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The 7th deserves better

by Steve Welch

When the 2006 elections approached, I was one upset Republican. Congress was spending more and more, and getting less and less actually done. Hurricane Katrina had demonstrated that while the government had grown larger, it had also become less competent. I watched as the GOP leadership spoke of a limited and responsible government and personal freedom, but practiced something much different.

Then one day I got a call from someone who had a pretty good story to sell. Joe Sestak actually came to my house, sat in my kitchen with my wife and me, and spoke about making government live within its means and balancing budgets. He touted how he would be an independent voice. He was selling exactly what a frustrated voter wanted to hear, and I made the mistake of believing him. Not only did I vote for Joe, but in fact for the first time in my life I even gave a politician a check for $300.

That was almost three years ago. So what has Joe done in those three years? Let’s measure success and failure based on facts. When Joe was elected to office, unemployment in Pennsylvania was 4.1 percent. As of May, that number was 8.2 percent and still rising, reflecting Delaware County’s increase as well. When Joe entered Congress and the Democrats took control of the budget, the national deficit was $8.6 trillion. According to the CBO, by Joe’s next election in 2010, the deficit will stand at over $13 trillion. That is a 51.3 percent increase in just four years, when Joe and Nancy Pelosi were in charge of the Congress!

With these successful numbers to tote, what is Joe doing as our region is shedding jobs? He is on a three-week tour of the state trying to decide if he wants to run for Senate, missing important votes in Congress for our district. In fact, Joe just missed a vote for legislation that would allow some small businesses’ in the 7th District to qualify for certain types of Small Business Administration loans. Only in politics would someone who oversaw unemployment double and debt increase 50 percent think they deserve to be promoted.

Oh, and that “independent voice” claim? Joe has voted with Nancy Pelosi a whopping 98 percent of the time. How’s that for independence?

So, Joe I would like my money back. Not just the $300, but the trillions of dollars you used to bailout large corporations by saddling future generations with staggering debts. If you give it back, I promise to give it directly to the United Treasury to pay down the enormous debt you are responsible for. Sadly, unless we get this debt under control quickly it will dampen the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that has made this nation so great and leads to job creation.

I have seen how Joe Sestak talks one way and walks another. It is time for ordinary people to step-up and get involved in public service, as it is clear that the current leaders are not capable of managing our government. As an entrepreneur, I built a business from the ground up with hardly a cent to my name, and we need more people in Congress who have actually created jobs and balanced a budget. That is why I feel compelled to run for Congress in 2010. I may not be able to take back my vote in 2006, but I will work every minute of every day to fix that mistake and help turn this economy around, and not continue to put additional burdens on the backs of future generations.

The writer, a Phoenixville businessman, is a Republican candidate for Congress in the 7th District.

July 14, 2009 at 7:29 am

--Steve Welch

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