Chris Carney's Ridiculous Assertions Against Sarah Palin

In today's Times-Tribune Andrew Staub pens an article covering FORMER U.S. Congressman Chris Carney's comments over the shooting in Arizona of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, members of her staff and the killing of at least six people including a U.S. District Judge and a 9 year old girl.

Though Mr. Carney, a former U.S. representative from Dimock Twp., and other Northeast Pennsylvania political figures stopped short of assigning blame to Mrs. Palin, a rumored Republican candidate for president in 2012, Mr. Carney said "a lot of folks were concerned that something would happen sooner rather than later" after she released the map.

"You would think it shouldn't have to take something like this to be a lesson, but I think it's an indication of how far we've sunk," Mr. Carney said Saturday, lamenting that the "discourse in this country has deteriorated tremendously."

Though police have not yet released a motive that led 22-year-old Jared Loughner, the suspect in the shooting, to the Tucson grocery store, many posters at news and social networking websites immediately connected the shooting and Mrs. Palin's map. Mr. Carney called it "a reach to think that this was sort of a random event."

"I'm not sure if 'blame' is the right word for Ms. Palin, but I think it wasn't helpful, obviously," Mr. Carney said of her map. "It would be very useful if she came out and, if not apologize, say that she was wrong in putting that sort of logo on peoples' districts."

Here is the map that Carney refers to in his ridiculous comments.

Forget whether you believe they are crosshairs for sighting or calibration.

Look at this map from the Democratic Leadership Council contained in this article by Will Marshall in December, 2004.

Those bullseye markings resemble targets more than crosshairs outside a circle.

What a self-serving public relations effort by Carney. He should be ashamed of himself for using this shooting to talk about his political career. The Times-Tribune should stick to writing the news rather than appearing to influence election outcomes.

Legislative Clout

Earmarks continue to be a never ending dual edged sword. In Northeastern Pennsylvania we've come to expect our fair share of state and federal tax dollars for projects that are vital. However, when it is not our municipality named as beneficiary we tend to say earmarks should be stopped "for the other guy". In this article by BORYS KRAWCZENIUK of the Times-Tribune he examines the possible loss to our region of the legislative clout traditionally attributed to the money flow in their districts.

In the legislative halls of Harrisburg and Washington, seniority matters.

Seniority means clout, and come January, Northeast Pennsylvania will lose a lot of both.

Six long-serving legislators, people who have served in the state General Assembly and Congress for decades, will leave office for good, defeated in re-election bids or simply retiring

State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-120, Kingston, one of the re-elected veteran legislators who will begin her third decade in office, said "bringing home the bacon" will be a lot harder.

"Seniority matters in Harrisburg as it does in Washington. It just does," Ms. Mundy said.

Seniority is more than being able to get things done more quickly because of your stature, she said.

"It's institutional knowledge. It's knowing who to call and where to go," she said.

Mundy is somewhat right and wrong in her assessment. Going forward Pennsylvania is looking at a $5 billion budget deficit. Where is the money going to come from to pay for the "pet projects"? She might argue that her seniority means she will be able to wield a little clout but does that really?

Freshman representatives and congressmen are going to be at the same trough as Phyllis Mundy. First and foremost they are already looking at re-election. Parties who want to hold onto specific seats will make sure these freshmen get their "share" to protect the seat although the total amount of money available to each agency will be reduced.

To counter KRAWCZENIUK's point let's examine the amount of money brought in by Chris Carney in the last three years vs. Paul Kanjorski. As you know Carney was elected three years ago to the 10th district seat. Kanjorski was elected in 1984. He ended his career in a loss to Lou Barletta on November 2nd.

If you go here and check the earmarks for all 19 Pennsylvania Congressmen some interesting statistics emerge.

For 2008, 2009, and 2010 Carney brought in $32,096,000 worth of solo earmarks to $10,174,000 for Kanjorski. If you look at solo earmarks with others for the three years combined Carney beat Kanjorski $69,421,000 to $53,682,000. Some seniority edge.

If you take the entire Pennsylvania delegation(including changes in who occupies the seat) and rank them according to money brought in on solo earmarks Kanjorski is almost at the bottom of the barrel 2008- 16 out of 19 bringing in $2,955,000, 2009- 16 out of 19 but two Congressmen, Altmire and Platts took none so really 16 out of 17 bringing in $3,119,00, and 2010 14 out of 19 with Pitts credited with nothing so 14 out of 18 bringing in $4,100,000.

Krawzceniuk's writing
26 years in the House, the second-ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee and chairman of its Capital Markets Subcommittee

So what were we really getting? Think about it. Cornerstone Technologies secured $10 million just slightly less than three years worth of district credit. When you add the $400 million loan guarantee for Abound Solar tell me his tenure wasn't more about his family and himself than his district.

Paul Kanjorski And Chris Carney- Where Are The Jobs?

Kanjorski Hires Kevin Lynn- Payback?

