The United Aerospace Workers Local 1069, which represents union employees and retirees at Boeing's Ridley facility, today endorsed Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race.

"I am honored to have the backing of the members of Local 1069," said Meehan. "I am going to fight for working families of this district and support efforts to create meaningful jobs. I will be a strong advocate in Congress for the V-22 Osprey and the Chinook, two rotorcraft that provide local jobs and help keep our military personnel safe."

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, was endorsed by the Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties.

"I am truly grateful to the Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties for its support of my candidacy for Congress," said Meehan in a release. "A family's home is its most important asset, and its often a key to the American dream. I firmly believe that lowering taxes, reducing government intrusion into the economy and bringing our debt under control will make that dream more obtainable."

VoteVets.org, a PAC that lobbies to elect veterans to public office, announced Wednesday it would be canvassing for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and former U.S. Navy Admiral Joe Sestak with these hangers comparing Republican candidate Pat Toomey to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 

According to the VoteVets Web site: “Every time the price of oil goes up a dollar, Iran gets another $1.5 billion.  Yet, rather than work to lessen America's dependence on fossil fuels and drive down the cost of oil, Pat Toomey voted to give handouts to Big Oil and expand drilling , while opposing an energy reform bill in Congress.  The flip-side of the piece explains that Joe Sestak, as a war veteran, understands what it takes to protect America, and has supported policies that would break America's dependence on oil.”

“Comparing Pat Toomey to the president of Iran is disgusting and way beyond the pale of acceptable political debate,” said Toomey spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik. "Congressman Sestak should denounce such efforts from his supporters."

The Sestak campaign has not commented.

Republican Pat Meehan criticized his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, for use of a taxpayer-funded vehicle after he reportedly pledged not to do so when he ran for state representative. 

Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney, is running against Lentz, a two-term state representative, in the 7th Congressional District race. 

The Meehan campaign criticized Lentz on Wednesday, saying he flip-flopped on a position he made during his first run for state representative back in 2006.

The Meehan campaign cited past news articles in which Lentz criticized his Republican opponent in that state race, Tom Gannon, for his use of a taxpayer-funded vehicle, and pledged he would not do the same if elected.

“Actions speak louder than words, and Bryan Lentz’s tough rhetoric on the campaign trail in 2006 doesn’t match his actions in Harrisburg in 2009,” said Bryan Kendro, campaign manager for Meehan, in a release. “This is just another instance of Lentz saying one thing when he’s searching for votes, but doing something completely different once he’s safely in office.
“Lentz is a hypocrite. How can we expect him to reform Washington when he refused to do it in Harrisburg?”

The Lentz campaign issued a statement in response to the Meehan campaign’s release.
“If Pat Meehan, who has spent the bulk of his professional life on the public payroll and drastically increased the budget of his office while (district attorney), wants to get into a debate on reform Bryan Lentz is happy to do that and will help find a venue for the discussion,” said Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz, in an e-mailed statement. “The truth is, in his short time in Harrisburg, Bryan Lentz has voted on numerous measures for reform. Surely Pat Meehan isn’t criticizing Bryan for using his existing budget to pay for necessary travel rather than taking reimbursements that would go in his pocket.”

***

As a resident of the 7th Congressional District, what do you think about this issue?

Jim Schneller, the third-party conservative candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, announced Wednesday that he filed a complaint with the United States District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania requesting a temporary restraining order to halt the taping of an upcoming show.

Schneller wants to be included on a question-and-answer session on "NBC10 @Issue" with major-party candidates Republican Pat Meehan and Democrat Bryan Lentz.

This is the second complaint Schneller filed regarding this matter. The first was filed with the Federal Communications Commission last week.

The Daily Times wrote about the first complaint in Tuesday's edition. In case you missed it, check it out below.

By DANIELLE LYNCH
dlynch@delcotimes.com

Jim Schneller, the third-party conservative candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against a local television news network after he was uninvited to an upcoming show with the major-party candidates.
The major-party candidates - Republican Pat Meehan and Democrat Bryan Lentz - are scheduled to be on the local "NBC10 @Issue" program Oct. 3. The weekly show includes discussion about political affairs.
Schneller sent a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission late last week. "I deserve equal time to this air time granted to my opponents, and I deserve to appear on the debate at hand, under the circumstances," he wrote in the complaint.
Kathleen Burke, a spokeswoman for NBC10, said the format of the show is not a debate.
"It's a simply a question-and-answer session," Burke said. "If it were a debate, we'd bring in all the candidates."
Four areas of political coverage are exempt from the equal opportunities rule, including bona fide newscasts, bona fide news interviews, bona fide news documentary and on-the-spot coverage of a bona fide news event, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Burke said the program falls into the bona fide news interview category.
Even still, Schneller argued that he believes NBC10 has a duty to include him because he could potentially be one of the major candidates in the race since nominating petitions collected for Meehan are under investigation by the Attorney General's office.
Schneller also recently filed a complaint in the Commonwealth Court seeking an order to compel the Attorney General's office to complete the alleged fraud investigation, which began in the spring.
At the same time, nominating petitions collected for Schneller are also under investigation by the Attorney General's office for alleged irregularities in signatures.
"Jim Schneller would not be on the ballot had it not been for the coordinated effort of Bryan Lentz and his supporters, and we have no intention of debating two candidates put on the ballot by the Democratic Party," said Virginia Davis, a spokeswoman for Meehan. "It is quite clear that Bryan Lentz believes his tax-and-spend record is so out of touch with voters that he had to put a shill candidate on the ballot in an attempt to manipulate the outcome."
The Lentz campaign had a different view about Schneller's participation in debates.
"It's clear from Meehan's continue opposition to Jim Schneller participating in debates that he's still worried about losing the Tea Party support he's worked so hard to gain," said Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz. "Bryan Lentz continues to reject the right-wing platforms of Meehan, Schneller, and the Tea Party and instead, will continue to focus on growing the economy and creating jobs."
Schneller was also excluded from three other debates between the major-party candidates in recent weeks. He was, however, invited to another upcoming forum with the major-party candidates. The forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Delaware County, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Delaware County Community College.


***
As a resident of the 7th Congressional District, do you think Schneller should be included?

Former Congressman Toomey will receive the endorsement of former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman tomorrow in Harrisburg, according to a release from his campaign.

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, was recently endorsed by U.S. Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Meehan was also endorsed by Freedom Works, an organization that coordinates tea party events nationwide.

Former U.S. Rep. and current U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey received the backing of former Democratic Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed Monday.
Reed, mayor of Harrisburg from 1981 through 2005, said in a release that Toomey is "exactly the kind of candidate that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can rally around."
"His background as a small business owner and his focus on job creation is sorely needed in today’s economy. I believe Pat’s emphasis on policies that will cut taxes, ease the regulatory burden on Pennsylvania businesses and workers, and encourage entrepreneurship will help our state and country achieve the economic recovery our citizens deserve.”

