Rajeev Pradhan, Democrat, Candidate for PA House, District 67
Our existing Pennsylvania tax system is unfair. It disproportionately burdens working people - who pay a much greater share of their income than that of super-rich individuals and large wealthy corporations. It’s time to end the complete failure of “trickle-down economics.” We need to create a more equitable tax system where everyone pays their fair share, supporting the necessary investments in our future. Fair Share Tax: Increase taxes on profits, capital gains, dividends, and estates while decreasing taxes on wages and interest. Close Tax Loopholes: Ensure that multi-state and multinational corporations pay their fair share of state taxes. Severance Tax: Implement a tax on natural gas drilling to increase state revenue. Working Families’ Tax Credit: Introduce a state-level credit, linked to the federal earned income tax credit, to prevent families from falling into poverty due to taxes. Fair Wealth Taxation: Establish a tax on intangible wealth and cap property taxes to a manageable portion of family income.
To address this urgent issue, we must focus on several key actions: increasing the availability of affordable homes for low- and middle-income families, incentivizing new construction and the rehabilitation of existing properties, streamlining regulatory barriers, exploring creative financing and renters' assistance, revitalizing neighborhoods, and investing in public housing projects. Adequate housing is a fundamental human right, and it is crucial that we take comprehensive steps to ensure it for all. Eviction protection and Cost reduction Increase investment in housing. Improve existing and aging homes (Whole Home Repairs program) Zoning Reform Community-driven rehabilitation
Healthcare is a right. Medicare for all is the answer. But Pennsylvanians don’t have time to wait on Washington. Our commonwealth should be a champion of quality healthcare, ensuring ALL of us have access to the care we need, when we need it. Comprehensive Coverage: Enact state regulations to guarantee health insurance for everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions, and regulate health insurance company profits. Public Health Insurance Option: Establish a public option in Pennsylvania to reduce reliance on private insurance. Universal Access: Ensure all residents have guaranteed access to high-quality health and hospital care across urban, suburban, and rural areas. Affordable Child Care: Provide every family with access to affordable and high-quality child care. Dignified Senior Care: Guarantee that all seniors can retire with dignity, whether at home, with family, or in affordable, high-quality retirement communities or nursing homes. Medical Debt Relief: At the very least, medical debt relief for low-income Pennsylvanians being crushed by medical debt. (McKean County has one of the highest percentages of residents who carry medical debt.)
Immigration is a good thing. Immigration helps to strengthen the U.S. and our commonwealth: Bringing in diverse skills Boosting the economy Cultural innovation
Abortion is healthcare. It's an extremely difficult, emotional, and personal decision that government should not be involved in. I support access to safe, legal abortions without exceptions. This includes eliminating the Medicaid abortion ban which only serves to punish our poor and underserved people. The right to an abortion should be protected under the Equal Rights Amendment. To eliminate any doubt, I support an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution providing for personal reproductive liberty. We must also continue to protect people seeking such care in our commonwealth from their restrictive home state laws. Public dollars should not be used to fund anti-abortion organizations. We need to expand access to affordable reproductive healthcare services, not restrict it. We need increased funding for education, contraception, and a full range of reproductive and sexual health care… including abortions and IVF treatment.
I support the right to own guns. Responsible gun ownership is part of our identity in rural Pennsylvania. But it's clear we need to implement more gun safety measures to counter the tragically high rate of gun violence in this country. Thoughts and prayers can't fix the pain. It's a complex issue that requires a comprehensive solution... and one that is not just limited to mental health. Gun violence prevention measures that still protect responsible gun ownership: Universal background checks - background checks for ALL gun sales (including private transactions). Implementing a waiting period for gun purchases. Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) - Red Flag Laws Education, Training, Safe Storage - reporting lost/stolen firearms.
The environment must be a priority. We need real environmental stewardship. Sustainable Practices: Balance economic growth with conservation efforts. Clean Energy: Explore renewable energy sources. An example of what NOT to do... is putting a toxic injection well in the small town of Cyclone, PA which is already suffering from problematic water - methane in their water. With over a hundred existing, abandoned, and orphaned wells in the vicinity... this is an extremely dangerous situation and shows complete disregard for the clean air and clean water that Cyclone (and all) residents have a right to.
It is crucial to protect every Pennsylvanian from limitations on their liberty or discrimination based on income, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The PA Senate should pass the Fairness Act.
Investments in our state schools have declined over the years. This has only helped to increase the burden placed on students. We need to reverse this trend and take steps to make higher education more affordable: Provide affordable tuition at community colleges and state universities, so that ALL students can pursue degrees without accruing significant debt.
It's time to fight for working families...