SouthernWorldwide.com – Unearthed records have revealed that Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a Democratic candidate vying for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, previously proposed a tax increase to fund a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer position.
The position of “DEI coordinator” was part of eight new hires included in the city’s proposed 2023 budget. This role was allocated a budget of $25,500. To accommodate the costs associated with this and other new positions, including a police chief, fire chief, business administrator, solicitor, and director of public works, the budget also proposed a 3% property tax increase, which was estimated to generate $957,000 for the city.
The total estimated cost for these new positions was $380,500. However, this particular budget proposal was ultimately not adopted by the city council.
This proposal by Cognetti sheds light on her views regarding diversity within government and the proactive approach she believes government should take to ensure representation across various demographics. These insights emerge as she campaigns to unseat incumbent Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a Republican, in one of the nation’s most competitive congressional districts.
In response to inquiries about the DEI proposals and the 2023 budget, Cognetti’s campaign drew attention to Rep. Bresnahan’s company, noting that it had received government assistance designated for “women-owned” businesses. The campaign argued that this support aligns with DEI principles.
Records indicate that Bresnahan’s company, which he began leading as CEO in 2013, has received a total of $162,000 in federal contracts since 2008. It is important to note that the company has not received federal payments since 2017.
Furthermore, the Cognetti campaign highlighted several of Mayor Cognetti’s other initiatives as mayor that they claim have directly contributed to reducing the city’s expenses. These include her efforts to balance the budget after years of mismanagement, her decision to forgo a government car and gas card, her refusal of a pay raise, and her success in improving the city’s credit rating from “junk bond status” to an “A- investment rating.”
The campaign stated, “Now Paige is running to take on corrupt politicians in Washington like Rob Bresnahan, who has stock traded off of his votes and his access to insider information in Congress.” It is worth noting that Bresnahan is not currently under investigation for insider trading, which is a violation of House rules.
Despite her stated emphasis on cutting government spending, Cognetti’s approach to the 2023 budget and the inclusion of the DEI role underscore her belief that diversity should be a significant area for government resource allocation.
She elaborated on her reasoning during a podcast appearance in 2023. Cognetti expressed her disappointment with the city council’s decision to cut the DEI coordinator position from the budget without public discussion or fanfare, viewing it as a missed opportunity for positive advocacy.
Regarding potential tax increases, Cognetti acknowledged the public’s sensitivity, stating, “You know, you want to raise taxes 3%. ‘Well, it should be only 2%.’ Okay, well, let’s have that conversation.” This indicates her willingness to engage in dialogue about fiscal matters and tax policies.
Cognetti maintains that her work on DEI initiatives has not been detrimental to Scranton’s interests. She asserts that by prioritizing the hiring of the most qualified candidates, the city government has naturally become more diverse.
She explained, “We’re not doing it by cherry-picking, but by merit, and lo and behold, City Hall looks different.” Cognetti further observed that the current composition of City Hall staff, with a greater presence of people of color and women compared to four years prior, is a result of a straightforward approach to recruitment. This approach focused on hiring the best individuals for the jobs and ensuring that job postings reached a broad audience.
