Schwartz and Lautenberg Discuss Seniors, Education
In a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13th District), Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), discussed the differing views of the presidential candidates.
Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13th District), Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), held a joint press conference Tuesday afternoon on the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse.
Schwartz began by saying with the selection of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s running mate, “We did want to talk about the really strong contrast between the visions for our country and the way we're going to get there."
She added, “There is such a stark contrast on priorities and choices.”
She highlighted seniors, specifically medicare, as well as education as some of those differences.
Schwartz told those who gathered that Romney and Ryan are campaigning on the idea that tax cuts for the wealthy will create a stronger economy for the whole.
"We know this is not true,” she said.
“President Obama believes that we need an economy built to last, that's built from the middle class out, not top down,” said Richards.
Schwartz and Ryan are both members of the budget committee, and have worked together in that committee for the past eight years. Schwartz said of Ryan, "I have seen time and time again [Ryan] vote against a more balanced approach to balancing the budget and to protecting the investments in our future and our promises to our seniors."
Schwartz discussed the Ryan plan to make Medicare a voucher system, and effectively “end Medicare as we know it."
Richards said of the Romney/Ryan plan, “Seniors are going to be hurt badly, and your children and grandchildren are not going to be doing much better.”
She added that while she has been in Congress, the fiscal life of Medicare has been extended by eight years by making it more efficient and strengthening benefits to Medicare beneficiaries while cutting fraud and wasteful spending. She said they are saving “dollars in the right way.”
On the topic of education, Schwartz said, “I have watched Paul Ryan on the budget committee time and time again, to choose the wealthiest oil companies, the wealthiest 1 or 2 percent of Americans, over funding for childcare, preschool and basic education, and access to higher education. Taking dollars away from student loan programs, taking dollars away from early childhood [programs]."
Richards said Obama has signed into law the student loan reform, which makes it easier for students to pay for college; expanded Pell grants, which helps three million students with grants to pay for higher education; and gives families tax breaks to help afford paying college tuition.
“[Obama is] helping prepare people for good paying jobs,” said Richards.
Richards continued, saying that the Ryan plan cuts 20 percent per year from education funding to help “fund historic tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.” The cuts will “cut $186 million from K-12 education and makes higher education less affordable."
“[Obama understands] that education is not a luxury,” she said.
Lautenberg, a senator from New Jersey, said the two states are similar: common cultures, and a strong middle class.
He said, “You can’t build a house from the chimney on down,” but need to focus on the foundation and build up, “the same for our country.”
He said that Romney and Ryan believe the opposite, “like a reverse Robin Hood,” he added, take from the middle class and the seniors and give to the wealthy, he explained.
“They want to impoverish the middle class,” said Lautenberg.
“These guys bring a different kind of bologna, you can’t eat it, but you can smell it,” said Lautenberg.
“[The Romney plan] is asking the middle class to bear so much of the burden,” Schwartz said.
“"They do not stand for us, they do not stand for middle class families,” said Richards.
Joe
4:58 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The stark contrast between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan is that Ryan can put a cogent sentence together and will not ask a man in a wheelchair to stand up and take a bow.
Wow, the govenment took over student loans. Is it easier to get a loan, probably not. Will it be easier to default on a student loan, probably YES!! This administration keeps talking about the middle class, but all they will end up doing is transferring the middle classes' wealth to the underclass. Who has more wealth, the so called 1% or other 50% that pay the rest of the taxes?? Look out, they'll be coming after us next!!
John Monaghan
9:35 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Holy Cow !!.....you mean that Allyson Schwartz actually made a public appearance in Montgomery County? That is amazing !!! Are you sure it wasn't her body double? Sort of like when you have an "Elvis" at your beef 'n beer? Heaven knows, she lives, she breathes, she knows how to get to Norristown !!!!!
Dot
9:37 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Regarding Schwartz' statement:, “We did want to talk about the really strong contrast between the visions for our country and the way we're going to get there." Sure, we all want bigger government and less personal freedom; fewer businesses taking risks to expand, ergo fewer jobs and higher/prolonged unemployment; more people dependent on the government; higher rate of poverty. This is not the American Dream!
Janet/Abington
10:48 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Allison When Is The Debates??? @ Dot, There sadly is no American Dream anymore... You have the CEO'S, The Unions, ( working class), Social security, and Welfare... And as for the visions of our country, Government NEEDS to GET TOGETHER For The People! Not A Party! Dem. or Rep.... So, If Allison has something to say, DEBATE!
Dot
10:43 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
We need to get government out of the way. Stop lying to us about what's really happening with the spending, debt, etc. There is such a stark contrast between the candidates this year.
Mike Shortall
11:47 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wow ... Allyson found Norristown?!? She probably thought she needed a passport!
Dot
10:46 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Allyson is a piece of work. I have called to find out her stance on various issues and bills. Her staff says that if she has not made a public statement, there is no information to be had. We all have to wait to see how she votes. Plus, the fact that she does not have in-person meetings with anyone. Interesting woman!
Joe Rooney
2:06 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
There should be more to a campaign than trying to scare seniors.
1. Ms Schwartz voted to take $500 Billion from Medicare to pay for PPACA. These cuts will fundamentally change Medicare.
2. The Independent Payment Advisory Board will ration care. Allsyon Schwartz has voted for this. This IPAB will ration care to seniors and lead to service denial.
3. The Weyden-Ryan Plan will maintain the current Medicare System for those 55 and over and introduce necessary changes for those under 55.
Allyson Schwartz has done nothing to extend the life of Medicare. She is not telling the truth about the Weyden-Ryan Plan
You will learn more about the fiscal health of Medicare from these short videos than you ever will from either listening to Ms Schwartz, or reading anything from her. Ms Schwartz either doesn't know what she is talking about, or she is misleading her constituents
.
http://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/american-civics/v/medicare-sustainability
http://www.khanacademy.org/science/healthcare-and-medicine/v/medicare-overview
I challenge Allyson Schwartz to appear for a series of debates on this subject and others that are vitally important to everyone here in PA13 this election cycle.
Joe Rooney
Candidate for Congress PA13
Janet/Abington
2:31 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Allison... DEBATE!!! What are you afraid of??
SMYRNA-X
3:22 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
There was a "discussion?” So people of different view points got up and presented issues? Well as long as a "D" is after thier name I guess.
Mallison Schwartz
7:23 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Where is Abington ? I've never been there.
Dot
10:47 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
:-)
penllynjohn
10:27 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I agree with Joe Rooney's comments and agree that Ms. Schwartz should debate him several times in the 13th District Congressional race.I watched her duck out of debates with the 2010 Republican candidate, Dee Adcock, at Penn State Abington. She only appears at favorable- to- her events and she should be stopped from running another pseudo-campaign.
Dot
10:48 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Allyson, what are you afraid of? Come out and discuss the issues with your constituents. Debate your challenger like a serious public servant!
Mallison Schwartz
11:12 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I cant debate with my horrible liberal voting record. Besides that I have never been to the suburban side of my district. I just want to continue doing everything Barak Obama tells me to do and have everbody else leave me alone.
Dot
11:56 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I don't think I'd recognize Allyson if she wasn't behind a podium, flanked by toadies! :-)