ISSUES

Jobs & The Economy
As Lieutenant Governor, Mark will continue to fight to ensure that the ideas and concerns of our local small businesses are heard in Harrisburg. After serving on the U.S. House Small Business Committee and becoming the lead Democrat on its Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee, Mark Critz gained an understanding of the struggles that Pennsylvania’s small businesses endure.

Realizing the enormous economic potential that the Marcellus Shale gas industry can have on the future of Pennsylvania and our nation, Mark co-founded the House Marcellus Shale Caucus to help members of Congress get a better understanding of the issues surrounding shale gas. He also introduced legislation in 2011 to authorize grants to strengthen the on-the-job training programs for workers in the natural gas industry to help ensure that jobs go to Pennsylvanians and not workers from out-of-state.

Pennsylvania has the talent to compete on a global scale. That is why when Mark grew concerned about the effects of unfair and free trade on our local economy, he became a leading voice in Congress on fair trade issues. Mark is an original co-sponsor of the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, legislation that will hold countries, like China, accountable for unfairly manipulating their currency. This legislation is estimated to create millions of new jobs and reduce the budget deficit by $71 billion per year. Mark was also an active member of the Democrats’ Make It in America Task Force, which seeks to help businesses make products here in Pennsylvania.

Mark will continue these efforts as Lieutenant Governor and will fight to make sure Pennsylvanians have family-sustaining jobs.

Education
Education in Pennsylvania has been gutted by the current administration in an apparent lack of foresight. Every child deserves access to opportunities provided by a quality education. This administration has turned its back on our children, and as Lt. Governor, Mark will fight to restore Tom Corbett’s $1 billion in education cuts because our Commonwealth will not be able to compete in the 21st century global marketplace unless every child has an opportunity to get a quality education. Our future and our ability to attract world-class businesses, depend upon our determination to recommit ourselves to public education.

Not only do we need to invest in Pre-K through 12th grade, but Pennsylvania must recognize the value in higher education, technical, and on the job training. As Lt. Governor, Mark will fight for increased funding of our state university system and state-related universities to make college more affordable.

Transportation & Infrastructure
Pennsylvania has the largest number of structurally deficient bridges in the country, leading the Department of Transportation to recently impose even lighter weight restrictions on approximately 1,000 bridges. Each year, our congested, deteriorated, and unsafe roads cost Pennsylvania’s drivers $9.4 billion.

In order to maintain safe roadways and bridges and keep our businesses expanding, Pennsylvania must repair our bridges and roads. As Lt. Governor, Mark will make this essential government responsibility a top priority and fight to ensure that we fully fund transportation and transit.

Seniors
As an active member of the Congressional Task Force on Seniors, Mark sponsored legislation to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and received the Social Security and Medicare Hero Award from the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans in September 2011 for his tireless work on behalf of seniors.

Mark opposes any effort to privatize the Pennsylvania Lottery which provides invaluable services to our seniors.