2010 Interview Series

Three candidates asked to do email interviews but only two returned the questions with answers. I am open to doing more of these but do appreciate it when people actually follow through.

Doug Pike, Democratic primary candidate for 6th congressional district, March, 2010

Dan Onorato, Democratic candidate for Governor, Oct, 2010

An Interview with Dan Onorato

Dan Onorato is the Democratic candidate for governor. He is currently the Executive of Allegheny County, the second most populous area of the state. Note this from Wikipedia:

The city [Pittsburgh] has redeveloped abandoned industrial sites with new housing, shopping and offices, such as The Waterfront and the SouthSide Works. While Pittsburgh faced an economic crisis in the 1980s as the regional steel industry waned,[16] modern Pittsburgh is economically strong.[17] The housing market is relatively stable despite a national subprime mortgage crisis, and Pittsburgh added jobs in 2008 even as the national economy entered a significant jobs recession.[18]

Mr. Onorato was kind enough to answer some questions recently. Some of the questions are based on the policy statements on his website, others on more standard research. Where possible links are provided so interested readers can find more information.

This is an open race; there is no incumbent.

In your policy on government reform you call for an end to WAMs, those grants legislators bring home to their district for local projects. How are you defining a WAM – is it all grants from the Dept. of Community and Economic Development? All funds from another source? How is a WAM different from any other state funding for recreation, economic development, public / private partnership?

There are plenty of grants that go to good programs – like libraries, community centers and job-training programs. The problem with WAMs is the process. There’s no oversight, no transparency, and no accountability. The Legislature simply approves a pot of money, and a few people control, in secret, how it gets spent – that’s a WAM. We need full transparency. If money is being set aside for a specific group or project, it should receive an up-or-down vote after legislators and the public are able to review it.

On the Eastern side of the state we’ve only heard snippets of news about the North Shore Connector trolley tunnel, cost overages and construction delays. What’s the story on that?

I’m glad you asked, because it’s important to get the facts out there. The North Shore Connector is a project that was put in place long before I took office and was championed by the Republican who I defeated. Plans were started in 1999, and the federal government gave their approval to spend money on it in 2002. I wanted to use the federal funding for a different transportation project, but by the time I took office in January 2004, we had just two choices: either continue the North Shore Connector project or reject the federal funding and see that money – and the jobs it would bring – sent to another region of the country. And ending the project would have actually cost our taxpayers more money, since we would have had to pay back the federal government for everything it spent. I inherited this project, but I’m carrying it out in a way that protects the local taxpayers and makes sure that it helps with the economic revitalization of Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

In several of your policy statements you reference the economic impact of the arts and culture, but also the importance of public / private partnerships. As one example, do you consider the privatization of the National Aviary (formerly Pittsburgh Aviary) to have been successful?

Yes – when I was on Pittsburgh City Council in the 1990’s, we spun-off some of our region’s incredible assets like the Aviary in order to better enable them to raise private funds and market themselves to the world. I’m pleased with the success of the National Aviary and other cultural institutions – they help make the Pittsburgh region a great place to live and a destination spot for tourism.

The cap on electric rates ends at the end of this year. PECO recently said their expected price increase will be about 10%, which is less than expected. Will that change any of your views on energy? (“Peco electric rates to rise less than 10% under settlement,” by Andrew Maykuth, Inquirer 9/01/2010, also policy on sustainability)

As the rate caps have come off throughout the state, many consumers and businesses have faced sharply higher rates – which is a real burden in these tough times. By the time the next Governor takes office, the rate caps will be off everywhere. I want to focus on how we can keep our energy supply affordable and reliable, and at the same time expand our use of alternative and renewable energy. Solar power, wind power and natural gas can play a big role in Pennsylvania’s future along with our traditional energy sources.

If you could create the perfect scenario for state government interaction (such as taxation and regulation) with the Marcellus shale industry, what would it look like?

The Marcellus shale can be a powerful economic engine for the Commonwealth – creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, providing affordable clean energy and spurring new business creation. But it must be done right or we will lose out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Getting it right means two things: We need to make sure Pennsylvanians get the jobs that the industry creates. And we need to protect our communities and the environment.

That’s the difference between me and Tom Corbett. I know that we can – and must – do both, because that is exactly how I’ve run Pennsylvania’s second-largest county. But Tom Corbett sees only one side of the issue: the industry’s side. Tom Corbett thinks these drillers should be allowed to police themselves; I don’t. Tom Corbett thinks the taxpayers should foot the bill to clean up and protect the environment; I think the drillers should pay for it.

That is why I support a competitive severance tax, which I would prioritize for three purposes:
• to create an Impact Fund that provides resources to the local communities that are impacted by Marcellus shale extraction, including to address the wear-and-tear on local infrastructure;
• to reverse the cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection’s operations and to ensure that the agency has adequate resources to effectively and efficiently regulate Marcellus shale development; and
• to fund Growing Greener 3 – an extension of the state’s essential environmental conservation and preservation programs.

You call for an independent commission to redraw legislative districts after the 2010 census. What factors do you think should be taken into account when redistricting and how would you form that commission?

I support a Constitutional amendment that establishes an independent commission for redistricting in order to get politics out of the process. District boundaries should be compact and contiguous – instead of the gerrymandered seats that too often simply protect incumbents from competition. There are several good idea for how to form the commission and I will work with longtime supporters of the idea on how to structure it. For me, the most important factors are that the members have complete independence and represent a diverse set of backgrounds and viewpoints.

You are quoted as saying you’d like to cut the cost of the state house by 20%. How would like to see those cuts made and would you want to see the state senate make similar cuts?

I’ve called for cutting the size and the cost of the Legislature to achieve a 20% reduction in their operating costs. That target applies to the House and the Senate combined. There are many ways to achieve that goal and I’m open to any of them. What’s most important is that we end our status as the most expensive Legislature in the country and restore the confidence of our citizens.

You eliminated 500 county jobs in 2004, most through a buyout or attrition but some through layoffs, and another 200 jobs in 2007, again primarily through buyouts or attrition but some layoffs (“County to cut 79 workers by Jan. 1,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 7, 2007). Do you plan to take similar action with state workers if you are elected governor?

When I took office as Allegheny County Executive, we were facing a deficit and had to make county government live within its means. I made the tough decisions necessary to balance the budget without raising taxes, which included consolidating services and reducing our payroll. As Governor, I will make state government more efficient and consider all the opportunities for saving money so we can balance the budget. As I’ve often said, we should start by eliminating the Legislature’s $200 million surplus and putting that money back in the budget.

In your first campaign for city council in Pittsburgh in 1990 you talked about reviewing taxes that discourage development. In this campaign you have also talked about business taxes. Being an accountant and having studied this issue for about 20 years, what do you think is the optimal structure for corporate taxes?

The biggest challenge we face on business taxes is that Pennsylvania’s Corporate Net Income Tax is the second-highest in the nation. That is a red flag that prevents companies from deciding to invest in Pennsylvania and hire our workers. I’ve proposed a business tax reform plan that would reduce that rate, make other reforms to modernize the tax structure, and pay for these changes by closing business tax loopholes.

Your first executive order as County Executive was to direct all departments to make diversity a priority. (Source: “Onorato exec order makes diversity priority,” by Sonya M. Toler New Pittsburgh Courier. May 09, 2004) You’ve also included creating an inclusive environment in the workplace (economic development policy) and expanding the political pipeline by appointing more women and minorities to boards and commission (government reform policy). Do you see this as more of an economic issue or a social issue?

It’s both an economic issue and simply the right way to govern. I’m proud to run the most diverse administration in Allegheny County history. When all of our citizens have their voices heard by government, we can be most effective in meeting the needs of our constituents and ensuring that government is truly serving their interests. In the business world, we know that most new hires come from small businesses, and women- and minority-owned firms make up the fastest-growing segment of small business owners. When those firms succeed, it means more jobs and more economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.

How do you balance the need for funding public mass transit in urban areas, the cost of new technologies like high speed rail, and the need to repair aging infrastructure, especially bridges?

We need to look at the big picture and have a comprehensive approach to infrastructure that addresses all of those issues. That is what I’ve supported as Allegheny County Executive, and as Governor I will work to make sure we’re using all of our existing transportation funds efficiently, pursue public-private partnerships and consider dedicated funding – including trying to increase federal resources for Pennsylvania transportation projects.

The governor can’t rule by fiat, how would you persuade the state house and senate to go along with your ideas?

I’m the only candidate who has experience running a government and working with a legislative body to accomplish my goals. I’ve gotten six balanced budgets passed through County Council without ever raising property taxes, and I was successful in winning approval of my reform plan to consolidate 10 elected row offices into four. I’m calling for a lot of tough changes, and I will use the bully pulpit to help win approval of my plans. Most importantly, I have the voters on my side and I know that together we can convince the Legislature.

There are several very detailed policy statements on your website. How did the campaign develop those? Did you sketch out your views and have someone else write the full policy?

I’ve been dealing with a lot of these issues for a long time through my experience in city and county government and as a certified public accountant and lawyer, all of which have helped me develop my priorities and views. As a candidate, I’ve also had the benefit of traveling the state and meeting great people from various backgrounds and professions who have provided input into my policy statements.

As a husband and father, how do you balance the demands of public life with the demands of family?

What I enjoy most is spending time with my family. If I’m not working, you’re likely to find me at one of my children’s sports events or with my extended family. We’re a very close family, and while I truly enjoy campaigning, the hardest part is that I’m away from home more frequently. We’re able to stay in constant touch thanks to all the technology at our fingertips.


My thanks to Mr. Onorato for taking the time to answer these questions.

Interview with Doug Pike, Democratic Candidate for the 6th Congresstional District

Doug Pike is one of two Democratic candidates for the 6th congressional district. Incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach decided to run for governor, thus making the 6th an open seat. Gerlach later changed his mind and is now running for re-election.

Pike was on the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer for many years, and worked as a journalist for most of his life. He also served on the board of a hospital in New York. I've had the opportunity to say "hello" to Mr. Pike a couple of times but no extended conversations and so cannot offer any personal observations. His answers, though, are intriguing. I especially liked his response to the question on manufacturing in the 6th district.

A few months ago I posted an interview with the other Democrat running for the 6th district. This is the first time I've interviewed two people campaigning for the same office. In the interest of fairness I've asked Mr. Pike some of the same questions about the district that I asked the other candidate.

A significant amount of the money you had raised by the end of Sept. was self-financing. How much of your own money are you willing to spend on the campaign?



We recently reported over $1.1 million cash-on-hand, which represents over 1400 contributions as well as the grassroots support of many hard working Democratic families here in Pennsylvania. I am willing to invest at least $1 million of my life savings because we need to turn this seat blue.

