Notes from PA Progressive Summit Governor Candidate's Debate

On Friday, February 28th, the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit hosted a debate for the Democratic candidates for governor.  I wasn't there in person but taped the debate as it was broadcast on PCN.  Later I watched it and took rough notes.  This is not intended as a formal transcript -- it is just notes I took while watching.  Interested readers should visit the candidates' websites and investigate further on their own.

Mike Morrill introduces Eileen Connelly who will moderate. 

2 minutes each for opening and closing statements, order alphabetical in opening and reverse in closing.  The initial questions from organizations that are part of conference organizing team, other questions from audience.  One minute, 30 second answers, rebuttals for 30 seconds.  Order of answers rotates. 

Candidates:

John Hanger www.hangerforgovernor.com (Mr. Hanger  has withdrawn from the race since the debate was held)

Tom Wolf www.wolfforpa.com

Jo Ellen Litz  www.joellenlitz.com

Katie McGinty www.katiemcginty.com/‎

Allyson Schwartz www.allysonschwartz.com

Rob McCord www.robmccord.com

Opening Statements

JH:  We do need a Democrat as governor but we also need bold progressive change.  Summed up in one sentence jobs not jails, schools not jails, legalized marijuana not jails.  Plan to let all students attend community college and one year at a state university with no debt.  Raise minimum wage, rebuild unions.  Time for Democrats to stand with unions, tell people to join a union.  Seize our energy opportunities.  I have unique energy experience.  Stand against oil and gas when water contaminated.  Toughest set of regulatory proposals, wrote moratorium on state forest drilling.  Increase solar by 10x, wind by 4x.  For single payer health insurance.

JL:  county commissioner in Lebanon Co.  also owned and operated an auto body shop for 20 years, also done commercial rentals, on water commission board to help clean water, head of MPO, head of election board, on prison board, on board of county home.  Campaign is about roads and bridges, water and sewers, economy building jobs that support families.  These are the things our workers want.  It’s about jobs, solid jobs that will be around for a long time.

RM:  Thank Eileen, thank friends on dais and in audience.  Many of you are thought leaders who will examine plans.  Mom went through tough divorce, moved from NY to PA for public schools, dropped from middle class, public schools discovered my dyslexia, pa public education helped get me into Harvard, help generate thousands of job, go to Wharton, elected to office, fiscal watchdog.  Other kids won’t be able to live their dreams if Corbett in office.  Need to defeat and evict Tom Corbett.

KM:  Thanks to everyone for fighting for our values.  I’m driven by that shared sense of meaning and values.  Ninth of 10 kids, dad worked for 35 years as police officer.  Union looked out for him, and allowed all 10 kids to have a shot at the dream Rob talked about.  Mom took care of house and then had job as a hostess at a restaurant.  Worked to build a better home and a better family.  So when we talk about the issues we are concerned about.  I will work for pension and retirement, that was dignity for my dad.  I will work for benefits and wages for restaurant workers.  Education was my ticket, I was first in my family to go to college.  At 29 I was an advisor to president of US.

AS:  I’m running because we cannot afford 4 more years of Tom Corbett.  Need a governor that will take on state governor and stalled government.  Need a governor with record of accomplishment.  We need a woman governor, will change politics in Harrisburg forever.  Time to defy expectations and do this together.  Every child needs quality education.  Every Pennsylvanian needs access to health care.  I’m the only woman in PA congressional delegation.  I can be tough.  I can take on big challenges and can get things done.  You might know me for getting CHIP program done, would not have gotten done without my work in the state senate.  Became model for CHIP program in all 50 states.  We took on a challenge, got a smart solution.

TW:  Thanks.  Running because we need to move in a different direction, need a different kind of governor.  Grew up in small town, went to Peace Corps, got PhD, got into family business, drove a forklift and a truck.   Bought the business with two cousins, built in into one of the largest building supply businesses in the US.  Offer employees outstanding benefits.  Sold business and joined Rendell cabinet.  Company was tanking, bought it back, turned it around.  Need to move in a new direction. 

Q1:  Affordable Care Act, support single payer?

JL:  I was running for governor, didn’t think it would be an issue.  We have a system in place and it’s the law.  At public meetings there were several comments and questions.  Learned about problems, like not bidding out pharmacy goods.  There is room for improvement.  Open to moving towards single payer.  Important that people have medical coverage.  Our local hospital was a community hospital, everyone got care, everyone picked up the tab.  We have two different clinics, one for working poor, one for unemployed.

RM:  A sign that Corbett has declined to accept Medicare expansion.  When rich people do something criminal they are seldom held accountable.  Would like to work with others to develop plans for continuous improvement.  Words single payer are catnip to this audience.  I want the hearts and minds of people who are progressives and pragmatists.  Expand and protect Medicare.  Will live with law as it exists.  Will innovate continuously.

KM:  Many issues that a governor would face that are very hard.  Expanding Medicare is not hard.  People have paid for this already with their taxes.  Need to go further.  Whole series of issues where consumer beware.  Governor needs to set up.  Example, with governor blaming consumers for rising electricity rates.  With health care also need disclosure of costs.  With single payer the way to drive down costs is to increase pool of those covered.

AS:  Only one in the state to have spent many many hours working to pass ACA.  We finally found a way to get health coverage to every America.  Proud to be a part of that, make sure preexisting conditions in children covered, protect Medicare and Medicaid.  As PA governor I would absolutely take Medicaid expansion.  Should not leave 500,000 Pennsylvanians without coverage.  I would change that on day one.  We can do this and we should.

TW:  Expand Medicaid so 500,000 will be covered, set up state exchanges, do what we can to make ACA work.  Figure out how to make affordable health care available to all Pennsylvanians.  Single payer is something we should consider. 

JH:  Compliment Allyson Schwartz for work in healthcare.  I would not have served on PA Utility commission without her supports.  Single payer absolutely.  Health care is a human right.  Medicaid expansion is a partial answer.  I believe in what is said in Matthew, what you did to the least of these you did unto me.:  For moral reasons I support single payer.  My wife is a physician.  Single payer is good for business.  We won’t rebirth manufacturing if we don’t have single payer. 

Q2:  Possible that $100 Million will be spent on this race.  Does this distort democracy?  Do you support campaign finance reform, public financing?

