>> LIVE FROM THE WV IA STUDIO, DECISION 2026, THE PENNSYLVANIA EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE.

NOW, MODERATOR TRACEY MATISAK.

TRACEY: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, I'M TRACEY MATISAK.

WELCOME TO OUR DEBATE FOR THE TWO CANDIDATES COMPETING TO REPRESENT PENNSYLVANIA'S EIGHTH DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE HAVE A LIVE AUDIENCE HERE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO APPLAUD ONLY AT THE BEGINNING AND THE CONCLUSION OF THE DEBATE.

LET'S BEGIN BY TAKING A LOOK AT THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT ENCOMPASSES THE SCRANTON WILKES-BARRE AREA AND MOST OF MONROE COUNTY.

THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ROB BRESNAHAN, WHO FACES DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER PAIGE COGNETTI.

THE RACE IS ONE OF THE TIGHTEST AND HOTLY CONTESTED IN THE COUNTRY AND IS AMONG A HANDFUL HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT COULD HELP DETERMINE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

CONGRESSMAN ROB BRESNAHAN IS SEEKING HIS SECOND CONGRESSIONAL TERM.

HE SERVES ON THE COMMITTEE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND VICE CHAIR OF TRANSIT.

HE SERVES ON THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS.

HE'S A NATIVE OF KINGSTON, GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON AND SERVED AS CEO OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTRACT COMPANY.

HE IS FOUNDER OF OUR PV VENTURES, WHICH DEVELOPS AND REHABILITATES PROPERTIES IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

HIS CHALLENGER, MAYOR PAGE COGNITIVE, IS MAYOR OF SCRANTON.

PRIOR TO BECOMING MAYOR, SHE ADVISED ON OVERSIGHT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CARED FOR OLDER ADULTS.

PAIGE COGNETTI PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS DIRECTOR ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

SHE SERVED IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AS SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AT THE U.S.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

SHE HOLDS AN MBA FROM HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL AND GRADUATED SUMMA CUM LAUDE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON.

THE FORMAT FOR THIS HOUR-LONG DEBATE HAS BEEN AGREED TO BY BOTH CAMPAIGNS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT AND TWO MINUTES FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS BY OUR PANELISTS WILL BE HELD TO 90 SECONDS.

AT MY DISCRETION AS MODERATOR, AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS MAY BE ALLOTTED TO EACH CANDIDATE FOR REBUTTAL.

AND ALL OF THE TIMES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.

ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE DEVISED BY THE INDIVIDUAL PANELISTS, EACH OF WHOM SUBMITTED A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO WVIA FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

I AS MODERATOR HAVE THE OPTION TO ASK A QUESTION.

WE MOVED TO THE OPENING STATEMENTS.

AS DETERMINED BY A COIN TOSS EARLIER THIS EVENING, MAYOR COGNETTI WILL BEGIN.

MAYOR COGNETTI: THANKS TO WVIA, EVERYONE WATCHING AT HOME, INCLUDING MY PARENTS.

SEVEN YEARS AGO, I RAN AS AN INDEPENDENT FOR MAYOR OF SCRANTON IN THE WAKE OF A CORRUPTION SCANDAL.

IT WAS NOT CONVENIENT FOR MY HUSBAND, I WAS PREGNANT WITH OUR FIRST CHILD, BUT WE WERE NOT GOING TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN IN A PLACE WHERE PUBLIC SERVANTS WERE SERVING THEMSELVES.

WE WON THAT RACE.

IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE DONE WHAT OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS DID NOT THINK POSSIBLE.

ON TRACK HAVING GOTTEN OUT OF FINANCIAL DISTRESS, GOING FROM A JUNK-BOND REDDIT RATING TO AN A MINUS.

WE CUT OUR DEBT IN HALF.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CUT RED TAPE AND MAKE SURE ALMOST 1200 NEW HOMES HAVE COME ONLINE, LOWERING COSTS FOR RESIDENTS.

WE MAKE SURE TO INVEST OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, SPENDING ALMOST $5 MILLION ON TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING THAT KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY SAFE BUT OUR OFFICERS SAFER.

WE MADE SURE OUR PARKS ARE REHABILITATED AND EVERYONE IN SCRANTON HAS A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.

THE GOVERNMENT WE HAVE BUILT THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE AGENDA IS RUN BY SPECIAL INTEREST CORPORATIONS, BILLIONAIRES, THEY ARE CAUSING THE SHOTS.

OUR PHARMACEUTICAL COSTS ARE SO HIGH.

HEALTH INSURANCE IS OUT OF REACH FOR SO MANY AND ONLY GETTING WORSE.

OUR FOOD COSTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL, GAS PRICES OUT OF CONTROL BECAUSE OF A WAR NO ONE WANTED AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR.

BECAUSE OF THE TRADE WAR WITH CANADA AND ERRATIC TARIFFS RATING COSTS ON EVERYONE INCLUDING MANUFACTURERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

UNTIL WE GET THE CORRUPTION OUT OF THE WAY, WE CAN'T SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.

WE GOT THE CORRUPTION OUT OF THE WAY AND SCRANTON ENABLED US TO BE SUCCESSFUL WHERE NO ONE THOUGHT WE COULD.

IN THE SEA, I WILL TAKE ON THAT CORRUPTION, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

WE NEED TO BAN CONGRESSIONAL STOCK TRADING, CORPORATE PACK MONEY, WE NEED A REAL TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS, SENATE, AND THE SUPREME COURT.

WE NEED TO END DARK MONEY BECAUSE I'M JUST OF TIRED OF BOTH AS YOU ARE.

I WILL SERVE YOU IN THE U.S.

CONGRESS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU TO WVIA FOR SERVING US ON THIS INCREDIBLY REDUNDANT STUDIO.

THANK YOU TO MAYOR PAGE FOR BEING HERE AND EVERYONE AT HOME TUNING IN FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE CANDIDATES WILL POTENTIALLY REPRESENT YOU IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

TWO YEARS AGO ON A SIMILAR STAGE, I TALKED ABOUT THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

BECAUSE I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND I LOVE NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

I WAS BORN HERE, RAISED HERE, CAME TO BUILD A FAMILY HERE, CREATED JOBS HERE, I REINVESTED HERE, AND GOD WILLING, I'M GOING TO DIE AND GET BURIED IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

I HAVE ONE GOAL IN COMMON, TO LEAVE THIS PLACE BETTER THAN THE WAY I FOUND IT.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE DONE OVER 1000 IN DISTRICT EVENTS FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND OVER 4000 CONSTITUENTS AND SERVICE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED BY OUR OFFICE.

BEHIND EACH ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS IS A GRANDMOTHER, GRANDFATHER, VETERAN, BEING ABLE TO DELIVER.