This is shaping up to be a tough election year and Jim Gerlach is a career politician who will be difficult to beat. Our party needs a nominee with the resources to be competitive with Jim Gerlach; otherwise, Gerlach will continue going down to Washington to vote against our Democratic values. The truth is that even leaving aside self-contributions, I’ve raised more money from other people than any other Democratic candidate in the race. We need a candidate who not only supports our Democratic values, but who has a strong enough campaign to beat Jim Gerlach and bring those values to Washington.

Several of the editorials published under your name in Inquirer indicate a fiscal conservatism. Is my impression of this accurate? If elected would you ally yourself with the Blue Dog Coalition?

I would say that I am a progressive deficit hawk – not a Blue Dog. As an opinion writer I attacked the wasteful and misguided priorities of the Republicans in Congress like Gerlach who endorsed the borrow-and-spend policies of Republican President George W. Bush and Halliburton’s contribution to the team: Vice President Dick Cheney. Here is an excerpt of an 2006 Inquirer column of mine:

“George W. Bush couldn't have made such a mess of things for the last six years without reliable support from Republicans in Congress. He and GOP lawmakers were strongly united on invading Iraq, tilting tax relief toward the wealthy, exploding the national debt, letting the minimum wage wilt to inflation, and much more.”

A strong public option will keep health care costs down. While many Blue Dogs supported the Stupak Amendment, I spoke out against its untenable restrictions on a woman’s right to get health care – and that’s what choice is all about: the right of woman to make decisions about and have access to health care. I spoke out at the time and will continue to stand up for women’s rights.

Tell us what role you played as a board member for the South Oaks Hospital on Long Island and what effect that might have on your health care views.

As a board member for a total of 15 years I have first-hand experience in dealing with the problems plaguing our health care system, such as insurance companies whose main goal was profit maximization, not patient care. The board of directors helped our dedicated doctors and nurses deliver quality care despite the intrusiveness of health insurance companies. As our former Senator Harris Wofford said in 1991: If criminals have the right to a lawyer, every American should have the right to a doctor.

When my brother Rob developed cancer five years ago, problems with our health care system hit home. Although he’s been fighting ever since and it has been an ordeal for his wife, their kids, and our entire family, my brother has been relatively lucky: He has health insurance – unlike millions of Americans. We should all have access to affordable, quality health care. In Washington, I’ll fight for that, no matter how much resistance is put up by the Republicans and the special interests.

While you were on the board was South Oaks a full service hospital, with an ER and staff physicians or was it geared more towards specific health services?

This well-respected hospital specializes in treating patients for mental illness, substance abuse and eating disorders.

Journalist and hospital board member seems an odd combination. What qualified you for the hospital board work?

Most strong corporate and community boards benefit from having people with various backgrounds as active participants. My journalistic experience at asking tough questions helped me to guide the institution to safeguard patient care quality at a time of financial pressures.

The biography on your website lists types of work and years in that field but can you tell us where you lived and worked when?

I came to Pennsylvania almost 23 years ago for my dream job on the Editorial Board at the Inquirer. So I have lived here for most of my adult life. I spent 5 years in Florida at the Orlando Sentinel and 5 years in DC doing freelance writing and working for U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas. Pennsylvania is my home and I am not leaving.

Tell us some of items that would be in your ideal health care bill.

Fixing our broken health care system should be one of the top priorities of Congress. If I am elected, I can guarantee that it will be one of my top priorities.

For real reform, we need to see several changes. First, we absolutely need a strong public option. This is the only way to create real competition and to bring down the skyrocketing costs of health insurance. Second, we need to bar private insurers from disqualifying people from coverage based on pre-existing conditions. This practice has gone on far too long, and it has cost the lives of men, women and children. Third, we need to transition over to electronic health records. Studies have shown that a fully-electronic health record system will both lower the cost of medical care and increase the safety of care though automatic warnings that are triggered if, for instance, a doctor accidentally prescribed a drug that the patient was allergic to. Finally, to make it a truly ideal bill, we need to take a holistic look at our overall health care delivery system. We need to focus on the areas where our system is weak. This would include transitioning from a system where we manage disease to a system where we manage a person's health. This focus on improving and maintaining the health of all Americans will not only reduce the burden on our health care system and save money, but it would also allow the next generation to live happier, healthier, and longer lives. To do this, we need to put a much stronger emphasis on preventative medicine, routine checkups, and the efficient and routine delivery of health care services to all Americans. When your doctor says you need a checkup, we want you to get a checkup! In fact, getting that checkup is the patriotic thing to do – good for you, good for your country!

There is a school of thought that the government should bail out or support newspapers in some way. What is your opinion on that?


Let’s be realistic, the era of hard-copy home-delivery newspaper dominance is over. In this digital/internet age, as you well know, information delivery systems are changing rapidly: from cable news and e-mails, to texts, to tweets. Newspaper “presses” are going to end up in museums everywhere so that those who hope for some sort of bailout for the newspaper business wait in vain. In the years ahead the newsgathering and distribution business may be supported through nonprofit enterprises in the same way that National Public Radio has survived. Preserving an informed citizenry is critical for a democratic society. Preserving access to information and facilitating free speech are constitutional imperatives; however, saving profit-making enterprises that have not been able to adapt is not the role of government.

On your website you talk about closing tax loopholes. What are two tax reforms you would champion if elected?

1. Eliminate the tax incentive for companies to shift jobs overseas.

2. Restore a federal tax on the estates of the wealthiest 1% of all Americans. Eliminating this progressive tax for 2010 only was a gimmick that we cannot afford.

How do you balance a need for new energy sources against, say, local residents who don’t want windmills blocking their view?

I understand the importance of aesthetic values and the feelings of those who fear that windmills will block views, kill birds, and diminish property values. Not everyone loves the look of solar collectors on rooftops nor do they want to cut down their trees to expose roof-tops to the sun.

However, we do need to encourage the development and use of renewable energy sources while recognizing that for any number of reasons not every location is appropriate of the production of wind or solar or geo-thermal energy.

I support research and development of storage and transfer systems for renewable energy sources. As you know, most industrial wind turbines don’t even begin producing energy until the wind blows fairly fast, so that windmills should to be built in areas that average at least 10 mph much of the time in order to effectively and reliably produce energy. There are not many places in Southeastern Pennsylvania that are that windy every day just as major solar installations are probably most suitable for development in the southwestern part of the United States where there are more sunny days, fewer leafy trees, and less snow to move off of roof-tops so that the solar collectors can work year round. We need an alternative energy and clean jobs revolution, but for now, our neck of the woods is best suited for the intellectual effort: laboratory-based research, design, and development for the multiple aspects associated with the transition from the fossil fuels to new energy sources.

In the meantime, each and every one of us can work on recycling and energy efficiency in our homes and when using our cars. Support for quality education and research is critical in this regard. The key is encouraging kids to think out of the box, to study math and science, and to become responsible adults who understand how to conserve and save finite resources while using renewable resources efficiently.

Manufacturing is the 6th largest industry in the district; with your emphasis on new technologies and green jobs, do you see this industrial base as growing or shrinking?

Our manufacturing base can and should be growing! We have tremendous intellectual talent in the 6th District at our fantastic local colleges and universities. We need to encourage this extraordinary talent pool to innovate. New technology and green jobs can to be developed and products produced right here in existing facilities in our own back yard.

Moreover, we have enough retired executive talent available in this District to help start-ups get going. These individuals can bring a world of expertise to young entrepreneurs. We can build a senior service corps to help with mentoring, business development, and problem solving. There is no reason we can’t make this region a green technology and manufacturing center.

The 6th district is oddly shaped and often mentioned as one that might be re-made or disappear entirely in the redistricting after the 2010 census. Are you concerned about running for a seat that might not be there in 2012?

I’m running because we cannot afford even one more term with Congressman Gerlach in office – the hard-working people of the 6th District deserve better. I would not be investing my time and energy in this race if I did not believe that it is important for all Americans to help me get Jim Gerlach out of our Congressional seat.

I will be very different from Gerlach. Here are 3 examples:

1. I’ll never vote for a pay raise. I’ll never accept a pay raise.

2. I won’t take government health care coverage until Congress has made quality, affordable health care available to every American. How can Gerlach take generous taxpayer-paid health care insurance while obstructing quality, affordable health care coverage for all Americans?

3. Instead of having a press secretary to polish my image the way Gerlach does, I’ll hire a 6th District Economic Development Specialist who will work directly with local businesses and organizations to build our economy right here at home.

Tourism is a small industry in the 6th district. Would you like to see this grow and if so how would you encourage tourism in the area?

We can better promote our historic sites, charming communities, and great restaurants. Our outstanding colleges and universities are great venues for educational tourism by life long learners. We can promote opportunities to welcome visitors of all ages from all over the world who want to see America as it really is: charming, caring communities of concerned citizens. Regional rail can bring people to our shopping centers and antique stores. I see new opportunities for tourism as our population grows older and wants to visit Valley Forge, Philadelphia, and other locales where the American dream took root.

Having been a journalist in Philadelphia for so many years you must know a few good stories about local politicos. Any chance you would share a juicy tidbit or two?

Let’s get together sometime and we’ll swap some stories, reporter to reporter.

What question didn’t I ask that you would like to answer?

The question of the day is, "Why are you the best candidate to face Jim Gerlach in the general election?" It's a question that I hear every day from voters and one that deserves a clear, straightforward answer. Without question, Jim Gerlach has been a disaster for this district. For 7 years he has sat on the House Financial Services Committee and stood silently by as the special interests and the Republican Party drove our economy into the ditch. All the while he was collecting over $1.6 million dollars from the special interests in finance, real estate and insurance. He is a poster child for what is wrong in D.C. I will be a different kind of Congressman. I have spent my career fighting against excess and waste in Washington – and insider deals that always leave the middle class out. I'm not seeking election because of the glory or perks. I'm running because I want to fight for the people of the 6th District.

But let’s face it, Jim Gerlach is a tough guy to beat. In order to do it, I'll need to create clear contrasts between my record and Jim Gerlach's record. I'm ready to do that. I have a team in place, working full time, ready to execute our campaign plan. And most importantly, in this day and age, it costs millions of dollars to run an effective campaign. I've got a warchest of over $1.1 million, the backing of 15 labor unions, and the grassroots financial support of over 1400 individual contributions.

We are organized, we are well-funded, and we are ready to hold Jim Gerlach accountable for his disastrous tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives.

My thanks for Doug Pike for taking the time to answer questions.