“I am honored by Mayor Reed’s endorsement of my candidacy today,”  said Toomey. “Mayor Reed has demonstrated a commitment to job creation and economic growth during his time as Harrisburg’s longest serving mayor. There are many Democrats, Independents, and Republicans across Pennsylvania who share Mayor Reed’s commitment to get our economy moving again, and I hope to work with all of these folks, regardless of political party.”

The League of Women Voters of Delaware County will sponsor a debate for the candidates in the 7th Congressional District race at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Delaware County Community College. All three candidates - Republican Pat Meehan, Democratic Bryan Lentz and third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller - have been invited. The debate will be videotaped and shown on cable stations, according to a release from the organization.

The organization has also planned a second forum for candidates running for the PA House seat in the 161st district. The candidates - Republican Joe Hackett and Democrat Walt Waite - were invited to the debate which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Radnor municipal building.

The campaign for Democrat Bryan Lentz launched an attack ad against Republican Pat Meehan on Monday.

"The ad unveils the real Pat Meehan standing behind the millions of dollars in corporate special interest money, using footage from a debate that took place last week," wrote  Bob Finkelstein, a spokesman for Lentz, in a news release. "Throughout the entire debate, Meehan was unable to make understandable arguments, stumbling badly while trying to piece together the talking points his handlers had prepared for him. Lentz, on the other hand, showed the clear command of domestic and foreign policy issues that he has gained in his years as an Airborne Ranger, tough-on-crime prosecutor and state representative."

The web commercial includes an observation about Meehan made by a Philadelphia Daily News reporter. The article states: "Lentz was clearly the superior debater Tuesday, delivering concise answers, while Meehan, sweating heavily, often fell back on generalities and stumbled through his closing statement."

Virginia Davis, a spokeswoman for Meehan, said that the ad "conveniently omits the damaging headline of the story they were referencing which was 'Meehan has an edge over Lentz in Delco.'"

"For weeks now, Bryan Lentz has shown signs of a desperate and panicked candidate," said Davis in an e-mailed statement. "All he is trying to do is distract voters from his support of (Speaker of the House) Nancy Pelosi and the failed policies coming out of Washington.

Click below to see the ad.

The Americans for Job security recently launched its second attack ad on Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race.

The Daily Times wrote about the organization's first Lentz attack ad here .

This week The New York Times wrote an article about the organization here .

To view the ad click below.

-Political analyst Charlie Cook updated his rating for the 7th Congressional District race between Republican Pat Meehan and Democrat Bryan Lentz from a "toss up" to a "lean Republican", according to a news release from the National Republican Congressional Commitee.

-Lentz invited Meehan to a town hall debate in late October.
Meehan spokeswoman Virginia Davis said her boss declined the invite. She said the candidates already committed to an "unprecedented number of debates" and if Lentz was serious about debating, he wouldn't have backed out of two other debates Meehan suggested months ago.
Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz, said that was untrue. He said that one of Meehan's suggestions for a debate was at a place outside of the 7th district. He said Lentz tried to reschedule the second debate Meehan suggested, but reportedly never heard back from the organization that was going to host it.

-Lentz and Meehan were invited to a debate on "NBC10 @ Issue" next week. It will air Sunday, Oct. 3 at 11:30 a.m.

Former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, will address Pennsylvania’s GOP State Committee Saturday at the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers.
 Toomey was endorsed by the Committee in February.

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District, laid out his economic recovery plan during a news conference on Thursday morning.

Meehan's seven-point plan includes:
1. Institute a payroll tax holiday for a period of six months
2. Reduce the capital gains tax to encourage investment, particularly on investments made during the start up phase of a business
3. Provide tax credits for businesses hiring their first or second employee
4. Encourage investment in America by reducing the corporate tax rate by 15 percent
5. Extend all tax relief from the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts
6. Eliminate the death tax that hurts family-owned businesses
7. Repeal and replace health care reform

Democratic candidate state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, laid out his plan for economic recovery in early March.

Lentz's plan five-point plan includes:
1. Creating jobs through a capital investment tax write-off
2. Establishing a fiscal commission to erase the deficit and stabilize Social Security and Medicare
3. Adapting to a changing economy with education and training
4. Taking advantage of new economic opportunities in green energy and infrastructure
5. Holding Wall Street accountable and creating a consumer financial protection agency

From the Associated Press:

Freshman U.S. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts will headline a Philadelphia fundraiser for Pennsylvania’s Republican candidate for Senate, Pat Toomey.
The Friday fundraiser with Brown makes him the second New England senator in two months to raise money for Toomey in Philadelphia.
Brown declined comment through a spokesman Tuesday.
Toomey is in a closely contested race with Democrat Joe Sestak and is working to broaden his appeal to independent and moderate voters in a state where the 4.3 million Democrats outnumber Republicans by 1.2 million. During three terms in the U.S. House ending in 2005, Toomey compiled a very conservative voting record.
Moderate Maine Sen. Susan Collins appeared at a fundraiser for Toomey in August, even though Toomey had been critical of Collins before he began his Senate campaign.
Brown became nationally known in January when he won the seat of the late Ted Kennedy in traditionally Democratic Massachusetts.
Brown, initially a darling of tea party voters, has moved to the political center, and voted with Democrats on a major jobs bill and a sweeping financial reform plan in recent months.
He recently traveled cross-country to raise money for mostly moderate, establishment Republican candidates in competitive races. Brown’s trip did not include stops for tea party-favorites running for Senate.
Michael Czin, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, issued a statement Tuesday criticizing Brown for campaigning for  “tea party Republicans” outside his home state.
 “While in Massachusetts, Scott Brown desperately tries to sell himself as a moderate, but when he leaves the state he’s all tea party all the time,” Czin said.
Pennsylvania’s Senate campaign is emerging as a priority for both parties, with millions of dollars in television ads flowing into the race from outside the state.

Former U.S. Rep. and current GOP U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, has a 7 point lead on Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont in a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.
According to a survey of 684 likely voters conducted between September 15 and 19, Toomey leads Sestak 50 percent to 43 percent. The poll has a margin of error 3.8 percentage points.
Pollsters found Toomey’s 54-36 percent lead among independent voters was the controlling factor in his overall lead.
The two appear equally matched in voter opinion, according to he poll. Both candidates were viewed favorably by 44 percent surveyed. Toomey was viewed unfavorably by 31 percent and Sestak was viewed unfavorably by 34 percent.
Twenty-three percent of respondents had no opinion of Toomey. Twenty percent said the same of Sestak.
“Pat Toomey is in a good place, ahead by 7 points with six weeks to go,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a release accompanying the poll results.
“But Congressman Joe Sestak has proven himself a tough competitor so it's too early to order the champagne,” added Brown.
Brown said the battle for the Senate will likely have a very tight finish, as 7 percent of respondents were still undecided and 14 percent of voters who are currently supporting a candidate said they might change their mind.

