Business Matters Blog

In our ongoing effort to interview all Democratic and Republican candidates for Governor, we are very pleased to announce our next interview, this one with Tom Knox.  Does the name sound familiar to you?  There's a few reasons why that might be the case.  Knox is the only one of the five announced candidates for Governor who is not currently an elected official.  A high school drop-out, Knox went on to earn millions in the private sector in the software, banking, insurance and health care sectors.  Knox ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Philadelphia in 2007, coming in 2nd in a field of five to Mayor Michael Nutter in a race where Knox ultimately spent $10 million of his own money.

So, we interviewed Tom Knox to talk about his background, his story and his plans for Pennsylvania.  Tune in this Monday, November 23 at 8:00pm on WFMZ-TV to see this show and more!

For this upcoming episode of Business Matters, we were privileged to interview another extremely distinguished guest: former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman.  The former Governor served two terms in New Jersey before being appointed by former President Bush as the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency.  Since leaving the EPA, Governor Whitman has founded the Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy and the environment.

An outspoken moderate, Governor Whitman has also authored "It's my Party too," a book that makes the case for a moderate Republican party.  The Governor also left the Bush Administration after disputes over the direction of its environmental policy. 

Tune in on Monday, November 16, 8:00pm on WFMZ-TV to hear the Governor's interview, in which she addresses all of these issues and more.  Also, as a side-note, the interview took place at the Chamber's Annual Meeting, which was on Election Day.

This was one of the most contentious budgets in recent years and its legacy has left its mark on Pennsylvania's government, with all levels of government taking a hit in approval ratings after the debacle.  There are also still quite a few other issues remaining when it comes to Pennsylvania government, including the continuing fallout with the recent economic crisis, jobs and recovery, the stimulus package, transportation, energy & the environment, health care...and the list goes on....

Thankfully, three of our four State Senators joined us to discuss these issues and more.  Joining us on the program were:

• Senator David Argall (R-29)
• Senator Lisa Boscola (D-18)
• Senator Robert Mensch (R-24)

Hear about all of these issues...and, why is the Governor not speaking to Senator Boscola?

Monday, November 9, 8:00pm.  We hope you enjoy the show!

I hope that this isn't news to anyone: Elections are coming up - they are now six days away.  These local elections often have more impact on individuals than national ones, as they are the ones that affect issues that have a great impact on our local community: taxes, community and economic development, and social services.

To that end, two candidates are on the ballot for Lehigh County Executive, and Business Matter is pleased to host a debate between the two.

• Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham (D)
• Scott Ott (R)

What questions will we address as the debate?  Well, that's the thing - as we publish this blog entry, we haven't taped the debate yet!  That will be done in front of a live Chamber audience on Thursday, October 29.  If you want to submit a question to either or both candidates, you are free to do so - just E-mail michelley@lehighvalleychamber.org.

Again, the show will air on Monday, November 2, 8:00pm, less than 12 hours before the polls open.  Hopefully, this show will help provide information on both candidates and help you make up your mind about who should run Lehigh County.

We hope you tune in!

Physician Assisted Suicide is a topic that gained increasing prominence and controversy in the past 25 years or so.  In the United States, three states have legalized it, and if SB 404 passes, Pennsylvania would be the 4th.  The bill would legalize Physician Assisted Suicide under a specific criteria of circumstances.  Proponents argue that legalizing this procedure would allow individuals to save themselves needless pain and die with dignity.  Opponents argue that doing so would create a slippery slope and ultimately lead to the death of individuals that didn't really want to die.

Joining us to argue this controversial (and in many cases, personal) topic were:

• State Senator Daylin Leach (D-17), author of SB404
• Dr. Russell Rentler, Geriatrician
• Paul Carpenter, Morning Call Columnist
• Dr. Scott Brenner, Pennsylvania Medical Society

What were Senator Leach's motivations for passing this bill, and what are its chances of actual passing?  Indeed, what are the motivations of each side of this important argument?   Under what circumstances could a person choose to die under this legislation?  And what about the arguments that this would down a very slippery slope?

Tune in this Monday, October 26, 8pm on WFMZ.

2010 is quickly approaching, and in

Pennsylvania

, that means its time for a major election - the race for

Pennsylvania

’s Governor is on.  So far, five Democrats have announced or expressed an interest in the race: Chris Doherty (Mayor of Scranton), Joe Hoeffel (Montgomery County Commissioner), Tom Knox (Philadelphia Businessman), Dan Onorato (Allegheny County Executive) and Jack Wagner (Pennsylvania Auditor General).  For the Republicans, there are two declared candidates: Tom Corbett (

Pennsylvania

Attorney General) and Jim Gerlach (Congressman, 7^th District).  Business Matters is going to try to interview each candidate before the election.

