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	<title>Rick Daugherty for Congress</title>
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	<description>Rick&#039;s fighting for Seniors</description>
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		<title>Congressional nominee Rick Daugherty visits Lebanon Valley College</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/10/19/congressional-nominee-rick-daugherty-visits-lebanon-valley-college/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/10/19/congressional-nominee-rick-daugherty-visits-lebanon-valley-college/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2012 04:05:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=738</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/20121018_080035_daughterty_500.jpg"></a>Rick Daugherty of Lehigh County, Democratic nominee for the 15th Congressional District, speaks to students during an appearance at Lebanon Valley College Wednesday evening. Daugherty, who is executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center, is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Charlie Dent. Beginning with the new Congress in January, the 15th will include [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/20121018_080035_daughterty_500.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-739 alignleft" title="20121018_080035_daughterty_500" src="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/20121018_080035_daughterty_500-300x185.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="185" /></a>Rick Daugherty of Lehigh County, Democratic nominee for the 15th Congressional District, speaks to students during an appearance at Lebanon Valley College Wednesday evening. Daugherty, who is executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center, is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Charlie Dent. Beginning with the new Congress in January, the 15th will include Lebanon&#8217;s Third and Sixth Wards; the boroughs of Cleona, Jonestown, Mt. Gretna and Palmyra; and the townships of Annville, Bethel, Cold Spring, East Hanover, North Annville, North Cornwall, North Londonderry, South Annville, South Londonderry, Swatara, Union, West Lebanon and North Lebanon (all but five houses).</p>
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		<title>Dent, Daugherty square off at SteelStacks</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/10/18/dent-daugherty-square-off-at-steelstacks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/10/18/dent-daugherty-square-off-at-steelstacks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2012 01:31:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=734</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Congressman, Democratic challenger trade jabs over economy, Medicare and health care. <a id="mod-article-image-link" title="Rick Daugherty (left) debates Charlie Dent (right) in Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District held at the PBS 39 studio Tuesday night. (KEVIN MINGORA, THE MORNING CALL)" href="http://www.trbimg.com/img-507e1f48/turbine/mc-mc-pa-charlie-dent-congressb.jpg-20121016/600" target="_blank"></a> Rick Daugherty (left) debates Charlie Dent (right) in Pennsylvania&#8217;s… (KEVIN MINGORA, THE MORNING…) October 16, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Congressman, Democratic challenger trade jabs over economy, Medicare and health care.</h2>
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<li><a id="mod-article-image-link" title="Rick Daugherty (left) debates Charlie Dent (right) in Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District held at the PBS 39 studio Tuesday night. (KEVIN MINGORA, THE MORNING CALL)" href="http://www.trbimg.com/img-507e1f48/turbine/mc-mc-pa-charlie-dent-congressb.jpg-20121016/600" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft" title="Rick Daugherty (left) debates Charlie Dent (right) in Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District held at the PBS 39 studio Tuesday night." src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-507e1f48/turbine/mc-mc-pa-charlie-dent-congressb.jpg-20121016/600" alt="Rick Daugherty (left) debates Charlie Dent (right) in Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District held at the PBS 39 studio Tuesday night." width="360" height="254" /></a></li>
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<div>Rick Daugherty (left) debates Charlie Dent (right) in Pennsylvania&#8217;s… (KEVIN MINGORA, THE MORNING…)</div>
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<div id="mod-article-byline">October 16, 2012|By Nicole Radzievich&#8221;, Of The Morning Call</div>
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<p>In an election where unemployment and the economy dominate the headlines, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and his Democratic challenger, Rick Daugherty, traded barbs at a debate Tuesday over whether tariffs should be lowered on certain countries doing business with the United States.</p>
<p>Daugherty slammed the agreements, from the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement under President Bill Clinton to the more recent pacts with Colombia, South Korea and Panama. He blamed those deals for sending jobs — including those at Hershey Foods and T-Mobile — overseas.</p>
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<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t have a company just go over the Rio Grande and pay just pennies a day to work there … and send the products back to us and expect us to compete with that,&#8221; Daugherty said.</p>
<p>Dent, a Republican, shot back that Hershey, which still makes 70 million kisses a day in a new plant in the district, sent jobs overseas because of bad sugar policies, and T-Mobile left the Lehigh Valley because of antiquated antitrust stances from the Obama administration and agencies.</p>
<p>Dent said the trade agreements increase productivity because they give American companies further reach into the global markets. To create more jobs, especially for small businesses, he said the government has to create more certainty in taxation and regulation so companies invest.</p>
<p>&#8220;Where in your economic plan do you stop killing jobs and start creating them?&#8221; Dent asked Daugherty toward the end of the debate.</p>
<p>The arguments underscored the deep contrasts between the two candidates for the 15th Congressional District seat during a live debate at PBS39&#8242;s studios at SteelStacks in south Bethlehem.</p>
<p>The event, moderated by PBS station manager Amy Burkett, was the second of at least four election forums in the relatively low-key 15th District race. The newly drawn district stretches 100 miles from east to west and includes all of Lehigh County and parts of Northampton, Berks, Lebanon and Dauphin counties.</p>
