On April 7th I attended a debate for the Democratic candidates for the 13th congressional district, held on the Penn State Abington campus. I took notes and have typed them up for this post. (I had typed them up earlier but the file was inadvertently deleted; thus the delay). These are rough notes and by no means intended as a transcript. I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions. As always, interested voters are encouraged to contact the campaigns with any questions or concerns.
A few personal observations are at the end.
Candidates:
Moderator: Dave
Davies
Questions: moderator
questions to all and one question specific to each candidate, questions not
known in advance; audience questions, and closing statements
Abington Township Commissioner Steve Kline gives the ground
rules, and introduces the moderator and candidates
Q1: influencing
educational policy
VA: Thanks to
all. Education is personal. I went to public schools in Nebraska. The cuts here have been devastating to
education. Sequestration cut $3
Million. The Ryan budget cuts [missed
the number] Billion more. We need early
childhood education. We need to untie
teacher’s hands – now they teach to the test.
College must be affordable.
Advocate for federal government not to make money from student loans.
BB: Thanks to
all. Very first bill I introduced was
modeled on the Arkansas Hope Scholarships.
Still paying off my student loans.
A national crisis. Pennsylvania has
excellent public colleges and universities.
Pres. Obama says funding formula tied to affordability. Other end – universal pre-k. Only 5% of 3 year olds and 14% of 4 year olds
are in pre-k.
DL: Thanks to
all. I’m a product of public education,
and went to 8 elementary schools. In the
legislation my first request was to be on the education committee. I lead efforts to fight vouchers, etc. I fought the bill that would have required
school districts to pay for charter schools but no decision making ability to
decide if they want them. Your zipcode
should not determine the quality of your education. College – the pay it back / pay it forward,
caps payments by percentage by percentage of income.
MM: Thanks to
all. Agree with others. Oppose privatization. Edison schools in Philadelphia didn’t
work. Universal pre-k. New higher education models.
Q to Daylin Leach:
You are called the liberal lion of Pennsylvania. Voters want someone to get things done. Your achievement record?
DL: Legislation for
ovarian / breast cancer screening.
Republicans took the idea. Passed
D Corp legislation. Bill to allow
medical marijuana was co-sponsored by the most conservative Republican in the Senate. Passed bill so pregnant prisoners are not
shackled in childbirth. Also times to
stand and fight – right to choose, voting rights.
Q2: Social
security. Any adjustments to benefits or
age? What should be done?
BB: Important to add
context. Social security to pay benefits
and run a surplus, could last 28 years.
Problem begins in 2042. Lift FICA
cap to historic average. Currently
$100K, lower than past if adjusted for inflation.
DL: Marjorie
Margolies introduced legislation to eliminate COLAs for 80%, raise age to
70. A few weeks ago said ask rich to
voluntarily pay more. Agree with B Boyle
to raise FICA cap. Use e-COLA not
COLA. Agree with Senator Elizabeth
Warren, give seniors a modest sum on retirement to pay bills. Private pensions being reduced. People relying more and more and social
security.
MM: 20 years ago
Pres. Clinton came to an entitlement seminar here, everything on the
table. Do not agree with raising retirement
age. Must raise cap to $500K.
VA: Social security and
medicare are lifelines. Must be there
for our seniors. CIE important, more
realistic way to calculate market basket for seniors. Raise FICA tax. Totality of benefits. In 13th district [missed this
number] families receive [missed this number].
Deeply committed to this issue.
Endorsed by the National Committee to Protect Social Security.
Q to Brendan
Boyle: Voted for new restrictions on
abortion clinics. Position?
BB: Fully support Roe
v Wade. Tragic mistake to make criminals
out of women or doctors. GOP offensive
with they talk flippantly of rape. At 37
my views are different than when I was in my 20s. Last election I was one of the targets for a
national pro-life group. In my
legislative career I voted with Planned Parenthood in 12 of 14 votes. I voted for that bill because it required annual
health inspections, to prevent future Gosnells.
