Is Tom Marino running for reelection?

In his latest FEC filing Republican Rep.Tom Marino  (PA-10) reports that his campaign raised only $3500 in the 2nd quarter of 2017 and has $113K cash on hand. Even a candidate in a safe seat usually raises a lot of money and hands it off to competitive campaigns. His campaign site has not been updated since January and the Facebook page has been dormant.

2016 Democratic candidate Scott Brion is running again but has not raised much money.

Another Democratic candidate announced on July 5th.

Counselor announces candidacy for seat in 10th 

   “This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Judith Herschel, shortly before she was due toride in a Fourth of July parade in Montrose. This is her first foray into elective politics. She is a certified drug and alcohol counselor.......Under the proposed new health care bill, she said, “those recovering from substance use disorders will lose access to the necessary support that is required to recover from this devastating disease, and that affects all of us. It is imperative that we expand programs and access for individuals who suffer from mental and behavioral health issues, particularly our veterans. The new proposed bill affects most everyone and hits the most vulnerable the hardest. Children will go without food, and our elderly and disabled neighbors will go without medications, fuel assistance and medical care.”

 Her Facebook page: Judy Herschel for US Congress 

 Website: Judy Herschel for US Congress 

 

H/T to Jerry Kairnes

Petition Day

Tomorrow we should know who is running for what as March 11th is the day to file petitions for the Republican and Democratic primary to be held May 20th. Independents and 3rd party candidates have a bit longer with higher signature requirements.

 So far there might be contested primaries for the Democratic nomination for Governor, Lt. Guv, PA 11th CD, PA 10th CD,  HD  119th and HD 120th. 2 Republicans are reported  to be interested in taking on Matt Cartwright in the PA 17th CD. I will wait until Tuesday to see if the people threatening to run actually file the paperwork.

Blogfest will be Friday, April 25th at the Red Mill in Pittston starting at 6PM. All statewide and local candidates will be invited.


Details on our FB page

Another Chris Carney tease

PoliticsPA is reporting that the DCCC had  a poll of former 10th CD Congressman Chris Carney vs. 11th CD Congressman Lou Barletta recently without any numbers. We went through this last time. Don't get your hopes up Carney fans as he  is not running for Congress or Lt. Governor which is laughable.. He spent 2 terms in Congress and cashed in becoming as a lobbyist  with a defense contractor in Virginia. Every time one of these stories pops up he can't be reached by reporters or bloggers which tells you something.

in government affairs for BAE systems

in government affairs for BAE systems

Tom Marino needs to read the Constitution

via Think Progress:  Congressman Tom Marino wants to impeach Harry Reid because he is mad about the budget or something.

MARINO: I’ve made a suggestion that we should at least start talking about impeachment. I had my office staff do it. But we cannot find anything that permits the House to bring impeachment proceedings against Harry Reid. There’s nothing in the legislation we can find at this point to force him to vote or come up with a budget or anything like that. His membership in the Senate can call for a vote of “no confidence,” but we can’t even get a Republican senator to do that.

The reason his staff can't find anything is because it doesn't exist. The House can't remove a member of the Senate.  Article I Section 5 of the Constitution says each house makes it own rules:

Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.

Also there is nothing in the Constitution about a "no confidence vote." That can happen in the British Parliament but not the US Congress.

A few months ago 11th CD Congressman Lou Barletta stated that the President could veto a Constitutional amendment. Article V of the US Constitution says that an amendment must be passed by two thirds of the House and Senate then ratified by three fourths of the State Legislatures.

The President can not veto a Constitutional Amendment!

Barletta also wants to deny birthright citizenship guaranteed by the 14th amendment.

Keystone Politics:
H.R.140, the “Birthright Citizenship Act of 2013,” seeks to bar children of non-citizens born in the United States from gaining citizenship rights.

If this was applied retroactively I would not be an an American citizen as my grandparents were not American citizens when they came to the the USA . My Mother and Father would not be American citizens even they were born in this country to foreign born parents.

