U.S. Senate candidate Admiral Joe Sestak today applauded Secretary Hillary Clinton’s announcement that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will begin again on September 2nd:

“As I said in June when I called for direct talks, ‘There will never be peace by proxy,’ so today’s news is encouraging. The way forward in the Middle East is through open channels of communication. And it is appropriate that these talks be conducted without preconditions, because a commitment to dialogue should be the basis of negotiations, not a bargaining chip.

“Israel’s security is critical to American security, and lasting peace with the Palestinians is critical to Israel’s security. The U.S. has a huge stake in these negotiations, which is why I am pleased by the level of U.S. engagement in this effort. I saw in President Clinton’s White House that the presence of U.S. leadership in negotiations makes individuals and nations much more willing to take risks for peace. The work of finding a lasting peace — including a safe and secure Israel, in a safe and secure region — will not be easy, but today’s announcement marks a crucial step forward.”
Joe Sestak was elected to Congress in 2006 after a distinguished 31-year career in the United States Navy, and he is honored to represent the Southeastern Pennsylvania district where he was born and raised. He is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania.  During his Navy career, Joe attained the rank of 3-star Admiral, served in the White House as Director for Defense Policy on President Clinton’s National Security Council, served in the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and led a series of operational commands at sea, culminating in command of the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (30 ships, 100 aircraft, and 15,000 sailors/marines/aviators/SEALs) during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In our nation’s time of crisis in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the Navy turned to Joe Sestak to serve as the first Director of “Deep Blue,” the Navy anti-terrorism unit formed in response to the attacks. Joe is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to either branch of Congress. He graduated second in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. Joe lives in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Alex, and proudly represents the 7th District, where his mother and many of his seven siblings still reside.

-Talks about his plan to improve the economy as governor -
 
Lewisburg – Republican Gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett spoke about the importance of creating and keeping good, well-paying jobs in Pennsylvania as he toured three businesses today; Playworld Systems in Lewisburg, Jersey Shore Steel Company in Jersey Shore, and L/B Water Service in Selinsgrove..
 
As governor, Corbett will work with businesses to help them grow and thrive in Pennsylvania.
 
“For far too long, Pennsylvania has ranked at the bottom of every job creation indicator and near the top of every tax burden list,” said Corbett. “The policies of Harrisburg have driven jobs to other states and it is time we change our business philosophy and help Pennsylvania compete on a global level.”
 
“It is time for businesses like these to have someone on their side in Harrisburg,” said Corbett, “For far too long, state government has been an adversary to job growth.”
 
As governor, Corbett’s administration will focus on three tried and true principles: fiscal discipline, limited government and free enterprise.
 
“One of the central problems in Harrisburg isn’t a revenue problem, it’s a spending problem,” said Corbett. “Now is the time for a governor who puts the interests of all Pennsylvanians ahead of Harrisburg special interests.”

Three primary points of Corbett’s plan to improve the economy and business climate are:
 
Tax Reform: Reducing the Corporate Net Income Tax, which is currently the second highest in the nation; repealing the “Death Tax” so small business owners and farmers don’t face the high tax burden of passing along the family business; removing the Net Operating Loss Cap. Pennsylvania is one of only 2 states to have caps on NOLs. Removing this would save companies from paying much higher tax rates than our competitor states.
Regulatory Reform: Pennsylvaniabusinesses have too much red tape to cut through inhibiting growth and limiting their potential. Corbett will eliminate the permit backlog at state agencies; require effective communication between state agencies so businesses are better served by the state as a whole; require compliance assistance, making sure regulatory agencies detail and publish the most frequent violations and compliance rates for each state program; implement a Paperwork Reduction Act cutting down on the overwhelming amount of paperwork required by businesses just to operate year to year.
Legal Reform: Excessive and frivolous lawsuits must stop.Corbett will pass the “Fair Share Act” so a company, person or government agency isn’t responsible for 100% of legal damages despite their limited role in the incident; Corbett will also work to protect “innocent sellers,” people who sell a product and are sued, even though they had nothing to do with the creation of the product later claimed to be defective.
 
Pennsylvania’s businesses are an integral part of the state’s economy and critical to its success. Tom Corbett has been personally visiting companies like Playworld Systems, Jersey Shore Steel Company, and L/B Water Service to learn firsthand the concerns of business owners. He has discussed with business leaders and employees the importance of keeping jobs in Pennsylvania and making sure we see growth in our jobs market.
 
“I believe it is time to restore the commonwealth’s rightful position in the global marketplace by partnering with business leaders to build job creation policies that will secure Pennsylvania’s future,” said Corbett.
 
