Skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee

POLITICO: FBI Probed Marino Trip to Israel

Dingman, PA - Last August, U.S. Rep. Tom Marino went on a 9-day trip to Israel with all expenses paid by the special interest group the American Israel Education Foundation, according to a recently filed U.S. House ethics disclosure form. These revelations come on the heels of Marino and his staff being caught with conflicting stories about an appropriations vote that would "eviscerate funding" to the region largest employer and cost the area hundreds of jobs.

According to a POLITICO report, the FBI probed events on the trip that involved drinking, numerous freshmen lawmakers, congressional staffers and even several intoxicated members and staffer (plus a nude member of Congress) swimming in the Sea of Galilee. 

"This sounds more like a frat party than a respectable congressional delegation," said Will Sharry, Phil Scollo's campaign manager. "The people who Rep. Tom Marino represents deserve to have questions answered about this trip, starting with: why were dozens of members of Congress partying it up at a $1000/night resort in August 2011 when the U.S. unemployment rate was at 9.1% and Pennsylvania families and seniors were struggling to make ends meet?"

Other questions for Marino: Was Marino or staff contacted during the FBI investigation? Did they ever received persons of interest letters? Was Marino and his staff at the dinner event in question? Were they drinking excessively at it? Did Marino or staff swim in the Sea of Galilee? How much per night were rooms they were staying in at this resort (reports were that rooms were up to $1,000/night)? 

Both, local and national media outlets are beginning to question the competence, seriousness and sincerity of many freshman lawmakers, including Marino, given the recent spate of bad behavior, economically crippling votes and conflicting explanations.  

"Tom Marino and his freshman buddies are clearly out of control and not up to the job of representing their constituents. They are looking more like college kids drunk with power and out of the house for the first time every day," continued Scollo campaign manager Will Sharry. "The people of northeast and central Pennsylvania deserve someone who is focused on what matters to them - not someone who goes off globetrotting with special interest money while cutting the jobs that are the very lifeline of our area."

The whole POLITICO story on the FBI probe is available here: 

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79865.html

Rep. Marino's most recent financial disclosure is here:

http://scollocongress.com/home/wp-content/uploads/Marino-2012-Disclosure.pdf