Editor’s note: This story was inadvertently published with Mike Kelly listed as" pro-choice." We regret the error and know full well Kelly's stance. We apologize for the error.
With Election Day just a few days away, we aregoing to compare and contrast the candidates running for office this election season starting with the race for Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district.
With Election Day just a few days away, we aregoing to compare and contrast the candidates running for office this election season starting with the race for Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district.
Congressman Mike Kelly, a businessman from Butler, was sworn into office 2011. Erie area businessman Dan Pastore decided to challenge Kelly in this election.
In the recent candidate’s debate Dan Pastore said he decided to run against Congressman Mike Kelly after Kelly publicly spoke out against the legitimacy of the 2020 election results. Kelly remained adamant that the election process in this country currently is in need of reform.
Though the candidates don’t agree on much, Pastore said he is an avid outdoorsman and doesn’t believe in taking away anyone’s guns and Kelly is a firm second amendment trumpeter. They also agree that jobs and energy concerns are a top priority for Pennsylvanians and the United States.
Kelly is unabashedly “pro-life” while Pastore believes it is a private matter between a woman and her doctor.
Below compares what each candidate is publicly standing for on the candidate websites.
In the recent candidate’s debate Dan Pastore said he decided to run against Congressman Mike Kelly after Kelly publicly spoke out against the legitimacy of the 2020 election results. Kelly remained adamant that the election process in this country currently is in need of reform.
Though the candidates don’t agree on much, Pastore said he is an avid outdoorsman and doesn’t believe in taking away anyone’s guns and Kelly is a firm second amendment trumpeter. They also agree that jobs and energy concerns are a top priority for Pennsylvanians and the United States.
Kelly is unabashedly “pro-life” while Pastore believes it is a private matter between a woman and her doctor.
Below compares what each candidate is publicly standing for on the candidate websites.
Jobs, economy and making things at home
KELLY: “We need common sense, pro-growth policies that remove barriers to economic growth. We need to remove onerous regulations that stifle private sector investment and hamper job creation. I support legislation to fix the tax code with common sense changes that ensure everyone pays their fair share and families have less of a tax burden. We need a tax code that will generate domestic economic growth while we also enact legislation to open new markets around the world for American made products.“
PASTORE: “(He supports) adequate funding for research and development to ensure that (the) economy grows without endangering workers… and reforming our trade laws to level the playing field for American manufacturers. He will support trade agreements if they are fair, but will oppose any trade deal that results in American jobs being shipped overseas. He will work to grow manufacturing jobs focused on clean energy, high tech, and other emerging sectors. To accomplish this, Dan will work for increased funding in workforce development and job training to ensure that workers here have the skills needed to attract new manufacturers to the region.”
Pastore also points out his strong support of unions.
PASTORE: “(He supports) adequate funding for research and development to ensure that (the) economy grows without endangering workers… and reforming our trade laws to level the playing field for American manufacturers. He will support trade agreements if they are fair, but will oppose any trade deal that results in American jobs being shipped overseas. He will work to grow manufacturing jobs focused on clean energy, high tech, and other emerging sectors. To accomplish this, Dan will work for increased funding in workforce development and job training to ensure that workers here have the skills needed to attract new manufacturers to the region.”
Pastore also points out his strong support of unions.
Education
KELLY: “As a former school board member, I know first-hand that spending massive amounts of money on education does not always lead to positive results. We need to make sure that local communities have both adequate funding and the flexibility to address their particular needs. We also need to focus on accountability, funding only what works, and expanding parental choice. We need to make sure that our higher education options include not only traditional colleges, but also provides career and technical education programs. Supporting a range of educational options will provide our workforce with the skills we need to compete and succeed in today’s global economy.”
PASTORE: ”One thing the pandemic showed us is that too many American families do not have access to affordable childcare. Dan will work to expand pre-K access so every child can develop educationally regardless of where they live or their family's financial situation. (He) will fight to increase funding to public schools and increase access to the technology that students and schools need while reducing the reliance on property taxes in school funding, which disproportionately affects poorer and more rural school districts. Making college and trade schools more affordable is a top priority. Too many young adults enter the workforce burdened by student loans, which is why (he) supports efforts to make higher education more affordable by holding institutions accountable, reducing interest rates for federally guaranteed students, and increasing funding to reduce the debt burden on students.”
