ARTICLE
The three candidates seeking to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress jostled during a forum Tuesday over how to pay for political campaigns, with Democrat Susan Wild drawing critiques from her opponents about her stance on corporate donations. Wild has pledged not to accept campaign money from political action committees representing corporations, describing such donations as “an inherent conflict of interest” for federal lawmakers. “I don’t think politicians should be answering to corporate sponsors,” Wild said during a one-hour taping of WFMZ-TV 69’s “Business Matters.” But Republican Marty Nothstein and Libertarian Tim Silfies raised questions about that position. Nothstein said it was “a bit hypocritical” for Wild, an attorney and former Allentown solicitor, to draw distinctions between corporate donations and other groups that also advocate special interests. “Both of my opponents are very well-financed,” Silfies said, stating that 35 percent of the money that Wild has raised has come from PACs. “So who gives money to those PACs? It’s not a barber in Bath. It’s not a baker in Hellertown. It’s very rich people and companies from all across the country who are trying to get their piece of the pie.” Wild defended the $1.1 million she had raised as of June 30, saying she has received contributions from “value-based PACs” like Planned Parenthood and the League of Conservation Voters that receive small monthly donations from individuals. A review of her campaign finance reports also show donations from the leadership PACs for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other incumbent Democratic lawmakers. Wild in turn criticized Nothstein for accepting contributions from insurance companies and from the National Rifle Association. The back-and-forth on campaign financing came during a forum hosted by Tony Iannelli, president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. It will be broadcast in two parts at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 and 22. It was taped before a live audience at Coordinated Health in Allentown. The candidates are competing for a seat representing Pennsylvania’s 7th District, which includes Lehigh, Northampton and parts of southern Monroe counties.Democrats see the district as one it could flip in the party’s quest to capture 23 Republican seats to take control of the House. Much of the district had been represented since 2005 by Republican Charlie Dent, who retired this year. The district was realigned this year after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared the state’s congressional districts illegally gerrymandered. While the trio sparred on fundraising specifics, they all agreed that political campaigns are extremely expensive. Wild pointed to one potential approach, a pending bill that would trigger public campaign financing if candidates capped their contributions. Nothstein — who has raised about half as much money as Wild — proposed limiting candidates to raising money within the districts where they are running, reiterating his critique that Wild has relied too heavily on out-of-state donations. Before the business-focused crowd, the candidates presented contrasting views of the economy. Nothstein noted the growth of the GDP (gross domestic product) has climbed to 4 percent, and said there are more jobs available “than people willing to work,” saying those economic gains have occurred since Donald Trump’s election. Wild said the economy is great for those who have money to invest in the stock market, but that working families must work several jobs to make ends meet and have no money to invest. And Silfies faulted both Republicans and Democrats as “spending us into oblivion,” arguing America needs something different. The candidates all were critical of the contentious process for confirming Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Nothstein, who supported Kavanaugh’s appointment, called the confirmation battle “an embarrassment,” expressing sympathy for Kavanaugh having to answer the allegations of sexual assault. Wild jabbed him for not expressing sympathy for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a high school party, noting that Ford has faced death threats. She also said the fight showed the lack of civility in Washington, and said she would not support impeaching Kavanaugh. “I’m really not interested in a two-year distraction process known as impeachment of anybody,” Wild said. Silfies again criticized both political parties, saying they were willing to rip apart Kavanaugh and Ford “because they wanted to win.” Asked about a now-closed sexual misconduct investigation against him, Nothstein said he “absolutely could relate” to Kavanaugh. The investigation of Nothstein, who’s also chairman of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, was made public in August when The Morning Call reported on the Lehigh Valley velodrome board’s decision to place Nothstein on unpaid leave from his role as the facility’s executive director after learning of the probe by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in February. “You got to understand in my situation this is a tip that came 11 days after I announced my run for Congress,” Nothstein said. “Do I think it’s a political hit job? I sure do. Do I know where it came from? I don’t.” On Monday, Nothstein filed a lawsuit against The Morning Call and the nonprofit that runs the velodrome and the president of its board of directors, alleging that the article invaded his privacy and was intended to influence the election. The candidates fleshed out where they stand on the legalization of marijuana, and on gun policy. Wild says she favors legalization but called for restrictions, such as not being under the influence while driving. She suggested it could be a source of revenue. She also called for the expansion of medical marijuana so that those being treated in veterans hospitals could use it. Silfies called for legalizing marijuana and, more broadly, ending the war on drugs. Noting that a close friend died of a heroin overdose, he said the addiction must be treated more as a health issue than a crime. Nothstein said he fully supports medical marijuana, but “right now I cannot support legalizing marijuana for recreational use.” “Morally, it doesn’t sit well with me,” he said. As for guns, Wild suggested there should be some limitations to curb gun violence, comparing it to limitations allowed on free speech. Nothstein, a hunter, described himself a Second Amendment supporter who has an NRA A rating, contrasting it with Wild’s “F” rating. Silfies said he’s not a hunter or an NRA member but supports the Second Amendment: “This is something enshrined in the Constitution for a reason." To read the article click here.