Bill OBoyle reports for the Times Leader that Congressman Paul Kanjorski has hired former WILK Talk Show host Kevin Lynn as a "communications assistant".
As you can see Abigail McDonough wanted to play coy with the media about this hire.

Abbie McDonough, communications director at Kanjorski’s Washington, D.C., office, confirmed Lynn was hired and said his title is “communications assistant'"

McDonough would not reveal Lynn’s salary, stating in an e-mail, “He works out of the Wilkes-Barre office and all congressional salaries are available to the public on a quarterly basis.”

The first lesson one learns in communication is to talk to each other. It helps keep the story straight.

When contacted Monday, Lynn said he began working for the congressman Oct. 4 at a weekly salary of $1,000. Abbie wanted to hide information but Lynn didn't know it.

McDonough also said “Kevin’s views as stated on the radio are not emblematic of the Congressman’s opinions.”

Lynn, 61, said his job consists of writing for the congressman about job-related matters. Lynn stressed that he is not working on the veteran lawmaker’s reelection campaign.

Let's see folks. It is three weeks before an election where Kanjorski has not led in one poll. Kanjorski has Ed Mitchell speak for him. Abbie McDonough's title is "communications director". According to Legistorm.com Ms. McDonough was paid $54,677.12 last year up from $46,937.50 the previous year, a 16.5% increase. Yet Kanjorski sees a need to hire one more "communications assistant" at another $52,000 per year. The taxpayers went from paying $46,937.50 per year for someone to speak on Kanjorski's behalf to $108,677.12.

Senior citizens received no raise last year in their Social Security and are facing the same fate this year. In this Pocono Record article Kanjorski tells seniors they "don't have to worry about losing any benefits because of this bill.


"This was one of the most difficult votes I have ever cast, primarily because there is a great deal of confusion about what this bill will do. Senior citizens do not have to worry about losing any benefits because of this bill. In fact, their coverage for prescription drug costs and preventative care will improve. No federal funding will be used to fund abortion. The bill does not empower the federal government to take over health care. If people are happy with the insurance they have, nothing needs to change."

— U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-11


Obamacare Forces 22,000 Seniors to Lose Medicare Advantage

Side Effects: Massachusetts Seniors Will Lose Medicare Advantage Plans in 2011

New York Times Reluctantly Notes Seniors Losing Medicare Benefits, Denies It’s a Problem

CMS Data Shows 30 Percent of Seniors Enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans to Lose Coverage

Kanjorski should explain his statement to the public about not losing any benefits because of his yes vote.

Ms. McDonough has been facing some tough questions about the Congressman.

Kanjorski: Project could lure 1000 jobs to NEPA

Rep. Kanjorski Seems To Insult Minorities

Mark-to-Market Lobby Buoys Bank Profits 20% as FASB May Say Yes

March 30 (Bloomberg) -- Four days after U.S. lawmakers berated Financial Accounting Standards Board Chairman Robert Herz and threatened to take rulemaking out of his hands, FASB proposed an overhaul of fair-value accounting that may improve profits at banks such as Citigroup Inc. by more than 20 percent.

The changes proposed on March 16 to fair-value, also known as mark-to-market accounting, would allow companies to use “significant judgment” in valuing assets and reduce the amount of writedowns they must take on so-called impaired investments, including mortgage-backed securities. A final vote on the resolutions, which would apply to first-quarter financial statements, is scheduled for April 2.

The political action committees of banks including Citigroup, Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, Wells Fargo and banking trade groups contributed money to Kanjorski’s re- election campaign last year, according to the Federal Election Commission. Citigroup gave $6,500, Bank of America $7,000, Bank of New York $8,000 and Wells Fargo $13,000.

Kanjorski spokeswoman Abigail McDonough didn’t return calls seeking comment.

Northeastern Pa. congressmen weigh tough vote

Two undecided northeastern Pennsylvania Democrats may decide the fate of health care overhaul legislation slated for a House vote this weekend.

That hardly makes Congressmen Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney happy. Their political futures hang in the balance.

How prophetic is that reporter's analysis turning out to be as we approach election day? Both Kanjorski and Carney are in trouble.

Kanjorski And Carney Send Jobs Overseas

In his desperate attack on Lou Barletta Congressman Paul Kanjorski claims that Barletta favors tax breaks for companies sending jobs overseas. Hold one, I am laughing so hard I need to get up off the floor. Let's not leave Chris Carney off the hook either.

Barack Obama has been sending stimulus money to China. Even his own party people are begging him to stop.

"Today, we are demanding the Obama administration suspend this program immediately," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The program has already spent $2 billion, funding enough projects to power 2.4 million homes. Any wind farm created in the U.S. is eligible for stimulus money to put up wind turbines, regardless of where those massive structures are made. Each turbine costs about $3 million, and reaches 40 stories into the sky.

An investigation by ABC News and the Investigative Reporting Workshop found that 79 percent of the program's money has gone to foreign companies, money that Schumer said was "federal tax dollars, the stimulus, which was sold as jobs in America."

