State of Pennsylvania secondary Archives: on Families & Children
Bob Casey:
Mandatory reporting of the pure evil of child abuse
Bob Casey first called for stronger federal standards for the mandatory reporting of child abuse in 2011, as a scandal raged at Pennsylvania State University about a former assistant football coach who had sexually assaulted children. That coach, Jerry
Sandusky, is serving a prison sentence of 30 to 60 years as another child sexual-abuse scandal has alarmed and angered Pennsylvania.And Casey is still calling for responsibility, a week after a grand jury report linking 301 priests to allegations of
sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children dating back to the 1940s. "The grand jury report was a chronicle of pure evil. Pure evil. There's no other way to say that," Casey said while standing with a group of child-protection advocates. "It was a catalog
of crimes committed by adults who preyed on the powerless, children and young people who would have trusted a member of the clergy."
Casey also denounced the "decades of cover-up by powerful people who could have stopped the abuse."
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race
Aug 24, 2018
Dwight Evans:
Require all businesses to provide paid sick leave
Under a 2014 New York City law, businesses with 15 or more employees have to provide five paid sick days. Smaller employers have to provide five unpaid sick days. The New York City Council recently voted to require local businesses to give workers
time off if they are ill or have to care for a sick child. The anticipated result will be fewer sick New Yorkers riding the subway, serving food in restaurants, or infecting their colleagues and classmates.
Connecticut; San Francisco; Portland, OR; Washington, DC, and Seattle have all already approved sick leave rules.
Paid sick time is currently available to only 40 percent of service workers, who interact directly with the public, compared to 61 percent of the overall workforce. We need to extend paid sick leave to all American workers.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania House campaign website DwightEvans.com
Nov 8, 2016
John Fetterman:
Involved with Big Brothers and AmeriCorps since age 23
At 23, John joined up with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and his life has never been the same since. John threw himself into the program, mentoring his 'little'--an 8 year-old boy who had recently lost his father to AIDS and whose mother was also battling
the disease. Before she passed away, John promised that he would continue to look out for her son and make sure that he would graduate college. Fifteen years later, John's and his 'little' had both held up their ends of the bargain, with his little's
graduation from Washington and Jefferson College.But John wanted to do more. The disparity between his own life and that of his 'little' motivated him to quit his job and join AmeriCorps' 2nd Year class. For two years,
John served in Pittsburgh's historic Hill District, where he helped set up the first computer labs in the neighborhood and taught GED classes to young mothers and fathers.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Sep 22, 2015
Lou Barletta:
Opposes gay marriage; let states decide
Q: Support gay marriage?Lou Barletta (R): No. Opposes gay marriage & Supreme Court decision to redefine marriage.
Says it should be a state decision.
Bob Casey (D): Yes. Position has shifted over time.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Scott Wagner:
Supports and shines light on efforts to protect LGBT rights
A long-stalled bill that would offer workplace and other protections to Pennsylvania's LGBT citizens could finally be getting a jump start this week--from the unlikeliest of all places: A committee chaired by Sen. Scott Wagner.
Wagner said he's willing to work with those who have concerns about the bill. But "what we should not do, is completely abandon all efforts to gain fairness for the LGBT community," he wrote.
Source: PennLive.com on 2018 Pennsylvania Governor race
Jun 14, 2016
Scott Wagner:
Co-sponsored bill to defund Planned Parenthood
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?
Scott Wagner (R): No. Co-sponsored bill to defund.
Tom Wolf (D): Yes.
Source: CampusElect 2018: Pennsylvania legislative voting records
Oct 9, 2018
Scott Wagner:
Supports gay marriage
Q: Support gay marriage?Scott Wagner (R): Yes.
Tom Wolf (D): Yes.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide: Pennsylvania Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Sean Parnell:
Denies wife's claim of physical and verbal abuse
The estranged wife of Parnell testified that he choked her until she bit him to escape, that he hit their young children, and that he lashed out at her with obscenities and insults. In tearful testimony, Laurie Snell told a family court judge that her
husband once called her a "whore" and a "piece of s--" while pinning her down. In a statement released by his campaign, Parnell, vigorously disputed his wife's claims, calling a number of them "lies."
Source: The Philadelphia Inquireron 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Nov 1, 2021
Sharif Street:
Every woman deserves access to affordable childcare
Sharif stands up for all women rights issues, and acknowledges the financial disparities between men and women, violence against women, and inadequate representation in various fields. He is also fighting for affordable childcare for all
Pennsylvania moms. Every woman deserves access to affordable childcare, so they can effectively provide for their families.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website StreetForPA.com
Jun 27, 2022
Tom Corbett:
$41.5 million for home and community-based disabled care
We have the chance to continue to improve the lives of our friends and neighbors with disabilities, individuals whose strength and courage have become a constant source of inspiration to me. For far too long, these people had to wait for services they
and their families so desperately needed. But last year, our increased investments helped reduce that waiting list.Just last week, I visited the Kroc Center where those with disabilities are able to work and lead fulfilling lives in the community.
