ARTICLE
Candidates for the congressional seat that represents the northern part of Berks County offered their thoughts on issues from college affordability to taxes to foreign relations in a televised debate Tuesday. Vying for the seat in the 15th Congressional District are Republican incumbent Charlie Dent and two challengers: Democrat Richard Daugherty and Libertarian Paul Rizzo. The candidates faced off before a studio audience at PBS 39's Public Media Center in Bethlehem. The hour-long debate was organized by the station, the Morning Call of Allentown, Muhlenberg College and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Dent, 56, of Allentown is seeking a seventh term. Daugherty, 55, of Lehigh County is executive director of a senior center. And Rizzo, 42, of Northampton County is a telecommunications worker. Dent touted his bipartisan efforts in Congress and leadership in crafting federal budget bills. "We need people in the U.S. Capitol who know how to work together to find solutions to problems," he said. Daugherty said his top priority would be reversing trade deals he said have resulted in job losses here and an escalation of China's power. "I'm running for Congress to bring our jobs back," he said. "That's the solution to most of our problems." And Rizzo said he'd bring an everyday person's perspective to Washington and offer different solutions than the major-party candidates. "You can vote for the illusion of a choice or you can vote for real change," he said. Asked about the presidential race, Daugherty said he supports Democrat Hillary Clinton and Rizzo expressed support for Libertarian Gary Johnson. Dent, who's publicly called on Republican Donald Trump to drop out of the race, said he's unhappy with the choices and is considering casting a write-in ballot. On trade, Daugherty and Rizzo said international pacts have hurt American workers and they would seek to reverse them. Dent said the U.S. must help shape trade arrangements to advocate for its interests and prevent another nation, such as China, from setting the rules. On health care, Daugherty called the federal Affordable Care Act a step in the right direction and said he'd seek changes to improve upon it. Dent and Rizzo disagreed. Dent favored repealing the law and replacing it with another aimed at reducing costs. Rizzo favored repealing the law and leaving cost management up to private sector competition. On foreign policy, all three candidates supported safe zones in civil war-torn Syria. Dent said the U.S. must strengthen its role as a global leader. Daugherty said China should not be overlooked as a major threat. And Rizzo said he'd like to see the U.S. ultimately disengage from the Middle East. While the tone was largely civil, there were a few tense moments as Dent and Daugherty confronted one another. Daugherty sought to cast Dent as a career politician whose top interest is getting re-elected. Dent accused Daugherty of trivializing the role of Congress and being misguided on trade and health care. Rizzo, meanwhile, pushed the other two candidates to pledge opposition to out-of-balance spending plans and increases in the national debt. Both declined, saying they'd seek to balance federal spending but that it must be done over time. The debate will be rebroadcast by Pennsylvania Cable Network at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Read the full article here.
Candidates for the congressional seat that represents the northern part of Berks County offered their thoughts on issues from college affordability to taxes to foreign relations in a televised debate Tuesday. Vying for the seat in the 15th Congressional District are Republican incumbent Charlie Dent and two challengers: Democrat Richard Daugherty and Libertarian Paul Rizzo.
The candidates faced off before a studio audience at PBS 39's Public Media Center in Bethlehem. The hour-long debate was organized by the station, the Morning Call of Allentown, Muhlenberg College and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Dent, 56, of Allentown is seeking a seventh term. Daugherty, 55, of Lehigh County is executive director of a senior center. And Rizzo, 42, of Northampton County is a telecommunications worker.
Dent touted his bipartisan efforts in Congress and leadership in crafting federal budget bills.
"We need people in the U.S. Capitol who know how to work together to find solutions to problems," he said.
Daugherty said his top priority would be reversing trade deals he said have resulted in job losses here and an escalation of China's power.
"I'm running for Congress to bring our jobs back," he said. "That's the solution to most of our problems."
And Rizzo said he'd bring an everyday person's perspective to Washington and offer different solutions than the major-party candidates.
"You can vote for the illusion of a choice or you can vote for real change," he said.
Asked about the presidential race, Daugherty said he supports Democrat Hillary Clinton and Rizzo expressed support for Libertarian Gary Johnson.
Dent, who's publicly called on Republican Donald Trump to drop out of the race, said he's unhappy with the choices and is considering casting a write-in ballot.
On trade, Daugherty and Rizzo said international pacts have hurt American workers and they would seek to reverse them. Dent said the U.S. must help shape trade arrangements to advocate for its interests and prevent another nation, such as China, from setting the rules.
On health care, Daugherty called the federal Affordable Care Act a step in the right direction and said he'd seek changes to improve upon it. Dent and Rizzo disagreed. Dent favored repealing the law and replacing it with another aimed at reducing costs. Rizzo favored repealing the law and leaving cost management up to private sector competition.
On foreign policy, all three candidates supported safe zones in civil war-torn Syria. Dent said the U.S. must strengthen its role as a global leader. Daugherty said China should not be overlooked as a major threat. And Rizzo said he'd like to see the U.S. ultimately disengage from the Middle East.
While the tone was largely civil, there were a few tense moments as Dent and Daugherty confronted one another.
Daugherty sought to cast Dent as a career politician whose top interest is getting re-elected. Dent accused Daugherty of trivializing the role of Congress and being misguided on trade and health care.
Rizzo, meanwhile, pushed the other two candidates to pledge opposition to out-of-balance spending plans and increases in the national debt. Both declined, saying they'd seek to balance federal spending but that it must be done over time.
The debate will be rebroadcast by Pennsylvania Cable Network at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Read the full article here.