SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMERGING POLICIES FOR WORKING PEOPLE

QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL

Health care is too expensive and inaccessible. Nearly half of all Americans surveyed say a major health care expense would drive them into bankruptcy, and too many people are already buried in huge medical debt. We should not suffer and die early, nor should we feel pressure to avoid preventive or immediate medical care because the price of that care is too high.When you get sick, you should be able to take time off work and see the doctor. When you need a prescription to stay well - be it dental, vision, mental health, or for your general needs -you should be able to get that medicine. Quality healthcare for each of us will translate to healthier families and communities, and ultimately to a healthier Pennsylvania.

In addition to the human rights and quality of life improvements, people who have healthcare coverage support an industry that’s one-sixth of our state’s economy and creates jobs that cannot be outsourced – and save taxpayer dollars along with lives in the long run. The Emerging Policies Subcommittee is committed to creating affordable and accessible healthcare options for Pennsylvanians, regardless of employment.

A FAIR + EQUITABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Our criminal justice and carceral system disproportionately impacts Black and brown Pennsylvanians. We must address these inequalities and the cycle of trauma and violence these policies have perpetuated in our communities. Ending incarceration based solely on someone’s inability to pay (bail, courtfees, or restitution), ensuring access to treatment and health services, and empowering communities to define models of safety should be our priority.

Our current system punishes poor people, people of color, and our families at an incredibly high cost without making our communities safer. We must envision a new system centered on healing, safety and accountability.

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

We are jeopardizing our planet through ouractions -- and inactions. It is clear that current practices of increased energy use, pollution, and excess waste generation are unsustainable. Children growing up in Pennsylvania may face harsh consequences to their health, property and food security if we don’t take action now to protect healthy farming practices, reduce waste, and encourage sustainability and innovation.

These challenges will impact us all, but will hit historically disadvantaged communities the hardest. Ironically, those communities are least responsible for the problems. Pennsylvania is an incredibly diverse state with natural beauty afforded constitutional protection. Special interests that recklessly abuse our natural resources must be held accountable and stop being allowed to subvert the will of our Commonwealth’s founders.

HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT

The price of rent and mortgages are rising while wages are not. Many housing options are in disrepair, unsafe, or too expensive. If wages continue to remain stagnant, working Pennsylvanians will have a harder time providing safe, nurturing homes for their families. Reforms are needed to ensure access to the kind of quality, affordable housing and support services our families deserve. Everyone deserves a safe, healthy place to call home.

AN ECONOMY THAT BENEFITS THE WORKING CLASS

We deserve an economy that benefits the majority of Pennsylvanians. Our current system includes perks and write-offs for the super-rich and corporate interests -- while working class, true small business owners, poor and middle-class families pay more than their fair share. Special interests have led us to believe the status quo is the best we can get. That is not true.

We must ensure an equitable system that does not force poor people to pay more, while providing loopholes to the wealthiest to pay less. We deserve fully funded public schools; substantial and effective infrastructure for public utilities including mass transit, roads and bridges, and broadband internet access; a robust healthcare system; quality affordable housing; and sustainable environmental practices to preserve our communities. Pennsylvania's workers desperately need reforms to keep more of their paychecks in their hands to spend locally.