OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE
GERRYMANDERING
A free people need fair representation. When legislators draw voting maps, they will do so in order to keep themselves in power no matter what party they are in. Human nature and the nature of holding onto political office will override almost any legislators’ sense of fairness. That’s what happened in Pennsylvania, as legislators worked behind the scenes with a lot of data to make maps that work for them and their fat cat donors and special interests.
Peter supported a Constitutional amendment that forms an independent commission will ensure a fair process that makes maps by and for the people. However, that looks impossible for the 2020 legislature. Peter would be a proud co-sponsor of HB 2638 sponsored by Wendi Thomas (R-Bucks County), the Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Act. It is “designed to increase transparency and public engagement and provide clear, measurable map-drawing criteria.” While still in the hands of the legislature, it affords safeguards, transparency and strong rules that strengthen fair representation.
2018 ELECTIONS - DEMOCRATS GOT 55% of vote but 45.81% of seats!
FAIR ELECTIONS
OPEN PRIMARIES
Peter supports open primaries and ranked-choice voting. While a member of the Democratic Party, Peter believes parties have too much control of our elections. Elections in a fair and free country should be both fair and free. By limiting people’s choices, we gag the expression of voters’ values.
GIFT BAN
Peter calls on the Legislature to pass HB 1945, the Gift Ban for Public Officials. It is past time for legislators to stop being the recipients of "gifts" from lobbyists who literally buy influence with our
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Peter supports limits on individual campaign contributions. When we look at some of the contributions from individuals with deep pockets to some of our legislators seeing look at their voting records, we should be appalled. It constitutes legal bribery. It’s time to change the system.
CAMPAIGNEDUCATION OF, BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE
Thomas Jefferson said, “A nation that wants to be ignorant and free wants something in a state of civilization that has never been and never will be.” Pennsylvania has one of the most unequal school systems in the nation. That lack of investment has direct consequences on the state of our democracy. Peter will work to restructure how schools are funded, increase their funding and work with the Departments of Education and State to increase education for democracy, democratic participation in our schools and access to high-quality well-vetted information.