Poll Closing Times

Here are all the final poll closing times in ET:

7:00 pm: GA, IN, KY, SC, VT, VA
7:30 pm: NC, OH, WV
8:00 pm: AL, CT, DE, DC, FL, IL, ME, MD, MA, MS, MO, NH, NJ, OK, PA, RI, TN
8:30 pm: AR
9:00 pm: AZ, CO, KS, LA, MI, MN, NE, NM, NY, ND, SD, TX, WI, WY
10:00 pm: IA, MT, NV, UT
11:00 pm: CA, HI, ID, OR, WA
1:00 am: AK

Everyone will watching the Presidential results so I'll be live blogging the local races. The Luzerne County website had the final results before 11PM in 2010.

Of particular interest are the 10th, 11th and 17th Congressional Districts.

There a 3 hot races for the PA House in Luzerne county.

2010 results

116th HD

Tarah Toohil (R)  9702  55%

Todd Eachus (D) 7967  45%



119 HD

Gerald Mullery (D)  8631  52%

Rick Arnold (R)  7274  44%

Brian Bergman (L)  741  4%


120th HD

Phyllis Mundy (D)  10153 53%

Bill Goldsworthy (R)  6154  32%

Tim Mullen (L) 2858  15%

Marino ducks debate

Congressman Marino's Campaign Manager Admits Debate Pull-Out Politically Motivated

He Said Scheduling a Debate "Would Be Good For You [Scollo's Campaign]."

Dingman, PA - The Scollo for Congress campaign was informed yesterday
by WVIA that Congressman Tom Marino will not honor his commitment to participate in the WVIA-TV debate. Marino's camp reportedly said they could not reschedule due to unspecified 'scheduling conflicts.'

In a phone call today with the Scollo campaign, Marino's campaign

manager, Ryan Barton, said scheduling a debate "would be good for you
[Scollo's Campaign]" but refused to make any effort to find time for a one
hour debate. The phone call happened at 10:30am today, Thursday, November 1, between Barton and Will Sharry, Scollo's campaign manager.

"This election is too important to let scheduling difficulties get in
the way of a full debate on the issues facing Pennsylvania families
and seniors," said Scollo. "Marino should step-up to the plate and

debate and stop playing political games. He calls himself a tough
guy in his television ads. I'm not seeing that in this decision."

10th CD debate cancelled

10th Congressional District Debate

Congressman Tom Marino and Phil Scollo

"Due to weather concerns, WVIA has cancelled the 10th congressional district debate that was to be held Tuesday, October 30. Efforts by WVIA to re-schedule the debate await Congressman Tom Marino's availability as he attends to constituent service through the storm."

Mundy/Cartwright rally rescheduled

 Due to the weather we are rescheduling the Mundy /Cartwright rally to Friday Nov 2, 5-7pm West Wyoming Hose Company #1 Shoemaker Ave. Now you can join us for a tailgate party before all the high school football games! Boyer's Catering will be putting on a delicious spread, beer and soda, the event is free. Bring a friend!


Kaufer event a go

 I will be hosting an event at Marianacci's Restaurant tonight in West Wyoming from 6-8 tonight. The event is FREE. Anybody looking for a chance to get out of their house or enjoy some good pizza and good company, please feel free to swing by Marianacci's, especially if you have lost your power and are looking for a bite to eat. Be safe everyone and hope to see you there!

 

 

YouTube Weekend

I was on WILK yesterday with the Lovely and Talented Mrs. Sue Henry. (back off Joe) We discussed Blogfest, the Toohil video, Aaron Kaufer and writing in David Yonki for State Rep.

The Tom Marino  almost Macaca moment with a tracker also came up and much to my surprise Steve Corbett sent me an email inviting me to call into his show to discuss it. Unfortunately I had another commitment and wasn't able to chat with him. Is Corbett mellowing out on bloggers? 

