Rendell, Swann harmonize in Philadelphia debate
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PHILADELPHIA -- Gov. Ed Rendell and political rival Lynn Swann found a bit of common ground last night during their third and most cordial face-to-face meeting.
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The Legislature is too big, political terms should be limited and the state should fund arts and cultural programs, they agreed.
They remain on opposite sides, though, when it comes to tax reform and gun control, an issue Mr. Rendell pressed at every opportunity during the televised debate at ABC's Philadelphia affiliate, WPVI.
He said Mr. Swann's support of one-gun-a-month legislation would ensure passage.
"I urge Mr. Swann to have a press conference with me to show that the leading Republican and the leading Democrat support one gun a month," Mr. Rendell said. Straw purchasers are buying guns in bulk and selling them to criminals who cannot legally buy them, he said.
Mr. Swann said there are sufficient gun laws already. The problem is a lack of enforcement, he said, adding that he would not accept Mr. Rendell's invitation to hold a joint press conference.
"It was a good evening," Mr. Swann said after the debate. "He's asking for my help, so he does realize I have some leadership qualities and abilities."
Mr. Swann said he prefers violence prevention plans that emphasize education and economic opportunity.
"Guns don't cause the crime. It's the lack of hope, the lack of opportunities in jobs. If you increase opportunities you create more hope," he said.
The candidates agreed that career politicians aren't getting the job done because they are hamstrung by political ties and favors owed.
"We need change," said Mr. Swann, a former Steelers wide receiver and sportscaster who has not run for office before.
Mr. Rendell said he has talked to legislators who support the one-gun-a-month legislation but won't vote for it because of political repercussions in their districts.
"We need to get citizen soldiers in Pennsylvania, not [career politicians who are] more interested in protecting their longevity than doing the right thing," he said.
Mr. Swann smiled.
"I think the governor just endorsed me," he quipped.
The two also agreed that the 253-person Legislature is too large.
Mr. Swann called for immediate action, while Mr. Rendell said the reduction should occur in 2010, during a scheduled redistricting.
The debate panelists -- three Philadelphia journalists -- asked a broad range of questions, including whether the candidates would support arts, culture and zoos. The Philadelphia Zoo is losing its elephants to the Baltimore Zoo because it couldn't raise enough funds for an exhibit.
The state already provides grants and funding, including $100 million recently for arts and cultural venues in Philadelphia, but needs to do more, Mr. Rendell said.
Mr. Swann agreed.
"We need places for kids to experience a variety of things," he said. "We have to make sure life is about more than just the basics."
Mr. Swann criticized the state's gaming law, which Mr. Rendell helped craft. He said it would not create the jobs or revenue the governor has promised.
Mr. Rendell said gaming revenue will be used to offset property taxes and that casinos would inspire economic growth.
"Gambling is certainly not a panacea, and we've driven our economy to new heights without gambling, but gambling can help. It can stabilize 30,000 jobs in the horse racing industry that we were going to lose if we didn't expand gambling," he said.
Gambling revenue, he said, will be used to reduce property taxes. Already, a law he signed in June will eliminate property taxes for 250,000 senior citizens and reduce taxes for more.
"We wanted to deepen the cut, but we couldn't get it through the Legislature," he said.
Mr. Swann said the rebates are only a short-term solution.
"If you get a little money today, fine, but in the future your property tax bill can go up," he said. "We need more predictable property taxes going forward."
His own plan would tie property taxes to the purchase price of a home and prevent increases of more than 3 percent per year.
Mr. Rendell attacked the plan.
It is "not predictable because it depends on [having a state budget] surplus. Some years we will have a surplus and some years we won't," Mr. Rendell said. "His plan is based on California's Proposition 13. It's been a disaster in California."
Mr. Swann said the state hasn't done enough to close the achievement gap between black and white high-school students. Mr. Rendell, meanwhile, cited improvements on standardized test scores and said progress is being made, although not fast enough.
First Published October 11, 2006 12:00 am