Just as an aside, let me note for my reporter friends, that I have a very health respect for what they do, and I consider myself a blogger, not a reporter. However, I am very flattered that Mr. Pike would put me in that category.

Interview with Dr. Manan Trivedi, Democratic Candidate for the 6th Congresstional District

Dr. Manan Trivedi is one of two Democratic candidates for the 6th congressional district. This is an open seat as the incumbent, Jim Gerlach, has decided to run for governor. Dr. Trivedi grew up in Berks County, went to medical school, served in the Navy with one of the first battalions to cross into Iraq in 2003. He campaigned for Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. Dr. Trivedi is currently a primary care physician in Reading.

Recently Dr. Trivedi was kind enough to do an interview via email. I found his answers to be thoughtful and show curiosity and compassion. Perhaps my favorite passage in the interview was his response to my question on the future of the 6th district, not of the people but the shape of the district, given that redistricting will take place after next year's census. He said, in part:

This race is not about my long-term career goals or ambitions - and when you serve in our nation's armed forces, you quickly learn that nothing is guaranteed in life. There are many serious challenges facing our nation that need immediate attention. All that I am focused on is earning the opportunity to represent the 6th so that I can do my part to make things better. If I'm fortunate enough to earn a victory in this election, I will remain focused on representing the best interests of my constituents

I've had the opportunity to meet and speak briefly with Dr. Trivedi once and found him to be soft spoken but confident, quick, with an air of intelligence but not arrogant. It is difficult to really gauge a person after one short exchange but he is one of the few candidates I've met that I would like to really talk with. Not only would he have a lot of interesting stories to tell but I think he would be an excellent conversationalist as well.

On your website you say you will fight for quality affordable healthcare for all. Does this include a mandate that everyone must have insurance?

I believe that an individual mandate is the best way to assure healthcare coverage for all Americans. However, I am opposed to such a mandate if Americans do not have an alternative to choose outside of private insurance. Without a public option, a mandate would force Americans into paying whatever the private insurance industry wants them to.

You talk about investing in community health. What exactly do you mean by that and what role would Congress play in your view?

What I mean by community health is the things we do every day to stay healthy and avoid illness and chronic disease. I believe we need to focus on health and wellness every day—not just the days we are at the doctor’s office or the hospital. There are many ways that Congress can help increase our investment in community health. And, I should add, I truly believe this investment would pay for itself in the long-term by producing a healthier populace and decrease costs of healthcare overall. Some examples include modernizing and expanding our public health departments, having more local and national health education campaigns on wellness and preventive medicine and assuring that health promotion programs in schools and worksites are fully funded.

One suggestion that has been made for health care reform is allowing insurance companies to work across state lines. As a doctor, do you think that would be a solution or cause more problems?

While this solution sounds good, the problem with this is that different states have very different rules and regulations on private insurance. Legislation that has been proposed to allow insurance companies to work across state lines allows insurance companies to adopt the lowest standards of any state they operate in and apply them across the board. This would, in effect, dismantle years of work some states have done to assure that insurance companies act somewhat responsibly in their coverage of patients.

Your wife has a very impressive resume in her own right, and, having run for a student government office in college, has more actual electoral experience than you do. What, if any, role will she play in your campaign?

Surekha is not only impressive on paper, but in person as well. I am lucky to have a wife and best friend who is so smart, talented, and supportive. She is quite engaged with the campaign and will continue to be. Her insight and instincts have already proven to be very helpful. I feel fortunate to have a person of Surekha's character and wisdom to support me, challenge me, and make me a better candidate.

Manufacturing is the 6th largest industry in the district; with your emphasis on new technologies and green jobs, do you see this industrial base as growing or shrinking?

If we can get a true investment in alternative energy and clean manufacturing jobs, I see this industrial base as growing. When we hear about President Obama's new Green Economy, it's important to define what that specifically means for my friends, family, and neighbors who I've grown up with here in the 6th District. The people in the 6th are smart and they're hard workers. We have more than enough talent to address the challenges at hand. As a nation, we must adapt to changing times, and here in the 6th, that may mean developing new skills or building upon old ones - either way, I'm confident that with the right leaders in Washington, we'll make the necessary adjustments and bring home the necessary resources to build a new, innovative, green and long-lasting industrial base for many years to come.

The 6th district is oddly shaped and often mentioned as one that might be re-made or disappear entirely in the redistricting after the 2010 census. Are you concerned about running for a seat that might not be there in 2012?

No. This race is not about my long-term career goals or ambitions - and when you serve in our nation's armed forces, you quickly learn that nothing is guaranteed in life. There are many serious challenges facing our nation that need immediate attention. All that I am focused on is earning the opportunity to represent the 6th so that I can do my part to make things better. If I'm fortunate enough to earn a victory in this election, I will remain focused on representing the best interests of my constituents.

Tourism is a small industry in the 6th district. Would you like to see this grow and if so how would you encourage tourism in the area?

I definitely would like to see the tourism industry grow here. The 6th District is a great place to live and visit -- from French Creek and Marsh Creek State Parks to the Reading Public Museum and the great shopping and restaurants in Lower Merion, there are so many wonderful attractions in the 6th District.

One of the most important factors that must be addressed to encourage tourism in the area is our need for better public transportation throughout some of the more rural parts of the district - this would encourage tourism and create jobs. It's been discussed in the past, but we need leaders with the political will to make it happen.

Your mother campaigned for Obama in the 2008 election and, when phone banking, encountered some resistance, presumably because of her accent. While Indian Americans are playing a more visible political role in the country (example: Bobby Jindal), have you heard any untoward comments regarding your background?

No, I have not heard of or know of any negative comments regarding my India American ethnicity. I am grateful for my heritage and I am active in Indian American cultural activities. At the same time, I am a proud American and dedicated to service. These are not mutually exclusive. In fact, that blending of cultures, ideas and ancestries is what makes America great. I think people, in this day and age, recognize that.

In late 2007 you wrote this on the Asian American Action Fund blog:

Most of us are sons and daughters of immigrants if not immigrants ourselves. We contribute in so many ways to make this nation, our nation, great. We need our stories to become part of the immigration debate. We need to make it evident that if the Tancredo wing of the Republican party was in control, America would be a lot less well-off. If, thirty years ago, we adopted the policies that Tancredo and his cronies are now pushing for, think of how different America would be. Forget about the technology boom in the late 90s. And wipe away the massive advances in medicine and research over the last two decades. Plus, you could virtually kiss the science and math departments of our major universities good-bye, just to name a few.

If elected to congress what reforms would you work for?

I would work towards streamlining the process for visa applicants who have job skills in sectors where the U.S. has a labor shortage (agriculture, medicine, engineering, science, etc.). Right now there are too many hurdles and red tape to go through for those who want to be productive members of American society and work in needed areas of the job market.

On your website you write about the need for public transit. Would you see this as more of a regional effort or a municipal effort within cities and towns in the 6th?

I believe the entire country needs a better, more robust public transportation system. This would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, decrease our carbon emissions and unclog our highways. The 6th district would greatly benefit from a better public transit. In particular, I am strongly in favor of a rail system along the Schuylkill expressway that would diminish traffic on this congested corridor and better connect Philadelphia with its surrounding communities in Montgomery, Chester and Berks Counties.

You were part of a team that worked on a Rand report on post-traumatic stress disorder, and one topic discussed in particular was the need to lessen the stigma attached to soldiers and their families who ask for help. How would you accomplish this?

Stigma is clearly one of the biggest problems in this realm and our research confirmed this. I think simply talking about mental health problems more openly and investing more in research in this topic is a strong step in the right direction. However, to truly get to the heart of this problem, we need more education and training programs for our military leaders—officers and senior enlisted—so they can understand and recognize problems early, be more accepting of mental health diagnoses and more willing to allow their men and women serving under them to get checked out when there are concerns.

The Reading Hospital and Medical Center is the district’s largest employer. Vanguard is another large employer. What would you say to the management and workers at these places to encourage them to support you?

First of all, I would say that I relate to them because I am one of them – I work as a doctor at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center. So for my co-workers at the hospital I would ask for their support because I recognize firsthand the inefficiencies in the healthcare system. We all spend too much time on administrative tasks and non-patient care related issues and not enough time on the things that really matter—making sure that our patients get better. Supporting me will assure that meaningful health reform initiatives will be led by someone who truly understands healthcare from the inside.

For those at Vanguard, I would ask for their support because I recognize that our economic recovery and the revitalization of the financial industry sector relies on the creation of new and sustainable jobs. That is what one of my main focuses would be as a Congressman.

While serving in Iraq you offered medical care to injured Iraqis who had been involved in a firefight that left one of your fellow soldiers dead. Is there an analogy here to bipartisanship or was that a peculiarity of being a doctor in battle?

During my time in Iraq I treated fellow Marines, Coalition forces, Iraqi civilians and enemy prisoners of war. This was the right thing to do. Under our mission and Department of Defense orders, we provided care to those who needed it under no prejudice or reservation. War is a horrible thing but even in the grimmest times I think it is important to maintain humanity. This is what separates us from our enemies and what makes our country so great.

What exactly did you do as a health policy advisor to the Obama campaign?

I did whatever they needed me to do. Initially, I helped narrow the focus on the key healthcare issues that were going to be relevant in the campaign and assisted with the writing of articles on health reform. Later, I transitioned into leading the healthcare op-ed rollout in Pennsylvania and provided region-specific healthcare information to those that needed it. I also assisted with the field and GOTV [get out the vote] efforts in Berks County and the greater southeastern PA region.

Other than raising money what do you see as the greatest challenge in this campaign?

I feel if voters get to know me, hear my story and learn of my background and dedication to service that I can overcome any challenge – financial or otherwise.

What question didn’t I ask that you would like to answer?

Several people have asked me why I did not announce my candidacy earlier. Until August 31st, I was on active-duty with the U.S. Navy and wanted to make sure that I adhered to the regulations set forth by the Department of Defense for political activity. I have great respect for the U.S. Navy and am honored that I had the opportunity to serve. I would have never done anything to tarnish that.”

My thanks to Dr. Trivedi for taking the time to answer my questions.

A Look Back at Interviews

In compiling the list of 2008 interviews I also did a quick analysis of the interview procedures over the past three years. It isn't good from a time management standpoint.

Fourteen interviews were published in 2006. There were four other sets of interview questions sent out that did not come back. I will take responsibility for two of those -- arrangements were made too close to the relevant election in one case and in the other I was too slow in getting questions out. The other two just didn't send the questions back with answers. So out of 16 question sets sent out, 14 came back. That's not really bad odds.

It was a little different in 2007. I sent out six question sets and five came back, a much lower percentage.