PASTORE: ”One thing the pandemic showed us is that too many American families do not have access to affordable childcare. Dan will work to expand pre-K access so every child can develop educationally regardless of where they live or their family's financial situation. (He) will fight to increase funding to public schools and increase access to the technology that students and schools need while reducing the reliance on property taxes in school funding, which disproportionately affects poorer and more rural school districts. Making college and trade schools more affordable is a top priority. Too many young adults enter the workforce burdened by student loans, which is why (he) supports efforts to make higher education more affordable by holding institutions accountable, reducing interest rates for federally guaranteed students, and increasing funding to reduce the debt burden on students.”
On ethics and oversight
KELLY: “Oversight of the government has many meanings. We need to reduce the size of government and limit our spending. We need to make sure the government is accountable to its citizens whose taxes are funding government programs. Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent and if that spending is having a positive impact. The U.S. Constitution clearly states what the responsibilities, obligations and limits are on the three branches of government. We need to make sure that each branch stays within these limits.”
PASTORE: “People are losing faith in Congress because there is too much money in politics. Dan supports reforming campaign finance laws that create strict limits on campaign contributions and remove unlimited dark money from corporations and other powerful interests. Dan also supports tightening congressional ethics laws and will vote to prohibit the owning and trading of individual stocks by Members of Congress and their staff to ensure they are not enriching themselves by making investment decisions based on non-public information. In addition, Dan supports stricter reporting requirements for elected officials' financial disclosure reports so citizens can easily access the information.”
PASTORE: “People are losing faith in Congress because there is too much money in politics. Dan supports reforming campaign finance laws that create strict limits on campaign contributions and remove unlimited dark money from corporations and other powerful interests. Dan also supports tightening congressional ethics laws and will vote to prohibit the owning and trading of individual stocks by Members of Congress and their staff to ensure they are not enriching themselves by making investment decisions based on non-public information. In addition, Dan supports stricter reporting requirements for elected officials' financial disclosure reports so citizens can easily access the information.”
Tax reform and social security
On their website’s - Kelly concentrates on tax reform while Pastore concentrates on saving social security.
KELLY: “Congress must find ways to reduce the taxes that individuals pay while ensuring that the government is fiscally accountable for how we spend tax revenue. Tax revenue is generated by working people and we need to make sure that we generate more taxes because more people have jobs – not by raising tax rates,” said Kelly.
PASTORE: “(Social Security) has substantially reduced senior poverty. Although highly popular among Americans, there are those who work continuously to privatize this program and put it into the hands of Wall Street. Dan will protect the retirement of our seniors and our citizens by fighting to keep dangerous hands off this program.”
KELLY: “Congress must find ways to reduce the taxes that individuals pay while ensuring that the government is fiscally accountable for how we spend tax revenue. Tax revenue is generated by working people and we need to make sure that we generate more taxes because more people have jobs – not by raising tax rates,” said Kelly.
PASTORE: “(Social Security) has substantially reduced senior poverty. Although highly popular among Americans, there are those who work continuously to privatize this program and put it into the hands of Wall Street. Dan will protect the retirement of our seniors and our citizens by fighting to keep dangerous hands off this program.”
Protecting the Environment and energy security
Here the candidates agree on many of the same things, just, perhaps, a different means of achieving the goal.
KELLY: “Our energy policy should include an “all of the above” and “everything below” approach to addressing our current and future energy needs. We need a policy that encourages the development and responsible usage of all forms of American energy – coal and natural gas to biofuels and everything in between. There is not one single solution to solving America’s energy challenges, but by using hydropower, clean coal, natural gas, nuclear power, biofuels and oil, along with the growing capacity of solar and wind power, we can take environmentally responsible steps towards American energy independence.”
PASTORE: “As an avid outdoorsman, Dan is committed to protecting the environment. Dan knows that we must address climate change while maintaining a strong economy. That is why he supports transitioning to clean energy in a manner that is swift, but not so fast that it disrupts our energy supply or slows economic growth. Like all sportsmen who spend time outdoors, (he) wants to ensure that our air and water are protected. He supports protecting and strengthening the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.”
KELLY: “Our energy policy should include an “all of the above” and “everything below” approach to addressing our current and future energy needs. We need a policy that encourages the development and responsible usage of all forms of American energy – coal and natural gas to biofuels and everything in between. There is not one single solution to solving America’s energy challenges, but by using hydropower, clean coal, natural gas, nuclear power, biofuels and oil, along with the growing capacity of solar and wind power, we can take environmentally responsible steps towards American energy independence.”
