On The Issues: Greenleaf Vs. Collett, PA Senate District 12

With Election Day just weeks away, we're breaking down candidates and their policy positions in several key races, including the battle for the 12th District in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Democrat Marie Collett is facing Republican Stewart Greenleaf Jr., whose retiring father has held the seat since 1978.

THE DISTRICT

The 12th District includes portions of both Montgomery and Bucks counties, including Ambler, Bryn Athyn, Franconia, Hatboro, Hatfield, Hatfield, Horsham, Lower Gwynedd, Lower Moreland, Montgomery Township, North Wales, Souderton, Upper Gwynedd, and Upper Moreland.

In Bucks, the 12th covers Upper Southampton Township, Warminster Township, and Warrington Township.

AGE AND HOMETOWN

Greenleaf: 39, Willow Grove

Collett: 44, Lower Gwynedd

EDUCATION

Greenleaf: BA from University of Maryland, JD from American University's Washington School of Law

Collett: BSN from Drexel School of Nursing, JD from Rutgers Law School

EXPERIENCE

Greenleaf: Greenleaf served a member of the Upper Moreland Townships Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, and then as Montgomery County Controller from 2011 to 2015. He has practiced law since 2016. He volunteers with the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project, which provides free legal representation to victims of child abuse.

Collett: Collett worked as a attorney for abused and neglected children before transitioning to a career in nursing, including pediatric home health, trauma, and long-term care. In 2017, she was in charge of the campaign of Lesley F. Katz, who was elected auditor of Lower Gwynedd Township.

ON THE LOCAL WATER CRISIS

Greenleaf: "Stewart has lived in our community his entire life and understands the concerns of residents - especially those who live near and around the Willow Grove Air Base when it comes to the water contamination issues caused by the base's operations. As our Senator, he will:

• Fight for the adoption of a state standard of "undetectable" for PFC's for all water authorities across the Commonwealth.
• Work with our federally elected officials to continue to pressure the federal government to provide blood testing for all affected residents who wish to be tested.
• Fight for financial relief for municipalities who have been forced to foot the bill to provide safe drinking water."

Collett: "My district has been devastated by groundwater, well and drinking water contamination at the Willow Grove and Warminster Naval Air Stations and Horsham Air Guard Station. Ensuring these problems are addressed from an environmental and public health perspective is a top priority for me, and I will do everything in my power as a legislator to ensure swift and thorough remediation, public health intervention, financial support, and prevention."

MARINER EAST 2 AND FRACKING

Greenleaf: "We must establish a strong and predictable regulatory structure that will ensure that spills and explosions from gas drilling and pipelines do not occur. We also should not permit gas companies to use the power of eminent domain – which is misused even by government entities – for pipeline construction. Living near a gas pipeline carries risk and landowners should be empowered to negotiate (or not negotiate) the use of their land for such uses."

Collett: " I support a moratorium on fracking and pipeline construction. Fracking comes with grave direct and indirect risks to our communities and our environment. As it stands now, the DEP is not adequately funded to protect against these risks or remediate a potential catastrophe. In addition to all of the risks caused by the drilling, I am particularly concerned about the impact fracking could have on our drinking water and the ability (or inability) of our DEP to adequately investigate complaints. One of my priorities will be making sure we stop gutting our DEP."

ON HEALTHCARE

Greenleaf: "Increasing affordable access while controlling costs is key in healthcare policy. While much of healthcare policy must be addressed at the national level, here in Pennsylvania we can take important steps to allow access and reduce costs. We should expand access to tele-medicine and loosen the scopes of practices on medical professions. We should allow cross-state competition among health insurers to encourage lower prices. And, we should permit guaranteed renewal riders on individual plans to protect those with pre-existing conditions."

Collett: "I believe that healthcare is a human right. As a nurse, finding a way to make affordable, high-quality healthcare a reality for all Pennsylvanians is one of my top priorities. If the federal government won’t protect and improve the ACA then our state legislators must step up and ensure that the people of Pennsylvania have affordable coverage options. I will fight to protect important programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP, and I will make sure our legislators are doing everything in their power to fight the devastation of the opioid crisis."

PRISON AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

Greenleaf: "I intend to continue my father's legacy of pursuing criminal justice reform in Pennsylvania. We have overextended our criminal justice system in a way that is unfair to law enforcement, unfair to low income and minority populations, and unfair to the taxpayers who are paying for it. This includes adequate funding for public defenders, addressing inequitable parole practices, establishing fair and effective sentencing guidelines, supporting specialty "problem solving" courts and reigning in civil forfeiture practices."

Collett: "Pennsylvania has the highest rate of incarcerated adults in the Northeast. Maria believes we need legislation that aims to end mass incarcerations, reform sentencing policies and do away with mandatory minimum sentences, ensure that all Pennsylvanians receive a fair defense, and expand diversion, rehabilitation, education and training programs designed to break the cycle of recidivism. Additionally, we need to improve channels of communication between community members, law enforcement and government, and work to make sure police officers are adequately trained to deal effectively with the communities that they are sworn to protect."

ON SCHOOL SAFETY AND GUN CONTROL

Greenleaf: "I have earned the Moms Demand Action “Gun Sense” candidate distinction and support commonsense actions such as "red flag" proceedings, universal background checks, bans on bump stocks and mechanical accelerators, high-capacity magazines over 20, and measures that promote safe firearm storage in households with minors."

Collett: "Pennsylvania can do much better when it comes to strengthening common-sense gun safety legislation while also respecting the constitutional right of Pennsylvanians to bear arms. I am proud to have received the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. As a nurse, I recognize gun violence for the public health epidemic that it is. In Harrisburg, I hope to bring this perspective to the forefront and work tirelessly to (1) close loopholes to ensure background checks are required on all gun sales, (2) tighten reporting standards, (3) keep guns out of our schools and out of the hands of our already overburdened educators, (4) restrict gun access of criminals, including domestic abusers and stalkers, (5) fund more research into the effects of gun safety technology and gun violence prevention, and (6) allow local governments to pass reasonable gun ordinances without fear of lawsuit."

ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Greenleaf: "Climate change exists and humans contribute to it. Controlling climate change is primarily a national and global issue, and should be addressed at the national and global level. Here in Pennsylvania, we can help by eliminating corporate welfare, like subsidies and eminent domain power, given to the fossil fuel industry."

Collett: "Pennsylvania alone is responsible for 1 percent of the world’s climate pollution. Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to "clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment." As legislators, we must defend this right and serve as trustees for our natural resources. That includes supporting a transition towards 100% renewable energy, a move that is both realistic and beneficial. A shift to renewable energy will create clean energy jobs, increase the quality of our air and water, and decrease the risk of expensive -- and catastrophic -- disruptive events. As a legislator, I would urge Pennsylvania to join the coalition of states, cities, and private entities leading the charge to reduce emissions and boost renewable energy solutions consistent with the goals of the Paris Accord and the Clean Power Plan targets."

ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Greenleaf: "I support the recent efforts to allow access to medical cannabis and will support expanding that access. In line with my criminal justice reform efforts, I support the decriminalization of marijuana possession. The prosecution and incarceration of persons for possession and use of small amounts of marijuana has had a disparate impact on low income and minority communities, has over extended our criminal justice resources, and costs taxpayers too much in the long run."

Collett: "There are strong arguments to be made in favor of legalization. I am very supportive of expanding our medical marijuana programs and keeping a close watch on the states that have legalized recreational marijuana with the ultimate goal of moving towards legalization."

Image via Greenleaf and Collett campaigns