News & Issues: Candidate Interviews

15th Congressional District Interview

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

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Oppose- I am hesitant about banks and insurance. I am concerned about the potential and would be hesitant to allow banking conglomerates to expand their powers.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Oppose-It seems like a bad idea and seems as though whenever we fiddled with banking…it hasn’t worked out.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Oppose- I would have concerns about large banking companies taking over. There is a lot of discontent. I value local REALTORS® and don’t want to see them put out of business.

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

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Oppose- I would categorically support mortgage interest deduction even if we went to a flat tax. I oppose a sales tax on homes.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Oppose- Mortgage elimination would be a horrible idea. It looks like a way for government to harness market energy to support home ownership.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Oppose- Overall the tax system needs revision because it is too complicated. Flat tax may be the best option; however I would still retain the mortgage interest deduction as part of flat tax.

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

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Support- I would like to see capital gains rates go down. I just don’t know how to do it in the times of a budget crisis.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Support- Whenever you lower capital gains, it tends to create incentives for reinvestment.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Support- I would like to see it reduced and would prefer to see a flat tax.

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?

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Support- Again, generally I support tax cuts, but we need to be fiscally responsible.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Support- It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to have a difference.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Support- From first hand experience, real estate should be treated the same.

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?

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Don’t Know- Sales tax at the state level is one of the most expensive and it is difficult taxes to administer.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Don’t Know.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Support.

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

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Support- The Federal Government does have a role in affordable housing, but depends on how much money and how you go about doing it.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Support- It is absolutely essential.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Support- Ultimately it would even be better to move these people into homeownership.

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?

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Support- Philosophically support- again where does the money come from?

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Support- We all benefit when we can convert housing for lower income individuals.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Support- This is part of the American Dream.

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?

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Support- I am ok with the idea, but I am not sure how you can affect that legislatively.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Don’t Know- I know that there can be a lot of time and money spent protecting rights that should be there anyway.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Support.

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?

   Senator Charlie Dent (R):

   Support- Yes it should be disclosed to the consumer.

   Mr. Joe Driscoll (D):

   Support- I absolutely do, it can be too difficult.

   Dr. Rick Pascuszzo (R):

   Support.