The senators are especially alarmed about a project highlighted by ABC News in West Texas that uses turbines manufactured in China. The Texas wind farm is eligible for up to $450 million in stimulus funds.

The frustrated senators are concerned, though, that some of the money is also paying for manufacturing jobs in China, and they are pushing a bill requiring that stimulus projects create jobs in the United States. They want the wind energy program stopped before the Chinese turbine manufacturers can collect any money.

Obama's actions were met with such criticism that "Green" jobs are no longer on his agenda.

Noticeably absent from President Obama's latest economic-stimulus package are any further attempts to create jobs through "green" energy projects, reflecting a year in which the administration's original, loudly trumpeted efforts proved largely unfruitful.

The long delays typical with environmentally friendly projects - combined with reports of green stimulus funds being used to create jobs in China and other countries, rather than in the U.S. - appear to have killed the administration's appetite for pushing green projects as an economic cure.

The Department of Energy estimated that 82,000 jobs have been created and has acknowledged that as much as 80 percent of some green programs, including $2.3 billion of manufacturing tax credits, went to foreign firms that employed workers primarily in countries including China, South Korea and Spain, rather than in the United States.

Peter Morici, a business professor at the University of Maryland, said much of the green stimulus funding was "squandered."

Squandered??? And Paul Kanjorski wants to attack Barletta? Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney voted for the stimulus bill that sent jobs overseas. Nuff said.

Kanjorski And Carney "Dumped" By DCCC

DCCC scales back NEPA ad buys

Democrats are slightly pulling back the TV help they’ll be giving to Congressmen Chris Carney (D-10) and Paul Kanjorski (D-11).

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has made some changes to its airtime reservations in northeast Pennsylvania, cutting off half-a-week’s worth of its planned TV buys in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre media market.

The move came as speculation builds among political insiders that Democrats are preparing to cut Kanjorski loose as part of their so-called triage plans to preserve a majority in Congress. When the DCCC recently posted a fundraising list of candidates in its Frontline Program for defending incumbents, Kanjorski’s name was nowhere to be found (Carney was on the list).

In June, 2010 it was reported that Kanjorski failed to pay his $250,000 in dues to the DCCC.

I guess the DCCC has a rule. No pay, No play.

Unemployment In NEPA UP TO 10.3%

The Times-Tribune published the latest unemployment figures for NEPA today.
With all the stimulus money that has been spent unemployment increased by three tenths of one percent to an 18 year high of 10.3%. Yet Congressman Paul Kanjorski states this is the "best economy of all mankind". He won his first term to Congress by convincing voters Frank Harrison was out of touch with his district. One would have believed Kanjo learned an important political lesson that year.

Over at my buddy Gort's blogspot he critques Chris Carney's press release about investigating the BP Gulf Spill mess.

I'm sure his subcommittee has jurisdiction on this but I think there are about a dozen Congressional Committees already investigating the spill.

There is an environmental disaster in the making in Pennsylvania that Carney hasn't said much about that has already seen his neighbors in Dimock living with water buffaloes because there wells have been poisoned.

Carney's release is a classic political tactic of wagging the dog to divert voter attention away from the real problems he and his cohorts have failed to address with billions upon billions of dollars, namely permanent job creation.

Senator Dominic Pileggi was right on point about the economic impact that loss of the stimulus money will have on Pennsylvania. He predicts a $4 billion to $5 billion dollar deficit in the state budget. Brad Bumsted called the stimulus money "crack cocaine" for the state governments.

Look at this comment by Ed Rendell. "Ladies and gentleman, the stimulus program is working and working big-time in Pennsylvania," Rendell said at a news conference last week. It seems the Democratic Party as witnessed by Rendell and Kanjorski's comments has an agenda to keep telling us how rosy the picture is despite the bad economic data. But he didn't fool Bumsted.

And Rendell says the poor public has been misled. A recent poll showing 64 percent of Americans oppose the stimulus bill is just a shame, Rendell adds, and it's not the voters' fault. For once you are right, Ed. It's Nancy Pelosi, Chris Carney, Paul Kanjorski, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama who head the all star cast of the "Great Stimulus Robbery" of the American public. Only the misleading roles also include you.

Chris, forget the well in the Gulf. How about getting NEPA out of the well of economic despair and create more jobs. Kanjo, isn't it time you quit taking the limousine rides paid for by campaign money and walk the streets with your constituents. Ed Rendell, please ride off into the Comcast sunset and leave the important decisions to the next governor.

The budget was $22 billion when Rendell took the reins and it has climbed to $28 billion. Eachus doesn't get that the state needs to go on a diet so maybe its time to trim the fat by rejecting those for re-election. That's a diet we all could stay on.

IxToc I Oil Spill 1979

A disturbing story about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill published on June 8, 2010 emerged but you don't see it touted in the mainstream press.

Three days after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, the Dutch government offered to help.