NOT ONCE DID WE EVER ASK WHAT THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IS, WHETHER OR REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, OR INDEPENDENT.

ALSO IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING BACK 110 MILLION DOLLARS TO NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TO FUND HOSPITALS, EDUCATION, OPIOID PREVENTION PROGRAMS, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP TWO HOSPITALS OPEN THAT WOULD HAVE -- THAT ARE VITAL TO NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

I DONATE MY ENTIRE SALARY TO A FUN MY WIFE AND I CREATED TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

IF EVERY SINGLE TIME I WALK INTO THE HOUSE CHAMBER, I THINK ABOUT THE NEARLY 800,000 PEOPLE THAT HAVE ENTRUSTED ME TO REPRESENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE POLITICAL PARTY, I THINK HOW I CAN ADVOCATE FOR MY HOME THAT HAS GIVEN MY FAMILY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LAST FIVE GENERATIONS.

>> WE NOW MOVE TO THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PORTION OF THE DEBATE.

EACH PANELIST WILL BE CALLED ON IN ROTATION.

WE BEGIN WITH POLITICAL REPORTER MAURICE CRUTCHER UKE DIRECTED TO ROB BRESNAHAN.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

SOCIAL SECURITY SAVE BENEFITS WILL HAVE TO DROP BY MORE THAN 20% BY THE EARLY 1930'S -- BY THE 20 30'S UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE.

THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN WELL-KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT SOLUTIONS DO YOU FAVOR TO FIX IT?

>> THAT IS A QUESTION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, IT IS AROUND 2032.

BECAUSE UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES COULD WE REDUCE FUNDING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THOSE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THE EASIEST SOLUTIONS AND MOST PRAGMATIC IS TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE SO THEY ARE CONTRIBUTE INTO THE SYSTEM.

IF YOU LOOK AT WASTE INSIDE OF THE SYSTEM, THAT IS NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO SUBSTANTIATE IT.

GETTING REAL DOLLARS BACK INTO PAYCHECKS, PEOPLE WORKING WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND SUSTAIN CAREERS IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST WAY TO CREATE A PRO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT SO THERE'S FUNDING SOURCES GOING INTO IT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NATIONAL BUDGET OR THE BUDGET OF WASHINGTON, D.C., $40 TRILLION IN DEBT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN POTENTIALLY CUT YOUR WAY OUT OF A $40 TRILLION DEFICIT.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO CREATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AGAINST GDP AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES SO PEOPLE ARE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS AND WHO IS EXPELLING FROM THE WORKFORCE, THE INFLOWS ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE OUTFLOWS.

PRESERVING MEDICARE IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, ALSO INCREASING THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS FOR WAGE EARNINGS.

THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I CAN GET BEHIND.

>> AND WHILE AGO WE WERE ON PIZZA WITH MY FRIDAY NIGHT FAMILY, SOMEONE CAME UP TO SAY HIGH.

BY THE TIME WE CHATTED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES SHE WAS TEARING UP.

SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT MEDICARE GOING UP AND SOCIAL SECURITY RUNNING OUT THAT SHE IS LIVING IN FEAR.

SOCIAL SECURITY RUNS OUT, THE TRUST FUND RUNS OUT ONE YEAR SOONER NOW BECAUSE OF THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THE CONGRESSMAN VOTED FOR.

THAT TRUST FUND IS RUNNING OUT SOON AND WE SEE THE ANXIETY WEIGHING HEAVILY ON PEOPLE.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN KICK THE CAN ON.

WE HAVE TO DIG INTO MAKE SURE ELON MUSK DOESN'T TAKE THE SAME RATIO AS A TEACHER OR A NURSE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE INTO THE TRUST FUND.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS GREAT AND CAN SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THEY DESERVE IS WONDERFUL.

WE CAN KEEP GROWING AS MUCH AS WE CAN, IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH WHEN WE MAKE SURE WE DO THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY, WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE.

IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF WORK AND PUTTING POLITICAL PARTIES ASIDE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

THAT IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF WE CONTINUE PLAYING POLITICS IN THIS WAY.

IT WOULD ADD $4 TRILLION TO THE DEFICIT.

GIVING TAX BREAKS TO THE ULTRA-WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS THAT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WE ARE PUTTING ATTACKS ON MY KIDS AND THEIR KIDS.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION POSED BY THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLITICS AND POLICY AT PENNSYLVANIA CABLE NETWORK.

CITIZENS JUST THIS YEAR.

THIS MEANS A ROUND SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A NUCLEAR WEAPON, WE SHOULD STOP THAT.

HOWEVER, THIS ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS RUBBERSTAMPING THIS WAR HAVE NOT TOLD US WHY WE ARE GOING IN, THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PROOF THAT WE ARE THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN US PROOF THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISMANTLED.

WE NEED DIPLOMACY AND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TREATING OUR AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS WITH RESPECT.

I MET A YOUNG MAN YESTERDAY WHO GOT BACK FROM THE MIDDLE EAST IN AUGUST.

HE ASKED ME TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO END THIS WAR.

HE SAID HE'S BEEN IN COMBAT ZONES BEFORE AND HE KNEW WHAT THE ENEMY WAS DOING AND WHY HE WAS THERE.

HE SAID WITH THE IRAN WAR, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY HE WAS THERE AND HE WANTS HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES TO GET OUT.

IT IS IMPERATIVE WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO END THIS WAR.

THE CONGRESSMAN HAS VOTED FOR IT SIX TIMES.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE ANSWERS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE MUNITIONS DEPLETION WE ARE SEEING, AND WE ARE LESS SAFE NOW THAN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR ANSWERS AND WE ARE NOT GETTING THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT SUPPORT BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN IRAN.

I AGREE THIS WAR NEEDS TO END.

BUT TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME.

PEOPLE THAT CHANT DEATH TO AMERICA ARE NOT DIPLOMATIC ALLIES TO THE UNITED STATES.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO DO, THIS HAS GONE ON FAR TOO LONG, I FEEL THE MISSION HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE WAR NEEDS TO END.

MY CONCERN WOULD BE RIPPING OUT THE RUG FROM UNDERNEATH OUR SERVICE SERVING OVERSEAS.

WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS DURING DISASTROUS WITHDRAWALS LIKE AFGHANISTAN WITH PEOPLE HANGING ONTO AIRPLANE WHEELS.

THEY NEED TO BE A PRAGMATIC, CONCENTRATED APPROACH TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WITHDRAW FROM IRAN.

IT ALSO ILLUMINATES ANOTHER POINT.

