Category Archives: PoliticsPA Reports

Breaking: State Rep. DeWeese Found Guilty on Five Counts

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By: Geoffrey Middleberg, Assistant Editor

State Rep. Bill DeWeese from Greene County was found guilty on five of the six counts on which he was charged. Inquirer reporter Amy Worden who is in the courtroom tweeted: “Dauphin Co. jury finds Rep. DeWeese guilty on five counts of theft/criminal conspiracy, not guilty on one count.”

Initially, if state Rep. DeWeese had been found guilty on all counts, he could have faced 40 years in prison but it is unclear how much time he will face for being found guilty on 5 out of 6 counts.

DeWeese, from Greene County was once Speaker of the state House. He has also served as House Majority Leader.

He is most well known for his floor speeches in which he is known to be not only tough but verbose as well.

DeWeese was indicted in December of 2009 by then Attorney General Tom Corbett.

The charges were conflict of interest, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft of services, theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and criminal conspiracy to commit conflict of interest and/or theft. These charges are related to the Bonusgate scandal.

Meehan Gives Weekly GOP Address

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By Elyse Clonan, Contributing Writer

In Saturday’s weekly GOP address, Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Delaware) called on the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Obama to cooperate with the Republican House in order to “end the gridlock and get our economy moving.”

“The need for Washington to act on jobs is as urgent as ever..” Meehan said.  “…House Republicans have offered good ideas that will help create jobs, but to execute them, we need leadership from President Obama and his fellow Democrats who control the Senate.”

Meehan discussed the need for congressional bipartisanship to remove government barriers to job creation, support for small businesses and support of American infrastructure.  The key to solving America’s problems, he stressed, is ensuring that available resources are allocated to projects that can directly boost the economy.

He stressed the need for the Senate to consider 30 bipartisan job bills that have passed the House.  One of these bills would extend the payroll tax cut for a year, and another which pledges support to energy and infrastructure plans which are expected to create one million private sector jobs.

“Pennsylvania has more structurally deficient bridges than any other state, and a million people in the commonwealth are out of work,” Meehan said.  “Repairing our roads and bridges isn’t just a safety issue, its an economic one.”

Meehan’s office helpfully emailed a run down of positive reactions to the address. Here they are:

USA TODAY: “REPUBLICANS: PRODUCE ENERGY, CREATE JOBS” … “NOT[ED] SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THEIR PLAN AND SOME OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S GOALS”

Republicans are “noting the similarities between their plan and some of President Obama’s goals. The president also is calling for more energy production — particularly natural gas — as well as infrastructure repairs.

“This is another good idea that will help put Americans back to work, and it, too, is built on common ground,” said Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., in Republicans’ weekly radio address. “The president supports improving infrastructure and recently echoed our party’s call for an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS: MEEHAN SAID GOP “ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AGENDA WOULD CREATE MORE THAN A MILLION PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS”

Republicans say they want Obama’s help in passing a payroll tax cut extension for a full year and proposals to expand energy production and repair and rebuild roads and bridges.

Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., said in the Republican address that their energy and infrastructure agenda would create more than a million private-sector jobs, “not by wasting your money on pork-barrel projects and so-called ‘stimulus’ spending, but by removing government barriers that are getting in the way of American job growth.”

Meehan said the nation’s unemployment rate had exceeded 8 percent for the past three years, “the longest stretch since the Great Depression.”

WALL STREET JOURNAL: “MEEHAN SAID PEOPLE WANT TO SEE GRIDLOCK END IN WASHINGTON”

Giving the weekly radio address for the Republican Party, Pat Meehan said “The need for Washington to act on jobs is as urgent as ever.”

He said action is needed now because the “unemployment rate has now exceeded 8% for three years running–the longest stretch since the Great Depression.”

Mr. Meehan said people want to see gridlock end in Washington, and called on President Obama to help pressure Senate Democrats to support a series of Republican-led proposals aimed at lifting the economy.

Mr. Meehan said he was heartened to hear President Obama this week “endorse” a series of proposals that would benefit small businesses, “but what would really be helpful is for him to urge the Senate to actually vote on them.”

The president this week reiterated a call for tax benefits to help small businesses and start-ups. Republicans have proposed and supported similar measures.