The National Republican Congressional Committee recently launched an attack ad against Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race.


“Bryan Lentz’s bad choices have piled up job-killing debt, increased taxes and resulted in reckless spending.  With a record like this, it’s no wonder Speaker Pelosi wants him in Congress," said Tory Mazzola, spokesman of the committee. "It’s clear that he’d be a party-line vote on items like the trillion-dollar stimulus and government-run healthcare. Voters in southeastern Pennsylvania know that they don’t need this Harrisburg politician in Washington making more bad choices.”


The Lentz campaign argued that the ad cited an editorial that ran in a publication serving central Pennsylvania counties. The editorial criticized the state budget that included spending increases that went toward education, according to the Lentz campaign.


"I don't know why Pat Meehan and the NRCC think that a publication that serves York, Cumberland and Dauphin counties knows what's better for the residents of Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties than our local newspapers do,” said Kevin McTigue, Lentz's campaign manager, in a statement. "Maybe they think we should also ask the editorial boards of Central Pennsylvania for their opinion on what to do about the congestion at the Philadelphia International Airport, and how the Delaware County Council is doing.”


To view the ad, click below.

Jim Schneller, the third-party candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, was left out of the third debate between the Republican Pat Meehan and Democrat Bryan Lentz.


Schneller attended the forum at the Suburban Jewish Community Center-Bnai Aaron in Haverford Tuesday night as a member of the audience.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t participate,” Schneller told the Daily Times in a brief interview after the debate. “I would have had a lot to add. I’m not impressed or surprised that they (the major-party candidates) both discussed the same left or right ideologies.”

This was the third time Schneller was not included in a debate for this race.

As a resident of the 7th Congressional District, do you think it's fair? Do you want to hear from Schneller?

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey, a former U.S. Rep. from Zionsville, is leading Democratic candidate Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont by 9 points in a recent PoliticsPA/Municipoll survey.
According to the poll of 912 likely Pennsylvania voters conducted Sept. 15-16, Toomey is leading Sestak 45 percent to 36 percent. Nineteen percent of those polled remained undecided.
Of those surveyed, 449 identified themselves as Democrats and 403 as Republicans, while 59 said they were neither.
Sestak had a favorability rating of 36 percent and was viewed unfavorably by 34 percent. Toomey had a favorability rating of 38 percent and 35 percent unfavorable rating. Thirty percent could not form an opinion of Sestak and 27 percent were still unsure of Toomey.
Republicans seem more solid in who they intend to vote for, with only 13 percent saying they remain undecided, compared to 23 percent of Democrats.
Sestak scored better amongst younger voters than Toomey, but the Republican had support amongst older Pennsylvanians. That is a significant statistic, as turnout tends to drop in midterm elections but older voters tend to get to the polls more than younger ones do.

Nonprofit news organization Pennsylvania Cable Network will air live coverage of a U.S. senatorial candidate forum and gubernatorial debate hosted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry next Monday.
Former Nightline anchor Ted Koppel will moderate a 4 p.m. discussion with former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate.
The Democratic Senate candidate, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, had a scheduling conflict and could not attend, said spokesman Jonathan Dworkin.
PCN will offer interviews from the field and forum reaction at 5 p.m.
Koppel will also moderate an 8 p.m. debate between Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett and Democrat Dan Onorato.
PCN will likewise offer interviews from the field and debate reaction at 9 p.m.
The events are part of the chamber’s 26th annual dinner.
PCN appears locally on channel 10 and digital channel 186.  Viewers can dial 1-877-PA6-5001 following each segment to share their thoughts.

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, and former Delaware County District Attorney and former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan will engage in a live debate on foreign policy issues tomorrow night.
The debate at the Suburban Jewish Community Center-Bnai Aaron at 560 Mill Road in
Havertown will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Lentz is the Democratic nominee for the 7th Congressional District, while Meehan is the Republican candidate. It was not immediately clear whether independent candidate Jim Schneller would attend.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak will receive President Barack Obama at a closed-door fundraiser at the Philadelphia Convention Center today, where several groups will gather outside to express their grievances.
Sestak faces former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey in the Nov. 2 election. Toomey said in a statement critical of Obama's policies that he welcomes the president to the state and hopes to work with him soon in the Senate.
Meanwhile, members of AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47 plan to gather at the corner of 12th and Arch streets at 3:45 p.m. to call attention to ongoing contract negotiations with Mayor Michael Nutter's administration.
Spokesman Bob Wolper said a one-year contract extension for both unions expired in June of this year and there have been no negotiations since that time.
Wolper said union members have been working without a wage or health care contribution increase for three years and have helped the city obtain funding from Harrisburg, but aren't willing to make any concessions on health benefits or pensions.
He emphasized the rally is not against the president or Sestak, the unions simply know Nutter will be attending the event and want to get some attention for their cause.
Nutter spokesman Doug Oliver said informal discussions are ongoing and settling the contract remains a high priority for Nutter's administration, but the city simply cannot afford the health care and pension costs it has sustained for the two unions over the past decade. He said the administration is asking the unions to recognize some concessions are necessary.
Members of the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC are also expected to assemble at 11th and Arch streets at 2:15 p.m. today in opposition of the administration's fiscal policies.

PAC President Don Adams criticized the unemployment rate and federal spending in a release and said the November elections would be a referendum on "collectivists" like Obama, Sestak and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Frankly, we're surprised Joe Sestak would even want President Obama to campaign for him," said Adams in a release. "But the only persons more unpopular than the president, these days, are sitting members of Congress like Mr. Sestak. These two men have worked together to put our nation in trillions of dollars of debt - and what do we have to show for it - continual high unemployment, an overall stagnant economy, and rising taxes."
The unemployment rate for August was 9.6 percent, according to an “Employment Situation Summary” released by the U.S. Department of Labor Sept. 3. That figure has fluctuated little since May, staying between 9.5 percent and 9.7 percent, though the private sector did add a modest 67,000 jobs last month.
There were also about 1.1 million “discouraged workers” in August, an increase of 352,000 from the same month last year. These are people who have stopped looking for a job because they feel there is no work for them.
Private sector employment has risen by 763,000 since December 2009, but there are still14.9 million unemployed people in the country as of August, according to the summary.
Income taxes for 2009 were at their lowest point in 60 years, mostly due to cuts included in the stimulus package. Democrats are pushing to let tax cuts for wealthy Americans established in 2001 and 2003 expire as originally intended on Dec. 31, while Republicans argue the cuts should be extended or made permanent. The cuts affect roughly 2 percent of the population, couples making more than $250,000 and individuals making more than $200,000 annually.
There seems to be agreement that middle and lower income cuts should remain in effect, but according to an April 14 New York Times article by Jackie Calmes: "Ending the tax cuts for the rich would bring additional revenues to the government of more than $678 billion through 2020, the administration has projected, while keeping in place the tax cuts for everyone else would mean forgoing more than $2 trillion in revenues during that time."