RM:  Yes and yes.  Would love to have series of Lincoln Douglass debates

KM:  Yes, spending 80% of my time on fundraising, feel 0% good about that.  We need to change that.  When I was working at the White House with Clinton, people would say aren’t all politics corrupt.  Never saw what people’s stereotypic view of corruption is, but did see corruption of people’s efforts to keep paying the meter.  I had tons of authority because others had to spend so much time fundraising.  Should be spending time getting things done and making it happen. 

AS:  Support campaign finance reform, should be limits on gifts, should be disclosure, is a challenge for non-self-funders.  9,000 people have made contributions to my campaign, average contribution is about $250.  From people who believe in change, believe I can lead, believe in my vision, appreciate what they are doing. 

TW:  I have a special perspective, having put $10 million of my own money into the race.  Lament that money distorts race.  I put my own money in because I don’t have too many other advantages in this race.  Television allows me to tell my story.  I’m playing by the rules of the game as they exist now.  If elected would do everything I could to change the rules.

JH:  Was for public financing and campaign finance reform before it was cool.  Asked for people running to agree to $5 million limit.  No one took me up on it.  Money distorts democracy.  Its’ a big money game.  I have not spent time raising money but talking to people.  Gov Cuomo in NY is making public financing of campaigns a major legislative issue.  Hope candidates are sincere about changing it

JL:  yes and yes.  Running a grassroots campaign. 

Q3:  Pennsylvania cyber charter schools an abject failure.  What will you do to stop them?

KM:  Priority #1 is to pay us a severance tax with all of it going to Corbett cuts that have eviscerated educated.  After school tutoring has been cut, classrooms overcrowded, too many requirements for teachers, draining creativity from classroom, this is the end of economic prosperity.  Charter schools top to bottom need to be reformed.  Need to have openness and transparency in what we are paying.  Makes no sense for cyber charter to charge the same as a brick and mortar school.

AS:  cyber charter have a simple answer, stop funding them, $375 million dollars, not evidence of helping children learn.  Draining money from public schools.  Need to demand accountability from charters, some very good, some very bad.  Close public schools that are failing, make local school districts accountability.  Fund public schools, restore cuts, make sure children start school ready to learn, universal pre-k and full day kindergarten.  My kids when to Philly public schools.

TW:  Believe that cyber charters need to be accountable.  Find fair way to fund them, not take money from public schools.  Where do cyber charters come from?  From cronyism, friends of people in high places, function of people looking at education as a private not a public good.  Everyone benefits from good public education.  If we understand that then funding public education is a self-interest.  We all share in funding of bad public education too. 

JH:  cyber charters when you look at reading and math scores and grad rates are terrible.  Only thing they do is put up big billboards.  It’s a scam.  Stealing money from Pennsylvanians.  Make it accountable.  Not opposed to all charter schools.  Poor performing charters – opposed to your tax money going to those.  That money coming from public school budgets.  Not an accident – there is a real effort to privatize public education.  Should not be turned into a profit center.  Shame on Corbett and legislature. 

JL:  support public schools, teachers are to be honored and revered.  Children are out precious resource for the future.  I do believe that cyber chargers should be associated with a school district and should boards have oversight, follow same rules as public schools.  Not a level playing field, two sets of rules.  We have a public schools for a reason, lets us them. 

RM:  one of many ripoffs of crony capitalism of current administration.  Almost villainous.  I’ve been in the arena fighting Corbett more than anybody.  One example of a pure ripoff.  Remember to speak in plain terms.  Corbett talked about a “spend number.”  Watch out for words used.  They will blame the victim, blame teachers.  Not just the what but the who and the how.  I can and will win this fight.

Rebuttal:

RB:  we cannot afford to put all eggs in one basket, not just severance tax, but look at tax loopholes.

JH:  legalize and tax marijuana and put money into schools.

Q4: Payday loans have interest rates that make it almost impossible to repay.  There are efforts to make it easier to get payday loans.  Do you support this?

AS:  I worked to make sure consumers had more protections against payday loans and other types of protections, such as credit cards, and Wall St predators.  I would stand on the side of consumers.

TW:  We have a history of the government intervening when consumers are harmed by practices in the market.  It is fully appropriate for the government to interfere here.  Strong on consumer protection and payday loans.  Make sure playing field is level, make sure worst abuses controlled.

JH:  This issue is quite personal to me.  I’m an immigrant to this country.  Immigrants are often targeted by loansharks.  Worked as an attorney in Pennsylvania and saw how poorly regulated payday loans were.   Not a service useful to capitalist system.  Absolutely regulated or outlawed.

JL :  Payday loans prey upon the poor.  Reverse of Robin Hood.  If they want to do it right they would lend the money at a reasonable rate.  Agree they are loansharks.

RM:  At Treasury we were part of Good Choice [missed this word] Program, working with credit unions.  Effective compound interest rate of 400%, worked with credit unions to provide options.  Mom was worried I would make my life too much about money.  Democrats had a lot of lawyers but not enough people with MBAs to help not just job creators and entrepreneurs but hard working people

KM:  pure and simple preying on the poor.  Consumer protection.  There are people on the verge of losing their home or business because they signed up for electricity plans when after a year of cheap rates flipped over to ballooning rates.  Gov. Corbett says it’s the consumer’s fault.  Need to go further in protecting the consumer in health care costs.  About making it so people don’t have to grovel and beg to make a living.  Increase minimum wage.  Defined benefits.  Not doubling down on Wall Street and hedge fund managers. 

Q5: PA Womens Health Caucus.  In December launched an agenda.  Corbett administration proposal to cut benefits for people on Medicaid

TW:  We need to reverse the war on women.  Much if not all of what the right is doing is to disempower women.  Women need to be able to fully participate in workforce, have a full seat at the table.  Make sure state is open for business to everybody.

JH:  Start with Medicaid expansion.  In Oct 2013 our campaign looked at Gov. Cuomo’s agenda for women in NY.  We made it our own.  We need to make sure increasing number of health practitioners who can work with women, nurse practitioners, midwives, better health care in their homes, health care often delivered by women. 

JL:  In Lebanon County we have a couple of non-profit groups that share quarters.  Used to be in less than desirable buildings.  Vision of community now next to community college in beautiful quarters.  That is to be emulated throughout Pennsylvania.  Domestic violence intervention shelters.  Important that we have these sorts of facilities and support local non-profits.  We can do a lot more on state and national levels. 

