11th Congressional District

With all the fun going on in the 10th CD it's time to catch up on the latest in the race between Congressman Paul Kanjorski and his Republican challenger Joe Leonardi. This week the NY Times had an article about how business gets done in the house and Kanjo's role in it.

Trading Votes for Pork Across the House Aisle

For more than a decade, Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania has operated a political trading post in a back corner of the House of Representatives....“Whether they get what they want in the bill or they get the votes they are looking for, nobody ever leaves completely disappointed,” said Representative Paul E. Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat often found in what is known as the Murtha corner.....Mr. Kanjorski, the Pennsylvania Democrat, said he had help on “8 to 10” projects, including a $9.5 million deal four years ago for research by a firm partly owned by his nephews. In an interview, Mr. Kanjorski said his relatives “just happened to be the only people who would take responsibility” for developing the technology, which involved using water jets to pulverize materials. He said he recently gave Mr. Murtha a pair of high-tech disease-resistant socks made with silver fibers by a company in his district. After padding around in them, Mr. Kanjorski said, Mr. Murtha was so pleased that he agreed to an earmark to buy them for soldiers.

Disease-resistant socks?

Kanjorski responded in the TL: “My comments to the New York Times regarding Congressman Jack Murtha’s effectiveness in the U.S. House of Representatives emphasized his interest in helping his colleagues better serve their districts. His power is derived from his ability to reach workable compromises with members of very disparate backgrounds, not his ability to deliver earmarks. I am disappointed that the story failed to fully reflect the extraordinary legislative talents of my friend, Jack Murtha, which has helped his district and has helped my district.”

Leonardi's stance is simple. "NO NEPOTISM - If you are related to me, No Government Job or Contract."

This Sunday the 4th District Republican Committee has an event for Leonardi. The details are here.

Bush is conflicted

Sometimes people like me in Northeastern PA don't know what to make of Bush. We get stories like this one from Capitol Hill Blue:

GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the act could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. "I don't give a goddamn," Bush retorted. "I'm the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way." Mr. President, one aide in the meeting said. "There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution."

"Stop throwing the Constitution in in my face," Bush screamed back. "It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"

Then the Newsweek article about the the boy in the bubble that Simply Left Behind broke down. Why won't he talk to Jack Murtha, a guy who wants to talk to him?

Jack Murtha still can't figure out why the father and son treated him so differently. Every week or so before the '91 gulf war, President George H.W. Bush would invite Congressman Murtha, along with other Hill leaders, to the White House. "He would listen to all the bitching from everybody, Republicans and Democrats, and then he would do what he thought was right." A decorated Vietnam veteran, ex-Marine Murtha was a critical supporter for the elder Bush on Capitol Hill. "I led the fight for the '91 war," he says. "I led the fight, for Christ's sake."

Then he finally talks about the human toll of this conflict:

"I would say 30,000 more or less have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis," the president said. " We"ve lost about 2,140 of our own troops in Iraq."

And tens of thousands maimed for life. There are many plans out there to get our people out. The US can't occupy a country forever.

Carney vs. Kanjo

The lost seat on Appropriations Committee is still sticking in the craw of Congressman Chris Carney according to Borys.

The PA delegation voted to recommend Philly area House member Patrick Murphy take the place of the late Jack Murtha. The vote was 6-4-1 with Erie Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper voting for herself. Kanjo won't say he who he voted for because it was a secret ballot and Borys asks If he voted for Mr. Carney, wouldn't he just say that?

Murphy has a relationship with Kanjo dating back to his days at Kings College and his brother JJ works for Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton.

Kanjo and Carney are tight lipped about this tiff sort of

The two congressmen refuse to say much about their spat, but their silence and veiled swipes at each other are raising eyebrows over Kanjorski's role in the recommendation and whether Northeastern Pennsylvania lost a chance at a larger share of federal funding.

Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, refuses to disclose his vote, saying it is "confidential."

"And unfortunately, the people that are talking about it obviously have interests," he said Tuesday after a public meeting at the South Side Senior Citizens Center. "And I think they've made major political errors in breaching confidential relationships."
He did not name "the people."