<p>Dent, a four-term congressman who has found success in branding himself as a moderate Republican in years past, is now facing a Republican-friendly constituency in the newly drawn district. He also faces a 51-year-old social worker who has raised very little money — $7,300 on hand compared with Dent&#8217;s $418,700 — to introduce himself to voters and get his message out in the final month of the campaign.</p>
<p>Dent, 52, of Allentown, spent much of the debate underscoring his opposition to some of President Barack Obama&#8217;s signature proposals — the health care overhaul and stimulus spending . He said the stimulus program borrowed too much, spent too much and did very little. He argued the health care law drove costs up and made businesses wary of investing in the economy.</p>
<p>Daugherty, of Lowhill Township, said he believes the stimulus spending saved the country from falling into a depression and that the health care law saves money. Daugherty, executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center, argued the health care law saves money for the ailing Medicare program and drove home Dent&#8217;s support of a House budget plan that would have altered Medicare.</p>
<p>The plan would have created subsidies that senior citizens could use for the traditional Medicare program or put toward alternative programs.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dent said he supported that plan, which didn&#8217;t affect current seniors or those approaching Medicare age, because it saves the program from insolvency. He pointed out that the Congressional Budget Office predicts Medicare will go broke in eight years and Medicare trustees predict 12 years.</p>
<p>&#8220;Doing nothing is a choice,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It is a bad choice.&#8221;</p>
<p>Dent said he supports &#8220;reasonable restrictions&#8221; on abortions, such as a ban on partial birth or gender selection, and does not support federal funding of abortions. But he would not criminalize abortions beyond those restrictions. Daugherty cast himself as &#8220;pro-life.&#8221;</p>
<p>Dent said he supports voter identification laws because they ensure the integrity of the vote. Daugherty is against such laws, saying they disenfranchise people, including many senior citizens.</p>
<p>The debate will be rebroadcast 7 p.m. Friday on PBS39.</p>
<p>The Morning Call and its partners will host a second debate at 8 p.m. Wednesday between Republican Laureen Cummings and Democrat Matt Cartwright. They are competing to represent the newly configured 17th Congressional District.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://articles.mcall.com/2012-10-16/news/mc-pa-charlie-dent-congress-debate-2-20121016_1_rick-daugherty-lehigh-county-and-parts-charlie-dent">http://articles.mcall.com/2012-10-16/news/mc-pa-charlie-dent-congress-debate-2-20121016_1_rick-daugherty-lehigh-county-and-parts-charlie-dent</a></p>
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		<title>Charlie Dent, Rick Daugherty agree on importance of job creation, differ on manner</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/09/29/charlie-dent-rick-daugherty-agree-on-importance-of-job-creation-differ-on-manner/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/09/29/charlie-dent-rick-daugherty-agree-on-importance-of-job-creation-differ-on-manner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:43:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=706</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[U.S. Rep. <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">Charlie Dent</a>, R-15, and his Democratic opponent <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/rick%20daugherty/index.html">Rick Daugherty</a>agree job creation is the top issue in November’s election &#8212; but they have different ideas on how to accomplish it.</p> <p>Dent, 52, of <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown">Allentown</a>, who is running for his fifth term, said regulations on corporations should be reduced, the country’s tax code should be [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>U.S. Rep. <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">Charlie Dent</a>, R-15, and his Democratic opponent <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/rick%20daugherty/index.html">Rick Daugherty</a>agree job creation is the top issue in November’s election &#8212; but they have different ideas on how to accomplish it.</p>
<p>Dent, 52, of <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown">Allentown</a>, who is running for his fifth term, said regulations on corporations should be reduced, the country’s tax code should be simplified and energy exploration should be furthered.</p>
<p>Daugherty, 51, of <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/lowhill%20township/index.html">Lowhill Township</a>, said he believes the key to turning around the economy is to end trade agreements that encourage companies to move outside of the United States because of lax importing rules.</p>
<p>“This race is about jobs and the economy,” Dent said. “So many Americans are struggling to find work and my main goal is to enact policies that will help people create jobs.”</p>
<p>Dent said he favors limiting tax deductions for businesses so the nation’s 35 percent corporate tax rate can be brought down to 25 percent to be in line with most of the rest of the industrial world. He said he believes the overall cut can be done in tandem with the tax deductions changes to make it revenue neutral.</p>
<p>On the topic of energy exploration, Dent said he favors allowing for the Keystone Pipeline as a way to increase oil distribution between the United States and Canada. In Pennsylvania, Dent said it’s important to allow for <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2012/09/susquehanna-roseland_power_lin_1.html">the expansion of PPL’s Susquehanna-Roseland power line</a> that’s needed for electric service in the Lehigh Valley and for the growth of natural gas exploration.</p>
<p>“We always have to balance environmental interests with economic interests,” Dent said. “If we don’t get this regulatory system right, it’s going to slow growth. The biggest problem in our economy is uncertainty because they don’t know what their tax rate will be and what environmental regulations will be forced upon them.”</p>
<p>Daugherty said he believes the country’s ineffective trade policies are the root cause of most of its economic problems. In its founding, the United States imposed tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing and that should again be the country’s priority, Daugherty said.</p>
