Toomey slams Democratic policies in Wyomissing talk
GOP hopeful for U.S. Senate seat vows to cut spending, create jobs, oppose health care act
Reading Eagle
By Mary E. Young
Every generation has handed over a better country to its children, but that won't happen again unless the excesses under Democratic rule are ended, Pat Toomey told about 50 supporters in the Wyomissing Family Restaurant on Monday.
Toomey said that, if elected to a six-year term in the U.S. Senate, he would fight to reduce out-of-control government spending and create jobs without using business bailouts.
He is facing U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, a Democrat from Edgmont Township, Delaware County, in the Nov. 2 election.
Berks County was the first stop on Toomey's 23-county bus tour, which ends Thursday.
Toomey vowed to replace the health care reform act with one that gives people who buy their own insurance the same tax deduction businesses get, creates competition among insurers by allowing people to buy insurance across state lines and addresses the legal issues that result in high awards in malpractice lawsuits.
The cap-and-trade pollution-control proposal would not have his support because it would increase taxes on business and cost the state tens of thousands of jobs, he said.
"Why is it we're not having the kind of recovery we normally would have?" he asked. "It's because of the policies.
"I have spent most of my adult life in business. I understand what it takes to create a new business. I understand what it takes to create jobs. I've done that. I oppose all bailouts."
The future of the country and its children are at stake, Toomey said.
Ernest T. Comisac of Hamburg said he likes Toomey because Toomey supports the middle class and small businesses.
Thomas B. Slovik II of Shillington said he thinks Toomey is an honest conservative who has the best interests of the state at heart.
Outside the restaurant six protesters held signs pointing to what they said was Toomey's favoritism for Wall Street.
When they tried to get inside the room where Toomey spoke, his campaign workers made them leave.
Afterward, Toomey said he wanted to keep the meeting with his supporters private to avoid disruptions.
The people who disagree with his views will have other opportunities to participate as the campaign goes forward, he said.
Also attending the event were U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, a Chester County Republican who represents part of Berks; state Sen. Mike Folmer, a Lebanon Republican; and state Rep. Jim Cox, a Spring Township Republican.