RM:  We should be backing bicameral bipartisan support in women’s health network.  Alarmingly high fraction of women abused and feel they have to keep it secret.  Protect women from violence and harassment.  Pro-choice.  I’ve spent years telling people women are 3 x more likely than men to drop poverty after age 60.  Support an increased minimum wage of $10 / hour. 

KM:  I look forward to being your first female governor.  Prochoice, will fight for women every day, for pay equity.  Food assistance.  This governor has made it harder for families to eat.  Women having to work two and three jobs, leave kids at home, to make ends meet.  80% of those receiving minimum wage are over 20 years old, 60% are moms. 

AS:  Dedicated my public life and private sector wok to standing up for families.  When I was 26 years old, I started a women’s health center in Philadelphia, allowed women to have access to a full range of health services, helped protect women, prenatal care, out of hospital birth center, first term abortions.  I would not forget the needs of women, we’ll know what to do.

Rebuttal:

JL:  rebut Rob, as a small business person, need to make it more lucrative to work tan be on welfare, need to raise minimum wage a dollar a year, so not to bankrupt small business.

RM:  In a year my proposal would put $5200 dollars a year in a single mom’s paycheck.  Economists thought it would hurt small business but it did not.  WalMart and McDonalds can afford this.

Q6:  How can we work with law abiding gun owners for sensible gun regulations?

JH:  This is an important substantive question, issue of individual liberty, gun safety in homes.  A lot of independent voters and GOP voters won’t vote for a Democratic governor candidate because they think we don’t respect gun ownership.  I do respect gun owners and the second amendment.  You have to start there and then you will have some credibility and can then talk about sensible gun safety measures.  Outrageous that we don’t have comprehensive background checks.  Mentally ill, people with psychotic issues should not be able to get guns.

JL: I’m pro 2^nd amendment with background checks.  As a girl we ate well because of hunting, rabbit, venison.  It should be possible anywhere to do a background check.

RM:  you can be pro 2^nd amendment and pro background check.  Fight the good fight and expand the conversation.  Invest a lot of respect with this conversation.  People do defend themselves in remote rural areas, 1 in 3 households in Pennsylvania are hunting households.  The real good work we can get done quickly, invest in police in high density high crime areas.  If we invest in public education and job education in the right way we will reduce violence.

KM:  This is an issue we can take up and can find common ground on it, close loopholes on background checks, take on violence and criminals, bring sportsmen together to pursue this common sense agenda.  Looking at the experience of the candidates, have you sat on the hot seat on the issues, find those winning issues.  When I came into office people said we are a coal state and I wouldn’t be able to do environmental issues, but I brought people together and we were number one on wind energy.  Newt Gingrich came to town with Contract with America but it was under his leadership that I was able to get things done.

AS:  I too respect 2^nd amendment and law abiding citizens use guns for self-defense and sport.  I have voted for sensible gun safety laws, background checks.  Many of the gun owners I talk to agree.  They don’t’ want criminals to have guns.  Protect our law enforcement officers.  Been to funerals where police outgunned on our streets.  Work with DAs to get illegal guns off our streets. 

TW:  common ground is what we need.  In my area the first day of hunting season is a school holiday.  But gun violence is epidemic.  Balance rights of legal gun owners with sensible regulations, reasonable background checks, straw purchases, ban on assault weapons.

Q7:  Libertarian, Green, and independent candidates face difficult ballot access.  Support level playing field?

JL:  This question has really intrigued me.  Sitting on the election board I have noticed that a Libertarian candidate can set up a flea market and get anyone to sign their petition and they have more time to do it and they are not standing out in the snow and ice like we are.  Why wouldn’t they get more signatures than we have to.  They are looking for sympathy but look what we are having to do in this weather.

RM:  I applaud your answers but I would honestly say no.  Focus and passion is a huge part of what you actually have to invest to get things done.  If we run this campaign saying we will do everything for everyone we won’t succeed.  I am running on education and job creation.  Tom and I can sit around and talk about constitutional issues for days.  What we should probably do is talk about popular vote so people are truly represented in every state, blue, red or purple.

KM:  Our political process gotten bogged down.  If the US is to lead again, this is killing us as a country.  Each party should be able to put up the candidate they want to be their representative.  We need to shake things up folks.  It is time for changes, to enable people who are passionate and care to be involved.  Disgrace of governor’s effort to keep people away from voter booth.  Had 3 years to come up with a single case of voter fraud and he hasn’t.  I would work hard to engage citizens to be involved, to care and make a difference.

AS:  I would not change the rules on this.  The issue here is really to engage more voters in voting; the issue is voting rights.  We see fewer people coming ot the polls not more.  Voter id law completely made up to keep fewer Democratic voters to come out.  How outrageous and undemocratic is that.  I would make it easier to register to vote.   Early voting and vote by mail.  Make it easier for people with busy lives to vote. 

TW:  We need to get more people out to vote make our two party system stronger, do something about gerrymandering, encourage more people to come out to vote, do things to bring people together not fragment. 

JH:  I stronger support these changes.  Lack of confidence in Republican and Democratic parties, let more people on the ballot, bring them on.  The GOP wants fewer people to vote.  Proud to be a Democrat for many reasons.  Democrats want all people to vote, even more Republicans.  People don’t vote because we don’t offer them real bold change.  If you want more young people to vote should get behind legalization of marijuana. 

Rebuttal: 

RM:  Do not believe government gridlock is because of too few people on the ballot.  People want an engaged governor, want government to work again.

TW:  I’m not that big of a geek, Rob.

JH:  One reason our democracy is not working that money has too much influence.

Q8:  Dept of Corrections housed 9420 people at end of 1981, at end of 1991 housed 23,405.  End of 2001 housed 37,995, end of 2011 51,???, [missed this number] increase of over 400% while violent crime is down in same period.  What will you do to reduce number of people in prison?

RM:  change school to prison pipeline, look at sentencing guidelines, dot no incarcerate people for life for some of these crimes.  Do what we can and should to fight crime, protect corrections officers, spend more on schools.  I am endorsed by corrections officers.  Do more to protect people without abusing people who work in corrections.  Corbett couldn’t find money for schools but found for prisons.

KM:  these numbers are so absolutely outrageous and heartbreaking, families destroyed because mom and dad not at home, change sentencing guidelines, addiction services, work with members of the legislature, let young people who get out of prison and stay out of trouble need a second chance.  Restore public education, invest beyond k-12 in skills development, make it affordable.