Sue is also the GM of Kings College radio station WRKC 88.5FM and has a show every Saturday 3-6PM. She asked me if I had a request for this week's show.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron

 

 

WVIA debates set

2012 Congressional Debates to be Broadcast Live on WVIA 


PITTSTON, PA  - The 2012 WVIA Citizens' Voice Times-Tribune Congressional Debates will broadcast live from the Sordoni High-Definition Theater at the WVIA Studios on Tuesday, Oct. 30, Wednesday, Oct. 31, and Thursday, Nov. 1 starting at 7 p.m. each night on WVIA TV. The Debates will also be simulcast live on WVIA FM.

The live debate for the 10th Congressional District between Congressman Tom Marino (R) and Phil Scollo (D) will air on Tuesday, Oct. 30, while the 17th Congressional District live debate between Matt Cartwright (D) and Laureen Cummings (R) will be broadcast Wednesday, Oct. 31. Then on Thursday, Nov. 1 Congressman Lou Barletta (R) and Gene Stilp (D) will debate live for the 11th Congressional District.

The moderator for all 3 debates will be WVIA President Bill Kelly.

Video: Tom Marino town hall

This is a video of Congressman Tom  Marino (PA-10) at his recent McDonald's town-hall in Honesdale talking to a voter about the Grover Norquist no-tax pledge and Keystone XL pipeline. He can't handle the voter's questions so he turns to the person filming and starts questioning him asking for ID and then abruptly walks away. Marino says that his no-tax pledge does not lock him in. Apparently he is withdrawing his pledge.





Reminds me of Paul Kanjorski saying  " I’m not going to set myself up for, you know, nuts to hit me with a camera."

There was a story in the Wayne Independent that quotes Marino saying he would be open to a tax increase  but it's not available for some reason.

I want to remind you of what that left wing rag RedState said about Marino in 2010:

Marino, a former US Attorney, has his own shady dealings which will make for good campaign fodder in the general.
During Marino’s tenure as US Attorney, local businessman Louis DeNaples was under investigation by the US Attorney’s Office for his ties to William D’Elia, head of the Bufalino crime family. It seems DeNaples lied about his relationship with D’Elia to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board when applying for a licence for the Mount Airy Casino. Listed as a personal reference on that same application was none other than US Attorney Tom Marino, the very man running the office investigating DeNaples’ organized crime ties.
The Department of Justice got wind of the conflict of interest and ordered Marino off the investigation, and shortly after the media broke the story he resigned his post… and went to work for Louis DeNaples. (The charges were eventually dropped when DeNaples agreed to place the casino project in the name of a family member.)
The reality is just as bad as–if not worse than–the optics of this scandal. Do we really want someone like Marino representing the GOP in what will be a battleground district this fall....

This is not the first time Marino has been testy when being filmed. Love the Foster Grants.

Tom Marino yelled at this guy

Not only was I offended by Tom Marino's questioning if I had a job or if I was on welfare, I am offended by his campaign manager's response and the lies that were told about the event. Tom Marino's words regarding veterans has been offensive. His words regarding Carney hiding behind his wife's illness is offensive as someone who's mother dealt with cancer.

11th CD Forum tonight

The Times-Leader is sponsoring a forum with Congressman Lou Barletta (R) and challenger Gene Stilp (D) tonight at Wilkes University in Room 101 of the Stark Learning Center, 150-180 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Starting at 7PM

The TL will also be hosting a forum for  17CD hopefuls Laureen Cummings (R) and Matt Cartwright (D) on Wednesday at the same location at 7PM.

Both meeting will be televised live on WYLN. If you don't get WYLN on your cable you can watch it online.

Stilp and Barletta are also set to square off on WVIA on November 1st. Channel 44 will also be hosting the candidates in the 10th and 17th Congressional Districts.

A debate between the 17th District candidates, Republican Laureen Cummings and Democrat Matthew Cartwright, will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Oct. 17. The Morning Call, PBS39 and partners will air the debate.. 

 

 

On October 23rd we will see a couple of meetups between state house candidates.

 

 In the 120th HD the League of Women's voters will host a forum with incumbent Phyllis Mundy (D) and her challenger Aaron Kaufer (R) at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Wyoming Seminary's Buckingham Performing Arts Center.

