Boehner on Tour
Let me start with this report from Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner:
Over the weekend, Boehner headlined events for several Republican candidates in Pennsylvania, including three pick-up opportunities for Republicans in November. Principled GOP reformers are taking on Pelosi Democrats who have toed the Democratic Party line on energy, earmarks, border security, and more -- and voters are taking notice.
PA-05
Boehner kicked off his reform tour on Friday with a fundraiser for Glenn Thompson in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District. Thompson is running to succeed retiring Rep. John Peterson in Pennsylvania’s largest district which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+10. Thompson is a heavy favorite in this district and has significantly outraised his opponent with nearly $75,000 more cash-on-hand.
According to an article in The Observer, Thompson “says the number one issue facing Pennsylvanians is rising energy costs.” He “wants to utilize current U.S. resources by promoting domestic drilling as the part of the energy solution, as well as developing alternative fuels.”
PA-10
On Saturday, Boehner’s day began with a fundraising lunch for 10th Congressional District candidate Chris Hackett. Hackett is a strong fiscal conservative who supports a ban on taxpayer-funded earmarks and additional tax relief for families and small businesses.
In a recent op-ed on Red State, Hackett wrote, “We need an American energy policy that embraces ‘all of the above.’ That means increased domestic oil production, wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas, clean coal, or for that matter, anything other source that shows an ability to compete in the market.” Hackett’s opponent, Chris Carney, voted for a House budget that raises taxes on millions of Americans. And he voted against new American energy on 8 out of 12 key energy votes. The radical anti-energy Sierra Club, whose president says “we’re better off without cheap gas,” is running ads in support of Carney.
While Carney has more cash on hand, Hackett slightly outraised his opponent in the second quarter. PA-10 has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R + 8.
PA-11
Following the lunch, Boehner attended a fundraising BBQ for 11th Congressional District candidate Lou Barletta. Stuart Rothenberg says, “Polling suggests that this may well be a top-tier GOP takeover opportunity by November.”
Barletta’s opponent, Paul Kanjorski, voted against new American energy production on 12 out of 12 key energy votes. Kanjorski is also taking a lot of heat for his admission that Democrats “stretched the facts” in 2006 about their ability to end the war in Iraq. And news accounts have uncovered trouble with Kanjorski’s taxpayer-funded earmarks, and his “family ties to some of the groups that have benefited from his earmarks.” Kanjorski even referred to taxpayer-funded earmarks as “free money.” The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says, “In this battle of principle against pork, the choice is obvious.”
PA-08
Finally, Boehner headlined a fundraiser for 8th Congressional District candidate Tom Manion. According to the Bucks County Courier Times, “Manion said he supports a multi-tiered energy policy that pushes for alternative energy sources, conservation and an increase in the domestic supply by drilling.”
Manion’s opponent, Patrick Murphy, voted against new American energy production on 12 out of 12 key energy votes. He’s also come under scrutiny for accepting a $100,000 advance on an autobiography just days before House ethics rules would have prevented him from doing so.
PA-16
On Sunday, Boehner headlined a fundraiser for Rep. Joe Pitts from Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District. Pitts is the author of H.R. 2279, legislation that would expedite the construction of new refineries on closed military bases in the United States.
In an op-ed for The Phoenix, Pitts too calls for an “all of the above” energy strategy and says “[t]here has not been a lack of time to deal with the issue of skyrocketing gas prices — there has been a lack of will.” He lists off “the pieces of legislation that have been considered on the House floor even as gas prices skyrocketed,” including “legislation commending the Houston Dynamo Soccer Team” when has was $3.03 per gallon and “legislation designating National Train Day” when gas $3.77 p/g, and more.
McCain Visit
John McCain will be in York next week for a major campaign event. He will discuss his plan to keep and create jobs in Pennsylvania, get our economy moving again, and lower gas prices. If you are interested in learning more about this event please click here, send an email to pennsylvania@johnmccain.com, or call 717-412-1538 with your name and phone number and a campaign representative will contact you."Pennsylvania Democrats Morale is "In The Toilet"
I've been following the development of this story via the Republican State Leadership Committee and their blog "State News Shot" and I have to say that all of this news is encouraging for Republicans, particularly those of us who don't live there and have to deal with this particular Culture of Corruption.The title to this section comes from the RSLC's post on the subject, which is about an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review in which an anonymous staffer assesses the state of morale for Keystone Democrats.
All of this is due to a growing scandal called BonusGate (the best post for getting a grip on what this is all about is here) that has the Democrats calling for the resignation of the House Majority Leader.