AS:  numbers staggering, not news to us or governor and general assembly.  Failed system.   Spending so much money on a system that doesn’t work.   Incarcerate people who are a danger and have committed crimes, but sentencing guidelines for minor crimes needs to change.  Do something for first offenders, especially of minor crimes.  Do more for ex-offenders. 

TW:  behind the numbers is the destruction of lives. My companies gives second chances to people who have been accused and committed of minor crimes.  Most companies don’t do that.  People who did something when very young destroys their entire lives. 

JH:  I got off a septa trolley in Philly and next thing I knew I was on the ground with a gun to my head.  People intervened.  So I take violent crime very seriously.  I know the difference between the people who had a gun to my head and people arrested for marijuana.  African Americans arrested for marijuana more than whites.  Need affordable college, lets those re-entering from prison to get back on their feet.

JL:  all counties are charged with having a prison for providing sentencing rooms for their people.  At Lebanon County our prison population is around 500, many have mental illnesses or addiction, many are also veterans, need veterans courts, ankle bracelet monitoring.  There are other options out there. 

RM:  as opposed to putting more people on the ballot, prisoners count as head count in GOP head counting [I didn’t get this down correctly – something to do with prisoners counting as residents when drawing political districts but they can’t vote.]  That’s like 3/5 of a person.  There is no excuse for that in the next redistricting.

Q9:  support Pennsylvania Democratic party’s call for moratorium on new fracking wells?

KM:  yes in public parks and forests, against companies that break laws, support shale tax.  We have to do much more to ensure against environmental damage in the development of our resources, would push hard to water quality, need to take on issue of greenhouse gases in natural gas

AS:  support moratorium in state parks and forests.  Demand and expect high standards from drillers.  Make sure it is done responsibly and enforce that.  Severance tax of 5%, reinvest in econ growth across the state.  Use some of the money to invest in green energy.

TW:  share the frustration and concern, support the moratorium on state lands and private land where owners don’t want fracking.  Should do it responsibly, agree on 5% severance tax.  Gives us hundreds of millions of dollars to schools, for local governments

JH:  wrote moratorium for state forests in 2010.  Support keeping it out parks.  Support policy of Delaware River Basin Commission, overturn Act 13 so local governments have right to separate residential and industrial activity.  Require new inspectors, protect citizens who have drilling complaints.

JL:  ban on fracking in parks and forest.  Need extraction tax, 6%.  Local control of zoning in important, conservation districts should inspect sites, pull licenses of those who break laws.

RM:  agree with KM and JH.  I disagree with state committee.  I’m not, like Corbett, owned by JR Ewing wing of industries.  Create thousands of stem related jobs can earn back public trust.

Q10:  very little difference in your answers, how would you differ yourself form other candidates, why should progressives vote for you

AS:  Pennsylvania ready for progressive and big ideas, can do big things again.  Need a governor that also embraces that notion.  I have a record showing I know how to get things done.  Time when we can defy expectations.  Make Pennsylvania great again.  Have great assets, great opportunities.  Third woman in state senate, only woman in congressional delegation.  People want to see me be first woman governor of Pennsylvania. 

TW:  what makes me different is breadth of life experiences that no one else in this group has.  I actually know that the things we all believe in as progressives, understand that they are not only right but they are smart.  Idea that we can make this world fair.  That’s why I share profits with workers.  They are right but they actually work.  I understand how the real work works.

JH:  there are real differences.  I’m for single payer, legalizing and taxing marijuana.  You can’t take in mass incarceration if you don’t decriminalize marijuana.  Plan to let people go to 2 years of community college and one year of state college with no debt.  I wrote the climate action plan.  Immigrant, public services attorney, not beholden to big money.

JL:  my motto is people above politics. Boots on the ground of local government.  have experience of unfunded mandates. Been to 67 counties, how much we are the same.  We all want the same things, good paying jobs, for our children to be successful.  I’m 62, not playing games.  I’m in this to win this.  I can do it with you help.  I will serve you with honesty and integrity. 

RM:  I would celebrate the question.  This is a little bit of a job interview.  Consider experience.  Most voters, certainly most Democrats.  Of candidates spent most time in the arena, fighting and defeating Corbett.  We’ve fought him and we’ve beat him.  I’ve run three times in a contested primary, a self made business guy not a career guy but someone who knows how Harrisburg works. Hope this is a team of rivals.

KM:  the things you stand for are worth fighting for.  Have been on the hot seat on some of these issues for 25 years.  Just stopping bad things from happening isn’t enough, must work on progressive agenda.  When I was Secretary of Energy we were a national leader.   We brought all kinds of building materials companies here.  When Newt Gingrich said no regulation is a good regulation we passed water quality laws.

Closing Statement: 

TW:  thanks.  I want to do this.  I recognize I am an unconventional candidate.  You have to bring people together not pull them apart.  Fairness actually matters to human beings.  I want to take Pennsylvania to the kind of future we all want and deserve

AS:  I’m running to take on those stale politics in Harrisburg.  You need someone that not only shares your vision but can get things done.  I can get things done.  I was told that I’m awfully nice but damned determined.  They were right, I’m very determined. 

KM:  proud daughter of a hard working family, to work for hard working families.  I will be your standard bearer of those values that invest in our children and in jobs that will pay a decent living wage.  Not a career politician but it won’t be on the job training in the governor’s office, 25 years experience helping us to grow, believes deeply in Pennsylvania

RM:  thanks.  Not a career politician, but head of revenue, increased productivity by 62%, repaired tuition program.  Motivation.  I love people.  I love people and know how to be warm.  But I also know how to fight.  Remember what my mom went through.  My wife’s uncle died because he wasn’t allowed in a whites only emergency room.  I will fight.

JL:  about turning Pennsylvania around.  This is my vision.  Vote for it.

JH:  I came to the US from Ireland in 1970.  Something’s gone very badly wrong with our economy.  We need bold progressive change.  We need a governor who will take those bold progressive changes.  Jobs not jails, schools not jails.  I’m the only candidate up here who has carried a union card.  Serious about a new birth of freedom, woman’s right to choose, marriage equality, legalize marijuana. 

