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.