 

 

 The League of Women Voters of Susquehanna County has announced that they will hold a "Candidates Forum" on October 23th at 7-9 pm at the Montrose Theatre, 18 Public Ave, Montrose. 111th candidates Jeffrey Dahlander (D)  and incumbent Sandra Major (R) will attend.

 

 

 

Tom Marino on the air

Congressman Tom Marino has his first spot of the 2012 election up. It says he's tough guy that took on scam artist and drug dealers.





Challenger Phil Scollo responds:

Marino So Concerned That His new TV Ad Attempts to Re-Write His Own History

Dingman, PA – Marino’s new TV ad says he prosecuted scam artists who prey on seniors but the truth is he helped get a lighter sentence for a convicted felon, Sean Healy, who defrauded Pennsylvania seniors and families in a Bernie Madoff/Ponzi scheme.

“Pennsylvania seniors and families depend on their hard earned retirement savings and on Medicare, but seniors can’t depend on Tom Marino,” said Phil Scollo. “Everyone knows Mr. Marino has the money and the Washington connections to run TV ads that distort his record but hardworking people deserve the truth from Tom Marino and they deserve to hear it straight from his mouth. He voted twice to end the Medicare guarantee and he should have the courage to stand up in a debate on Medicare and explain why. He is refusing debates and trying to re-write history on TV. It’s disgusting.”

Sean Healy was indicted on 51 counts of fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice involving investors of $20 million. Healy was accused of defrauding more than 50 investors throughout the country, including about 40 investors from the Chambersburg and Harrisburg areas. (Patriot-News, 10/17/09)

As Healy’s attorney, Marino pulled strings and negotiated–with his old U.S. Attorney’s office on the other side of the table–a lighter sentence. Marino signed the plea agreement as the counsel for the defendant. (U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, USA v. Healy, 1:09cr00319, 10/09/09)

According to the indictment, Healy promised investors he would use their money to purchase stocks and commodities on their behalf. The indictment accused Healy of spending the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, which included the purchase of a $2.4 million waterfront mansion furnished with more than $2 million of home improvements, $1.5 million in men’s and women’s jewelry and numerous exotic vehicles worth more than $2.3 million. (Patriot-News, 10/17/09)



Why stop there. Citizens Voice reporter Michael Sisak did some digging in 2010 and came up with another questionable relationship that Tom Marino has with a convicted criminal. He interceded on behalf of a  guy served time in prison on weapon's charges and has a history of bizzare behavior plus  Marino tried to get his record cleared of a cocaine dealing charge.

The friends of Tom Marino 

  A prominent central Pennsylvania car dealer once described as a “friend” by former U.S. Attorney Tom Marino has racked up an extensive rap sheet since leaning on Marino to have a cocaine dealing conviction cleared from his record more than a decade ago, court documents obtained by The Citizens’ Voice show.

Jay W. Kilheeney, an admitted drug addict and alcoholic, has been busted three times since Marino clumsily and unsuccessfully interceded in the drug case, in June 1998, and has been accused in protection from abuse petitions of leading a violent, vagabond home life.

Kilheeney, 46, of Williamsport, spent 33 months in federal prison on a 2002 illegal weapons possession charge, paid hundreds of dollars in fines to settle disorderly conduct and harassment charges in 2002 and 2009 and, following the weapons conviction, was barred by a state board from selling cars for five years.

At home, Kilheeney abused drugs, his family and the law — smoking marijuana daily, providing alcohol to his minor son, choking his girlfriend and running into the street naked — according to protection from abuse petitions filed in June and October 2008.


Marino, whose relationship with Kilheeney triggered concerns among colleagues as he transitioned into the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2002, has remained silent about the status of his relationship with Kilheeney and Kilheeney’s continued criminal behavior.

A spokesman for Marino, the Republican challenger in the 10th Congressional District, said he could not comment on “anything related” to Marino’s time as a prosecutor and would not confirm whether he and Kilheeney were still friends.

Marino’s involvement in the Kilheeney case, while the district attorney of Lycoming County, appeared to bookend his controversial role, while U.S. Attorney, as a personal reference on DeNaples’ December 2005 application for a license to operate the Mount Airy Casino in Monroe County.


