CITY LIMITS: Pennsylvania Governor

Democratic incumbent Casey has been the state's governor since January, 1987. His lieutenant governor is Mark Singel. Abortion: Casey favors abortion control. In 1989, he signed an abortion control act which state courts deemed unconstitutional. Crime and Drugs: Casey has signed bills which stiffen penalties against convicted drug traffickers. In addition, he has implemented the largest prison expansion in the state's history. Environment: Casey has touted his environmental record as one of the strongest points of his administration. Casey has backed and signed several environmental protection bills during his tenure. His PENNVEST program helps communities replace water and sewer systems and provides clean water for over a million people. In addition he supported bills to increase recycling and crack down on repeat polluters. Education: Casey says he has no intention of cutting subsidies to higher education, despite charges that he considers them vulnerable to budget cuts. Philadelphia budget:Casey believes that since the city's citizens have elected their public officials, Philadelphia's leaders should come up with a financial plan before the state is asked to help out. State finances:Casey says he has kept his 1986 promise that he would not raise taxes during the term, while continuing to present balanced budgets. He will not make such a promise this time around, and has had to revise spending plans when revenue projections were updated. Source: Bob Barnett, southeastern Pennsylvania coordinator for Casey's campaign; campaign literature. Barbara Hafer (R) Hafer has been the state's Auditor General since 1988. Her candidate for lieutenant governor is State Representative Harold Mowery (R-Cumberland). Abortion: Hafer supports abortion rights. Crime and Drugs: Hafer believes that the short-term solution to crime is to build more prison cells. However, she supports alternative sentencing for people who would benefit more from rehabilitation than from incarceration. She also supports victim services. Environment: Hafer supports "bottle bill" legislation which would call for a five-cent deposit on certain beverage bottles. She also backs the creation of a tax credit program to encourage the use of recyclable materials. She also supports tax incentives for wetlands protection. Education: Hafer says that she would not make across- the-board funding cuts for higher education, and that she has prioritized education in her campaign as a long-term solution to many social problems. Philadelphia budget: Hafer believes in invoking a state statute under which the governor, the speaker of the state House of Representatives and the state Senate president would each appoint one member of a three-member panel, which would devise a financial plan for the city. If the city did not accept the plan or provide an alternative, it would lose state funding. The panel would devise a long-term plan and help provide a short-term infusion of cash by restoring confidence in city notes. State finances: Hafer, the auditor general, has said that the state's $24 billion budget will face a deficit next year of approximately $1 billion. She says a tax increase will be necessary no matter who is elected. Source: Stephen Miskin campaign director for eastern Pennsylvania.

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