<p>“I don’t believe stimulus spending, government spending or even tax cuts — none of those will work unless we stop unfair trade polices and bring jobs back overseas,” Daugherty said. “It actually undercuts everything.”</p>
<p>Daugherty said he sees ties between restoring domestic manufacturing jobs and the successful continuation of programs like Social Security and Medicare. Fewer workers mean fewer people paying into those programs, Daugherty said.</p>
<p>Daugherty, the executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center, said retaining the current Medicare program is another one of his priorities. He said he believes his view on this topic is more in line with residents of the <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/15th%20congressional%20district/index.html">15th District</a> than those of Dent, who voted in favor of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget that seeks to replace Medicare with a voucher plan.</p>
<p>“It’s much too little in the way of a subsidy and it just doesn’t work. Seniors can’t compete in the private market for insurance,” Daugherty said.</p>
<p>The Democrat said he also favors reducing the nation’s military spending, especially in places such as Western Europe and Japan, who are well-off enough financially to protect themselves.</p>
<p>“I do not believe we can play the role of policemen of the world,” Daugherty said.</p></div>
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<div>Related topics: <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/15th%20congressional%20district/index.html">15th congressional district</a>, <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">charlie dent</a>, <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/election%202012/index.html">election 2012</a>, <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/rick%20daugherty/index.html">rick daugherty</a></div>
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		<title>Charlie Dent refuses to take part in Express-Times debate</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/09/16/charlie-dent-refuses-to-take-part-in-express-times-debate/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/09/16/charlie-dent-refuses-to-take-part-in-express-times-debate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2012 04:39:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=571</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/charlie-dent-horizontal-d48d0511b15937de.jpg"></a><a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent</a> is refusing to participate in a debate organized by <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/the%20express-times/index.html">The Express-Times</a> because of an editorial the newspaper ran criticizing him.</p> <p>The newspaper in December <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/12/editorial_remember_those_who_s.html">ran a front-page editorial </a>advocating against the re-election of any politician who voted for the redistricting of Pennsylvania’s congressional and state legislative districts, which included Dent, R-Lehigh/Northampton.</p> <p>His [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/charlie-dent-horizontal-d48d0511b15937de.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-572 alignleft" title="charlie-dent-horizontal-d48d0511b15937de" src="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/charlie-dent-horizontal-d48d0511b15937de-300x267.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="267" /></a><a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent</a> is refusing to participate in a debate organized by <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/the%20express-times/index.html">The Express-Times</a> because of an editorial the newspaper ran criticizing him.</p>
<p>The newspaper in December <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/12/editorial_remember_those_who_s.html">ran a front-page editorial </a>advocating against the re-election of any politician who voted for the redistricting of Pennsylvania’s congressional and state legislative districts, which included Dent, R-Lehigh/Northampton.</p>
<p>His campaign manager, Shawn Millan, said Dent won’t participate in the newspaper’s usual election-year debate because of the editorial, which ran under the headline &#8220;Fink politicians must be ousted.&#8221;</p>
<p>“The same individuals who would be organizing the debate have already made their bias against the re-election of one of the candidates very clear,” Millan said in a statement. “Participating in a debate sponsored by The Express-Times would not offer the residents of the <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/15th%20congressional%20district/index.html">15th District</a> an unbiased forum prior to the November election.”</p>
<p>Express-Times Editor <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/Jim%20Deegan/index.html">Jim Deegan</a> said writing editorials are part of a newspaper’s job and are recognized as being different from unbiased news coverage.<br />
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<div>Was Charlie Dent justified in refusing to attend the Express-Times debate?</div>
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<p>“That’s part of what we do — hold people accountable, especially elected officials,” Deegan said. “If we’re given a choice between taking a stand and encouraging people to think at the risk of angering elected officials … we’ll take the former every time.”</p>
<p>Dent took part in the newspaper’s debate in 2010 but also declined to participate in 2008. That year, Dent offered to debate his Democratic opponent Sam Bennett in front of The Express-Times’ editorial board instead of an audience, but the newspaper declined.</p>
<p>The newspaper generally schedules its debates at the State Theatre in Easton but had been seeking a Lehigh County location for a debate between Dent and Democrat <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/rick%20daugherty/index.html">Rick Daugherty</a> since Easton is no longer in the 15th District, Deegan said. Daugherty is willing to participate in the debate, but the newspaper won’t hold one with only one candidate, Deegan said.</p>
<p>“In the end, it’s constituents in the 15th District who get shortchanged,” Deegan said. “It’s one less opportunity people have to hear from the candidates.”</p>
<p>Millan said Dent will participate in other debates, at least one of which will be televised. That debate, sponsored by The Morning Call and PBS39, will be aired on PBS at 8 p.m. Oct. 16.</p>
<div id="asset-11566813"><img src="http://media.lehighvalleylive.com/elections_impact/photo/11566813-small.jpg" alt="rick daugherty horizontal" width="155" height="129" /><a href="http://media.lehighvalleylive.com/elections_impact/photo/rick-daugherty-horizontal-aa830d9a2ed91f89.jpg" target="_blank">View full size</a>Contributed photoDemocratic challenger Rick Daugherty</div>