It was willing to provide ships outfitted with oil-skimming booms, and it proposed a plan for building sand barriers to protect sensitive marshlands.

The response from the Obama administration and BP, which are coordinating the cleanup: “The embassy got a nice letter from the administration that said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,'” said Geert Visser, consul general for the Netherlands in Houston.

Now, almost seven weeks later, as the oil spewing from the battered well spreads across the Gulf and soils pristine beaches and coastline, BP and our government have reconsidered.

U.S. ships are being outfitted this week with four pairs of the skimming booms airlifted from the Netherlands and should be deployed within days. Each pair can process 5 million gallons of water a day, removing 20,000 tons of oil and sludge.

At that rate, how much more oil could have been removed from the Gulf during the past month?

A reader reminded me of a story about a similar oil spill that happened in 1979 in the Gulf of Mexico but on the Mexican side, not the U.S.

Ixtoc I was an exploratory oil well being drilled by the semi-submersible drilling rig Sedco 135-F in the Bay of Campeche of the Gulf of Mexico, about 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche in waters 50 m (160 ft) deep. On 3 June 1979, the well suffered a blowout resulting in the third largest oil spill and the second largest accidental spill in history.

Despite over 3.3 million barrels of oil ending up in the environment after the cleanup, the beach fauna or beach populations were back to where they were before the spill within two to three years. After 6 years, it was difficult to find any evidence of oil. Today, after more than 30 years, there is little sign of the oil spill.

So why did it take so long for Alaska to get cleaned up? Better yet why aren't Congressmen Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney asking for an investigation why our government turned down help for the worst oil spill in the history of the planet.

Palin Rumor??

Back in 2008 then Governor Sarah Palin stumped in Northeastern Pennsylvania as a candidate for Vice President of the United States. She has been very critical of Congressman Chris Carney and wants to hold his feet to the fire on his healthcare vote.

Rumor has it that she may be back into Northeastern Pennsylvania for the trifecta involving Carney, Kanjorski, and Sestak. Let's wait and see.

Flip This House 2010

Carney In The 10th- Marino Is A Huge Challenge

In a district that is pro-Republican Chris Carney has enjoyed the incumbency of his office in a surreptitious way. He is flying under the radar hoping not to be noticed that he is out of place in the grand scheme of voter sentiment.

Here's how his bio starts in Wikipedia. Christopher P. "Chris" Carney (born March 2, 1959) is an American politician and member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. One would think that his military career would supercede the words "American politician". Carney is also an associate professor of political science at Penn State Worthington Scranton, where he has taught since 1992. Again, secondary to "American politician" first.

In today's political climate marked by the ouster of Arlen Specter one would believe the last thing you would want to promote is being a "politician". Even Congressman sounds better than politician.

In this Times Leader article by Andrew Seder political observers explore whether Chris Carney will have a rough fall campaign against Republilcan Tom Marino.

“Marino has a record of public service, he has name recognition, he has big name Republican support, and he will take better advantage of this targeted district in this tough atmosphere for Democratic incumbents.”

Listening to Tom Marino on WILK he sounds like a very respectable and likeable candidate. His association with Louis DeNaples has been a terse topic but in the end, knowing Northeastern Pennsylvania, it is more about jealousy than substance. How many people associated with Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella? How many people associated with Michael Veon? Ask Tom Leighton about his association with Bill Brace.

The "D-sucking at the nipple-triple CCC" took no time in launching salvos at Marino. Lest they forget that Carney as the author of that famous Feith-Carney memo George Bush used as information, well he was provided misinformation, to get us into Iraq. It is rarely talked about and I believe the biased media wants it that way.

Carney's ability to raise money will be a nemesis for Marino. However, no amount of money and support can divide voter sentiment otherwise Arlen Specter would have been a victor.

Paul Kanjorski's Card Check Debacle

Last year Paul Kanjorski was a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act aka Card Check. In this story from the Washington Examiner by Kevin Mooney he highlights the "dirty" money Kanjorski received from unions with stellar?? credentials.

Kanjorski received the following dirty money: Communication Workers of America (PAC) $2,000 in 2008 election cycle. Boilermakers Union (PAC) $2,000 in 2008 election cycle. American Federation of Government Employees (PAC) $2,500 in 2008 election cycle; $1,000 in 2006 election cycle. The Service Employees International Union (PAC) $4,000 in 2008 election cycle; $2,000 in 2006 election cycle. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (PAC) $5,000 in 2010 election cycle; $10,000 in 2008 election cycle; $4,000 in 2006 election cycle. WHY IT'S DIRTY: Multiple officers and members of these unions, including division presidents, secretary-treasurers and business managers, have been convicted since 2001 of felonies ranging from embezzlement, falsifying official reports to government, mail fraud and conspiracy.

In his recent flap with Chris Carney the Politico writes about the intensity of the divide between Carney and Kanjorski over Kanjorski's vote against Carney for a seat on the House Appropriations Committee.

