Forty-eight days stand between us and Election Day. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering how we got here so quickly. It feels like just yesterday we were talking about the beginning of a new year. Now, campaign signs are appearing on lawns, candidates are making their closing arguments, and November 3 is right around the corner.
For Americans for Prosperity–Pennsylvania, these final weeks are also when years of policy work collide with an election.
This week, AFP-PA announced endorsements in four General Assembly races: Senator Jarrett Coleman in Senate District 16, Representative Tom Jones in Senate District 36, Representative Valerie Gaydos in House District 44, and Representative Joe Emrick in House District 137.
These endorsements reflect our taxpayer activists’ priorities Harrisburg: limiting government spending, opposing tax increases, lowering barriers to economic growth, and pursuing policies the organization believes will make Pennsylvania more affordable.
Affordability matters because, for all the talk coming out of Harrisburg about helping working families, Pennsylvanians are still feeling squeezed.
Whether it be utility bills, groceries, housing health care, or taxes, Pennsylvania’s progressive policies are making life less affordable for taxpayers.
Harrisburg Democrats haven’t addressed those pressures with the kind of structural reforms Pennsylvania needs. This year, we called proposals that would have increased taxes and energy costs, expanded government spending, and given special advantages to organized labor. After months of budget negotiations, Pennsylvania ultimately enacted a $50.8 billion state budget — a spending level that still fails to address the Commonwealth’s underlying fiscal imbalance.
House Democrats don’t believe this. Governor Josh Shapiro and Democratic legislative leaders point to measures including the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, and “energy-affordability” initiatives as evidence that they’re working to reduce costs.
That’s their argument. Are you actually feeling more prosperous?
Government can announce another program, spend another billion dollars, and hold another press conference and promise that relief is coming, but Pennsylvania families live in the real economy.
They know what comes out of their bank account every month. They know what their electric bill looks like. They know what groceries cost. Most importantly, they know whether it’s becoming easier—or harder—to build a good life.
Our answer is that Pennsylvania needs a different approach: spending restraint, regulatory reform, abundant and reliable energy, and policies that make it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses to invest, hire, build, and compete.
That’s why these races matter to our taxpayer activists.
The General Assembly makes decisions about taxes, spending, energy, regulation, labor policy and housing: decisions that can eventually reach every kitchen table in Pennsylvania.
Regardless of how loudly any organization advocates, how many doors our volunteers knock, or how many advertisements a campaign puts on television, there is ultimately one decision campaigns and advocacy organizations cannot make: your decision to vote.
Voting is the mechanism that turns all these debates into representative government.
Use these next several weeks to do your homework. Look at the candidates, look at their records if they’ve served in office, listen to what they’re promising. Ask what their proposals will cost. Ask who will pay for them. Ask whether those policies will make it easier for families, workers and entrepreneurs to prosper in Pennsylvania. Then make your own decision.
For AFP-PA and our team of activists, these final 48 days will include grassroots activity at doors and over the phone. We’re meeting voters where it’s easiest to reach them.
There’s too much at stake. Don’t sit this one out.
Learn how you can be a part of our movement by heading to AFPPennsylvania.com.
This is Emily Brey, State Director with Americans for Prosperity-PA.