Notes from Nov. 21 Gubernatorial Candidates Forum

On November 21, 2013 Philly Speaks Out held a forum at Temple University for gubernatorial candidates.  It was a non-partisan event, not a debate.  Gov. Corbett was invited but did not attend.  The moderator was Rev. Mark Tyler of Mother Bethel AME Church.  Rev. Tyler is a founding member of POWER, one of the sponsoring organizations.

In addition to POWER the even was sponsored by:  1199C/AFSCME, 32BJ SEIU, AFSCME DC 47, Action United, Fight for Philly, PA Working Families, PASNAP, PCAPS, and SEIU Healthcare PA

Candidates attending:

Former DEP Secretary John Hanger

State Treasurer Rob McCord (campaign site: www.robmccord.com)

Former DEP Secretary Katie McGinty

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz

Former Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf

I did not attend in person but watched the webcast of the event.  These are my rough notes from the forum.  It is not intended as a transcript.  As always, I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions.  Interested readers are encouraged to visit candidates' website for further information on the candidates' views and policies.  A few personal observations are given at the end.  

Instructions for candidates:  3 minutes each to answer questions.  Please don’t thank us – go right to the issues.  Introduces candidates.  Corbett invited but did not respond. [blogger’s note:  on the last question candidates were only given 2 minutes to respond]

Four issues, first testimony from audience, then framing of comments, followed by candidates’ responses.   [note:  I did not take notes during the audience testimonies as it was primarily personal stories]

First issue:  Education

Q:  1) Reversing problems requires bold leadership and policy changes, “equitable” funding formula, 2) increase revenue for public education and social services, cut corporate tax loopholes, drilling, 3) charter school accountability, 4) invest in schools not prisons, and 5) abolish the School Reform Commission.  Will you support these items and what will your agenda be?

Schwartz:  Pleased to be here, not pleased that Corbett is absent.  Not a surprise; he has been absent on our values.  PA has great resources yet Corbett has led us to 49^th place in job creation.  We cannot be a great state without leadership, vision, and a commitment to the state.  I have high goals, high expectations, and have always found a way to move forward.  We have to start with public education.  My mother was an immigrant.  She arrived here alone at age 16, and was sent to Philadelphia because the city had great public schools.  She graduated from Girls High and went to Temple but could not afford to finish.  My sons went to Central High School, a public school in Philadelphia.  As governor I would make public education a priority.  I would support your agenda, abolish the SRC, rein in charters, fair funding, pre-school and full-day kindergarten.  Invest in public education; invest in the future.

Wolf:  I am from York County.  How can we allow this (references tweet from parent about no school librarian) to happen.  Tom Corbett has taken education off the front burner, off the stove.  I love learning, and have a PhD from MIT.  Daughters got a great education in York County.  We are all in this together.  Public education is a shared enterprise.  As governor if we are going to have a bright future we must have great schools.  We need fair and equitable funding, tax shale, universal pre-k, charter accountability, good education equals good jobs, connect higher education with worlds of work.  As an employer I understand we must have an educated workforce. 

McCord:   The most important thing for me to highlight is education, not just as policy but it is personal.  Think of a single parent who has a job but a bad job, mistreated by her employer but wants a good future for her kids – that is my mom’s story.  She went through a bad divorce when I was four.  I went from being a slow reader to a scholarship at Harvard.  Some have a poverty of purpose.  This is the #1 reason I am running.  Tom Corbett took $1 billion from the schools.  We need to review the funding system, fully fund higher education, repair the 529 plan, fund community colleges, allow unions to provide associates degrees, fully fund early childhood education.  Yield for decades.

Hanger:  Nothing wrong with public education but the governor is trying to privatize it.  I will stop this cold.  I arrived in the US at age 12 from Ireland.  Public schools prepared me.  We must attack poverty to prepare people for education.  As a law graduate I worked with low income families.  Start with charters, not preparing poor kids, stealing money from public education.  We need to shut down poorly performing charters, including almost all cyber charters.  It is an attack on unions to attack public schools.  I will abolish the SRC.  We need fair funding.  The real problem is the governor trying to privatize public schools.

McGinty:  One morning in September I was having coffee, reading the paper and saw the beautiful face of 12 year old LaPortia.  She died from asthma attack on a day when the school nurse wasn’t there.  She was the same age as one of my kids.  This is not the best for our kids.  Problem to solve.  Our kids deserve better.  Put the spotlight on what is working.  Pennsylvania is 4^th in reading, 8^th in math.  Taking a wrecking ball to public education is not right.  Put a tax in place to restore money to public education, fair formula, English language learning, property tax, reform charters so no double dipping.  Start early Head Start, pre-day, full day kindergarten, small classes.  Let teachers teach and students learn.

Second issue:  Retirement security.  PA has 4^th oldest population in the US.  There are fewer employer retirement plans.

Q:  1) protecting pensions for public employees, 2) retirement benefits available to all workers.  California is offering plans all works can join.  [blogger’s note, this is the Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program]  Working Families plan.

McGinty:  Yes I will support this.  I am the 9^th of 10 kids, dad was a Philadelphia police officer for 35 years.  He died last year at 94, and never asked any of us for a penny.  He had a pension.  No one gave him anything; he earned that pension.  We must insist on these kinds of benefits, make retirement affordable, make health care affordable, can’t have property taxes go through the roof.  The Commonwealth is not paying for public education, leaving it to be supported by property taxes.

Hanger:   Anyone who has a pension has a legal guarantee that it will be paid.  I will not let pension funds be raided.  Many in the private sector are not organized or part of a union, and have no pension or retirement.  As a legal services attorney I saw retired people living on social security.  We need better jobs with higher income while working.  Jobs don’t pay for bills today let alone retirement.  Rich are getting a bigger piece; you are getting a smaller piece.  Raise minimum wage, stand with unions, help people join unions, so we don’t have to choose between heat, food and medicine.

Schwartz:  We need a Pennsylvania committed to hard work and achievement, that’s what built the great state we are.  I hope to live to retire and reflect on a fulfilling job.  Retirement is under threat.  Pennsylvania does have one of the largest senior populations.  Social security and Medicare are under threat.  In DC I have led the fight against privatizing social security.  Imagine if we invested in Wall Street in the recession.  We have work to do and I will keep working towards that.  Need to meet our obligations to retirees.