Second-term Rep. Chris Carney is accusing 25-year veteran Paul Kanjorski, who represents a neighboring northeastern Pennsylvania district, of stabbing him in the back by voting for Rep. Patrick Murphy when the Pennsylvania delegation used secret ballots to recommend a Murtha successor to the Democratic Steering Committee, which hands out committee assignments.

Isn't there a double standard where Kanjorski is concerned in this matter?
Kanjorski’s camp says it’s impossible for anyone to know how he voted on a secret ballot.

Geez Paul, Card Check would remove workers’ rights to a federally supervised private ballot election. Instead, workers would be asked to sign cards in front of organizers and colleagues, potentially subjecting them to harassment or intimidation. Paul supports that system for the rest of us just not himself. Typical for this congressman.

Kanjorski suffered a mortal wound in this situation. Lackawanna County knows the meaning of a seat on the House Appropriations Committee. Yes, Paul shares Lackawanna County with Chris Carney. The Joseph McDade Terminal serves as a monument to the amount of money McDade brought back to his district.

Joseph McDade also serves as a prime example in the federal investigation into Fort Mifflin Reclammation Associates and Hazleton Creek Properties. Don't rush to judgment on this issue. No one has been charged yet but sure as shit Mitchell already has the commercial produced and ready to air.

McDade was acquitted of bribery charges in 1996. His trial led to the passing of the McDade Amendment. Although McDade takes credit as the principal advocate for the Tobyhanna Army Depot, Kanjorski now wants those coattails.

The Truth About EFCA.com

Mayor Lou Barletta Takes On Todd Eachus

Sam Lesante sits down with Lou Barletta Mayor Lou Barletta of Hazleton discusses healthcare reform and bogus claims by Representative Todd Eachus that he helped the City of Hazleton.

Tolling I-80 A No-Go and Northeastern Pennsylvania The Ugly Duckling

As the Associated Press writes about Northeastern PA being key to control of Congress Karin Andren of the Patriot News reports that the Feds are going to reject the tolling of I-80.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has rejected Pennsylvania's plan to toll Interstate 80, according to two sources with knowledge of the application. For months, the Federal Highway Administration has been poring over Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposal to remake I-80’s 311-mile, east-west track into a northern sister to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Sources say Rendell is expected to be notified of the decision today or tomorrow. They said the application will be rejected because it would violate language in a federal transportation law that would require money from I-80 tolls to be used only for that roadway.

The Rendell administration's plan would use the toll money to fund transportation initiatives statewide.


Just as Paul Kanjorski reportedly sunk Chris Carney's chance for a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee Robert Casey remained wishy-washy about the plan as reported by Becky Polaski of the Ridgway Record.

EMPORIUM – The debate over whether to convert Interstate 80 into a toll road continues to be argued across the state and residents asked Senator Bob Casey, Jr. about his stance on the matter when he visited Emporium yesterday afternoon.

“I don’t know what the federal government could do,” Casey said. “We don’t vote on it.”

Casey remarked that if he had a vote he would want to see some economic data and analysis showing the benefits that would be gained from adding tolls to Interstate 80.

“There’s a big debate about that, but I haven’t seen any conclusions with regard to what the studies show about the impact,” Casey said.

In particular, individuals stressed to Casey the concern that adding tolls to Interstate 80 would cause more vehicles to use other routes across the state, increasing the cost for those roads to be maintained.

Senator Casey seems to be in the dark about alot of issues. As reported on PAPundits Casey supported continued funding of Acorn.

I called Senator Robert P Casey Jr’s DC office, but no one answered. I then called the DC toll free number, was put through to voicemail after hearing a message saying there was extremely high call volume, then a recording said the inbox was full.

Then I called the Harrisburg office, and again, no one answered. I finally got an unimpressive witch to answer on the Hburg toll free line. I asked her what Casey’s defense was for continuing to support the corruption of ACORN. She seemed annoyed, and said that Casey voted against the Johanns Amendment (#2355 to H.R.3288) because it “went too far” and that criminal activity should be tried in court. She further stated that the statement Casey gave them (presumably to read to angry voters) said that the Amendment was to prevent ACORN from getting any money. I corrected her and told her that it only prevents ACORN from getting money from HUD. She declined “to argue” with me, but said she’d take my comments on the matter. I told her, “This crap right here, him supporting a corrupt organization, this is exactly why I changed my party affiliation to Republican last year after being a Democrat since I was 18. And this crap, this is exactly why he’s FIRED.”

She simply said in her monotone voice, “Okay,” then hung up.


Here's another example demonstrating Senator Casey's lack of familiarity with legislation he votes on. ProLife PA by Sue Cirba writes about Casey's apparent attempt to promote "Buy American" AFTER he voted for the stimulus bill that didn't protect American jobs.