Carney told Norton

“I'm not going to comment on the internal workings of the delegation," Carney said to the Examiner. "What I will say is that I had counted on the support of my colleagues in maintaining geographical balance from the state on the Appropriations Committee. I will continue to do everything I can to fight to ensure projects throughout northeast and central Pennsylvania get their deserved share of federal funds. And I will always put our region ahead of politics when making these critical decisions."



The Pocono Record reports that Carney won the pork race this year pulling in $20.6 million in earmarks to Kanjorski's $17 million.

Kanjo's primary opponent, Corey O'Brien, pounced


Paul Kanjorski has still failed to provide a reason for why he voted against his neighboring Congressman, Chris Carney, who was seeking a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee. That important vote wasn’t just against Chris Carney, it was against our entire region and the millions of federal dollars that could have been used here to create jobs, build infrastructure, and secure our region’s future for decades to come. So much for Kanjorski’s “seniority” as dean of the Pennsylvania delegation.

A look at the records of former Congressmen on the Appropriations Committee demonstrates just how much we may have lost:

- Congressman Dan Flood used his seniority on the House Appropriations Committee to steer I-80 and I-81 through his congressional district and ensured that Scranton and Wilkes-Barre would be connected to other major centers of commerce such as Philadelphia and New York City.

- During Joe McDade’s tenure on the same committee, he fought for the Tobyhanna Army Depot, established the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, and created the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton.

- As chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Defense, Jack Murtha controlled billions of dollars in federal defense spending.

In 2010, Paul Kanjorski’s 26 years of “seniority” resulted in fewer federal earmark dollars for our district than 2-term Congressman Chris Carney was able to secure for his district. While Carney has been working hard for his district, Kanjorski has demonstrated that he is more interested in raising money from his friends on Wall Street (over $4,000,000 and counting). And while our opponent likes to take credit for “reforming” Wall Street, he conveniently forgets to take credit for the 14 years he spent as the highest ranking Democrat overseeing the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression and allowing Wall Street’s payout of billions in bonuses.

Paul Kanjorski can talk about his “seniority,” but clearly it isn’t the kind of “seniority” our region needs or wants.

What's up in the 11th CD

Mayor Lou Barletta defended the honor of Hazleton before the students of Temple University last week. Today he is touting his fundraising prowess claiming to have raised $300,000 this cycle. The FEC reports are not online yet so we have to wait to see where the money came from and how much cash he has on hand or if he incurred any more debt. Yesterday another one one of the increasingly frequent raids by federal agents swarmed the offices of a firm involved in one his pet projects. He denies any knowledge of wrongdoing.


Dredge-site firms eyed


“I surely don’t want to speculate on what’s happening. … We need to wait and see if there was any wrongdoing. … I hope the reclamation of the minelands will continue and that the amphitheater project also will continue,” Barletta said.

Congressman Paul Kanjorski has been busy defending his vote for Health Care reform to just about every group that will listen to him. He also came up with one of his big ideas like Wall Street West


Kanjorski: W-B could host energy institute

I think this idea has merit in the long run but the potential damage that gas drilling can do to the area can't wait to be addressed. The gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale will happen no matter how much me and other bloggers rail against it. The challenge is to get the federal and state governments to put in tough regulations to protect the water supply.

Corey O'Brien is making hay out of the rift between Kanjo and neighboring Congressman Chris Carney over the Appropriation Committee seat that came open when Jack Murtha died. The long and short of it is Carney thinks that Kanjorski screwed him over when Kanjo voted for Patrick Murphy instead of him to replace Murtha on the committee.

I got this release from the O'Brien camp:


The fallout from Paul Kanjorski’s betrayal of Northeastern Pennsylvania continues – today, Politico reported that Kanjorski is to blame for igniting “open warfare” on Congressman Carney. According to a chief of staff to a member of the Pennsylvania delegation “The person to blame for this … is Kanjorski.”

Paul Kanjorski voted against Chris Carney for a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and in doing so, cost our region hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite Congressman Carney’s requests for an explanation, Kanjorski has failed to provide a reason for his betrayal and instead continues to hide behind secret ballots and lame excuses.

Pennsylvania Dems feud over seat

My advice to Kanjo and Carney is to stop it. It doesn't help you or you constituents.

This one is rich.

