Governor nominates Joseph J. Musto to fill unexpired term of Judge Michael Conahan

In brief

<b>First Posted:</b> 10/30/2008<br><br>From staff and wire reports
 PITTSTON &amp;ndash;  and Lou Barletta debated for the first and only time in their campaign and it was a reflection of a race where millions have been spent and exchanges have been heated.


U.S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski participates in Wednesday&amp;rsquo;s 10th Congressional debate with Hazleton Republican Mayor Lou Barletta.
PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER

                

Kanjorski, the 12-term Democratic incumbent, and Barletta, the Republican mayor of Hazleton, are running for the seat in the 11th Congressional District.
The debate was held in at WVIA-TV in its new high definition studios.
Barletta repeatedly attacked Kanjorski on his 24 years in Congress, saying the Nanticoke Congressman has not done enough for his district and has become part of the problem in Washington where elected officials have earned an all-time low approval rating of 9 percent.
Barletta opened the debate by stating he will bring change to Washington and he will stand up for what is right and he has already demonstrated his ability to stand up to his president and his party.
Kanjorski said he has the expertise and experience to help lead the country out of the current economic crisis, having taken a leadership role in crafting the $700 billion bail out. He said he will be a part of the Democratic majority in Congress and he has developed a friendship with Sen. , whom he believes will be elected president next Tuesday.
Barletta attacked Kanjorski for his role in Cornerstone Technologies, the now bankrupt water jet research and development company that received $10 million in federal funding and employed Kanjorski&amp;rsquo;s daughter and four of his nephews.
Barletta rose to national prominence when he cracked down on illegal immigrants in his city and he criticized Kanjorski for accepting nearly $100,000 in campaign contributions from mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and other financial firms he helped to regulate as the chairman of a House subcommittee.
&amp;ldquo;You continue to take money from those industries. The real losers here are the people who lost their homes,&amp;rdquo; Barletta said.
Kanjorski repeatedly linked Barletta to President Bush, whom he blamed for the financial meltdown and said had replaced Herbert Hoover as the &amp;ldquo;most hated president&amp;rdquo; in the nation&amp;rsquo;s history.
&amp;ldquo;I&amp;rsquo;m debating with the George W. Bush regional chairman for northeastern Pennsylvania in the election of 2004,&amp;rdquo; Kanjorski reminded voters.
Barletta announced that Wednesday was his 31st wedding anniversary and he said he promised his wife, Marygrace, that she can pick where they celebrate next year.
Barletta, 52, said he is not a one-issue candidate, but he said the issue does affect all other issues. He said he has coped with increased demands on services in Hazleton as the population has increased by 50 percent in recent years while the per capita tax has not increased a dime.
Barletta said he would have voted against the bail out package that Kanjorski helped put together.

Barletta, Kanjorski spar in debate