Dahlkemper Joins Fiscally Conservative Blue Dog Coalition

By THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN KATHY DAHLKEMPER (D-3)

Washington, DC – Today, the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition welcomed to their ranks Representative Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), a small business owner with a proven commitment to fiscal responsibility and accountability. Rep. Dahlkemper’s addition to the Coalition brings the group’s membership to 52.

“Representative Dahlkemper has firsthand knowledge of the struggles facing small business owners and employees in today’s struggling economy,” said Representative Charlie Melancon (D-LA),…

Specter Announces Formation of Statewide Advisory Committee

By ARLEN SPECTER FOR SENATE

Harrisburg — Senator Arlen Specter announced the formation of his Statewide Advisory Committee to assist in his campaign for the 2010 Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate.

The 40 individuals announced today — including State Democratic Party Officials, State Legislators, Democratic County Chairs and Democratic State Committee members from every corner of the Commonwealth — are offering their endorsement, knowledge and experience to help Senator Specter in his quest for…

Internal poll from Knox camp shows tight Guv primary

An internal poll commissioned by Democrat Tom Knox’s gubernatorial campaign shows the wealthy Philadelphia businessman in a dead-heat with Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato in next year’s primary.

The telephone survey of 800 Pennsylvania Democrats was conducted June 4-9 by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin and Associates. Not surprisingly, more than half of Democratic voters polled were still undecided, with almost a year before primary day.

But in a head-to-head matchup with Onorato, considered by most party…

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program deadline extended

By THE OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL KORTZ

HARRISBURG, June 15 – State Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Allegheny, announced today that the deadline for eligible homeowners and renters to submit their Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms has been extended to Dec. 31.

“Residents should be sure to take advantage of this extension and file appropriately if they have not yet done so,” Kortz said. “This rebate can be a substantial help to those in need, especially in…

NRSC head Cornyn gave Toomey $5K

National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn recently donated $5,000 to Pat Toomey’s Senate campaign from his own political action committee, The Washington Times reports.

His contribution came in the wake of criticism that Cornyn got from conservatives for not endorsing Toomey after Senator Arlen Specter defected to the Democrats in April. Cornyn

‘No Whining,’ Gov. Rendell

The message of aWeb ad our Party launched today is simple and we hope Gov. Ed Rendell and his Democratic colleagues in Harrisburg are listening—No more spending, no furloughs, no tax increases, no whining!

See the ad, “No Whining,” embedded below.

In PA-6, Pike starts staffing up

Still standing alone in the Democratic field for Congress, former Inquirer editorial writer Doug Pike is beginning to build his political team in the 6th Congressional District.

The campaign has hired Andrew Eldredge-Martin as manager and Amanda McKay as finance director, a campaign official told pa2010.com. Eldrege-Martin managed now-Congressman Chis Carney’s upset win against Don Sherwood in 2006. More recently, he managed Bob Lord’s Congressional challenge to John Shadegg in Arizona last year, when Lord…

Did dishonesty and corruption cause the need for a Pa. tax increase?

Pennsylvania’s government has a credibility problem. I don’t want to see people that have been hurt by the economy have their safety net pulled out from under them, but it is hard to trust a government that has given us this most recent history of dishonesty and corruption. If you can’t remember, let me remind you. Do you remember…

—the illegal, middle of the night pay raises?
—the recent conviction of former state Senator…

A MontCo dentist looks to challenge Schwartz

A dentist from Huntingdon Valley says he’s likely to challenge Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13) next year, going up against a popular and well-entrenched incumbent in what is sure to be a steep uphill battle.

Damian Dachowski, who has lived his whole life in the 13th Congressional District and has his own dental practice in Horsham, had not officially declared his candidacy. But he has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, launched a campaign Web site and is looking for support in the district. Even as he insisted his decision wasn’t final in an interview with pa2010.com, he spoke as if it was.

“I’m running for congress because government just seems to be going in the wrong direction, and Americans are looking for new leadership to fix a system that’s broken,” Dachowski said.

ALTMIRE ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO WRITE USPS AND URGE THEM TO KEEP NEW CASTLE MAIL PROCESSING FACILITY OPEN

By THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JASON ALTMIRE (D-4)

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) today encouraged local residents to write to the United States Postal Service (USPS) and urge them to keep the New Castle Mail Processing Facility open. Late last week, Altmire received a letter from USPS which said that any comments received from the public – either in writing or during a possible public meeting – will be considered as USPS…