Rendell attacks Swann on taxes

[cal04]

Gov. Ed Rendell attacked challenger Lynn Swann's lack of experience in government and condemned his property-tax overhaul plan as "a disaster" as they squared off in the first of two debates in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial campaign.

Swann, a former Pittsburgh Steelers star and the GOP nominee, placed himself among "citizen politicians" like the late President Ronald Reagan and former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey. He renewed his charge that Pennsylvania has suffered under the leadership of Rendell, a Democrat.

"I believe in the two R's. I believe in reform and I believe in results. ... My opponent also believes in the two R's. He believes in rhetoric and he believes in Rendell," Swann said during the hourlong exchange at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh.

Rendell maintained that the state cannot afford Swann's proposed business tax cuts, saying that they ultimately would deprive the state treasury of $6 billion, and that Swann's plan to replace the state property taxation system would take years and exhaust most of any future budget surpluses.

"It's not that he has no ideas," Rendell said. "It's that he has bad ideas."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061005/ap_on_el_gu/pennsylvania_governor_debate

[AlCzervik]

1. i watched the debate and Swann was awful and shady about his own return

[spag68]

2. Rendell

Being an old Philly political pro, these gys should be very afraid when they step in the ring with him.

[1932]

3. The Rendell quote is excellent.

He sets it up with an argument in part one, and then hits it home with a catchy quote in part two. A lot of people are going to remember both parts of that quote when they go vote.