send to a friend | print | comment

LEFTOVERS: Hoeffel challenges Corbett on discrimination, Conner writes the chamber & a new consultant

Joe Hoeffel continued Monday to highlight his stances on social issues, this time directly challenging GOP gubernatorial front-runner Tom Corbett to support an anti-discrimination law before the legislature in Harrisburg.

The strategy reflects Hoeffel’s belief that his Democratic primary rivals are mostly the same on the paramount economic issues, and that his more liberal positioning on social issues will win the day in the Democrat-heavy southeast. In a campaign statement, Hoeffel, a Montgomery County commissioner, called on Corbett, the state Attorney General, to support two state House bills currently pending. One would, among other provisions, prohibit discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation or gender expression. The other would expand hate-crimes provisions to crimes committed because of a victim’s sexual orientation.

“As Pennsylvania’s top enforcer of the law, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Tom Corbett should be aggressively advocating for laws that protect all of Pennsylvania’s citizens,” Hoeffel said. “More than 100 employers, including some of the largest corporations in Pennsylvania, have nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It is time for Pennsylvania to join these corporations, many states and several Pennsylvania municipalities in banning discrimination against all citizens.

“Attorney Genera Tom Corbett should be leading the charge to pass these important bills,” Hoeffel added. “As governor, I will support legislation that prohibits discrimination against all Pennsylvanians, such as HB 300 and HB 745. To date, Mr. Corbett has been silent on this legislation and on his views on civil rights for all Pennsylvanians. I call on Tom Corbett to stand up to discrimination by announcing his support for these bills today.”

Something tells us that Corbett, seeking conservative support ahead of next year’s primary, won’t be taking this up as a rallying cry.

Meanwhile, Democrat Gail Conner took up her own long-shot, rhetorical challenge, writing a letter of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urging the organization to support health care reform.

“As a candidate for Congress, an employer and former Chamber member,” the 7th District hopeful wrote, “I am concerned about the hardship that the high costs and/or lack of health insurance puts on the residents of our District and our country. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would contain costs and provide access to quality healthcare for all Americans. In addition, it would provide immediate protections for consumers, including protecting people from discriminatory practices and provide a public option for those who are uninsured.”

Again, we’re not holding our breath waiting for the chamber to change its stance on this one.

Lastly, there’s a new political consulting shop in Pennsylvania: Rockwood Strategies, founded by Ryan Shafik. Until now, Shafik was one of the main policy guys at the conservative Lincoln Institute, and pa2010.com Central wishes him well in his new endeavor.

“I am fortunate to have had enough indications of interest and commitments from various candidates, campaigns and politically affiliated groups to do this for the 2010 cycle,” Shafik wrote in an e-mail to friends and supporters.

November 30, 2009 at 9:29 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Gail Conner, Joe Hoeffel, PA-7, Ryan Shafik, Tom Corbett

comments

comments [0] | post a comment