I'm late with this post -- snow, broken bones (not mine), and assorted other issues have delayed my work on it. These are my notes from the 13th congressional district Democratic
candidates’ debate, held on January 26th, 1:30 to 3:30 at the Upper Dublin Township Building.
These are my notes from that event. It is not intended as a full transcript. I do my best to catch the gist of an answer but there were a few spots where I just couldn't catch what was being said. Should readers have any questions they are encouraged to contact the campaigns for clarification. As always, I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions.
Moderator: Will Bunch
of the Philadelphia Daily News
MC: Beverly Hahn of
Montgomery County DFA
The room was packed; I would estimate over 200 people,
perhaps close to 300 were in attendance
Hahn led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. She said it was heartening to see the room so
full.
She acknowledges the organizations sponsoring
the event and thanks Upper Dublin Township for use of the facilities. The event is being livestreamed by
WeActRadio (1480 AM), and the video will be posted on
YouTube.
Candidate and former congresswoman Marjorie Margolies was
asked several times (three requests to her campaign and two requests directly
to her) to participate, but she declined.
(see her statement on the event at
abc.com)
The order in which the candidates are seated, and give
opening and closing statements was decided by drawing lots. The moderator will ask the questions and
enforce restrictions; a timekeeper will let candidates know how much time they
have and blow a whistle if they go noticeably over time. Candidates will have three minutes for an
opening statement, two minutes to answer questions, and two minutes for closing
statements.
The candidates came into the room at 1:42 and were seated
(Arkoosh, Leach, Boyle). Hahn introduces
Will Bunch and notes that he was scheduled to work at the Philadelphia Daily News today but they
released him to moderate the debate.
WB: flattered to be
here.
Opening Statements
VA: Thanks sponsors,
moderator, and the other two candidates.
I am running because I believe our democracy should work for all; it
isn’t doing so now. Most of my working
life is around moms and babies. I hear
stories of people losing their homes and falling through the cracks. My father had a small business and put his
kids through college. Communities do better
when we all do better. I studied
economics and then went to medical school.
I moved here in 1987, became chair of my department and had to make hard
budget decisions. I went back to school
for a Masters in Public Health, and worked on health care reform. We are sending too many career politicians to
Washington. I solve problems.
BB: Thanks all. Events like this are an important opportunity
to interact with candidates. I am a
first generation American. My father
came to America when he was 19, worked at an ACME warehouse and then as a
janitor at SEPTA, where he still works.
My mom is a crossing guard. They
worked hard so my brother and I could have a better life. I went to Notre Dame and then Harvard, then
my brother and I both won seats in the state house. I am an advocate for higher minimum wage,
campaign finance reform, and endorsed by most labor unions in the state. My wife is a teacher in Montgomery County. I opposed Gov. Corbett’s education
policy. I am running because the American
dream is at stake. Income equality,
millionaires and billionaires are paying lower taxes than cops and
firefighters.
DL: Thanks all. I was born in Northeast Philadelphia. My mom and dad were married but my dad left
soon after I was born. My grandmother
got sick and moved in with us. My mom
had to quit her job to take care of my grandmother. I still remember when my mom said she
couldn’t afford to take care of me. I
went into the foster care system. People
invested in me with great public schools and libraries, and Pell grants. I now pay more in taxes than I received in
student aid. I want to take the toughest
issues. I’ve been in state government
for 12 years, and have fought for marriage equality and other issues. I’m running for Congress to make sure the
opportunities given to me are given to others.
Q: Ending income inequality;
how do we make that into policy?
DL: This is one of my
main issues. I don’t have any problem
with people making money. A few have so
much and many have so little. It used to
be that a CEO made 50x the average worker, now it’s 500x. The 1%’s income has tripled but for those at
the bottom income has not gone up at all in the last 30 years. I support paid family leave, increasing
social security benefits, student loans, a “pay it forward / pay it back”
system for student loan repayment, reinstating the cash assistance program that
Gov. Corbett cut, and restoring Adult BASIC, also cut by Gov. Corbett.
