Alex Charlton states his case in the 165th race

To the Times:”

When I was elected two years ago to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I was committed to represent the values of residents of Springfield, Marple, Morton and Radnor. Looking back over the past two years, I’m proud of the work that I have done and the successes I have had on legislative issues.

We approved historic education funding, increasing the state share of PreK-12 education to record levels. I worked to help block proposals to increase taxes on local residents through hikes in the state personal income tax and sales taxes. I backed effort to make important policy changes to help combat the opioid epidemic and get individuals struggling with addiction the help they need. I also worked to increase access to quality healthcare, backed efforts to block insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and introduced legislation to establish a new state grant program to help local municipalities preserve of open space.

In this year’s budget we invested historic levels of funding into our education system to provide Pennsylvania’s youth with the resources they need to learn and grow. The Pennsylvania Legislature invested an additional $100 million dollars into K-12 basic education funding, $60 million in school safety funding grants, $30 million into career and technical education funds, $25 million towards Pre-K, and $15 million for dedicated special education funds.

These investments bring Pennsylvania’s total annual education funding to $12.3 billion, the highest it has ever been. We were able to make this investment while blocking proposals to increase personal income and sales taxes on individuals, seniors, and families.

From the beginning, a driving force behind my decision to run for office has been a commitment to the disabilities community. As the father of a child with a disability, I know all too well the challenges faced by many who need supplemental services. We have made significant strides in providing better access to care and job opportunities, while also funding research grants to find cures for spinal cord injuries. Through new programs like PA Able and the Employment First Act, we have provided those with disabilities the ability to protect their finances and have equal access to job opportunities at equal pay to their counterparts.

The opioid epidemic continues to be a significant issue throughout our state. It is one I have been very active in through both my involvement in the Springfield Cares Coalition and my work in the legislature. I’ve been on the front lines working with our police, first responders, medical officials, and treatment providers to ensure that essential care and treatment options are accessible to those battling addiction.

We have passed legislation that ensures treatment beds are made available in emergencies. We adopted legislation to ensure those in treatment are cared for in regulated and certified recovery houses that provide quality care in a safe environment. Recent legislation expands the effort to prevent addiction in the first place by improving drug and addiction education in our schools. We also prohibited emergency providers from prescribing long-acting opioids in the ER and limiting discharge prescriptions. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet or single solution to the opioid epidemic. As a result, I will continue to push for innovative responses to help address this significant challenge in our communities.

I have also been a strong advocate for the preservation of our open spaces. I believe it is important from an environmental perspective, reduces over development and congestion, and benefits the quality of life of local residents. As a result, early into my first term, I introduced Growing Greener III legislation that provides state grant funding to our communities for the purchase, preservation, and rehabilitation of open space. This legislation will go a long way in the effort to preserve as much of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia property in Marple Township as possible.

There is still more that I want to accomplish in Harrisburg for our communities, and I hope to have your support on Nov. 6.