Ten Random PA Policy Points

Often times when debating or discussing politics and policy, facts are tossed aside in favor of more emotional arguments. Even worse, when one side of a legitimate but spirited debate falters, it has somehow become acceptable to refuse to accept the facts as accurate. Others strive to find flaws in an effort to have two wrongs make a right. By way of experimentation, here are ten totally unrelated facts about issues we deal with in Pennsylvania government. Let’s see what happens…

1. For every two hours per day that you sit in front of the TV, you increase your risk of diabetes by 20% and your risk of cardiovascular disease by 15%. Women with diabetes have more than three times the risk of developing heart disease than women without diabetes. Men with diabetes have a two times higher risk.

2. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, the average life expectancy in the homeless population is estimated between 42 and 52 years, compared to 78 years in the general population. 

3. Since its inception in 1980, the PA Small Business Development Centers has provided over 2.5 million hours of consulting to more than 216,000 entrepreneurs and offered over 14,000 courses, workshops and seminars attended by 334,000 Pennsylvanians.

4. A study by The Frontier Group found that Americans ages 16-34 are driving less. Between 2001 and 2009, the average annual number of vehicle-miles traveled by them dropped 23%.  Since 2001, public transportation use is up 40% per capita and bicycling is up 24% in this age group.

5. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 19% of U.S. adults currently smoke cigarettes, which is down from over 40% in 1960, 30% in 1980 and 21% in 2000. Since 2002, the number of former U.S. smokers has exceeded the number of current smokers. 

6. According to the PA Department of Corrections, 21% of all inmates and 49% of female inmates in State Correctional Institutions receive mental health treatments.

7. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that PA has over 400,000 people with dementia, with the majority of them having Alzheimer’s. To date, 28 states have adopted strategic Alzheimer's plans to address what many view as the largest problem afflicting the elderly population. PA is one of 13 states currently working to develop a broad plan.

8. In making the case for quality early education, experts observed a measured difference in the average recorded vocabulary size of families. Parents in professional families average 2,176 spoken words and their 3-year old children 1,116 words.  Parents in welfare families average 974 spoken words and their 3-year old children 525 words. 

9. Green labels, such as Energy Star or LEED for homes, on a single-family home provide a market premium of 9% compared to a similar home without a label.

10. The wild pig population in the US has tripled since 1990, when fewer than 2 million inhabited 20 states. Nowadays, 6 million wild pigs have been sighted in 47 states with established populations in 38 states.  Experts on invasive species estimate that they are responsible for more than $1.5 billion in annual agricultural damage alone, equal to about $250 per pig.