Q3: Leadership
skills. Moment from professional life
DL: First, the PA
Supreme Court was 4-3 GOP. One justice
left, so it was 3-3. Corbett gets to
appoint the replacement justice. I went
to the caucus, got them to agree. Sent a
list of 5 names, said Dems would agree to appoint any of them. 5 GOP that people thought would be fair. Corbett picked 1 (Cory Stevens). Secondly I stood my ground, and the bill was
passed.
MM: I adopted two
foreign children. It was illegal for
single women to adopt so one came in as a student. In Congress I had a working relationship with
the majority leader when there wer more than 40 women in Congress we got
together, came up with a list of 4 issues to work on, including sexual harassment.
The Clinton budget – voted to push it
over, voted out of office because of it, but it was the right thing to do.
VA: I was the chair of
the Dept of Anesthesiology at Drexel, had multi-million dollar budget
deficit. I was an economics major in
college. I made decisions and got budget
under control. As president of the
National Physicians Alliance I was working on the Affordable Care Act and a
proponent of single payer. When the last
Sen. Kennedy bill was in the senate we couldn’t get single payer but keep
going.
BB: Five years ago
when elected I was the first Democrat in that district. On the state government committee, a
controversial bill, a non-discrimination bill.
I was surprised it wasn’t already illegal. I received over 1,000 emails, 99% disagreed
with the bill but I voted for it anyway.
It passed the house but not the senate.
Q4: Name a public
figure you admire, a role model
MM: Elizabeth Warren,
for banking regulations
VA: Donna Edwards,
Congresswoman, progressive, brings people together
BB: Daniel Patrick
Moynihan, brings ideas to the public arena, got them passed
DL: William Brennan,
Supreme Court Justice
Q for Marjorie Margolies:
You were in charge of a non-profit, Women’s Campaign International, in
2001 there was a vote for a salary increase, some discussion of renovating a
Fairmount Park mansion that you might live in
MM: did not vote for
my own salary. Park wanted to rent
houses to ngos [non-governmental agencies].
A plan was prepared but it never happened, just discussed. [Reads from Inquirer articles which says her
salary was comparable to other organizations]
Q5: Foreign
policy. Proper use of American
power. Syria, Ukraine.
VA: Significant
challenges. Distilled down to dependence
on oil or natural gas. Europeans get
natural gas from Russia. Europe is not
responding to the crisis. US needs to
move away from dependence on foreign oil, etc.
US needs to get everyone to the table.
Last resort is to go in with troops.
Rule – be an arbiter for democracy.
BB: From World War 2
to 1990/91 the Cold War is the prism to look through. Now post-Cold War era. Deal with national states sponsoring
terrorism. Putin has nostalgia for
USSR. NATO – hard to keep together in
post – Cold War era. Work with NATO,
nation’s chip in and help. Preserve trans-Atlantic
relationship. Let’s not be lulled into a
false sense of security.
DL: We’ve been too
anxious to go to war. Self-defense
necessary and legitimate role. Recent
conflicts been of choice. Less stable
countries quicker to go to war. Russia –
we are facing different situation. Put
seems unstable. If he goes in what do we
do? Dividends of ending Cold War at
risk. Hope Putin walks back.
MM: Condemn
annexation of Crimea. Support
sanctions. Hope allies step in. Part of delegation that went to the Ukraine
before the Orange Revolution. Protestors
said they wanted independence. I was President
of Womens Campaign International. US
should invest in more human capital. Get
women to the table.
Q to Valerie Arkoosh:
You said you are not a politician.
Can you build political relationships?
VA: Congress is full
of career politicians, not getting the job done. Lived in district 17(?) years, involved in
community. Have patients from NorthEast
Philadelphia. Unique policy
background. I have a degree in economics
and also in public health. My natural
constituencies are women and bipartisan issues.
The GOP has a doctors caucus. It
has 14 Republicans. There are 3
Democrats but they still don’t have a bipartisan caucus. There are no women doctors in Congress. I am uniquely qualified.
Q6: tough job,
fundraising. Will you be there for your
constituents?
BB: It is an
overlooked aspect of this job. When I
took office in 2008 it was important to have top notch constituent service. In the state house I ranked second in
constituent service (my brother Kevin is ranked first). I take the job seriously. It can be difficult.