 

As such, we are very pleased to announce our first interview with Dan Onorato.  The Allegheny County Executive is widely acknowledged to be the front runner in the race so far, having amassed an impressive war chest of $4 million and coming straight off of the success of the G-20 summit that was held a few weeks ago in

Pittsburgh

.  He also recently swung through the Valley on his announcement tour.  Before he announced in

Allentown

, Tony sat down with the

County

Executive

for an exclusive one-on-one interview. 

 

The interview, shot before the

Pennsylvania

budget crisis was resolved, asked a series of questions about Onorato’s record as

County

Executive

, position on issues and campaign strategy.  What would he have done differently about the budget?  Will he have a harder time running as a pro-life Democrat?  And how is his relationship with Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, particularly after Cunningham dropped out of the Gubenatorial race?

 

Tune in this Monday, October 19, 8:00pm on WFMZ-TV to see the interview!

Transportation is a very hot issue in America - there is no question that our transportation network faces a great deal of challenges in the upcoming months and years, including repairing our roads and bridges, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and funding these necessary improvements. 

To address this issue, we had a rare show consisting of six guests.  First, we had an interview with Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) - his 2nd appearance on the show - in conjunction with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  This brief interview took place after the Senator and Secretary's event at America on Wheels last month.  From there, we interviewed our Lehigh Valley panelists:

• George Doughty (Lehigh Valley International Airport)
• Paul Marin (Rail Advocate)
• Sal Panto (Mayor of Easton)
• Ron Angle (Northampton County Council)

Our panelists react to the Senator and Secretary's comments and more, including possible funding sources for transportation improvements, widening Route 22 and the continued development of light rail in the Valley.

Again, the show airs on Monday, October 12, 8pm on WFMZ-TV.  Hope you enjoy it!

Well, you had to know this was coming.  The biggest political issue that we have right now, without question, is Health Care.  And as various plans wind their way through government, we decided to try and take on this topic from a couple of different perspectives. 

President Obama is attempting to tackle a monster of an issue: Health Care reform.  There are hundreds of differing points of views and dozens of Senators and Congressmen who are tackling this issue.  With an issue as complex as this, is what President Obama is fighting for the right thing?  Joining us to try an answer this question are:

• Wanda Mercado-Arroyo (Lehigh County Republican Committee)
• Marc Stier (Health Care for America Now)
• Tom Huntzinger (Emerson, Reid & Company)
• Wendell Young, IV (UFCW Local 1776)

What would Obama's Health Care plan really cover, and what would it mean in terms of the deficit, taxes and the size of government?  Is this really the best way to go?  What about a public option?  And what about the hot-button issues - would this bill really cover illegal immigration or abortion?

Before we conclude this entry, I'll say this: you know an episode is good if the guests keep arguing during the commercial break and after the show!!!

Tune on on Monday, October 5, 8:00pm to catch the show!

After a relaxing summer, Business Matters is BACK with all new shows!  And this one couldn't be more timely.  This Monday, we will be airing a debate for the 24th Senate District.  Three candidates are in the race: State Representative Robert Mensch (R-147), Lansdale Borough Councilwoman Anne Scheuring (Democrat) and Barbara Steever (Libertarian).

However, unfortunately, only two of the candidates attended the debate: Representative Mensch and Barbara Steever.  Anne Scheuring did not attend despite numerous and repeated invitations.  So, we went on with the debate between Mensch and Steever.

The debate certainly had its contentious moments and discussed a variety of issues, including the Pennsylvania budget and government reform.  We also attempted to address some of Ms. Scheuring's arguments against Representative Mensch...which was interesting, seeing how Ms. Scheuring wasn't there herself to present her arguments! 

Anyway, tune into the show, including a new set and new format, this Monday, September 28, at 8:00pm.  For those of you who are in the 24th Senate District, we hope you can use the show to help you determine who to vote for in the September 29 election.

Pennsylvania is guaranteed to have one of the most competitive Senate races in the county during 2010, and that is in no small part because of this man, former Lehigh Valley Congressman Patrick Toomey.  Toomey is running for Arlen Specter's Senate seat and appears to be the odds-on favorite to win the Republican nomination.  In this interview, filmed before Senator Specter's party switch and before Toomey jumped in the race, we asked Toomey about the biggest issues facing government and what he thought his role could be in fixing its problems.

This show will re-air on Monday, September 21, 8pm on WFMZ.  Enjoy!