2 compete in 4th District race
McCANDLESS TWP, Allegheny County — With less than two weeks remaining until the primary election, Democratic candidates for the 4th Congressional District Jason Altmire and Georgia Berner spelled out their platforms in their next- to-last candidate's forum.
The winner in the May 16 primary will take on incumbent Republican Melissa Hart in the November general election.
Both Democratic candidates are election newcomers. Berner, of Zelienople, is chief executive officer for Berner International Corp., a manufacturer in New Castle. Altmire, of McCandless Township, is a former health care executive for UPMC and former congressional staffer for Representative Pete Peterson of Florida.
The 4th Congressional District covers all or parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties.
The two candidates spoke Sunday afternoon at the Kearns Spirituality Center on Babcock Boulevard.
The sponsor was the Pittsburgh North People for Peace and the North Hills Collaborative of Women Religious. A final forum is scheduled for Tuesday in Lawrence County.
Altmire said he decided to run because he has heard the frustration out in the public about the direction the government is going.
"I'm also frustrated with what's happening with the county and decided to step off the sidelines," he said.
Berner said she believes she's a consensus builder, a skill she learned as a business women. By listening to her, customers, employees and the industry, she has been able to get things done and grow her business.
"I will listen to the people. I will represent us. The job is representative and I will do that," she said.
Both candidates believe the Bush administration has taken a projected budget surplus and turned it into a budget deficit for the foreseeable future, and that needs to change.
"We've had enough of tax cutting. It has cost us big problems," said Berner, who said the government must be balancing its budget and working within its means.
The 2007 proposed federal budget is horrendous, said Berner, cutting education and social services.
The estate tax, more commonly know as the "death tax," needs to be put back in order, she said.
Altmire said the tax policies of Hart and the Bush administration have been irresponsible and he doesn't see any tax -cutting measures in the near Both believe the new Medicare D program was a bad plan and needs changes immediately.Altmire said Medicare D, the new drug prescription plan for seniors, has been a fiasco. There have been complaints and frustration as seniors are forced into plans they don't understand.He believes the government must reimport drugs from Canada and negotiate group rates like what is done by the Veterans Administration.Berner also said the new Medicare D is "just plain bad and wrong," adding that there is even a provision in the program that doesn't allow the government to negotiate the prices of drugs."We need to start over again (with Medicare Part D)," she said.One of the biggest differences between the two Democratic candidates comes in their views of the topic of abortion.Altmire is pro-life, adding that people should have an obligation to preserve lives and provide all of the necessary services.Berner said she supports a woman's right to chose. She supports providing social services such as the Head Start program for those who chose to keep their children.Gas prices are a problem for the country, both candidates believe, and each thinks the government should be working on viable alternatives.Altmire said he believes there is no short-term solution to the rising gas prices.He believes the government should be convening a "Manhattan Project" group of scientists to be studying the energy issue and come up with viable solutions.He added that the proposed $100 giveback for the rising gas prices is "ludicrous."He believes the government must begin weaning itself from its dependence on gasoline.Berner said the government must pass laws and enforce fines on price gouging.She also believes the government needs to be putting time in researching alternatives to gasoline.Neither, however, believes the country should be drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge for oil because of its low reserves, the cost of setting up a distribution system and limited effects the oil would have on the market price.Both Altmire and Berner also want to preserve the current Social Security system and both believe removing the $92,000 earning cap to contribute to the program is a must.
