Issues
Barb McIlvaine Smith Puts People First
While Pennsylvania faces many problems and opportunities, I see three issues central to our wellbeing and our future. With each issue, it is essential to put the needs of people first…
Affordable Access to Healthcare
…for all Pennsylvanians
Simply put, everyone in Pennsylvania is entitled to affordable health care. This concept is in the best interest of every one of us.
Left without insurance coverage, many people now receive care only in dire circumstances and then often in hospital emergency rooms. This is expensive, wasteful and unfair to those of us with coverage because we shoulder the cost of this inefficient health care system.
We need to provide care that strives to keep people healthy. We need a system which provides prenatal care for expectant mothers, pediatric care for children, prescription drugs for senior citizens and basic care for all.
Such coverage for all will be my highest priority as your State Representative.
06/27/2008, York Daily Record • Pa. welfare dept. posting care-home info online
04/26/2008, Daily Local News • Work together for health care
04/12/2008, Daily Local News • Doctor to ex-POWs: Tell your stories
03/08/2008, Daily Local News • Perfect remedy to health care woes
03/08/2008, Daily Local News • New round of mini-grants to aid autism
Best Education
…Increased state funding for public education to ensure our children receive the best education possible
A well-educated populace is the foundation of our democracy. We have some of the best schools and universities right here in our region, but our graduates do not stay here. We need to retain our knowledgeable workforce to attract more business to our state, which in turn helps lower our tax burden.
As an educator, I know firsthand the funding problems our local school systems confront. The Commonwealth used to provide over 50% of the cost of education to its 501 school districts, but with reduced allocations and unfunded federal mandates, school districts must raise local property taxes to provide the same level of services. That hurts all of us. As your State Representative, I will push for state funding to return to the 50% level to ensure our children receive the best education we can provide.
06/19/2008, Daily Local News • Better preparation needed before GCAs are pushed through
06/16/2008, Daily Local News • State, local officials decry standardized graduation tests
05/13/2008, Pennsylvania Families for Public Cyber Schools presents Barb with the Cyber Families Leadership Award
04/15/2008, Daily Local News • Thanks for charter school support
Cleaner, Healthier Environment
…so our families can enjoy a high quality of life
We need to make sure Pennsylvania—the source of 1% of the world’s pollution—is a cleaner, healthier place to live, work and play. We must find ways to reduce our CO2 emissions, find sources of cleaner fuel, and fund research on all promising sources of renewable energies.
We must also protect the quality of our water and save our treasured but endangered landscape. That's why I fully support high water quality standards and “smart growth” that builds on existing infrastructures in our communities and towns and maintains our open spaces—sprawl harms our quality of life and, ultimately, hinders our economic success.
Unfortunately, our state legislature has a sad record on environmental protection. Drawing on my background in environmental education and conservation, I promise to ask other legislators to join me in my fight to make Pennsylvania the best it can be.
 | Rep. McIlvaine Smith helps lead the state House to energy efficiency by giving each member an energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb. The bulbs were purchased through an American company with Rep. McIlvaine Smith's own money; no tax dollars were used. CFLs use less energy and last longer than conventional light bulbs. |
People's Interests, Not Special Interests
Many of our legislators have sought to preserve the status quo, benefiting special interests such as insurance companies and polluters. I pledge to stand up to these special interests, to pursue an open and accountable legislature and to seek change for the benefit of all people of Pennsylvania.
We, the people, deserve an open and accountable government. Legislation created behind closed doors and voted on without public input does NOT benefit the people. We need legislators who will do what is right FOR the people instead of what is expedient and beneficial for their own political interests.
[Rep. McIlvaine Smith's MONTHLY EXPENSE REPORTS are available via this link and on her State House website.]
05/25/2008, Daily Local News • Meeting highlights property taxes
05/04/2008, Daily Local News • House candidates tally warchests
04/04/2008, House News Release • McIlvaine Smith donates her COLA to local organizations [WCASC photo]
03/07/2008, curtschroder.com • Bipartisan Push to Cut Legislature's Budget by $66 Million
02/17/2008, Daily Local News • New law lifts shroud of secrecy
12/05/2007, Daily Local News • Legislator dismayed by pay raise
Fair, Ethical, Smart Representation—when Mrs. Smith Goes To Harrisburg
2 local lawmakers stand up to arrogant anything-goes politics ...Both Schroder and McIlvaine Smith are running for re-election this year, asking voters to send them back to Harrisburg. We believe that the voters in their districts should take notice of their willingness to break the tradition of intra-party silence when deciding whether they deserve another two years in the state capital. Read more...
- Daily Local News Opinion, 8/06/08
"One of the things I most look forward to when in Harrisburg is running into Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith. Always working hard for the people of Chester County's 156th House District AND the people of Pennsylvania, she has become a leader in Harrisburg. Always smiling, always cheerful, she always has a kind word. Smith has distinguished herself already as few frosh can do in such an environment. She is leading on issues like universal health care on the Health and Human Services Committee." Read more...
- John Morgan, 3/24/08
"Having observed Barb in action over the last 7 years in West Chester, she's earned the votes of my whole family. What comes to mind is dedication, honesty, true sincerity, creative intelligence and standing for the people, not special interests. She slices through the veil of party affiliation to the heart within us. Her needs are our needs and I so much appreciate what she is doing. Bring it home!"
-Joe N., 8/31/06
"Having spent ten years investigating and prosecuting attorney ethics violations, I am very sensitive to the need for scrupulously ethical government. I also believe that we need to get some 'kitchen table' common sense back in government and start making it serve the people…not special interests! Barb is the best candidate for the district."
-Tony V., 1/11/06
"Barb represents what is right about politics. Her intelligence, enthusiasm and caring about the issues and her constituents are exactly what we need in public office in this country if we are to reverse the decline of recent years."
-Mary K., 1/9/06
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FOR ALL LEGISLATIVE CONCERNS (comments, inquiries and invitations) Visit Representative McIlvaine Smith's State House Website at http://www.pahouse.com/bsmith/ |
