Free Press – October 2, 2008

Paul Clymer Nov Election Fourteenth Term

 

Dear Friends,

            Good morning. State Representative Paul Clymer (R-145th) is seeking his 14th term in the state legislature. Paul obviously opposes my views about term limits…he’s served for 28 years. His last serious challenger turned out to be his first. Blake Eisenhart, a Democrat, lost to Paul in a close election in 1980.

            But this year, Paul may be feeling the heat of a newcomer. Tom Peterson is confident that he can upset the long-term representative. The odds are weighted in Paul’s favor because he’s an incumbent and older people tend to do the voting in the 145th  district. The number of voters under age 40, who turn out next month, could decide the outcome.

            Paul commented about the McCain/ Obama race. “I can bond with McCain because he’s a maverick and is willing to stand up against his party,” Paul began. “He’s an independent who’s challenged the establishment.

“I have too,” he says.

            “I opposed casino gambling,” Paul continued. “I opposed my party’s leadership [which supported casinos]. And I also opposed the [illegal] pay raises three years ago. It didn’t make sense for a huge pay raise when my constituents weren’t doing as well. It tarnished both parties. McCain uses the term, maverick, wisely. He’ll put the country first. He’ll deal with special interest [groups].

            I asked Paul about the proudest moments in his 28-year career. One of them concerned gambling. “I joined the effort to defeat the casino operatives and the social disorder that accompanies them,” Paul told me. But his efforts didn’t carry the day.

I didn’t get a chance to have Paul comment on John McCain’s enthusiastic support of the gaming industry. “As a two-time chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Mr. McCain has done more than any other member of Congress to shape the laws governing America’s casinos, helping to transform the once-sleepy Indian gambling business into a $26-billion-a-year behemoth with 423 casinos across the country,” The New York Times wrote (Sept. 28).

The second [proudest moment] concerned a nuclear power initiative in 1983. “I supported nuclear power at Limerick,” he said.

            I asked him about Representative Sam Rohrer’s bill, which would eliminate the school property tax in four years. The Berks County Republican would eliminate the sales tax exemptions for clothing and food, and increase the state personal income tax by .85 percent. Paul supported Rohrer early on but began to worry that the state would not pick up the 500 state school districts’ capital debt.

            I moved to other subjects.

            Would you open the statute of limitation window to allow victims to bring charges against predators, I asked? After the Catholic Church finally dropped its opposition in California and Delaware, those states did just that. In Pennsylvania, the Catholic Church is taking the blame for the legislature’s inability to hold a public vote. “The bills [to open the statute of limitations window for one year] are bottled up in the Appropriations Committee,” Paul told me. “They have no chance in this [legislative] session.”

            Paul co-sponsored a bill with Cathy Watson (R-144) to increase restrictions for junior drivers. House Bill 163 would limit 16 and 17-year-old drivers to transport only one underage passenger under age 18. The only exception would be family members, with parental approval.

“I don’t know why there’s opposition to this bill,” Paul said. “It’s to save lives and injuries.” The American Automobile Association (AAA) supports the bill, but it’s bottled up in the Judiciary Committee.

            For years, I’ve argued that the quality of public education is determined by zip code. Wealthy school districts like New Hope-Solebury have a distinct advantage over schools like Quakertown. Higher property values determine the tax yield. I believe that Pennsylvania could end this disparity by collecting a state school tax and distribute it on a per pupil basis.

“Local control” is a moot point, I say. Teachers’ unions determine the budget and the state education department controls the curriculum. The only power that the local school board has is occasionally selecting the school superintendent…and taking the blame for the annual increase in the school tax.

            Paul Clymer disagrees with me.

            “Local control is best,” he says. “There may be deficiencies, but having a state “Czar” of education is not a good idea. Local people understand the relationships between the school administration, teachers and tax payers.”

            Paul supports “No strike” clauses for all public employees and has co-sponsored legislation. Unfortunately, his measures have not seen success.

            I asked him what legislation he’d propose if he wins another two-year term? He has plans to address four topics.

            “The first is to get a handle on casino gambling,” he told me. “There’ll be 14 casinos in Pennsylvania with 61,000 slot machines. That’s equal to Nevada and larger than New Jersey. We need to amend the existing law, which give the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (BIE) access to criminal background information. My bill would send a monthly statement to a gambler’s family about her/his winning and losing record.

            “Pennsylvania needs energy independence,” Paul continued. “I will support energy independence by promoting clean coal, wind, solar, nuclear, drilling, bio fuels, and more efficient cars. We need less dependence on fossil fuels from foreign countries.”

            In addition, Paul will sponsor health care bills in the next session. He hopes to pass legislation, which will reduce health insurance costs to employees and employers.

            Tort reform is still high on Paul’s wish list. He would limit pain and suffering awards and non-economic damages. As a result, he believes that insurance companies would lower their premiums to hospitals and physicians. “Pennsylvania’s medical schools produce much of the nation’s doctors,” he said, “but we can’t keep them.”

Paul says that young doctors flee Pennsylvania and gravitate to states with lower physician liability premiums. “The clock is ticking,” he added. “We have to get it done in this session.”

Paul Clymer has built his legislative longevity upon the relationship between public service and his constituents. “It’s about constituency service,” he concluded. “I treat each constituent’s problem with interest.”

In just four weeks, we’ll know whether voters agree with him.

            Sincerely,

            Charles Meredith

 

PS. Next week, I’ll report my interview with Tom Peterson, Paul Clymer’s Democratic challenger for the 145th district.