Challengers Town Hall forum at Luzerne County Community College
April 10, 6:10 PM Scranton Public Policy Examiner Steve Urbanski
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Reported live from Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.

"We are putting incumbents on notice. Your days are numbered," said Michael Harrison (dressed as Patrick Henry) of the Campaign for Liberty as he opened the Challengers Town Hall event at 6:30pm, Saturday evening April 10th. A crowd of 60 people cheered lower taxes, the free enterprise system, and a return to constitutional values at Luzerne County Community College.

Candidates in attendance were Jake Towne, Independent 15th Congressional; Lou Barletta, GOP PA 11th Congressional; Dave Madeira, 10th Congressional; Sam Rohrer, GOP governor; Peg Luksik, GOP US Senate; Betsy Summers, Libertarian 14th Senate; Tim Mullen, Libertarian 120th House; Brian Bergman, Libertarian 119th House; and James O'Meara, GOP 121st House.

"We are on a dangerous course. It's not just the Democrats, but the big government Democrats," said Towne. "Need to repeal and remove the $1 trillion "tax" of the health care. The economic mess we're in today is due to excess federal spending. We cannot print our way to prosperity."

"The majority of the challenges that face the commonwealth have not accrued overnight," said Rohrer. "Tax are too high. We must reduce capital stock and franchise tax to help create jobs. We have to reduce corporation income tax two points. Pennsylvania needs to be a right to work state, and because it is not is the major reason why Pennsylvania loses jobs."

"2010 allows us to drive away from the precipice instead of driving into it," said Luksik. "When I say I am pro life, I am pro life without exception."

Luksic's biggest round of applause came when she called for repeal of the 16th Amendment. The 16th Amendment, passed in 1913 and allowed for the federal government to tax income. She said income tax revenues should be replaced by a "consumption tax." A consumption tax is a tax on spending on goods and services.

Barletta started his talk with a brief history of the beginnings of his political career, but quickly moved to the story of how crimes by illegal immigrants in Hazleton lead him to the forefront of the fight against illegal immigration. He spoke of how felt that the federal government wasn't addressing the illegal immigration problem, so he decided to do something about it.

"This country will not be saved by Uncle Sam," said Barletta as he began to address the issues facing the 11th Congressional district. "It will be saved by the Moms and Pops across this great country."

"I have a message for Nancy Pelosi," Barletta said "I'll keep my guns, my God, and my money, and you can keep the change."

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