Carney campaign spokesman Josh Drobnyk said Friday that Marino’s involvement with DeNaples and Kilheeney were “absolutely” relevant to the campaign and to gauging the “integrity and honesty” of Marino’s tenure as a district attorney and U.S. Attorney.

“(Marino) touts being tough on criminals when the truth is he was seeking to help clear the criminal record of a close friend who was a drug trafficker and has since been charged with multiple crimes,” Drobnyk said. “Tom Marino has refused to address basic questions about his record and continues to insult all of us by refusing to tell the truth.”

Marino’s drive to clear Kilheeney’s February 1992 conviction for delivering two grams of cocaine led him into the nebulous, unethical world of judge shopping, according to court records.

According to court records, Marino hand delivered an expungement motion to a judge relatively unfamiliar with criminal procedure, Dudley N. Anderson, a month after the judge who presided over the case, Kenneth D. Brown, refused.

Anderson approved the expungement in July 1998, but reversed himself when he learned of Brown’s previous decision to deny the request.

Anderson ordered all copies of his expungement order returned, but Kilheeney kept a copy and included it with personal letters of reference from Marino and a Lycoming County detective to obtain authorization from the Ford Motor Co. to open a dealership in Lock Haven, according to a report in the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Had the expungement stood, Kilheeney would never have faced the felony weapons charge — possession of a firearm by a convicted felon — that landed him in federal prison for 33 months.

Shortly before he reported to prison, in November 2002, Kilheeney pleaded guilty to summary harassment and disorderly conduct charges for forcing his way into the office of a business associate, grabbing him and threatening to kill him.

In August, Kilheeney pleaded guilty to a summary disorderly conduct charge more than a year after a traffic stop in which police said he dropped his pants to his ankles, exposing his genitals and buttocks.

“You can strip search me right here,” Kilheeney said, according to police.

Phil Scollo on the air

10th CD Democratic candidate Phil Scollo comes  out swinging in in his first TV ad in his race against Tom Marino. Usually a challenger's first spot is a warm fuzzy bio piece but Scollo doesn't have the time or the money for that. He hits Marino hard over his 2 votes to end Medicare and cut funding for the Tobyhanna Army Depot, the area's largest employer. In the last sentence he says "I'll protect Medicare from Tom Marino."




PoliticsPA has reaction from Marino Campaign Manager Ryan Barton who confirms that Marino wants to preserve Medicare for current or near retirees. What about the rest of us?

Then says “Instead, Mr. Scollo should be explaining to the hardworking taxpayers of Pennsylvania why he has not paid his taxes.”

Well, he did and explained it in several newspaper stories over the last few days

He got sick and his wife got sick and that almost ruined them financially. How many times have you heard of something like this? Scollo has worked out a payment plan with the IRS so he is not dodging his taxes. The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) is a start to ending this kind of nonsense when everything people have worked to build gets wiped out because of an illness.

Borys has the story.

PL: Tom Marino has also had some health problems but he had taxpayer funded healthcare that got him through it.

I wish both gentlemen and the lady a full recovery.

Karen Scollo explains what they had to deal with.

Less than 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was scared--both Phil and I were.

As if that weren't enough, our health insurance company decided to deny me coverage. Suddenly, we had no option but to pay for my cancer treatments out of our pockets. If you've been through these treatments, you know how expensive they are. We were at a loss for words.

I remember being angry at the cancer, at the insurance company. We had coverage. We paid the premiums, but they wouldn't cover the chemo. What can you do at a moment like that? What can you say?

At that moment we could have faced bankruptcy -- in addition to the cancer.

Then Phil took on the insurance company, showing them that in fact they had to cover my treatments. It was an intense battle, but he won. He got them to cover the chemotherapy. We pulled together and we survived.

Like many Pennsylvania families, our family has seen its share of ups and downs, especially in the last decade during the financial crisis and economic downturn. 

But my cancer and our fight with the insurance company aren't unique stories. It's an all-too-common American story.