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will headline a fundraiser for GOP 7th Congressional District candidate Pat Meehan  at the Springfield Country Club tonight.
Christie will address the crowd at about 7 p.m. followed by remarks from Meehan.
Meehan faces Democrat state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore and independent candidate Jim Schneller in the Nov. 2 election.

Franklin & Marshall College Professor of Public Affairs Dr. G. Terry Madonna and Dr. Michael Young, managing partner of Michael Young Strategic Research, address Gov. Ed Rendell’s recent opinion that the Republican Party is being taken over by “wackos” in their Politically Uncorrected column Friday.
The column notes Rendell later said he did not mean to lump GOP governor candidate Tom Corbett or Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey in that column.
Not that it seems to matter much to voters what Rendell thinks of whom, Madonna and Young go on to say.
"In fact, voters appear to consider neither Corbett nor Toomey to be wackos," the columnists said. "If voters were to describe the GOP candidates this year, the word they would probably use is not wackos, but winners."
Toomey could “arguably be the most conservative U.S. Senator Pennsylvania has elected since before the New Deal days,” according to the column – and polls indicate he has a good shot at the seat.
Which the columnists find surprising, considering the 1.2 million registration edge Democrats hold over Republicans in the state.
“The obvious question: why is Toomey so well positioned some 45 days from the November election? And what does it reveal about American politics approaching Barack Obama¹s first midterm election?” Madonna and Young posit. “These are all easier questions to ask than to answer.”
The column does attempt to, however. Madonna and Young point to Democrats’ apparent failure to improve the economy while spending massive amounts of money, as well as concerns over debt and regulation.
“The electorate is out of patience, and Democrats seem increasingly to be out of time. This explains more than anything how a candidate as conservative as Pat Toomey, talented though he may be, is running so strongly in a state that historically has eschewed candidates of either right or left extremes.”
To read the column in full, click here.

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, attended a citizenship naturalization ceremony for 63 individuals on Wednesday night at the county courthouse in Media.

Here is an excerpt from Meehan's speech at the ceremony:

"Congratulations to each of you and to the friends, family and loved ones who have supported you in your aspirations. While your collective journey to this moment involves classes on citizenship that you recently concluded, I imagine that there are many individual journeys today that are significant in their history, inspiring in their conquest over adversity and stirring in how they personify a passion and faith in the promise of America.

"Today’s ceremony has a keen appreciation for the rich tradition of immigration; the countless numbers of immigrants who have given life to our neighborhoods, backbone to our industry, intellect and culture to our schools. I also want to applaud each of you for persevering through this process and keeping your commitment to becoming a citizen of this great nation the right and legal way."   

Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, announced today that he has been endorsed by U.S. President Barack Obama.

“I’m extremely honored by President Obama’s endorsement,” Lentz said in a release. “After focusing my campaign on job creation and economic development, my first priority as a member of Congress will be to work with the President and other members of Congress to get our economy back on track.”

The campaign for Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, launched a website today, bashing his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore. The site claims Lentz is a rumberstamp for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

The Lentz campaign launched a site bashing Meehan a few weeks ago. The site claims Meehan is a member of the Republican political machine.

As a resident of the 7th Congressional District, do you find these sites helpful? 

In a news release on Wednesday afternoon, the campaign for Republican candidate Pat Meehan questioned the whereabouts of his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore.

"For most of Monday and Tuesday, the 161st Legislative District did not have a voice in Harrisburg," said Bryan Kendro, campaign manager for Meehan. "What was Bryan Lentz doing that was more important than his job of representing his district?  His constituents deserve to know why he played hooky both days. And Bryan Lentz should disclose whether or not he collected his full per diem for only doing part-time work in Harrisburg."

Lentz told the Daily Times he had to leave early Monday, about 4 p.m., to get to funeral services for his mother's 90-year-old cousin. He said he left Harrisburg, drove down Route 81 and stopped at a hotel in Frackville to meet up with his parents before heading to the viewing and wake in Mahanoy City.

After the funeral services, he drove back to Frackville with his parents and stayed overnight in the hotel.

On Tuesday morning he drove back to Harrisburg. He left session a little early again Tuesday, about 4 p.m., to head back to Delaware County. He said he missed a few "insignificant" votes.

Lentz said there will be no per diem for those two days. He said he shared the hotel room with his parents, and his father footed the bill.

On Tuesday night, Lentz said he went to a fundraiser event in Delaware County.

As a resident of the 7th Congressional District, what do you think about this issue? Is it a non-issue to you?

The major-party candidates in the 7th Congressional District race were invited to a forum at the Suburban Jewish Community Center-Bnai Aaron scheduled for next week. 

Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz and Republican candidate Pat Meehan will attend the forum, located at 560 Mill Road in Haverford, on Sept. 21 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Robin Schatz, director of government affairs at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, said both candidates will be allowed to make opening and closing statements. The event is open to the public and the candidates will take some questions from the audience, she said.

 Some of the topics the candidates will address include nuclear Iran, the US-Israel relationship, health care and the future of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security benefits. The forum is sponsored by The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia in cooperation with the Kehillah of Delaware County and Suburban Jewish Community Center-Bnai Aaron.

This will be the third joint debate between Lentz and Meehan in recent weeks. 

Third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller was not invited to the forum. Schatz said she did not invite Schneller because the forum was planned long before he got enough signatures to get on the ballot in August. 

A new Rasmussen Reports survey shows former U.S. Rep. and Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville,  is leading Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont 49 percent to 41 percent.
It is the highest response for Toomey in a Rasmussen poll going back to February, when he received 47 percent of support from respondents.
It is also the first time Sestak has topped 40 percent in Rasmussen surveys since a prior peak of 46 percent in May following a successful primary challenge of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.
Two percent said they prefer another candidate, while 8 percent said they are still undecided.
The survey of 750 likely Pennsylvania voters was conducted September 13 and has a 4 percent margin of error. The poll did not include a breakdown of political affiliations of those surveyed.
The poll was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC, which also recently had Toomey leading Sestak 47 percent to 41 percent in a FOX News poll.
Toomey had a favorability rating of 57 percent and was viewed unfavorably by 33 percent of respondents. Forty-seven percent viewed Sestak favorably while 42 percent viewed him unfavorably. Eleven percent said they didn’t know enough about Toomey to give an opinion. Twelve percent said the same of Sestak.

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District, announced in a release  that he would be accepting the endorsement of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund on Thursday morning.

“Planned Parenthood has played an important role in advocating for issues relating to women's reproductive health and rights for nearly a century, and I am glad to accept the endorsement of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund,” Lentz said in a release. “I've worked to promote women's issues as a legislator in Harrisburg and intend to continue to be a strong voice in Washington D.C. in area where work remains to be done, including equal pay and ensuring that a woman's right to choose is not compromised.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., the current Majority Whip, will host a fundraiser for state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, on Sept. 26 in Philadelphia.

