Barletta Working To Create Jobs

Rep. Barletta, colleagues unveil five-year, $260B transportation bill that will put Americans back to work

01/31/12

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, PA-11, joined his colleagues on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to unveil a $260 billion, five-year reauthorization and reform of transportation programs that will create jobs and rebuild infrastructure in the district and the nation.

The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R. 7) will be the largest transportation reform bill since the Interstate Highway System was created in 1956.

This act will reform and streamline transportation programs, cut red tape in the project approval process, increase states’ flexibility to fund their most critical needs, and encourage private sector participation in financing and building projects.

“Workers in the 11^th District and around the nation are in desperate need of work, and our infrastructure is in desperate need of updating. The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act is a $260 billion, five-year plan that will give construction companies stability so they can hire more employees and buy more equipment. It gives more power to the states so they can set their own transportation project priorities. It will consolidate or eliminate 70 duplicative programs, streamlining the project approval process and reducing wasteful overspending. Basically, this bill will create jobs, fix our infrastructure, let states and not Washington pick their transportation projects, and make American taxpayer dollars go farther. It’s much needed, and I’m proud to be a member of the committee that created it,” Rep. Barletta said.

Since the last surface transportation law was signed into law on August 10, 2005 – 2,366 days ago – Congress has approved eight short-term extensions.

“Short-term extensions only create more uncertainty among job creators, so putting a five-year plan in place will provide long-term program reform and stability for job creators and states to rebuild our highways and bridges,” Rep. Barletta said. “In years past, Washington bureaucrats told states how to spend their transportation money. I believe the states know what projects need to be completed, so this reauthorization puts the decision-making power back in their hands.”

The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act streamlines and condenses the project review process by allowing federal agencies to review transportation projects at the same time, setting hard deadlines for federal agencies to approve projects, and granting more decision-making authority to states. Bureaucratic reviews often bog down infrastructure projects; for example, a project in California proposed to widen a dangerous roadway by no more than two feet, construct 2,000 feet of new guardrail, replace two culvert pipes, and resurface the road. It took more than seven years just to complete the environmental reviews and permit approvals – during which time there were additional serious accidents on that road.

“As a businessman who worked in the road construction business, I can tell you that there are huge hurdles to leap when you want to fix or improve our infrastructure. The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act will help make our roads and bridges safer, put people back to work, and maintain fiscal responsibility,” Rep. Barletta said.

Do Democrats Really Believe Their Own Bunkum?

Some articles that really shine light on the hypocrisy of the national Democratic machine.

For those who think capitalists are dirty, profit seeking junkies that are detrimental to those who don't have look where public employees are putting their pension money to create wealth.


Public Pensions Increase Private-Equity Investments

Large public pension plans are pouring more money into private-equity funds, deepening ties between government workers and an industry currently under the harsh glare of U.S. presidential politics.

Big public-employee pensions had about $220 billion invested in private equity in September, or 11% of their assets, according to Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service, which tracks the holdings of pensions, foundations and endowments.


AFSCME blasts Romney About Bain Past

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or Afscme, one of the nation’s biggest public-workers unions, has members with billions of dollars invested in about 150 pension funds, some of which is invested in private-equity funds, WSJ reports Thursday.

That wouldn’t be that surprising, given the union’s pension fund is meant to make its members money, and PE firms can do pretty well in that whole money making job.

But, the WSJ story is about the fact that Afscme and other pension funds for public workers have made quite a lot of noise about Mitt Romney’s work at private-equity giant Bain Capital.



They emulate what they blast Romney for.  Romney shouldn't duck questions about his wealth.  He should remind the American people how successful he is and that is what we need as a President.  Last election the majority put an amateur in there and look what we got.

Look at unemployment during the Bush years and Obama's term.

You will see this chart chopped for those who want to skew the data. 

Putting the Numbers into Perspective

President Bush’s overall record continues to look far better than President Obama’s to date. Over President Bush’s presidency, the private sector created a net 141,000 jobs. Surprisingly, this number includes the 3.78 million private sector jobs lost in 2008.  In contrast, under President Obama’s administration, the private sector has still lost a net 2.91 million private sector jobs. If I blame Bush and Clinton for the January 2009 and January 2001 numbers, respectively, the private sector would still have lost 2.07 million private sector jobs under the Obama administration.

Gene Stilp To Seek Democratic Nomination in the 11th

Political activist Gene Stilp held a press conference today to announce his intention to seek the Democratic nomination in a run against Congressman Lou Barletta. Here's a link to the Pennlive.com article.

Stilp, who has gained notoriety in Pennsylvania for his battles against utillities, legislative pay raises, is announcing his intent to get into the race against Republican U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta in a Capitol news conference.

The recent redrawing of congressional boundaries extended Barletta's district into much of Dauphin and Cumberland counties as well as souteastern Perry County.

Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review wrote this opinion piece on Gene Stilp on January 8,2006.   He's fun-loving and eccentric.  Next.

Is Bill Vinsko Telling The Truth?

In this segment of "You Be The Judge" Bill Vinsko tells the public that his campaign money came from individuals, not PAC money like other candidates.



How does he explain this picture?

I guess every profession has one.

How To Try To Influence Votes And Make Friends

From Bill Vinsko For Congress website:

I am very proud to receive such great support from I.B.E.W. and its outstanding membership. Their workers exemplify the hard-working Americans and Pennsylvanians that I will represent when elected to Congress. They need jobs, the 11th District needs jobs, Pennsylvania needs jobs and America needs jobs. It’s time to ensure that the middle class is protected and that we put America back to work. With the help of IBEW and other great organizations, it can still be done. I want to publicly thank I.B.E.W. and Mike Kwashnik for their faith in my candidacy.

Bill, why don't you ask your Democratic friends in the Senate why they haven't passed any of the 27 jobs bills sitting before them?

On November 18, 2011 Gort published Vinsko's response to Congressman Lou Barletta's fundraising efforts.  Here is one particular statement from Vinsko.

The people of the 11th Congressional District need a congressman who is ready to lead and not to follow; someone who is truly an independent thinker, guided by principle and not party doctrine.

If that check isn't party doctrine then nothing is.

Joe Valenti in Pittston Politics basically makes the case that the magisterial arm of the Pennsylvania Court System is a "quasi political machine" where Vinsko has deep roots.

You see, Bill Amesbury was in Vinsko’s law office from 2003 until he won a spot on the bench. And, I’m sure Vinsko was quite supportive of Amesbury’s run for judge.
Now it’s time to return the favor.
  
While a District Justice is not allowed to participate in any partisan politics and you’ll never see them at a political rally, the District Justice network is a tight organization that takes care of their own.

And, the only one running for congress that truly has only one degree of separation with that network is Bill Vinsko.

And, no one politician, political organization and or machine can personally touch the vast area of the congressional district with one exception, the District Justice network.

Who said corruption left the Luzerne County Court System?  Maybe it just changed its face with Vinsko being their rally cry.