It has taken quite awhile to get these debate notes written up. Some weeks ago I attended a 13th congressional district debate featuring 3 Democratic and 1 Republican candidates. Initially questions were aimed at one candidate but later questions were opened up to all the candidates. There was not a moderator per se, and many questions came from the audience.
As always, this is not intended to be a transcript but are merely notes I took during the debate. I have made an effort to capture the gist of questions and answers but interested voters are encouraged to contact individual campaigns with questions. My apologies in advance for any errors or misconceptions.
Willow Grove NAACP 13th Congressional Debate
March 17, 2014
First Baptist Church of Crestmont
Candidates:
Dr. Val Arkoosh (D)
Dee Adcock (R)
Opening Statement [arrived late and missed some of these]
Q1: to BB, about
legislation on protection from abuse orders
BB: I introduced a 5
bill package changing responses to domestic violence (92% of domestic violence
victims are female). Good friend of mine
and my chief of staff victimized. Today
we make a victim render service to her attacker with protection from abuse
order. The bottom line – make it easier
for victims to come forward. Among women
aged 15-44 domestic violence is a leading cause of death. Every other day in PA a woman died because of
domestic violence. The bill is moving
forward. Majority of homeless are women,
women with children are often homeless because of domestic violence.
Q2: to DL, people who live around here more often
unemployed, between 1940 and 1980 5K in prison, 1990 [missed these stats]
DL: Sen. Greenleaf
and I passed Justice Reinvestment Act, stop putting people in prison for
marijuana arrests. Decimating minority
employment. American used to think
big. The governor negotiated with
Grover Norquist over what would be acceptable transportation funding. New economy is green technology.
Q3 to VA, public education
VA: Education is the
most important thing we can do.
Distressed by education cuts. DC
should not do unfunded mandates. NCLB
does nothing. Teachers need
flexibility. Raising a generation that
can take tests but can’t learn. Respect
teachers. Be careful of new common
core. Money going to private testing companies,
get that money back to the classroom.
Make sure kids don’t come to school hungry. Mandatory pre-K.
Q4 to BB, education, early education, achievement gap
BB: I introduced
legislation for free pre-K programs and make kindergarten mandatory. Only 5% of 3 year olds have access to
pre-K. The return on investment on
public dollars is best for early education.
The federal government has not made proper investment in education. Why can’t we have more leadership in DC. Falling behind other countries.
Q5 for DA: voter id,
what should federal role be
DA: Important that
every voter be able to vote. Determined
by states. Cautious of feds determining
state rules. There should be some level
of id. 18 year olds need id to buy
cigarettes. Doing something as important
as voting, we should be able to prove who is voting.
DL: Fed has huge role
in fighting voter suppression. They
voted against the Voting Rights Act. No
evidence that people impersonate others at the voting booth. ID is usually driver’s license. Easily identifiable demographic groups don’t
have a driver’s license – poor, elderly, students, who usually vote Democratic.
BB: People have shed
blood for the right to vote. Major
problem in PA is too few people are voting.
In minority with no form of early voting or same day registration. States that have done this sine the 1970’s
have no evidence of voter fraud.
VA: Voting is most
fundamental activity we can do as Americans.
Move election day to weekends.
Q6: support US Postal
Service and 6 day delivery?
DA: as described
would support USPS
VA: Support USPS and
6 day / week delivery
DL: Support USPS, up
until 1967 the post office did simple banking.
Poor people use check cashing agencies, payday loans. Let USPS do what they used to do.
BB: The 2006 law has
manufactured this crisis; without that law the USPS produces a profit.
Q7: US lead in reducing
greenhouse gases?
All: yes
Q8: Support or oppose
Keystone XL:
DA: support
VA: oppose
DL: oppose
BB: oppose
Q9: 1 year universal
military service
DL: oppose, but
support universal public service
VA: oppose, but do
think we need to address that most in the military do so for economic reasons,
children of Congress not serving. Make
sure vets can get jobs.
DA: could support
universal service not military, concerns of infringing on individual liberties
and freedoms.
BB: could support
universal service, liked Americorp.
Imagine public as part of free college education.
Q10: partisanship,
compromise
BB: It is a serious
and distressing problem. First Democrat
elected in my district. Formed, with
some GOP (Tom Murt and others), a legislative group for Eastern Montco and NE
Philly. Let’s pick out a few areas where
we do agree and work together, such as transportation.
