PASHINSKI/HENRY FORUM
Representative Eddie Day Pashinski and challenger Sue Henry squared off in a debate Tuesday night at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes Barre. The debate was civil and gave the audience contrasting views of the two.
Pashinski was polished, methodical and constricted by a time limit. But he tried to explain his views on Property Tax Reform while Henry explained her view on Senate Bill 76.
Pashinski wondered why the GOP with full control of the three branches of government didn’t bring it up. Henry said the time for action was now. She said it was ready to pass, but a Democrat, Senator John Blake, (he of The Lac who is running against Tax Reform advocate Frank Scavo) killed it voting no in committee. By himself! Then Lt Governor Mike Stack ended it by voting no.
On unions, Pashimski hearkened back to the time when collective bargaining helped middle class families. But those union jobs are dwindling and only a few in the audience seemed to be union members. Henry said that middle class families are squeezed by taxes.
On whether to ban teacher’s strikes, Henry said yes. Pashinski again referred back to collective bargaining.
On the new school in Wilkes Barre, Pashinski pointed to the diminished state funds to help school districts. Henry felt that the costs outweighed the benefits and the burden would be on property owners. Henry said taxes would rise tremendously with the new building.
There was one outburst from the audience, the WB Area Superintend of Schools who said something about touring something or the other. He was shouted down.
On the reducing the size of the Legislature, Henry gave a one word answer, “YES!” while Pashinski said State reps need to be closer to the people pointing out that State Senators cover more ground. A reduction in the size he said would cost more money.
The tense part of the forum came when Henry said she would not take the $191.00 a day per dim Pashinski gets. She said she’d get the most economical form of transportation and said she’d have her own retirement plan.
Pashinski called her statement “a shot” and told the assembled crowd (about 125) that he would continue to work hard in the district. He defended his staff and office budget of $335,000 a year.
Reading the crowd, I saw a lot of heads nodding at Henry’s pronouncements. The Pashinski people called Henry rude in her presentation (I honestly didn’t see that!) but the older ladies were “tut tutting” about her. In terms of applause, Pashinski had more support and cheers at the end. So he won the crowd vote but one has to wonder what others who did not clap at the end were thinking.
Those will be the voters who decide this race.
SEE FORUM ON TV TOMORROW
HERE’S A GOOD ONE
MEDIA ADVISORY: PA GOP Chairman Val DiGiorgio to call out Democrats and liberal dark money groups like PA Fund for Change for deceitful ads and mailers being sent across Pennsylvania
This guy is a piece of work. The Democrats can’t even organize a bus ride and they have a deep state? This guy, every time he opens his mouth makes an ass out of himself.