Mr. Meehan also urged Democrats to support a series of other proposals, including an energy and infrastructure plan that Republicans say would create jobs.

He said action is needed now because the “unemployment rate has now exceeded 8% for three years running–the longest stretch since the Great Depression.”

CNN: “MEEHAN … SPELLED OUT OTHER OPTIONS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY”
In the Republican weekly address, meanwhile, Rep. Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania spelled out other options to boost the economy.

He urged the Senate to pass two House bills-one that would extend the payroll tax cut and another that aims to improve energy and infrastructure. Both proposals have passed the House but would need to clear the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“Our economy faces serious challenges right now – gridlock in Washington doesn’t have to be one of them,” Meehan said. “The House is acting on good ideas, and with help from the president and Democrats in the Senate, we can get things done. The people we represent sent us here to find solutions and move the country forward – not further divide it.”

PoliticsPA Poll: Readers Betting on DeWeese Conviction 60-40

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

The votes are in, and by a margin of 60-40 readers believe former House Speaker Bill DeWeese will be convicted of the charges he faces. The final vote was 337 to 227 – much closer, one reader suggested, than it might have been back in 2007.

Will Bill DeWeese be convicted or acquitted?


  • Convicted (60%)
  • Acquitted (40%)

Total Voters: 564

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The jury reconvenes today to continue its deliberations.

In the mean time, be sure to vote in our newest poll: who will win the GOP primary for U.S. Senate?

Poll 37

Who will win the GOP primary for U.S. Senate?

View Results

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Rohrer Wins Valley Forge Straw Poll

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

The Republican primary for U.S. Senate is heating up in the wake of Steve Welch’s endorsement by GOP state committee, and Tim Burns’ departure from the race. The frenzied pace of forums and straw polls continued over the weekend.

The Associated Press is tuning in, covering a candidates forum Saturday in Phoenixville hosted by the Valley Forge Patriots, a Tea Party group:

“The size of the deficit and the reach of the federal government were key topics that the candidates spent much of the 80-minute forum answering questions about from an audience of more than 200. A Tea Party-aligned group organized the event, and calls to defeat President Barack Obama drew louder applause than calls to defeat Casey.”

Sam Rohrer, a former State Rep. who the AP noted lives about 20 miles away from Phoenixville, won the ensuing straw poll far and away. he defeated Welch, who lives about 8 miles away.

The final tally was Rohrer 104; Marc Scaringi 24; Welch 18, and Tom Smith 6.

“After four straight forums and debates, Sam has won three and finished second in the other. Tonight showed yet again that Sam Rohrer is the most qualified candidate in this race and the true voice of the people of Pennsylvania,” said Rohrer Campaign Manager Zac Moyle in a statement.

Welch is an entrepreneur from Chester County, Scaringi is an attorney from Cumberland County, and Smith is a former coal company owner from Armstrong County.

Rohrer Dings Corbett

On a semi-related note, Rohrer shared some less-than-flattering words about Gov. Tom Corbett and his endorsement of Welch. From Bill Lawrence’s latest blog post:

Rohrer and others in the Knights of Columbus Hall on Route 252 described the apparently unprecedented pressure placed on the State Committee people by Gov. Tom Corbett and the party establishment to vote for Welch. Rohrer said he saw some of the committeepeople in tears from the intimidation which included threats of lost government jobs.

What was Corbett’s motivation? Rohrer – who challenged Corbett in the 2010 gubernatorial primary —  wouldn’t say.

“Dig it out,” he directed.

Dem Leaders: Pa Must Use 2001 Lines

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Can Republicans convince a federal judge to toss out district lines from 2001 in favor of a redistricting plan that doesn’t yet exist?

No way, argued Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa and House Minority Leader Frank Dermody in a conference call Sunday afternoon. They said they were filing in federal court to “intervene” in federal litigation by Republicans to force the institution of an as-yet-undrawn redistricting plan.

The preliminary 2011 map, “doesn’t exist any more,” Costa said. “If 2011’s map does not exist, and Senate and House Republicans get their way, the 2001 maps won’t exist, we’re in a situation where we have no maps to move forward with. We think that’s an inappropriate result, particularly when the Court said to use the 2001 lines.”