<p>Daugherty said he doesn’t believe Dent deserves any blame for the redistricting as it was done in Harrisburg but he implored his opponent to reconsider taking part in the debate.</p>
<p>“I would hope he would understand the difference between the editorial board and their opinions … and that the debate is an opportunity to let the voters know where we stand and let them decide and there’s no better way to do that than through the media,” Daugherty said. “There’s no better way for candidates to distinguish themselves than by having a debate.”</p>
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		<title>Debates set in Lehigh Valley congressional races &#8211; The Morning Call, PBS39 to present face-offs for candidates in 15th, 17th districts.</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/09/14/debates-set-in-lehigh-valley-congressional-races-the-morning-call-pbs39-to-present-face-offs-for-candidates-in-15th-17th-districts/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:01:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[<p>Live televised debates between candidates in both of the Lehigh Valley&#8217;s congressional districts are set for mid-October.</p> <p>The Morning Call, PBS39 and partners will air a debate between incumbent Republican <a id="PEPLT007422" title="Charlie Dent" href="http://www.mcall.com/topic/politics/government/charlie-dent-PEPLT007422.topic">Charlie Dent</a>, who is running for re-election in the 15th Congressional District, and Democratic challenger Rick Daugherty at 8 p.m. Oct. 16.</p> [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Live televised debates between candidates in both of the Lehigh Valley&#8217;s congressional districts are set for mid-October.</p>
<p>The Morning Call, PBS39 and partners will air a debate between incumbent Republican <a id="PEPLT007422" title="Charlie Dent" href="http://www.mcall.com/topic/politics/government/charlie-dent-PEPLT007422.topic">Charlie Dent</a>, who is running for re-election in the 15th Congressional District, and Democratic challenger Rick Daugherty at 8 p.m. Oct. 16.</p>
<p>A debate between the 17th District candidates, Republican Laureen Cummings and Democrat Matthew Cartwright, will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Oct. 17.</p>
<p>Both events will be held before an audience in the PBS39 studios at SteelStacks in Bethlehem and televised live, providing a forum for voters to hear from candidates in the Lehigh Valley&#8217;s two congressional districts.</p>
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<p>The 15th District covers most of the Lehigh Valley, while the 17th District, starting next year, will include Easton and northern parts of<a id="PLGEO100101022000000" title="Northampton County (Pennsylvania)" href="http://www.mcall.com/topic/us/pennsylvania/northampton-county-%28pennsylvania%29-PLGEO100101022000000.topic">Northampton County</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;This will be the center stage opportunity for the Lehigh Valley&#8217;s congressional candidates to speak to a cross-section of the community,&#8221; said David M. Erdman, editor and vice president of The Morning Call.</p>
<p>PBS39 station manager Amy Burkett will moderate the debates. Colby Itkowitz, The Morning Call&#8217;s Washington correspondent, and<a id="OREDU0000129" title="Muhlenberg College" href="http://www.mcall.com/topic/education/colleges-universities/muhlenberg-college-OREDU0000129.topic">Muhlenberg College</a> political science professor Christopher P. Borick will question the candidates.</p>
<p>Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, works with the newspaper throughout the year to produce The Morning Call-Muhlenberg College Public Opinion Poll.</p>
<p>Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce President Tony Iannelli will present questions to the candidates from the audience, as will Muhlenberg College students. The candidates will also field questions selected from submissions through social media.</p>
<p>&#8220;With questions from college students, the chamber, from the public via Facebook and our panel of journalists, we will be offering TV viewers a lively and informative exchange,&#8221; Erdman said.</p>
<p>Burkett added PBS39 looks forward to bringing the candidates&#8217; views in these important races to its viewers.</p>
<p>&#8220;We see sharing information to inform voters as an important part of our mission and we look forward to working with all of our partners to do that,&#8221; Burkett said.</p>
<p>The event is free and open to the public, with tickets available through The Morning Call, PBS39, Muhlenberg College and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door. Doors will close at 7:30 p.m. before each debate.</p>
<p>The debates will be rebroadcast on PBS39 and the Pennsylvania Cable Network on multiple dates before the Nov. 6 election.</p>
<p>Dent, of Allentown, was first elected to Congress in 2004 and has been re-elected three times. Daugherty, of Lowhill Township, is running to take over the 15th District, which includes parts of Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties.</p>
<p>The 17th District was reconfigured to include parts of Northampton County beginning in 2013. The district currently is represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. <a id="PEPLT002969" title="Tim Holden" href="http://www.mcall.com/topic/politics/tim-holden-PEPLT002969.topic">Tim Holden</a>, who lost to Cartwright, of Moosic, <a id="PLGEO100101016000000" title="Lackawanna County" href="http://www.mcall.com/topic/us/pennsylvania/lackawanna-county-PLGEO100101016000000.topic">Lackawanna County</a>, in the primary election. Cummings lives in Old Forge, Lackawanna County.</p>
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<p>Copyright © 2012, <a href="http://www.mcall.com/" target="_blank">The Morning Call</a></p>