BB: It is an economic
fact that the 1% in American are doing better than ever, but the middle class
lost income. It is the only time in
American history that at the end of 10 years the middle class income went
down. The first thing I would do is raise
the minimum wage, which would raise wages for all. Secondly, legislation to attack
discrimination against the long term unemployed. Look at the under and unemployed. The bill says you can’t discriminate against
the long term unemployed. Right now you
see job ads that say anyone unemployed for a certain length of time should not
apply. Thirdly, CNN says the majority of
those in congress are millionaires, for the first time in American
history.
VA: I see
consequences every day. Moms who can’t
buy healthy food, pay the rent, pay for transportation. The 13th congressional district
has the 3rd highest unemployment rate in PA. Let’s raise the minimum wage; Obama plans to
make it $10.10, the living wage for a single adult. The living wage for an adult and a child is $19K
/ year. Tax rates for the wealthy are
the lowest in history. It will be a hard
fight. We need to help people at
home. It will take all of us
together.
Q: Long-term
unemployment
BB: Tea Party
Republicans have done a disservice to the US by putting a singular focus on the
deficit, not unemployment. The deficit
is 50% lower today than when Barack Obama took office, near the historic
norm. We should focus on getting people
back to work. Increase the minimum wage. Focus on infrastructure. This is the United States. We should have high speed rail, etc. I have stood up to the Tea Party that
demonizes government.
VA: I saw opportunity
pass by when they passed the most recent budget and didn’t pass unemployment
insurance. We need to go back to the country my dad grew
up in. He was in World War II and took
advantage of the GI Bill. We need to
restore investments in our country in the long run. Infrastructure, roads, SEPTA. I see patients who can’t get to the doctor
because Paratransit doesn’t service a wide enough area. Expand Medicare already.
DL: Develop a better
microphone moving structure [blogger’s note:
he is referring to the fact that all three candidates had to share one
microphone that they had to pass around; since Leach was sitting in the middle
he always had to hand the microphone around].
Corbett and Medicare – Corbett was confronted by a man who brother had
died because he couldn’t get a transplant because he didn’t have
insurance. Corbett said no. The GOP thinks the poor and unemployed are at
fault. The old economy is not coming back. We need a new economy. Green technology. The New York Times reported that even Coca
Cola is getting involved – they can’t find the water they need to make their
product around the world.
Infrastructure. Do big things
again.
Q: health care. Obamacare – some glitches. What can Congress do? Are you in favor of single payer?
VA: “Glitches” is
being generous. The rollout of the ACA
was fraught with disaster. It is slowly
getting on track. I’ve been watching
this play out since I started going to Washington, DC in 2008. We need to get governors to expand Medicaid
or go to the public option. Need to make
it less expensive. Look at Medicare
prescription drug program. We need to
negotiate prices, which Bush made illegal.
I would support [bill #], which is single payer.
DL: I’ve been
thinking about health care a lot because I have kidney stones. All big programs have rough rollouts. Medicare Part D had a trouble rollout. I support single payer. Twenty cents out of every dollar goes to executive
salaries. Single payer will happen. The right wants to chuck Obamacare because
they know single payer is coming.
BB: Most
industrialized countries spend 8 – 9% of their GDP on health care; we spend 19%
and will have 50 million uninsured. We
spend more for less benefits and lower results.
The GOP says let’s have a 45th vote to defund it. I support the president but am disappointed
that his program did not include public option.
People are happy with Medicare.
It is part of an evolution. Now the
government is forbidden to negotiate for drug prices. We could save billions of dollars.
Q: national security, NSA and domestic surveillance. Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor?
DL: Benjamin Franklin
said if we give up liberty for security we deserve neither. Civil liberties is important to me. No evidence that the collection of data has
helped with national security. Snowden –
the facts he revealed are important but I’m troubled that every 28 year old
with a security clearance to decides on his own whether or not to reveal
classified information. Martin Luther
King said don’t follow unjust laws but stay and face the consequences of what
you’ve done.
BB: Yes, it is the
Letter from Birmingham, not Notes from Russia.
