Ted Yeager believes the problem with state government is that ideology often takes precedence over effective leadership.
Yeager, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the state House of Representatives in the 107th District, said the system works best when leaders, regardless of political philosophy, exercise a collective effort in solving problems.
"I would work toward a balance, always looking to find a middle ground between the left and the right in determining what works best," Yeager said.
Yeager, who ran his first campaign two years ago at the age of 60 and promises to serve no more than three two-year terms if elected, said he can be a voice of reason and moderation because he is not and never will be a career politician. "I've already had two careers (education and real estate), and I am not interested in a third," he said. "My slogan is 'Make a Difference, Not a Career.'"
As a legislator, Yeager said, he would not accept a pay raise, health care or pension benefits, and he would not request reimbursements.
Yeager said he sees himself as "someone in the middle," adding that the vast majority of the people he will represent are also "in the middle."
Not 'business as usual'
Yeager said officials in Harrisburg should abandon their "business as usual" approach to governing, which he defines as "split government in which leaders refuse to talk to each other."
Asked to assess incumbent Republican Rep. Kurt Masser's performance in office, Yeager categorized Masser as being "in lockstep" with the administration of Gov. Tom Corbett. "Kurt is right in line with Corbett," Yeager remarked. "He has voted for what Corbett wanted."
Yeager fears that Act 22, which allows for changes in the delivery of Department of Welfare programs, will hurt the district's senior citizens. "These are members of the Greatest Generation, now in their 70s and 80s, who survived the Depression and World War II, but are now having problems making ends meet," Yeager said.
The candidate agrees there is always a need to cut fraud in programs. "I do see some good ideas coming from the Republicans, but there must be ways to do things differently without having to negatively impact senior citizens," he said.
In a statement issued this week, Yeager described Masser's expression of concern about cyber school funding as "too little, too late."
Yeager noted that because of an unfair method for funding charter and cyber schools, coupled with drastic cuts to public education in last year's state budget and the pessimistic outlook for this year's budget, "we are seeing the results in our schools with cuts in staff, larger class sizes and reductions in both educational and extracurricular programs."
Critical of Masser
"Where was Masser's concern when voting for the current budget?" Yeager asked. "His constituents see diminished schools and higher local taxes while their tax dollars are being funneled to for-profit schools. That money has no accountability as to whether it is used for education or advertising or administrator bonuses.
"It is good to hear Mr. Masser is concerned, but the best time to have voiced that concern was prior to a budget that took millions away from our local school districts and not after we have started down the road of diminishing public education in Pennsylvania. Our future and our students deserve better," he said.
Yeager views the Marcellus shale industry as one of the three major issues facing the district (along with senior citizen services and education). When it comes to regulating or taxing Marcellus shale, he again favors a policy that takes the "middle ground."
"One side wants to impose no taxes and sees few environmental issues. The other wants to tax, tax, tax and is concerned only with protecting the environment," Yeager explained. "We shouldn't overtax any industry, but we must also do the responsible thing."
The impact fee that some counties may now impose on Marcellus shale is the lowest in the nation, Yeager said. "I don't see Marcellus shale as a cash cow, but the industry should pay its share."
Yeager said the industry is taxed in all other areas of the nation where it is drilling. "So putting a reasonable tax on them will certainly not chase them out of Pennsylvania," he suggested.
Obviously, another key issue is jobs, and Yeager admits there are no quick or simple solutions. He believes the district is served well by its proximity to two interstates and U.S. Routes 11 and 15 and further notes that railroads are also a key to revitalization. "Unfortunately, we (the nation) concentrated only on highways and let our railroads collapse. The question, how can we get them back?"
Yeager has no problems with reasonable tax incentives to attract new businesses, such as allowing a small-percentage tax reduction for each new job created.
Legislative reforms
Yeager is in agreement with the constitutional amendment passed by the House that would reduce the size of the chamber from 203 to 153 seats. "This is a good way to save money," he said. The proposal must be passed in two separate sessions of the legislature before the voters have the final say through a statewide referendum.
He believes larger House districts will not impede constituent access to their representatives, especially in the Internet age when communications and information can be shared instantaneously.
Yeager said that along with term limits, the terms of House members should be expanded from two to four years, with an additional requirement than no representative may serve more than three terms (12 years). "As it is, House members are always campaigning," he noted.
In Yeager's first campaign for the House two years ago, he finished second in a four-candidate field, not a bad showing, he said, since he never ran for office before and had campaign help only from friends who had also never been involved in political campaigns.
"In the process of running, I had the opportunity to meet people who had some experience running campaigns," Yeager remarked, and he has received helpful advice from some of them this year. The experience helped him get better known throughout the district, and this familiarity with the voters and district communities has made the current campaign a bit easier.
He is now also better known, he said, among people who are active in the Democratic Party. He has attended party functions and has been working to generate support. Yeager said he realizes this time around, he will have to do better in the primary with voters in the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area.
Yeager agreed with a criticism offered by his primary opponent, Chris Pfaff, that his campaign website doesn't contain much information. "I'm not a social media guy or a techie," he said. "There are people working on it for me, and it is very much a work in progress. There will be more there as we go along."