Senator Bob Casey appeared on On the Record with Greta Van Susteren yesterday on Fox TV. According to Casey, "Well, there's a section of the recovery bill where dollars go to companies that are creating clean energy jobs. The problem we have now is that we've got lots and lots of companies that are benefiting, but unfortunately, too many of them are overseas in China and other places around the world. We want to make a correction to the recovery bill so that we're creating American jobs with American tax dollars." Sue Cirba; Bob Casey voted for the stimulus bill!. Was this loop hole in a part of the bill Casey read or the part he didn't read? Isn't this akin to closing the barn door after the million dollar stallion escaped? Casey has long been blindly promoting everything Obama wants. Perhaps Casey will learn a lesson from this experience and take a more thorough look at the health care bill before voting for it. Perhaps Casey should seriously consider Bart Stupak's objections to Obama's health care bill before Casey makes another huge blunder.

All of this post brings me back to the point that Northeastern Pennsylvania doesn't get the attention it deserves even from homegrowns. Kanjorski disses Carney in the name of Philadelphia and Casey sits on the sideline. This Opinion in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Rob Wonderling, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce promoting the tolling of I-80 and this article highlighting the support of SEPTA and the AFL-CIO from Philadelphia to toll I-80 demonstrate the impotence of the seniority Kanjorski claims he professes time and time again. Never mind that Philadelphians stick up for whats best for them, Kanjorski's vote sustains their actions.

Kevin Blaum wants us to believe that Kanjorski did the right thing by voting against Carney if he didn't have the support of the rest of the committee. Mr. Blaum couldn't be more wrong on this issue. From all perspectives it appears Kanjorski doesn't have enough juice to persuade the members of the Appropriations Committee to support Carney. Kanjorski had to rely on the coattails of John Murtha and Charlie Rangel for "sap from the tree" to feed the "district family".

Combine that problem with Casey's blind support for Obama policies and inept posturing on Northeastern Pennsylvania issues its no wonder we are relagated to feeling like the Ugly Duckling.

Kanjorski, Murphy,And The Vote Against Carney.

In January, 2008 Congressmen Paul Kanjorski, Chris Carney, and Tim Holden appeared on WVIA TV on its segment "Bringing the House Home". During that presentation Chris Carney took a shot at Kanjorski because he brought home almost 3 times as much in earmarks than Kanjorski as a first termer.

Their differences didn't stop there. Kanjorski and Carney were at odds with the $700 billion dollar bailout bill in November 2008.

It's no secret that Paul Kanjorski and John Murtha were close friends. Politico wrote a story about their love of earmark money in 2007. Reiterating the saga of Cornerstone Technologies Ken Vogel wrote "In 1998, with the help of Rep. John P. Murtha, a fellow Pennsylvanian and the top Democrat on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Kanjorski earmarked $3.5 million for the research through the Navy." John Murtha used his seat on the Appropriations committee to become known as the "legendary appropriations earmarker from Johnstown".

As the wind blows it was no secret John Murtha supported fellow Democrat Carney as evidenced by his appearance at this Carney fundraiser. It appears Murtha wanted to take Carney under his wings.

Nobody can say that Kanjorski's memory is failing him. After John Murtha's passing it came time to replace his seat on the House Appropriations Committee. The media reported Kanjorski didn't support Carney for the position. Kanjorski's rescue team tried to couch its position on the vote by claiming it was secret but the cat was out of the bag.

Gort42 reported on his blog that Murtha backed Carney for a seat on the panel. Carney's appointment would have benefited Kanjorski but more importantly Northeastern Pennsylvania. Instead it appears Kanjorski threw his support to Philadelphia and Patrick Murphy. I wonder if Kanjorski went overboard into the ocean with women and children whether he would give them the life preserver first.

The vote was deja vu for Carney all over again. In December 2006 then freshman Chris Carney was denied a seat on the same committee despite a pledge by John Murtha to see he was appointed to it. One can't blame Murtha for trying but he just didn't have the votes. Carney should have said he was an earmark. Murtha would have been all over it.

Corey O'Brien, Kanjorski's primary opponent this election season, seized on the opportunity to discredit Kanjorski even though Kanjorski's office tried to deflect the criticism of a supposed secret vote. Evidently despite the claims by Ed Mitchell and Paul Kanjorski about his senority when it comes down to brass tacks Kanjorski doesn't have enough strength to hang a piece of paper on corkboard.

You may remember that Charlie Rangel held fundraisers for Murphy, Kanjorski, and Carney. Kanjorski and Murphy refused to give the money back. At least Chris Carney was willing to donate it to charity demonstrating his military training and instilled values.

As far as Patrick Murphy goes his political tactics mirror Paul Kanjorski. This letter to the editor that appears from The Intelligencer on Philly.com exposes a press release from Murphy that appears to intentionally mislead the public.

To the Editor:


Shortly after proudly voting "yes" on the health care bill, 8th District Congressman Patrick Murphy issued a press release entitled, "Bucks County Small Businesses Thank Rep. Murphy For Supporting Healthcare Insurance Reform." As a local small-business owner, my husband has heard underwhelming business support for Murphy around Bucks County. Thus, being baffled by the press release, we did a little research.