WE SEE THE PAIN AT THE PUMP AND EVERYBODY FEELING IT RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN'T LET A CONFLICT 6000 MILES AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES DICTATE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS THE PERFECT REASON WE NEED TO PRODUCE AND REFINE NATURAL GAS AND ENERGY RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE THE QUANTITY, SUPPLY, ABILITY.

IT CAN BE DONE IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

THERE IS NO REASON WE SHOULD DEPEND ON MIDDLE EAST OIL TO PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

>> COMPLETING THIS FERN -- FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONING, MICHAEL BUFFER FOR THE CITIZENS VOICE.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DISMISSED AFFORDABILITY AS A FAKE WORD AND A HOAX.

YET WORKING FAMILIES IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ARE STRUGGLING WITH A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HIGH CHILDCARE COSTS.

WHAT FEDERAL POLICIES WILL YOU CHAMPION TO EXPAND HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND MAKE CHILDCARE AFFORDABLE?

>> SOMETHING WE RECENTLY PASSED IN THE HOUSE WAS THE 21ST CENTURY ROAD TO HOUSING.

THE NUMBER ONE ESCALATOR IN ANY HOUSING MARKET OR HOUSING COST IS TIME.

THAT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE PROJECT OR THE ABILITY OF THE PROJECT.

IT IS ABOUT DOING RESPONSIBLE PERMITTING REFORM WHERE YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO NAVIGATE BUREAUCRACY FOR OVER TWO YEARS TO GET A SHOVEL INTO THE GROUND.

YOU HAVE A FORMER CONTRACTOR, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE SURETY COMPANIES, BONDING COMPANIES, LENDING AND FORECASTING AND WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO GO INTO A PROJECT.

I AGREE THERE IS AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM.

ONE OF MY BILLS I WAS ABLE TO PAST WAS THE FARMER'S TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES ACT.

UP TO 76 DIFFERENT BIPARTISAN SPONSORS.

THAT PASSED THE HOUSE IN THE FARM BILL INSIDE TITLE FOUR.

HOPEFULLY DURING NOVEMBER WHEN WE GO BACK TO WORK, THAT WILL GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THAT IS THE WAY WE CAN CONNECT.

LOCAL PRODUCERS AND LOCAL FARMERS TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED.

AFFORDABILITY IS CERTAINLY AN OVERARCHING CONVERSATION PIECE.

BUT THE KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, COFFEE -- COST OF UTILITIES, HEALTH INSURANCE, PUSHING BACK ON THE GREEDY INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND OPENING UP COMPETITION.

YOU HAVE TO INCORPORATE HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE TWO PROVIDERS , THAT IS A PROBLEM.

>> IN SCRANTON, WE HAVE A CUT UP TO 70% ALMOST 1200 UNITS OF HOUSING HAVE COME ONLINE.

WE MADE SURE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BECOME A CONTRACTOR IN TERMS OF LOGISTICS.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT WE MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK.

THIS IS WORK WE CAN DO ACROSS THE AISLE.

BEING A MAYOR IS NOT A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

I DON'T RUN THE CITY AND ANY BIPARTISAN WAY AND I WORK WITH THOSE ACROSS THE NATION TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE HOUSING POLICY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT MATCHES WHAT WE NEED ON THE GROUND.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR COSTS ARE NOT RISING.

THE TRADE WAR IS ONLY EXACERBATING PRICES MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BUILD THE HOUSE AND WE NEED.

INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP, INFLATION IS GOING UP, HINDERING EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING.

SOMETHING WE NEED IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA IS I WOULD WANT TO GO TO CONGRESS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE ALLEVIATING SOME OF THESE REGULATIONS MAKING IT HARDER TO BUILD OUT.

THERE ARE SOME PLACES DESIGNATED FLOOD FOR A LOOK AT BUILDING.

CHILDCARE IS ANOTHER PIECE OUR ECONOMY IS SUFFERING.

WE NEED TO GET SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE PAID WELL AND THEY CARE ABOUT.

THAT GOES NOT JUST FOR CHILDCARE, BUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE A HOME HEALTH AIDE WE NEED TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND HEALTHY.

>> THIS CONCLUDES AROUND ONE.

A REMINDER TO OUR CANDIDATES TO SIGNAL IF YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE BEGIN WITH ROUND TWO.

A QUESTION THAT WILL BE DIRECTED TO MAYOR COGNETTI.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT ROLE REGULATING IN THIS?

>> I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MEETINGS AND TOWNSHIPS, HIGH SCHOOLS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HOLD THE LINE HERE IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THERE ARE SO MANY DATA CENTER PROPOSALS OUT THERE.

IN PART BECAUSE THE CONGRESSMAN INVITED THEM.

IT GOES TO HIS CONGRESSIONAL WEBSITE WHERE HE WAS CELEBRATING 25 BILLION DOLLARS OF BLACKSTONE INVESTMENT IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE TERRORIZED BY THESE PROPOSALS, THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF DEIST, A NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AND CAN'T TELL US ANYTHING.

LAST NIGHT I WAS AT A NEWPORT TOWNSHIP MEETING BECAUSE THERE WERE STILL NO ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IF DATA CENTERS GO THROUGH, THERE ARE SOME IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT CAN WORK.

IT IS NOT NUCLEAR SITES.

THE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE SET PROPERLY.

THE DEVELOPER, LOCAL DEVELOPERS, HAVE TO BE ON THE TABLE.

IF THE COMMUNITY SAYS NO, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SWALLOW.

SOME OF THE CASES ARE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL WE ARE HELPING FOLKS ON THE GROUND FIGHT BACK.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS NO DESIRE AI.

WE NEED A FEDERAL MONITOR, TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE GUARDRAILS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT GOING INTO SOME SITUATION WHERE AI IS GOING TO HARM US, TAKE OUR JOBS, HURT OUR CHILDREN.

>> I WAS ALSO AT THE DATA CENTER MEETING LAST NIGHT BECAUSE A LOT OF US HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON, THE SPECIFICS OF THAT PROJECT.

THERE HAS BEEN A DATA CENTER ORDINANCE INSIDE OF SCRANTON CITY COUNCIL FOR OVER EIGHT MONTHS.

OVER THE LAST YEAR THEY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING.

WHAT HAS POWERED LAND, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ON ANY OF OUR RADAR.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN LEARNING TOGETHER MOVING THROUGH A PROCESS.

I WAS A FIRST MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO WRITE A BILL LOCAL PATROL AND PROTECTIONS ACT, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY DECISION NEEDING TO GO BACK TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS AND WHAT WILL BE IN THEIR BACKYARD.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY TELLING ANYONE.

THE NEXT TWO.

