REPRESENTATIVE, STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 77TH DISTRICT

JOB DESCRIPTION

The General Assembly, the legislative branch of state government, is composed of two houses. The upper house is the Senate; the lower house is the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is necessary to pass a law. Every law concerning taxation must originate in the House of Representatives.

Term: two years

Salary: $76,163.31 (2008)

Question: What should the state government do to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has health insurance coverage?

DEMOCRAT

H. Scott Conklin

Residence: Philipsburg

Campaign Web site: www.scottconklin.com

Birth date: Oct. 7, 1958

Education: Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School, 1977 graduate; Clearfield County Career and Technology Center, 1974-77; certified air condition technician, 1995

Occupation: State legislator

Qualifications: Elected Centre County commissioner, 1999, re-elected 2003; member of the state House of Representatives, 2007-08

Answer to question: The price of health care for working families and businesses is out of control and we need to address it. I am proud of my vote for the Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care legislation that will provide coverage for an additional 270,000 adults. I am glad to see that the governor and Senate Republicans are negotiating a compromise to send back to the House. This plan utilizes existing state revenues and federal dollars without raising taxes.

REPUBLICAN

Thomas Martin

Residence: Julian

Campaign Web site: www.tom martin2008.com

Birth date: 1957

Education: Penn State B.S., 1981; MCSE, Oracle DBA 8,8i,9i

Occupation: Programmer/DBA

Qualifications: As a student, worked and paid half of school expenses, lettered as a swimmer and earned a degree. Over 20 years experience on office-to-shop floor applications in steel, glass, oil, flexible manufacturing, foreign exchange, education, fitness. Township auditor, four years.

Answer to question: Everyone gets treated today; 92 percent of Pennsylvanians are already covered and many of those who are not covered are switching between jobs. People need choices, tax credits and medical savings plans, not a one-size-fits-all solution. We need to figure out why health care cost so much and why doctors are leaving and lawyers staying. If we adopt universal health and it fails, how do we get out of it?