Houghton 2012 News
The Truth about Sen. Dinniman's Voting Record
by Tom Houghton for Sate Senate on 01/19/12
I was surprised to read Senator Dinniman's latest mailing in which he defends his votes against core Democratic values. I intend to run a positive campaign this spring but I think we need to be honest about the facts and our respective records in public office.
Senator Dinniman supported a statewide vouchers program
Senator Dinniman argues that his efforts were instrumental in holding off a statewide private school voucher program. This is inconsistent with the facts.
He is a consistent, vocal backer of S.B.1, from his strong endorsement of private school vouchers during the legislature's first hearing this past session (March 1, 2011), to his votes in favor of multiple iterations of voucher legislation, to his willingness to join right-wing legislators in accepting tens of thousands of dollars--$45,000 to be exact--from StudentsFirst, a PAC funded and led by top GOP donors that is financing the current attack on public education.
These are the facts. In both the House and Senate, Democrats and moderate Republicans actually joined together in a rare display of bipartisanship to vote against this costly program that drains funds from the public schools that serve 90 percent of our students. If Senator Dinniman truly wanted to block vouchers, he could have simply voted NO, spoken against the legislation rather than for it, and told StudentsFirst to keep their money. To argue that his actions were instead a carefully-orchestrated dance to slow this legislation is dishonest. As the most senior Democrat in Harrisburg when it comes to education, Sen. Dinniman could have made those simple points. He did not.
He also claims that his support of SB1 was an attempt to help the 143 failing school districts across Pennsylvania. The fact of the matter is that vouchers will do no such thing. Unfortunately, we do not need to point to studies and projections to see what the effect of vouchers will be; all we have to do is watch the tragedy unfolding at the Chester Upland School District. Chester Upland, already distressed due to an inadequate level of state funding, was pushed over the edge when a large portion of the state funding it did receive was siphoned off by the flight of students to charter schools. The remaining students are stranded in a failing public school where the situation is growing exponentially worse every day. This is exactly the situation that will unfold at struggling schools statewide if the Vouchers bill becomes law. When those students who are chosen by private and parochial schools begin to leave, taking their state money with them, the students who remain stranded in those failing public schools will find themselves in an even worse situation. The best way to support failing public schools, or any public schools, is to see that the state provides adequate and responsible funding to those schools to allow them to educate our children. Advocating for PSEA's 'Solutions that Work' that Andy mentioned in his letter is also another important tactic.
I understand that Senator Dinniman needs to distance himself from the voucher plan he supported. There's a reason that groups like the NAACP, NOW, SEIU, League of Women Voters, American Federation of Teachers, Pennsylvania State Education Association, Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools, National Council of Jewish Women, Pennsylvania Council of Churches, Equality PA, Disability Rights Network, and the Education Law Center oppose this bill. There's a reason that this is being supported by far right funded StudentsFirst PAC, Dick Armey's FreedomWorks, the Koch Brothers funded Americans for Prosperity, and some Tea Party groups. This is because it is the first step towards the extreme right wing's ultimate goal of destroying public education. An overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians oppose this plan. Additionally, Republicans characterize it as a $1 billion property tax increase, $11 million alone in the 19th Senate District and $15 million countywide.
If Senator Dinniman wanted to distance himself from the voucher plan, he should NOT have voted for it.
Senator Dinniman's votes in favor of vouchers, his statements of support, and his willingness to partner with StudentsFirst, are signals that he's lost his way on this issue of paramount importance. I have no problem debating the merits of public education, but I will not debate the facts. They are there for everyone to see and they are indisputable.