McCord:  If retirement and pensions are the issue I’m your guy.  No one in Pennsylvania has spent more time studying this than I have.  Proud defender of defined benefit plans.  Unions defend defined benefits, not just for members but for all.  Proud of how often I have fought back against Tom Corbett.  Defined benefits are more efficient that 401Ks.  Defined contribution associations say otherwise.  We need to embrace the plan in California.  It is a “pay me now or pay me later” world.  We can imitate the 529 plan.  Retirement is a woman’s issue – women are three times more likely to drop into poverty in retirement.  [he mentioned a woman in relation to the California plan but I can’t get the spelling right to find the correct person]

Wolf:  I’m an FDR Democrat.  We do not have a pension problem.  This is something we share.  In my company I work to make sure employees [missed this].  Lottery is part of the Department of Revenue, $1 million goes to help the elderly.  I worked to improve the lottery.  It went to property tax rebates, prescription drugs.  We need to protect public pensions.  Overall compensation issue.  If we want good public employees we must compete with the private sector.   Health care.  I have a 90 year old mom and 91 year old dad.  We need to ensure all is done to see that all Pennsylvanians have retirement.

Third issue:  Jobs

Question:  Good jobs, raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10, like slaves asking Pharoah for straw to make bricks.  End payday lending.  Guaranteed sick days.  All people receiving tax money must pay workers (including subcontractors) a living wage.  Shift from corporate benefits to public education

McCord:  Everything in the governor’s race relates to jobs.  If we end defined benefits we lose as 90% of that money is spent in Pennsylvania.  Of course we need to increase the minimum wage, increases the wealth of the middle class, need sick days, that an efficient thing to do, protect prevailing wage.  We can trust safety and quality of well-trained Pennsylvania workers paid prevailing wage.  End payday loans.  Everything is about true economic security.  Reasonable wage.  Good benefits.  Protected workplace.

Schwartz:  If we want to build a prosperous economy in Pennsylvania, steel, railroads, hard work and innovations, new cures the envy of the world.  Unions spread wages to workers, building industry, prosperity, innovation.  Rebuild Pennsylvania economy, rebuild and re-grow middle class, cannot succeed without a middle class.  Increase minimum wage, fair pay for women, prevailing wages, sick leave, use carrot and stick.  If public money is given to corporations we must push them to pay fair wages and benefits.  Use all natural resource to benefit all, use money for education, grow economic opportunities across the state.

McGinty:  Jobs.  I’m here to apply for a job.  As Secretary of Environmental Protection I wanted to create new good jobs.  We need clean energy and environment.  Let’s bring these jobs.  We were #1 in bringing solar and wind jobs, good jobs, pay, benefits.   Choosing between the environment and jobs is a false choice, as is saying wanting a good job risks your current job.  To grow the economy we have to put money in people’s pockets.  Living wage.  Increase minimum wage, index it to inflation.  Right to organize.  Invest in the US.  Job training and skills development programs.  These were cut and we need to restore them.  Families need to be able to afford education.  Colleges need to keep costs under control.  Public projects – jobs going to Pennsylvanians.

Wolf:  I’ve created good jobs.  Only PhD forklift operator in York County.  Bought my company, build it into one of the biggest in its field in the country.  Distributed 20 – 30% annually in profits to employees.  Sick days, living wages.  First thing we have to do is invest in education.  We need an educated workforce.  Recognize we can compete, even in manufacturing.  We can compete on price and quality.

Hanger:  More jobs and better jobs need community organization.  If we want paid sick days we need to mobilize.  It begins with education, 20,000 educators lost their jobs.  Expand Medicaid.  We could have four billion going to our hospitals, good paying jobs.  Green energy.  Create solar and wind jobs.  I know how to create these jobs.  People have trouble getting a job because of unfair convictions.  We are arresting too many people for having a joint in their pocket.  We should legalize marijuana.  Stop arresting African American men at  five times the rate we arrest whites.  That’s how we get schools to jails.

Issue:  Health care

Question:  1) expansion of Medicaid, 2) invest in family health care and maternity care, 3) stop corporatization of health care, 4) ensure quality care, and 5) ensure long term care

Wolf:  This has become about politics and it shouldn’t be.  The governor is trying to destroy the president’s health care plan.  We absolutely need to expand Medicaid.  It is bad for the economy not to have universal health care.

McGinty:  Some issues are hard but when the federal government offers you $4 billion to give citizens health care the only answer is yes.   Increase availability and affordability yes.  All issues on human dignity.

Schwartz:  Hard to talk about health care in 2 minutes.     Personal to all of us.  The governor turned down opportunities, not federal money but our money.  Unacceptable.  Take the money and use it to benefit Pennsylvania.  We have great hospitals, medical schools and nurses.  If you doubt I can do this remember my work on CHIP which became a national mode.  Let’s get it done.

Hanger:  Wrong for people in our state not to have health care.  It is a human right.  Yes to Medicaid expansion but not enough.  We need single payer health care.  My wife is a physician, trained in Philadelphia, and opened a community practice.  We need to include mental health treatment and addiction treatment.  My son committed suicide at age 23 from depression.

McCord:  Human rights, social justice, human dignity, also about efficiency.  Ridiculous not to take Medicaid expansion.  Your movement is fighting a company town program.  [missed something here].  Use new technology, associates degrees, cut costs, seniors able to stay in their homes.  Repair middle class.

Personal observations:  The candidates were very gracious.  In my opinion far too much time was taken up with announcements from the sponsoring organizations and individual comments ["testimonies"] from the audience.  There were a few hecklers in the crowd and at one point two people got onstage with a banner offering their views on a political issue.  The forum stopped for a few minutes while they were escorted off stage.  Of the candidates Rob McCord was the only one to step away from the podium.  Each time he got up to answer the questions he would take the microphone and stand next to it instead of behind it.  He is clearly an experienced and enthusiastic speaker.  

McCord on Memorial Day

from the inbox, a message from State Treasurer Rob McCord:

As we gather together with family and friends this Memorial Day weekend, let us not forget the reason behind this national holiday. Our armed forces put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms we hold dear – they deserve our thanks and they deserve our constant support, in the warzone and on the home front. 

Rob McCord's Mother's Day Message

from the inbox, a Mother's Day note from State Treasurer Rob McCord:

Each day, I am amazed at the care and affection my wife Leigh shows our two sons. This Mother’s Day, I join husbands, fathers, and children across Pennsylvania to celebrate the women who play the important role of mom in our lives.

