Simmons Crushes Coyle

If you've read any of the comment threads on this blog concerning Bill Coyle's state house challenge to Justin Simmons, you'd know that Simmons was going to win. Still, Simmons' 78-22 smackdown had to be a surprise, even to him.

On Facebook, Simmons was pretty gracious to Coyle. Justin is waiting to see if a Democratic write-in like Joanne Jackson has prevailed.

131st Update: Coyle Fails To File Pre-Primary Finance Report

Bill Coyle

I've been highly critical of statewide candidates who still file paper reports instead of the electronic reports that can be seen immediately on the Internet. Though no law requires electronic report, candidates who choose to go the paper route know that voters will never see their finances until months after an election is over. This lack of transparency is a slap across the face of citizens these candidates claim they want to serve.

Usually, the biggest offenders are the very persons who pretend they're all about transparency and accountability. Take Bill Coyle, for example. He has repeatedly slammed Justin Simmons for seeking a fourth term, and has claimed that, unlike Justin, he's a man of his word. But Coyle completely failed to file his pre-primary finance report, which was due on Friday.

“It is absurd that a candidate who talks about integrity and transparency refuses to release campaign finance reports as required by law,” said Jason Ercole, a spokesman for the Simmons campaign. “For someone seeking to be an elected official, whose sworn duty is to uphold the law, to run his campaign this way is simply unforgivable and should cause great concern among voters.”

It does raise a red flag or two. I have seen candidates drag their feet on filing required reports precisely because they want to hide who is supporting their campaigns.

I contacted Coyle, who admitted that he has failed to file his report. He told me he had been "out of town." He indicated his report will be filed tomorrow, and vowed to do so electronically.

Simmons: Pension Reform or Bankruptcy

Justin Simmons

The first of three debates hosted by the Lehigh Valley Tea Party last night was the most raucous. Pennsylvania's 131st legislative district consists of the southern portion of Lehigh County, a tiny sliver of Montgomery County and part of Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County.  It has been represented by Justin Simmons for the last four years after he pulled off an amazing upset of Karen Beyer in 2010. make no mistake about it, Justin Simmons is a hard-core conservative. he has been the republican Democrats love to hate in the western part of the Lehigh Valley.  In the last two elections, Simmons has faced stiff competition in vicious campaigns that included teacher union advocate Kevin Deely and Republican-turned Democrat Michael Beyer.

All this adversity has made Simmons very effective during debates. He's a skilled orator and was clearly the most polished of all the candidates in three debates last night.  A few times, even opponent Bill Coyle joined in the applause after an answer, only to catch himself and look in amazement as his own hands would betray him. Coyle also had to admit and even apologize for a mistake in supporting the Manchin-Toomey gun proposal that would require background checks on the sales of firearms at gun shows and in Internet sales.

Three Term Pledge

To his credit, Coyle conceded his weakness. ""I may not be the best debater, I may not be as up on the issues as someone who's versed in it, but I've had success in my career, and I think I can translate that to our district." A wholesale furniture salesman, Coyle claimed he was running because Simmons has broken the three-term pledge limit that he made when he first ran for office.

And he has.

But Simmons had an answer.

"The people of my district have asked me to run for a third term because I'm actually one of the people who have gone into government and done what I said I'm going to do,"he explained. "I fought for conservative principles. ...  We've just got a victory from this Governor and have passed a budget that does not increase taxes."

Who's the Real Conservative?

Bill Coyle

It was a debate in which both Simmons and Coyle maintained that each was the real conservative.

Simmons painted Coyle as a liberal in conservatives clothing.

"Mr. Coyle has been backed by teacher union presidents, has been associated with Jennifer Mann, a former liberal Democrat, and with Karen Beyer, my liberal predecessor," he said. "I don't believe his intentions are really on the term limit pledge. I believe his intentions are a liberal Republican that wants to take a conservative out."

Coyle claimed he was the real conservative because he'd close one of the district offices. Simmons scoffed at that idea, noting those offices exist to serve constituents. Then he returned to Coyle's ties to the teachers' union.

"When the president of the teachers' union at East Penn School District says, 'Bill Coyle will represent our interests in Harrisburg," - someone that opposes paycheck protection, opposes pension reform, opposes everything that conservatives stand for - and two other teacher union people - I have the photo right here, saying 'Bill Coyle is the moderate alternative to Justin Simmons,.' Bill Coyle is not a conservative."