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		<title>Charlie Dent, Rick Daugherty debate overseas call center positions</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/07/15/charlie-dent-rick-daugherty-debate-overseas-call-center-positions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/07/15/charlie-dent-rick-daugherty-debate-overseas-call-center-positions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:39:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=515</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/11300822-large.jpg"></a>U.S. Rep. <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">Charlie Dent</a>, R-15, and his Democratic opponent, <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/rick%20daugherty/index.html">Rick Daugherty</a>, are trading barbs over the loss of call center jobs in the United States.</p> <p>Daugherty, chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee, said he wants Dent to sign on as a co-sponsor of the U.S. Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act.</p> <p>The [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/11300822-large.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-516" title="11300822-large" src="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/11300822-large-300x221.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="221" /></a>U.S. Rep. <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">Charlie Dent</a>, R-15, and his Democratic opponent, <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/rick%20daugherty/index.html">Rick Daugherty</a>, are trading barbs over the loss of call center jobs in the United States.</p>
<p>Daugherty, chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee, said he wants Dent to sign on as a co-sponsor of the U.S. Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act.</p>
<p>The act makes companies that move call centers overseas ineligible for federal grants or loans and allows callers to talk to call center employees in the U.S. if requested.</p>
<p>Daugherty said the act is especially important in light of the <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh-county/index.ssf/2012/06/lehigh_valley_central_labor_co.html">recent closure of the T-Mobile call center in Hanover Township, Lehigh County</a>, that resulted in the loss of 605 local jobs. He said he’s disappointed Dent didn’t vote for the call center act to be brought to the floor during a procedural motion June 19.</p>
<p>“I want to do everything I can to stop jobs from going overseas,” Daugherty said. “That’s my central focus after supporting senior programs.”</p>
<p>Dent said the June 19 vote was nothing more than a procedural vote determining the order of how bills would be considered that day and that it wasn’t a vote against the call center act.</p>
<p>He said he hasn’t had a chance to look at the act but feels the real reason behind the closure of T-Mobile’s Hanover Township call center is that AT&amp;T and T-Mobile weren&#8217;t allowed to merge. AT&amp;T had pledged to keep call center jobs in the U.S. and bring back thousands from overseas if the merger were allowed, Dent said.</p>
<p>“The fact we lost so many T-Mobile jobs is the direct result of the failed policy of the Obama administration,” Dent said.</p>
<div align="left"><strong>CAMPAIGN CASH</strong></div>
<p>Congressional candidates Charlie Dent and Rick Daugherty have until Sunday to report second-quarter fundraising figures.</p>
<p>Dent raised $215,000 this quarter and has $613,000 on hand, campaign manager Shawn Millan said.</p>
<p>Daugherty, who raised only $11,449 for his Democratic primary, said he didn’t raise any notable amount in the most recent quarter. He said he believes races can be won on issues, pointing to his primary win over Jackson Eaton, who outspent him significantly.</p></div>
<div>Related topics: <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/15th%20congressional%20district/index.html">15th congressional district</a>, <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/charlie%20dent/index.html">charlie dent</a>, <a href="http://topics.lehighvalleylive.com/tag/rick%20daugherty/index.html">rick daugherty</a></div>
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		<title>Dent to face Daugherty in 15th District race</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/dent-to-face-daugherty-in-15th-district-race/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/dent-to-face-daugherty-in-15th-district-race/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 04:45:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=458</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Charlie-Dent-Rick-Daugherty.jpg"></a>Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent will try to fend off a challenge for his 15th District seat in Congress from Democrat Rick Daugherty.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The two men will represent their parties on the November ballot.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty, 51, of Lowhill Twp., Lehigh Co., defeated his opponent, Jackson Eaton, in Tuesday&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Charlie-Dent-Rick-Daugherty.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-459" title="Charlie-Dent---Rick-Daugherty" src="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Charlie-Dent-Rick-Daugherty.jpg" alt="" width="296" height="167" /></a>Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent will try to fend off a challenge for his 15th District seat in Congress from Democrat Rick Daugherty.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The two men will represent their parties on the November ballot.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty, 51, of Lowhill Twp., Lehigh Co., defeated his opponent, Jackson Eaton, in Tuesday&#8217;s Democratic primary election.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty, who has served as chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Party, said during the campaign that, if elected to Congress, he would focus on beefing up our country&#8217;s manufacturing base, starting by re-evaluating free trade agreements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He said he would also put his energy into redirecting defense dollars away from foreign military bases to current national threats against our borders and in cyber space.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dent, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, has been spending some of his time familiarizing himself with a newly redrawn district, which now includes less of Northampton County and more of Berks County. Dauphin and Lebanon counties were also added.</p>
<h2>Quick Clicks</h2>
<ul>
<li><a title="Rick Daugherty (acceptance speech) extended" href="http://www.wfmz.com/news/Rick-Daugherty-acceptance-speech-extended/-/121458/12144436/-/bkukhh/-/index.html">Rick Daugherty (acceptance speech)&#8230;</a></li>
<li><a title="Jackson Eaton (concession speech)" href="http://www.wfmz.com/news/Jackson-Eaton-concession-speech/-/121458/11807190/-/1pm15kz/-/index.html">Jackson Eaton (concession speech)</a></li>
<li><a title="Longest-serving Pa. congressman, Tim Holden, loses in primary" href="http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-politics/Longest-serving-Pa-congressman-Tim-Holden-loses-in-primary/-/132536/11805330/-/45whxrz/-/index.html">Longest-serving Pa. congressman, Tim&#8230;</a></li>