This year it got worse. I sent out eight question sets and five came back. Clearly the trend is against me.

Unless I am extremely familiar with the person being interviewed it takes eight to 10 hours to research the candidate / official / whomever to come up with relevant, intelligent questions. That's a lot of time, and it's wasted when those questions go unanswered.

The basic process is that, once there is an agreement on an interview, I compile and email questions. After six or eight weeks I send a reminder email, with two more reminders at three or four week intervals. After that I assume there was a breakdown in communications somewhere or they've changed their minds or the campaign just became too crazed time-wise and good intentions fell through. I haven't posted the names of people who stiffed me for interviews; it's not my way.

It might be easier to just sit down with people and ask them questions in person but that really isn't feasible for someone who writes under a pseudonym. And, personally, I like to see the longer answers that usually come through on email. Also, that provides a transparent view of the candidate's answers, without me as a filter (other than obvious spelling errors what you see is what I was sent). It also makes me uncomfortable to try and interpret someone else's thoughts. Journalists are trained in that; I am not.

The gist of this rant is that someone is going to have to be awfully convincing as far as their ability and interest in returning answers before any more questions go out. The interviews are fun and I enjoy doing them, but it just isn't an effective use of my time when so few people respond.

2008 Interview Series

This was a sparse year for interviews, with a total of five.

Betsy Meyers (of Obama for America) (4/08)

Mary Caraccioli of CN8 (8/08)

Robert Traynham of CN8 (9/08). This interview was in 3 parts due to the focus of the questions. The link is to part 3; it has links to parts 1 and 2.

John Linder, Democratic candidate for the 9th state senate district


Lynn Doyle of CN8

Interview with Lynn Doyle

Lynn Doyle, host and producer of "It's Your Call" on CN8, was willing to answer some interview questions. Doyle also serves as CN8's political director and will be providing post-debate analysis this evening following the last presidential debate. Doyle has won 9 Emmys. She has worked in television for 25 years but prior to that she was a print journalist.


You once worked as a spokeswoman for a Maryland governor, and also worked in corporate communications. How has that internal political experience and corporate experience informed and influenced your work as a journalist?

It’s given me exposure to a different perspective in terms of communicating with the public. What I mean is that journalists are trying to get the information in a timely fashion because they’re up against deadlines. When you’re on the other side, you have to accommodate those needs -- but at the same time you have to control those needs.

I think I was successful working for the governor because I appreciated the deadlines of a journalist, since I had been one. I knew TV needed a live shot and reporters wanted a sound bite. They loved working with me because I had been there. I had insight into the other side.

The Comcast Newsmakers, a brief segment that highlights local projects or groups, is reportedly an idea you brought with you from Maryland . Tell us one or two of your favorite Newsmaker stories.

I co-created the concept with my husband in 1985, who was GM of the system at the time. He wanted to take advantage of Turner's opportunity, and I figured out the format. CNN Headline News gave cable operators five minutes to talk about local issues. In Baltimore it was first called “Up Close.”

The idea was to give people a local version of headline news – what was happening with their leaders. It’s been a monumental success, and Comcast now uses this all over the country.

One of the first interviews I did in that format was with a young member of the House of Delegates in Maryland named Bob Ehrlich, who had little exposure to TV. Years later I ended up interviewing him again when he was the governor of Maryland .

I also had to interview the chairman of the Baltimore County Council, who controlled the franchise for cable television -- it was my father! I often had to interview him and do so in a way that the average person would not know we were related.

The very first Newsmakers I did in New Jersey in 1995 was with the mayor (Louis DeBell of Roseland) whose concern was goose poop. So my first interview in N.J. was how to control the geese population on the soccer fields and keep the kids from being exposed to E. coli. When he started explaining that it was a community health concern, I understood the subject matter.

Who picks the topics for It’s Your Call? How involved are you personally in the selection of guests?

I generally pick the topics for the program and, of course, am open to suggestions from staff and member of the public. I ultimately make the final decision. After 13 years, I obviously have guests I’m comfortable with and familiar with. If I feel there are certain people that can speak to a topic, I suggest them. Producers always find new guests; however, I’m involved in every inch of the show.

To ask you the same question that has been asked of someone else recently, what magazines and newspapers do you regularly read? What other information sources to you read, listen to or view regularly?

I read everything I can get my hands on. I watch the Today Show every morning to start my day off with what’s happened. I read two or three newspapers every day, People magazine, TIME magazine, sports …and the National Enquirer. If you write it, I’ll read it. I like it all. I haven’t gotten into blogging, but am being exposed to it by younger staff members

Your husband, who had been the Eastern Division president, recently left CN8. Having worked for the same company many years, is your household adjusting to the change?

Yes, between us we have 51 years of service to Comcast, so it will always be a huge part of our lives. Having said that, it’s a very exciting time for him to be presented with new opportunities and explore them.

Having worked in print journalism and then moved to broadcast, what do you see as the future of newspapers?

It will be very challenging for newspapers in the format that we are accustomed to; news is instantaneous now. There are 24/7 news channels. As for the Internet, people are breaking stories on it and TV is pulling them from there. I think we’re going to see more in-depth, subject matter-oriented newspapers versus “breaking news” newspapers. That will involve more expensive and involved investigative reporting.

This year we have a woman running for vice president and a woman who almost made it to the top of the ticket. What women do you see waiting in the wings to run nationally in the next few years?

You can’t count Hillary out again; obviously, she’s going to watch the results over the next four years. You can’t rule out Nancy Pelosi. Or Sarah Palin. Those are three that come to mind -- they are the three most predominant. As for Diane Feinstein, you just never know.

How satisfied are you with the diversity and breadth of the people who call your show or send in e-mail questions / comments? Who isn’t calling in that you would like to hear from?

I’m pretty happy with the diversity. I do think we hear from men, women and different races and nationalities. I’m more than satisfied and enormously pleased with the diversity. I just want more to call in! Young people call depending upon the topic.

If you could change three things about Pennsylvania state government, what would they be?

I wish Harrisburg was a bit closer because then I might run for office!

What are the pros and cons of the debate formats we have seen -- the traditional podium-based, questions from the moderator, versus the town hall forum with questions from the audience and e-mail?

The pro of any debate is that you get to hear from the candidates on the specific issues that are important. They’re on the spot and they need to address concerns.

The con is that the way it’s been, follow up is minimal because time is limited. The town hall debate was very constrained; quite frankly, the candidates did not stray from message. There hasn’t been enough follow up and interaction from the moderators. There’s a blatant disregard for rules and the timing. Town hall attendees weren’t allowed to follow up on their questions. The candidates should have to answer to those people.

If you could ask the electorate to do one thing, besides vote, what would it be?

I would ask people to accept the decision -- whatever it happens to be -- with dignity and unity as a democracy, instead of with divisiveness and the blame game.

We have to remember we’re all Americans. Democracy means someone will have to lose.

Unite, unify and work in a bipartisan way.

My thanks to Lynn Doyle for taking the time to answer questions.

Interview with John Linder

John Linder is the Democratic candidate for the 9th state senate district, which encompasses the city of Chester, Chadds Ford, and areas in between. He describes it in this way:

In many ways, the 9th District is as diverse as America itself. It is home to farmers, to working class families, inner city residents, and suburban households. The diverse lives of our community-members are reflected in their diverse needs. This means that representing the 9th District poses unique challenges. I believe, however, that the right candidate can turn these challenges into opportunities, opportunities to address the issues that cut across our differences and unite us as Pennsylvanians and as Americans.

Mr. Linder is an educator and community activist. If you would like more information, there are issue statements, photos, and video on his website, www.linder08.com. He kindly took time out of his schedule to answer some questions.

What in your background would make you an effective state senator from day one?

I hold a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Sciences from Widener University and a Master’s in Higher Education and Counseling from Kutztown University. My professional work includes extensive experience in human services and human resource development--and, of course, as a Professor of Social Sciences. I believe that what all this means practically is that I work with people well. I believe I will be able to listen to and understand the needs of those in my district, and that I will be able to negotiate with leaders in Harrisburg to have those needs met.

You served on the Chester Redevelopment Authority for four years. What are one or two of the outcomes of that service that you are most proud of?

I was appointed the the Chester Redevelopment Authority specifically to address H.U.D.’s decision to take federal funding away from Chester. H.U.D. did this because the administration before us was very corrupt and was using the money inappropriately. H.U.D. initially said it was supposed to take at least five years for us to do what we needed to do to win the trust and money back. We did it in one year. In one year we reestablished the credibility of our government agencies for economic development and reestablished guidelines that increased minority contractor participation. Not only did we get the money back into the city, but we saw to it that the local community benefited from and was able to take advantage of the funds.

Tell us about the radio show you used to have, "It's All About Chester."

“It’s All About Chester” was meant to give the public a voice on the airwaves. It was centered around specific issues relating to Chester and the surrounding area. The format was a talk show with interviews and call in guests--similar to the show Marty Moss-Coane does out of Philly--”Radio Times”. I had a great time as its host.

Is the Village Charter School you helped found affiliated with other schools with the same name?

No.

As a school administrator, what do you think of statewide tests, such as the PSSA? Are teachers "teaching to the test" and emphasizing subjects on the test (such as reading and math) at the expense of subject areas that aren't (such as history)?

PSSA, while I believe it succeeds as an objective measure of how well our schools are teaching our children, we must use caution in our interpretation of its results. The test is able to tell us if students have or haven’t learned a particular subject, but it can’t tell us why they have or haven’t. To truly interpret the results, you must take into account socioeconomic factors, cultural factors, family-life factors, etc.

Preparing students to take the PSSA takes many forms and levels of intensity. Teachers in some districts must “skill and drill,” and expose students to the test. However, there must still be a focus on other areas and and grade appropriate content.

You are an educator also trained in family therapy, what can the government do to improve the strength of families in the 9th state senate district?

While I am not a family therapist, I have had some training and lots of experience working with families--especially in education. I see some consistent issues for many working families. If a student has special needs or is having behavioral problems, the parents need time to come to the schools and meet with educators. They need training to learn how to deal with their children’s needs. It’s difficult for families with two working parents to find the necessary time and money. I believe the state and federal gov’t can build incentives such as tax credits for companies and businesses to assist parents who need to acquire family therapy for their children.

What are you learning from residents as you go door to door?

People want to be listened to by their legislators. Reciprocal communication is very poor and even nonexistent in some cases. “This is the first time anyone has ever come to my door,” I hear over and over. People want to be heard. Whether people are from West Nottingham or Marcus Hook there is a common bond of issues: people want affordable health care, strong schools and some kind of relief from increasing energy bills.

