A Brief Synopsis of Rendell and His Campaign for 2002 Edward G. Rendell is a member of the Democratic Party. Edward Rendell was the 121st Mayor of Philadelphia. Before being the mayor, he was the District Attorney of City of Philadelphia for two terms from 1978-1985. While mayor, he eliminated a $20 million deficit, balanced the city’s budget, generated 5 straight budget surpluses, and reduced business and income taxes for four consecutive years. In addition, Rendell implemented new revenue-generating initiatives and dramatically improved services to city neighborhoods. He was also awarded the 2000 Republican National Convention to Philly in Nov. 1998. Rendell served as General Chair of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 presidential election and was chief spokesperson and fundraiser for the Democratic Party nation-wide. Edward Rendell is a partner at Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersall, LLP and teaches at University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater. Rendell also attends Villanova Law School and is an Army Veteran. Rendell has many issues he has addresses and would like to improve while in office. His platform issues are: spur business development, improve rural communities, revitalize Pennsylvania’s mid-sized and smaller cities, boroughs and townships, reform the educational system in Pennsylvania, conserve and protect the environment, improve health care systems, improve hospitality and tourism in Pennsylvania, make medical malpractice insurance affordable and available, help senior Pennsylvanians, Protect communities, aid war veterans, and back the firefighters. Rendell had a past history of being a military veteran, and by all means, Rendell strongly supports the aid to war veterans and communities. The Rendell Plan for protecting our communities involves fully funding the Education Assistance Program for National Guard Personnel. This program is vital in recruiting. The Education Assistance Program for National Guard Personnel is currently dealing with a drop of funding by $2 million dollars. With the drop in funding, grants will not be given to guard members who qualify for the Assistance Program. Also, Rendell supports the "Pennsylvania Veteran’s Preference in Hiring Laws." He believes that veterans should have hiring preferences in state governmental positions. Rendell also wants to amend the Pa Tax Code to Exempt Military Income Paid for Duties performed with in or outside the Commonwealth. Edward Rendell will propose and support legislation to make income for active duty within the Commonwealth that is also exempt from the state income tax. Two endorsements backing up Rendell are the Wilkes-Barre Citizen’s Voice and the Sierra Club. Wilkes-Barre Citizen’s Voice endorses Rendell because the newspaper approves of Rendell’s ideas to raise money to get the state to back it’s funding of 50 percent which would allow local property taxes to be reduced. The Sierra Club’s missions are to explore wildlife, enjoy wildlife, protect wildlife, practice and promote the responsible use of earth’s ecosystems and resources, to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment, lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters, and finally to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. Rendell wants to provide safe environment to live, work, and raise a family. Works Cited Sierra Club. Inside the Sierra Club Main. 10/21/02 http://www.sierraclub.org/inside/ FEMA. FEMA: FEMA History. 10/21/02http://www.fema.gov/about/history.shtm Rendell For Governor. 10/21/02 http://www.rendellforgovernor.com/
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