Simmons also pointed to Joanne Jackson, a Democrat sitting in the audience, and claimed that she had just told him that Democrats plan to mount a write-in campaign for Coyle. Jackson was so incensed that she has decided to mount her own write-in campaign.

Reducing the size of the state legislature (203 state reps, 50 state senators, 2d largest in country)

Both candidates said they'd like to reduce the size of the state legislature."Any time you can cut expenses, I think that's a good thing," said Coyle. "I'm a little concerned that it would give too much power to Philadelphia."

Simmons claimed a constitutional amendment will soon be in the hands of the voters.

"I've always been an advocate of reducing the size of the legislature,"" he claimed. "Texas, a state double the size of Pennsylvania, has a legislature, half the size. ... We need to reduce the size of the legislature and move to a part-time legislature here in Pa. ...It's going to be a constitutional amendment so we have to get it through the next session as well and then it will go to the ballot for people to vote on the issue. ... My opponent has said it will never happen. We're very close to this happening."

Pensions and per diems for state reps

Noting that Pa. has a $54 billion unfunded liability for pensions. Simmons signed a pension declination form. "I will not accept the pension," he observed. .

He lambasted per diems as "a ridiculous system" in which a "legislator can go out to Harrisburg and get $165 blank check to spend money however they want. No direct expense. It's wrong. I've been on every bill to eliminate the per diem system, I do not take per diems. I do direct expense because my expenses, when I have to spend the night in Harrisburg, come in about half the $165 per diem. The per diems have got to go."

Coyle agreed, but added he would eliminate pensions completely from the legislative branch.

"My opponent ridiculed me for that, but I think we should eliminate [pensions] from the legislative branch."

Differing views on term limits. 

Coyle stated he supported term limits for state representatives They should run for four-year terms and be limited to two terms.  Under the current system, state representatives are always campaigning, which he called a "full-time job."

Simmons claims to have "evolved" on the issue. "The voters decide at the ballot box," he argued  He also noted the irony of being attacked on term limit pledge by an opponent "who will not take the term limit pledge because he said he didn't know how long it would take to get things done."

Is It Time for HB76 Or Some Alternative to Eliminate Property Tax?

Coyle said he supports HB 76, which replaces a property tax with increases in the sales tax. It's hard not to support that bill," he said. But he admitted a "little bit of fear" about the impact of a consumption tax on clothing. Noting the outlets in Tannersville, he predicted that there "will be an impact in having a tax on previously untaxed articles of clothing. It's hard not to support that bill."

This fear about a tax on clothing was disputed by Simmons. "HB76 still does exempt clothing. You gotta' read the bill,  Bill. Sorry."

Simmons claimed to have voted for HB76 each time it has come up. Noting that the bill has 91 co-sponsors, but got 50 votes, Simmons claimed one of those votes came from him.

Simmons also disputed whether Coyle is really for property tax elimination. "When you are endorsed by teacher union bosses in the district, when you are trying to get written in by Democrats, you can't be for property tax elimination," he charged. "You can say that to a tea party crowd, but you're obviously not saying that to the Democrats."

Second Amendment and HB503, which will require that all firearms be registered with the state police and that there be an annual $10 gun tax.

"I'm pro Second Amendment," said Simmons.."I'm always endorsed by the NRA. I'm going to be endorsed by the NRA in this primary. I supported the castle doctrine. I was a co-sponsor of the castle doctrine because I believe you should be able to protect yourself in your own home. ... I have to do a contrast between my opponent and I. My opponent, on Bobby Gunther Walsh, says he supports Toomey-Manchin, the Toomey- Manchin federal law that is more into gun control. I don't support Toomey-Manchin. I think law-abiding citizens that own guns aren't the problem. ... I am pro-Second Amendment. I will oppose HB503, and I will continue to fight for your second amendment rights as I always have done."

Coyle, who stated he is also pro second amendment,acknowledged that "I did make a mistake on Bobby Gunther Walsh and didn't do my research on a national issue. I thought it would be more state specific and I wan't up to speed on it. And I apologize for that, and have since amended my position on it.

Coyle not only opposes HB 503 and its $10 annual assessment on each firearm. He also thinks "it's insane that we have fishing licenses." He complained about "government trying to extend their tentacles around all of us."