It’s the latest chapter in the tug of war that ensued when the Pa. Supreme Court remanded the preliminary map of state House and Senate districts back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. In its decision and ruling, the Court directed candidates to use 2001 lines for the 2012 election. Justice Max Baer, a Democrat, told Capitolwire that he thought developing a new map in time for 2012 was impossible.

Thus the outcome of the redistricting process – and the subsequent outcome of the 2012 elections – hinges on the outcome of a federal court case whose scope has yet to be determined.

Population changes

Republicans say the 2001 lines won’t cut it. GOP leaders filed suit last week to block the use of maps from 2001 on the grounds sharp population changes since those districts were drawn would leave districts unfairly – and unconstitutionally – unbalanced.

Their objections are similar to those of Latino groups, who argue that lines based on 2000 census data fail to afford them sufficient representation.

But keeping an out-of-date product for 2 years is better than settling for an unconstitutional product for 10 years, argued Senate Caucus attorney Cliff Levine.

“Everybody knows that in 2010 [or 2008, or 2006], when we had the last election, there was population deviation. Over time, there’s always going to be deviation.”

Dermody agreed.

“There’s been population deviation now for 9 years and 11 months or something,” he said. “The day after the new plan is adopted, somebody moves, the population changes. We’ve been living that way now. The court’s saying get it right.”

The election calendar

As Republican staffers hustle to prepare a new map, Costa and Dermody lambasted the idea of trying to institute new lines in time for April 24 or 2012 in general.

They highlighted a footnote (number 40) in the Court’s ruling which states its demand for an additional review period in the LRC process:

“We note that once the LRC approves a new preliminary plan, the Constitution affords persons aggrieved by the new plan a right to object, before the plan is finally approved by the LRC, and to a subsequent right to appeal to this Court,” it read.

If the Court interprets that review period to be the same in the second instance as the first, it will be a minimum of 60 days – plus whatever time it takes the Court to render its actual verdict.

Republicans are advocating a plan to push back the primary to give the LRC time to develop a new map. If such a delay is necessary, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi suggested Pa’s typical date for non-presidential year primaries, the third Tuesday (in 2012, May 15).

Practically speaking, Republicans would face few obstacles if they seek to change the date of Pa’s elections; they could change the election code with simple majorities in both chambers.

An LRC memo issued on Friday afternoon instructs all four legislative caucuses to present new maps on February 15 and prepare for a final vote on February 22. That means the first day the Court would look at the new map would be April 24. If, as Democrats argue, the petition period could not begin until after the Court rules, the soonest that the primary could be held would be July 25.

And that’s if the Court approves the new preliminary map – no safe assumption.

“It’s as if the primary is essentially scheduled tomorrow because the election process really requires about 90 days,” Levine said. “A candidate has to run, they have to get petitions, they have to get signatures, they have to file, there’s a right to challenge. There’s a whole due process in place.”

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.”

Breaking: Supreme Court Redistricting Ruling: No Guidance for Candidates

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor and Geoff Middleberg, Deputy Editor

Prospective candidates, it’s not over yet. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rendered its much-anticipated redistricting ruling Friday afternoon but declined to lay out a specific way forward for the 2012 elections.

The Court cited an excess in municipal divisions as its chief complaint with the plan.

“We are not in a position to predict when the LRC will complete its task of developing a new final redistricting plan that complies with law, nor when such a new plan can become final and have force of law,” the Court ruled. “Any issues respecting deferring the state legislative primary, or scheduling special elections, etc., are, in the first instance, the concern and province of the political branches. Such questions have not been briefed and presented to this Court.”

The court ruled last week 4-3 to remand the map back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

Lawmakers are still absorbing the decision, but prior to the ruling Republicans were intent in enacting the new lines prior to the 2012 primary. The 2001 lines would negate the GOP’s efforts to shore up incumbents via redistricting. On the legal side, Republicans argue that the vast shift in population since 2001 means that those lines would violate constitutional provisions one man, one vote. Additionally, Latino groups have argued that the 2001 are illegal on the grounds that they do not reflect minority populations in Pa.

