Former U.S. Rep. & Vice-Chairman of the 9/11 Commission Lee Hamilton Endorses Doug Pike

By PIKE FOR CONGRESS

Ardmore, PA — Today, Pike for Congress is announcing that former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and former vice-chairman of the 9/11 Commission, has endorsed Doug Pike for Congress.

“Doug Pike will be a voice of reason on national security and foreign policy in Washington,” said former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton. “I’m proud to support him. He will make an outstanding congressman.”

Former Rep.…

Breaking News: Sestak Admits Stimulus was “Oversold”

By TOOMEY FOR SENATE

Allentown, PA – In a shocking admission, one of the biggest fans of the Democratic $787 billion stimulus legislation is now admitting that “there is no such things as a shovel-ready job,” and that “we oversold” the stimulus.

That’s what Rep. Joe Sestak told Politico in a story about the stimulus’ failure to revive the persistently sluggish economy.

“We have to give Joe credit for being honest about the stimulus’ futility…

The $613,000 question

Simply put, the “stimulus” has failed.

When President Obama signed the $787 billion “stimulus” bill in February, the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent.  Today it is 10.2 percent.

So far, the government has spent over $158 billion of those “stimulus” dollars. Since then, there are 3.5 million more people out of work.

The White House reports that as part of the $158 billion in “stimulus spending” to date, over 640,000 jobs have been…

Huber Supports Senate Conservatives’ Effort to End TARP

By HUBER FOR CONGRESS

Meadville, PA – Congressional candidate Paul Huber today announced his support for legislation introduced in the United States Senate by Sen. John Thune that would prohibit the Treasury Secretary from extending the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) beyond its current December 31, 2009 expiration date.

“The Treasury Department has used the $700 billion TARP bailout as a slush fund to buy interests in financial institutions, insurance firms, and auto companies, while…

The First Read — November 19, 2009

Every Monday-Thursday morning, pa2010.com compiles the most important political news of the day, from newspapers to the blogosphere and back. Enjoy this edition.

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Onorato proposes government reform package
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato on Wednesday proposed a series of ambitious government and ethics reform proposals, with the gubernatorial hopeful calling for a…

Onorato’s proposals get the skeptical treatment

Good-government advocates on Wednesday had a reaction to

Onorato proposes government reform package

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato on Wednesday proposed a series of ambitious government and ethics reform proposals, with the gubernatorial hopeful calling for a range of a initiatives from limits on campaign contributions and a ban on gifts from lobbyists to enacting term limits and reducing the size of the legislature.

Onorato’s proposals came just a couple weeks after one of his Democratic rivals, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox,

Scranton gets some props

Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty got a little boost from BusinessWeek.com, which named Scranton among the best places to raise kids.

One city from each state was picked, though they weren’t ranked.

The magazine’s Web site says the town has “a low cost of living, ski slopes, and colleges, including Scranton University.”

Doherty has been making Scranton’s revitalization a centerpiece of his Democratic campaign for governor.

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Auditor General Jack Wagner Calls on General Assembly to Ban Risky “Swap” Contracts by Schools, Local Governments

By THE OFFICE OF AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER

HARRISBURG (Nov. 18, 2009) – Auditor General Jack Wagner said today that the General Assembly should ban the use of “swaps,” after a special investigation completed by his department found that the Bethlehem Area School District lost at least $10.2 million of taxpayers’ money in these risky and complex financial instruments. Wagner also recommended that all Pennsylvania school districts, local governments, and municipal authorities stop entering into…

Onorato Releases Plan to Reform Pennsylvania Government

By ONORATO FOR GOVERNOR

PITTSBURGH:  Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato announced his plan to reform Pennsylvania’s political system and government.  Onorato made the announcement, the first major policy announcement of his campaign, at a noon meeting of Pittsburgh’s Rotary Club.  Onorato chose to detail his “Plan to Reform Pennsylvania’s Government” before a business group because of the limits our broken systems place on our ability to attract and grow good new jobs.

“It is…