You are a professor at Delaware County Community College and also a school headmaster. How do you manage both jobs?

Very well, thank you! However, I’ve taken a leave from the Headmaster role so I can campaign.

The 9th state senate district is very diverse, with wealthy areas and areas with low incomes. How do you represent such differing priorities? (See map)

My campaign over the past 9 months has been an educational opportunity for me. Traveling to each area, speaking to the residents about their concerns is the only way to truly find out what people need from their government. As Senator, I would continue this dialogue by holding a town hall each month in a different municipality.

What don't you like about campaigning?

For a challenger running a grassroots campaign, fundraising can be difficult. At times I find it counter productive to what I think ought to be my first task: learning what future-constituents want and planning how to meet their needs.

Nepotism and conflict of interest are often tripping points for candidates and elected officials. Are any of your family members employed by any government bodies within the 9th state senate district or by the state?

Not to my knowledge.

If all things were possible what you like to see happen in the city of Chester?

While I appreciate that the question is specific to Chester City, as Senator I must focus on the people of the entire 9th Senatorial District. The people are bound together by needs, some cutting across the district, some area-specific. I would like to see quality education be a priority everywhere, and I would like to see the state pay its fair share of the funding. I would like to pass PA-ABC and find ways to provide affordable health care to even more Pennsylvanians. I would like the people of the 9th to have a Senator that will respect them, listen to them, and work hard for them.

When I was born and raised in Chester it was a beautiful, thriving city full of opportunity. Chester can be that way again, but the city needs leadership that is willing to put human development at the forefront. It must occur either simultaneously or prior to economic development. Right now the latter is all we have happening. It isn’t and won’t be enough. Right now what you have is a stage set for gentrification, not revitalization.

Flooding is a serious issue for parts of the 9th state senate district. What, if anything, do you think the legislature can do to help prevent personal loss and property damage from floods?

As Senator I would work with local municipalities to support “buffer zones” around all waterways throughout the entire 9th District. Also, “Run-off” has to be dealt with better in all community/municipal planning.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

1. Help establish a consistent, long-range funding plan for public education in PA.
2. Help continue initiatives for quality affordable health care beginning with PA-ABC.
3. Environmental and energy issues ranging from HB2200 to land usage.

What question didn't I ask that you would like to answer?

Campaigns are often viewed as more difficult for the challenger than the incumbent. Is your race competitive?

Yes.

I receive this question often and I understand where it comes from. My opponent is the Senate Majority Leader, arguably the second most powerful person in the state after the Governor. This year, he has used that power to block health care for working adults, to block energy reform that would save families money, and to block a future of fair education funding for our children.

His position also means that he has the ability to run a very expensive campaign--which is exactly what he's doing. I take that as a great compliment. He now has a TV ad for the first time in any of his campaigns. He is buying up full page ads in newspapers. He has purchased many, many billboards here in Chester City. Not only do I consider my bid competitive - he does.

What he hasn't been doing is spending time with the public, meeting voters and connecting with his constituency. I have. My staff and I have knocked on thousands of doors and made thousands of phone calls. We are working tirelessly to make sure that when I get into office, I will know what is on the minds of voters from Chester City to West Nottingham, from Parkesburg to Media.

There is a difference in the way we are running our campaigns, not only because there is a difference in our resources, but because we are different kinds of candidate. I encourage everyone concerned about local politics to come see how much of a difference at our first debate at Riddle Village in Middletown. Time and date tba - please visit www.linder08.com for future updates.


Thank you, Mr. Linder!

Interview with Robert Traynham (Part 3 of 3)

This is the third and last part of my three part interview with Robert Traynham – Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief and Host, “Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham” – CN8, The Comcast Network. Part 1, general questions, appeared in August. Part 2, on the Democratic National Convention, appeared earlier this month. These questions pertain to the Republican National Convention.

On the Sept. 5th Washington Week in Review Gwen Ifill said that at the Republican National Convention people actually shook their fists at her in anger at the press. Did you see or hear anything similar?

I did not see that. There were however a ton of people at the Republican National Convention who openly talked about their disdain for the press. They mentioned one network in particular in chants. It’s probably not appropriate for me to go any further.

How well do you think the Republican vice presidential candidate was vetted before the announcement was made?

I don’t know, and it will be interesting to see how much interaction Senator McCain actually had with Governor Palin. I suspect that we will find out sooner rather than later. But hey, there is a thing called love at first sight and for some people, there is an instant connectivity when you first meet someone. I suspect that Senator McCain and Governor Palin hit it off instantly.

Were there any questions at the convention on the background image used during McCain’s speech? (It was of a middle school in California.)

Yes, there where a ton of questions about the backdrop – why the school? Why the cornfield? I must admit it was distracting for the first 3 minutes of the speech.

Renee Amoore, Pennsylvania businesswoman and current deputy chair of the state Republican party, spoke at this year’s RNC, chaired the state delegation in 2004, and conducted the roll call of the states in 2000. Is it unusual for someone with her position in politics to have had such national exposure? How much national influence does she wield? (“Clout” Philadelphia Daily News 9/04/08)

Renee is a very talented and savvy person. She is connected and she has the right touch when it comes to playing in the politics sandbox and also being a savvy businesswoman.

At one of the conventions you were televised having a conversation with someone in French. How many languages do you speak?

Really? I did not know anyone picked up on that. I can read and speak French conversationally. I understand Spanish but cannot speak it very well. I also speak some Italian.

What surprised you the most about the Republican National Convention?

The reaction to Sarah Palin. Many think she is the next Margaret Thatcher. We shall see.

Interview with Robert Traynham (Part 2 of 3)

This is the second part of my three part interview with Robert Traynham – Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief and Host, “Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham” – CN8, The Comcast Network. Part 1 appeared in August. These questions pertain to the Democratic National Convention.


There were several caucus meetings, Hispanic caucus, women’s caucus, etc., at the convention. Do these meetings serve any real purpose or accomplish anything other than a venue for networking?

I think first and foremost these caucus meetings serve as a venue for networking. I stopped by a couple of caucus breakfasts where you can break bread with people you haven’t met before, get to know one another, discuss strengths of the candidates and campaigns and brainstorm future initiatives. Especially when the caucuses are topical—for example, the women’s caucus was very relevant due to the Hillary-to-Obama shift. That being said, networking at caucus meetings does prove to be fruitful when it comes to the general election in the fall.

Did you hear any interesting rumors about or plans for people to run for Senate in 2010 against Arlen Specter or statewide or national offices in Pennsylvania?

I did. But they’re only rumors, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable commenting on them at this time. It’s to be determined!

Were you surprised, pleasantly or otherwise, by any of the speeches made at the convention?

I was surprised by how articulate and poised Michelle Obama was delivering her speech at the Convention. She was very comfortable speaking to the national audience about her husband and his accomplishments, and she exceeded my highest expectations.

What percentage of delegates attending the convention actually sit through several hours of speeches from the podium every evening?

I would say probably a little less than half. Conventions are highly-orchestrated with a large number of parties and networking events where attendees get to know each other. Convention speeches really are for the people at home, rather than those in the halls.

Is there really a significant number of Hillary Clinton supporters who are considering not voting or voting Republican?

Not sure if the word significant is accurate, but there are some that clearly are opposed to voting for Obama and are considering voting for McCain in November. Now that Palin is on the Republican ticket, it gives them an additional reason to think seriously about voting for McCain.

My thanks to Robert Traynham. I look forward to the third part of the interview.

An Interview with Mary Caraccioli

Mary Caraccioli serves as CN8’s Director of Business and Consumer News and Host of “Money Matters Today,." Her recent interview with Gov. Ed Rendell will be rebroadcast Monday, August 25 at a special time, 6:30 p.m. Turning the tables, she is the interviewee here.

A 2005 study by Johns Hopkins found that 27% of the jobs in Philadelphia are at non-profit organizations. Some of these are large, like universities or insurance companies; others only employ a few people. Is that percentage a matter of pride or concern? (see also a recent Inquirer article)

I think a city or region always needs to be concerned when a large number of jobs come from one particular sector. You want to have diversity in employment just as you have diversity in a financial portfolio. It helps you weather both the good times and the bad. If tax incentives for charitable giving change or major economic shifts happen you could see a major upset in the nonprofit arena, resulting in major job losses.

However, you also need to look at the quality of the jobs and the quality of the organizations that make up the employment base. In the case of Philadelphia, it is an education hub. Many of the universities, while non-profit, are well endowed and have a solid financial foundation. These are attractive anchors for any city. Education as an employer attracts educated people, not just the students and faculty but the small businesses and large businesses that find it advantageous to be close to educational hubs. Small businesses can benefit from incubation centers at major universities. Larger employers have easy access to a rich talent pool. This part of the non-profit story is attractive and should be leveraged by the region to attract for-profit businesses.

Charitable non-profits are also valuable to communities in other ways. They often meet the social needs of communities more nimbly than government, and they also tend to have a lower failure rate than for-profit start-ups. But too many non-profits in one region, doing similar type work, is inefficient. Fortunately, major foundations that often fund these programs, have very strict rules and standards for non-profits. This helps create a more efficient flow of cash, but it does not work out all the inefficiencies. In time, if a non-profit is not doing its job better than the competition, that non-profit will likely not survive. The internet age has also brought more transparency to this process. I can check the ratings of most charitable organizations now, before I write a check to support it. Philadelphia has a long tradition of volunteerism and charitable giving—it is part of the community’s DNA, which makes it overall an asset to the region.

Pennsylvania is home to a number of community banks. Is this good, bad, or neutral for the state’s economy?

Two years ago I may have given you a different answer to this question. Today, with the credit crisis still gripping the nation, we see a much greater need for community banking. One of the underpinnings of the credit crisis is the mortgage mess created by the securitization of mortgages. Mortgages from unrelated parties were packed together and sold as safe securities to anyone who would buy them. People, pension-funds and governments around the world snapped them up. What became clear about a year ago is that these securities were not safe investments. Companies were giving mortgages to people who clearly would never be able to pay them back. No effort was made to see if information on the loan documents were true, and we now know that fraud was committed all over the country. Community banks, while not having the same access to capital as the larger banks, know who they are lending to. They know their communities. That makes them much better at risk assessment than the big banks.

Do tax abatements really work as an incentive to bring businesses to the area?

I have witnessed tax abatements turn communities around. If you give people financial incentive to rebuild their community, they will take advantage of that and hopefully make a profit. The community benefits because abandoned homes hurt an area due to the danger of fire and crime coming to a street that has a deserted home. When tax abatements are offered, either builders or potential home owners will see the value in buying these types of properties and in the process they breathe new life into the community.

