News & Issues: Candidate Interviews

13th Congressional District Interview

1. What is your position regarding the proposed regulation permitting banks to sell and manage real estate?

   Dr.Melissa Brown (R):

   Don't Know- I don?t know why you would want to change the system, it seems to be working. Why "fix something that's not broke?"

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Oppose- There has been plenty of consolidation in banking and I am not inclined to support expansion.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Oppose- I am opposed on the premise that REALTORS are a small business people who know their community and the people in it.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Oppose- I have seen enough consolidation in the Banking industry and would not like to see further monopolistic expansion.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Oppose- Not sure the consolidation under Graham-Leach-Bliley has been positive. I would not support increased consolidation.

2. What is your position on tax reform that eliminates the mortgage interest deduction and/or imposes a sales tax on home purchases?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Oppose- I would like to retain the mortgage interest deduction and would not be inclined to support a sales tax.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Oppose- I am opposed to elimination of mortgage interest deduction. My fiscal plan would not include a national sale tax.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Oppose- We are one of the few countries that actively promote homeownership. When people own their own house they are more likely to take care of their property.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Oppose- I do not want to see the elimination of mortgage interest deduction or sales tax imposition.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Oppose- I am not in favor of the elimination of mortgage interest deduction and can't see that a national sales tax would happen.

3. What is your position on a reduction in the capital gains tax rate?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Support- I am for George Bush's tax cut and would like to make them permanent.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Oppose- I don?t think the country can afford a further reduction in capital gains.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Support- I would like to support a reduction of capital gains or any other tax if it was economically feasible.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Support- It is ok because we need to reduce capital gains.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Don't Know- It is very important that we encourage capital investment. Jobs need to be protected to keep jobs in our country. I have a bill in the House to promote statewide capital investment

4. What is your position on reducing the capital gains tax rate on the sale of investment real estate to the same rate as gains on the sale of financial assets?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Support- They should be equal.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Support- I would support parity in the tax levels.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Support- It should be an equal playing field.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Support- It seems like it makes sense.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Don?t Know- I don't know why there is a difference. It seems like they should be treated equally.

5. What is your position on incentives to state and local governments to simplify their sales taxes so that goods sold over the Internet are taxed in the same manner as goods sold in a store?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Don't Know- I don't have a definite opinion. I'm not big on taxing in general. At heart I may look to leveling the playing field.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Don't Know.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Support- I believe there should be a balance/level playing field. I need to support the local business owners.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Support- I believe the states should be able to tax internet sales, but not the federal government. I am very supportive of efforts to reduce local property taxes.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Support- I would like to see a simplification of the sales tax code so that the little guy on the corner doesn't get hurt.

6. What is your position on increased federal appropriations to promote the development of privately owned affordable rental housing?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Support- We need to do a much better job to have affordable housing for low income families. Section 8 vouchers do not work well in the N.E. in particular.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Don't Know- There is a problem with the Section 8 Housing, I would need more specifics on the proposed legislation.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Support- Being that there is a real need in the county/local level for this type of housing.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Support.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Support- I believe that it's a standard that should be maintained.

7. What is your position on a tax credit to developers who build or rehabilitate affordable, single-family housing for purchase by lower income families?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Support- The key is to manage the program so that people who buy their homes know how to take care it. We need to redevelop the waterfront. It doesn't happen because the brown fields legislation needs improvement. Tort reform needs to happen to make this less burdensome.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Support.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Support.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Support.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Support- Abington has a local program that allows state and local government to redevelop housing. It's a great way to promote housing.

8. What is your position on a proposal to streamline access to the federal courts in 5^th Amendment private property takings cases to allow property owners quicker adjudication of their cases?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Support- Anything that provides quicker adjudication to anyone is good.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Support- Moving up the timetable for a decision is a good thing.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Support- I am very support of private property rights and the people's investment in their properties.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Don't Know- I would need to look at the details. I understand we move too slowly in the court system. We need to protect private property owners, but there are times when the public good needs to be considered.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Oppose- I would not favor pre-emption of state's rights.

9. Do you support efforts to require the disclosure of credit scores and insurance scores used in the underwriting process of a mortgage or insurance application?

   Dr. Melissa Brown (R):

   Support- They do have that right.

   Mr. Joe Torsella (D):

   Support.

   Mr. Al Taubenberger (R):

   Support- The more people that know what happened in the process the better it will be.

   Senator Allyson Schwartz (D):

   Support- I am very concerned about the lending practice and the ability of consumers to have access to their credit reports and appeal their credit scores. Also I believe in the need for fiscal literacy so people better understand their obligations.

   Rep. Ellen Bard (R):

   Support- People have a right to have access of these materials.