“I'm happy to receive the support of a key member of the Democratic leadership in Congress with a long and distinguished record of public service and look forward to working with Majority Whip Clyburn in Washington, D.C., to promote an agenda that promotes the interests of our hard-working families and brings good-paying jobs to the 7^th District,” Lentz said in a release.

 Former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, received the backing of the American Medical Association and Pennsylvania Medical Society political action committees, his campaign announced Tuesday.
“I am honored by the support of the American Medical Association PAC and the Pennsylvania Medical Society PAC,” said Toomey in a release. “Throughout this campaign, I have made the case for commonsense health care reforms that will actually lower the cost of health care, increase patients’ choices, keep government bureaucrats out of health care decisions, and maintain the high quality of American health care.
“I look forward to working with the Pennsylvania Medical Society to achieve these reforms in the U.S. Senate.”

A new FOX News Corp. poll shows former U.S. Rep. and Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey is leadingDemocratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, by 6 percentage points, 47 percent to 41 percent.
Four percent said they would go with another candidate, while seven percent remained undecided. More than three-fourths of those surveyed said they would be basing their decision more on their feelings for national political issues than feelings about the candidates themselves. 
The poll of 1,000 likely Pennsylvania voters, conducted Saturday by Pulse Opinion Research, has a 3 percent margin of error. It did not include a breakdown of political affiliations of those surveyed.

The Republican National Committee has collated a list of recent comments from Democrats that have spoken out against allowing tax cuts for wealthy Americans, colloquially known as "the Bush tax cuts" of 2001 and 2003, to expire.
This has already become a  key issue in the election. Republicans favor allowing the cuts to remain for now, or even making them permanent. President Barack Obama would like to allow the cuts, which affect about 2 percent of the nation's wealthiest citizens, to expire on time Dec. 31. Some Democrats now appear to be swinging to the right on this one in the run-up to what could be a very good year for Republican candidates.
The Washington Post's William Gale recently took on some talking points from both sides on this issue.

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District, will speak at a news conference Friday morning in Radnor about legislation that would ban the sale of synthetic marijuana in Pennsylvania.

The Act to Ban Synthetic Legislation, House Bill 176, was proposed by state Rep. Jennifer L. Mann, D-Lehigh County, on July 30. Lentz is a co-sponsor of the bill.

The Daily Times initially reported on this piece of legislation in late August. Check it out here:
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/08/25/news/doc4c74820e48bac659189943.txt

Did you read the latest article about Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz criticizing Republican candidate Pat Meehan for attending a meeting with a group of tea party activists known as the Valley Forge Patriots? If not, check it out here:

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/09/14/news/doc4c8ed7fd759e5907618063.txt

Below is some more information about this issue.

1. Meehan attended the event with the tea party group on Friday night in Phoenixville, Chester County. The event was open to the public and members of the news media.
2. The Lentz campaign put out a news release on Monday morning criticizing Meehan and calling the meeting secretive.
1. Here’s the first paragraph of the news release written by Lentz spokesman Bob Finkelstein: “Pat Meehan’s latest attempt to keep his views about the tea party's extreme agenda hidden from voters occurred at a tea party rally in Phoenixville on Friday night when an audience member videotaping his speech was forced to turn off his camera only moments after starting to tape.”
3. During interviews, the Daily Times learned that the person who was told to turn off the video camera was actually a 17-year-old male high school student doing volunteer political tracker work for Lentz.
4. Next, the Daily Times called some founding members of the Valley Forge Patriots and learned that the person with the video camera never told the group that he was doing work for the Lentz campaign. He simply told the group that he was a student.
5. The group members said the problem was the student never asked for permission to videotape prior to the beginning of the event. The group members decided it was inappropriate and told the student to turn off the video camera, but they did allow him to stay at the event.
6. A Daily Times reporter asked the Lentz campaign if she could speak with the student. The student then called the Daily Times on his cell phone but refused to give his name. He did confirm that he did not disclose to the tea party activists that he was doing work for the Lentz campaign.
7. The Daily Times then asked the Lentz campaign whether they would release the name of the student. A member of the campaign simply replied in a text message: “We have no additional information to add to your story.”
8. The tea party group labeled the student dishonest.
9. But Kevin McTigue, Lentz’s campaign manager, argued it was wrong for the tea party activists to insinuate that the teenager was dishonest. He argued that a political tracker for the Meehan campaign were being dishonest because she falsely identified herself as a member of the St. Joseph’s University student newspaper in June. McTigue shared an e-mail correspondence he had with the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, confirming this did occur. 
10. But Bryan Kendro, campaign manager for Meehan, said he did not recall that incident. Kendro said his campaign tells all their interns to be honest.  
11. Meanwhile members of the tea party group are outraged over Lentz’s press release regarding this whole issue.
12. On Tuesday, the Valley Forge Patriots ripped the Lentz campaign in a lengthy statement. Here are some excerpts from the statement:
1. “We have met with both parties, allow all to speak at our meetings and will continue to hold both Republicans and Democrats accountable for their votes. Our meetings are open to the public but we control the taping of our meetings. They are our meetings, not Mr. Lentz’s. …Mr. Lentz is a typical, ultra liberal, Democrat unable to advance any kind of positive message and so resorts to gutter level politics as we have seen time and time again.”

So who is being secretive here? You decide.

At an event at a beauty school, Republican Pat Meehan discussed how he combated domestic abuse against women during his prior jobs as Delaware County District Attorney and U.S. Attorney.

As U.S. Attorney, Meehan partnerned with Empire Beauty Schools to launch a regional program known as "Cut it Out". Under this program, domestic violence experts teach beauty school students ways to detect domestic abuse, according to Meehan spokeswoman Virginia Davis.

"Combating domestic violence was a top priority during my service as District Attorney and U.S. Attorney," said Meehan in a release.  "I am extremely proud of the work we did with Empire Beauty Schools to establish new, innovative means to help women who are victims of domestic violence.  Through the 'Cut It Out' program, we found new ways to reach out to victims, encourage them to seek assistance and escape abusive relationships. Empire Beauty School has long recognized its unique ability to help victims and deserves applause for its proactive approach to combating domestic abuse." 

When Meehan was the Delaware County District Attorney, he worked with the Domestic Abuse Project and he organized domestic violence forums. 

Meehan is running against Democratic candidate state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, and third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller.

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, launched his first two advertisements today.

 “These ads will reinforce the message voters across the 7^th District have already been getting whenever they come in contact with Bryan Lentz and his campaign,” said Kevin McTigue, Lentz's campaign manager. “Bryan Lentz has fought for the priorities of the residents of this country and hard working families as a soldier and a state legislator, and will continue to do so in Washington, DC.”

