Rendell pays visit to Greene County
WAYNEBURG – If elected governor, Democratic candidate Edward G. Rendell says he’ll improve the lives of all residents – urban, rural and agricultural – from the largest cities to the smallest villages. The former mayor of Philadelphia made a campaign stop Saturday morning in Greene County to “keep in touch” with the rural areas of the state.
Rendell, 58, was greeted at the Greene County Fairgrounds by more than 150 supporters, including Greene County Commissioner Farley Toothman, many county row office holders and other local officials. Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites was also among the crowd.
Rendell said he wants to keep young people from leaving the state and finding jobs elsewhere.
“We are losing our most precious asset, our children,’ Rendell said. “For the past eight years, we have watched one generation of children move on, and I don’t want to see the next generation leave because they have been faced with the leadership we have had the past eight years.”
In his campaign strategy, Rendell promises to fully integrate rural needs into economic planning, such as supporting the agriculture industry, and encourage development of the heritage and eco-tourism industries. He wants to lower property taxes, provide prescription help for the elderly and implement major improvements to the education system.
“In Greene County, there are more family-owned farms than large corporate-run farms, and we have to help those farmers to keep up,’ Rendell said.
He said he plans to bring about lower property taxes for farmers and low-interest loans to allow farmers to purchase high-tech equipment to keep up with the changes.
“We don’t want to compromise the farms because the farmer can’t keep up with the big guys,’ he said. “He needs the money to buy new equipment to milk cows and run a farm and they need help from the state.’
Small businesses need help keeping up with the times, Rendell said, and he plans to implement lower taxes and lower-interest loans to help those businesses.
Rendell said Pennsylvania ranks 48th in economic growth and 49th in population growth in the nation.
“I feel with my knowledge, experience and strong commitment to the people of the state, I can make that change,’ he said. “The economic structure has got to change. I want to see progress made in all areas, rural and urban.’
If elected, Rendell said, his first order of business would be to call a special session to revamp state funding for education.
“In 1974-75, there was 55 percent funding for education through the state,’ he said. “Now, it’s down to 34 percent funding, and that needs to change.”
He promised to lower property taxes, dollar for dollar, and generate funds for the schools from other tax coffers, such as the cigarette tax. Rendell said he would take the cigarette tax back from the general fund and earmark it for education.
“We are not penalizing the rich school districts, but I want to bring the poor districts up to the same levels as the rich districts,’ he said. “The best start of education begins in preschool, and I would implement stronger preschools and full-day kindergarten throughout the state.’
Rendell said he wants to see smaller class sizes, a plan that brought loud applause from the crowd.
“I would like to see no more than 15 students in a class,’ he said. “Not only do students have book learning, but they also learn emotional support in the school, and with smaller classes, the teachers would give them that personal support they need.’
In a separate issue, Rendell supports a mass-purchase program for prescription drug-buying for the elderly.
Such a plan has worked in Maine and helps those on low incomes to buy prescriptions needed at reduced costs, he added.
“I would go to the drug companies, ask for a 30 percent discount on drugs and pass those savings onto our elderly,’ he said. “And, if the drug companies don’t want to participate, we could knock their drugs out of the Medicaid program.’
To generate revenue for state prescription plans, Rendell supports putting slot machines at the five racetracks within the state, including The Meadows in Washington County. By doing so, he said, the state could add more to the $1.8 billion already generated from the Pennsylvania Lottery.
However, he doesn’t believe in establishing casinos through private entities.
“We don’t want to go that far,’ he said, although he did suggest Keno in restaurants to help generate additional revenue. “I don’t want to see the 35,000 jobs at the five racetracks lost. …Those racetracks, as well, affect the farmers.’
Residents are flocking to New Jersey, West Virginia and other states to play the slots and gamble, Rendell said, and “we need to keep that revenue here in Pennsylvania.’
Shirl Barnhart, chairman of the Morgan Township supervisors, is a strong supporter of Rendell’s.
“We liked him from the start,’ Barnhart said. “He tells it like it is. He is not afraid to be controversial, and I like that.’
Barnhart, a 13-year veteran of the township board, is also on the executive board of the state board of township supervisors.
“I think he can save jobs, the same as he did when he was mayor of Philadelphia,’ added Barnhart. “We need someone like him who will help with the property tax situation and also to help townships get things done.’
Rendell promised the people in attendance that he would be a hands-on governor.
“I’m not going to sit in Harrisburg and protect my political back,’ Rendell said. “I’m smart enough to know how to spread the economy around.’
Rendell faces Republican Attorney General Mike Fisher in the general election in November. Fisher was scheduled to make an appearance Saturday night at the Jacktown Fair in Wind Ridge, Greene County.