How Much Is Too Much For A Legitimate Fundraiser?

This email was sent out to invite persons to a $5,000 per
Sponsor fundraiser for Todd Eachus. Forget the average Joe, how many small businesses could legitimately afford a ticket to this event? Fundraisers like this only fuel the distrust of the voters against legislators who lost their way in upholding that trust. If you are the average Joe this event will only set you back $1,000.00.

This fundraiser is not about the 116th district which Todd represents. SOP feeels people or organizations who pay this amount of money for a state representative fundraiser fall must be looking for a place in the front of the line for access to that legislator. Too bad for the average citizen.

Dan Onorato is campaigning on reform within the Pennsylvania Legislature. "Cut the size and cost of the Legislature, stop them from being able to raise their own pay, and term limits."

Fundraisers such as this one are designed to help the incumbent fight against such ideas and ultimately to work against the public interest. Tarah Toohil should campaign to the voters of the 116th and tell them she is not for sale.

Barletta Lead Kanjorski In Fundraising This Quarter

In this article by Andrew Seder it was disappointing to read the headline. Instead of highlighting that Lou Barletta outraised Paul Kanjorski this quarter in campaign contributions the headline reads "Carney, Kanjorski rolling up fundraising leads".

You will find this statement buried in the article.

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta received $15,482 more than 13-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke the past quarter.

A significant fact left out of Seder's report is that Paul Kanjorski is over $1 million behind in fundraising when you compare his "Cash On Hand At Close Of Reporting Period" highlighted in this report. On the July, 2008 report Kanjorski states there was $2,174,387.47 on hand. On the July, 2010 report Kanjorski only has $1,058,311.12 on hand.

If you look at Carney's figures he has $792,891.83 on hand this quarter according to this July, 2010 report .

For the same report in 2008 he had $1,149,388.00 on hand or a 32% reduction.

That fact points to the difficulty being reported in the national media that Democrats are having a difficult time fundraising this year. In the words of Joe Biden I believe a 32% and a 50% reduction between 2008 and 2010 is a "big **** deal".