Why in a FISA court procedure is there no public advocate. Having a public advocate would help keep FISA
court honest. From the start of the use
there has been tension between security and liberty. Post 9/11 it has gone too far. Snowden – we don’t’ know yet what he has
revealed because he left.
VA: As a doctor I
know privacy and trust is important . We
have the right to believe our government will treat our information the
same. The nature of threats are evolving
so rapidly. Total failure of
congress to insist on appropriate
transparency. Barack Obama took the
first steps. I want public advocate on
every single case. Rules on what we
should be doing not what we can be doing.
Snowden – had to break the law to show what we are doing. There should be a pathway for people to do
that.
Q: Iran and nukes,
support sanctions? Divest in Israel
because of occupied territories?
BB: The movement to
delegitimize Israel is anti-Semitic.
Can’t compare Apartheid and Israel.
I was in Israel in March. I want
the peace process to succeed but divestiture and boycotts are not good. How can you boycott Israel and not the other
Middle Eastern countries because of their treatment of women? Sanctions [missed this]
VA: Iran must be
prevented from making bomb. Israel
must be secure. Negotiate with Iran
because the sanctions are working. We must give the negotiators a chance to do
the right thing by lessening the sanctions.
We can reinstate them if negotiations don’t work. Nothing Iran says will dismantle bomb-making
equipment. No divestment from Israel.
DL: As a young Jewish
boy with the last name Leach I heard some things. Jewish people need a place for
sanctuary. I’ve been to Israel, once
with Brendan Boyle, though not just the two of us, that would be creepy. Boycott – no.
Israel is the only Middle Eastern county that supports women. Negotiate in good faith. I don’t believe war is the only option. I’m willing to go the extra mile to prevent
American boys and girls from going to war.
We can always reinstate sanctions.
Q: energy &
fracking? Moratorium? Go slow until we get it right? Keystone pipeline?
VA: I am opposed to
the Keystone pipeline. I was born and
raised in Nebraska, and know how important the Oglala Aquifer is. I view the struggle with energy and
environment as our generation’s moon shot.
Surely we can figure out how to end dependence on carbon based energy. Fracking – congress ignores data and
facts. Let’s get rid of the Halliburton
Loophole. Fracking release methane, which
is a bad as carbon dioxide.
DL: I read Silent
Spring as a boy and became an environmentalist.
I introduced a bill for a moratorium.
It must be environmentally sound.
We are building wells and cutting inspectors. We are not allowed to know what chemicals are
used. Doctors can know but are not
allowed to tell patients or insurance companies. Corbett has said I’m his least favorite
senator. I oppose the Keystone
Pipeline. It doesn’t create jobs, only
profits for industry.
BB: We must include
climate change. I’m in the Green Caucus,
and joined 12 academics for an event.
Pennsylvania produces 1% of the nation’s pollution. The ten hottest years on record all happened
in this century. The environment is a
health and economic issue. The National
Caucus of Environmental Legislators meets a few times a year. It is a false dichotomy to say we have to
choose between the environment and economic growth.
Q: War on drugs
DL: In introduced a
bill to legalize marijuana, but not for kids.
We are spending $300M a year on criminal justice [missed this
word]. $500M spent on marijuana. Every dollar of legal money on pot is one
dollar less for gangs or a cartel.
Corbett wants to increase by 10 times the number of places to buy
alcohol but no marijuana for sick kids.
BB: Drugs are a
problem in Northeast Philadelphia where I grew up. Urban neighborhoods are destroyed. States are laboratories of democracy. Let’s see what happens in Colorado, etc. Medical marijuana – I co-sponsored the bill.
VA: The war on drugs
became a war on our neighborhoods. No
effects. Lifelong difficulties for
non-violent offenses. Mandatory minimums
must go. Need to solve poverty. Don’t let selling drugs be the most viable
career path. Make treatment programs
available. Support medical
marijuana. Will let us collect data to
decide about recreating marijuana. As a
doctor I’m hesitant about inhaling any burning substance in the lungs.
Audience Question:
Common Core Standards. Public Schools. Vouchers.
