Rendell, Swann hold debate in Pittsburgh

Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell defended his record while his Republican challenger Lynn Swann… Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell defended his record while his Republican challenger Lynn Swann attacked it Wednesday evening in a debate broadcasted live from Point Park University.

The sparring began when Swann said he believes in reform and results, and that Rendell believes in rhetoric. Swann said that it was time for a change.

“We need reform in Harrisburg. We cannot have reform in Harrisburg unless we change governors,” he said. “If you’ve received a 30 percent reduction in your property taxes, then that’s a promise fulfilled. If you haven’t, then again we’re talking about more rhetoric and more Rendell.”

He went on to say that the governor has been on all sides of the pay raise issue. It was only after the people of Pennsylvania protested that Rendell changed his tune, Swann claimed. Swann said some legislators are going to get a 54 percent pay raise while Pennsylvanians get nothing.

On crime, Swann said that if it is such an issue, then why have the Fraternal Order of Police and the state police endorsed him?

Rendell defended himself, saying that the first budget he submitted would have brought a property tax reduction of more than 30 percent if the legislature passed it. With regards to the pay raise, he said he would not accept the pay raise himself before he signed it.

Rendell said it was a mistake to sign the pay raise. He said Swann is a hypocrite, and people should be judged on the totality of their actions rather than by one act.

In reply to Swann’s stab at the crime issue, Rendell parried by saying that he was being endorsed by the police chiefs and then went on to discuss his policy.

Rendell listed some issues on his agenda, including creating cleaner renewable energy, education and property tax reform.

“We have challenges ahead of us, but we also have enormous opportunities, and we’re successfully meeting those opportunities. In the four years ahead, we can take advantage of those opportunities to continue to build a stronger, better Pennsylvania,” he said.

Swann stressed the need for change, including the issues of property tax reform and public safety.

Rendell then said he sympathizes with smokers shivering outside in the cold, but because of the overwhelming evidence that says smoke presents a health risk to non-smokers, he supports a state ban.

“People shouldn’t have to choose whether or not to go into a restaurant or not and absorb secondhand smoke which could give them cancer,” he said.

Swann agreed that smoking is obviously bad for people’s health, and he supports a ban on smoking in all other workplaces throughout the state except in restaurants and bars. He said restaurants and bars should clearly post whether or not they allow smoking so people can choose before entering.

Swann also said he’d like to see evidence of the effect of a smoking ban on casino revenue.

“If you post it, people have a choice of whether to go into the restaurant or not,” he said.

Swann said students attending Pennsylvania state colleges are paying more every year and suggested that state government should be more fiscally smart and conservative about how money is spent.

“Education has to improve across the board,” he said. “We’ll take the steps to ensure affordable education on the college level.”

Rendell said that last year, Pennsylvania had among the lowest tuition increases of any public university system in the country. The state government has increased the subsidy for community colleges, he said.

Rendell also said it is important get to the causes of crime. He said honor students were not criminals and improving education is crucial. He also said state government has to do more to stop drug trafficking and other crimes.

“We need to do more to stop gun violence. We’ve already appropriated money to add 600 police officers on the street,” Rendell said.

Swann said education, jobs, self-esteem and dignity are important, but he asked how Pennsylvanians could have dignity if the state ranks 50th in the welfare-to-work program.

He brought up statistics that show how few black students passed the Advanced Placement tests.

Swann also said there should be a form of dedicated funding for mass transportation. He added that the current administration’s use of funds for mass transit was a mistake because it took money away from highways and bridges.

Rendell admitted that mass transit is a serious problem. He said he had acted by shifting money to take care of the immediate problems, but when he increased the funding for highways and roads, Republicans refused to pass dedicated funding.

When questioned about his tax returns, Swann said he did not make more than one year public because he thought he had achieved the requisite transparency.

“This administration has placed $48 million in the hands of Comcast while [Rendell] was working for Comcast,” he said.

He asked where the transparency was.

Rendell said he had fully disclosed what he was doing to the citizens of Pennsylvania. He said he donated his income from Comcast to charity, and it had created anywhere between 2,000 and 3,500 new jobs.

The verbal sparring between the candidates included each candidate interrupting the other only once. Both candidates agreed citizens who do not have political experience had every right to become gubernatorial candidates.

The candidates also talked about property tax reform, the environment, renewable energy sources, gambling, health insurance, senior care and Pennsylvania’s status as the worst state for business.