 Lentz is running against Republican candidate Pat Meehan, a former U.S. Attorney, and third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller. 


“Trailing in money and trailing in the polls, Bryan Lentz runs from his record as the tax and spend liberal that has endeared him to the hearts of Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat liberal elite in Washington,” said Bryan Kendro, Meehan's campaign manager. “Actions speak louder than words, and this is yet another example of Bryan Lentz's deceptive and misleading campaign rhetoric not matching up to his voting record in Harrisburg.”

To see the advertisements, check out the below links:

Just last week, the Americans for Job Security launched an attack ad against Lentz. To read more about that, check out the previous posting on this blog titled: "Americans for Job Security targets Lentz in the 7th Congressional District" or check out this link:

U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the current Minority Whip, will attend a fundraising event for Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, on Sept. 22 in Philadelphia.

Several officials will be attending events for both Meehan and his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, in upcoming weeks.

For information on the other events, check out the previous posting on this blog titled, "Officials to campaign for major-party candidates in the 7th Congressional District race," or read the last section of this article for the details:

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/09/12/news/doc4c8c4649680bb663006394.txt

Former U.S. Rep. and Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, will receive support from “two major groups” Tuesday at the Allegheny County Medical Society in Pittsburgh, according to a release from his campaign.
A press conference has been scheduled for 5 PM.

As Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey prepared to hold a press conference in Harrisburg this afternoon slamming Democratic opponent Joe Sestak's "extreme policy positions," the Pa. Democratic Party put out its own list of "extreme" positions Toomey has taken.

From the Toomey campaign:
"Congressman Sestak has staked out a position far to the left of Pennsylvania voters, and even far to the left of many in his own Democratic Party. When many Democrats voted against a cap-and-trade energy tax, against government-run health care, against bailing out Wall Street, and against increased deficit spending, Congressman Sestak not only voted for all of these items on Nancy Pelosi’s wish list, he often argued that they did not go far enough.
Now, Congressman Sestak has gone overboard. Today, Pat Toomey will release the latest evidence of Congressman Sestak’s growing extremism and call on Congressman Sestak to renounce his outside-the-mainstream views."

And from the Pa. Dems:
"Pat Toomey has a more extreme voting record than 97.9 percent of all politicians since 1995. Toomey is more extreme than Rick Santorum who admitted that Toomey was too extreme for Pennsylvania. As the President of the Club for Growth, Toomey targeted moderate Republicans across the country for electoral defeat, and he advocated for extreme policies like privatizing Social Security, eliminating all corporate taxes and opposing the minimum wage.
"Not only is Pat Toomey extreme, he also led a movement to expel moderate Republicans from the party," said Mark Nicastre, spokesman with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. "Toomey's Club for Growth spent millions to attack moderate Republicans who opposed Social Security reform. Fellow Republicans even blamed Toomey for defeating moderates who opposed his extremist policies. One Republican Congressman called Toomey's attacks on moderates "disgusting." Toomey turned the party of John Heinz to the party of Sharon Angle - who Toomey endorsed. There is only one extremist in this race, and it's Pat Toomey."

In the competitive 7th Congressional District race, the major-party candidates and their supporters have been criticizing their opponents about everything, including tax policies, in recent news releases.

Ed Bradley, chairman of the Upper Darby Democratic Committee, recently called Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, “a hypocrite” for supporting Maureen Carey, vice president of the Upper Darby School Board who is a candidate for state representative in the 164th district.

Meehan has criticized his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, for supporting the 2008-09 state budget, which included $1 billion more in spending than the previous year.

Lentz, on the other hand, has argued that the spending increase went toward education in places like the Upper Darby School District.

“Out of one side of his mouth Pat Meehan is criticizing Bryan Lentz for supporting state budgets that boosted funding for education, while out of the other side he’s praising a Republican candidate who raised property taxes relentlessly to fund school budget increases that her school board was passing,” Bradley argued in a release. “It’s hypocritical and the worst kind of politics imaginable. The stand that Pat Meehan takes on funding the education of our children shouldn’t depend on what letter a candidate has after their name. This is the same kind of political thinking that the Republican Party used in backing Pat Meehan’s career as a law enforcement official even though he lacked the experience to prosecute cases.”

Virginia Davis, Meehan’s spokeswoman, called Bradley's statement an "accusation by Bryan Lentz's supporters."

The Meehan campaign also recently criticized Lentz on tax policy. The news release stated that during a visit with a small business last week, Lentz retreated on what tax cuts should be extended.

“Either Bryan Lentz is realizing his policies are bad for our district, or he’s pandering to different constituencies. Either way, he has some explaining to do,” said Bryan Kendro, campaign manager for Meehan, in a release. “For months, Lentz has been opposed to extending tax cuts for those making over $250,000, but when confronted by a voter, he sang a different tune – perhaps realizing that his tax cut policies are not only bad for the economy but bad for families and small business owners.”

When confronted by a Daily Times reporter about whether he was retreating on his view of the tax cuts, Lentz said, “My position from the beginning is there should be a priority to have tax cuts for the middle class citizens because they are the ones who will invest in the economy.”

Lentz said there could be some flexibility for citizens who make between $250,000 and $1 million, but not for citizens who make over $1 million. “We shouldn’t add to the deficit so millionaires can have a tax cut,” he said.

Meehan, on the other hand, has said there should be tax cuts for both the middle class and also those making more than $250,000 because he believes they are the ones will make investments in the economy.

“This is the wrong time to be talking about raising taxes on anybody,” Meehan said during a joint debate in late August.

U.S. Reps. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, and Michael McCaul, R-10, of Texas, will be manning Alex’s Lemonade Stands this month to raise awareness about childhood cancer.
Sestak will be at the Acme Shopping Center at the corner of Route 252 and Baltimore Pike Saturday from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
The Congressmen will also come together on September 16 for a Childhood Cancer Summit in Washington including the nation's top cancer experts to advance policies related to drug development, access to clinical trials, survivorship and the impact of childhood cancer on families and communities.

In upcoming weeks, officials plan to stump for the major-party candidates in the 7th Congressional District race.

-On Saturday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. - Retired General Paul Eaton has plans to endorse Democratic candidate state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore. The endorsement will take place at the Vets for Lentz Kickoff event at American Legion Post 214 in Upper Darby.

-On Monday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will headline a fundraising event in support of Republican candidate Pat Meehan. The event will be held at the Springfield Country Club.

-On Wednesday, Sept. 22 from 6-8 p.m. - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean will be at a fundraising event for Lentz and Manan Trivedi, the Democratic candidate in the 6th Congressional District race. The event will take place at the home of state Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, of Upper Merion.

