And, frankly, we are hard-pressed to think of an issue in which Conklin brings more to the table than Shuster. Shuster's father was correct in identifying road construction as critical to the financial health of central Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, his entanglements with lobbyists and contractors in his pursuit of highway dollars for the district and campaign contributions for himself badly soiled his legacy. Clean coal technology would be a boon for central Pennsylvania if done with care, and the 9th District needs a thoughtful advocate for that view. With farmers in general, and central Pennsylvania dairy farmers in particular, going through tough times, the 9th District representative will have to play a major role in making federal agriculture policy more rational, more market-oriented and less regionally biased.
Profitable farms are less likely to be turned into housing developments and shopping centers.
Getting Medicare reimbursement rates more in line with actual costs continues to be a critical priority if low-income people and senior citizens are going to continue to get access to proper health care. Conklin has won a number of fans outside Centre County with his earnestness and his apparent passion for the needs of average people. His downfall, in our opinion, is that he has not made a compelling case to voters why the 9th District would be better off if he took that earnestness and passion to Washington while Shuster went back to selling cars in New Freedom. Conklin is in his second year as a commissioner. If he's able to compile a successful track record in that job, he'll be a much more attractive candidate for higher office.