Senator Dinniman Voted Against Civil Justice
In response to the urging of insurance companies and the Republican Chamber of Commerce, Senator Greenleaf (R, Montgomery County) introduced a bill to abolish joint and several liability--ending hundreds of years of law that required ALL wrongdoers to be fully accountable for their negligence. Senator Greenleaf's bill (SB1131), had two reasonable exceptions where this change would NOT apply:
1. Economic Damages (medical bills, lost wages, etc...) and
"I look at the children's exception from many perspectives, from a personal perspective as an aunt and as a daughter, and as a legislator and a strong advocate for children in Pennsylvania. I look at all of these exceptions that are included, and I am left with the quandary of why we cannot protect Pennsylvania's children. I ask my colleagues to listen to just a few real-life stories of Pennsylvania's children who will be affected by this amendment, and I ask my colleagues to draw on their everyday experiences and happenings to determine whether this is the right thing to do for children in Pennsylvania...Mr. President, I ask, why does an innocent child have to face the repercussions of what we are doing here today? And on top of that, if you are not going to protect the child, and you hear this instance where a child is a quadriplegic, why should that fall on the burden of the taxpayers? Why can we not make an exception for children here in Pennsylvania?" (Senator Orie Floor Speech - Pg. 696, PA Senate Legislative Journal, June 20, 2012).
Even after hearing this speech, Senator Dinniman was the ONLY Democrat that voted YES on the right-wing Corman Amendment--removing the protection for Pennsylvania's children! This law is so radical that even Senator Greenleaf (R, Montgomery) voted NO on his own bill as a result of the passage of this Amendment. Why was Senator Dinniman the only Democrat to side with radical Republicans in opposing the stand taken by the Democrats and moderate Republicans to protect our children?
Proof of Residence
In an op-ed submitted to the press a few weeks ago, Senator Dinniman argued against the attempt to pass Voter ID legislation. He argued correctly, that there was no evidence of large-scale voter fraud justifying spending millions of dollars to institute a Voter ID program and pointed out the obvious--that this was just a right-wing attempt to lower voter turnout amongst the groups most likely to vote Democratic.
Senator Dinniman failed to use the same logic in his YES vote on SB9, a bill requiring all recipients of many public benefits, including unemployment compensation (UC), adultBasic health insurance, and the popular rent and property tax rebate to provide certain types of government-issued ID. In addition, Pennsylvanians would be required to sign affidavits attesting to their U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status. Although the bill is intended to prevent undocumented immigrants from getting benefits, its primary effects would be to delay and disqualify Pennsylvanian citizens and lawful permanent residents from receiving important public benefits in these tough economic times. This bill had one purpose: to appease those who believe that the poor and minorities are the cause of all our problems. The bill’s proponents have offered no evidence of undocumented immigrants receiving benefits improperly - not even a single example. Undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for the major public benefits programs in Pennsylvania, and the Department of Public Welfare already verifies identity and immigration status for the benefits it administers. Why harm citizens and waste millions only to score political points? SB9 was part of a larger package being pushed by right wing Republicans including English as Official Language legislation and a bill that would mirror the infamous Arizona SB 1070 'Show Us Your Papers' law.
Just like with the Voter ID legislation, SB9 is advertised as fixing a problem that doesn't exist. With no evidence of large-scale fraud, we can expect no real savings. When Colorado passed a similar law, they found that they didn't save a dime. And according to estimates by state agencies, instituting this program will cost $19 million.
Worse, this bill will hurt people. Food pantries could be harmed. Most of those hurt will be low income Pennsylvanians and minorities. Due to how vital some of these programs are, SB 9 amounts to an attack on the poor and minorities. I refuse to believe that Senator Dinniman made this vote to score political points off the back of African-Americans and Hispanics, as others did. But this vote will still cause pain for many innocent people, and that is unacceptable.