The three candidates seeking to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress jostled during a forum Tuesday over how to pay for political campaigns, with Democrat Susan Wild drawing critiques from her opponents about her stance on corporate donations.
Wild has pledged not to accept campaign money from political action committees representing corporations, describing such donations as “an inherent conflict of interest” for federal lawmakers.
“I don’t think politicians should be answering to corporate sponsors,” Wild said during a one-hour taping of WFMZ-TV 69’s “Business Matters.”
But Republican Marty Nothstein and Libertarian Tim Silfies raised questions about that position. Nothstein said it was “a bit hypocritical” for Wild, an attorney and former Allentown solicitor, to draw distinctions between corporate donations and other groups that also advocate special interests.
“Both of my opponents are very well-financed,” Silfies said, stating that 35 percent of the money that Wild has raised has come from PACs. “So who gives money to those PACs? It’s not a barber in Bath. It’s not a baker in Hellertown. It’s very rich people and companies from all across the country who are trying to get their piece of the pie.”
Wild defended the $1.1 million she had raised as of June 30, saying she has received contributions from “value-based PACs” like Planned Parenthood and the League of Conservation Voters that receive small monthly donations from individuals. A review of her campaign finance reports also show donations from the leadership PACs for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other incumbent Democratic lawmakers.
Wild in turn criticized Nothstein for accepting contributions from insurance companies and from the National Rifle Association.
The back-and-forth on campaign financing came during a forum hosted by Tony Iannelli, president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. It will be broadcast in two parts at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 and 22. It was taped before a live audience at Coordinated Health in Allentown.
The candidates are competing for a seat representing Pennsylvania’s 7th District, which includes Lehigh, Northampton and parts of southern Monroe counties.Democrats see the district as one it could flip in the party’s quest to capture 23 Republican seats to take control of the House.
Much of the district had been represented since 2005 by Republican Charlie Dent, who retired this year. The district was realigned this year after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared the state’s congressional districts illegally gerrymandered.
While the trio sparred on fundraising specifics, they all agreed that political campaigns are extremely expensive. Wild pointed to one potential approach, a pending bill that would trigger public campaign financing if candidates capped their contributions.
Nothstein — who has raised about half as much money as Wild — proposed limiting candidates to raising money within the districts where they are running, reiterating his critique that Wild has relied too heavily on out-of-state donations.
Before the business-focused crowd, the candidates presented contrasting views of the economy.
Nothstein noted the growth of the GDP (gross domestic product) has climbed to 4 percent, and said there are more jobs available “than people willing to work,” saying those economic gains have occurred since Donald Trump’s election.
Wild said the economy is great for those who have money to invest in the stock market, but that working families must work several jobs to make ends meet and have no money to invest.
And Silfies faulted both Republicans and Democrats as “spending us into oblivion,” arguing America needs something different.
The candidates all were critical of the contentious process for confirming Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Nothstein, who supported Kavanaugh’s appointment, called the confirmation battle “an embarrassment,” expressing sympathy for Kavanaugh having to answer the allegations of sexual assault.
Wild jabbed him for not expressing sympathy for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a high school party, noting that Ford has faced death threats. She also said the fight showed the lack of civility in Washington, and said she would not support impeaching Kavanaugh.
“I’m really not interested in a two-year distraction process known as impeachment of anybody,” Wild said.
Silfies again criticized both political parties, saying they were willing to rip apart Kavanaugh and Ford “because they wanted to win.”
Asked about a now-closed sexual misconduct investigation against him, Nothstein said he “absolutely could relate” to Kavanaugh. The investigation of Nothstein, who’s also chairman of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, was made public in August when The Morning Call reported on the Lehigh Valley velodrome board’s decision to place Nothstein on unpaid leave from his role as the facility’s executive director after learning of the probe by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in February.
“You got to understand in my situation this is a tip that came 11 days after I announced my run for Congress,” Nothstein said. “Do I think it’s a political hit job? I sure do. Do I know where it came from? I don’t.”
On Monday, Nothstein filed a lawsuit against The Morning Call and the nonprofit that runs the velodrome and the president of its board of directors, alleging that the article invaded his privacy and was intended to influence the election.
The candidates fleshed out where they stand on the legalization of marijuana, and on gun policy.
Wild says she favors legalization but called for restrictions, such as not being under the influence while driving. She suggested it could be a source of revenue. She also called for the expansion of medical marijuana so that those being treated in veterans hospitals could use it.
Silfies called for legalizing marijuana and, more broadly, ending the war on drugs. Noting that a close friend died of a heroin overdose, he said the addiction must be treated more as a health issue than a crime.
Nothstein said he fully supports medical marijuana, but “right now I cannot support legalizing marijuana for recreational use.” “Morally, it doesn’t sit well with me,” he said. As for guns, Wild suggested there should be some limitations to curb gun violence, comparing it to limitations allowed on free speech. Nothstein, a hunter, described himself a Second Amendment supporter who has an NRA A rating, contrasting it with Wild’s “F” rating.
Silfies said he’s not a hunter or an NRA member but supports the Second Amendment: “This is something enshrined in the Constitution for a reason." To read the article click here.