NUMBER TWO, IF THE DATA CENTER IS DECIDED LIKE THE BAR WITH POWER PLANT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SUPPORT, THERE NEEDS TO BE A BENEFIT.

THERE NEEDS TOTAL MITIGATION OF ANY INCREASE OF COST PER UTILITY AND IN FORESTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, IT NEEDS TO BE NEUTRALIZED.

NUMBER THREE, THEY WILL GET BUILT IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, THEY BETTER BE BUILT BY NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

MORE IMPORTANT TO COME OUT WHERE WE HAVE A FEDERAL NEXUS, IF YOU SUE IN THE FEDERAL LEVEL, YOU LOSE PERMITS TO BUILD A DATA CENTER.

>> THE BILL THE CONGRESSMAN REFERS TO HAS NOT EVEN GOTTEN OUT OF COMMITTEE.

IT IS SOMETHING HE'S ON TO PAPER OVER HIS CELEBRATION INVITATION OF DATA CENTERS TO NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

FOR OUR PART IN SCRANTON, OUR ADMINISTRATION ADDRESSED EXPERTS WE ARE WORKING WITH TO DEFEND FROM DATA CENTERS.

IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED SET WE HAVE TO MAKE IN SCRANTON, EVERYONE NEEDS THAT HELP.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET EXPERTS BUT NOT EVERY MUNICIPALITY HAS THAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING TO DEFEND OUR CITY FROM THESE DEVELOPERS.

>> THAT WAS EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

THE NEW PROPOSAL ALSO CALLS FOR OVER 7% OF THE CITY OF SCRANTON TO BE ZONED TO ACCEPT THE POSSIBILITY OF A DATA CENTER.

THE DIFFERENCE WAS I TOOK A PEN TO PAPER, WORKED WITH LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL TO FIND A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION WHERE THERE'S A FEDERAL NEXUS THAT CAN BE ENFORCED.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROPOSING A PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR WRITING AN AD AND TAKING A PEN AND SUBMITTING IT INTO THE HOUSE TO BE CONSIDERED.

IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> NEXT QUESTION FROM MICHAEL BUFFER.

>> CONGRESSMAN.

ESTIMATED 10 MILLION TO 11 MILLION UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS CURRENTLY RESIDE IN THE U.S., WITH MANY HAVING LIVED HERE OVER A DECADE.

MANY WORK IN VITAL SECTORS LIKE AGRICULTURE AND CONSTRUCTION AND PAY TAXES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS COME UNDER FIRE FOR ITS DEPORTATION TACTICS.

HOW SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THIS POPULATION?

>> IT IS SOMETHING INSIDE THE POCONO MOUNTAINS WHERE WE SEE MILLIONS OF ANNUAL VISITORS A YEAR, AND THAT WORKFORCE DEPENDS ON FOREIGN LABOR.

THE PROBLEM GOING THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS, AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD THE SAME PHILOSOPHY OF A BIG FENCE WITH A WIDE GATE.

THERE IS A WAY TO GO ABOUT DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, AND SOME OF THE PROUDEST CEREMONIES I GOT TO BE A PART OF WAS THE NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION.

THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND CAN TAKE OVER 10 YEARS TO GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL PROCESS.

SOMETHING OUR OFFICE HELPS WITH EACH AND EVERY DAY IS HELPING IMMIGRANTS FIND PATHS TO CITIZENSHIP AND WORK VISAS BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS.

WE DON'T ASK MANY QUESTIONS, WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

BUT A LEGAL ALIENS KILLING OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING DOWN THE STREET WITH A CDL AND KILLING POLICE OFFICERS AND COMMITTING CRIMES AND DEALING DRUGS, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THEY SHOULD BE DEPORTED.

YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW BY ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE COUNTRY.

TWO YEARS AGO I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE COMING THROUGH A PORT OF ENTRY, GOING THROUGH A CENTER, AND ENDING UP IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO DOING IT.

SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY.

IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD VIOLENT CRIMINAL ALIENS REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FAILED AT THE BORDER.

I HAVE SAT IN ROOMS WITH OTHER MAYORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY DURING THAT TIME AND LISTENED TO THEM PLEADING WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR MORE HELP, THEY WERE OVERRUN WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND THEY COULD NOT HOUSE AND WERE LEGALLY BOUND TO.

THAT EXPERIENCE HELPED ME UNDERSTAND WHY OUR BORDER NEEDS TO BE SECURE AND RUNNING A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN SCRANTON, EVERY SINGLE DAY AND NIGHT, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ON MY MIND.

THE MOTHER OF TWO GIRLS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE.

WE NEED TO HAVE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG, OVER 20 YEARS.

I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS, WE NEED PATHWAYS TO CITIZENSHIP, PEOPLE PAYING INTO THE SYSTEM AND WORKING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT ALIENATING PEOPLE AND MAKING PEOPLE FEEL LESS SAFE.

OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AT EVERY LEVEL WORKS VERY HARD TO KEEP CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS.

WE WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY, OFFICIALS TO GET VIOLENT CRIMINALS OFF OF THE STREETS WHENEVER WE HAVE THEM.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP A SECURE BORDER, THAT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH ANYONE IN CONGRESS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE REFORM AND NOT BE AFRAID OF THAT AND MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

>> I FIND THAT PRETTY INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU BRAGGED EARLIER THAT SCRANTON DID NOT COOPERATE WITH ICE, AND IN JULY OF 2021, YOU WERE PART OF THE MAYOR'S LETTER ADVOCATING THERE WAS ENOUGH BEING DONE TO OPEN UP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

IN 2023, THERE WAS ALREADY 14 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS THAT HAD ENTERED THE COUNTRY.

IN THE LETTER WHERE YOU ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA, I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FAILED.

>> AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID FAIL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE BORDER SECURE IS A GOOD THING.

PATHWAYS TO CITIZENSHIP ARE THERE, WE HAVE WAY TOO MUCH PARTISAN INFIGHTING IN WASHINGTON GETTING IN THE WAY OF THAT.

WE TALK ABOUT ADDING TO SOCIAL SECURITY, WE CAN'T DO IT IF WE DON'T GET THESE HARD DECISIONS AND GET THROUGH THE LEGISLATING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

WE CAN DO THESE HARD THINGS BUT MAKE SURE THE PARTISANSHIP IS NOT IN THE WAY.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR.

>> YOU HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE -- PILING UP MASSIVE DEBT.

ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS HE FAVORITE IS MEDICARE FOR ALL.

HOW EXACTLY DO WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T GO BACK JUST TRYING TO GET HEALTH CARE?

>> I KNOW THAT SOMEONE RECENTLY SAID TO A FRIEND OF MINE MY INSURANCE ISN'T INSURING.

