Tom Ridge in Almanac of American Politics


On Abortion: Pro-choice

Ridge was mentioned as a possible nominee for vice president in 1996, but some conservatives complained about his pro-choice views on abortion, and he asked not to be considered.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Crime: Supports victim’s rights & death penalty

On crime, Ridge got the legislature to pass Megan’s Law, a tougher rape law and a victims’ rights measure in 1995, and he has restored capital punishment by signing more than 100 death warrants; executions have followed.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Education: More standards, and make them clear

On education, Ridge got $132 million to spend on computers in schools in 1995. In 1996 he got reform of teacher tenure and sabbaticals. He set up an advisory commission to produce rigorous standards that were so comprehensible that “parents can hang them on the refrigerator door and discuss them with their children. No jargon, no buzz words, no educational fads.”
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Education: More charters; push for school choice

In 1997 he got the legislature to create more charter schools. By a narrow margin, Ridge’s proposal for school choice failed in the legislature in his first term; he pressed again for choice in May 1999.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Environment: Changed rules & got 350 polluted industrial sites cleaned up

[Under Ridge], the gas tax was increased to provide for more road building. He set up an opportunity zones program for distressed areas and set up a program that cleaned up 350 polluted industrial sites, by limiting landowners’ liability after certain conditions were met; in contrast, the federal government’s Superfund program, which relies on lawyers seeking big judgment from landowners, had cleaned up only 13 of 111 sites in Pennsylvania in nearly 20 years.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Tax Reform: Cut taxes as governor by $2.6B

Ridge’s hallmark as governor has been cutting taxes: He pushed tax cuts in each of his first five years in office, and claims that altogether they cut taxes by $2.6 billion. In the process he cut state spending growth in half and increased the Rainy Day fund from $30 million to $700 million. In 1997 and 1998 he moved to cut the state income tax on lower-income families; there is now no state income tax on families of four with income under $25,000.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Tax Reform: 60% legislative supermajority for raising taxes

In 1999 he pushed a package of $273 million in cuts in corporate taxes, the capital stock and franchise tax, the natural gas tax and the personal income tax. He even proposed a 60% legislative supermajority for raising taxes.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Technology: End computer service tax; start R&D tax credit

His first two budgets increased spending at less than the rate of inflation and he got the legislature to abolish the state tax on computer services and give a tax credit for research and development.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

On Welfare & Poverty: Able-bodied welfare recipients must work 100 hours a month

Ridge’s 1996 welfare reform required able-bodied recipients to work at least 100 hours a month or, if they are school-age, remain in schools; money was added for job readiness and child care, and more than 148,000 welfare recipients left the rolls.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

The above quotations are from Almanac of American Politics, by Grant Ujifusa and Michael Barone.
Click here for other excerpts from Almanac of American Politics, by Grant Ujifusa and Michael Barone.
Click here for other excerpts by Tom Ridge.
Click here for a profile of Tom Ridge.
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