<li><a title="15th District Democrats duke it out for shot a US Rep. Dent's seat." href="http://www.wfmz.com/news/Two-Democrats-duke-it-out-for-a-shot-at-Congressman-Dent-s-seat/-/121458/11021526/-/5hll4gz/-/index.html">15th District Democrats duke it out for&#8230;</a></li>
<li><a title="County democratic chair throw" href="http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/County-democratic-chair-throw/-/132502/8800022/-/h13f5jz/-/index.html">County democratic chair throw</a></li>
<li><a title="Dent challenger steps up" href="http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/US-Army-veteran-enters-race-for-Congress/-/132502/4775584/-/bekfn1z/-/index.html">Dent challenger steps up</a></li>
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		<title>Democrats pick Daugherty to challenge Dent</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/democrats-pick-daugherty-to-challenge-dent/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/democrats-pick-daugherty-to-challenge-dent/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 04:40:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=454</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Jackson Eaton concedes to Rick Daugherty in the Democratic primary for 15th Congressional District. <a id="mod-article-image-link" title="Rick Daugherty of Lowhill Twp. waits for the doors of his polling place to open before 7 a.m. at the Lowhill Twp. municipal building early Tuesday. Daugherty is running against Jackson Eaton in this primary to face Charlie Dent in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Jackson Eaton concedes to Rick Daugherty in the Democratic primary for 15<sup>t</sup><sup>h</sup> Congressional District.</h2>
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<li><a id="mod-article-image-link" title="Rick Daugherty of Lowhill Twp. waits for the doors of his polling place to open before 7 a.m. at the Lowhill Twp. municipal building early Tuesday. Daugherty is running against Jackson Eaton in this primary to face Charlie Dent in the 15th Congressional race in the fall. (DONNA FISHER / THE MORNING…)" href="http://www.trbimg.com/img-4f969d3e/turbine/mc-pictures-rick-daugherty-congressional-hopef-004/600" target="_blank"><img title="Rick Daugherty of Lowhill Twp. waits for the doors of his polling place to open before 7 a.m. at the Lowhill Twp. municipal building early Tuesday. Daugherty is running against Jackson Eaton in this primary to face Charlie Dent in the 15th Congressional race in the fall." src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-4f969d3e/turbine/mc-pictures-rick-daugherty-congressional-hopef-004/600" alt="Rick Daugherty of Lowhill Twp. waits for the doors of his polling place to open before 7 a.m. at the Lowhill Twp. municipal building early Tuesday. Daugherty is running against Jackson Eaton in this primary to face Charlie Dent in the 15th Congressional race in the fall." width="280" height="196" /></a></li>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Rick Daugherty of Lowhill Twp. waits for the doors of his polling place to… (DONNA FISHER / THE MORNING…)</div>
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<div id="mod-article-byline" style="text-align: justify;">April 24, 2012|By Nicole Radzievich&#8221;, Of The Morning Call</div>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Democrat Rick Daugherty proved Tuesday at the polls that money isn&#8217;t everything.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With just 3 percent of the cash of his opponent to get his message out, Daugherty edged out Jackson Eaton for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Congressman Charlie Dent.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Unofficial election results compiled by the state showed Daugherty was leading Eaton 59 percent to 41 percent just before midnight. The Lehigh Valley, with all its precincts reporting, showed that same margin.</p>
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		<title>Daugherty Wins Democratic Nomination for 15th</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/daugherty-wins-democratic-nomination-for-15th/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/daugherty-wins-democratic-nomination-for-15th/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 04:35:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=450</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/46cd764ab91d4231e61e59e918d4acb2.jpg"></a>Rick Daugherty to challenge U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in November after defeating Jackson Eaton in Democratic congressional primary, despite being outspent by a 10-1 margin.</p> April 25, 2012 <p style="text-align: justify;">Rick Daugherty, chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Party, won the right to oppose U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in the general election [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/46cd764ab91d4231e61e59e918d4acb2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-451" title="46cd764ab91d4231e61e59e918d4acb2" src="http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/46cd764ab91d4231e61e59e918d4acb2.jpg" alt="" width="203" height="203" /></a>Rick Daugherty to challenge U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in November after defeating Jackson Eaton in Democratic congressional primary, despite being outspent by a 10-1 margin.</p>
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<li>April 25, 2012</li>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Rick Daugherty, chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Party, won the right to oppose U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in the general election in November with his Democratic primary election victory over attorney Jackson Eaton on Tuesday.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty won the Democratic nomination for the 15<sup>th</sup> Congressional District by an unofficial 18 percent margin, <a href="http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-pa-charlie-dent-congress-20120424,0,6344417.story">according to published reports</a>. That margin held in unofficial returns posted on the <a href="http://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/VoterRegistration/ElectionResults/tabid/445/Default.aspx">Lehigh</a> and <a href="http://www.northamptoncounty.org/northampton/lib/northampton/northamptonvote/sum.pdf">Northampton</a> county election Web sites.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty, a Lowhill Township resident who is also the executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center, won despite being outspent by a 10-1 margin by Eaton, who raised about $200,000 by early April, according to <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh-county/index.ssf/2012/04/rick_daugherty_wins_democratic.html">The Express Times.