For likely the only time in their 37th District state Senate race, Democrat Pam Iovino and Republican D. Raja appeared side-by-side at a candidate forum Wednesday night, splitting on social issues but finding common ground on jobs creation and guns.
In a packed ballroom in Moon, the candidates in the April 2 special election described themselves as different characters with different visions: Ms. Iovino, a pro-union, pro-public-education Navy veteran whose career in bipartisanship and public service will give her the right mindset to bring to Harrisburg, and Mr. Raja, a first-generation immigrant whose experience owning and growing a business will allow him to make sure the next generation has the same opportunities.
Some of their differences were obvious. Ms. Iovino said she supports legalizing recreational marijuana with regulations; Mr. Raja is against it altogether. Ms. Iovino is pro-abortion rights, Mr. Raja is against abortion. Mr. Raja "loves" the idea of privatizing state stores; Ms. Iovino doesn't, saying that the system is not broken and doesn't need to be fixed.
And the issue that has proved to be their starkest difference in the campaign so far -- a proposed severance tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling -- played out again.
Mr. Raja again cited the "tremendous potential" in Marcellus Shale and how capitalizing on the opportunity of natural gas in an "environmentally safe manner" without a severance tax could help fund public education and create jobs.
Ms. Iovino said the state needs to find a way to have half of education funding come from the state and half from local real estate property taxes, and mentioned the severance tax as a means to that end.
The potential of the energy sector was so prevalent in Mr. Raja's answers that, when asked about the opioid epidemic, he said that in addition to cracking down on people who sell opioids to young people, he thinks that having more family-sustaining jobs in the region will make it so "families stay together and spend more time with their children."
But the two candidates, both from Mt. Lebanon, struck a similar tone on how to attract businesses to the region. In addition to seeing more opportunity in the renewable energy sector, Ms. Iovino talked about how the corporate net income tax in Pennsylvania is too high.
But before looking at that, she said, the state needs to end such things as the Delaware loophole, through which corporations transfer their revenue to holding companies in lower-tax jurisdictions.
"We have to close these loopholes," Ms. Iovino said. "Then we can lower the corporate tax rate which would stimulate and attract businesses to come to an area, and everybody start paying their fair share."
Ms. Iovino also said she supports reducing regulations so start-ups can get traction and a foothold in the region.
But Ms. Iovino wanting to lower taxes to lure companies is "ironic," Mr. Raja said, when she supports a severance tax as well. He also talked of easing regulations and bureaucratic red tape -- describing himself as a "visionary" who has the experience to attract start-ups and small businesses.
They also found similar ground on guns, specifically about a House bill in Pennsylvania that would require gun owners to annually register the make, model and serial numbers of every gun they own.
Ms. Iovino said the bill sounds "onerous" in its current form, and not something that "promotes sensible gun safety" -- even though she said she hasn't read the language of the bill. Mr. Raja said the answer to mass shootings isn't more gun control, but looking at the root cause: How to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and treat mental illness.
Both candidates spent time describing their approaches to problem-solving. To a question about the UPMC-Highmark dispute, Mr. Raja said he'd bring the two to the table and work out a solution. In her answers, Ms. Iovino spent time describing the problem at hand and detailing the options she'd consider to solve it.
"The Iovino choice comes with somebody who will fight for our economy and workforce development and family-sustaining wages and always making sure that unions are able to organize in those workplaces," Ms. Iovino said in closing, "someone who will fight for funding our public education so that our students have what I had, and that is a great launching pad so they are prepared for whatever life brings them, that they can reach their potential."
"The role of state senator is to manage a large budget -- $33 billion, $34 billion. I've managed large budgets," Mr. Raja said. "Policies for family sustaining jobs, I've created jobs, 500-plus American jobs. Reforms and education, all of those. My background of creating jobs, cutting taxes and implementing reforms makes me uniquely qualified. You gave me the opportunity to succeed for the past 32 years, I ask for the opportunity to serve you as your next state senator."
The district covers Allegheny County’s western and southern suburbs and Peters in Washington County. The winner of the special election will replace Guy Reschenthaler, a Republican who was elected to Congress.
First Published: March 21, 2019, 2:20 a.m.
