Tom Wolf for Pennsylvania Governor

Tom Wolf for PA Governor

Brief Bio

Thomas Wolf was born on November 17th 1948, in York Pennsylvania. In his later life, he received his B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1972, and a M.A. from University of London in 1978. He later earned a PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981. While in college, Tom Wolf joined the Peace Corp. and served two years in Indiana. He soon met his wife, Frances and they now have two daughters. Wolf now serves as chair of the York county United Way, the York County Community Foundation, the York College board of Trustees and the York County Chamber of Commerce chairmen. He is currently representing the Democratic party as he runs for Pennsylvania Governor in this upcoming election against Tom Corbett .  
  

On The Issues 

  

        Education Plans

1.    Convene a commission to develop funding formulas that are fair to school districts, brick-and-mortar charter schools, cyber charter schools, and taxpayers. Currently, charter school funding is based on a school district's per student costs, which includes funds associated with services not provided by charter schools.

2.    Create a state level Office of Charter and Cyber Charter Schools to improve financial and academic oversight and investigate fraud and waste.

3.    Set high academic standards for every charter school. Every student in Pennsylvania should be attending a high performing school.

4.    Incentive school districts to develop innovative programs that improve student achievement.

5.    Ensure that state funds are distributed in an equitable, transparent, and predictable manner so that school district leaders have the ability to plan for the long term.

6.    Mandate that excess dollars be returned to local districts. Fund balances should not be able to exceed the cap placed on district fund balances and excess dollars should be returned to local districts.

7.    Require charter schools to use a common student application so that parents can easily navigate the system.

8.    Require annual audits. Charter school finances need to be audited annually and restrictions need to be placed on the use of taxpayer dollars.

9.    Placing enrollment caps on cyber charter schools, tying growth to student performance, and implementing low student-to-teacher ratios.

10.  Taxpayer dollars should follow our students and not help cyber charter operators expand their wallets.

- Tom Wolf strongly believes that education is very important. He sees a very strong school system in PA in the near future. Charter schools will become a key factor in making sure all children receive equal educational opportunities. He also feels that tax money should be going towards our schools not the wealthy. Tom would like to lower the internet based charter school’s enrollment cap. This will allow the teacher to student ratio to be leveled, and a better chance for all teachers to teach equally and fair. All of Tom Wolf’s plans and opinions are solely based to better PA’s education for our future leaders. 

Returning Veterans Plans 

1. Tom Wolf believes that we must support our veterans as they work to earn post-secondary degrees. 

2. Tom Wolf will create veteran support centers at state-funded colleges and universities. 

3. Tom Wolf will also identify existing funding to offer tuition grants for veterans who major in sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics. 

4.  Aid military veterans who return with transitioning skills to civil jobs. 

5.  To ensure annual targets are met, Tom Wolf will work with the Department of General Services to develop an outreach and enforcement plan. 

6. Tom Wolf will work with the Federal government and local governments to leverage funding to address housing. 

7. Tom Wolf plans to expand Medicare for the wounded veterans. 

8.  Set up specialized courts to help non-violent offenders address mental health and addiction issues. 

9. Will work with the federal government to make sure Pennsylvania National Guard members have access to the training equipment necessary to continue providing dependable and quality service. 

10.  Tom Wolf will work to make it easier for spouses to get out-of-state certifications and licenses recognized in Pennsylvania.  

  

 -  Tom Wolf believes, we as a nation should be awarding our war veterans, not excluding them. He plans on establishing many opportunities to aid returning soldiers or veterans. Specialized courts will allow mentally unstable vets, who are non-violent to address multiple issues. He will also expand the most critical issue to date; Medicare. He will house the heroes that return, not throw them on the streets. Tom Wolf clearly cares for the people who fight for our freedom.

  

    

Health Care

1.  Setting Nurse-to-Patient Ratios - As governor, Tom Wolf will advocate for legislation that sets safe nurse to patient ratios.

2.   Significant research has been done that shows safe nurse to patient ratios have increased quality care and improved nursing retention.

3.   Keeping more Pennsylvania-trained primary care doctors in the state - As governor, Tom Wolf will dedicate an additional $3 million in state funding to expand the number of primary care physicians who can participate in the state's debt relief program for medical professionals and increase the number of residency slots for primary care doctors.

4.    This additional funding will allow Pennsylvania to keep primary care doctors in the state by offering a loan repayment program that is competitive with other states.

5.  The physicians who benefit from this financial support will have to commit to working in rural and undeserved areas for five consecutive years. Some of this funding is already available from federal sources.

6.   Incentivizing medical care providers to adopt the patient-centered medical home model of care - The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model uses a team of care providers, including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists and social workers, to improve patient access to care, care coordination, and quality while at the same time reducing costs. PCMH provides shorter wait times for patients, focuses of mental and physical health of the patient, and puts an emphasis on preventative care.