Congressman Joe Sestak, who faces former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey in the fall Senate election,  hosted a ceremony Thursday to name the Cheyney, Pennsylvania Post Office the "Captain Luther H. Smith, U.S. Army Air Forces Post Office."
Captain Smith was one of the original Tuskegee Airmen and a resident of the 7th Congressional District Sestak represents. Sestak sponsored a bill to rename the post office, which was signed into law in June.
"Captain Smith was a member of a unique group of men who possessed an unabashed devotion to this nation and a belief in the strength of American values, even at a time when their country's laws failed to reflect the values for which they fought," said Sestak. "I was honored to be able to submit this legislation and provide a means of recognizing the life of Captain Smith, who is an inspiration to current and future generations."
Attending was Captain Smith's wife, Lois Smith, his son Gordon, his daughter Deborah and his youngest sister Nancy Windsor.
Also attending were two original Tuskegee airmen, Henry Moore, and Eugene Richardson, the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area's District Manager of the U.S. Postal Service, Jim Gallagher, and Cheyney University President Michelle Howard-Vital.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge endorsed Republican Senate hopeful Pat Toomey Thursday at a press conference in State College.
"I am endorsing Pat today because he is an honest, principled leader who is unafraid to stand up for what's right," said Ridge in a statement. "Voters across Pennsylvania are rallying to Pat's vision for creating jobs and bringing fiscal responsibility to Washington.''
Toomey also recently received an endorsement  from the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police.

As part of the Pennsylvania Cable Network's (PCN) extensive coverage of Election 2010, the statewide public affairs network will air special "On the Issues" featuring candidates vying for the Congressional seat in their district.
State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, a Democrat running in the 7th Congressional District, will appear Sept. 27. Pat Meehan, the Republican 7th District candidate, will appear Sept. 28.
Both shows will air at 8 p.m.

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey met with health care leaders in Pittsburgh Thursday to denounce what he calls the "government-run health care bill."
Toomey said the bill would raise taxes on medical device manufacturers by as much as $20 billion, regardless of whether they generate a profit or not.

"These companies work day in and day out to develop life-saving technology that increases the quality of life for millions of Americans, but once again, Joe Sestak falls back on his liberal instincts and votes for billions
in higher taxes," said Toomey in a release.

The rest of the release follows:

Pennsylvania employs over 22,000 workers in the medical device industry
(only 3 other states employ more people in this field). But these numbers
will fall dramatically if the right kind of economic environment for these
vital, life-saving companies is stunted by the billions in new taxes
included in Joe Sestak's health care bill.


The facts are simple. Joe Sestak and his liberal, Washington allies have
time and again overpromised and under-delivered. To make matters worse,
Sestak still wants us to believe that the government-run health care bill he
supported (H.R.
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fclerk.house.gov%2Fevs%2F2010%2Froll165.xml >
3590, CQ Vote #165) will make our health care system cheaper and run better,
even though scores of independent data and reports have shown this claim to
be false.

The Democrats' Claim:
Joe Sestak's government-run health care bill will not raise taxes on the
middle class and small businesses.

The Truth:
? The Joint Committee on Taxation found that Sestak's government-run health
care bill will increase taxes on the middle class by $3.9 billion in 2019
alone. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also found that the
medical device tax, pharmaceutical fees, and excise tax will be passed on to
consumers (CMS,
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fcoburn.senate.gov%2Fpublic%2Findex.cfm%3Fa%3DFiles.Serve%26File_id%3Df011f765-c229-4b33-8b95-6c30c8bfefd0 > 04/22/10)
(The
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fblogs%2Fon-the-money%2Fdomestic-taxes%2F91669-healthcare-law-socks-middle-class-with-a-39-billion-tax-increase > Hill, 04/12/10).

The Democrats' Claim:
Health care costs will not rise.



The Truth:
? According to the Congressional Budget Office and the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services the health care bill will do nothing to control health
care costs and will actually cause health care costs to skyrocket (CBO,
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fcboblog.cbo.gov%2F%3Fp%3D1034 > 05/28/10)
(CMS,
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fcoburn.senate.gov%2Fpublic%2Findex.cfm%3Fa%3DFiles.Serve%26File_id%3Df011f765-c229-4b33-8b95-6c30c8bfefd0 > 04/22/10).

The Democrats' Claim:
Joe Sestak and his Democratic allies claim that if you like you current
health care coverage, you can keep it.

The Truth:
? According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, and President Obama's own Department of Health and Human
Services, millions will lose their coverage because of the Sestak's
government-run health care bill. Former CBO director Doug Holtz-Eakin also
said that the health care legislation will encourage employers to drop their
current insurance plans for as many as 35 million Americans (CBO,
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fcoburn.senate.gov%2Fpublic%2Findex.cfm%3Fa%3DFiles.Serve%26File_id%3Df011f765-c229-4b33-8b95-6c30c8bfefd0 > 03/18/10)
(CMS,
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fcoburn.senate.gov%2Fpublic%2Findex.cfm%3Fa%3DFiles.Serve%26File_id%3Df011f765-c229-4b33-8b95-6c30c8bfefd0 > 04/22/10)
(Federal Register, 06/17/10) (American
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=48034877&msgid=461205&act=EPQX&c=486221&destination=http%3A%2F%2Famericanactionforum.org%2Ffiles%2FLaborMktsHCRAAF5-27-10.pdf%3Futm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3D%26utm_campaign > Action
Forum, May 2010).

Joe Sestak has tried time and again to sell Pennsylvania voters a bill of
goods. But it's clear that voters are overwhelmingly rejecting Congressman
Sestak's rubberstamp support for President Obama's reckless tax-and-spend
policies in Washington. They just aren't buying what Sestak's selling.

Senator Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., joined U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, in Philadelphia Thursday to condemn Pat Toomey's fiscal policies.

Sestak and Toomey are seeking the seat of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in the fall.
Toomey helped draft a 1999 provision that broke down the wall between commercial banks
and investment firms, which Dorgan warned would not end well.
"I think we will look back in 10 years' time and say we should not have done this, but we did because we forgot the lessons of the past, and that that which is true in the 1930s is true in 2010," said Dorgan at the time. "We have now decided in the name of modernization to forget the lessons of the past, of safety and of soundness."

A release on the event follows:
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), a longtime independent voice
in the Senate who predicted the dire consequences of creating "too big to
fail" banks and hazards of exposing commercial banks to the risky Wall
Street gambling, will campaign with Joe Sestak tomorrow.

<https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1222/images/Congressman%20Joe%20Sestak%20Discusses%20Financial%20Regulation%20with%20Senator%20Byron%20Dorgan.JPG >
"I am honored to have Senator Dorgan stand with me today," said Admiral
Sestak. "His independent pragmatic approach and his willingness to stand up
to both Wall Street and the political establishment are the definition of
responsible leadership. We need more people in the Senate will put middle
class Americans over Wall Street."

Senator Dorgan stood up to the establishment and sounded alarm bells during
the 1999 debate over modernizing the banking industry. In 1999, Dorgan
opposed the legislation that broke down the wall between commercial banks
and investment firms - a bill that Congressman Toomey help draft - which
allowed banks to engage in the risky practices that led to the recession.