Kanjo's pollster actually called Corey O'Brien.

via Mark

The first rule of polling is “make sure the pollster doesn’t call your opponent’s house.” To that rule I would add “…especially when the campaign manager is sitting next to the phone.”

But last week, Team Kanjo broke this rule, and in doing so, revealed just how low he will sink in his desperate attempt to keep his seat. Not only did the poll seek to find ways of tearing down Corey O’Brien, it also tested just how angry voters are with Paul Kanjorski.

The set of questions written by Kanjorski’s own team says it all. The pollster asked “if any of the following would be a reason not to vote for someone”:

1. Paul Kanjorski is a professional politician.

2. Paul Kanjorski has voted for pay raise after pay raise after pay raise, while we struggle with unemployment and stagnant job creation.

3. Eleven Democrats, including Paul Kanjorski, voted against the stimulus package. Now Paul Kanjorski is trying to take credit for its success.

4. Paul Kanjorski was the architect of the bailout and defends the bailout. (Campaign manager’s note to pollster -- you should also ask whether taking campaign contributions from bailed out banks only two weeks after the multi-billion dollar bailout would be a reason “not to vote for someone”).

5. Paul Kanjorski was named by a journalist as a corrupt Member of Congress because he funneled $10 million to his daughter and son-in-law’s company, Cornerstone.Team Kanjo: In case the answer wasn’t clear from your poll, please stay tuned for May 18th.

Stop Twisting the Truth

Perhaps a telling omen of what Kanjorski’s smear machine will look like, the pollster also made a series of misleading, negative attacks on Corey O’Brien:

The fact that Corey and his wife have debt was twisted into “a lack of fiscal discipline,” even though the debt is from student loans for law school, Corey’s wife’s small business, and child care expenses.

Corey’s career as a community banking attorney became “representing Wall Street” (those are your donors, Congressman).


There is another candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination. Brian Kelly thinks that the world should be made safe to drink tea and talks to the ghost of Dan Flood.

New Chris Hackett TV ad

In a press release Republican Pennsylvania 10th CD candidate Chris Hackett took another shot at incumbent Chris Carney over earmarks. Carney has said he is proud of being the Freshman Pork Champ and Hackett is making opposition to earmarks his signature issue. He signed the Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) Earmark Reform Pledge and says:

We need to work to restore confidence in our elected officials and establish a commitment to be as fiscally responsible with citizens' tax dollars as they are with their paychecks. The only answer is an open, transparent, and honest process. This cannot be achieved within the current earmark system," Hackett said in a letter to his opponents.

"When elected to Congress, I will not only abide by this pledge, but will fight to end the corrupt earmarking process altogether. The CAGW pledge is only a good starting point, a minimal effort that I would think all candidates could easily join me in supporting if they are truly opposed to wasteful pork spending," Hackett added.

The CAGW recently named PA Congressman Jack Murtha it's Porker of the Year. And I know how much my Republican friends like Murtha.

In a statement to the CV, Dan Meuser, one of Hackett’s Republican opponents, called the pledge “political gamesmanship.” Meuser said he supports eliminating earmarks, giving the president the right to veto specific earmarks and Congress voting on earmarks one by one.

The other 10th CD Republican candidate, Davis Haire, has stated on his website that he also opposed to earmarks:

Too often Washington politicians care more about spending your tax dollars to win votes back home, then thinking first about your wallet.

This is a good ad that drives home the point

Update: Congressman Carney reponds

CARNEY: WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING

"These projects will create jobs right here"

Clarks Summit, PA—Chris Carney issued the following response to attacks on the federal funding he delivered for the people of northeast and central Pennsylvania:

"These projects will create jobs right here—good, high paying jobs that will help our communities. These appropriations bills pass Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support, both Republicans and Democrats believe in sound federal investment. At best Hackett is tragically misinformed about how to invest in our community, at worst he is just trying to score cheap political points."

Chris Hackett, one of several potential Republican candidates for Congress, has challenged Chris Carney's commitment to public service and his work to bring jobs and investment to the region.

Carney brought more federal investment back to the district than any other new Member of Congress.

Mother's milk PA 10th CD

The Democrat


Congressman Chris Carney took in $153,000 during the 4th quarter of 2009,
$121,000 from PACs and only $25,000 from individuals and has $483,746 cash on hand.