Democrats, on the other hand, say there is no way for the LRC to resubmit a map and put it forward for a 30 day review period in time for the April 24 primary, and are pushing for the 2001 lines.

A split between the state and federal primaries is unlikely, indicated one Republican, but said a measure to delay the primary would require a relatively simple change to the election code.

More about the decision

The ruling follows more than a week of confusion from lawmakers and prospective candidates. But the Court was direct in pointing the blame at the Legislative Reapportionment Commission which, despite technological advancements, the 2011 Commission took weeks longer than previous ones. (23 days longer than 2001, 27 days longer than 1991).

As to why this plan passed the muster as opposed to the 2001 plan, which was also challenged but Castille voted to uphold, the court said it was a matter of the fact that the 2001 challenges were piecemeal. The challenges this year, namely than by citizen activist Amanda Holt, challenged the plan as a whole.

The problem was not, as some suspected, the LRC’s decision to move districts from some parts of the state to others.

Finally, the LRC needn’t prioritize population equality at the expense of other considerations, the Court said.

“Embrace contiguity, compactness, and the integrity of political subdivisions, no less than the command to create legislative districts as nearly equal in population as ‘practicable.’”

Casey Votes Against Toomey Earmark Ban; Both Criticize NDIC Closing

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By Ben Griffiths and Keegan Gibson

Pennsylvania’s Senate delegation split Thursday, with one Senator voting against the other’s legislation.

The Earmark Elimination Act of 2011, introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), was voted down 59-40 in the Senate. Among those opposed: Sen. Bob Casey.

The bill would effectively finish off the practice of earmarking. Earmarks, the allocation of federal money for specific home-front projects and organizations often buried deep in congressional bills, have been under a moratorium for over a year now.

Casey’s office said he supports a ban on earmarks – the one currently in place.

“Senator Casey supports the earmark ban that has been in effect for the current Congress and he is pleased that the ban is being extended through next year,” said spokesman Larry Smar.  “He has consistently supported a number of measures to clean up the process to make it more transparent and accountable to taxpayers.”

But one of Casey’s prospective Republican opponents, Steve Welch, blasted him for opposing Toomey’s legislation – and a similar measure back in 2010.

“This shows once again how addicted Bob Casey has become to Washington’s corrupt culture of wasteful spending,” Welch said in a statement. “If Casey is unwilling to vote against the most outrageous, the most wasteful, and the most secretive type of Washington spending, then there is no hope that he will ever do what’s necessary to tackle our $15 trillion national debt.”

NDIC Closing

Back in Pa., where the rhetoric on spending cuts meets the road, both Casey and Toomey criticized a decision by the Department of Justice to close the National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown. While not an earmark, many critics of government spending have characterized the NDIC as a pork barrel project. Supporters have said it serves a valuable purpose and means 180 jobs for the area. It was a casualty of Republican-backed spending cuts in November.

“The NDIC has played a crucial role in fighting drug trafficking and gang violence in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation,” said Casey in a statement. “Closing the facility will hurt jobs and the economy throughout the region in addition to hampering the efforts of local law enforcement.”

Early into his term, Toomey departed from conservative orthodoxy on NDIC. He echoed Casey’s concerns.

“It is extremely disappointing that the Obama administration has decided to shut down the National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown,” said Toomey in a statement. “As I have repeatedly told Justice Department officials, the NDIC serves an essential function and maintaining its operations in Johnstown is better for taxpayers than relocating those operations elsewhere. Among other reasons, it is also why I voted against the appropriations bill last November that enabled this administration to wind down the NDIC.”

Welch declined to comment on the NDIC.

Will Jason Altmire Retire? Asks Semi-Coherent NRCC Release

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

We’re not really sure what to make of this. Is the NRCC rooting for Mark Critz?

“Will Jason Altmire follow Shuler’s lead and just retire now rather than face the embarrassment of being unelected in the primary?” The release asks.

Altmire has $852,292.22 on hand. His prospective GOP opponent Keith Rothfus, who he defeated in the Republican wave year of 2010, has $196,086.20 on hand.

He’s facing fellow Democrat Mark Critz in the primary. They share a career party loyalty vote rating in the neighborhood of 80 percent.

