Cartwright, Bognet square off for second time in 8th Congressional District

Oct. 30—WILKES-BARRE — The 8th Congressional District is between incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who is seeking his sixth 2-year term, and Republican challenger Jim Bognet.

The candidates were asked to answer questions on key issues.

Jobs/Economy

Question: What would you do to bring better, family-sustaining jobs to the region? Be specific on what industries you would target and why they would be a good fit for NEPA.

Cartwright: I am helping to lead the effort to bring a $6 billion gas plant to Luzerne County. This state-of-the-art facility will create thousands of new jobs while bringing down gas prices by tapping into our region's natural resources, unleashing American energy and making northeastern Pennsylvania an energy exporter.

I am also focused on expanding higher education programs right here in northeastern Pennsylvania. I secured over $300,000 for Johnson College to support career training in aviation technology. I also secured $2 million for Lackawanna College for technical and vocational education program development, including equipment.

I am working on building a local workforce equipped with the skills and knowledge workers need to thrive. I secured $400,000 in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance's PREP Program. This will provide hands-on technical assistance to local businesses.

I also secured $200,000 for the U.S. Department of Labor to support its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (HVRP) in Luzerne, Lackawanna and Monroe Counties. This program supports veterans during their transition from military to civilian life.

Additionally, I secured $313,000 for the Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce workforce development project. This will provide workforce training and upskill opportunities for workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is also important that we create innovative jobs focused on the future by expanding local access to degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This begins with engaging K-12 students to find their passion and pursue careers in these fields. That is why I helped establish a partnership between the University of Scranton and the international defense and security company, Jacobs. I also secured $16.62 million in Community Project Funding for the University of Scranton to build a research facility for academic science, health science and cybersecurity, plus a $1 million National Science Foundation grant for the University of Scranton and Marywood University. These investments in our local colleges will help build a regional workforce to bring NEPA forward.

Bognet: Too many families have seen their sons and daughters leave NEPA because they couldn't find good jobs.

I am committed to changing that. Pennsylvania has the opportunity to power the entire East Coast with the natural gas in our commonwealth and that goes for NEPA as well.

We must make Pennsylvania the energy powerhouse of the East Coast by reversing the Biden-Cartwright assault on American energy.

There is also a reason why manufacturing used to be so prominent in NEPA and that is how advantageous our geographic position is to major markets and infrastructure.

I worked on bringing manufacturing back to Pennsylvania while serving in President Trump's administration and I will continue to fight to bring manufacturing jobs back to NEPA in Congress.

Energy and manufacturing bring good jobs with good wages and that is my goal.

Right-To-Life

Question: What is your position on abortion — and please give details on what you would support if elected. Do you believe abortion should be criminalized? And should it be classified as "murder?"

Bognet: I have always been pro-life with three exceptions: the life of the mother, rape, and incest.

I believe this issue must be decided at the state level following the Supreme Court decision earlier this year.

We must show empathy and provide support to women and families that find themselves in difficult circumstances.

Cartwright: The recent decision by the United States Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade reversed a 50-year precedent that guaranteed a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. In a post-Roe world, it is absolutely crucial that we have elected officials at all levels of our government who will side with the rights of women over extremism.

In Congress, I will always support a woman's right to choose and make her own healthcare decisions. That is why I voted to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law. I also supported legislation that would prohibit anyone acting under state law from interfering with a person's ability to access out-of-state abortion services.

I will continue to be an advocate for a woman's right to make these personal decisions with her healthcare provider, free from government interference.

Gridlock

Question: Would you be willing to talk across the aisle to try to effect meaningful legislation that benefits Pennsylvanians, or would you strictly vote party line?

Cartwright: I have a proven record of sponsoring and supporting legislation with members of both parties. Over my 10 years in Congress, I have introduced more bipartisan legislation than any other House Democrat during that same period. In fact, I recently announced my 150th bill with bipartisan support.

77% of my votes have been bipartisan in nature, attracting the support of both Republican and Democratic representatives.

I have spent my time in Congress as a consensus builder, consistently putting forth common sense ideas that have attracted the support of both Republicans and Democrats regardless of which party controlled Congress, or if a Democrat or Republican was in the White House. I will always put the working men and women of this community first.