There are many ways we can express our appreciation to the mothers in our lives – gifts of pampering, some high quality family time, or a meal cooked in her honor. But there is a gift you can give back to your mother that she may not have realized was hers in the first place – unclaimed property from the Pennsylvania Treasury.

Many people don’t realize they have unclaimed property – things like forgotten bank accounts, lost stocks or bonds, or uncashed checks. We estimate that Pennsylvanians have a one-in-10 chance of finding property in their name at www.patreasury.gov, so chances are good that you can find something for mom. This is one time that “re-gifting” won’t land you in the doghouse!

While you are spending time with your mother this weekend, don’t forget to help her find out if she can benefit from these other government programs and services:

·         Homestead Exclusion property tax reduction
·         Property Tax/Rent Rebate
·         PACE and PACENET prescription assistance programs

And please be sure to visit www.patreasury.gov or call 1-800-222-2046 to find out if we are holding any property for the mother you celebrate this weekend. It’s free to search and claim property. If you find something in her name, you can let her know on Sunday that you are helping her put her money back in her wallet!

Rob McCord Now on Twitter

State Treasurer (and likely gubernatorial candidate) Rob McCord is now on twitter.  Follow along at:
https://twitter.com/@RobMcCordPA

McCord Treasury Newsletters

In addition to the McCord Reports, State Treasurer Rob McCord’s office also produces a Treasury Newsletter.    As one might expect, and as the name implies, the newsletters are shorter than the reports.   I read through all of the issues available on the treasury department’s website.   The newsletter page has the first sentence or two of each issue.  It might be a bit redundant but I’ve included some notes from each issue.   There were some interesting quotes that I’ve pulled out and some issues cover more than one topic which the list on the treasury site doesn’t indicate.

According to my calculations there were 6 issues in 2009, 9 in 2010, 6 in 2011, and only 2 in 2012.  Looking at the topics discussed, some trends can be clearly seen.  Topics covered in more than two issues are:

529 college savings plans (4 issues)

Unclaimed property (3 issues)

Women – retirement, small business owners, etc (3 issues)

Green energy programs (3 issues)

Here is a  list of issues and topics, with selected quotes.

2009 June 8

Welcome to the first issue of Treasury’s newsletter – “”As Pennsylvania Treasurer, my first duty is to safeguard and invest the financial assets of the Commonwealth.  Beyond that immediate duty, I also work to ensure that our long-term investments pay the greatest possible dividends for Pennsylvania and its residents.” 

2009 June 19

[announcing the Treasury’s revamped  website patreasury.gov]

2009 July 2

PA Families Don’t Have to Break the Bank to Beat the Heat – Keystone Home Energy Loan Program or Keystone HELP to increase energy efficiency of your home

Attention, College Savers!  Increased Benefits and Tax Advantages in Pennsylvania’s 529 Program

2009 August 6

Announcing that the department has loaded budget symbols and begin processing a payment file on Wednesday and yet still make payments on Friday

Launches Women & Money Project to help PA Women Entrepreneurs Succeed in Today’s Economy – partnering with Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) to host a series of events across the Commonwealth “to help women entrepreneurs find business opportunities in our nation’s new economy and grow their companies.” 

2009 September 17

[report from AFL-CIO convention]

During College Savings Month, Treasurer McCord holds roundtable discussion on college affordability – PA 529 college savings plan

2009 December 24

[suggests families take time for year-end tax planning and provides tips for doing so]

2010 January 15

[encourages people to participate in King Day of Service and provides links to organizations and causes]

2010 March 26

Open for Business – small businesses employ half of the state’s workforce.  New program – Micro-Lending Investment Initiative “to invest $10 million through local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) into small business.”

2010 April 29

Mentions article in Politico that McCord co-authored with CEO of California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the NY State Comptroller who is the sole fiduciary of the NY State common Retirement Fund.  The article starts “Transparency is a cornerstone of our economy.”  It goes on to support the SEC’s guidelines on climate change disclosure.

2010 May 11

State Treasurer McCord Files Suit to Ensure Gaming Control Board Oversight  --  McCord files a lawsuit because GCB denied treasurer access to executive sessions although by law the treasurer is by law an ex officio member.

2010 July 23

Update on Green Investing:  A McCord Treasury Priority – “investing that can both create jobs and preserve a natural world of promise for our children and beyond.”  Later “I believe private investment should be spurred by thoughtful and balanced public policy.  That is why I am proud to report the McCord Treasury Department has formally incorporated environmental considerations into our Investment Policy [link]”  “Calls for increased transparency and improved disclosure of the material risks associated with climate change faced by publicly-traded companies”

2010 August 17

[update on new Bureau of Change Management and Internal Audits]

2010 September 14

[announces www.RetirePA.com, “an online tool to help all Pennsylvanians plan, save and retire with full financial comfort.”]  “Women in particular, should visit RetirePA.com.   Why?  Because women are at a greater financial risk in retirement and may not recognize that risk early enough.”

2010 November 1

Treasury Innovations Improve Pennsylvanian’s Economic  Security – the highlighted programs are the Energy Efficiency Loan Program, the Bureau of Change Management, and the Micro-lending Investment Initiative. 

2010 November 29

Two items:  1) a push for giving kids a 529 College Savings account as a holiday gift, and 2) a suggestion to shop at the Treasury Dept’s eBay store where unclaimed property is sold. 

2011 March 4

Two items:  1) Suggestions for finding and claiming unclaimed property, and 2) Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program applications available

2011 March 28

April 15^th Unclaimed Property Reporting Deadline

Enhance Your Employee Benefits (series of webinars)

2011 August 29

Various notes on the 529 Guaranteed Savings Plans

2011 August 31

Information on the Emergency Homeowner’s Loan Program “to assist homeowners facing the loss of their homes.” 

2011 September 15

[federal and state programs for those affected by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee]

2011 October 6

Helping PA Colleges Go Green, Cut Costs – discusses the Campus Energy Efficiency Fund

2012 February 15

A Message from Treasurer Rob McCord – information on settlement from five major mortgage providers

2012 March 23

$540,000 in unclaimed property for PA schools and schools districts – encourages schools and school districts to check the unclaimed property list and see if anything on the list belongs to them.

Weekend Reading

Patrick Kerkstra of Philadelphia Magazine wrote a profile of Rob McCord, current State Treasurer and possible candidate for governor.  Read "Is Rob McCord the Corbett Slayer?" in the current issue or online.

