Issue Position: Human and Civil Rghts

Issue Position

Human and Civil Rights
At the very core of the responsibilities of our state government is to ensure the basic rights
of each and every resident. As a member of City Council, I was proud to have co-authored
Allentown's groundbreaking benefits package for our same-sex domestic partners. In
addition, I have helped enact protections for our veterans, funded programs to help our
homeless population and other people who typically do not have a voice in City Hall.
First and foremost, I vow to always have on staff a person in my Allentown office who not
only know the ins and outs of the state government, but who is able to speak and read
Spanish. In addition, as State Representative, I will continue to fight for all Pennsylvanians
by:
1)
Fully supporting marriage equality
. Simply stated, I strongly believe that
Pennsylvania should become the next state to recognize same-sex marriage. No
longer should loving adults be subjected to archaic laws preventing them from
enjoying the same legal rights and privileges that my wife and I enjoy simply because
they happen to be gay.
2)
Helping pass the PA DREAM Act
. Just as I took advantage of in-state tuition while
earning my degree from Penn State, all of Pennsylvanian's children should have this
right. Legislation that guarantees in-state tuition rates for Pennsylvanian children,
regardless of their parents' immigration status is a basic right that all Pennsylvanians
should receive. In addition, we should be doing all we can to keep smart, talented
and hardworking young people in Pennsylvania. This bill will aid in those efforts.
3)
Supporting a repeal of the Voter ID law
. This bill wasn't enacted because of
widespread voter fraud, but solely to disenfranchise Pennsylvania's poor, senior and
minority populations. Worst of all, at a time when teachers are being laid off and our
property taxes are rising, Pennsylvania spent over $25 million -- yes, $25 MILLION --
to implement Voter ID. This is the worst kind of government.
4)
Promoting community development in and around the Neighborhood Improvement
Zone (NIZ)
. As a lifelong Allentownian, I am beyond hopeful as a result of the
private sector investing billions of dollars in our downtown. But we must ensure that
the residents neighboring communities are given opportunities to use their talents
and skills to help achieve their own American Dream. I will continue to take a
leadership role with our community leaders, private sector investors, partners like
the Workforce Investment Board and Lehigh Carbon Community College and
residents to ensure that economic opportunities are available to everyone.

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