Eric L. Settle, Forward, Candidate for Attorney General

What are your positions on economic policies (ex: inflation, taxes, regulations, etc.)?
While Pennsylvania’s Attorney General does not have a direct role in the Commonwealth’s economic policies, including tax policy and controlling inflation, the Attorney General can be helpful in protecting consumers from being hurt by unscrupulous businesses who seek to take advantage of Pennsylvanians — especially seniors. 

With my background in financial advisory work, I am keenly aware of how some unethical financial advisors can take advantage of retirees by selling them inappropriate products.   As Deputy General Counsel to Tom Ridge, I also had the responsibility for the review of new regulations.  The AG has joint jurisdiction in this area and I would help ensure that all new regulations do not create any undue burdens on Pennsylvania’s business while also seeking to protect the environment, as climate change continues to be a major challenge for our Commonwealth and our planet.

What is your position on addressing the cost of housing?
The Attorney General does not have a direct role in housing costs.  However, as part of the Attorney General’s consumer protection role, I would focus on landlords and other property owners to help ensure that tenants/renters are treated fairly and that home builders are held accountable for their warranties that they offer to homeowners as it is often the most expensive thing that a family will buy and unforeseen expenses because of inadequate building can cause economic distress.

What is your position on healthcare access?
As someone with years of healthcare experience in government and the private sector, I feel very strongly that the AG must be a diligent watchdog over the continued efforts by For-Profit business to acquire Pennsylvania’s non-profit health care facilities.  While I recognize that some of these transactions may be necessary to preserve healthcare access, I think the AG must only approve these transactions where there is a robust and detailed consent order that will protect both patients and healthcare workers.  I will also be focused on protecting healthcare access to Pennsylvanians through the availability of programs like Health Choices to help pay for care.

I led the bi-partisan efforts for the successful passage of Act 62, a law requiring insurance companies to pay for services for children with autism.  This effort, which required me to shepherd a major piece of legislation through a Democrat led House and a Republican led Senate, demonstrated my ability to find compromise to help children with special needs to get the services they need in a cost effective manner.

What is your position on immigration policy?
The Attorney General does not have a direct role in immigration which is handled by the Federal Government.  As a grandson of immigrants who sought a better life in this nation, I am sympathetic that legal immigration is an important aspect of the fabric of our country.  As Attorney General, I will work with law enforcement to limit illegal immigration to help ensure that Pennsylvania is a safer place.

What is your position on abortion policy?
I have always believed that reproductive freedom should be available to the woman of Pennsylvania as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the Casey decision, which allowed for choice with some reasonable restrictions. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it may be time to consider a constitutional amendment to create some permanent protections.  As we have seen around the nation, many states have sought to impose draconian new laws that are both unfair and harmful to health of many pregnant woman who have been denied important care.  Pennsylvania should not go down this path.  As for the current Pennsylvania law on abortion, as Attorney General, I would have the obligation to enforce this law unless I found it to be unconstitutional.  I believe the current law is reasonable and my office would defend it.

What is your position on gun ownership policy?
Gun violence and gun crime not only impacts cities like Philadelphia but all over the Commonwealth.  We need to address the underlying causes of violent crimes but that will take significant time and resources.  But we can try to reduce the number of weapons on our streets, especially assault weapons, ghost guns and other weapons that endanger citizens and law enforcement.  One tangible step is to ban the sale of new assault style weapons in Pennsylvania.  While it will not eliminate the problem, it will be an immediate sensible step. We cannot continue to just bow our heads in thoughts and prayers.

What is your position on environmental policy? (ex: addressing climate change, clean water, clean air, etc.)
As Deputy General Counsel to Governor Ridge overseeing the Department of Environmental Protection, I have direct experience with helping to protect Pennsylvania’s environment and to protect air and water.   However, in the years since I held that role, the impact of climate change has now required a reevaluation of the balance between supporting Pennsylvania’s manufacturers and the impact on global warming.  As Attorney General, we cannot look away from ravages of climate changes and must put the survival of our planet as a top priority.

What is your position on LGBTQ rights? (ex: marriage, adoption, gender-affirming care, sports participation, etc.)
I think we must respect that people love who they love and we should honor LGBT rights including the right to marry, the right to adopt children and to live their lives free of discrimination.  I also believe that for adults, gender affirming care is appropriate including funding for those who are part of the Medicaid program.  As for sports participation, I think it is unfair to cisgender woman that they have to compete against cisgender men. Unlike the right to marry or to raise a child, participating in sports is not a fundamental human right.

What is your position on addressing lowering the cost of higher education in Pennsylvania?
As a former Trustee of Colgate University, I have had a front seat in the discussion over the cost of higher education. I recognize that the increased costs for many institutions is the result of the competition to attract students in a world where the value of a 4 year residential college is being questioned.  I do know that this educational experience is not necessary or beneficial for all students and that vocational or community colleges may be more appropriate and cost effective.  I am aware know that many of the most expensive colleges and universities in Pennsylvania dedicate enormous resources towards financial aid to make these institutions more accessible to those families who have lower incomes.  As AG, with my background in higher education, I will commit to look at these issues to see if in the AG’s role in supervising non-profit institutions, there is a solution.   While it is unavoidable that some institutions will have to merge or close, the sudden collapse of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia was a disgrace and the AG should provide better oversight to ensure that this does not happen elsewhere in the Commonwealth.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I think Pennsylvanians should have the opportunity to elect the most qualified person to serve as its next Attorney General. I think it is the time to elect an independent Attorney General for the first time who is not beholden to either major parties’ national Attorney Generals Associations, who will administer the office fairly, pursue justice evenly and will undertake challenges or not, to federal laws and regulations that are not in the best interests of all Pennsylvanians and not be based on which party introduced the idea.  I think the Commonwealth will benefit from an Attorney General that has experience in government and in the private sector who can bring those skills to oversee an important agency that is more than just being Pennsylvania’s chief prosecutor.  And as long as I receive 2 percent of the vote, then the Forward Party will be established as an official minority party as a first step to allow other candidates to run as Forwardists in the future seeking to give Pennsylvanians more choice in their candidates.  That alone is a reason for this effort and worthy of a vote for me.