DL: Gerrymandering is
an evil. The 13th
congressional district is not one that requires constant fundraising. I have amazing constituent service. I love engaging with people, debating. We can solve gerrymandering at the national
level, with a constitutional amendment.
MM: I have kept in
touch with Congress, can get things done on Day 1. Women.
I get lots of funding, including Dept of Defense for advocacy
training. Government shutdown, women got
together and made it stop.
VA: Actions speak
louder than words. I recruited a diverse
campaign team. They have health
insurance. I’ve shown up for all the
debates and public opportunity. I’ve
gotten to know so many incredible people in the 13th.
Audience questions
Q7: Immigration, path
to citizenship
DL: Strong supporter
of immigration reform, moral, economic and security issue
MM Senate passed path
to citizenship. Never brought up in the House. Important economic issue.
VA: My
great-grandparents immigrated here to work on the railroads. Support DREAM Act. Re-examine deportation policies. Expand guest worker and visa program.
BB: Nation of
immigrants. My father was an
immigrant. Some of the language at the
national level is incendiary. Fix broken
illegal and legal immigration system.
Ting part of Tea Party is preventing action on this.
Q8: gun violence
MM: I was there when
Congress passed the assault weapons ban and Brady bill. Look at violence in schools and Gabby
Giffords. Must stop being afraid of the
NRA.
VA: Spend countless
nights trying to keep people alive. 90%
of the public supports sensible regulations.
Close background check loophole, assault weapons, etc. heart aches for family of 11 year old shot by
2 year old in Philadelphia.
BB: Endorsed by
Philadelphia FOP. In Philadelphia 50% of
guns from straw purchase. Need robust
lost and stolen provision.
DL: Debate this a lot.
Went to Hershey to fire guns and see what it is like. Some people shouldn’t have guns. Some weapons no civilian needs. One gun a month.
Q9: Supreme Court,
political contributions. Will you accept
any money?
VA: Campaign finance
is critical. Spigot is wide open for
wealth to influence. Need constitutional
amendment. Need transparency. Big fan of public financing. Small donations tax deductible. Federal matching. 98% of the money I raised is from individual
donors.
BB: Recent decision similar to Citizens United. Central failing is the fact that the majority
of the Supreme Court justices equate money with freedom of speech. Need constitutional amendment. Play by the rules of the game.
DL: Citizens’ United
single worst decision of the last 100 years.
Political system bought and paid for.
Running for Congress all you do is raise money. Terrible, unpleasant, and undignified.
MM: Why wait for a law to pass. Ask all not to accept independent
expenditures, Super PACs.
Closing statements
DL: What would I want
as a Congressman? Someone with a record
of consistency, plus a spark, compassion, willingness to fight for lost
causes. Progressive champion. Existential things that we hold dear. Right to vote. Climate change. Income inequality. Major fights.
Little people need a champion. Won’t
win every battle but will fight every battle.
MM: Little that
separates the candidates. My time in
Congress and work with Women’s Campaign International will make me a much more
effective candidate. I am 100%
pro-choice. [takes shots at Boyle over
choice and his view that no millionaires in Congress – citing Ted
Kennedy]. Disagrees with Daylin Leach on
legalizing recreational marijuana, citing case of murderer high on
marijuana. Daylin Leach badmouths Steny
Hoyer. Steny is a friend of mine and
effective. Val Arkoosh – [something
about single payer].
VA: I have experience
working on health care. DC is full of
career politicians. Need an ally not
just a representative. More than health
care candidate. Health candidate. Oppose vouchers and charter schools. Environment.
Access to quality affordable health care. There is a way to get things done in
Washington. Doctors bring people
together to solve problems.
BB: A candidate has
the benefit of a famous relative. My dad
is a DEPTA janitor, worked at a warehouse before that. Work ethic.
Race not about Bill Clinton but Frank Boyle and others like him. Income equality. Need a change in Washington.
Personal observations:
Mrs. Margolies spoke with some difficulty -- she had a sore throat. That may be why she read several of her answers off of cards. She misunderstood one of the questions, about how the candidates would stay in touch with constituents. She talked about her connections to Congresss. Her remark about recreational marijuana use leading to murder got some laughs.
Sen. Leach noted that he likes to engage people and debate. I can vouch for that.
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