. Joseph's University, I find it disheartening that before my generation even goes out into the workforce, we are already in debt. My children and grandchildren will be in debt too. This is immoral!

I think back to my late grandfather as a soldier in World War II. While serving with the 2nd Division, 23rd Infantry, also known as Indian Head, he was captured by the Germans in Bastogne, France when fighting for his country in the Battle of the Bulge. His vehicle was shot at with a bazooka. While lying on the ground severely injured, the Germans captured him and held him prisoner for a month. He was fortunate to have a lovely young nurse help him escape to the frontlines. The American military found him and he stayed at Walter Reid Hospital for 10 months to recover from severe injuries. Those injuries affected his health for the rest of his life, yet he lived a great life until 2004. His story is nothing short of a miracle. My grandfather did not give his all for survival so his grandchildren could be in debt before they even begin working.

I learned how to budget and save from this extraordinary man and want to bring this thinking to Harrisburg. I believe it is time for my generation to begin representing us in Harrisburg and that's why I'm running for the Republican nomination for State Representative in Pennsylvania's 131st District. It's time for common-sense conservatism to make its ascendency again. I've spent the last almost 2 years working for the 24th Senatorial District of Pennsylvania, which encompasses the 131st House District. I've listened to the concerns of everyday Pennsylvanians in the district. It was with this in mind that I resigned my position in order to represent the average citizen in the district.

I'm a common-sense conservative. I have several initiatives I would pursue in Harrisburg. First, I see no reason why Pennsylvania is in the liquor business. We should sell the state stores to a private enterprise and allow grocery and convenience stores to sell alcohol, like most other states do. Studies show that the state could make $2 billion in this transaction while still reaping the revenue from a tax on alcohol.

Second, another area we need to reform in Pennsylvania is with compulsory unionization. I believe in individual liberty and freedom and no one should be forced to join a union if they don't want to. States that protect individuals from compulsory unionization are called right-to-work states. Contrary to critics, right-to-work laws don't break up unions. Employees are still free to unionize. You just are no longer forced to do so. Per-capita income and job growth are much higher in right-to-work states. Pennsylvania was once one of the manufacturing capitals of the United States. We produced products for Bethlehem Steel, Mack Trucks, Baldwin Locomotive, and Stetson Hats. It's time to make Pennsylvania great again.

Third, Pennsylvania needs to lose its title of being the "teacher strike capital of the United States," as reported by the Pennsylvania School Board Association. 37 other states ban teacher strikes. 8 of the top 10 paying states for teacher salaries ban strikes. It's time we protect our children from the qualms between the school board and the teachers' unions and pass legislation banning teacher strikes. Teachers would be protected and have their contracts extended until a new agreement is reached. We need to remember that the purpose of education is to educate the child. Children should not be caught in the crosshairs of teacher strikes. Saucon Valley School District is a perfect example of this. There is no reason why children should be attending class over holiday break in order to make up time for last year's strike.

Fourth, Pennsylvania legislators get a lifetime pension after 6 years of service. I believe this is wrong. Public servants deserve adequate compensation but they aren't kings. Pennsylvania needs to go back to its constitution and ban these perks for legislators. We can break up the status-quo by removing these perks. Is it any coincidence that 50 year old House Speaker Keith McCall is said to be retiring with a $90,000 per year pension for life? If only every hard-working Pennsylvanian had such a luxury!

It's time to make Pennsylvania great again. We need new leadership, not the staus-quo. We're the birthplace of America. We're the home of Hershey Chocolates, Crayola Crayons, and U.S. Steel. A major necessary battle, the Battle of Gettysburg, was fought here keeping our great Union intact. Pennsylvania is too important to leave to the status +quo. I love Pennsylvania and want to make it great again. That's why I'll be challenging Karen Beyer for the Republican nomination for State Representative in the 131st District. I hope you will join me in my effort to take back our great state. After all, it belongs to us.