7.     The outcomes of this shift in patient care has resulted in improved health and cost savings. Pennsylvania's Geisinger Health System Proven-Health Navigator was able to use this approach to lower hospital readmissions by 18 percent in one year and reduce total costs per member per month by 7 percent.

8.    To date, the state has been successful in encouraging medical care providers to adopt this approach for patients suffering from chronic illnesses as well as children.

9.   Tom Wolf will provide grant funding to help medical practices set up the processes needed to earn national certification through the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, the Joint Commission, or the URAC.

10. These ratios will range from one registered nurse to one patient in high needs units like operating rooms and trauma emergency rooms to one registered nurse to five patients in skilled nursing facilities.

- Tom Wolf is fighting to improve health care for the young and the elderly. Tom Wolf is going to help stop keep patients waiting on nurses for 20-30 minutes at a time. He’s going to make sure the patients get what they need, right then and there. He’s going to help funding for health care and help improve medical practices.

Sporting and Outdoors

1. Protect the rights of gun owners, hunters, and anglers -- Our sportsmen and women have played a major role in shaping our outdoor recreation sector and have been vocal about the need to protect our natural habitats.

2. As governor, Tom Wolf will work to make sure licenses and other fees are priced appropriately and key stakeholders have a voice in all relevant policy decisions.

3. Tom Wolf knows Pennsylvania has a long history of responsible gun ownership.

4. As governor, he will continue to support the Second Amendment and protect the right of residents to own firearms.

5. Support the work of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

6. These two Commissions are essential to maintaining a thriving outdoor recreation sector. From issuing licenses to monitoring wildlife, both commissions are instrumental in supporting the needs of hunters and anglers.

7. As governor, Tom Wolf will appoint qualified commissioners, support their important work, and make sure they have the resources to operate efficiently and effectively.

8. Promote environmentally-sound policies.

9. Pennsylvania's hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts have been vocal advocates for protecting our environment.

10. Tom Wolf will work with them to implement policies to maintain our clean water and air, and expand preservation and conservation efforts.

- Tom wolf will protect the rights of gun owners, fishermen, hunters, etc. He’ll make the price for getting game licenses fair, and he’ll make sure the wrong people don’t get their hands on gun licenses. Tom wolf will have proper monitors watching wildlife.

Fairness and Equality Plans

1.    Tom fully supports marriage equality and as governor, Tom will repeal the state’s unconstitutional gay marriage ban and put forth legislation to create marriage equality in the Commonwealth.

2.    A Progressive Income Tax

3.    Pennsylvania workers will receive an exemption on their personal income taxes, giving them a tax cut.

4.    Minimum Wage Increase.

5.    Expand Paid Sick Leave Policy

6.    Tom Wolf will lead the fight to protect Pennsylvania’s voting rights and overturn the arbitrary requirement for photo IDs.

7.    Increase women-, minority-, and disabled-owned business participation in government procurement and construction contracts

8.    Tom will strengthen our existing equal pay law and hold employers accountable for gender discrimination.

9.    Tom believes that all people - regardless of sexual orientation - should be treated equally under the law.

10 .  He believes that when you pay your workers well and provide good benefits.

  

         - Tom Wolf feels strongly about fairness and equality in PA. He will see to it, that all genders and races receive the same opportunities. He will finally raise minimum wage for the middle and lower class. This will increase our economy and aid many in the work force. Tom will appeal the PA’s unconstitutional gay marriage ban. Tom will also introduce a progressive income tax for everyone.

 
 

- Tom Wolf sees a better future for our economy. He plans on expanding our manufacturing jobs for the people. Wolf is acknowledging the skilled laborers in PA, and will reward them with these new jobs. Wolf will build our economy.

 

- Tom Wolf is a humble citizen of York, PA. Here you can clearly tell his educational background of three collegiate degrees (M.A., B.A., PhD.) His proud family is the backbone of his campaign. Wolf is a down to earth candidate, with down to earth plans for the citizens of PA. 

- "A Fresh Start" touches on Tom Wolf's potential opportunity to create a better PA. With education and jobs on his first priority, Tom Wolf looks to better our middle class. Wolf has new "Charter School" plans that will enhance our youth's opportunity in classes. While with more manufacturing jobs, this will open up more and more economical opportunities. 

-Tom Corbett plans to raise taxes on college education, and public school tax. In result, schools plan to raise property tax. PA is the only state that does not tax oil extraction companies. Corbett has raised gas prices by .28 cents a gallon. 

 

- Tom Corbett has done a horrible job at creating economic opportunities. Tom Corbett has also increased taxes on various small local store owners. This poster reveals that, in his time Tom Corbett has sent PA to 47th in job creation. Tom Wolf knows this, and will do everything in his power to return PA to a thriving economic state.

How To Vote in PA (Power Point)