I saw the commitment of a community to make people's lives better. I know how important that commitment is, and so do you.
We need to create a Pennsylvania where people with disabilities, and their families, will never be forced to wait for services
again. This year, we will work to further reduce those waiting lists with an additional $41.5 million to provide home and community-based options for people with disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
Source: 2014 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 4, 2014
Tom Wolf:
Improve home-based & community-based senior care services
Just as Pennsylvanians make their children a top priority, so, too, are aging parents, aunts and uncles a top priority for all of us. I listened to seniors all across our Commonwealth. They told me that they very much appreciated how often politicians
came to see them, but that they'd prefer real action on improving senior services.That's why one of the first initiatives I announced as Governor was to improve home-based and community-based care services, so that more seniors could have more
options for getting the care they needed without having to move out of their homes. And it's why, when health insurers threatened to kick 180,000 seniors off their health plans, we stepped in and took those insurance companies to court to make sure
that their coverage stayed in place.
Just this past year, we distributed more than $2 million in lottery proceeds to 43 senior community centers. And we made it easier for struggling seniors to get assistance purchasing nutritious food.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Pennsylvania Legislature
Feb 7, 2016
Tom Wolf:
Supports gay marriage
Q: Support gay marriage?Scott Wagner (R): Yes.
Tom Wolf (D): Yes.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide: Pennsylvania Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tom Wolf:
Early action leads to good jobs
Home visiting programs promote healthy relationships and safe and stable home environments.
They're proven to work in preventing adverse childhood experiences, giving children and their parents the skills they need to reach their full potential and lift families out of poverty and into good jobs.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 5, 2019
Val Arkoosh:
Provided paid parental leave for county employees
Since joining the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, Val has seen firsthand the struggles facing working families in her community and has worked tirelessly to implement policies to help ease those burdens. Under Val's leadership,
Montgomery County has raised the minimum wage for county employees to $15 an hour and provided gender-neutral paid parental leave for county employees, rebuilt critical infrastructure, created new jobs, and taken steps to combat climate change.
Source: Emily's List 2022 Pennsylvania Senate endorsements
Jul 25, 2021
Val Arkoosh:
Voters set priorities: the economy, jobs, cost of child care
[On family priorities during pandemic]: "My priorities are the priorities I hear from Pennsylvania voters and I hear this from voters all across the state. They're worried about the economy. A lot of people are concerned about their jobs coming back,"
Arkoosh said. "They want to see that minimum wage lifted for the jobs that they do have. Parents are worried about the cost of child care. Too many people still have to pay too much for their prescription medications."
Source: WTAE Pittsburgh Action News on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jul 25, 2021
Bob Casey:
Help me find the true cost of assisted living
Casey issued a public call for families to share their experiences navigating the assisted living landscape with the Aging Committee. Unlike nursing homes, assisted living care is largely unregulated at the federal level. "It is long past time for
Congress to reexamine this model and ensure that it's meeting our nation's needs," Casey said. Citing a recent survey that found 80% of adults would not be able to afford four years in an assisted living facility, Casey appealed directly to the public
to share their experiences. "I want to hear from you about the true cost of assisted living," Casey said, and urged people to submit stories to aging.senate.gov/assistedlivingbills.Estimates for the cost of care is important to learn more about, as
it can be unpredictable at assisted living facilities. "The more assistance and care a resident needs, the more they pay," said Casey. "And in some cases residents and families don't know the total cost until they receive their monthly bill."
Source: Senate press release on 2024 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jan 26, 2024
John Fetterman:
Fight for universal pre-k and childcare
In Washington, I'll fight for universal pre-k and childcare, and I'll make sure our public schools have the funding they need so our teachers aren't shouldering so much of a burden. I will also work to increase investments in career and technical
programs to prepare young adults for successful and in-demand careers in critical industries. And for students who do opt to attend college, to make sure the cost isn't a barrier I'll support efforts to make community colleges tuition-free and reduce
the burden of student loan debt that too many borrowers are experiencing right now.There are too few opportunities for the many young people who don't think college is the right option for them.
If we want to prepare the next generation for a highly competitive world, we need to get serious about what education in the 21st century looks like.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website Fetterman.com
Jan 1, 2024
Josh Shapiro:
$55M to give childcare workers recruitment bonuses
The reason why these jobs aren't filled is because folks aren't being offered a competitive wage. So this budget delivers $55 million to give childcare workers in Pennsylvania at least $1,000 in recruitment or retention bonuses.
Look, we know this type of approach works to fill critically important positions--we've tried it with other jobs. Let's build on that foundation and tackle this workforce shortage too.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 4, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 06, 2026