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| Dan Meuser with Lisa Baker at the Fall 2010 Blogfest |
Here we go go again. Former PA Revenue Secretary and failed 2008 PA 10th CD Republican primary candidate Dan Meuser is running to succeed Lou Barletta. He was flirting with a run for PA Lt. Governor but a better opportunity arose. His announcement has already knocked Tarah Toohil out of the race. He is tying himself to Barletta and Trump.
To refresh you memory Dan Meuser and Chris Hackett had a knock down, drag out primary fight to oppose Chris Carney. They both spent over $1 million and Hackett won only to lose the general election. There was a lot of bad blood after that election and many Meuser supporters told me they couldn't support Hackett.
His campaign slogan seemed to be Pride Mobility for Congress. So every problem the company had in the past became fair game for his opponent
Some of the controversies:
EXETER: A
woman formerly employed at Pride Mobility Products Corp. has filed a
wage discrimination lawsuit against the company, alleging she was paid
less than male counterparts who performed the same job. She also is alleging sexual harassment and retaliation for complaining about it.
TPM Cafe:
Meuser's
company has settled a contentious lawsuit over the death of an elderly
man using their wheelchair, in which plaintiffs alleged that a defective
battery caused a fire. From the Monterey
County Herald, January 9, 2007: "Had the case gone to trial, according
to court records and statements in court, jurors may have heard evidence
that Pride Mobility was aware of at least 18 other fires in its
wheelchairs and scooters with identical battery packs since 2002. Ten
of those fires destroyed dwellings and five were fatal." (From Nexis).
The
Medicare OIG fined Pride $80,000 for a kickback scheme.
And his past
political contributions:
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, I wanted to thank
you for your kind, past contributions to strong Democrats such as
Congressman Paul Kanjorski, Senator Hillary Clinton, Congressman Charlie Rangel
and many others. Your contributions have helped Democrats to take back
the House and Senate in 2006 and potentially take the White House in
2008.
I have a big basket of this stuff if any other campaign is interested.
Many thanks to Tiffany Cloud for sending this:
Dan Meuser To Run For 11th Congressional District Seat
Businessman and Former Revenue Secretary To Continue Barletta’s Work
Luzerne County Businessman and former Secretary of the Department of
Revenue Dan Meuser announced today that he was entering the race to
represent the 11th District in the United States Congress. Congressman
Lou Barletta announced days ago that he would run for the United States
Senate.
“I have always supported Lou Barletta and I plan to continue to support
him in his run for the United States Senate,” Dan Meuser said. “Both
Lou and I will fight for an agenda that puts America’s interests first
and rebuilds the middle class so the economy works for everyone.”
Dan has lived in the area that makes up the 11th District for over 25
years, he and his wife of 27 years raising their family in the district.
Dan joined Pride Healthcare, based in Luzerne County and now called
Pride Mobility Products, in 1988. Dan became President of Pride
Mobility, USA in 2001. Pride has become the leading manufacturer of
power mobility and complex rehabdevices in the country, and employs over
800 people in Northeast Pennsylvania.
"I've spent 25 years in the private sector helping create thousands of
jobs. During this time my wife and I supported many important causes
including the YMCA, local colleges, the Back Mountain Recreation
Association and the Wyoming County Children's Association,” Meuser said.
In 2010, Dan was appointed and unanimously confirmed Secretary of the
Dept. of Revenue. Dan and his team worked to reform the department,
implement customer-first policies, and treat taxpayers like customers.
Under Dan’s leadership, the Department was named the most improved
Department of Revenue in the country and received a grade improvement
from a D+ to an A- from the Council on State Taxation.
“We worked day in and day out to make sure that everyone knew that it
was taxpayers who came first at the Department of Revenue,” Meuser said.
“Our team reformed the department and turned it into a taxpayer
advocacy agency, rather than a mere collector of taxes.”
Dan Meuser is running first and foremost because he loves his country
and wants to continue to serve his community. Dan will be a consistent
conservative voice in Washington, making sure that he takes the values
of the 11th District to Washington every day. Dan will be an advocate
for an economy that works for everyone, a healthcare system that
provides access and affordability without the heavy handed federal
mandates of Obamacare, and a strong military ready to defeat ISIS and
any other threat to our nation, and to secure our borders.
“I’m a constitutional conservative who will always put the needs of
America first,” Meuser said. “I want to restore our broken political
system by always working on behalf of the people of the 11th District.”
Dan also believes that the next Congressman must be accessible to the people he serves.
“I will be very engaged and constituent focused, making sure that I am
accessible and transparent,” Meuser said. “That means being involved in
resolving issues, large and small, throughout the district.”
Dan will be traveling the 11th District visiting each county over the next 2 weeks.
Keep an eye on what goes on in Kingston Township in the near future. I predict they are heading for all sorts of legal challenges involving sunshine law violations and of conflicts of interest. The winning candidate is the son of of one of the present Supervisors who works for the township road 
Another great Blogfest was held at the River Grille in Plains. In addition to the political types NEPA Blogcon joined us for their after party. There is always a prize for the person who traveled the farthest and this time it goes to PA Lt. Governor candidate Aryanna Berringer who came all the way from Pittsburgh. Aryanna is no stranger to our area, she lived in W-B a few years ago. 
Two 11th Congressional District candidates also traveled a bit. Democrat Alan Howe from Carlisle made another appearance in the area and Republican Andrew Shecktor left the wilds of Berwick to 
Since her election in 2011 she lists many accomplishments the most important being putting the town on a sound fiscal footing without raising taxes in the last 3 years. She said the finances were a mess when first elected with the Supervisors juggling accounts just meet payroll. Today Dallas Twp. has a $3 million budget with a $3 million reserve fund. Martin heaped praise on her fellow Supervisor Bill Grant (R) for his cooperation and foresight. Looking to the future her top priorities are relocating the Municipal Building from a garage to a better facility and improving the parks.