Playworld Systems is an international company based in Lewisburg that makes commercial playground equipment. It recognizes the importance of supporting the local economy. The majority of its manufacturing supplies come from within 150 miles of its facilities. Playworld Systems has also been named one of Pennsylvania’s Best Places to Work.
 
The Jersey Shore Steel Company was founded in 1938 and has been owned and operated by the same family for three generations.  Today the company produces 170,000 tons of steel annually and specializes in high-strength rail steel. Rail steel’s high carbon content makes it stronger than many other steel products, allowing for similar performance with less material
 
L/B Water Service opened for business in Selinsgrove in 1970 with a single salesman working out of a construction company office. Since then, the company has grown to seven locations and more than 100 employees.  L/B Water Service serves municipalities, private contractors, local, state, and federal government agencies, hospitals, schools and many others.
 
To learn more about Tom Corbett’s plan to revitalize Pennsylvania’s economy and jobs climate visit www.tomcorbettforgovernor.com.

Highest Jobless Claims in Nine Months Cast a Stormy Cloud Over the Pennsylvania Democrat’s Hopes for Re-election
 
Washington- Pennsylvania’s unemployment is at 9.3 percent and jobless claims recently hit a nine-month high, making one thing certain – Kathy Dahlkemper’s economic agenda is a colossal failure. Despite lofty promises that recovery is coming and a failed trillion-dollar stimulus that was supposed to create jobs, the ailing economy speaks for itself. From foreclosures to high jobless claims and a ballooning national debt, the Democrats’ failed policies have exacerbated the problems of an already struggling economy. And rather than reining in runaway spending and creating the fiscal discipline needed to create jobs, Dahlkemper and her Democrat friends continue to feed their spending addiction, leaving middle-class families asking: Where are the jobs?
 
“Like an addict, Kathy Dahlkemper has pushed economic recovery to the wayside in order to feed her partisan spending disease,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Jobless claims have reached a nine-month record and unemployment remains unacceptably high in Pennsylvania, yet Dahlkemper refuses to reign in her party’s reckless spending and adopt the fiscal discipline needed to create jobs. After letting Pennsylvania middle-class families down for so long, Dahlkemper’s hopes for re-election look bleak as voters prepare to take their frustrations out at the polls in November.”
 
“New claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, providing yet another setback to the economic recovery…The economy’s poor health has handed President Barack Obama a tough challenge and put at risk the Democratic Party’s majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in November’s mid-term Congressional elections. Obama’s approval ratings have tumbled to near 40 percent and Congressional Democratic ratings are around 20 percent.”
“Claims for unemployment benefits have been stuck at lofty levels for much of this year, which many economists say points to unemployment staying uncomfortably high for some time.” (Lucia Mutikani, “US jobless claims at 9-mth high, outlook darker,” Reuters, 8/19/2010)
The Democrats’ economic agenda will not only be the downfall to their own majority, but the nation is now facing a new financial crisis as budget analysts’ project that the federal deficit will exceed $1.3 trillion:
“Congress’ budget analysts are estimating that this year’s federal deficit will exceed $1.3 trillion, slightly below last year’s total but still a huge ocean of red ink.
“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the enormous shortfall is a result of the still staggering economy, which has meant lower federal revenues plus extra government spending aimed at prodding growth.” (“Budget Analysts See 2010 Deficit at $1.3 Trillion,” Associated Press, 8/19/2010)

Allentown – Today, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate increased to 9.3% while Congressman Joe Sestak continues to call for a larger stimulus bill, more debt, more taxpayer-funded bailouts, and a cap-and-trade energy tax.  It is clear that Joe Sestak’s Washington approach of massive deficit spending, huge tax increases, and more government has been an utter failure.

Just yesterday, the New York Times Magazine released a story in which Joe Sestak argues that he wants to spend more money on an even larger stimulus:

According to the New York Times Magazine: “On economic issues, his [Sestak’s] problem with the party is that it has not gone far enough . . .‘We made a political decision we didn’t want to look like we’re spending too much,’ he told me.  ‘But I say no, not when the ship’s been slammed.’”

Apparently, $3.5 trillion in deficit spending and a 9.3% unemployment rate isn’t enough for Congressman Sestak. 
“Today is another sad day for our state,” U.S. Senate candidate and former small business owner Pat Toomey said, “and a further sign that Congressman Sestak’s Washington approach is failing.  Over the past two years, Congressman Sestak has voted for more bailouts, more debt, higher taxes, bigger government, and fewer jobs.  I am proposing that we take our state and our country in a different direction – to stop the bailouts, reduce the debt, cut taxes, cut government spending, and create jobs.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced today that the Department of Homeland Security has approved $20,539 for N. Versailles Twp. V.F.D. Crestas Co. #4 in North Versailles, PA. 

