Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Steve Urban Confirms To PoliticsPA That He Will Challenge Tim Holden In The Democratic Primary

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By Ben Hulac, Contributing Writer

Steve Urban, a councilman for Luzerne County, confirmed with PoliticsPA Thursday that he is circulating petitions to run for U.S. Congress. He would be representing the recently redistricted PA-17.

PoliticsPA previously reported that Steve was circulating petitions. We reported then that if Urban enters the race, it would be a big boon to Holden. He would likely split the Lackawanna-Luzerne bloc that is key to Cartwright’s campaign.

Urban, 59, would face Rep. Tim Holden, the number two most senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. Holden most recently made national headlines when he withdrew support for the Stop Online Piracy Act.  

There is currently another Democrat in addition to Rep. Holden in the race. Moosic-based attorney Matt Cartwright jumped into the race for the 17th Congressional District, he formally declared his candidacy on Jan. 24.

When asked about the most important issues for the PA-17 campaign, and to the region he would be representing if elected, Urban cited the economy, local businesses and regional growth —all part of the same problem in one way or another.

Stephen is currently working in Luzerne County, but spent 24 years in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, and also was deployed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. More recently, Urban worked at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. for four and a half years.

Urban had the following to say about Matt Cartwright. “I don’t think he’s ever run for public office before,” he said. When asked about he’s outlook on the race and how he felt he would fare, Urban said: “You’ve always got to run like you’re behind in the race.”

“I know the district well,” said the Wilkes-Barre resident. “People in the area know my name from fighting corruption in Luzerne County.”

Where Does Santorum Go From Here?

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By: Michael Begg, Contributing Writer

Pundits are already conceding the Florida GOP Primary to Romney as the latest Quinnipiac poll shows a 14-point lead over Gingrich. Following Gingrich is Paul at 14% and Santorum at 12%.

Santorum’s campaign has struggled since his early victory in Iowa. He attributes the drop to the “gutter politics” of his opponents. He did not specifically name Romney and Gingrich in his statements, but did direct his statements towards the negative campaigns they are running.

“I’m sick and tired of candidates who think they have to do anything that’s necessary — anything — to win an election. We deserve better than the gutter politics that we’ve been seeing in this race.”

Santorum is trying to regain his momentum in the race by moving past Florida to a key March caucus. The Missouri caucus will be a good chance for Santorum to test his strength against the leading candidate, Romney. During his speech to the crowd of 300 in suburban St. Louis, Santorum displayed his conservative beliefs. He discussed his plans to eliminate the corporate income tax for manufacturers and waive taxes on companies operating overseas as long as profits are invested in U.S. plants. He also promised to repeal all regulations enacted during Obama’s term.

These beliefs have led some, like conservative blogger, political commentator and author Michelle Malkin, to say that Santorum is the most conservative candidate for the GOP. Malkin looked at the track record of Santorum compared to that of his rivals; Romney and Gingrich.

“Rick Santorum represents the most conservative candidate still standing who can articulate both fiscal and social conservative values — and live them,” says Malkin.

Malkin notes that Santorum is clearly opposed to individual health care mandates and has been since his 1994 U.S. senate run. Romney has been unclear on the issue, vouching to repeal Obama’s health care plan, but at the same time defending the health care plan he signed in  Massachusetts as a “conservative principle.” In reality the Massachusetts plan helped to serve as a blueprint for ObamaCare.

Malkin points to Santorum’s conservative voting record, with his vote against cap and trade in 2003, for oil drilling in Alaska, and commends Santorum for avoiding eco-radicals like Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi. Malkin believes that Santorum is the strongest supporter on border security, national security, and defense. She also notes that Romney and Gingrich have been far less trustworthy on immigration enforcement. Malkin does acknowledge some of Santorum’s weaknesses as well such as his lack of a rock-solid stance on core economic issues.

Many conservative figures have begun to show  their support for GOP candidates. Former U.N. ambassador John Bolton, and GOP Governors. Nikki Haley and Bob McDonnell have announced their support for Romney. With more conservatives giving their support to Romney, the question becomes where does Santorum go from here?

The next week will be vital for Santorum’s chances. Nevada, Maine, Colorado, and Minnesota all hold their caucuses, while Missouri will hold their primary with a caucus coming in March.

 

Fundraising Watch: 15th Congressional District

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By Ben Hulac, Contributing Writer

Charlie Dent, incumbent of the Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional district, released his FEC financial report for 2011 on Sunday, Jan. 29.


The report, a summary of the Dent camp’s receipts and disbursements for the past year, states that Dent received $186,290.00 in contributions during last year’s fourth quarter alone. Over the course of the entire year, Dent totalled $705,666.04 in donations. Also, the report indicates that Dent had $353,707.94 remaining on hand on Dec. 31, 2011.


Congressman Dent’s new-found challenger, Jackson Eaton, also reported his financial figures from last year despite he announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in mid-November.


Eaton is a former captain in the U.S. Army, an Allentown native, and a lawyer who attended New York University School of Law. He also only recently crossed party lines, becoming a Democrat last November so that he could run against Rep. Dent.


For someone who just recently came onto the political scene, Eaton’s fundraising is impressive.


Eaton has raised a total of $94,569.84 since declaring his candidacy, while tallying $3,941.45 on expenditures. In turn, at the close of the reporting period, Eaton reported that he had $90,628.39 on hand.

Fundraising Watch: 17th Congressional District

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By Ben Hulac, Contributing Writer

U.S. Congressman Tim Holden, the incumbent representing Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional district, recently released his financial figures in a Federation Election Commission report, including contributions he received during the fourth quarter of 2011.