Too many families like ours have faced this type of two-handed battle: trying to survive and trying to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Every family who faces this experiences true tragedy. And many are not as lucky as we were.

Throughout our battle with cancer (and Phil's later prostate diagnosis) we've had to face familiar modern financial struggles as well. Medical bills. Loss of work. But families know how to survive

Prez O likes football

"The most important thing I have to say is football starts today." --President Barack Obama (via pool report)

(PHOTO CREDIT: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  House GOP introduces bill to repeal football

 Michelle Bachman calls for investigation of unAmerican activities of NFL players

 NFL owners admit that they didn't build the stadiums, the taxpayers paid for them

 Mitt Romney says he has friends that own NFL teams and will give them a tax cut

 Paul Ryan claims he scored 6 touchdowns in a football game in under 3 hours

 Iowa Rep. Steve King proposes electrified fence and alligator filled moat around fields to keep out foreign born players from kicking FG's and extra points

 Rep. King says Michael Vick is his favorite player 

GOP Rep. Steve King Defends Dog Fighting

 

 Lou Barletta asks "What are the Yankee's doing?"

  Tom Marino placed a bet with Louis DeNaples

 Laureen Cummings prayed about something.

Scollo proposes jobs plan

PHIL SCOLLO PROPOSES ALTERNATIVE PLAN TO SAVE TOBYHANNA AND CREATE JOBS

Scollo is the only candidate to release a plan to create jobs

 

Dingman, PA – Following the uproar caused by Rep. Tom Marino’s vote to eviscerate funding for the Tobyhanna Army Depot, Phil Scollo proposed an alternative plan to save Tobyhanna and create jobs in the tenth district of Pennsylvania.

“I’ve heard enough talk about how we are going to create jobs. Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to let us down. Obviously you know where someone stands on jobs when he or she votes to cut six hundred quality jobs from their local Army Depot.

“That is why I am proposing the following 5-piece plan to create good American manufacturing jobs like the ones at the Depot in Pennsylvania and across our country, to help us grow all sectors of the economy going forward.”

Phil Scollo outlined his plan in an op-ed published today by The Daily Item (PDF attached - full text below). 

Full text attached - Excerpt below:

“First, we’ve got to save Tobyhanna and focus on rebuilding America’s manufacturing base.

We need both U.S. Senators Casey and Toomey to push hard to restore Tobyhanna’s funding to the bill in conference committee—Senator Casey has stepped up already, but Senator Toomey now needs to join him publicly.

We should create a Made in America tax break to help keep manufacturing jobs here and crack down on companies shipping jobs overseas to countries like China.

Second, we should simplify the tax code and reduce the regulatory burdens on businesses. The Small Business Administration says regulations are a $1.75 trillion annual drag on the economy. We can no longer afford to hamstring our job creators in this way any more.

Let’s also encourage innovation itself by extending the federal research and development tax credit and making sure our public schools, research universities and community colleges are able to educate and train a true 21^st Century workforce, especially in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).

Third, a modern transportation and energy infrastructure is a requirement for both businesses and communities to grow.

People from both parties agree that roads, bridges and rail systems make large-scale economic growth possible and need to be updated, which will create good jobs in the short term and stronger growth in the long term.

Similarly, clean energy alternatives like renewable energy and natural gas along with a smart power grid will be critical to the next century of job creation, economic growth, conservation and environmental sustainability.

And when we make infrastructure investments, the federal government must “Buy American.”

Finally, we need to continue opening markets abroad where our manufacturers, businesses and innovators can sell their world-leading goods and services—but only on a level playing field, because American workers and businesses alike will outcompete anyone in a fair fight.

That’s why we need to make sure nations like China are not unfairly manipulating their currency or using unlawful sweatshop labor to illegally or unjustly undercut American competitors.”

Barletta and Marino weigh in on "legitimate rape"

Borys has the story


U.S. Rep. Tom Marino joined the growing Republican chorus Tuesday demanding that Rep. Todd Akin drop out as the party's candidate in the Missouri Senate race because of his comments about rape.