DL: I too have tried
to find opportunities to work together, for example medical marijuana for kids
(epilepsy) with a Republican. Passed
B-corp bill with Senator White.
Difficult, moreso, in Congress.
Here’s why – gerrymandering. Only
person who matters is the person who draws the map.
VA: Gerrymandering is
a state problem not in Congress.
Congress partisan gridlock. I was
there recently working on the Affordable Care Act. Women in House get together in bipartisan
fashion to work on women’s issues. Also,
there are 17 doctors in the House but they do not gather in a bipartisan
group.
DA: Gerrymandering –
I agree. Look for mutual goals. Only restriction – can’t conflict with
fundamental beliefs or principles.
Social security / medicare not properly funded.
Q11: alcohol
privatization in PA
VA: current state
liquor store system provides living wage jobs.
Keep current system.
DL: Voted against
liquor privatization. $500 million comes
to the state, where would we get that money from? Corbett won’t let sick kids have medical
marijuana but wants it to be easier to get alcohol. Don’t believe in privatization.
BB: On House liquor
control committee. I was against the
plan to privatize. It makes no sense
economically. It brings in $522 million
in revenue. Tom Corbett wants to sell
them off for $1 billion. It didn’t make
sense from a public health perspective.
MADD and the police chiefs organization are against it. PA has the fewest alcohol related deaths in
the nation. Part of an effort to
demonize the public sector. Before
social security 46% of seniors lives in poverty, now [missed this] %.
DA: Social Security
enacted in the Depression. I do believe
in the private sector. Like to have a
government run at the local level as much as possible. Liquor is still a state issue. Let the state decide. Government is an expense. It consumes wealth.
Q12: diversity
BB: This is
enormously important. I grew up in a
diverse neighborhood, and I’ve always had a diverse staff. In my office we’ve helped 12,000 people.
DL: I grew up Jewish
but don’t have a Jewish last name or
Jewish appearance. I could health
things, discrimination is still a huge problem.
I watched the civil rights movement on tv. It is still a battle, for LGBT equality.
VA: I grew up in a
community almost entirely white. I
wanted to be a doctor even though my mom asked who would marry me if I
became a doctor. I worked in inner city hospitals and
universities. Data is staggering between
care for people fo color and mor affluent areas. People just want a fair shot at the American
dream.
DA: All men are
created equal.
Q13: term limits
DA: I’m with ya! Already had my career so can’t be a career
politician. Terms between 12 and 18
years.
VA: yes, in current
gerrymandered system. If open elections
we won’t need them.
DL: Against. In states with them there is a disaster. You end up with a Speaker of the House who
has been in office just 4 years. I
shouldn’t tell people they can’t have the representative they want.
BB: I ran against a
20 year incumbent. I’m opposed to term
limits. Artificial limit on democracy. Right cause wrong cure. Need campaign finance reform. For public finance system and clean
money. The Citizens United destructive
effect.
Closing Statements
BB: Thanks. All believe in American dream. Work hard, play by the rules, opportunity to
do better than our parents. In past 10
years the average middle class family is worse off. The gap between 1% and 99% greater than at
any point in the nation’s history.
Making less than 10 years ago with $60K in student debt. Elect people of integrity and intelligence
who have studied the issues.
DL: Thanks. If I were voting I’d want a Congressional
representative who was progressive, have a record to evaluate them on. I’d want someone willing to fight for lost
causes, someone with vision and creativity.
I’ve demonstrated that over 12 years in office and before than an
activist. Threat to democracy in
Citizens United and voter id, tipping point of climate change, your zip code
determines your life, gun violence
VA: Thanks. I took an oath to always put patients
first. I was an economics major in
college. In the late 1990’s I took over
chairmanship of department, just as Allegheny Bank went under. The department was in debt, and I turned it
around. 17% of GNP spent on health
care. I am the only candidates with
recent experience in Washington DC. I
will draw on that experience to be effective in Congress. No Congressperson does it by themselves. It takes all of us.
DA: Thanks. I’m the one person here who is a
businessman. I looked at the national
debt. Afraid for the future of the
U.S. In favor of term limits, can run
again after out of office for a few years.
I’m a job creator. Fiscal policy
that makes sense. All about the American
dream.
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