MY DAD WORKING RIGHT NOW ON A NEW MEDICARE PLAN, IT IS A NIGHTMARE.

THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE REDTAPE ARE THERE, AND IT IS HARD FOR EVERYONE AT EVERY INCOME LEVEL.

WE CANNOT GO INTO REFORM OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

IT IS A BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, GUTTING MEDICAID TO GIVE TAX BREAKS TO THE ULTRA-WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS.

THERE NEED TO BE REFORMS.

WE HAVE TO FIND IT.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T INSURE IT.

WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, ABOUT 20,000 ARE GOING TO LOSE IT.

WE HAVE HOSPITALS WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO STAY OPEN, HEALTH INSURERS WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN.

WE CANNOT REFORM THE SYSTEM WHEN ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING IN UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED.

WE NEED TO GET THE CORPORATE CORRUPTION OUT OF THE WAY, THE HEALTH INSURERS OUT OF THE WAY.

WE NEED TO GET THE CORRUPTION AGENDA PASSED AND WE CAN PASS A REAL REFORM TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE.

IT IS KILLING US TO NOT HAVE THAT.

WE CAN DO BETTER IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE CONGRESSMAN, VOTING FOR THAT BILL WAS ATROCIOUS, HE SIGNED ON TO LETTER SAYING HE NEVER CUT THOSE BENEFITS.

HE WASN'T TRUTHFUL, HE HURT US, AND GOT A TAX BREAK IN THE PROCESS.

>> QUITE A REWARD TO PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR OPENING OF THE BORDER AND NAMING A HIGHWAY AFTER HIM.

BUT I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION RELEVANT TO HEALTH CARE.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A MEDICAID QUESTION AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF HR ONE AT SOME POINT.

IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETS ARE GOVERNED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHO CAN CLOSE FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY PLAN, YOU HAVE GEISINGER, UNITED, HIGH MARKET BLUE SHIELD.

OPENING UP THOSE BORDERS AND GETTING THOSE DIFFERENT HEALTH COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE IS NECESSARY.

WHAT A FAMILY NEEDS TO GO THROUGH TO GET A PREAUTHORIZATION IS ABSURD.

WITH INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONERS AND PROVIDERS ARE DEALING WITH, AND THE AMOUNT OF BUREAUCRACY THAT THEY GO THROUGH TO BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PATIENTS, YOU ARE SEEING THE SINGLE-FAMILY DOCTOR BE ACQUIRED BY HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.

SOMETHING WE DID THIS CONGRESS WAS PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER REFORM, ELIMINATING THE MIDDLEMAN THAT BASICALLY ENCAPSULATES ALMOST 80% OF THE MARKET IN THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

SOMETHING ELSE WE ARE LEADING, THE COST OF INSULIN AND PUTTING THE CAP ON THE INSULIN PRICE.

THAT IS SOMETHING I DO ANTICIPATE WILL BE VOTED ON BEFORE WE WERE DONE IN THE 119 CONGRESS.

PHARMACIES ALLOWING HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS TO HAVE THEIR PHARMACIES SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY.

>> I WAS WITH GOVERNOR SHAPIRO YESTERDAY, HE TOLD ME ABOUT HAVING A CONVERSATION JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

HE SHOOK HIS HAND AND SAID HE WOULD NOT VOTE FOR THE BILL THAT WOULD GOT HEALTH CARE ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA.

HE DID IT ANYWAY.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE UNDERSTAND, NOT ONLY THAT HE DID THAT, BUT RIGHT BEFORE HE VOTED TO KILL $1 TRILLION OF MEDICAID, 100 $30,000 IN MEDICAID PROVIDER STOCKS, AND STOCKS AT ALLEGHENY HOSPITAL BOND.

HE VOTED AGAINST THE HOSPITAL.

>> ABOUT?

FOUR AT A NASCAR TRACK.

BUT WHEN HE SAT DOWN TO LOOK AT THE EXEMPTIONS FOR MEDICAID AND WHAT ALLOWS ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE SYSTEM.

WERE WE HAD THAT SPELLED OUT, YOU HAD CONCESSIONS UNDER 19 OVER 65, DISABLED VETERANS, PARENTS WITH KIDS, PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, SHORT-TERM HARDSHIPS AND MEDICALLY FRAIL.

>> TIME IS UP.

THAT BRINGS A CLOSE TO OUR ROUND TWO.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH ROUND THREE.

THE QUESTION FROM MICHAEL BUFFER.

>> THE NATIONAL DEBT IS NOW MORE THAN $40 TRILLION.

FISCAL YEAR 2026 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S.

HISTORY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENT MORE THAN $1 TRILLION ON NET INTEREST PAYMENTS IN THE NATIONAL DEBT.

THAT AMOUNT REPRESENTS 14% OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND THE THIRD LARGEST CATEGORY OF FEDERAL SPENDING BEHIND SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND NOW AHEAD OF DEFENSE SPENDING.

HOW SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THIS GROWING DEBT OBLIGATION?

>> I HAD ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER WITH THE $40 TRILLION OF DEBT.

$1 MILLION OF $100 BILLS STACKED ON THE GROUND ON TOP OF EACH OTHER IS THE HEIGHT OF A CHAIR.

$1 BILLION IS THE HEIGHT OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

$1 TRILLION IS TWO POINT FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN WHERE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLOATS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE OTHER INDUSTRIES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET ENCAPSULATED BETWEEN MEDICARE AND DISCRETIONARY FUNDING PROGRAMS, THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF DEBT AT $40 TRILLION IS TO GROW YOUR WAY OUT.

YOU CAN FOSTER ANYTHING YOU CAN RELATIVE TO CUTS, GET RID OF FRAUD.

BUT THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO ECONOMICALLY GROW YOUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE JOBS, CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPORTS, NATURAL GAS, ENERGY IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE U.S.

BUT THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT $40 TRILLION OF DEBT, MORE THAN OUR DEFENSE BUDGET.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WAYS TO ALLOW PRIVATE INDUSTRY WORK WITH GOVERNMENT.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD COLLECTIVELY.

BUT YOU CAN DO IT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

WORKING THROUGH THE BOND DEBT MANAGEMENT, AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT MANDATORY FUNDING PROGRAMS AND THE PROGRAMS WE MEET ON, BUT IT IS A NONSTARTER.

THE ONLY OTHER PATH OUT IS THROUGH GROWTH.

>> IN 2017 AT 2010I WAS ON THE SCRANTON SCHOOL BOARD.

I WENT IN TO MAKE SURE WE COULD AFFORD THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO.

I TOOK A RED PEN TO THOSE BUDGETS.

I WAS WORKING TO LOOK AT THE WAY THE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH USE THEIR FUNDS.