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton conceded the race before 11 p.m. at a South Whitehall restaurant where both men watched returns. In his televised concession speech, Eaton held that “Rick Daugherty can and will beat Congressman Dent.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dent is a four-term incumbent who has never won a General Election by less than 10 percent since he was first elected in 2004.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The redrawn 15<sup>th</sup> Congressional District includes all of Lehigh County and parts of Northampton County including most of the city of Bethlehem, Hellertown, Lower Saucon Township and Lower Nazareth Township. The district also extends as far west as the Susquehanna River to include parts of Berks, Lebanon and Dauphin counties.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Related Topics:</strong> <a href="http://emmaus.patch.com/topics/15th+Congressional+District">15th Congressional District</a>, <a href="http://emmaus.patch.com/topics/Jackson+Eaton">Jackson Eaton</a>, <a href="http://emmaus.patch.com/topics/Primary+Election+2012">Primary Election 2012</a>, <a href="http://emmaus.patch.com/topics/Rick+Daugherty">Rick Daugherty</a>, and <a href="http://emmaus.patch.com/topics/U.S.+Rep.+Charlie+Dent">U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent</a></p>
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		<title>Jackson Eaton, Rick Daugherty square off</title>
		<link>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/jackson-eaton-rick-daugherty-square-off/</link>
		<comments>http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/2012/05/02/jackson-eaton-rick-daugherty-square-off/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 04:19:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lorilaws</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.daughertyforcongress.com/?p=445</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">By Nicole Radzievich, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. (MCT)<br /> McClatchy/Tribune &#8211; MCT Information Services</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">April 21, 2012 April 21&#8211;Tuesday&#8217;s primary to pick a challenger to Republican Congressman Charlie Dent pits a social worker seasoned in political organizing against an attorney who joined the Democratic Party five months ago.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">By Nicole Radzievich, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. (MCT)<br />
McClatchy/Tribune &#8211; MCT Information Services</p>
<div id="storyBodyDivd57851005a80479aaeeb90a12c70b9f6">
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<p style="text-align: justify;">April 21, 2012 April 21&#8211;Tuesday&#8217;s primary to pick a challenger to Republican Congressman Charlie Dent pits a social worker seasoned in political organizing against an attorney who joined the Democratic Party five months ago.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The social worker, Rick Daugherty, is the executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center and decided to run after Dent supported a bill that would have altered Medicare. Daugherty brings to the race a political network as two-term chairman of the Lehigh County Democrats.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Jackson Eaton has only been a Democrat since November but has raised so much money &#8212; he had 36 times more in the bank than Daugherty by April &#8212; that he has turned the heads of national party organizers. He uses his party switch to make his case that he is the best person to crack Dent&#8217;s image as a moderate Republican, saying Dent and other Republicans have moved too far to the right. Eaton once was a Dent volunteer.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Both candidates face huge name recognition hurdles, especially in the 15th District, where there is not only a four-term congressman but new district boundaries. The newly drawn district stretches about 100 miles from east to west and will include all of Lehigh County and parts of Northampton, Berks, Lebanon and Dauphin counties.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">During mostly congenial debates throughout the district, both candidates have talked about jobs and Medicare as top issues, but they&#8217;ve also discussed their differences. Daugherty emphasizes his Democratic roots while Eaton describes himself as the only the only candidate in the race &#8220;100 percent committed to defending a woman&#8217;s right to choose.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Here&#8217;s more about them:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty, 51, describes himself as having a life-long calling for social work. It began at Moravian College, where he earned a degree in the subject and then counseled homeless families for New Bethany Ministries.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8220;I saw how public policy could help or hurt people,&#8221; said Daugherty, of Lowhill Township. &#8220;And that&#8217;s why I got involved in politics.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He has worked on various state and local campaigns and was a district administrator for former Congressman Paul McHale, the last Democrat to represent the 15th District.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For 16 years, Daugherty has been head of the senior center, where, he said, he became attuned to the challenges facing older folks looking for a job or trying to live on a fixed income. Daugherty said he decided to enter the race in early fall when the future of Medicare was debated.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dent had voted for a budget submitted by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that would have voucherized Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8220;Seniors would not be able to afford it,&#8221; Daugherty said.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty opposes what he describes as &#8220;unfair trade agreements that send jobs overseas&#8221;: the North American Free Trade Agreement, and recent agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty refuses to be pinned down on abortion. He describes himself as personally &#8220;pro-life&#8221; but says it&#8217;s not for Congress to challenge Roe v. Wade, the opinion legalizing the procedure. He opposes &#8220;demeaning tests&#8221; like a mandatory trans-vaginal ultrasound before an abortion.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He opposes federal money for embryonic stem cell research.