"The wounds that victims of rape and their families suffer never completely heal. Whether he meant it or not, Todd Akin's comments were insensitive and cruel," Marino said in a statement. "It is a shame that over the past days victims of rape have had to contemplate his comments and relive their ordeal....There is no gray area in rape," he said. "In the eyes of the law, the line is rightly drawn at 'no' regardless of the situation."

Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, was more subdued in his response.

Renita Fennick, his district director, said Barletta disagreed with Akin's comments, "but believes the decision to stay in the Missouri Senate race is up to Rep. Akin, his family and his supporters."

KP: What was offensive about Todd Akin’s comments wasn’t just the suggestion that women’s bodies have some special secretion that knows how to kill rapists’ sperm. What was offensive was that he was marshalling this fake science in the service of the argument that women who get raped shouldn’t have legal access to abortion. Not all Republicans believe the phony science, but they are all running on the platform that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, with no rape exception.

TP:  The Republican National Convention Platform has approved the “human life amendment,” which would ban abortion without exception for rape or incest.

Funding for the Tobyhanna Army Depot

Republican freshman Congressman Lou Barletta and Tom Marino are taking heat for voting for a Defense appropriation bill that will cut funding for the Tobyhanna Army Depot which is the largest employer in the area. Barletta spokesperson Renita Fenick says he voted for the bill but later discovered an accounting error.

Their Democratic opponents are having a field day with this.

From Phil Scollo: How could he have possibly voted for a bill that does so much damage to his own district? How could he have voted to cut hundreds of jobs in his own district when we are already struggling to reduce unemployment?

Rep. Marino either doesn't care about local jobs or is just plain clueless. 

Gene Stilp: “This is a huge bill and a major bill, and for Mr. Barletta to not understand, at least, how it would affect people in the newly redrawn 11th District shows he still has a lot to learn about how Congress works. He certainly could have proposed an amendment to the bill that would have held it up and protected a leading employer like Tobyhanna. With an economy like this, you have to be aware of things like this.”

Meanwhile, Marino could not be reached for comment.

 I don't think that Barletta and Marino would knowingly vote to cut funding for Tobyhanna but that's the problem, they voted for a bill not knowing what was in it. I remember some Tea Party types demanding that members of Congress should read every bill that is voted on. These guys didn't read the bill but they should have staffers that should spot a problem for their constituencies.

 But don't panic, Senator Bob Casey will get this fixed in the conference committee.

It is understandable that Barletta missed the details of the possible disaster because he is busy with other issues.

From Barletta's website:

He is working for a coal miner stamp that I support but doesn't say anything about the Postal Service near term funding problem.

I agree that gassing animals  is bad. 

A Post Office was renamed.

And illegal immigration!

He should have another Telephone Town Hall soon. Lou blasted Kanjo for hiding from the voters but he has not had an in person town hall  for a while.

 Vote was an error

Defense vote haunts GOP incumbents

 

 

Scollo opposes Ryan budget

Businessman Phil Scollo Joins Republican Congressman in Bipartisan Opposition to the Ryan/Marino Budget

Dingman, PA - Businessman Phil Scollo has made bipartisan reform, pragmatic common-sense and job creation early centerpieces of his campaign to represent the people of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania. Below is a statement from Scollo -- once again reaching across the aisle -- building on Congressman David McKinley's (R-WV) recent statements regarding the Ryan/Marino budget's impact on Medicare and seniors.

"Pennsylvania seniors deserve better. They worked hard all their lives and honoring our promises to our seniors is not, or at least should not be a partisan political issue it should be a national point of pride and unity. 

Opposition to the Ryan/Marino budget is something many Republicans, Independents and Democrats agree on. As Republican U.S. Rep. McKinley said, this budget would privatize Medicare for future retirees thus ending the Medicare guarantee and doubling out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Pennsylvania's seniors, working families and future retirees cannot afford this enormous mistake and they don't deserve this serious slap in the face. My opponent, Congressman Tom Marino, voted for this budget twice, once for each year he has been in office. He owns its disgrace."