As a television journalist are you concerned about the reduction of print journalists and the smaller newspapers we have now, as opposed to a more robust print media in the past?

I often think about the economic climate that is resulting in more and more layoffs in the print community. I can tell you right now, this will come back to bite everyone. A strong force of print reporters needs to exist—people who don’t have to worry about presenting their reports on the internet or TV, but instead know how to report and know how to write. So many websites get their content from newspapers through links and reprints. Yet the newspapers continue to do worse financially. They have not figured out how to properly monetize their content, and instead of solving that issue, they are laying off good reporters and their content (their lifeblood) is getting weaker.

For some aspects of green jobs, such as solar panel installation and windmill technician, skilled tradesmen are needed. Do you think the area has the resources to provide people with these skills, and how does it fit into the regional labor environment?

I recently visited the Gamesa plant, a wind turbine manufacturing facility in Bucks County, and learned they had 200 job openings. I also did a story not long ago on the unemployment rate of returning veterans, many of whom have excellent skills in the trades. We need to do more to get these two sides together. A program called Helmuts to Hardhats is helping, but it is not enough.

Do you think green jobs will come in the form of established businesses, like Gamesa, or in small business startups?

Green jobs, should not be called green jobs. They are jobs, some technical, some in the trades, marketing, engineering—you name it. They are jobs in the emerging energy sector. I have no doubt that there will be tremendous opportunities in this field. There is no other choice. One day, the world will not have enough oil to fuel all of the global needs, and the sooner the U.S. commits to developing and supporting alternatives to oil, the better for the entire nation. Oil isn’t going away overnight, but the sooner we become more independent, the better. The political will is there and so are investment dollars from the private sector.

You recently interviewed Gov. Rendell. How does he compare as a guest on your show?

Governor Rendell has always been very passionate about the causes he believes in. Energy independence is an area where he has become a national leader. He knows the issue well and knows there are facets to every choice and every investment. He is also a political leader who has made partnerships on both sides of the aisle. He is a leader in his Democratic Party and as a result has access to all the top newsmakers in politics. Being in the loop and being passionate about the issues that affect Pennsylvanians help to make the Governor a terrific guest.

While finance is a predominantly male field there are precedents for having a strong, calm female voice in the media, such as Jane Bryant Quinn and Suze Orman, though they have dealt primarily with personal finance. Maria Bartiromo reports on financial matters more generally. Do you see this as a field that is becoming more open to female reporters and analysts or is it still mostly a boys’ club?

Women have taken a leading role in the last few years when it comes to covering money issues, but they are still taking a back seat to the boys when it comes to running the big money institutions. Wall Street has a few women, but leadership on the street is dominated by men.

You were the first reporter to do live reports from the floor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. The exchange was recently purchased by NASDAQ. What does this mean for the region?

Not much, the exchanges make money by the volume and by proprietary products. I think it helps Philadelphia to be part of this bigger exchange organization, but trading floors like New York and Philadelphia are slowly disappearing because of electronic trading. My last visits to the NYSE and to the PHLX were eye opening – it was so quiet. That is because so much is done electronically. The Nasdaq does not have a trading floor because it is all electronic.

Earlier this year, you spoke at the Governor’s Conference for Women on investing and creating long-term wealth. In a nutshell, and in uncertain economic times, what are the top two or three things people need to do to ensure their financial security?

1) Be engaged. When times are tough we often want to put our head in the sand and ignore things hoping they will go away. But if you get involved with your finances early and often, you will be able to react and make appropriate changes to better ride the storm.
2) Get educated. Women especially, love to pawn the financial stuff off on the guys. Don’t do it. Know what is going on in your own household and use the internet and other free tools to help you (like watching Money Matters Today on CN8 or visiting www.CN8.tv :) ).

Thanks to Mary to taking the time to answer questions!

Interview with Robert Traynham (Part 1 of 3)

CN8, the Comcast Network will air live nightly from 8-11 p.m. on Aug. 25-28 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver and from Sept. 1-4 at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

One of those reporting will be Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief Robert Traynham, who also hosts his own show on the network, “Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham.” Locals may remember him as former Sen. Santorum's communications director. Last February I posted a note with links to interviews with him on Capitol Ideas and in Campaigns & Elections' Politics magazine. I am now adding to that list.

This is part one of a three part interview with Traynham. These are basic biographical questions. Part two will follow the Democratic convention and part three after the Republican convention.

On your website (www.traynhampr.com) you mention your work on legislative staffs but don’t say which representative and senator (Santorum) you worked for. Why?

I decided that it was more important for me to highlight the work that I did in the United States Senate, as opposed to any particular politician. I’m proud of my work in the Senate, and even more proud to have worked for a United States Senator who truly made a difference in the lives of many Americans.

Your graduate work focused on what and how candidates say and how voters hear those messages. Can you tell us a little about what you learned, briefly?

What I learned academically has proven time and time again to be right on point in terms of what I actually experience politically. My graduate work taught me that you and I can hear the same political message from a candidate, but we may interpret it differently based on our background, culture, religion, etc. In my nearly 16 years in politics, this theory has proven to be true time and time again.

What is it like being a trustee at your alma mater, Cheyney University? What do you hope to accomplish there?

Cheyney University is a wonderful university. I get goose bumps every time I step foot on campus. Its legacy is full of rich stories of African Americans helping other African Americans with something that is priceless: an education. I stand on the shoulders of many African Americans who helped me throughout my educational experience and my hope is that I can return the favor by serving as a Trustee.

You were consistently named one of the 50 most powerful staffers on Capitol Hill. How did you exercise that power?

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Speak softly but carry a big stick.” That type of thinking helped me when I was a Senate staffer. I used my influence behind the scenes to influence legislation that I felt very strongly about. Instead of grandstanding in front of the cameras or in front of reporters, I would pull a Senator aside and tell him or her the pros and cons of a particular piece of legislation. I would then tell how this would help African Americans, the disabled, young people, etc. I’m very proud of that and even more proud of the fact that I did it humbly and without fanfare.

How have you adjusted to being in front of the cameras after being behind the scenes for so many years?

I’m a guy that talks about politics. I just so happen to do it in front of the camera. Every day, no matter where I am—in a hotel, on a train, or in my office—I always take a few moments out of my day to remind myself that I am not special and that I put my pants on one leg at a time just like the other person and to thank the man upstairs for many blessings. It keeps me grounded. I do have to chuckle at some of the people that are on TV that think the world revolves around them. When I see this, it’s a reminder of how I do not want to be. I will say that I am fortunate and very blessed and being on camera is no different from my father delivering the mail, or my brother teaching inner city males about adulthood. It’s a profession. One that I enjoy and sometimes laugh out loud that people actually pay me to do this. Gosh. Only in America.

Stay tuned for part 2!

Interview with Betsy Myers

Betsy Myers, Chief Operation Officer, Chair, Women for Obama, Obama for America kindly took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions via email. There are many facets to the presidency so I focused on "mom-ish" issues, suburban mom-ish issues at that, and tried to ask questions that I hadn't, for the most part, seen elsewhere.

Jane, thanks for the opportunity to be with you in Pennsylvania. I am here currently in your beautiful state and have appreciated the conversations with voters about the many issues that matter to them and their families.

I want to begin by sharing a few of my personal insights about why I chose to work for this campaign for change. This was not an easy decision for two reasons. First, I am the mother of a small child and campaigns are long hours. Second, I worked for the President and Hillary Clinton in the White House as the Director of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach. Politics are about relationships and loyalty. I am about both. My time in the White House was a highlight of my career. It is an enormous privilege to serve a President. So, this was not a decision that I took lightly.

All of my life, I have been fascinated with leadership. Why is one leader more effective than another? Why do people respect and follow one leader and distrust another? My career includes several presidential campaigns as well as working as a senior official in the government. I have spent the last 7 years at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government studying and working on issues of leadership. Most recently, I was the executive director of the center for public leadership with my friend, David Gergen. At the Center for Leadership, we pursued new thinking about leadership. The latest thinking is about leaders who have the skills to collaborate and build coalitions of disparate voices. They listen to their teams because they respect their input and are open to different views. They have good judgment and the courage to speak the truth. They are authentic and comfortable in their own skin, never trying to be someone they aren’t.

In the context of this new leadership style, we began to study Barack Obama as an example of a new generational, transformational, collaborative leader. I began to explore his background and legislative history. I was taken with his lifelong passion to fight for the voiceless by listening and motivating others to join his cause. His personal experience and legislative record shows his unique ability to work across the aisle with Republicans and Democrats, and to build coalitions for change on difficult challenges. They included ethics reform, racial profiling, health care, welfare reform, and standing up for working families. His dedication to stand up for the voiceless and to bring about change for ordinary Americans is part of his story and who he is.

Why is this important for our future president? Simply, a President is only as good as the legislation that he/she can get passed. There is only so much that can be done by bully pulpit or executive order. The looming problems for our next president begin with an enormous budget deficit and include issues such as the economy, Iraq, an energy crisis, education and health reform, to name a few. These difficult issues will be tackled and solved by working with Congress to get legislation passed, and that takes getting beyond the division and distraction in Washington.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have similar policy proposals but very different leadership skills. It is a defining moment for our country. We must choose the candidate that has the leadership ability and judgment to make progress on the difficult issues facing our country. Barack Obama is the only candidate that can get the work done. It is not every day or every decade or even every century that a leader like Barack Obama comes onto the world stage.

As the COO of this campaign, I have also observed Barack’s leadership abilities up close. He challenged us from day one to build a campaign that is run like a business. Most people don’t realize that presidential campaigns are $200 million start-up operations. He also inspired us to run our campaign with a customer service attitude. He wanted to ensure that his campaign treated staff, volunteers, donors and most importantly, the American voters with respect. This is not something you hear every day in the world of politics. Campaigns are chaotic by their very nature. This campaign has been run like a tight ship, with no drama (Barack’s insistence) and no staff shake-ups.

Many times when we see a leader up close, we end up having less respect for them. Over the past 16 months, I can truthfully say that my respect for Barack has grown. You really learn about someone when the chips are down. Barack has always been calm and steady. He takes personal responsibility for our disappointments and is willing to learn from our mistakes. He challenges us to support each other. He reminds us of why this campaign is so important. We are working for the American people, and for change they can believe in. We are all part of something so much bigger than ourselves.

It has truly been a privilege to be part of this historic campaign. This grass roots movement for change has been life changing. As I travel throughout the country I have come to understand – by hundreds of conversations — that the dreams and hopes of the American people are not different in New Hampshire or California than they are in Pennsylvania. As a mother of a 5 year old daughter, I am even more excited to think we actually have a chance to improve the lives of so many Americans with the leadership of President Barack Obama.

