Murtha, Choby to square off in upcoming election
Republican challenger Bill Choby claims residents within the 12th Congressional District deserve a representative in Washington that will better serve their needs, not one that continues to allow the area to be plagued with unemployment, government overspending and overtaxing. The man he is hoping to unseat, incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. John Murtha, said the area is improving and will continue to do so if he is elected to a 15th term in office.
The two men will square off for the fifth time in the Nov. 5 general election to represent the redrawn 12th District that now includes all of Greene County and portions of Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
“He may be a good politician, but he’s a lousy public servant,” said Choby, a dentist from Johnstown when discussing his opponent’s 28 years in office. “Our economy in this region is deteriorating; Johnstown, alone, has lost 2,000 jobs since January and the future doesn’t look any better.”
Choby said if elected he would recommend the area look to its natural resources as a way to bring in business and expand employment.
Noting the national and international exportation of hardwood trees, Choby said the area could easily become the hardwood manufacturer of the world.
“We transport our black cherry and red oak hardwood trees to Japan, France, Italy, China and Germany, not to mention other states within our own country,” said Choby. “They turn it in to a finished product and then sell it back to us; we should be manufacturing the goods and selling it to them.”
If elected, Choby said he would follow in the footsteps of U.S. Rep. Frank Mascara and push for the completion of the Mon/Fayette Expressway.
“This is the best way government can stimulate growth,” he said.
Internationally, Choby said he supports the president’s efforts concerning the war on terrorism and would stand behind any U.S. military action in Iraq.
“We cannot afford another attack on American soil,” said Choby. “Saddam Hussein has a history of being lawless and dangerous; with their history of sacrificial violence anything is possible with these people.”
Concerning his chances of defeating Murtha, Choby said polling figures from past elections continue to improve and he believes voters are looking for a change in who represents them in Washington.
“I’m passionate about what I do; I believe in these things,” he said. “I’ve shown a 12-year track record (in pursuing the office) and have been consistent in my stance on the issues.
“I’m pro-life, pro-gun and pro-faith and I’ve been against bigger government and in favor of tax cuts. I believe I could do this job better than it is being done.”
Murtha, meanwhile, said his record regarding the creation of jobs, development of infrastructure and improvement in the quality of life within the 12th Congressional District along with his continued fight for a prescription drug plan, improved health care and a strong national security program is reason for voters to pull his lever when they step into the polling booth.
“My record in Fayette County is clear,” said Murtha. “I played a key role in attracting Sony and the American Video Glass factory, which employs over 500 people from Fayette County.
“I’m working to make Fayette County the national center for the Surface Ship Torpedo Defense program, which has already created a few dozen jobs and should over the next two years produce as many as 300 jobs; I attracted the United Defense plant with over 100 jobs and funding for industrial parks, sewers and water projects that have resulted in several hundred additional jobs.
“My next economic development priorities are the South Union Township business park, airport upgrades and the completing of the Mon/Fayette Expressway.”
Murtha said he is a strong supporter of the Yough River Trail, the Great Allegheny Passage system and the Sheepskin Trail in addition to environmental improvements along Indian Creek and Redstone Creek where mine drainage has caused pollution.
“Nationally, I’ve been in the forefront in directing additional funds into homeland security initiatives long before Sept. 11, 2001,” he said. “I emphasize taking care of the brave men and women who serve this great nation, both during their service and afterwards through good veterans benefits.”
Murtha said he would continue to push for a Medicare package that would meet the needs of the older residents.
“I hear repeatedly from older Americans, from working people, from nurses and other health care workers about increasing problems in our health care systems that are resulting from inadequate payments under Medicare and Medicaid,” he said. “Payments must be brought more in line with actual costs; we can’t expect health care providers to continue to make up their losses on Medicare and Medicaid patients by finding money someplace else.
“We also need to pass a meaningful prescription drug plan under Medicare, not the farce of a plan they brought up recently that leaves the drug companies in control. We need to face the fact that 42 million Americans still have no health care insurance, which places a huge strain and burden on these families and on the health care system that often gets left with unpaid costs.”