Update 2:00pm: Altmire’s CM Angela Ruslander responsed to the NRCC release.

“The message is clear: the NRCC believes they can beat Mark Critz. Unfortunately for them, the NRCC’s wishful thinking is all for naught. With a 16-point lead in the polls and a nearly two-to-one cash advantage, Jason Altmire is going to win the primary. Having failed 3 times to beat Altmire in a Republican-leaning district, it should come as no surprise that the NRCC is openly rooting for Critz.”

Update 4:30pm: Before the Altmire camp runs too far away with the release, it is fair to note that he is an official, card-carrying member of the Blue Dog Coalition. Critz is not. He voted against Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House:

“Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania was the first Democrat to cast his vote against Pelosi, and did so loudly and with a defiant expression, adding an element of suspense to the usually boring roll call vote for speaker and minority leader, which goes member by member, calling the name of all 435 lawmakers.”

Here’s the whole release image included:

Happy Friday!

Heading into the weekend, consider the following.

Yesterday, Congressman Health Shuler in North Carolina became the latest “Blue Dog” Democrat to announce his retirement, a move that his own colleague Congressman Kurt Schrader described as a “crushing blow” to the vulnerable group.

The Blue Dogs’ ranks are rapidly diminishing, as voters in their districts realize they have been fraudulently campaigning as moderates only to turn their backs on constituents by voting with Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama back in D.C.

Today’s Roll Call lays out how bad things are for the Blue Dogs: “The once-mighty fiscally conservative group was a thorn in the side of Democratic leaders while the party was in the majority following the 2006 elections, but the Blue Dogs lost scores of members to the bruising 2010 midterms, a trend that will continue as a wave of retirements has hit them.”

So, will Jason Altmire follow Shuler’s lead and just retire now rather than face the embarrassment of being unelected in the primary?

“Altmire has played a game of wag-the-dog for too long, scamming voters by campaigning as a moderate and then rolling over for Obama back in Washington. Voters need a watchdog, not a lapdog. It’s time for Altmire to follow the lead of his Blue Dog colleagues and retire before he finds himself in the doghouse come primary day.” – NRCC spokesman Nat Sillin

2011 Congressional Fundraising Winners and Losers

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By Danielle Ardner, Contributing Writer

The Q4 numbers are in. Who’s on track and who needs to catch up? We break down the 2011 fundraising of every incumbent member of Congress and challenger in Pa.

Winners:

Pat Meehan. A million dollars on hand and no serious challenger in sight. Not too shabby.

Allyson Schwartz. The ultimate team player for the DCCC, Schwartz continues to bring in the bucks.

Manan Trivedi. The challenger has big ground to cover against Jim Gerlach, but he has done very well thus far – thanks in large part on his cultivation of Indian American donors.

Tim Murphy. He’s never had a tough primary or general. If he maintains his million dollar edge, that trend will continue.

Losers:

Mark Critz. The incumbent has lots of new constituents to introduce himself too, but he’s off to a slow start in the cash department – he trails Jason Altmire by over $350K.

Tim Holden. All of a sudden he has a serious primary race. His campaign says its on track to win in April, but you better believe that fundraising is a top priority.

Evan Feinberg. He’s been getting tons of earned media, but he’s facing a yawning gap when it comes to fundraising. An uphill climb is a given when primarying an incumbent, but he’s at a million dollar disadvantage.

Mike Kelly. No freshman Republican, who rode the GOP tide of 2010, should end a quarter barely breaking even. Kelly barely avoided a net loss in Q4. He can expect a call from the NRCC.

Here’s the full list. Incumbents are ranked by total raised in 4th quarter. Challengers paired with incumbents. Note: challengers who declared since the new year did not file fundraising reports.

Allyson Schwartz (D-13, Montgomery) leads the way. In 2011, she raised $1,500,201.92. Schwartz’s cash on hand is $2,309,896.07. She raised a total of $385,124.99 in the 4th quarter.

Pat Meehan (R-7, Delaware) follows closely behind Schwartz with his total 2011 funds raised at $1,297,825.65. Meehan’s cash on hand comes out to $969,413.17. He managed to raise a total of $312,725.00 in the 4th quarter.