Carney campaign spokesman Josh Drobnyk told the TL:

“Congressman Carney is grateful for the support he receives from Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike and is working hard to protect our families and improve our region’s economy during these tough times.”


The Republicans


The 4 GOP candidates got a late start and didn't report raising any money in the 4th quarter of 2009. That's zilch, nada, zero, goose egg. By this time last cycle Dan Meuser and Chris Hackett had campaign organizations in place with healthy bank balances. So far only Malcolm Derk even has a website up. I asked 3 of the 4 Republican candidates for comment on Carney's fundraising, I don't have contact info for Marino yet. Ted Yale didn't respond which is not surprising since I spent a week playing email/telephone tag with him without success.

I did get a response from Malcolm Derk:


"Chris Carney's numbers are much lower than the other vulnerable PA Democrats. I'm sure he'll be quick to call on his friends next quarter, including Jack Murtha, Charles Rangel, and the former members of the PMA lobbying firm. One troubling aspect of his most recent report is the fact that only 16% came from individual donors, while 84% of his contributions came from inside the beltway lobbyists, PACS, and other sources. His votes, like his contributions, are clearly aligned with the Washington, DC establishment. Chris Carney should be more concerned about protecting the citizens of Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania than the special interests in Washington, DC."

And Dave Madeira:

I'm not surprised that Congressman Carney has a big pile of special interest money. Washington politicians trade money for favors all the time. The recent races in NJ, VA and MA show that the people's voices will be heard no matter how much money lobbyists lavish on their wards. I'm looking forward to providing a positive alternative to government bailouts for Wall Street and big business.

Kanjo doesn't back Carney?

PoliticsPA: Murphy gets appropriations nod from Pa. Democrats


Murphy won the recommendation over U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, himself a two-term congressman who represents northeast Pennsylvania. The two men and U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper were vying for the position.

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorksi appears to have cast the deciding vote in Murphy’s favor, which might surprise some political observers. Kanjorski and Carney represent adjacent congressional districts, meaning Carney’s newfound clout could have benefited the region Kanjorski represents. The two congressman, in fact, represent two of the same counties: Lackawanna and Luzerne.

UPDATE: A spokeswoman for Kanjorski tells PoliticsPA that the vote was taken by a secret ballot, meaning the other congressmen and women in the room did not necessarily know who voted for whom. She declined to deny Kanjorski voted for Murphy, saying she did not know who the congressman supported.


The last 2 Republican Congressmen from the 10th District, Don Sherwood and Joe McDade, had a seat on this committee and the late Jack Murtha wanted Carney on the panel. The late, great Dan Flood was the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations sub-committee for many years.

I have asked both press flacks for the Congressmen for comment and will post their responses when/if I get them.

Chris Carney update

A bit of a disapointment that he didn't get a seat on the House Appropriations Committee as promised bt Jack Murtha. I'm sure Steny Hoyer wasn't about to reward someone who voted for his opponent for Majority Leader. But he thinks he will get it in the future.

CV: “The seat will come to the 10th (Congressional) District when the next slot opens up,” he said. But he’s pleased with his appointment to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, his second choice, he said. “I think getting T and I was a huge coup and great for the district,” Mr. Carney, D-Dimock Township, said. Mr. Carney said he is also expecting to be named to either the Armed Services or Homeland Security committees.

Armed Services seems a natural for him. He was also on The Colbert Report. You can see the clip on ifilm: Know a District: In Your Face, Pelosi.

Meanwhile the sharks are circling even bfore he is sworn-in. In addition to Joe Peters, two other republicans are thinking about running in 2008. State Rep. Steven W. Cappelli, the former Williamsport mayor and David Madeira the runner-up in the 20th Senatorial District primary. Madeira is also thought of as a potential Luzerne County commissioner candidate.

Speaking of swearing-in. I received this invitation:

Once again, Thank You for all that you did to support my campaign. In recognition of those efforts I am honored to invite you to join me, my family and my staff for the official swearing in ceremony on January 4th in Washington D.C. This moment truly belongs to all of you so please come and share it with us if you are able.Wishing you and your family a healthy and joyous holiday season and a happy new year!

Warmly,

Congressman-Elect Christopher P. Carney

The last time I was invited to Washington was in 1977 for Jimmy Carter's innauguration. I just might try to make it.