“These fire prevention and safety programs will help protect the citizens of Pennsylvania and the firefighters who risk their lives every day,” Senator Specter said.  “I commend the Department of Homeland Security for recognizing this priority and for its continued support of our nation’s fire services.”
 
“Firefighters are invaluable members of the community and they work tirelessly to ensure our safety. It is critical that we do everything in our power to provide them with the necessary tools and resources to perform their jobs,” said Senator Casey.  “This money will provide valuable assistance to the firefighters of Pennsylvania.”

The funding is contained in Round 28 of the competitive Fiscal Year 2009 Fire Grants Award announcements.  These awards are administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.  

The AFG programs are designed to enhance first responders’ ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first responder personnel.  In Fiscal Year 2009, the AFG program awarded approximately $565 million directly to fire departments and EMS organizations for operations and safety programs, as well as vehicle acquisition. 
 
 
More information on the AFG program can be found at:
http://www.firegrantsupport.com/  or call the toll free help line at: 866-274-0960

Highest Jobless Claims in Nine Months Cast a Stormy Cloud Over the Pennsylvania Democrat’s Hopes for Election
 
Washington- Pennsylvania’s unemployment is at 9.3 percent and jobless claims recently hit a nine-month high, making one thing certain – John Callahan’s support for the Democrats’ economic agenda is a colossal failure. Despite lofty promises that recovery is coming and a failed trillion-dollar stimulus that was supposed to create jobs, the ailing economy speaks for itself. From foreclosures to high jobless claims and a ballooning national debt, the Democrats’ failed policies have exacerbated the problems of an already struggling economy. And rather than reining in runaway spending and creating the fiscal discipline needed to create jobs, Callahan’s Democrat friends in Washington continue to feed their spending addiction, leaving middle-class families asking: Where are the jobs?
 
“John Callahan has stood by his Democrat friends in Washington and continues to support their partisan spending addiction,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Jobless claims have reached a nine-month record and unemployment remains unacceptably high in Pennsylvania, yet Callahan’s Democrat friends refuse to reign in their party’s reckless spending and adopt the fiscal discipline needed to create jobs. After letting Pennsylvania middle-class families down, Callahan’s hopes for election look bleak as voters prepare to take their frustrations out at the polls in November.”
 
“New claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, providing yet another setback to the economic recovery…The economy’s poor health has handed President Barack Obama a tough challenge and put at risk the Democratic Party’s majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in November’s mid-term Congressional elections. Obama’s approval ratings have tumbled to near 40 percent and Congressional Democratic ratings are around 20 percent.”
“Claims for unemployment benefits have been stuck at lofty levels for much of this year, which many economists say points to unemployment staying uncomfortably high for some time.” (Lucia Mutikani, “US jobless claims at 9-mth high, outlook darker,” Reuters, 8/19/2010)
The Democrats’ economic agenda will not only be the downfall to their own majority, but the nation is now facing a new financial crisis as budget analysts’ project that the federal deficit will exceed $1.3 trillion:
“Congress’ budget analysts are estimating that this year’s federal deficit will exceed $1.3 trillion, slightly below last year’s total but still a huge ocean of red ink.
“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the enormous shortfall is a result of the still staggering economy, which has meant lower federal revenues plus extra government spending aimed at prodding growth.” (“Budget Analysts See 2010 Deficit at $1.3 Trillion,” Associated Press, 8/19/2010)

Harrisburg, PA – Tomorrow, Tom Corbett will visit with firefighters at the Schuylkill County Fireman’s Convention. The meeting comes after Tom Corbett said he’d be ok with laying off first responders to balance the budget. In June, Tom Corbett told a Philadelphia television reporter that he’d be willing to fire first responders to balance the budget.

“Tomorrow, Tom Corbett will come face to face with the first responders whose jobs he wants to cut,” said Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn. “Tom Corbett’s plan to layoff first responders is dangerous and wrong. As a former Mayor, I understand the importance of our first responders and I find it highly offensive that Tom Corbett is willing to get rid of jobs for firefighters and put communities at risk. It’s just another example that Tom Corbett is clueless about how to get our economy back on track. Tom Corbett owes the brave men and women who keep our communities safe an apology.”