IT TAKES A RED PEN A LOT OF WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN CUT OUT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.

WE NEED TO DO THAT.

THE WAY TO DO THAT AND CUT WASTE IS NOT TO DO THE CREW CUTS WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE.

YES, WE NEED TO GROW, OF COURSE WE DO.

BUT ALL THE POLICIES WE SEE IN THESE LAST TWO YEARS ARE STIFLING OUR GROWTH.

WHEN A FARMER CAN'T AFFORD DIESEL TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THEIR CROPS, YOU CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO GROW OUT OF THAT.

WE HAVE HEALTHIER CUTS HARMING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

PEOPLE ACCESS TO HEALTH OF ITS IMPORTANT.

A SUPPLY CHAIN AT EVERY LEVEL IS SUFFERING.

THAT IS NOT GROWTH.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ACTUALLY CUTTING WASTE FROM THE SYSTEM.

IN ORDER TO GROW WHEN HE TOOK UP MORE RED TAPE AND MAKE SURE REGULATIONS ARE HURTING US, MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING SO THE ECONOMY CAN.

NOT JUST THE ULTRA-WEALTHY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN JUST CORPORATIONS.

I SUPPORT TAX ON TIPS, TAX ON OVERTIME.

BUT THOSE EXPIRE IN TWO YEARS.

THE TAX CUTS AT THE VERY TOP OR FOREVER.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO GROW OUR ECONOMY.

>> I THINK IT IS QUITE INTERESTING WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, THOSE ARE INCREDIBLE.

NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

CHARLIE AND THE BACK HERE IS NOT A BILLIONAIRE, I KNOW HE HAD A RECORD TAX WHEN HE FILED HIS RETURN.

THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEMS BETWEEN MANDATORY AND DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.

IF YOU LOOK AT DISCRETIONARY FUNDING, JUST 2% OF THE HIGHER BUDGET.

THERE'S A WAY TO GROW.

WE SHOULD BE PAYING OUR TAXES, THAT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO.

BUT GDP, WE JUST HAD A RECORD.

>> TIME IS UP.

>> IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK IN CONGRESS TO DO WITH IT.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET A CONGRESS LIKE WHAT I DID IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF SCRANTON.

SMALLER, BUT I WAS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THOSE BUDGETS ARE OFFICE BY OFFICE, LINE BY LINE.

THEY CAN DO THIS WORK BUT IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

WE NEED PEOPLE IN CONGRESS WILLING TO ROLL THEIR SLEEVES UP AND DO THE HARD WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FOR CONGRESSMAN ROB BRESNAHAN.

>> LOW VOTER ELIGIBILITY ACT PASSED IN FEBRUARY, WOULD YOU SUPPORT VOTER ID FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

>> I DID.

I THINK ONLY AMERICANS SHOULD VOTE IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

>> I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT VOTER ID, BUT NOT WITH THE REQUIREMENT IN THE SAVE ACT.

MY MOM IN THE AUDIENCE HERE, SHE AND MY FATHER HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 50 YEARS.

WE SHOULDN'T BE ASKING WOMEN WHO CHANGED THEIR NAME 50 YEARS AGO TO FIND ALL OF THOSE DOCUMENTS AND HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICE.

VOTER ID, ABSOLUTELY.

THE SAVE ACT GOES TOO FAR.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RESPECTING OUR ELECTIONS, THE FACT OUR ELECTIONS ARE COUNTY OFFICE BY COUNTY OFFICE.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE BREAKING THEMSELVES EVERY YEAR, EVERY ELECTION TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN TRUST YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED.

THERE IS ELECTION FRAUD IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE HEAR RHETORIC MEANT TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY.

IT IS OUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN OUR AMERICAN SERVICEMEMBERS FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM TO GO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BUILDING TRUST IN THE SYSTEM, OPENING UP A PRIMARY IN PENNSYLVANIA, I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

NOT IN THE PURVIEW OF A U.S.

CONGRESS PERSON, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE CAN VOTE.

YOU CANNOT VOTE IF YOU ARE NOT A LEGAL CITIZEN.

THAT IS RHETORIC THAT IS JUST MEANT TO SCARE PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RESPECTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE, MAKING IT SAFE, AND RESPECTING THE VOTE AND WORK HARD TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS SECURE.

>> CERTAINLY CONSIDER THE PROBLEMS OF NEEDING TO CHANGE YOUR VOTER ID AND VOTER IDENTIFICATION CARD.

TWO VERY IMPORTANT WOMEN IN THE AUDIENCE, MY WIFE AND MY MOTHER WHO RECENTLY HAD NAME CHANGES.

IT TOOK A TOTAL OF 10 MINUTES FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED AND TO REREGISTER UNDER THEIR NEW LEGAL NAME.

IT WAS NOT A STRENUOUS PROCESS AND WAS SIMPLE.

ILLEGAL ALIENS SHOULD NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

>> ILLEGAL ALIENS DO NOT -- DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN U.S.

ELECTIONS.

WE NEED TO MAKE YOUR VOTER ID IS IMPLEMENTED, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT MARGINALIZING PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, NOT ADD BARRIERS AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE SAVE ACT IS REALLY STRIKING OUT.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE DIRECTED TO CONGRESSMAN ROB BRESNAHAN.

>> OVER FOUR YEARS NOW THAT RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE.

I WOULD SAY THE SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE IS MORE OF A DIVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT CONTINUED MILITARY AID AND STRONGER ECONOMIC SANCTIONS TO HELP UKRAINE DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST RUSSIA?

WHY OR WHY NOT?

DO YOU SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RECENT DECISION TO BUY RUSSIAN DIESEL FUEL?

>> I HAVE SUPPORTED UKRAINE, WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE RUSSIA SANCTIONS ACT.

VLADIMIR PUTIN IS A VIOLENT, HORRIBLE DICTATOR.

EMPOWERING HIM BY PURCHASING HIS OIL, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES WE HAD IN ORDER TO BRING A RESOLUTION TO THE UKRAINE-RUSSIA CONFLICT WAS TO CHOKE OUT THE ENERGY SUPPLY THAT WAS FUNDING THIS WAR.

RIGHT NOW INSIDE OF THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS, A BIPARTISAN GROUP MEET ONCE A WEEK, NO ONE TRYING TO TRIP EACH OTHER WHEN THEY GO INTO THE MEETING, AND TRYING TO FIND A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION TO STOP WHAT IS HAPPENING AND EMPOWERING VLADIMIR PUTIN FROM ENRICHING AND FINDING AN ENTIRE WAR ON THIS.