Patrick Murphy has a new post on the MSNBC site on judicial nominations.  Read "With nominations on hold, justice delayed is democracy denied."

The McCord Report

There have been eight issues of The McCord Report:  a Quarterly Look at Pennsylvania’s Economic Vital Signs, published by State Treasurer Rob McCord and his office.   The issues are available at:  http://www.patreasury.gov/newsMediaMcCordReport.html.  I love the main page for it.  The image bar across the top is a stack of newspapers, some right side up, some upside down.  You can read a word here and there on the fold.  One newspapers has words in two columns showing.  One column has the words “appeared unimpressed” and the other “had little to recommend it.”  The bottom paper has the words “opening three car garages” but it’s upside down so it may be difficult for some people to read.  Personally I just think it’s a very cool graphic.

Now to the issues of the McCord Report.  The title banner on the first issue is blue; it is green on all the others.  There was one issue in 2010, five in 2011, and two in 2012.   All issues include a lot of graphics.  Let’s take a look issue by issue and then summarize.

The first issue is listed as being published on Nov. 15, 2010 but the actual report just says First Quarter 2010-2011 Fiscal Year.   There is an opening statement from McCord:  “As Pennsylvania’s independently-elected chief financial officer, I am uniquely positioned to promote useful conersations about our Commonwealth’s economic health.  My colleagues and I rely on many data points to gauge the temperature of Pennyslvani’s economy, and we offer The McCord Report for those who may be interested in the data we track.”  The issue has a lot of general information – tax revenue, appropriations, gaming revenue, public pensions, unemployment rate in PA as compared to the national average and neighboring states, top 25 PA employers (#1?  Walmart, of the 25, 9 are governmental agencies of some kind, an additional 3 are universities), foreclosure statistics, treasury performance, and 529 college savings plans.  It ends with another statement from McCord.  Here is an excerpt:  “My goal as Treasurer is simple:  to increase the economic security and prosperity of Pennsylvanians any way I can.  Good information fuels that effort, and it seems to me that if I’m interested in data about the economic health of our Commonwealth, you might be too.”

The second issue is listed as being published on Feb. 7, 2011 but the report is dated Second Quarter 2010-11 Fiscal Year.  It has only three pages and focuses on alcohol sales and tax revenue.  There is a sidebar box giving a history of the alcohol tax, which originated as the Johnstown Flood Tax, but was made permanent in 1951.  General data, on pensions, debt, revenue, employment, gaming revenue, investments, and PA Treasury performance is included.  There is a general statement from McCord on the last page.

On April 8th a “special edition” was published.  The opening note from McCord states that it is devoted to one topic:  “privatization of the state’s liquor store system.”  The three page issues does exactly that, with the last page devoted to a “liquor system revenue calculator.”  

The official third quarter issue was published May 16, 2011.  In his statement on the last (4^th) page, he notes that he has recently visited several colleges and universities.  “In this edition, we focus on the issue of state funding for high education as well as related matters.”  Graphics show educational attainment and median earning by education level for Pennsylvania and neighboring states (no shocker here – more education equals greater income).  Additional graphics show state higher education funding vs enrollment (appropriations are dropping but enrollment is skyrocketing).  The issue also provides information on college graduates and debt, education and unemployment, and a few other charts.  It is interesting to note that Pennsylvanians rank 7^th in the nation for average student debt, with an average debt of $27,066.  The last two pages provide standard information on revenues, unemployment and Pennsylvania Treasury performance.  There is also a shaded state map showing Marcellus Shale activity by county. 

That was the last formal quarterly issue, though the reports continued to be called “a quarterly look at Pennsylvania’s economic vital signs,” they were given dates and not labeled by quarters.  The next issue was published August 1, 2011.  The focus of it was transportation, specifically highways and roads.  Quick fact:  Pennsylvania has more than 45,000 miles of public roads, the 5^th most of any state.  Graphics include state/local gasoline taxes as of January 2010, a statewide map showing structurally deficient bridges by county (in SEPA Montgomery and Bucks are in the 30%+ category), PA gasoline consumption, estimated miles driven, regional comparisons for state registration fees, and structurally deficient bridges, liquid fuels tax revenue in Pennsylvania and revenues and expenditures for the motor license fund.  The last page has some general statistics on the PA 529 college savings plan and the usual statement from McCord.

The November 22, 2011 issue focuses on public debt.  There is a simple graphic on the capital budget process, and other visuals on the stat’s debt limit, borrowing cap, annual debt service, the top 10 counties for capital project funding per capita, tax revenues, agency and authority debt, and then general PA Treasury performance.  The last page has the usual statement from McCord – excerpt:  “Ideally, public debt would be used to finance something that has a useful life beyond the borrowing term – or for investments that have a return greater than the cost of capital.” 

The February 22, 2012 issue mixes up the format a bit, with the McCord statement on the first page.  This issue provides a general overview of the first seven months of the fiscal year’s finances.  There are graphics for collections vs estimates, major revenue sources by fiscal year, budget funding sources, foreclosures by county, corporate tax collections, unemployment (several graphs on this), and some general PA Treasury figures.  Interesting takeaways, four counties in the Commonwealth had unemployment rates of 9.5% or higher.  One was Philadelphia.  Another fun fact:  wondering if education is worth the investment?  People with at least a four year college degree have an unemployment rate roughly one third of the percentage of unemployed people with less than a high school diploma.  Stay in school, kids!

The most recent issue is dated June 5, 2012.  It focuses on the Lottery Fund.  Excerpt from McCord’s statement (hidden on the second page):  “It is important that we manage it property, because the Lottery helped seniors get more than 8 million hot meals and nearly 11.4 million low-cost prescription medications in the last fiscal year. “  Graphics include total sales and net revenue, lottery proceeds per senior by county, where the money goes, program benefits, performance comparisons of top 10 US lotteries, information on lotteries of selected other states, followed by some general state economic indicators. 

The graphics in the reports are very well done.  They are informative and attractive, even in black and white printed copies.  My middle-aged eyes had trouble reading some of the fine print, like the names of counties on some of the statewide maps with varied shading by county.   It is easier to read in color online where the images are a little larger.  I can’t tell from a cursory search if McCord is the first Pennsylvania State Treasurer to provide this kind of report but it’s an interesting publication and I hope it is something that continues.