Bognet: Inflation is out of control, our economy is in a ditch, and our nation is at a crossroads. Pennsylvania needs an independent voice in Washington during this perilous time. We need solutions to stop inflation and fight through the recession we are entering.

I will work with people on both sides of the aisle to solve the important issues our nation is facing. Congress should be a place where the best ideas and solutions rise to the top and become law, regardless of what party proposes them initially.

Inflation

Question: What steps need to be taken to reduce inflation?

Bognet: This inflation issue is due to President Biden's American Rescue Plan Act and other big Democratic speeding bills that my opponent, Matt Cartwright, voted for 100% of the time.

President Biden's decision to end the Keystone XL Pipeline and block new oil drilling on federal lands discouraged companies from more oil exploration and fueled higher gas prices that we are now seeing.

The Biden-Cartwright inflation must be tamed by ending the out of control federal spending and assault on American energy. Accelerating more oil and gas exploration will result in cheaper energy which will lead to lower input costs and less inflation.

Cartwright: Inflation is a problem driven in part by a global supply chain overwhelmed by a rush of demand for consumer goods as we get past the effects of COVID-19. It is also caused by the greed of big oil companies looking to fatten their bottom lines by overcharging us.

Our community is not immune from these forces and challenges. I have heard firsthand from mothers who have had to cut back on their family grocery lists. I have spoken to young men and women about how the cost of gas has cratered their bank accounts. Working people are living paycheck to paycheck.

That is why I helped lead the effort to bring a $6 billion plant to northeastern Pennsylvania that will convert shale gas to regular car gas. This new facility will create thousands of jobs and unleash our region's domestic energy potential to bring down fuel costs for working men and women.

I also cosponsored legislation to remove U.S. military support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the wake of OPEC's decision to reduce oil production. That decision could have a real impact here at home at a time when people are already struggling. I am standing up to OPEC countries to bring down gas prices here in northeastern Pennsylvania and remind them who the real superpower is in this equation.

Still, more work needs to be done. When re-elected I will remain focused on battling inflation by growing our local economy, bringing more jobs to the region and driving down costs.

Gun control

Question: What is your position on gun control measures?

Cartwright: I am a gun owner myself. I support the Second Amendment and I have no interest in taking guns away from law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately, gun violence has become a public health crisis in this country and it is time we treat it as such.

I was proud to support the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S.2938). This legislation closes the so-called "boyfriend loophole" by adding domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for five years after the completion of their sentence.

The tragic shooting in Uvalde was carried out by someone who waited until his eighteenth birthday to legally purchase an AR-15 rifle. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will create an enhanced review process for gun buyers under the age of 21, in part by requiring an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records.

This legislation shows what can be accomplished when both parties come together to find practical solutions, even on issues that often divide us.

Bognet: I believe we need to do a better job at enforcing the gun laws we already have in place and marshaling the resources to face the mental health crisis in our country.

Much of the crime wave that has been unleashed does not involve legally purchased weapons with buyers who have undergone background checks, and has been driven by violent criminals that are buying their illegal weapons on the black market.

Creating more regulations will not stop that from happening. We must crack down on violent criminals that use guns, reject the Defund the Police nonsense pushed by liberal politicians, stop the trend of cashless bail in big cities, and support our police.

I am honored to be endorsed by every major law enforcement group in NEPA, because police know I will stand with them against illegal guns and gun violence.

Ukraine

Question: Would you continue funding the Ukrainian war effort?

Bognet: I believe we need to support Ukraine and continue to be tough on Vladimir Putin, while making sure that we always provide oversight.

Billions of dollars have been sent abroad, and when we are spending hard earned dollars, we must make sure that those funds are spent wisely.

We need to make strategic decisions on how to best support Ukraine's resistance to Putin's aggression, while always protecting America's interest and our taxpayers.

Cartwright: I stand with the brave people of Ukraine against this entirely unjustified war brought on by Vladimir Putin.

I am proud that the language from my bill (H.R. 8377) was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. This legislation will make it easier for the U.S. Justice Department to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine by using assets seized from the very individuals and entities who are perpetrating this war.

As mentioned, I am a co-sponsor of the Strained Partnership Act. Following the decision of OPEC countries to reduce oil production, this bill would remove all U.S. troops and American missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The decision by OPEC to inflate global oil prices will financially empower Putin, further funding his criminal war against Ukraine. I am co-sponsoring this legislation in part to stop that from happening.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.