Jason Altmire (D-4/12, Allegheny) raised $1,138,136.83 in 2011. Altmire’s cash on hand is $852,292.22. From October through the end of December, Altmire raised $180,745.00.

Challenger: Keith Rothfus, R-Allegheny is the sole Republican in the race to face the winner of the Altmire-Critz primary. He raised $240,385.00 in 2011. $56,005.00 was raised in the 4th quarter. Rothfus holds $196,086.20 on hand.

Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8, Bucks) raised $1,099,692.91 in 2011. $248,040.00 of the total was raised in the 4th quarter. Fitzpatrick’s cash on hand is $678,482.94.

Jim Gerlach (R-6, Chester) raised a total of $1,057,184.57 in 2011. In the 4th quarter alone, Gerlach raised $278,182.00. His total cash on hand is $600,602.22.

Challenger: Gerlach’s Democratic opponent Manan Trivedi, D-Berks raised $214,984.20 in 2011. In the 4th quarter, $112,435.30 was raised. Trivedi has $212,731.64 currently in cash on hand.

Tim Murphy (R-18, Allegheny) brought in $940,587.90 in total fundraising in 2011. Murphy raised $263,525.00 in the 4th quarter. He has $1,044,683.82 at his fingertips.

Challenger: Murphy’s primary opponent Evan Feinberg, has raised $50,005.12 in 2011 (The same amount for the 4th quarter). Feinberg currently has $40,049.28 cash on hand.

Mark Critz (D-12, Cambria) raised $869,088.25 in 2011. $130,635.41 was raised in the 4th quarter. Critz has $465,496.14 at hand.

Charlie Dent (R-15, Lehigh) raised $705,666.04 in 2011. His 4th quarter funds totaled out to $186,290.00. Dent has $353,707.94 cash on hand.

Challenger: Dent’s Democratic opponent Jackson Eaton raised $94,569.84 in 2011 (the same amount for the 4th quarter). Eaton has $90,628.39 cash on hand.

Joe Pitts (R-16, Chester) raised $649,718.70 in 2011. $168,299.90 was raised in the 4th quarter. Pitts has $407,094.82 on hand.

Lou Barletta (R-11, Luzerne) raised $633,780.76 in 2011. In the 4th quarter, Barletta brought in $146,378.98. He has $269,498.39 cash on hand.

Challenger: Barletta’s prospective Democratic opponent Bill Vinsko, D-Luzerne raised $105,546.91 in 2011. $20,574.75 was raised in the 4th quarter. He has $52,786.21 on hand.

Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-5, Centre) raised a total of $622,063.61 in 2011. $118,970.77 was raised in the 4th quarter. Thompson has $160,266.64 on hand.

Bill Shuster (R-9, Blair) raised $617,270.27 in 2011. In the 4th quarter, $229,069.56 was raised. Shuster has $367,189.10 cash on hand.

Mike Kelly (R-3, Butler) raised $497,725.36 in 2011. $103,231.84 was raised in the 4th quarter. Kelly’s cash on hand is $226,619.96.

Tim Holden (D-17, Schuylkill) raised $480,190.73 in 2011. $99,885.68 was raised from October to the end of December. Holden holds $337,274.14 cash on hand.

Tom Marino (R-10, Lycoming) raised $377,758.57 in 2011. In the 4th quarter, Marino raised $68,717.76. Marino’s total cash on hand is $194,781.74.

Mike Doyle (D-14, Allegheny) raised $369,159.00 in 2011. $114,039.00 was raised in the 4th quarter. Doyle currently has $271,380.29 cash on hand.

Bob Brady (D-1, Philadelphia) raised $276,525.00 in 2011. Brady raised $102,300.00 in the 4th quarter. His cash on hand is $758,355.26.

Challenger: Brady’s Democratic opponent Jimmie Moore raised $64,657.06 in 2011. In the 4th quarter, Moore was able to raise $27,937.06. Moore has a mere $3,977.89 cash on hand.

Finally, Chaka Fattah (D-2, Philadelphia), raised $261,345.84 in 2011. $69,775.00 was raised in the 4th quarter. Fattah’s total cash on hand is $120,714.57.

Keegan Gibson contributed to this report.