State of Pennsylvania Archives: on Jobs
Brian Fitzpatrick:
Equal pay for equal work
Recognizing the emotional burdens of caregiving, [I will] champion legislation that eases the financial burden of caregiving through pre-tax savings accounts.
[I support] equal pay for equal work.
Source: 2016 PA House campaign website BrianFitzpatrick.com
Nov 8, 2016
Katie McGinty:
Raise minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 per hour
Recognizing that stagnant wages are holding our economy back,
Katie was the first candidate for Governor to call for raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 per hour.
Source: 2014 PA gubernatorial campaign website, KatieMcGinty.com
Nov 1, 2014
Marc Scaringi:
Lack of right-to-work harms the people of Pennsylvania
"Right-to-Work" was also a big issue during the debate, following Rick Santorum's claim during Thursday's CNN Presidential debate that the reason he did not support national right-to-work legislation was that Pennsylvania voters did not support
right-to-work legislation. Each of the candidates disagreed with this position.Scaringi even said, "The fact that Pennsylvania is not right-to-work is harming the people of Pennsylvania."
Source: PoliticsPA.com coverage of 2012 PA Senate debate
Jan 21, 2012
Pat Toomey:
Taxes & spending have a chilling effect on creating jobs
In responding to the first question--the most pressing one faced by the nation--"How do you bring jobs back to Pennsylvania?", Sestak criticized the Bush administration's China policy and attacked his opponent for supporting it. "Corporations have gone
overseas. My opponent, for example, voted that if a corporation shuts down its factory here in Pennsylvania; fires its employees; and then invests in a factory in China; and then cheap goods come in, often illegally subsidized by China; then no tax is
given to the process of that large corporation, where jobs have gone overseas."Toomey accused Sestak of supporting policies of bigger spending and higher taxes. He argued that such policies are have "a chilling effect on our ability to create jobs."
Sestak attacked Toomey's pro-business stance. Pointing to the backdrop of the debate hall, Sestak said, "It says above us in Constitution Hall, 'We the People.' Not, 'We the Corporations'"
Source: Epoch Times coverage of 2010 PA Senate debate
Oct 23, 2010
Sam Rohrer:
Washington does not create jobs; but it can destroy jobs
Rohrer said the state needs to have a senator with experience, one who can hit the ground running.He said the nation has been burdened by over-spending and too many regulations, making it tough for free enterprise. Rohrer added that the country has
to return more power to the states. "Washington does not create jobs," he said. "It can destroy jobs."Rohrer said one of the big problems has been party politics, which prompts many lawmakers to compromise their true beliefs.
Source: Williamsport Sun-Gazette on 2012 PA Senate debate
Mar 23, 2012
Steve Welch:
National right-to-work make us globally competitive
"Right-to-Work" was also a big issue during the debate, following Rick Santorum's claim during CNN Presidential debate that the reason he did not support national right-to-work legislation was that Pennsylvania voters did not support right-to-work
legislation. Each of the candidates disagreed with this position.Steve Welch, an entrepreneur and former congressional candidate from Chester County said, "We have to pass national right-to-work to make us competitive in the global economy."
Source: PoliticsPA.com coverage of 2012 PA Senate debate
Jan 21, 2012
Josh Shapiro:
Treat career paths with the same respect as choosing college
I'm sick and tired of hearing someone say to a high school student, "well… college just might not be right for you. Maybe you should think about becoming a welder." That elitist attitude is wrong--and it hurts our Commonwealth.
If you're in the 10th or 11th grade and you're excited about being a welder or a plumber, we should celebrate that. And we should treat that career path with the same level of respect as someone who chooses to go to college.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the PA legislature
Feb 6, 2024
Josh Shapiro:
Minimum wage stuck at $7.25/hr for 15 years--It's a shanda!
I'm not looking to give a handout. I want to give a hand up--and create an opportunity economy that gives everyone a shot. In order to create that kind of opportunity, Pennsylvanians need to earn a decent wage. And come on guys, let's be real, our
minimum wage has been stuck at 7.25 an hour for 15 years. It's a shanda! If you don't know what that means, ask the budget secretary later. It's time we raise our minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour. Because we're falling behind.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the PA legislature
Feb 6, 2024
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026