Former Governor Ed Rendell delivered the Keynote address at the Pennsylvania Democrats’ Annual Convention at Temple University.
He rallied the young party loyalists with a strong pitch to vote this year.
“Things look pretty good for us in Pennsylvania. More than 55-60% of people say Corbett shouldn’t be reelected. It looks like we can’t lose,” Rendell said. “I have news for you, its an election we can lose. No incumbent governor has ever lost reelection.”
Rendell shared anecdotes from his time in the Governor’s Mansion, including his big win over Lynn Swann and the time he gave Rep. Bud George $10,000 in what he thought was a competitive re-election battle (George took 91% of the vote in that election).
He advocated for an increase of the minimum wage and enact an extraction tax in Pennsylvania, extension of unemployment compensation benefits in Congress and accept the federal Medicaid expansion as part of the Affordable Care Act.
“The bad news is that the governor chose not to cover [the 600,000 people eligible for the Medicaid expansion],” Rendell said. “The good news: any governor can come in and notify the federal government that they’ll accept the Medicaid expansion.”
Last night at the PACD gubernatorial debate, each of the four remaining candidates pledged to accept the Medicaid expansion. Rendell mentioned the forum from last night, acknowledging that while the Democrats in the room may now have their different picks for the nomination, on May 21st they need to come together.
He also talked about his book, “Nation of Wusses: How America’s Leaders Lost the Guts to Make Us Great.”
“People always ask why I wrote my book, and I wanted to codify all the things I had done over the years,” he explained. “But I had other reasons. I wanted to motivate young people about what a wonderful way to live your life in public service is.”
He continued to belabor the issue of turnout in the general election, and encouraged the College Democrats to bring their friends to the polls.
“Your job, and I know its a job you’re willing to accept, is to galvanize the base,” Rendell said.
Following Rendell’s address, the luncheon featured a variety act of 2 minute speeches from candidates for various offices. Congressional candidates Manan Trivedi (PA-6), Kerith Strano Taylor (PA-5), Kevin Strouse (PA-8), Dr. Val Arkoosh (PA-13) and former Rep. Joe Hoeffel on behalf of Daylin Leach (PA-13) gave their mini-stump speeches, as well as State Senate candidate John Kane, Lt. Gov candidates State Senator Mike Stack and Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski.
Rep. (and Philadelphia City Council candidate) Ed Neilson did introductions for each of the speakers.
The rest of the day will feature panels on a myriad of topics, including one with this reporter (Social Media, Social Change at 3:20pm).
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2 Responses
So are you saying that legalized gambling is directly responsible for homelessness? In that case, I guess bars and liquor stores are too.
And people don’t support 76 because it’s a poorly written, deeply flawed piece of legislation. Come back to the table with a real piece of legislation, and then we can have a real conversation.
Former Gov Rendell got the crowd laughing pretty hard while he recalled promising to lower property taxes 40% if Pennsylvanians voted to legalize gambling, huh?
He mention anything about the tens of thousands of homeless Pennsylvanians who had homes before gambling became legal?
I bet, he didn’t even bring up the fact that he left Philadelphia and the rest of Pennsylvania heading for bankruptcy because of the underfunded teachers pension fund bill and public school funding shortfalls.
Mr Rendell and the rest of our political cronies won’t publicly endorse the Property Tax Independence Act (SB/HB76) either.