Tom Wolf in 2014 Pennsylvania Governor's race


On Health Care: Expanding health care is good for economy & creates jobs

One of the fundamental topics that have often gone missing from the current health care debates in Harrisburg is job growth. As indecision and inaction have dominated discussions, the Corbett administration has ignored the fact that implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of the state's Medicaid program provides an unprecedented opportunity to give more than 500,000 currently uninsured, middle and low-income Pennsylvanians access to affordable health care. Expanding health care to hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians and their families is not just the right thing to do; it's good for the economy and will create jobs.

So, Medicaid expansion would do much more than give many Pennsylvanians an opportunity to gain health insurance coverage: It will provide a much needed economic stimulus to the state.

Source: 2014 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial campaign website, WolfForPA Sep 1, 2014

On Homeland Security: More services for veterans: education, jobs, & housing

Tom Wolf knows that our Commonwealth needs to keep its commitment to our veterans, national guardsmen, army reservists, members of our armed forces, and their families who deserve our respect, as well as the benefits, assistance, and dignity to which they are more than entitled. As governor, Tom Wolf will promote policies to ease the transition to civilian life, support their health and well-being, and be a vocal advocate for our National Guard. Specifically, he will:
Source: 2014 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial campaign website, WolfForPA Sep 1, 2014

On Immigration: Support a Pennsylvania DREAM Act

Support a Pennsylvania DREAM Act: Tom Wolf believes that children who have spent the vast majority of their lives in United States should have the same opportunity to earn a college degree as all other students in the Commonwealth. In this vein, Tom Wolf will support the creation of a Pennsylvania DREAM Act, which will allow eligible students to access in-state tuition rates at Pennsylvania colleges and universities.
Source: 2014 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial campaign website, WolfForPA Sep 1, 2014

On Drugs: Study states with legal marijuana sales before deciding

All four candidates would sign legislation to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. They also broadly agree there should be changes in arrests for marijuana possession. Wolf supports decriminalizing possession of under an ounce of marijuana.

McGinty and Schwartz say they oppose the legalization of marijuana sales. McCord and Wolf say before deciding whether to support legalizing marijuana sales, they want to study the experience of states where it's legal.

Source: Washington Times on 2014 Pennsylvania governor race May 17, 2014

On Abortion: Support abortion rights

All four Democratic candidates support abortion rights. McGinty says she would oppose any effort to further restrict abortion rights.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Civil Rights: Recognize same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania

All four Democratic candidates would sign legislation to recognize same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania and ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of housing, employment and public accommodation.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Crime: Moratorium on the death penalty

All four Democratic candidates support either a moratorium on or an end to the death penalty. McCord, McGinty and Wolf agree a moratorium on the death penalty is in order while studying its value. Schwartz would sign legislation to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Drugs: Legalize medicinal marijuana & decriminalize one ounce

All four Democratic candidates would sign legislation to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. They also broadly agree there should be changes in arrests for marijuana possession. Specifically, McGinty says she supports decriminalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Schwartz would support legislation "to reduce the criminalization" of simple marijuana possession. Wolf supports decriminalizing possession of under an ounce of marijuana.

McGinty and Schwartz say they oppose the legalization of marijuana sales. McCord and Wolf say before deciding whether to support legalizing marijuana sales, they want to study the experience of states where it's legal.

Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Education: Restore money cut from public schools

All four Democratic candidates would seek to restore money that Corbett cut from higher education and public schools to balance the budget. They also all oppose vouchers for private schools.

Wolf would seek to increase the state's share of public school spending to 50 percent of the overall cost. Would convene a commission to develop funding formulas for charter schools and cyber charters. Would develop a five-year funding plan for state-subsidized universities.

Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Energy & Oil: Moratorium on gas drilling in state parks and state forests

All four Democratic candidates would oppose a broad moratorium on natural gas drilling, support a moratorium on drilling in state parks and state forests and in the Delaware River Basin, and oppose reducing local governments' zoning authority over drilling activity. They would also seek to require exploration companies to publicly disclose chemicals used in fracking. In addition, McCord would seek a ban on the use of open wastewater pits and the waterway discharge of drilling wastewater.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Gun Control: Universal background checks, & ban assault weapons

All four Democratic candidates would sign legislation to enact universal background checks, ban sales of assault weapons, require that gun owners report lost or stolen guns and grant municipalities the ability to enact gun control ordinances.

McCord and Schwartz would sign legislation to limit the number of handguns that one person could buy in an effort to deter straw purchases. McGinty would not sign legislation to limit handgun purchases. Wolf wouldn't say whether he would sign that legislation.

Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Health Care: Scrap "Healthy PA" subsidizing private insurance coverage

All four Democratic candidates would scrap Gov. Tom Corbett's "Healthy PA" plan that subsidizes private insurance coverage and instead expand Medicaid coverage under the 2010 federal health care law. They would also set up a Pennsylvania-run insurance exchange rather than the federally run insurance exchange Corbett chose.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Jobs: Increase minimum wage to $10.10 and index it to inflation

Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Social Security: Maintain defined benefit for public pensions instead of 401k

All four Democratic candidates would maintain a defined benefit pension program for public employees and would oppose switching the system to a 401(k)-style plan and further delaying the state's annual pension obligation payments. McCord, McGinty and Schwartz oppose further reductions in the pension benefits of public employees, while Wolf would not say whether he would support or oppose such reductions. None put forward a specific plan to fully fund the state's pension funds.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate May 10, 2014

On Tax Reform: Shift income tax burden to higher earners

All four Democratic candidates would seek to impose a severance tax on natural gas extraction--though the amounts they would choose differ--and expand the reach of the corporate net income tax by requiring combined reporting.