According to the report, Holden received $99,885.68 in donations during the final quarter of the year, bringing the total of overall contributions his campaign has received this election cycle to $480,190.73. Looking forward, Holden has $337,274.14 in hand as of the close of the reporting period.


Rep. Holden’s challenger, Matt Cartwright, a lawyer from North Eastern Pa., only entered the congressional race on Jan. 24., 2011. Because Cartwright did not declare his candidacy in 2011 (perhaps an intentional choice by Cartwright), he does not have to report any financial figures to the FEC.

State House Minority Leader Frank Dermody Sends Letter to Legislative Reapportionment Chairman McEwen Requesting The LRC Not Rush New Legislative Maps

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By: Geoffrey Middleberg, Assistant Editor

House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny County) who voted in favor of the legislative districts that were remanded by the State Supreme Court today called for the Legislative Reapportionment Commission not to rush to pass new maps.

Leader Dermody feels that any new map should go through a through vetting process including a new round of public hearings and input from stakeholders.

The 2001 map that remains by court order is more favorable to Democrats than the 2011 map would have been and therefore, Democrats in the state House see pickup opportunities on the old map that may not necessarily exist on a new map.

Dermody Letter to LRC Chairman

Tribune-Review: Pa. Charter Schools Are Struggling To Meet Standards, But Keep Growing

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When Ron and Tina Gamble’s twin daughters, Jessica and Lauren, considered leaving public school for cyber school after sophomore year, several factors influenced their decision. The family from Murrysville liked the flexible cyber school schedule and lack of “busy work.”

Standardized test scores and state requirements did not factor into the decision.

“They don’t seem that important to me,” said Lauren Gamble, 17.

Since the charter school movement began in Pennsylvania nearly 15 years ago, most of the state’s charter schools continue to struggle to meet state standards. Yet, charters in Western Pennsylvania keep growing.

More than 90,000 students are enrolled in 142 public charter schools, including 12 cyber charter schools, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools. An estimated 30,000 students are on waiting lists.

Morning Call: Pennsylvania Seeks Health Care Law Funding

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Gov. Tom Corbett believes the Obama administration’s health reform law is unconstitutional, but that’s not stopping the state from asking the federal government for money to implement it.

State Insurance Commissioner Michael F. Consedine last week announced that the Insurance Department filed its application for about $33 million to complete planning and begin development and design of a health insurance exchange.

“The governor continues to believe that the law requiring the purchase of health insurance is unconstitutional,” Consedine said in a statement. “However, it would not be prudent to be caught unprepared. Therefore, we must implement a solution, if necessary, by developing a plan for Pennsylvanians should the U.S. Supreme Court not strike down the law.”

Early Returns: Gov. Corbett Says Election Under 2001 Legislature Lines ‘Stupid’

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“We’re waiting to see an opinion from the court. We got an opinion from the dissenting side, now we’re waiting for an opinion from the majority, but they seem to have gone out of town somewhere.”

“It’s not me that’s waiting, ’cause it’s really the commission, but it’s the voters of Pennsylvania who are waiting. They don’t know who’s going to represent them. If you’re going to do that, fine, get an opinion. What’s taking so long?”As for the Democratic theory that this year’s elections should go forward under the 2001-drafted boundaries, he said that’s out of the question.

“It’s stupid,” he said. “It’s probably unconstitutional.”

“People have moved tremendously in the last 10 years. Ask [House Speaker] Sam Smith – he’ll tell you the numbers that have moved in certain areas. I think that’s an unconstitutional thought process.”

Evan Feinberg Raises $50,000 in 4Q of 2011; On The Backs of Influential Donors

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By Tara Jerry, Contributing Writer

Former congressional staffer Evan Feinberg raised just $50,000 so far in his Republican primary challenge to incumbent Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18).  This is in comparison to Murphy’s $200,000 he raised in the third quarter of 2011, the latest filing available for the congressman.

In a statement to PoliticsPA, Feinberg said, “Raising $50,000 almost entirely from individuals instead of special interest groups speaks to the widespread support for my candidacy.  The best, however, is yet to come, as I anticipate a number of key endorsements in the coming weeks.”  One of Feinberg’s donors is Michael Needham, CEO of Heritage Action for America (an independent, sister organization of the Heritage Foundation).  The Heritage Foundation is a massive conservative think-tank, and their support could be huge for Feinberg.

Murphy, a five-time incumbent, officially launched his reelection Thursday night.  He made no mention of Feinberg (often referred to as “The Kid”), and instead attacked Obama.    Although he voted against many of Obama’s proposals, including health care reform and Dodd-Frank, many people on the right side of the Republican Party feel he is too moderate and too close to labor unions.  An editorial in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review even calls him a “weasel” and says Murphy “must think his constituents are a stupid and gullible lot.”  Murphy’s reelection wins have been with wide margins, but with the new congressional map his district is redder than he’s used to.  This could be an advantage for Feinberg, if he can raise enough money in the coming weeks and months to support his primary campaign.

So far only one candidate has announced a run on the Democratic side, Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi.

Sen. Toomey To Stay Neutral in GOP U.S. Senate Primary

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By: Geoffrey Middleberg, Assistant Editor

Sen. Pat Toomey’s political director sent a letter in advance of this weekend’s GOP Winter Meeting to the Senate campaigns informing them that he will not be endorsing in the race at this point.

He pledged to support whatever candidate became the nominee. He thanked all of the senate campaigns for their past support of the Senator.

Sen. Toomey’s decision stands in contrast to Gov. Corbett who has endorsed Steve Welch previously and is trying to pull the party levers to ensure that Welch is endorsed by the state committee.

Sam Rohrer has been very public about his desire for the state committee not to endorse at the meeting.