It seems that the organization that issued this "thank you" to Murphy, The Small Business Majority, is a nonprofit formed in 2009 to supposedly "speak for the nearly 28 million Americans who are self-employed or own businesses of up to 100 employees." But looking further into it, this organization has only 28 members nationwide. So it is really only .000001 percent of the nation's small businesses that are taking the liberty to speak for the rest of small-business owners. Furthermore, of the two lone Pennsylvania small businesses declaring membership in this "majority" organization, neither is from Murphy's congressional district.

This is just one more instance of Patrick Murphy's blatant mismanagement of truth and his repeated refusal to accurately represent his constituency. He needs to be voted out in November.

If Carney wins in November, and this is no means an endorsement, maybe he will have another shot at the seat. In the meantime he should watch his back. His bedfellows appear to have bedbugs.

Carney Takes On Palin

Carney Wants Sarah Palin To Come To Northeast PA For A Debate It would be a most interesting confrontation to say the least.

Big Win For Big Pharma

In this Associated Press article by Alan Fran he outlines how the big pharmaceutical giants lobbyists made sure that the healthcare reform bill was a WIN for them.

WASHINGTON — Chalk one up for the pharmaceutical lobby. The U.S. drug industry fended off price curbs and other hefty restrictions in President Barack Obama's health care law even as it prepares for plenty of new business when an estimated 32 million uninsured Americans gain health coverage.

To be sure, the law also levies taxes and imposes other costs on pharmaceutical companies, leaving its final impact on the industry's bottom line uncertain. A recent analysis by Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street firm, suggests the overhaul could mean "a manageable hit" of tens of billions of dollars over the coming decade while bolstering the value of drug-company stocks. Others expect profits, not losses, of the same magnitude.

Either way, pharmaceutical lobbyists won new federal policies they coveted and set a trajectory for long-term industry growth. Privately, several of them say their biggest triumph was heading off Democrats led by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who wanted even more money from their industry to finance the health care system's expansion.

"Pharma came out of this better than anyone else," said Ramsey Baghdadi, a Washington health policy analyst who projects a $30 billion, 10-year net gain for the industry. "I don't see how they could have done much better."

Chalk up another one for Kanjorski and Carney's vote for Big Pharma. Washington wasn't worried about taking care of the middle class. It was and will continue to worry about the political dollars dolled out by lobbyists.

As an addendum there is a commercial being aired by "Americans For Stable Quality Care" supporting Paul Kanjorski. Who is a member of that organization? Big Pharma- we represent millions of doctors, nurses, technicians, manufacturers, hospitals, drug companies and health care consumers across the U.S. Never known a loser in a political issue to pay for commercials for a politician.

Earmarks Are Alive And Well With Kanjorski And Carney

The two congressmen who represent the Poconos each brought between $17 million and $21 million in earmarks for their home districts in fiscal year 2010, but only one delivered some of that money to Monroe County. The article was written by Michael Sadowski of the Pocono Record.

Coverage For Sick Children In Question

Much has been made about a healthcare bill that was 2,409 pages. It was painfully obvious that those who voted for it could never claim they read every page and verse. This article from the New York Times demonstrates that Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney who voted for the bill might have missed this little mistake.

The authors of the law say they meant to ban all forms of discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions like asthma, diabetes, birth defects, orthopedic problems, leukemia, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. The goal, they say, was to provide those youngsters with access to insurance and to a full range of benefits once they are in a health plan.

To insurance companies, the language of the law is not so clear.

Insurers agree that if they provide insurance for a child, they must cover pre-existing conditions. But, they say, the law does not require them to write insurance for the child and it does not guarantee the “availability of coverage” for all until 2014.

William G. Schiffbauer, a lawyer whose clients include employers and insurance companies, said: “The fine print differs from the larger political message. If a company sells insurance, it will have to cover pre-existing conditions for children covered by the policy. But it does not have to sell to somebody with a pre-existing condition. And the insurer could increase premiums to cover the additional cost.”

In plain language the insurance companies are taking the position that if a child has a pre-existing condition with no insurance or wants to switch insurance companies there is no mandate in the law that they have to write the policy.

But, insurers say, until 2014, the law does not require them to write insurance at all for the child or the family. In the language of insurance, the law does not include a “guaranteed issue” requirement before then.

Consumer advocates worry that instead of refusing to cover treatment for a specific pre-existing condition, an insurer might simply deny coverage for the child or the family.

“If you have a sick kid, the individual insurance market will continue to be a scary place,” said Karen L. Pollitz, a research professor at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University.

Experts at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners share that concern.

Obviously Kanjorsk and Carney don't share the same concern otherwise it wouldn't take SOP to bring it to their attention.

Healthcare Reform What Does That Mean?

