Meehan speaks out against EFCA, earmarks, public option

PHILADELPHIA—Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan offered up a conservative critique of Washington Democrats here Tuesday, voicing his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, a public option of health care and earmark spending in Washington.

He spoke at a candidates’ forum across the street from City Hall, an event sponsored by a coalition of Tea Party activist groups. As the sole declared Republican in the 7th Congressional District, Meehan was the only one of numerous…

Welch and Sellers talk economy, Iran

PHILADELPHIA—Republican 6th District candidates Steven Welch and Patrick Sellers courted conservative activists here Tuesday evening, airing their positions on labor laws, cap-and-trade legislation and the threat posed by Iran.

The two spoke during a candidates’ forum hosted by a coalition of Tea Party groups in the state. Incumbent Jim Gerlach was not present at the event across the street from City Hall. A prepared statement read on his behalf cited unspecified commitments in Washington.

Taking…

LEFTOVERS: Marino highlights NEPA support, Hoeffel’s Web ad

On the day his latest primary opponent officially got into the race, former U.S. Attorney Tom Marino said he had won the unanimous support of the GOP’s northeast regional caucus during its meeting last weekend.

Informal vote tallies that emerged after the caucus meeting Saturday did not include votes for a congressional endorsement, but the timing of Marino’s statement seemed intended to deflect at least some attention from Luzerne County chiropractor Dave Madeira’s former campaign…

Lentz uses Hannity to raise cash, NRCC hits comments on health care (Updated)

Democrat Bryan Lentz’s 7th District congressional campaign was talking about Fox News host Sean Hannity in an effort to pump up the fundraising on Tuesday. Noting that Hannity will be headlining a major National Republican Congressional Committee fundraiser next month, campaign manager Vincent Rongione wrote to supporters that “our likely Republican opponent was hand-picked by these Washington insiders and will no doubt benefit greatly from this fundraising event.”

He went on to highlight comments by…

4 fun facts from the 4th quarter

About a week after fourth-quarter FEC reports hit the Web, here are some interesting items that caught our attention.

1. Spending on one’s own campaign is all the rage, and why not? Surely no one believes in a candidate as much as the candidate himself. Be they in-kind expenditures, direct donations or campaign loans, House candidates in Pennsylvania kicked more than $700,000 into their own races in late 2009, according to campaign finance data. There’s…

Kelly ready for competitive primary

To most first-time candidates for Congress, a crowded primary field can be daunting, especially when the incumbent has raised over $1 million and other candidates are willing to loan tens of thousands of dollars to their own campaigns—all in a district that boasts one of the cheapest media markets in the state.

But Mike Kelly says he’s ready.

Kelly, who announced his GOP bid in the 3rd Congressional District late last month, told pa2010.com that…

Preparing Pennsylvania to get the high-speed rail we deserve

President Obama recently announced the major recipients of the $8-billion fund for high-speed rail projects: $2.3 billion went to California, $1.1 billion went to Illinois and $1.25 billion went to Florida. Pennsylvania received only $25.6 million for track improvements.

Why would the Philadelphia area, perfectly positioned at the center of the busiest rail line in America, only receive 0.34 percent of funding that is critical to job creation?

When Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood was…

Sizing up special election contenders in the 12th

It had only been a few hours since Congressman John Murtha (D-12) passed away Monday. But political circles were already buzzing with the names of possible contenders for the special election to serve out his term,

An op-ed note, and a super-important correction

There’s quite a discussion brewing about

The pols pay their respects to Murtha

Elected officials and political candidates were quick to offer their words of condolence, mourning and remembrance after the passing of Congressman John “Jack” Murtha (D-12) on Monday.

Here is just a sampling of their statements.

Gov. Ed Rendell:

“Pennsylvania has lost one of its greatest citizens. Congressman Murtha impacted the entire state, not just his congressional district, in ways that almost no individual has. He did so much for so many of us throughout the…