Newswatch 16’s Valeria Quinones gives us the highlights of what each candidate had to say.
SCRANTON, Pa. — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti outlined their priorities for northeastern Pennsylvania during a forum hosted by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.
The candidates, competing for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District seat, each spoke for about an hour and answered questions on workforce development, transportation, and health care.
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Bresnahan, a Republican from Luzerne County, is seeking a second term in Congress.
“I’d be honored to continue to serve in the 120th Congress because at the end of the day we started with our team, ‘How are we fighting for Northeastern Pennsylvania today?’” Bresnahan said. “At the end of the day, ‘Did we fight for Northeastern Pennsylvania today?’”
Cognetti, a Democrat, is seeking to unseat Bresnahan and bring what she described as a record of independence and accountability to Congress.
“We need change,” Cognetti said. “I’m very pleased to be able to offer a spot on the ballot of somebody who has a record of independence, a record of accountability, and a vision for how government can work.”
Workforce development
Both candidates were asked how they would strengthen the region’s workforce and expand career opportunities. Cognetti highlighted apprenticeship programs and local government’s role in supporting workforce development.
“We have to make sure that all of the pieces fit together,” Cognetti said. “We know that our building trades are doing their part to offer those apprenticeships. For our part in the city, for example, we’ve had apprenticeship dollars that we’ve helped to fund, so those opportunities get there.”
Bresnahan pointed to investments in career and technical education, including a technical school that he secured $3 million in federal funding for in Pike County. He also mentioned the project to establish the Misericordia University School of Law. “We’ve been able to break ground on what’s going to be an incredible career technical school where we’re training plumbers, carpenters and electricians,” Bresnahan said.
Candidates support Scranton-to-New York Amtrak connection
Bresnahan and Cognetti agreed on the importance of establishing a proposed Amtrak connection between Scranton and New York City.
Bresnahan cited his work on transportation infrastructure and said he has supported funding efforts for the project.
“I’m one of the very few pro-Amtrak Republicans that actually serve in Congress, and we have supported appropriation letters,” he said.
Cognetti said the route would be important to the region’s economic future.
“If I am in there, I will push and push and push and make sure that we bring that to fruition,” she said. “That Scranton to New York line is a key component of our future economic growth.”
Health care costs and Medicaid
The forum concluded with a discussion about access to affordable and reliable health care.
Cognetti raised concerns about cuts affecting Medicaid, saying they could leave more people in the region without health insurance.
“It is already having impacts in our region,” Cognetti said. “Nine thousand people in our region already don’t have health insurance because of those cuts. We anticipate at least 20,000 more people will lose their insurance next year.”
Bresnahan emphasized the need for oversight of taxpayer-funded programs, citing what he described as fraud detected in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid system.
“Pennsylvania just admitted to $3 million of fraud that was detected inside their Medicaid system,” Bresnahan said. He added that taxpayer dollars should not go toward programs that are obsolete or fraudulent.
Live debate scheduled for Thursday
Bresnahan and Cognetti are scheduled to meet Thursday at 7 p.m. for a live debate. You can watch that debate on WNEP and for free on the WNEP app.
The 8th Congressional District race will determine who represents the region in the U.S. House of Representatives.