Press Release
Democratic Senate Candidates Challenge Harrisburg Status Quo
October 10, 2008
HARRISBURG—The Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee held a conference call this afternoon to discuss the fall legislative session. The call featured three candidates running against members of the Senate Republican leadership: John Linder, 9th District; P.J. Symons, 29th District; and Judy Hirsh, 15th District. Each candidate talked about an important issue in his or her district that the Senate has failed to address adequately.
Linder, whose district includes parts of Chester and Delaware Counties, spoke about health care.
"I am very disappointed that my opponent, Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, led Senate Republicans’ opposition to all of the compromise proposals put forth by Governor Rendell and House Democrats," Linder said. "Cover All Pennsylvanians became the ABC Plan and then Model E, but Senator Pileggi still would not insure a single more Pennsylvanian. That is a disgrace, and I will right that wrong in Harrisburg."
Symons, whose district includes parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill Counties, spoke about electric deregulation.
"As the recent worldwide economic crisis has illustrated, we cannot just strip away governmental regulation and let the market run its course," Symons said. "But that is what my opponent, seven-term incumbent James Rhoades, has advocated for decades. I am very disappointed that he was one of only three Senators to vote against House Bill 2200. That is a slap in the face of the working families in my district who will have trouble coping with electric rate increases that could exceed 35% next winter."
Hirsh, whose district includes parts of Dauphin and York Counties, spoke about job creation and economic development.
"Offering tax incentives to manufacturing companies would help to create and keep jobs here in Pennsylvania," Hirsh said. "In addition, for those who have lost their job, we must offer vocational training to help get them back on their feet. I also will support measures that regulate practices that would defraud working families of their earnings. This includes Senate Bill 100, which would allow for easier prosecution of home improvement fraud. Sadly, my opponent, former Senate Majority Whip and Consumer Protection Committee member Jeff Piccola, was the only Senator to oppose this bill in 2007."