BB: My wife is a
public school teacher. We just had our
first baby three weeks ago. I’m proud of
my record on public education. I voted
against Corbett’s budgets. For 80% - 90%
of school districts things are going well.
In school where I grew up the graduation rate is 30%. We can’t deny those parents additional opportunities.
VA: Education is a
fundamental right, and it fuels innovation and growth. Have dropped the ball entirely. I went to public schools. Teachers let me believe I could become a
doctor. I favor universal pre-k. Teaching children to be lifelong learners not
test takers. My kids – not about memorizing
tests but learning context. They go to a
private school, following their father’s tradition. No public school money for private school.
DL: I led the fight
against the voucher bill. Only kids
eligible were in failing schools. Took
money from public schools to private schools.
Kids left have less resources.
Vouchers are not enough to go to most private schools, only Catholic
schools, money goes to the diocese. Can’t
teach with 50 kids in a class, or no computers.
Use funding formula.
BB: Let’s be
clear. I have stood up and voted for
every single public school bill. The
problems in the Philadelphia schools are budget related. There was a single mom crying in my office
because her neighborhood school is dangerous.
The Main Line can’t tell urban parents their kids can’t have the same
opportunities.
VA: Against vouchers.
DL: I live on the
Main Life. My kids should not be part of
this debate. Where they go to school is
my and my wife’s concern.
Audience Q: If you
accomplish one thing what would it be?
VA: Make sure
everyone in the US has access to quality health care and to get health care
costs under control. Study – if people
don’t have good health care access the chances of graduating from high school,
so does life expectancy. 30% of the
money spent on health care is unnecessary, unnecessary testing, duplicate tests.
DL: Gerrymandering,
destroying our country [long answer that I was not able to accurately
record]. Political incentive to govern
by crisis. If the concern is a primary
challenge then no incentive to reach across the aisle. Our elections becoming like Soviet elections.
BB: Hope to get to
vote for a Democratic Speaker. Raising
the standard of living for all Americans.
In Pennsylvania we have the Delaware Loophole, 70% of Pennsylvania
companies pay no taxes. Get back to
where we all grow together.
Audience Q: Social
security, Medicare. Marjorie Margolies
was asked about cuts and said everything is on the table.
DL: Social Security
is FDR’s most valuable program. Before
Social Security 50% of seniors lived in poverty. Have to make promise believable. The chained cpi is a way to cut
benefits. We need ecpi (elderly cpi) to
keep Social Security vibrant. Remove the
cap on the amount of income taxed for Social Security. Need to increase benefits. If we lift or remove the cap we could make
lump sum payments to retirees, especially as pensions are going away.
BB: Disagree with
Mrs. Margolies on this. Before Social
Security poverty among seniors was 46%, not 6%.
This is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs. The Republicans fought against Social
Security. GOP says to save Social
Security we will reduce benefits and raise the retirement age. Years ago there were only two advocates for
raising the age to 70, Marjorie Margolies and Rick Santorum. Lifting the cap moves the problem to year
2100.
VA: Social Security
is a promise to seniors. With Medicare
it allows seniors to live with dignity.
In the 13th district the average annual Social Security
benefit is $14K. Don’t use chained cpi
but chained cpie, it includes money spent on health care. When my dad grew up there were defined
pensions. Recently people have to forgo
that. Raise the cap to fund Social
Security well into the future.
Closing Statements
DL: When I heard that
Allyson Schwartz wasn’t running again I thought “is this right for me? Am I the right person?” The candidate must be a progressive, have a
substantial record, evidence of creativity, boldness, spark and take on
problems. I am that person.
BB: Thanks to
everyone, including 2 of the 3 opponents for being here. Be sure the candidate truly represents the
district. Fight to restore the American
dream. Work hard, play by the rules, and
you will have opportunities and your children will have more.
VA: Thanks. Whoever wins the primary must be sure a
progressive Democrat represents the district.
Change comes from outside. For a
physician the patient comes first.
Constituents will be like my patients; they will come first. Elect me and I will have Daylin’s and
Brendan’s backs.
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