IT WILL CERTAINLY BE SOMETHING WE WILL SUPPORT IN ANY WAY WE CAN COME UP WITH A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, VERY OPTIMISTIC THERE HAS BEEN A SEMBLANCE OF A CEASE-FIRE.

THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON LONG BEFORE I HAD GONE UP TO CONGRESS.

AND SUBORNING UKRAINE AND THE RIGHT TO EXIST AND DEFEND THEMSELVES, EMPOWERING VLADIMIR PUTIN WITH ENERGY PRICES AND ENERGY SOURCES ISN'T A SMART WAY TO GO ABOUT DOING IT.

-- PATRICK DOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA ONE IS WORKING ON A LEGISLATION THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT.

>> IN SCRANTON, WE HAVE PROBABLY SUPPORTED UKRAINE SINCE THE DAY RUSSIA INVADED.

WE MADE SURE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A LARGE UKRAINIAN DIASPORA, THEY ALSO HAVE THE ARMY MUNITIONS PLANT, WHICH I HAVE PROBABLY RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENT OF THAT WORK THERE.

IT IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AGAINST RUSSIA.

IN RECENT WEEKS, WE HAVE SEEN THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION EASE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AND THEIR ABILITY TO COMBAT UKRAINE.

WE ARE SEEING A LINE THAT IS FRIGHTENING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CONGRESS IN THERE TO CALL THAT OUT AND GET BACK TO STEADY SUPPORTIVE UKRAINE.

WE -- IN THESE LAST TWO YEARS, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY CAME.

I HEARD HIM SAY BEFORE THEY MAKE THE MUNITIONS THAT KEEP HIS COUNTRY SAFER.

TO SEE HE WAS IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND TOLD HE WAS NOT THANKFUL ENOUGH WAS DIFFICULT TO WATCH BUT ONLY MADE ME PROUDER OF HOW HARD THEY ARE FIGHTING IN UKRAINE.

I'M VERY CONCERNED THE ALIGNMENT WITH RUSSIA IS GOING TO CONTINUE AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES IS A TRUE ALLY.

>> LET'S MOVE ON WITH A QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR.

>> WHAT SPECIFIC POLICIES WOULD YOU SUPPORT FOR GUN VIOLENCE?

>> I AM A MAYOR AND A MOM, HAD MY DAUGHTER TWO WEEKS BEFORE TO BE EITHER MAYOR OR MOM.

I THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

C. WE ADDED FIVE OFFICERS TO THE SCRANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUED -- CONTINUED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED.

WE HAVE EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT NONVIOLENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE FRONT LINE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THINGS LIKE RED FLAG LAWS HELP KEEP THEM SAFER.

IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A VIOLENT PASS OR A PFA AGAINST SOMEBODY AND OUR OFFICE.

GOING INTO THAT APARTMENT, THEY HAVE FIREARMS WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T, THAT IS FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT HAS PUT THEM IN THE LINE OF FIRE.

I'M VERY SURE I CAN SAY WE HAVE COMMON SENSE GUN REFORM.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SAFE TOURIST LAWS.

BUT WE SHOULD HAVE REPORTING LAWS AND STOLEN.

THESE AREN'T HARD THINGS.

I'VE SHOT A LOT OF GUNS IN MONTANA DURING THE SUMMERS WITH MY COUSIN.

IT IS FUN.

IF YOU HAVE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR OWN, THAT IS FINE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A LOT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR OFFICERS SAFE.

>> I THINK EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST VIOLENT OFFENDERS SEEKING HARM TO REMOVE YOU FROM A HOME, INFLICT GREATER BODILY HARM, OR TO YOU.

ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF SCRANTON FROM A 2019 TO 2020 FOUR, RAPE, HOMICIDE, AND ARSON RATES ALL WENT UP.

ONE HUNDRED COMPANY IN 2021 TO 20 92014 TO 2018.

67 PERCENT INCREASE IN HOMICIDES.

160 AND THEN JUMP FROM 2019 TO 20.

THE ATTORNEY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY HAS SAID THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN GANG ACTIVITY TOWARDS UNDENIABLE -- ABSOLUTELY NEED TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT SO YOU HAVE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS OF FIREARMS.

WE KNOW THAT WELL IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THIS IS A BIG PART OF IT.

BUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE GUNS IS NECESSARY.

YOU SAW IT A FEW WEEKS AGO NOW, IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, IT WAS A TRAVESTY.

GOT HIS HANDS ON TO A FIREARM.

IF IT FALLS INTO THE WRONG PERSON'S HANDS.

>> RECENTLY THERE WERE SOME ARTICLES THAT SHOWED WITH RESEARCH THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN IN SCRANTON.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER, VIOLENT CRIME, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE A GREAT FORCE TO SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND I'M VERY TIRED AFTER 15 MONTHS OF THE CAMPAIGN TO HEAR SO MANY PEOPLE DENIGRATING THE SCRANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ENDING SOON.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, AND APPRECIATE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THE FUNDING WHICH THE MAYOR IS REPRESENTING FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING FOR NEW EQUIPMENT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

IF YOU LOVE YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SO MUCH, YOU PROPOSE A 50% REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET FOR AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS.

SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SAY HOW THERE ISN'T A TANGIBLE CORRELATION ON TOP OF SIGNING PLEDGES WITH ANTI-POLICE MOVEMENTS.

DURING THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST -- >> OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM MICHAEL BUFFER DIRECTED TO CONGRESSMAN ROB BRESNAHAN.

>> PRESIDENTS FROM BOTH PARTIES HAVE MADE CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS INVOLVING PARDONS OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS OVER THE LAST 20 PLUS YEARS.

DO YOU SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR LEGISLATION TO ALTER, ABOLISH, OR RESTRICT THE PRESIDENT'S PARDON POWER?

>> A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD BE QUITE THE UNDERTAKING TO MOVE IT THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE HOUSE AS WELL AS THE SENATE.

I HAVE NEVER REALLY GIVEN THOUGHT TO THAT QUESTION ABOUT RESTRICTING THE ABILITY OF A PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE SEEN MANY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS EXERCISE EXTREME LATITUDE WHEN IT COMES TO WHO THEY CAN PARDON UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES.

GEORGE SANTOS IS PARDONED AND LIVING IN OUR DISTRICT.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME COMPUTATION OF SENTENCES.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE CASE-BY-CASE AND JUDGED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE ACTUAL CRIME.

BUT I ALSO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A PRECEDENT SET AS TO WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE.

THERE IS A VERY PRAGMATIC APPROACH AND WHAT YOU CAN PURSUE.

WE SAW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PARDON ONE OF THE CASH JUDGES.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN WHEN SO MANY LIVES IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, THAT WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW A PARDON AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL COMES BACK TO NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THAT WAS A HORRIBLE TIME IN THIS AREA.