At the time, Dorgan predicted that: "I think we will look back in 10 years'
time and say we should not have done this, but we did because we forgot the
lessons of the past, and that that which is true in the 1930s is true in
2010. We have now decided in the name of modernization to forget the lessons
of the past, of safety and of soundness." [New
<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=oih3qJdbHv5B7RajN0h1ctHVC2xD72Vb > York Times, 11/05/99]

Click
<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5MKAYEEB%2FBKbXRsBmSfo7KPuYxcoFoey > here to see Senator Dorgan speak on the floor against the
legislation.

Over the course of his three terms, Senator Dorgan has received praise from
both sides of the aisle for his advocacy for strong fiscal policies,
including ensuring that corporations do not gamble with America's financial
future.

After the collapse, Congressman Toomey continued to push for deregulatory
steps like the 1999 legislation, which repealed the Glass-Steagall Act.
According to the Scranton Times Tribune: "Mr. Toomey also said he would
continue to generally favor deregulation of the nation's financial markets,
despite a collapse that many blame on a failure of regulation." [Scranton
Times Tribune, 4/16/09].

<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=aM6U6evWOdXcYhrELrVmIaPuYxcoFoey >
Click here to see Toomey speak in favor of deregulation.

Congressman Toomey's Long History of Deregulation

* Congressman Toomey opposed the recent Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act bill to repair the system. The bill aimed to put an
end to "too big to fail," provide greater transparency and accountability
for over-the-counter derivatives, protect consumers and give shareholders a
say on bonuses. [Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, HR 4173,
passed 12/11/09]
* Congressman Toomey helped write the legislation that broke down the
wall between commercial banks and investment firms, allowing commercial
banks - where the majority of Americans go to protect their savings - to
engage in the risky activities previously limited to investment banks. [HR
10 Gramm-Leach-Bliley/Financial Services Modernization Act, enacted
11/12/99]
* Congressman Toomey himself wrote in his book The Road to Prosperity
that: "Major deregulation was another part of the expansion of economic
freedom that enabled strong growth." [pg. 41]
* Congressman Toomey voted for legislation which deregulated
derivative trading and allowed Wall Street firms to increase the kind of
risk-taking which led to the economic crisis. [Commodities Futures
Modernization Act, HR 4541, #540, 10/19/2000]
* After the collapse, Congressman Toomey said he continues to favor
deregulation of financial markets. According to The Scranton Times Tribune:
"Mr. Toomey also said he would continue to generally favor deregulation of
the nation's financial markets, despite a collapse that many blame on a
failure of regulation." [Scranton Times Tribune, 4/16/09]


What Others Have Said About Deregulation

* "Deregulation has not worked. Unfettered markets may produce big
bonuses for CEOs, but they do not lead, as if by an invisible hand, to
societal well-being. Until we achieve a better balance between markets and
government, the world will continue to pay a high price." - Joseph E.
Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in economics and chairman of President Clinton's
Council of Economic Advisers [Project
<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=FT4ATTFz1nprAf2BVMiy9aPuYxcoFoey > Sydicate, 2/01/08]
* ". deregulation in effect gave the [savings and loan] industry -
whose deposits were federally insured - a license to gamble with taxpayers'
money, at best, or simply to loot it, at worst." - Paul Krugman, Nobel
Laureate in economics and professor at Princeton University [New
<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5a%2B3ay3saQhVgTiHQUd0k6PuYxcoFoey > York Times, 6/01/2009]
* "The assumption has been markets know best, and when they don't
civil lawsuits and government prosecutions will deter wrongdoing. Wrong.
When shareholders demand the highest returns possible and executive pay is
linked to stock performance, many companies will do whatever necessary to
squeeze out added profits." - Robert Reich, former labor secretary under
President Clinton and professor of public policy at the University of
California at Berkeley [Christian
<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=nS1VkZ%2Bd3zXc1OmFPUqnAKPuYxcoFoey > Science Monitor, 5/04/10]
* American International Group "neither hedged nor provided adequate
capital against the large, correlated risks that it was taking. AIG's
actions were facilitated by gaps in prudential regulation . The consequences
for the broader system were so severe because AIG was a large financial firm
closely interlinked with other systemically important financial institutions
and markets." - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke [Congressional
<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5FeNN%2FyKOmBWavz6M0T50BcnXjTe6iT0 > Testimony, 09/02/10].

Jim Schneller, the Independent candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, today released a statement in response to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office probe regarding his nominating petitions.

Here are some of Schneller's comments in his news release:

"This is the lowest form of utilization of government office for personal advancement and personal gain. Pennsylvania has seen a sad day in leadership with this announcement. I demand immediate release to the public of the number of signatures claimed to be errant and why, and I demand immediate action, not delayed action.
" This is a statement by the Commonwealth's highest ranking law enforcement office. Right before our eyes, the Attorney General is treating serious ballot questions as a personal agenda. The conflict of interest is blatant. This is why we're asking that an impartial county District Attorney also investigate."

Check out these stories for more background information on the "petition wars":

-http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/09/09/news/doc4c88491aad10f559935422.txt

-http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/09/09/news/doc4c8848df8a83a470697481.txt

A pro-business organization, Americans for Job Security, today launched a television advertisement criticizing state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race.

"More than 80,000 Pennsylvanians have lost their job since the so-called 'stimulus' package was enacted in February 2009," said Steve DeMaura, President of Americans for Job Security, in a statement. "Across the nation, businesses are forced to close their doors, families are increasingly looking for new employment opportunities, and jobless rates continue to rise. The policies that Washington has enacted have done far more to hurt job creation and economic recovery than stimulate growth. Pennsylvania cannot afford another vote in support of Pelosi's out-of-control spending habits."

The organization will spend about $300,000 in ads in this race.

"Bryan Lentz rejects the attacks made by Americans for Job Security, a right-wing corporate front group funded by the insurance industry with a history of ethical problems," said Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz. "Its lead attorney was George Bush's lawyer in the Florida recount. This group is wrong for the 7th District and Bryan will continue to fight against special interests like Americans for Job Security whose radical agendas hurt hard-working families."

Lentz is running against Republican Pat Meehan, a former U.S. Attorney, and Independent candidate Jim Schneller.

The Delaware County Democratic Committee will be hosting its annual Democratic Party Rally this Saturday, Sept. 11 from noon and 4 p.m. at Fenimore Woods Park, located at the intersection of Eagle and Paul roads in the Wayne section of Radnor.

Several Democratic candidates are scheduled to attend the rally, including U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, who is running against former U.S. Congressman Pat Toomey, a Republican from Lehigh County. State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race will also be at the event. Lentz is running against Republican candidate Pat Meehan and Independent candidate Jim Schneller.

In addition, Walter Waite, the Democratic candidate running for Lentz's seat, and state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166, of Haverford, who is running for re-election, are scheduled to attend the event.