Senate Bill 732, the Republican attack on women's health
In his latest mailing, Senator Dinniman stated that "he was one of 18 senators who voted against SB732 which would limit access to Planned Parenthood Clinics across Pennsylvania." This ignores the fact that he originally voted YES and allowed the bill to leave the Senate and head over to the House. He only voted NO when it came back to the Senate, after an explosion of public outrage led by the Democrats in Chester County. Further, when Senator Dinniman voted for the bill, it had already been altered by the Mensch Amendment, which anti-choice leaders called "a courageous stand for the pro-life cause." Senator Dinniman's support for this bill not only advanced the radical anti-choice Republican agenda, it was also a blow to women's healthcare across the Commonwealth. Many women from all walks of life depend upon the healthcare provided by Planned Parenthood. By supporting SB732, Senator Dinniman turned his back on these women and their healthcare needs. Without access to these clinics, many women will have nowhere to turn for necessary, preventative care including screenings for breast and cervical cancer. This action on Senator Dinniman's part is unconscionable, and no amount of "for it before I was against it" voting can reconcile this vote with claims of standing up for women.
If Senator Dinniman wants to engage in a discussion of whether we should support public education, a woman's right to choose, the rights of minorities, the rights of victims of negligence versus the profits of insurance companies and corporations, and most important, whether we should protect the most vulnerable amongst us--I am ready for that discussion.
I look forward to continuing our conversations ahead of the convention, and I continue to be humbled by the support and growing list of endorsements. If I am the Democratic nominee for State Senate, you'll always know where I stand, and what I'm fighting for.
Sincerely,
Tom Houghton
FORMER STATE REP. TOM HOUGHTON TO RUN FOR THE 19TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT AGAINST SENATOR DINNIMAN
by Tom Houghton for Sate Senate on 01/08/12
On January 4th, 2012, former State Representative, Township Supervisor and
attorney Tom Houghton announced his candidacy for the Pennsylvania
State Senate.
Houghton
started in public service when he was elected to London Grove’s Board
of Supervisors in 2001. He became Vice-Chair immediately and Chairman of
the Board in 2004. He was re-elected in November of 2007. Houghton was
also a four-year member of the Planning Commission, London Grove’s
representative on the Executive Committee to PennDOT’s Route 41
Commission, and is a long-time Board member of the White Clay Creek
Watershed Association.
In
2008, Houghton was elected to serve as State Representative in the 13th
House District. During his term in office, he served his constituents
well, passing legislation, and successfully fighting to increase state
education funding to reduce the school property tax burden.
“I
have a deep sense of optimism--coupled with deep concern for the
direction of our Commonwealth-- that led me to plan a run for the State
Senate. In Harrisburg, Senator Dominic Pileggi has voted against womens’
health care, opposed former Governor Rendell’s efforts to establish a
responsible school funding formula, and backed costly and unproven
private school tuition vouchers that would further drain resources away
from public education. I believe these views are out-of-step with
Chester County values, and harmful to our sense of commonwealth.”
In
order to make it to the November General Election, Houghton will have
to challenge his new State Senator and fellow Democrat - Andy Dinniman
(D, Chester County) in the April 24th Primary Election. Houghton had
planned to run against Senate Majority Leader, Dominic Pileggi (R,
Delaware County) until the new legislative redistricting maps came out
in November. At that time, Houghton found out that his residence in
London Grove Township had been redistricted into the 19th Senatorial
District currently represented by Dinniman.
“When
I first heard the rumors that I would be placed in Dinniman’s district I
had to reassess my plan to make a run for the State Senate. Knowing his
record, and after discussions with Senator Dinniman about his recent
votes, I can only say that Andy Dinniman has abandoned us for special
interests. He has made one bad vote after another--votes that are
inconsistent with the values of the people of Chester County. He has
voted against his constituents on major issues that speak to the very
core of our values,” said Houghton.