Perusing the internet today provided many different perspectives on the health care reform reconciliation bill passed by the House yesterday(giving new meaning to March Madness). Maybe it was the sites chosen but an overwhelming backlash seems to be developing over the nod given by the House. What exactly does the healtcare reform mean? Did we fix what was broken or break what was working?

Paul Kanjorski tried to peddle his usual "we sort of stretched the facts" by claiming the bill was "essential to the country's economic future" in this story by Borys Krawczenick of the Times Tribune.

"If we lose this fight today, it will be 15, 20 years before we get a president and a Congress that would take this on," Kanjorski said.

His faithful Democratic followers must ask him "Paul, if the bill was ESSENTIAL to the future and the fight that important why weren't you behind it sooner?" Or will the saying "the people ate it up" hold true once more.

In a display of hutzpah his colleague, Chris Carney, proffered to the masses that "saying yes to health care was absolutely the right vote" in a story appearing in the Times Leader by Andrew Seder.

“Electoral politics did not come in to play,” Carney, D-Dimock Township, said fro mWashington, D.C. on Monday. “You don’t govern based on upcoming elections. If you do you don’t deserve to be here.”

Tom Baldino, a political science professor at Wilkes University, said he wasn’t surprised by Carney's vote but he questioned the two-term congressman's assertions that the upcoming elections didn’t factor in.

“Every vote in Congress takes into consideration the reelection of the member,” Baldino said.

In an interview on Bloomberg Television this morning former CBO director Douglas Holtz-Eakin called the deficit savings from this bill as games and fantasy. The doctors accepting Medicare have a $300 Billion dollar increase in fees due them, NOT IN THE BILL. The cost to run the operations of this bill is $114 Billion, NOT IN THE BILL. $70 Billion in long term care premiums used to calculate deficit reduction, not recognizing that premiums mean claims and the claims are NOT IN THE BILL.
$53 Billion stolen from Social Security used to calculate deficit reduction forgetting that one day benefits will have to be paid, NOT IN THE BILL. Lastly $460 Billion in Medicare cuts with no mechanism in the bill to accomplish those cuts, IN THE BILL WITH NO TEETH.

Overall Holtz-Eakin puts the price tag on this bill at $2.5 trillion dollars with $600 billion to $1 trillion missing in funding. Our children and their children will be paying twice. Once when they have to buy the insurance and the second time when they have to pay off the debt to fund it.

We could have fixed what was broken without this massive burden of debt. Covering the people who are high risk, covering children to age 26, eliminating denying coverage all together, etc. were simple fixes rolled into a complex equation.

The drugmakers were the whipping post to excite the masses for the need to reform healthcare. Guess what? They got more customers with extension of their products covered and paid for by the government in this bill. They are winners not losers. Did Obama, Kanjorski, and Carney tell the public that? Now that one WAS IN THE BILL.

The bill does nothing to reduce costs so premiums will still increase. And the biggest fact left out is the reality that every day there are more and more people in this nation and on this planet. Reducing total costs is a fantasy goal unachievable. If there are 80 million more people in this nation now than 30 years ago there is absolutely no way to reduce the total cost without reducing coverage and care.

The constitutional challenges already started with Tom Corbett at the forefront. The stark reality is that Washington is forcing the costs of this plan onto the states. And they will have nothing of it.

The Louisiana Purchase has an opportunity to repeat itself. Why Lousiana gets $300 million in Medicaid funding while the other 49 get saddled with its costs is a question Kanjorski and Carney need to square up with their Pennsylania constituents.

As for the real benefits of the bill:

• COMING LATER:

The real transformation of America's health insurance system won't take place until 2014.

Four breathtaking changes will happen simultaneously:

• Insurers will be required to take all applicants. They won't be able to turn down people in poor health, or charge them more.

• States will set up new insurance supermarkets for small businesses and people buying their own coverage, pooling together to get the kind of purchasing clout government workers have now.

• Most Americans will be required to carry health insurance, either through an employer, a government program or by buying their own. Those who refuse will face fines from the IRS.

• Tax credits to help pay for premiums will start flowing to middle-class working families, and Medicaid will be expanded to cover more low income people. Households making up to four times the poverty level — about $88,000 for a family of four_ will be eligible for assistance. But the most generous aid — including help with copayments and deductibles — will be for those on the lower-to-middle rungs of the income scale.

When all is said and done, the majority of working-age Americans and their families will still have employer-sponsored coverage, as they do now. But the number of uninsured will drop by more than half. Illegal immigrants would account for more than one-third of the remaining 23 million people without coverage.

Cost could be the Achilles' heel of the whole effort.

"I hope it is not repealed, because we do need to extend coverage to most of our population," said Gail Wilensky, who ran Medicare for President George H.W. Bush and remains a leading health care adviser to Republicans. "But it could well be substantially modified. It expands coverage, but it does very little to take on two other major issues: improving quality and leveling the rate of growth in spending."

P.S. One more thing...Congress gets to keep its Cadillac plan and does not participate in this legislation like the rest of us.