In part, Rep. McKinley's mailers said, "Congressman McKinley recently voted against the 2012 budget passed by the House because of the plan’s negative impact on northern West Virginia seniors. The plan would privatize Medicare for future retirees, raise the retirement age and keep in place the Medicare cuts included in last year’s healthcare bill. The Congressional Budget Office determined the plan would nearly double out-of-pocket healthcare costs for future retirees."

See the mailers in their entirety here:

"GOPer’s Mailer Attacks House Republicans For Privatizing Medicare And Preserving ‘Obamacare’ Medicare Cuts," by BRIAN BEUTLER, Talking Points Memo, June 21, 2012, Link:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/house-republican-campaign-budget-privatizing-medicare-obamacare-medicare-david-mckinley.php?ref=fpb

Scollo calls for civility

This dropped into my inbox last week.I agree that the rhetoric needs to be toned downed.

I was shocked to read today that the U.S. Capitol Police have had to assign additional security to protect Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill after Scott Boston, a Tea Party activist, said:

"We have to kill the Claire Bear, ladies and gentlemen."

This is totally unacceptable and horrific language.

Free speech is at the core of liberty, but threats of violence--particularly against women--are completely unacceptable. It's this type of rhetoric that many believe lead to the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona just last

year.

Making matters worse, Senator McCaskill’s Tea Party opponent, Sarah Steelman, defended Mr. Boston, and her campaign’s paid spokesperson applauded his statement. Sickening.

Here's a link to the article on our Facebook page. Make sure you give it a look.

I also saw that my opponent, Congressman Tom Marino, just voted to support the Republican House bill to re-authorize the Violence Against Women's Act.

That's why I am asking Congressman Marino to join me in denouncing in the strongest possible language the use of violent language by this Missouri Tea Party activist and the approval of that language by Claire's opponent's campaign.

I will be reaching out to the Congressman shortly in the hopes of coordinating a joint statement.

Thank you,

Phil Scollo

Looking to the fall: Congress

Right now you have to say that the 2 GOP freshman have the upper hand along with the Dem in the open 17th CD.

Democrat Phill Scollo will be taking on Tom Marino in the 10thCD. Scollo has assembled many of the campaign staffers that helped Chris Carney win his 2 improbable victories in 2006 and 2008 but has not done well fundraising. Add in the fact that the district was made more Republican in the latest gerrymander and Mr. Scollo has a big hill to climb. Mr. Marino has had a second bout of cancer recently and some people wanted me to use his illness to score points contrasting his opposition to the Affordable Care Act with the health coverage he receives. I thought that was ghoulish as there will be plenty of time to discuss health care policy before the election. I wish Congressman Marino a full and speedy recovery.

In the 17CD Matt Cartwright will be the overwhelming favorite to defeat Republican Laureen Cummings. Money will be no object for Cartwright in this newly drawn Dem favorable district. Money will also not be a factor in Cummings campaign, she doesn't have any, raising just $305 according to her latest FEC report.Tim Holden ran a terrible campaign that overreached in his attack ads then went back to the Social Security canard when he got called out on it. Cartwright billed himself as the hometown boy and a "Roosevelt Democrat" for those of us who know who FDR was. With Congress polling at a 10% approval rating I think an anti-incumbent sentiment played a part in his win. Holden has been in Washington for 20 years but couldn't point to one piece of significant legislation he authored. A few other incumbents also lost on Tuesday.

Gene Stilp surprised me. He and Bill Vinsko worked hard but Stilp just out hustled him. Neither one had a lot of money but Vinsko pissed his away on consultants. I wasn't too surprised that Stilp won this race but the 10 point margin was a bit of a surprise. His name recognition and the pink pig won the day. The combination of  new district lines and the anti-incumbent mood may make this one competitive. Stilp wants Barletta to sign a pledge to run a clean campaign but even if he does plenty of outside groups could still spend all kinds of money if it starts to look close. The recent unwritten rule is that you need about $1 million to run a competitive congressional race. After the Citizens United ruling that should be modified to say you need about a million to be spent on your behalf .