State Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-189, will be challenged in the Nov. 4 general election by Democrat Liz Forrest. The district covers Hamilton, Middle Smithfield, Ross and Smithfield townships, Delaware Water Gap, and parts of Chestnuthill and Stroud townships in Monroe County; and Delaware, Lehman and Porter townships, and part of Dingman Township in Pike County.

The Times News asked each candidate the same set of questions. Their answers are printed below.What will it take to achieve property tax reform in Pennsylvania?Forrest: Clearly, bills like Senate Bill 76 and fake lawsuits by local legislators won't lower property taxes. It's pie-in-the-sky. The solution must include increasing state education funding to 50 percent with a dollar by dollar reduction in local property taxes. That would result in an immediate 20 percent relief for many Pocono residents. Primary homeowners, whose property tax burden is above the state average, then need a state rebate to lower their school taxes to affordable levels.Brown: The election of more legislators committed to passing initiatives like education funding formula reform and, ultimately, House Bill 76 to eliminate school property taxes. I am 100 percent committed to House Bill 76, and will continue to push for its passage as well as other property tax reforms in the meantime. It is the members of my party who introduced and continues to push for this legislation.What can be done to reduce drug and alcohol addictions, and mental health issues in Pennsylvania?Forrest: Government can't reduce substance abuse, addiction or mental health problems for its citizens unless it properly funds programs that help to address these issues. We need to enroll everyone in health insurance coverage so that individuals and families can get help when they need it. We can improve the lives of ordinary Pennsylvanians by providing first-class education opportunities, turning the economy around and creating family sustaining jobs so that the middle class can thrive.Brown: Early recognition, education and intervention are the keys to addressing mental health and addiction issues. Supporting these is both a societal responsibility and a governmental funding challenge. As a society we must promote efforts that educate the public on these issues, destigmatize mental illness, and provide information on where to seek help for oneself or others. Governmentally, we must work to provide funding for programs that meet these goals, particularly early intervention.What is the best option to solve the pension crisis?Forrest: Act 120 has already addressed new pension obligations. Pennsylvania has a pension debt crisis of about $44 billion which will balloon to $65 billion very quickly unless the unfunded liability for existing pension obligations is met. Not acting on this has resulted in five credit downgrades in four years. The only way to address the old debt is to refinance it under the plan proposed by Senate Democrats.Brown: We must place new hires, and current and future legislators, into a 401(k)-type, defined contribution system. Current retirees and enrollees must continue to receive what they have been promised. Increased contributions alone will never stop the volatility caused by the investment market and other factors. Pension reform like this will save property taxpayers billions of dollars. In the short term, proceeds from an equitable severance tax toward education and pensions will help meet current obligations.What needs to be done to bring more business and jobs to the area?Forrest: My jobs plan contains strategic goals to make Pennsylvania number one in job growth. First, we should establish an ultra-high-speed broadband fiber network across Pennsylvania (starting here in the Northeast) that will deliver data at speeds 100 times faster than currently available. Second, we need to resuscitate our renewable energy sector by increasing our renewable energy portfolio standard. Third, we need to build a 21st century electric and gas delivery infrastructure.Brown: I'm proud that unemployment in Pennsylvania today is at its lowest rate in six years. I'm proud that the organizations representing job creators have endorsed me. These facts show the policies I am supporting are working and helping job creators. Continuing job growth means supporting tax and regulatory reform policies that make Pennsylvania more competitive-to lure employers from New York, New Jersey and even California, North Carolina and Texas.Do you think funding is adequate for social services, particularly for senior citizens? If not, where can additional funding come from?Forrest: Pennsylvania's population is increasingly shifting to 65 and older. Younger people leave the state for better job prospects and more seniors retire here. Social services have seen massive cuts under the Corbett administration. I'll work with Tom Wolf and the Legislature to restore this funding. If we end corporate tax giveaways, subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, and properly close the "Delaware Loophole," we can fund essential social service programs to the necessary levels.Brown: The challenge in government is providing quality services to citizens while balancing the need to not overburden taxpayers. There are two ways to approach this. The first is prioritization and cutting costs in nonessential areas to use the savings on those priorities. The second is economic growth that provides additional revenue to families and consequently to the state. I have worked to make both happen so we can provide more to senior services.In addition to what has already been covered, what are the other major issues facing Pennsylvania at this time?Forrest: Pennsylvania, and especially the Pocono region, is increasingly threatened by anti-environmental legislation, like House Bill 1565, which eliminates mandatory stream buffers, and puts profit before the need for clean drinking water and healthy watersheds. Republicans are filling County Conservation Boards with real estate developers. The fracking industry and gas pipeline companies have been given too much power to override local municipal control and oversight of their operations. This needs to stop.Brown: I have knocked on thousands of doors and met with thousands of more residents through community events, meetings and more. The priorities of our citizens are clear: economic and job growth, property tax relief, fiscal responsibility and education funding. As state representative, I have worked to address each of these. I have supported job-growing policies, continue to fight for school property tax elimination, supported balanced budgets that didn't raise income taxes and voted for record school funding.