AND TO HAVE THAT REVISITED AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO RELIVE THAT AGAIN.

AND WE HAVE SEEN IT THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS.

NOT NECESSARILY JUST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, IT GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

>> I COULD NOT AGREE MORE THAT THE COMMUTATION OF THAT JUDGE'S SENTENCE WAS WRONG AND TERRIBLE.

IT WAS AN AWFUL DAY, AN AWFUL SET OF WEEKS.

IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

PARDON POWER IS SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD.

I'M NOT SURE IT IS PRECEDENTED, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE ALSO HAVEN'T SEEN THE WEAPONIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN THE WAY WE ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

IF WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE THIS ADMINISTRATION OR OTHERS IS NOT WEAPONIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WE CAN GET BACK TO THE ESSENCE OF WHERE PARDON POWER IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

I AGREE WITH THE CONGRESSMAN, BUT CONSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENTS ARE A TOUGH HILL TO CLIMB.

IF WE STOP WEAPONIZING THE DOJ, WE WILL NOT HAVE NECESSITATE OF THE PARDONS COMING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> ON THAT NOTE, LET ME CHECK WITH OUR PRODUCERS TO SEE IF WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE LAST QUESTION OR IF WE SHOULD GO TO OUR FINAL STATEMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL GO TO OUR FINAL STATEMENTS FROM OUR CANDIDATES WHO WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR THAT STATEMENT.

MAYOR COGNETTI, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.

>> I DO THIS FOR MY FAMILY AND FOR YOURS.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

YOU HEAR IT IN THEIR VOICES WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE AND SECURITY AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND PRICE OF HOUSING.

YOU HEAR ABOUT IT FROM SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE WORRIED THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FUND THEIR BUSINESSES ANYMORE.

THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IS RIGGED AGAINST US.

IT IS RIGGED BY THE CORPORATIONS AND BILLIONAIRES WHO CONTROL CONGRESS.

I HAVE AN ANTICORRUPTION AGENDA THAT PROMISES TO BAN STOCK TRADING IN CONGRESS, AND CORPORATE PACK MONEY.

I DON'T TAKE IT.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

ESSAY YOU DON'T MEAN IT.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ME.

I HAVE TAKEN ON MY OWN PARTY MY OWN FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

I WILL STAND UP TO THE FOLKS BRINGING OUR ECONOMY AND STANDING IN THE WAY OF US GETTING AN ECONOMY THAT EVERYONE DESERVES.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE CHILDCARE AND HEALTH CARE ARE AFFORDABLE, SENIORS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND THERE IS SO MUCH RED TAPE IN THE WAY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE DARK MONEY IS NOT INFLUENCING OUR POLITICS.

THE WORLD'S FIRST TRILLIONAIRE IS TRYING TO CLEAN THESE ELECTIONS ONE PARTICULAR WAY.

IT IS NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT.

WE NEED TO END CITIZENS UNITED, MAKE SURE THERE ARE A REAL TERM LIMITS.

PEOPLE ARE STANDING FOR REFORM.

EVERYWHERE I GO IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CORRUPTION STANDING IN THE WAY OF OUR PROGRESS.

WE PUSHED UP CORRUPTION IN THE SCRANTON SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CITY OF SCRANTON.

IT IS OK FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO JUST BE BORING.

WE ARE NOT EXCITING IN SCRANTON.

WE ARE JUST ON WITH THE WORK.

WE WANT A STRONG FINANCIAL TRACK, CITY THAT IS THRIVING, PUBLIC DOLLARS WORKING TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND BY AND LET CORRUPTION STAND IN THE WAY.

I WILL NOT DO IT.

EVERYONE DESERVES A FAIR SHOT.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING A FAIR SHOT IN THIS NATION.

I WILL GO TO DCN STAND UP LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE AGAINST ANYONE IN OUR WAY TO GO ON READING OUR ECONOMY.

>> ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO WVIA , MAYOR MAYOR COGNETTI, I APPRECIATE ANYONE WHO PUT THEIR NAME ON A YARD SIGN AND RUNS FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.

THERE IS ONE THING WE CAN BOTH AGREE ON, I'M SICK AND TIRED OF POLITICAL ACTS.

THAT IS ONE THING I THINK EVERYONE IN THE ROOM CAN AGREE ON.

YOU THINK ABOUT WHY ORIGINALLY, AND I GO BACK TO ASKING MYSELF THAT QUESTION EACH AND EVERY DAY, WHY I RAN FOR CONGRESS.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

WHEN I WALKED INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON BUSINESS SCHOOL, MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED.

IT IS WHY I ULTIMATELY PUT MY NAME ON A YARD SIGN AND RAN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET BACK TO MY HOME.

AT THE END OF EVERY DAY, THE FIRST THING WE SAY IN THE LAST THING WE SANG IS HOW ARE WE FIGHTING FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TODAY.

THERE'S PLENTY OF EXAMPLES WHERE WE PUSH BACK ON THE ADMINISTRATION.

ONE PROGRAM WE BOTH AGREE ON IS THE BUILDING RESILIENCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.

WE WERE WILLING TO GET THAT PROGRAM REINSTATED SO WE CAN MAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROTECT OURSELVES FROM FUTURE DEVASTATING FLOODS.

I FOUGHT BACK THE BERSERKER OF THE JOB CORPS AND THE ATTACK THEY WERE UNDER IN THE DEPARTMENT.

I FOUGHT BACK FOR CORRECTION OFFICER PAY.

A HEAD START.

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

I DID EVERY SINGLE THING I COULD TO BREAK WITH MY PARTY TO FORCE A VOTE ON THE FLOOR, DO A DISCHARGE PETITION, AND HENCE PREMIUM TAX CREDITS.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS AND STILL INSIDE OF THE SENATE.

BUT MY CONGRESSMAN IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, I FEEL IT IN MY STOMACH WHEN I WALK UP TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

EVERY TIME I PUT MY VOTING CARD INTO THAT MACHINE IS FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

>> THOSE STATEMENTS BRING TO AN END IN THIS DEBATE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES FOR THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT.

REPRESENTATIVES THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN AND THE MAYOR FOR PARTICIPATING, AND OUR PANEL AS WELL.

IT IS PENNSYLVANIA DECISION 2026 ON WVIA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 IS ELECTION DAY.

SO MAKE SURE YOU VOTE.

YOU CAN DO THIS ON DEMAND AT WVIA.ORG OR THE WVIA MOBILE APP.

THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND OUR WVIA VOTERS GUIDE, WHICH IS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE ON THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR POSITION ON THE ISSUES.

I'M TRACEY MATISAK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

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