In June on FOX 29 Good Day, Tom Corbett was asked if it was his position that teachers’ and firefighters’ jobs don’t matter when it comes to cutting the budget, Corbett responded, “the short answer is yes.”

“With George W. Bush, Wall Street derivatives trader Pat Toomey led the charge to privatize Social Security, but unlike many Republican politicians who have backed away from the plan, Toomey is still fighting to put seniors’ retirement savings in the hands of Wall Street bankers. It’s a plan that Pennsylvania seniors can’t afford,” said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman, Jim Burn.

Today, an article in the Allentown Morning Call emphasized that Wall Street derivatives trader Pat Toomey still supports Social Security privatization.

WASHINGTON – When George W. Bush proposed privatizing Social Security during his presidency, one of the most vocal supporters of the plan was former Lehigh Valley Congressman Pat Toomey.

Toomey, then president of the fiscally conservative Club for Growth, became a spokesman of sorts for Bush’s proposal to allow workers to invest payroll taxes in private individual accounts. He spearheaded an ad campaign in 2005 to promote the cause for reforming retirement savings this way.

Now Toomey is running for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, and Democrats are hoping Social Security’s widespread popularity will turn voters away from Republicans in the bitter midterm election this fall.

Privatizing Social Security was a tough sell before the recession, and it will probably be an even tougher one now. Republicans have largely distanced themselves from the issue this election cycle. Toomey has not backed away from the idea, but it’s not a central tenet of his campaign, as it was when he was a House member.

Earlier this week in an interview with Real Clear Politics, Wall Street derivatives trader Pat Toomey tried to gloss over his long record of fighting to privatize Social Security and put seniors’ retirement savings in the hands of Wall Street bankers, but he referred to his plan to privatize Social Security as “a very important start.”

RCP: Your campaign website, under “spending,” complains of “wasteful pork projects, multiple bailouts, the so-called stimulus, and new government programs.” But what about entitlements?
Toomey: You know, I’ve always said that we need to reform our big entitlement programs. These programs are not sustainable in their current form and so we’re going to have to put them on a secure footing. That’s what we have to do.
RCP: OK, how do we do that? Do we raise the retirement age? Do we cut benefits?
Toomey: I’ve got a whole chapter in a book that I wrote that deals with how I think, one of the ways I think we could reform Social Security to make it viable. So I have provided great detail on that whole idea. That would be a very important start.
The chapter in his book that Wall Street derivative trader Pat Toomey referred to was titled, “Personal Accounts Lead to Personal Prosperity,” which advocated for privatization.

“From his time fighting alongside George W. Bush to his work as the leader of the Wall Street-backed Club for Growth, Toomey has long fought to put senior’s retirement savings in the hands of Wall Street bankers. It’s a fight he continues to this day,” said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman, Jim Burn.

Highest Jobless Claims in Nine Months Cast a Stormy Cloud Over the Pennsylvania Democrat’s Hopes for Re-election
 
Washington- Pennsylvania’s unemployment is at 9.3 percent and jobless claims recently hit a nine-month high, making one thing certain – Patrick Murphy’s economic agenda is a colossal failure. Despite lofty promises that recovery is coming and a failed trillion-dollar stimulus that was supposed to create jobs, the ailing economy speaks for itself. From foreclosures to high jobless claims and a ballooning national debt, the Democrats’ failed policies have exacerbated the problems of an already struggling economy. And rather than reining in runaway spending and creating the fiscal discipline needed to create jobs, Murphy and his Democrat friends continue to feed their spending addiction, leaving middle-class families asking: Where are the jobs?
 
“Like an addict, Patrick Murphy has pushed economic recovery to the wayside in order to feed his partisan spending disease,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Jobless claims have reached a nine-month record and unemployment remains unacceptably high in Pennsylvania, yet Murphy refuses to reign in his party’s reckless spending and adopt the fiscal discipline needed to create jobs. After letting Pennsylvania middle-class families down for so long, Murphy’s hopes for re-election look bleak as voters prepare to take their frustrations out at the polls in November.”
 
