Kate Harper has not lost touch with her constituents...I've never seen a rep more in touch with the pulse of her base than Harper. She goes so far as to take unpopular positions, party-wise(she doesn't always vote how I'd like to see her vote on gun issues) because she feels they are important to the people in her district. This shows me that she does,in fact, listen to her constituents and that her base does influence her voting record in the House, as it should. She's a stand-up lady with a set. Why wouldn't the people of the 61st re-elect Kate Harper? Read on:
By: TERRI ALDERFER, For The Herald 07/22/2008
WHITPAIN - Representative Kate Harper, R-61st Dist., defended her connection with her constituents against accusations by Democratic candidate Frank Custer that she has lost touch with them and environmental issues at a candidates' night event at Normandy Farms Estates.
Residents of the ACTS retirement life community in Blue Bell gathered to pose critical questions to the candidates for Pennsylvania's 61st Legislative District seat, Harper, the incumbent Republican, and Custer.
Both candidates are fighting for a seat in Harrisburg in the upcoming Nov. 4 election and began the evening pitching their individual qualifications, followed by a question and answer period open to all residents of the community.
While most residents were familiar with Harper, the incumbent of seven years, Custer took the opportunity to explain why he thinks he could "do a better job in Harrisburg." Referring to Harper, Custer said that when politicians are in office too long, "they get in a bubble and they start to lose touch." Specifically, he said that Harper had lost touch with environmental issues in the 61st District.
Harper denied the accusation, stating that her "primary areas of concern are the environment and transportation." Harper said that in addition to her focus on the environment, she has been working to obtain sound barriers along the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and working with individual land owners whose properties are being affected by the turnpike widening, the widening of Route 202, and the Route 309 project.
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"I've worked on all of them," she said.
An issue of concern amongst several residents was the lack of a Cost of Living Adjustment for members of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System.
Al Momorella, a retired Pennsylvania school employee, asked Harper to give him an honest and up-to-date assessment relative to the COLA for retired educators.
Harper said she has supported a COLA for teachers who are long retired "because they were working in times when salaries were not so good and their pensions are consequently smaller."
However, she explained that in 2011 there is going to be a crisis in the pension fund as the state increases its cohort of citizens over 65.
"The pension funds across the board are feeling the stress of the baby boomers coming into the system and not having enough people to earn the money," she said.
Harper concluded that if a potential bill were limited to those teachers long retired, the government might be able to afford a COLA this year, however, any bill that covers people who retired after 2003 would be "too expensive for the fund to bear."
In the face of rising oil prices, one resident expressed skepticism about a "real energy plan" noted in Custer's handouts that reduces dependence on foreign oil.
"As far as I'm concerned, this is the most critical problem we have today," said resident John Vogel, a retired mechanical engineer. Vogel asked each of the candidates how they would support a "real energy plan."
Custer responded by highlighting the inaction of the federal government on the issue.
"Gasoline was getting expensive back in 2001 and everyone could see the gathering clouds and nothing has been done," he said.
Although government at the state level may not be able to influence where Americans get their oil, they can act as "test tubes" and encourage the development of alternative fuel sources, such as wind and hydrogen, by giving tax incentives to people to develop these sources of energy, Custer said.
Highlighting that conservation has to be a part of any energy strategy, Harper said as a result of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard, an act passed in November 2004 all power suppliers are required to buy a certain increasing percentage of renewable energy each year.
One resident said he does not drive much anymore, not because of the high gas prices, but because he is "afraid to drive over Pennsylvania bridges." He asked the candidates where the money is going to come from to fix these infrastructures.
Harper suggested tolling the roads on Interstate 80 in order to fund the necessary work on that interstate, relieving the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation of "about $100 million a year to take care of it." This, she said, would free up other funds for fixing infrastructures such as bridges.
Both candidates stated they were against Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to lease the turnpike for the purpose of raising money for state transportation projects.
Vogel said he attended the event to get the views of both candidates, but he supports Kate Harper.
"She has worked hard to get us parks and recreations, she listens to environmental concerns ... I think Kate has her finger on the pulse of the public," he said.
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