The LuLac Edition #623, Oct. 31st, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: STATE REPRESENTATIVE KAREN BOBACK AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER RUSS BIGUS.

Going to the candidate's debate.

Laugh about it, shout about it

When you've got to choose

Every way you look at this you lose.

DEBATE: THE 117TH

Thursday night, incumbent Representative Karen Boback and her Democrat opponent Russ Bigus squared off at a debate at the Crestwood Area High School. Both agreed on the issues facing the district but had different methods of getting to a conclusion. Here are some of the highlights:

POLICE PROTECTION

BIGUS

Set up satellite police stations and give more power to the county Sheriff’s department to help out with law enforcement.

BOBACK

Develop more incentives for regional police forces.

TEACHER’S STRIKES

BIGUS

Told the audience to lock the bargaining parties up until they reach an agreement. Mandatory sequestering was the term he used.

BOBACK

Mentioned that the powerful legislative educational interests would not allow that and instead proposed re-submitting her legislation to forma study committee to see how other states avoid teacher strikes.

THE ECONOMY

BIGUS

Floated a curious proposal to let work study students trained to take over new industrial jobs created through tax incentives.

BOBACK

Essentially said large businesses and factories were not going to locate in the Back Mountain. She said the area could be a residential haven for its employees and pointed to places like Benton and Tunkhannock as places that typify Smalltown, U.S.A.

HEALTH CARE

BIGUS

Bigus said he would make health care reform a priority. He proposedallowing students to stay on their parents' health insurance plans untilage 30 instead of 25, and putting teachers in the health care pool withother state employees.

BOBACK

Boback said there needs to be more competition, particularly for thelarge insurers like Blue Cross/Blue Shield. That will lead to morecompetitive pricing, she believes. She said the legislature also needsto look at factors that drive costs up, such as frivolous lawsuits.

GUNS

BOBACK

Did everything but dress up as Annie Oakley in saying that she supported sportsmen’s groups and supported the rights of gun owners. She garnered the endorsement of the NRA.

BIGUS

Doing everything but wearing a coonskin cap and carrying a rifle, Bigus countered that he was a 25 year member of the NRA and had an A rating from them.

CONCLUSIONS

Bigus is a former Republican turned Democrat in a highly numbered GOP district. Both agreed more than disagreed. This reminded me of a primary debate. Advantage: Boback in terms of incumbency.