Houghton
pointed out that Senator Dinniman voted YES on four major pieces of
legislation that gave Houghton pause. Senator Dinniman voted to support a
sweeping school vouchers plan that threatens the future of public
education in Pennsylvania. Senator Dinniman also supported the most
recent restrictions on women’s health clinics, which will deny many
women the health care they desperately need. Senator Dinniman supported
restrictions on minorities, mandating that unemployment and
Medicaid recipients must provide a government issued ID, which many recipients of these crucial benefits do not have and which many cannot afford. The bill bars all
other alternative forms of identification and will cost Pennsylvania an
estimated $19 million. Senator
Dinniman was one of only a few Democratic Senators that supported
legislation putting the profits of the corporations and big insurance
companies ahead of the safety of consumers, shifting the responsibility
for future care of injured victims from wrongdoers to taxpayers.
“All
of these votes are extremely troubling, but the major offense is
Senator Dinniman’s support for the anti-public education legislation
known as the Vouchers Bill. By supporting the Vouchers Bill Senator
Dinniman has joined the opponents of our schools in their relentless
attack on public education, and by extension seniors, families and all
Pennsylvania taxpayers,” said Houghton.
“Ever
since public school opponents took control of the House, Senate and
Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg after the 2010 election, they are
simply on the attack against public education. It has been disturbing to
watch as they boast about being fiscally conservative, pass a budget
giving out $200 million in corporate tax breaks--all while cutting
funding for our schools by hundreds of millions of dollars. My school
district (Avon Grove) was forced to raise property taxes by 5.9% to make
up for these cuts. What they call fiscally conservative I call passing
the buck to seniors and struggling families,” said Houghton.
Houghton laid out why the bill, if it eventually becomes law, would be horrible for Pennsylvanians:
“The Senate bill would:
- Cost millions of dollars letting private schools choose what kids to take while at the same time not being accountable for standardized testing results like public schools are;
- Give private schools, not parents, the 'choice' on whether to accept or deny admission to students. Students can be excluded based on gender, church affiliation, ability, behavior and other special learning needs, or even disability status;
- Not provide savings to public schools which will have the same overhead costs – maintaining buildings, transporting and feeding students and having to still provide support services. Schools can't reduce staff or other costs if a few students across different grade levels transfer to private schools with vouchers (public money) in hand;
- Increase school board imposed property taxes due to the revenue being drawn away from K-12 basic education funding. School boards will have to get the lost funds from somewhere.
“There are many groups and organizations like the PA School Boards Association, PA League of Women Voters, the PA Association of Rural and Small Schools, the National Organization of Women, and the NAACP that oppose vouchers. Why? These groups believe in public education, as I certainly do,” said Houghton.
“As the Senate Minority Chair to the Education Committee, instead of standing up for public education, Senator Andy Dinniman has assisted and given cover to public school opponents in their efforts to begin the dismantling of public education in Pennsylvania. By strongly advocating for and voting YES on the Vouchers bill, Senator Dinniman has betrayed a fundamental tenet of our country and basic Democratic principles--protecting and fighting for public education. Pulling more state money away from the funding of our schools will also result in increased property taxes on the local level. That is simply unacceptable,” said Houghton.
“Senator Dinniman’s voting record on this issue shows that the voters of Chester County can no longer depend on Andy Dinniman to stand up for our values or our future. Senator Dinniman’s recent voting record and the financial reports of his campaign PAC clearly demonstrate that he has chosen to stand with public school opponents, entrenched corporate interests and their lobbyists in Harrisburg and against his constituents. In the course of my years in public service, I have met thousands of families and seniors at public events and at their own front doors. I have heard their stories, struggles, and frustrations. I cannot sit on the sidelines while our State Senator, who is supposed to be our firewall on this radical agenda of public school privatization, joins the greed driven opportunists who want to create a slippery slope towards the end of public education as we know it; nor can I turn away from the struggling seniors and families who will have to pay for it. Andy Dinniman has deserted the people who elected him, and it is time that someone stood up for them. This is why I choose to run, and it is why I MUST run,” declared Houghton.
Houghton is married to his high school sweetheart, Danelle. They have two children, Marley and Benjamin, both of whom attend public schools, and were long-time foster parents with the Chester County Children and Youth Services agency.
