Tough John Egan

I have a new op-ed in The Times Herald, about a Montgomery County renaissance man.

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Another outside group targets Sestak; errs on some facts

Yet another conservative group is buying TV time against Democratic Senate nominee Joe Sestak.

The latest 30-second spot comes from Crossroads GPS, a group spearheaded by Karl Rove among others. It hits Sestak for supporting President Obama’s so-called “big government health care scheme.”

The ad misleadingly claims that insurance premiums will rise by an average of $2,100 under the new health care law, but the government report cited says increases will come because more family…

That other tax problem

Taxes increasingly occupy the national mind. Should we raise them, lower them, let them alone, or just talk about them? Certainly we are doing enough of the latter.

The Obama administration seems particularly preoccupied with talking about them, even while wrestling with ballooning national debt, continuing high unemployment, and lethargic economic growth. But state governments, too, are absorbed with tax questions as they try to balance out-of-balance budgets, operate programs made more expensive by the…

Murphy, Fitzpatrick spar on debates

When it comes to scheduling debates in the 8th Congressional District, the candidates and their campaigns are, well, debating.

On primary night back in May, Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) sent a letter to his newly-nominated Republican opponent Mike Fitzpatrick, challenging to him to a series of eight debates. Fitzpatrick accepted the challenge and the some, offering to show up for as many as 15.

So it came as a surprise to some, especially those in…

Santorum for President?

The thought of Rick Santorum in the presidential race actually scares me at first, but it interests me the more I think about it. However, instead of focusing on what he’ll bring to the race or how he’ll pull his 1 percent of the vote nationally, I’d like to focus on how a Pennsylvanian could be in the White House in 2012.

Rick already seems to have a good Iowa team lined up in Nick…

LEFTOVERS: Toomey & privatization, mocking indie cred, a poll, a 22-year-old tax

Democrats were scoffing Tuesday at a comment made by Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey the day before: Speaking before the Pennsylvania Press Club in Harrisburg, Toomey asserted that “I’ve never said I favored privatizing Social Security.”

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, already knee deep in Toomey-related opposition research, had an easier job this time around, considering that Toomey has long been a leading advocate for policies that are widely considered to constitute privatization, or at…

Hagel: Sestak ‘exactly the kind of leader America needs’

PHILADELPHIA—Former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel endorsed Democrat Joe Sestak for Senate Tuesday, giving the congressman another supporter outside his party as he increasingly seeks to build his credentials as a self-styled independent politician.

Hagel, the two-term senator from Nebraska who opted not to seek reelection in 2008, backed Sestak at events in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, calling Sestak, a former Navy Admiral, “exactly the kind of leader American needs right now in its history.”

“I have…

Marino says Social Security cuts needed; Carney pounces

Republican congressional candidate Tom Marino said Tuesday that some Americans will need to “step up and take the hit by saying no to Social Security”—drawing a swift and biting rebuke from his Democratic opponent and leading the GOP challenger to quickly retreat from the statement.

Marino made his comments during

Early decision

This year marks one of the shortest “election years” in quite some time. Traditionally, a general election season lasts from Labor Day until Election Day. Labor Day comes later than normal this year and Election Day is as early as it can be, and with such a contracted campaign cycle, one can expect an even greater concentration of campaign ads clogging up TV airtime.

My advice to voters: make your decisions early.

I live in…

Chester Co. Fraternal Order of Police Endorses Gerlach

By GERLACH FOR CONGRESS

(Glenmoore, PA) – Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6) was unanimously endorsed by the Chester County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #11 on Thursday for his long-standing commitment to and strong record of supporting public safety in southeastern Pennsylvania.

“Congressman Gerlach has been a strong ally and friend of law enforcement and Lodge #11 in particular,” said John Bailey, spokesman for FOP Lodge #11 and Co-Chair of their Legislative Committee. “We’ve gone…