The senator has lived in a number of household types: married parents, single mother, stepfather, grandparents, and now as a father in his own married parents with children setting. Has this diversity affected his policy decisions and if so how?

Senator Obama’s two books, Dreams from My Father and Audacity of Hope, and the perspective he shares in many of his speeches, illustrate the great impact his upbringing had on his outlook and the choices he has made throughout his life.

On the campaign trail, he has said, “For most of my youth and childhood . . . my mother was working at the same time, she was going to school at the same time, she was trying to raise us. And it was tough. There were a couple of times when she had to go on food stamps. . . . She was constantly trying to patch things together - scholarships, loans, grants. It took her a long time to complete her education…Part of the reason I got into public services was because I saw people's lives could be tough, and they often didn't have a lot of help. My mother's experience is duplicated all across the country each and every day."

Senator Obama has also discussed the struggles he and his wife Michelle have faced as they balance work and caring for their two young girls – and how that has helped him to appreciate how tough life is for so many working families. He recognizes that, “The burden on ordinary families has never been higher,” and has admonished that, “The burdens of juggling family, and work and medical leave, etc., are everybody's responsibility. The burden should be placed on the entire family, the entire community", including government.

Senator Obama has detailed the ways in which he believes the government should lighten the burdens on families, including: reforming health care so that it is accessible and affordable for all Americans; cutting taxes on working families; expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax credit so that it gives more relief to families that struggle to afford child care; expanding and improving early childhood education; bringing our K-12 system up to world-class standards; expanding high-quality after-school opportunities; requiring employers to provide paid sick day; expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act; encouraging states to adopt paid leave; prohibiting discrimination against workers with care giving responsibilities; and making college more affordable.

He has specifically outlined proposals to strengthen fatherhood, including removing some of the government penalties on married families, cracking down on men avoiding child support payments, ensuring that support payments go to families instead of state bureaucracies, funding support services for fathers and their families, and supporting domestic violence prevention efforts.

It is sometimes said that men become involved in politics through business, women through their children. Would you agree? How can we persuade more women to become politically active?

My experience is that many men and women today get involved in politics to make the world a better a place for their children. It is also interesting that in this campaign many younger voters and first time voters have been so energized by Barack Obama and his message that they are bringing their parents into the effort.

In his own life, Barack Obama turned down high-paying Wall Street jobs, and decided to become a community organizer, working in the shadow of shuttered steel plants. As an organizer, civil rights lawyer and law professor, Senator Obama learned that change comes from families and communities – and he was able to win a Senate seat and build a powerful grassroots movement based on that insight. His work in the community also gave him a real sense of how working people have been left behind in parts of America. He has said that, “Part of the reason I got into public services was because I saw people's lives could be tough, and they often didn't have a lot of help.”

Senator Obama’s own example may inspire others who are involved in community service to seek a life in public service. Some of our most talented and dedicated staff and volunteers, many of them women, are people who have been involved in their communities and neighborhoods, but are engaging in national politics for the first time, because they see someone who knows, like they do, how to make real change happen: from the bottom up.

But I also believe that both men and women can get involved in politics through business. I served as the Director of the Office of Women's Business Ownership at the SBA and know that the number of women-owned small businesses is growing as is the number of women at all levels of business.

I also know women to be creative in the ways they influence public policy discussions, and to benefit from the flexibility the internet affords in influencing public policy discussions. Your initiative in creating this blog is the kind of leadership women are showing – and benefitting from – in growing numbers.

In order to get more women involved in politics, we need to make it easier for women to take on even more leadership roles in general and we need to take their experiences – whether in the boardroom or in the community -- seriously. In addition, we need to change politics so that more people feel it is worthwhile: we have to reduce the influence of special interests and the need to constantly raise money, we have to increase citizen participation so that it is easier to pass good laws and we have to restore civility and respect for each other so that we can come together to meet our common challenges.

On the “Women for Obama” site, it states under healthcare “More than 19 million women are uninsured in this country, and women are more likely than men to delay or not get medical care because of high costs. Barack Obama is committed to ensuring that all Americans have health care coverage by the end of his first term in office.” Is that possible? Surely it would take four years to just to get the paperwork going.

Senator Obama has said that making sure that every American has health insurance is his top domestic priority. His plan begins by offering affordable, comprehensive coverage to every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be $2500 less per family per year. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness. Parents will be required to cover their children.

Senator Obama has said that affordable health insurance can be funded in part by saving $75 billion per year through having more people use regular doctor checkups instead of more expensive emergency room visits, improving treatment of chronic illnesses and relying more on technology to reduce paperwork. He said medical records can be put onto a digital chip that can be carried around on a key chain, for instance. Obama also would support rolling back the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans.

Senator Obama is the candidate best able to get the job done not only because of his commitment to the issue but because he succeeded in expanding health insurance to 150,000 kids and parents in Illinois and because he will change the culture of Washington that allows special interests to prevent reform that is in the best interest of the nation and ordinary American families. He has said that under his administration the drug companies and the insurance companies can have a seat at the table, but they will not get to buy every seat at the table. He will insist on transparency and invite the American people into the process of debating health care so that special interests cannot cut deals behind closed doors.

Reform will not come easy but by bringing the American people together and standing up to special interests, Barack Obama will get it done.

What guidelines does the senator use in deciding the line between personal responsibility and public obligation to offer opportunities? (Examples would be educational assistance, job training, and related areas)

Senator Obama has said that government has an obligation to give people the basic tools they need and to set the rules of the road. Government must make affordable health care available to all Americas; help make college affordable for every American; set rules so that we chart a course to a clean energy future; end tax breaks for the biggest corporations and the wealthiest few who don't need them and instead address the issues of the struggling middle class and those who are stuck in poverty. But Senator Obama also believes that Americans need to do their part. They need to study and work hard, take responsibility for their children and participate in our democracy so that it reflects all of us rather than the interests of a powerful few.

Senator Obama has spoken often about the responsibility of parents to be more involved with their children, imparting the values they will need to compete in a global economy. Senator Obama recently told an audience that parents should “turn off the television, turn off the video games. Buy a little desk or put that child at the kitchen table. Watch them do their homework. If they don’t know how to do it, give them help. If you don’t know how to do it, call the teacher. Make them go to bed at a reasonable time. Keep them off the streets. Give them some breakfast...”

Senator Obama expressed these complementary responsibilities in Texas a few weeks ago when he said:

Americans know that government cannot solve all of our problems, and they don't expect it to. Americans know that we have to work harder and study more to compete in a global economy. We know that we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our children - which we need to spend more time with them, and teach them well, and put a book in their hands instead of a video game once in awhile. We know this.

But we also believe that there is a larger responsibility we have to one another as Americans.

We believe that we rise or fall as one nation - as one people. That we are our brother's keeper. That we are our sister's keeper.

We believe that a child born tonight should have the same chances whether she arrives in the barrios of San Antonio or the suburbs of St. Louis; on the streets of Chicago or the hills of Appalachia.

We believe that when she goes to school for the first time, it should be in a place where the rats don't outnumber the computers; that when she applies to college, cost is no barrier to a degree that will allow her to compete with children in China or India for the jobs of the twenty-first century.

We believe that these jobs should provide wages that can raise her family, health care for when she gets sick and a pension for when she retires.

We believe that when she tucks her own children into bed, she should feel safe knowing that they are protected from the threats we face by the bravest, best-equipped, military in the world, led by a Commander-in-Chief who has the judgment to know when to send them into battle and which battlefield to fight on.

On p. 61 of Audacity of Hope the senator talks about the coarsening of culture. What recommendations would he have to keep this from going further or perhaps decrease it?

Senator Obama believes that the openness of the new media world should be seen as an opportunity as much as some see it as a threat. We live in the most information-abundant age in history and the people who develop the skills to utilize its benefits are the people who will succeed in the 21st century. But Senator Obama also recognizes that there are darker corners of the media world: from Internet predators to hateful messages to graphic violence and sex. In addition, our children spend too much time passively watching TV --an average of three hours a day - for African-American children, its four hours – while two out of every three households have the TV on during meals.

As a constitutional lawyer, Senator Obama is a defender of the first amendment. But he also believes that “just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should say something. And … we have not talked enough about the harmful images and messages that are sent.” As a result, an Obama administration will give parents the tools and information they need to control what their children see on television and the Internet in ways fully consistent with the first amendment and will encourage the creation of Public Media 2.0., the next generation of public media that will create the Sesame Street of the Digital Age and other video and interactive programming that educates and informs. Obama will support the transition of existing public broadcasting entities and help renew their founding vision in the digital world.

Most successful public policy behavior modification campaigns have dealt with visible public behaviors by increasing punishment and social stigma (seat belt use and driving while intoxicated being examples). With behaviors that primarily occur in private and for which there is already severe punishment, such extreme domestic violence and spousal murder (studies have shown homicide to be a leading cause of death for pregnant women), trying to change behaviors is much harder. Can you point to a program that has been successful and that the campaign is using as a model?

Reducing violence against women will be a top priority of an Obama Administration. It will require an integrated approach that attacks the problem at all of its many sources, including: economic empowerment and anti-poverty initiatives; substance abuse prevention; robust protections and remedies that give women maximum access to legal remedies and enforcement. Often, women are unable to talk about domestic violence and do not have the economic means to escape from the abusive environment. Too often state law provides an inadequate remedy for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

That is why Senator Obama supported the passage of the Illinois Gender Violence Act; This legislation provides survivors of gender-based violence a private right of action and is the most comprehensive remedy for gender-based violence in the country. Often a private right of action is necessary to empower women to pursue legal remedies on their own without having to convince enforcement authorities to pursue their case. This legislation was particularly important in light of the Supreme Courts misguided decision in US v Morrison.

In addition, in the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama successfully passed legislation to increase penalties on certain domestic violence offenders. Obama was chief cosponsor of a bill providing that domestic battery or a violation of an order of protection is a Class 4 felony if the offender was previously convicted of certain offenses. Obama was also chief cosponsor of a law increasing penalties for committing battery against an individual in or near a domestic violence shelter. Obama cosponsored and helped pass a law that requires the government to be specific about restrictions placed on the recipient of an emergency order of protection so that perpetrators of domestic violence cannot claim ignorance of the law. As president, Obama will continue to work to ensure that offenders are appropriately punished and that women and children are not deterred from seeking treatment or shelter.

The senator “supports efforts to guarantee workers seven days of paid sick leave per year” to allow working parents to stay home with sick children. Previous employee rights mandates, such as overtime, the 5 day work week, family leave, etc., have come about with strong union support. With unions in decline, do you think there will be enough willpower in government to enforce a sick leave guarantee by law?