PASTORE: “As an avid outdoorsman, Dan is committed to protecting the environment. Dan knows that we must address climate change while maintaining a strong economy. That is why he supports transitioning to clean energy in a manner that is swift, but not so fast that it disrupts our energy supply or slows economic growth. Like all sportsmen who spend time outdoors, (he) wants to ensure that our air and water are protected. He supports protecting and strengthening the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.”
There are more issues on each website. When it comes to healthcare, women’s rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ communities, Pastore lists these as priorities. Kelly called the discussion over abortion rights a "distraction from the real issues" facing America. On his website he emphasizes Veterans rights as a priority.
Learn More about each candidate by visiting their websites: Mike Kelly at mikekellyforcongress.com/issues
And Dan Pastore at danpastore.com/issues
Learn More about each candidate by visiting their websites: Mike Kelly at mikekellyforcongress.com/issues
And Dan Pastore at danpastore.com/issues
Bios from their website
Dan Pastore is a businessman, attorney, and lifelong Erie County resident who is running for the United States Congress. Hard work is nothing new to Dan. Growing up and through law school, he worked at his family's construction company, and he became a skilled carpenter by the time he completed college. After graduating from high school, Dan earned a degree in economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1980, and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1985. As a partner at an Erie law firm, Dan's practice focused on real estate and commercial and complex litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Dan handled cases throughout Western Pennsylvania and represented a wide range of clients. In 1994, while still working as an attorney, Dan co-founded Erie.Net, the first public internet service provider in Northwest Pennsylvania. Erie.Net created some of the first internet-related jobs and provided the first internet connection to thousands of homes and businesses in the region. While working at Erie.Net, Dan launched FishErie.com, the first website providing fishing information for Northwest Pennsylvania. In 2000 Dan went on to co-found FishUSA, one of the first online tackle stores. Today FishUSA is a leading e-commerce retailer serving anglers across the nation and beyond. FishUSA provides a wide range of good-paying jobs at their offices, warehouse and Pro Shop in Erie County. Personal Life: Dan is an avid angler, hunter and outdoorsman. He is active in local sportsmen's groups, including the Pennsylvania Steelhead Association, and the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie. Since 2019 Dan has served as Commissioner with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission where he represents nine counties in Western Pennsylvania. An active member of the community, Dan was the recipient of the Perry Hi-Way Hose Company "Citizen of the Year" award for legal work on the resolution of issues arising from the distribution of gaming funds generated by Presque Isle Downs and Casino. He is also the recipient of the Erie County Bar Association's Pro Bono award. For over 20 years he served on the Board of Directors of Perseus House Inc. and he was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence. Dan resides in Fairview, Erie County with his wife of 35 years, Melissa. In addition to fishing and hunting, Dan and Melissa enjoy hiking, camping and enjoying the outdoors with their dog Dexter. They are proud parents of three adult children, and were recently blessed with their first grandchild. | Mike Kelly was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Butler High School in 1966, Mike attended the University of Notre Dame on an academic and football scholarship. After graduating from Notre Dame, Mike returned home to work at the family business, Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc. Mike purchased ownership of the dealership in the mid-1990s and expanded its operations to include both a Hyundai and Kia franchise. The dealership currently employs over 100 people and is respected as a leader in both the local and national automotive industries. Prior to being elected to Congress in 2010, Mike served on Butler City Council, the Butler Area School Board and the boards of other local civic organizations including the Housing Authority of Butler County, the Redevelopment Authority of Butler County, Catholic Charities and the Moraine Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mike and his wife Vicki live in Butler where they raised their four children. They are also the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren. Mike believes in fiscal responsibility and smaller government. As a small business owner, he knows first-hand that businesses create jobs – not the government. Thanks to his seat on the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee, Mike is in a position to promote pro-growth tax reform to simplify the tax code and lower tax rates which would leave more money in the pockets of American families and workers. Mike sits on the following subcommittees of the Ways & Means Committee: the Subcommittee on Oversight, where is the ranking member; the Health Subcommittee; and the Oversight Subcommittee. Mike is an appointed member of the President’s Export Council and serves on many caucuses including the Pro-Life Caucus, the Steel Caucus, the Manufacturing Caucus, the Coal Caucus, and the Job Creators Caucus. Additionally, Mike serves on the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition, a bipartisan group of members of Congress from the eighteen northeastern and midwestern states. The Coalition works together on issues related to the economic well-being and environmental health of the region. Election Day is Nov. 8, 2022 |