ELLICOTTVILLE ã Chautauqua County Legislator Nancy Bargar (D)
and Assemblywoman Catharine Young (R) squared off Wednesday in
their only scheduled debate before the May 10 special election to
fill the vacancy in the 57th State Senate District.
The seat was made vacant by the death of Sen. Patricia McGee
earlier this month.
The two candidates fielded questions from members of the
Cattaraugus County Farm Bureau, which hosted the event at the
Ellicottville American Legion. Both women told of growing up on
family farms and discussed the impact of state taxes on farming
operations.
Bargar, who twice sought the Senate seat in the early 1990s,
placed the blame New YorkÞs high property taxes on ßthe most
dysfunctional state legislature in the country,à led by a
Republican majority in the State Senate.
Specifically, she criticized a system that created legislation
giving the Seneca-Allegany CasinoÞs host municipalities 15 percent
of slot machine revenues, while Niagara Falls receives 25 percent
from the Seneca Niagara Casino.
ßThis happened at 3 oÞclock in the morning ã this happened on my
opponentÞs watch, with no objection. These things are still
happening,à said Bargar.
Young responded that she has been working very hard to get the
local share increased and revealed that share will be closer to $45
million, rather than the original projection of $1.8 million.
Bargar said, ßFor the last 50 of the last 50 years, with
Republicans in the State Senate, every property tax increase has
been approved by the majority party.à
Young countered by saying a large number of fee increases
occurred during the administration of former Democratic Gov. Mario
Cuomo, adding she supported legislation eliminating sales tax on
farm equipment and advocates continuation of the STAR program and
Medicaid reform.
While farmers with large parcels of land are affected by
property taxes, liability insurance is a major expense as well. The
candidates were asked if they support tort reform, in an effort to
limit lawsuit settlements and slow rising insurance premiums.
Both said they support reforms.
ßI do favor some reform. You have to be pro-business. This has
been on the table for some time. I certainly would support some
middle ground,à said Bargar.
Young said, ßWe have to look out for the ability of business to
grow in New York State. At the same time, the state has to protect
workers so that if they get hurt on the job they can get it taken
care of.à
The candidates were questioned on whether they feel the Healthy
NY program, which small businesses and agribusinesses rely on to
provide coverage.
Bargar said health care is a major part of her platform.
ßWe canÞt have any businesses if we are not healthy and have
healthy employees,à said Bargar, adding she advocates more
preventative care and is concerned that coverage of elective
procedures such as plastic surgery and gastric bypass drive up
health care costs. ßI do support the Healthy NY program ã thereÞs
no evidence itÞs not working.à
She praised the EPIC program, which helps the elderly pay for
prescription drugs and said she supports KendraÞs Law . which
allows courts to order certain individuals with brain disorders to
comply with treatment while living in the community.
Bargar said she supported a smoking ban in her county and
criticized Young for voting against the Clean Indoor Air Act in her
county.
Young said she voted against the measure, not because she is in
favor of indoor smoking, but because she thought the law would be
detrimental to businesses and that a compromise could have been
reached.
The assemblywoman said she would support expanding the Healthy
NY program and also advocates preserving rural hospitals.
ßThere is a push to close rural hospitals. We need our rural
facilities so people can get to the hospital on time. ItÞs a matter
of life and death,à said Young.
Both candidates also expressed agreement in support for research
creating biotech-derived crop varieties, but held different views
on proposed legislation which would decrease the maximum size of
wetland areas subject to state regulation.
Bargar, who called herself an environmentalist, said in her
county, she doesnÞt support programs that increase developed land
around Chautauqua Lake. Young said she believes it is important to
protect landowners, whose farming efforts could be restricted.
Questioned about economic development and how they would attract
more business to the area, Bargar and Young talked about programs
they have championed.
Bargar said the Farmland Protection Plans being adopted by
counties are very much a part of economic development.
ßThe state can help by identifying markets for our products,à
she said.
Young decried placement of imported milk on New York City
shelves as a ßtravesty,à adding New York milk should be on those
shelves.
ßWe have wonderful crops. We should be able to get into an
outlet,à she said.
The assemblywoman said she has supported Empire Zones, as well
as efforts to reform them, while Bargar praised the efforts of the
state comptroller to make sure businesses in the zones are creating
the number of jobs theyÞve promised.
Young called for an end to unfunded mandates and said she
advocates tax cuts as a means of stimulating the economy.
Bargar said her strength is being an ambassador for the area,
promoting its tourist attractions and natural beauty.
ßThere are no magic bullets for bringing business and industry
here. There are all kinds of initiatives and none of them seem to
be working,à she said.
Young disagreed, saying upgrading transportation and
communication could bring jobs to the area, specifically improving
Interstate 86 and finishing Route 219. She added that she has
supported funding for the Southern Tier Extension Railroad.
Bargar pointed out she was an original member of the Southern
Tier Rail Authority, which revived the east-west rail line from
Hornell to Corry, Pa.
The candidates were questioned about their views on repealing
the Rockefeller Drug Laws and tightening penalties for sex
offenders.
Bargar said the lawsÞ tougher sentencing guidelines have boosted
the need for more prison cells at taxpayersÞ expense, while Young
said the laws have been ßa tool for law enforcement.à She drew
parallels to PennyÞs Law, named after Salamanca mother Penny Brown,
who was killed by a 15-year-old neighbor too young to be sentenced
as an adult. The law now provides for younger offenders to serve
longer sentences.
Young and Bargar were in agreement that tighter restrictions on
sex offenders are needed.
In closing, Young said ßWe lost Pat McGee mid-term. Because IÞve
been dealing with the same issues, thereÞs not going to be any
on-the-job training for me.à
Bargar told the crowd of about 100 people, ßI want to be a fresh
face and part of a fresh team.à She joked. ßIÞve run for Senate
twice before and now IÞm giving you one more chance to send me to
Albany.à
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Originally Appeared Here