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But he&#8217;s hammered home his Democratic roots at local party-organized debate, saying he&#8217;s been fighting for &#8220;Democratic values&#8221; for 30 years, drawing a direct contrast with Eaton&#8217;s party affiliation. Daugherty pointed out that Eaton had sought a job recommendation from Dent just a few years ago and hasn&#8217;t voted in a Democratic primary yet.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8220;I&#8217;m perplexed that he&#8217;s running against a man who he asked for a recommendation from just a couple years ago,&#8221; Daugherty said. &#8220;I&#8217;m perplexed that he has to run against him at the Democratic side and not the Republican side.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton, 34, makes no bones about his political past. Raised in Allentown, he comes from a very Republican family that stretches for generations. He was Republican, too, volunteering for Dent&#8217;s first congressional campaign.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But Eaton said he hasn&#8217;t always voted the GOP party line, supporting presidential nominee Al Gore in 2000. He talks about that in debates, saying that his cohorts in the Army joked that his call sign was &#8220;Pinko 1.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Then, Eaton gets more serious, saying partisan bickering in Congress has failed the American people and that Dent is part of that. He tries to tie Dent to polarizing politicians like House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton often repeats the line: &#8220;I didn&#8217;t leave the Republican party. The Republican party left me.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton makes his case for Congress on jobs, saying it&#8217;s the biggest issue of the 2012 election and drawing on his own experience.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He tells the story about how he thought he had done &#8220;all the right things,&#8221; how he was commissioned as a military officer upon graduation from Princeton University and entered the Army for four years. After his service, he earned a law degree and worked as an attorney in Washington, D.C. When the economy tanked in 2008, he was out of a job but got temporary work as counsel for the presidential commission investigating the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton, who recently moved back to Allentown, said he understands how important the job issue is and that Congress has failed to address it. He said he has a &#8220;Day 1 jobs bill&#8221; modeled after President Barack Obama&#8217;s plan that calls for $50 billion of infrastructure improvements to get people back to work.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Proposals like infrastructure projects promote Democratic values that Daugherty supports, though he said he would form coalitions to support existing bills rather than introducing his own.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The contrasts between the two candidates start to emerge on the details.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Take the recommendations of Obama&#8217;s bi-partisan deficit commission, dubbed the Simpson-Bowles commission. Both agree with some of the provisions, like capping the home mortgage interest deduction at $500,000 and not crediting second residences, and disagree with other recommendations.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The difference between them is that Daugherty thinks there are too many &#8220;poison pills&#8221; in the recommendations to embrace them, whereas Eaton believes taken together, the plan can work.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Here&#8217;s where the candidates stand on a trio of the proposals laid out in the deficit commission&#8217;s recommendations.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8211;A 15 percent gas tax</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton said he would accept the tax if it&#8217;s part of a larger tax package eliminating tax loopholes, but the increase would have to be gradual.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty said the revenue would have to be found elsewhere because it places too much of a burden on lower income people.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8211;Increasing capital gains tax</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton supports the increase, calling it the same idea behind the so-called Buffett Rule, which calls for higher federal income tax rates on millionaires.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty said he is uncertain about boosting the tax rate.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8211;Raising the amount of income subject to the Social Security payroll tax and raising the retirement age to qualify for Social Security</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The candidates agree on raising the revenue, but disagree on whether the retirement age should go up.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton said a gradual raise in age &#8212; as outlined in the recommendations &#8212; would work as long as there was an exemption for people in certain types of jobs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Daugherty opposed raising the retirement age, saying it&#8217;s hard enough for someone over 50 to find a job.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">While Eaton touted the deficit commission at debates, Daugherty hammered home his opposition to NAFTA and the recent free trade agreements. He promised to work to reverse those agreements and pledged not to support any more.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Eaton said he was a NAFTA supporter, not a &#8220;protectionist.&#8221; He said trade agreements, done with proper labor and environmental protections, open foreign markets to American goods.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Candidate bios</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">RICK DAUGHERTY</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Age: 51</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Occupation: executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Hometown: Lowhill Township</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">JACKSON EATON</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Age: 34</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Occupation: attorney</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Hometown: Allentown</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">___</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">(c)2012 The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Visit The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) at www.mcall.com</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Distributed by MCT Information Services</p>
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