Barack Obama will be a President who will fight for working families every day that he is in the White House. Too many politicians have talked about family values, but haven’t passed policies that balanced work and family. Barack Obama will change that.

Labor unions have played a critical role in many of the major reforms that created the great American middle class, including establishing the 40-hour workweek and the minimum wage and the family and medical leave. Senator Obama is committed to strengthening the ability of workers to organize and will fight for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, will ensure that his labor appointees support workers' rights and will work to ban the permanent replacement of striking workers. At the same time, he will work with unions to expand the support for other worker- and family-friendly reforms, including providing American workers seven sick days a year.

Today, in over 70 percent of families with children, both parents work or a single parent works for pay. Yet half of all private sector employees are without a single paid sick day for themselves or to care for a sick child. More and more families are forced to choose between work and their health, or the health of their family.

Too often, Washington has ignored the needs of families struggling to do their best on the job and as parents, but a coalition of over 100 organizations has come together to support the Healthy Families Act which was introduced in the Senate by Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ted Kennedy and in the House by Representative Rosa DeLauro. The efforts of a similarly broad coalition were critical to passage of the Family Medical Leave Act. Senator Obama has lent his support to this effort, cosponsoring the Healthy Families Act, and as President he would call on Congress to pass this minimum standard so essential to working families.

A number of the issues listed on the Women for Obama page, such as enforcing child support payments, domestic violence, preventing unwanted pregnancy, are a result of people not living up to familial responsibilities or not taking steps to avoid having familial responsibilities. How can government encourage healthy families?

Senator Obama understands the struggles of low income Americans. As the son of a single mother who had to go on food stamps, he knows the financial struggles families encounter. He believes deeply that the government is for the people and by the people. He has spent his entire life working on behalf of the voiceless and improving the lives of the less fortunate. An Obama administration would work tirelessly on behalf of American families. This is truly why he is running for president.

Senator Obama recognizes the heavy burden on ordinary families and has outlined proposals that would reduce the strain on families. He is committed to passing universal health care legislation by the end of his first term that ensures all American’s have access to high quality, affordable healthcare. His plan would save a typical American family up to $2,500 every year on medical expenditures. Obama has also outlined plans to cut taxes on working families and expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax credit. Government can also do more to increase the quality of education. Obama is committed to bringing our K-12 system up to world-class standards, expanding after school opportunities, and making college more affordable.

Obama has outlined specific plans that would help working parents balance work and family responsibilities, including: requiring employers to provide paid sick days, expanding the Family Medical Leave Act, encouraging states to adopt paid leave, expanding opportunities for flexible work schedules,

Obama has also outlined plans to encourage fathers to meet their responsibilities to their families. He has re-introduced the Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act to crack down on men avoiding child support payments, and reverse some of the government penalties on married families. Obama has said he will sign this bill into law and continue to pursue innovative measures to bolster parents and strengthen families.

Governmental support of daycare is often used to pit two parent families who have chosen to reduce their income by having one parent stay home against single parent families or families where both parents work, either by choice or necessity. How can a policy be enacted on this subject without inflaming the “mommy wars?”

One of the destructive consequences of the culture wars is that childcare has been used as a political football rather than treated as a common challenge that must be solved, the way it has been in most other developed countries. When in the overwhelming majority of families with children both parents – and a single parent – are working, our failure to help parents afford quality childcare hurts our nation’s children and families – and therefore hurts all of us.

Throughout his career, from community organizer to US Senator, Barack Obama has forged coalitions by encouraging people to look beyond differences to common interests. No one benefits when a child has inadequate care, or when a parent is overwhelmed or distracted at work.

Senator Obama would take childcare out of the culture war zone in three ways. First, he has a robust “zero to five” early education plan. This program would create early learning challenge grants to promote “zero to five” efforts and help states move toward universal pre-school. He would also quadruple Early Head Start and expand Head Start while improving quality in both.

Second, he would also expand the Child and Dependent Care tax credit to help low-income families with the high costs of childcare.

Third, Senator Obama would lighten the financial burden and help all families, whether they are paying for childcare or not. He has proposed a tax credit of $1,000 for working families, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and reforming healthcare to decrease the annual cost to a typical family by $2,500. He would also reform our K-12 public education system. And he would expand after-school and summer-learning programs.

Pay equity is easy to talk about but more difficult to enact, especially when trying to equate jobs that are usually occupied by one gender, such as office work (women) and construction work (men). Nursing seems to be one of the few areas where an increase in pay and opportunities has drawn men into a previously primarily female occupation. What are a few specifics that the senator favors in regards to pay equity?

Senator Obama has sponsored legislation to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which would curtail the ability of racial minorities and women to challenge their employers’ discriminatory pay decisions under Title VII. Senator Obama is also a cosponsor of Senator Tom Harkin’s Fair Pay Act. As president, Senator Obama will support legislation to promote paycheck equity – the right of women to receive equal compensation to that provided comparably qualified men. Senator Obama also joined Senator Edward Kennedy in introducing the Equal Remedies Act to do away with the caps on compensatory and punitive damages under Title VII that make it more difficult for victims of discrimination to recover the full amounts they are due. In addition, as President, Senator Obama would select a Solicitor General committed to vigorously enforcing the nation’s anti-discrimination laws.

Senator Obama also recognizes that women pay a disproportionate price when they need flexibility or time off to care for family members – in terms of hourly pay, pension, employer-provided health care and job security. He has called for updating the social contract to make it easier for women and men to care for family members without being punished in the workplace.

The Save More for Retirement Act (S.875 109th), which would flip our current “opt in” approach to corporate 401k programs to an “opt out” approach would, according to a study mentioned on your site, increase participation among low income workers from 12% to 79%. The bill was introduced in 2005 and didn’t make it out of committee. Are there plans to reintroduce it?

Senator Obama has proposed a plan to increase retirement security that would automatically enroll workers in a workplace pension plan. Under his plan, employers who do not currently offer a retirement plan, will be required to enroll their employees in a direct-deposit IRA account that is comparable to existing direct-deposit payroll systems. Employees may opt-out if they choose. Experts estimate that this program will increase the savings participation rate for low and middle-income workers from its current 15 percent level to around 80 percent. As President, Senator Obama would work to get this legislation passed.

On the Women for Obama site, early childhood education is listed as a goal and the Illinois program Preschool for All is given as a model. (See lengthy pdf Preschool for All report). One theme apparent throughout the report was that all parties were at the table from the beginning, parents and early childhood teachers and care givers, as well as policy makers and legislators. How does that kind of cooperation get started? It has been my experience that while a chamber of commerce office holder can get phone calls returned, a PTA official might not.

Senator Obama has proposed a comprehensive “Zero to Five” plan to provide critical supports to young children and their parents. The cornerstone of this plan is the creation of Early Learning Challenge Grants that will foster exactly the kind of cooperation you mention. In addition, Senator Obama has said he will create a Presidential Early Learning Council to increase collaboration among the different players in early childhood education, as well as coordinate across different levels of government.

The issue you raise is a critical one throughout government. All too often the special interests have access while families do not. This is why Senator Obama is committed to campaign finance and ethics reform – to lessen the influence of special interests and their lobbyists – but also to transparency and bringing the American people into the policymaking process. If he is going to change this country so that we can meet the challenges of the 21st Century, we will need to change the way Washington works.

In the web site section on improving schools the senator mentions programs for school leaders, teachers and teachers’ unions. Nothing is said about the third leg of the stool – parental involvement. Why? Students seldom achieve without support and guidance at home and good schools usually have a strong level of involvement from parents.

Senator Obama believes that we need both school reform and increased parental involvement. Because education begins at home, parents must set high standards and inspirational examples for their children. As a father, Senator Obama believes we need to find the time and the energy to help motivate our kids to love learning. Parents can read to their children, discuss what they read, and make time for this by turning off the TV.

All social programs cost money and even the cost savings of ending the war in Iraq would probably not cover increasing financial aid and offering preschool to all and job training programs, etc. What programs would the senator have in mind to cut to fund all of the programs he wants?

Senator Obama is committed to restoring fiscal discipline. Under President Bush, the federal debt has increased from $5.7 trillion to $8.8 trillion, an increase of more than 50 percent. President Bush's policies of giving tax breaks for the wealthy will cost the nation over $2.3 trillion by the time they expire in 2009. Obama would take the following steps:

•Reinstate PAYGO Rules: Obama believes that a critical step in restoring fiscal discipline is enforcing pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budgeting rules which require new spending commitments or tax changes to be paid for by cuts to other programs or new revenue.

•Reverse Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthy: Obama will protect tax cuts for poor and middle class families, but he will reverse most of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers.

•Cut Pork Barrel Spending: Obama introduced and passed bipartisan legislation that would require more disclosure and transparency for special-interest earmarks. Obama believes that spending that cannot withstand public scrutiny cannot be justified. Obama will slash earmarks to no greater than year 2001 levels and ensure all spending decisions are open to the public.

•Make Government Spending More Accountable and Efficient: Obama will ensure that federal contracts over $25,000 are competitively bid. Obama will also increase the efficiency of government programs through better use of technology, stronger management that demands accountability and by leveraging the government's high-volume purchasing power to get lower prices.

•End Wasteful Government Spending: Obama will stop funding wasteful, obsolete federal government programs that make no financial sense. Obama has called for an end to subsidies for oil and gas companies that are enjoying record profits, as well as the elimination of subsidies to the private student loan industry which has repeatedly used unethical business practices. Obama will also tackle wasteful spending in the Medicare program.

•End Tax Haven Abuse: Building on his bipartisan work in the Senate, Obama will give the Treasury Department the tools it needs to stop the abuse of tax shelters and offshore tax havens and help close the $350 billion tax gap between taxes owed and taxes paid.

•Close Special Interest Corporate Loopholes: Obama will level the playing field for all businesses by eliminating special-interest loopholes and deductions, such as those for the oil and gas industry.

His record on this issue is clear:

•PAYGO: Obama voted in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to reinstate pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) federal budget rules.

•No-Bid Contracts: Obama has introduced and helped pass bipartisan legislation to limit the abuse of no-bid federal contracts.

•Against Raising the Federal Debt Limit: In 2006, Obama voted against misguided Republican efforts to raise the statutory debt limit at the same time the Republicans were pushing through massive debt-financed tax cuts for the wealthy.

My thanks to Betsy for answering my questions. It is a sign of commitment to reaching individual voters for someone at this level of a national campaign to work with a state-level blog like mine. I hope my readers find this information interesting and useful.