Take Your Pick, Pension Reform or Bankruptcy

Putting aside debate styles, Simmons also made a scary prediction. He believes Pennsylvania faces bankruptcy, probably within the next five years, unless it enacts pension reform.

"Here's the thing we gotta' do. The first step. We gotta' put all new hires into a new defined contribution 401k system, like 95% of the private sector has. We have to take taxpayers off the risk of what the pension system has caused. We have a $54 billion unfunded liability here in pa. It's not sustainable. And here's the thing if we don't do something about this. ... If we don't legislatively enact pension reform, the state's going to go bankrupt. Thirty dollars of every $100 right now goes to the pension system. That will be $50 of every $100 of the state budget within five years. The state will go bankrupt and the federal government will have to come in and allow states to go into bankruptcy protection. A lot of you remember what happened to the Bethlehem Steel and the retirees there. If we don't fix it now, that's what's going to happen herein Pa.

Noting that pensions were created to make jobs that no one wanted more attractive, Coyle said, "We shouldn't fund other people's retirements. We should fund our own."

(Blogger's Note: I will have reports on the other two debates on Monday).

State House Candidate Chided For Misrepresentations

Earlier in the week, I told you that state house candidate Bill Coyle ducked a number of questions I sent to him. He was on Gunther's WAEB program yesterday. His interview on Tuesday had to be bumped because of the tragedy in Belgium.

Coyle did answer some of the questions I had previously posed.

During the program, Coyle claimed he spoke with State Rep. Harry Lewis, Jr, who is Secretary of the Urban Affairs Committee, and Lewis claimed he did not know who Simmons was.

This is untrue.

Lewis fired off this email to WAEB yesterday, after the show.

It was brought to my attention today that you had a guest on one of your radio talk shows who is running against Representative Simmons. This gentleman apparently made representations that I commented on Representative Simmon’s attendance at the Urban Affairs Committee meetings. I’m very disappointed in such a gross misrepresentation of my brief conversation with this gentleman. Representative Simmons has served his constituents well in his participation on the Urban Affairs Committee.
Sincerely,
Representative Harry Lewis, Jr.

The Question Bill Coyle Has Ducked

Coopersburg resident Bill Coyle, a furniture wholesaler, is challenging Justin Simmons in the Republican primary in the 131st. He appeared as a guest on Bobby Gunther Walsh's radio show in February, which was pretty much a disaster. So my guess is that Walsh has been pressured to give Coyle a do-over, and he'll be on the show again today.

Though Simmons is very conservative, the reason I like him is because he is one of the few state legislators who worked to settle the NIZ lawsuit.

I've met Coyle. After doing so, I checked his voting record and discovered he's pretty much a hit-and-miss voter, especially in primaries. So I find it out that he would showcase himself as a standard bearer for the Republicans, especially since one of the persons who encouraged him to run is none other than Democrat Jennifer Mann.

She wants Coyle to bleed Simmons, while Democrats write someone else in.

He fell for her spiel while paying for her meal at White Orchid.

When Coyle first announced, I sent him a list of admittedly tough questions on February 18. He got them because he sent me an email about them. He has not answered me, and over a month has elapsed  Since he is using Robert Kerr as a consultant, my guess is he won;t be answering me at all. So maybe he'll tell Bobby Gunther Walsh what he's afraid to say to me.
.
Will you take the pension? (No answer.)

Will you take per diem? (No answer.)

Will you take state car? (No answer.)

Will you take cell phone? (No answer.)

Will you take mileage? (No answer.)

Since you are running against Simmons because of his term limit pledge. What is your term limit pledge? (No answer.)

What are your thoughts on the Republicans blocking Wolf's budget? (No answer.)

How would you be different? (No answer.)

What are your thoughts on Tom Wolf's 2015 budget? (No answer.)

What do you agree with? What don't you agree with? (No answer.)

What are your thoughts on Tom Wolf's 2016 budget? (No answer.)

What do you agree with? What don't you agree with? (No answer.)

How should we fund increase in school funding? (No answer.)

What should we do with property taxes? (No answer.)

What is your current employment? (No answer.)

Why do you think you can do a better job? (No answer.)

Why should people vote for you? (No answer.)

He dodged the question whether he would send out mailers at taxpayer expense when he was on Gunther's show in February. Gunther has stated he would host an hour-long debate between Simmons and Coyle. According to Coyle, Simmons has missed 60 votes during his time in the state house. I have tried, and am unable to confirm this.