“New claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, providing yet another setback to the economic recovery…The economy’s poor health has handed President Barack Obama a tough challenge and put at risk the Democratic Party’s majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in November’s mid-term Congressional elections. Obama’s approval ratings have tumbled to near 40 percent and Congressional Democratic ratings are around 20 percent.”
“Claims for unemployment benefits have been stuck at lofty levels for much of this year, which many economists say points to unemployment staying uncomfortably high for some time.” (Lucia Mutikani, “US jobless claims at 9-mth high, outlook darker,” Reuters, 8/19/2010)
The Democrats’ economic agenda will not only be the downfall to their own majority, but the nation is now facing a new financial crisis as budget analysts’ project that the federal deficit will exceed $1.3 trillion:
“Congress’ budget analysts are estimating that this year’s federal deficit will exceed $1.3 trillion, slightly below last year’s total but still a huge ocean of red ink.
“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the enormous shortfall is a result of the still staggering economy, which has meant lower federal revenues plus extra government spending aimed at prodding growth.” (“Budget Analysts See 2010 Deficit at $1.3 Trillion,” Associated Press, 8/19/2010)

Says Privatizing Seniors’ Retirement Accounts would be “A Very Important Start”
Morning Call: Congressman Toomey was a “spokesman of sorts” for the Bush plan to privatize Social Security.

Social Security keeps more than 700,000 Pennsylvania seniors out of poverty.

Toomey’s plan could have cost seniors $26,000 in one month alone.

Toomey’s plan would add $4.9 trillion to the debt.

Republicans across the country are running from plans to privatize Social Security – but not Congressman Toomey.

MEDIA, Pa. – Despite Congresman Toomey’s efforts to hide his true priorities, today’s Allentown Morning Call shows he still wants to privatize social security and allow Wall Street to gamble with the retirement funds of millions of middle class Americans.

As the Morning Call reported today, Toomey was a “spokesman of sorts” for the Bush plan to privatize Social Security, who even “spearheaded an ad campaign” to place people’s retirement savings in the hands of Wall Street bankers.

In fact, as Think Progress has pointed out, such a privatization plan would have resulted in a retiring senior citizen losing $26,000 in October 2008 alone because of the stock market collapse. Had our economy mirrored the Japanese economy, the retiree would have lost roughly $70,000. Maybe that is why Toomey is trying to disguise the reality of his plan:

“Then there’s Pat Toomey, the Republican nominee for the Senate in Pennsylvania, who during an interview with Real Clear Politics touted his plan for Social Security, conveniently leaving out that he would privatize the system.” [Think Progress, 08/19/10]

In contrast, U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak has pledged to protect Social Security, a critical program that keeps more than 700,000 Pennsylvania seniors out of poverty.

“We must honor our commitment to America’s seniors by preserving Social Security for generations to come,” said Joe, who spoke to the Morning Call in greater detail about his own pragmatic approach. “Two thirds of retirees rely on Social Security for most of their retirement income. We need a practical approach to keep this vital program solvent. This is no time to let Wall Street play roulette with middle class retirement security, as my opponent has suggested.”

When in Congress, Toomey was far more explicit about his intentions:

“I have been arguing for many years in favor of Social Security personal retirement accounts … I’m thrilled that the President is taking up this critical issue,” he said in a 2004 press release (01/20/04).
The Bush proposal in question – which Toomey strongly supported – was projected to add $4.9 trillion to the national debt, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

Toomey’s plan would be “a windfall for Wall Street, generating billions of dollars in management fees for brokerages and mutual fund companies.” [MSNBC, 12/28/04]

Even the most far-right conservatives are running from this plan that would take our seniors’ retirement money and put it in the pockets of Wall Street bankers – but not Congressman Toomey.

Toomey told the Associated Press last month that he would allow people to put a portion of their payroll tax into a “professionally managed account – an idea similar to one advanced by [President] Bush that failed after Democrats opposed it as a step toward privatizing the nation’s retirement security.” [AP, 07/30/10]

As recently as Tuesday, Congressman Toomey called privatization “a very important start.” [Real Clear Politics, 08/17/10].

“Congressman Toomey wants let private banks gamble with these critical retirement funds,” said Joe. “While this would be a windfall for Wall Street, it would be a risky bet for our seniors that would add significantly to the national debt. Pennsylvanians need to know what is at stake in this election.”
Joe Sestak was elected to Congress in 2006 after a distinguished 31-year career in the United States Navy, and he is honored to represent the Southeastern Pennsylvania district where he was born and raised. He is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania.  During his Navy career, Joe attained the rank of 3-star Admiral, served in the White House as Director for Defense Policy on President Clinton’s National Security Council, served in the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and led a series of operational commands at sea, culminating in command of the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (30 ships, 100 aircraft, and 15,000 sailors/marines/aviators/SEALs) during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In our nation’s time of crisis in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the Navy turned to Joe Sestak to serve as the first Director of “Deep Blue,” the Navy anti-terrorism unit formed in response to the attacks. Joe is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to either branch of Congress. He graduated second in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. Joe lives in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Alex, and proudly represents the 7th District, where his mother and many of his seven siblings still reside.