Ed Mitchell- When Will Paul Pay The $250,000 Owed To The DCCC?

In today's Times Leader Bill O'Boyle writes a column about Kanjorski's campaign money vs. Lou Barletta's campagin funds.

There seems to be on factual piece missing from this article. Boyle writes

According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission in Washington, Kanjorski, of Nanticoke, has $952,233 cash on hand and no debt as the November general election looms.

In fact Paul Kanjorski owes a $250,000 payment from his campaign funds for dues assessed to him by the DCCC that has not been made. I call that debt.

If Kanjorski's campaign were to make that payment instead of $952,233 on hand the CFC would have $702,233. Since Ed Mitchell stated it costs approximately $100,000 per week to advertise on television Mitchell will only be able to buy seven weeks of air time.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what he comes up with,” said Ed Mitchell, spokesman for Kanjorski’s campaign. “Mr. Barletta claims to be a major fundraiser nationally, but it seems like he is lagging behind.”

It is a fact that Lou Barletta For Congress has raised more money at this point in time than in the 2008 race.

Kanjorski claims to be a powerful person in Congress.

Democratic leaders assess dues on members of their caucus, ranging from $800,000 each for top lawmakers to $150,000 annually for less powerful members.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat who won re-election with 52 percent of the vote, has not paid his $250,000 DCCC dues despite almost $1.2 million in the bank.

So how powerful is he if his DCCC dues assessment is only $250,000 out of $800,000 potential?

As for Kanjorski's campaign money I point to a comment left on the O'Boyle article. (V)irtually all of Kanjorskis money comes from Wall Street banks, insurance companies, credit unions, and others that he is supposed to regulate. Aren't those types of conflict of interest what Kanjorski has been howling about with the fiancial institutions he claims need regulating?

DCCC To Paul Kanjorski- Pay Up

This Washington Post article highlights the nervousness among Democratic incumbent lawmakers over this November election.

House Democratic lawmakers are holding onto their campaign cash despite pleas from the campaign committee for money to help the party, a reflection of the nervousness among incumbents.

Only 16 of the 254 members of the Democratic caucus have paid their full obligation to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press. Of those, dozens have outstanding balances of at least $125,000. Lawmakers in unexpectedly tight re-election campaigns and those who could face serious challenges are keeping their dollars in their accounts.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat who won re-election with 52 percent of the vote, has not paid his $250,000 DCCC dues despite almost $1.2 million in the bank.

Here is an interesting assessment about Kanjorski's self proclaimed clout.

Democratic leaders assess dues on members of their caucus, ranging from $800,000 each for top lawmakers to $150,000 annually for less powerful members. If Paul Kanjorski owes $250,000 does that mean he really isn't as powerful as he claims? He owes less than 1/3 of those considered top lawmakers.

Some in the blogosphere have pointed to Kanjorski's $1.2 million. However, it appears they were misled about the money in his campaign war chest.

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.

Nancy Pelosi Has A S**T List And Guess Who Made It?

The Politico.com published an article today titled Pelosi's list: Who's on her bad side? Glenn Thrush discusses Nancy early days as a protege of her father, Baltimore Mayor Tommy D’Alesandro. She would sift through voter files and keep a list of people her father helped in his political capacity.

Like her father, she also kept a "Disfavor" file, a roster of those whom she believes have screwed up, betrayed her, challenged her or merely annoyed her.

Hawkish Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), who clashed with Pelosi on Iraq and intelligence policy, assumed she was in line to become chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats seized control of the House in 2006. But Pelosi refused to appoint Harman to even a seat on the committee, and she handed the chairmanship to Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas).

As speaker, she did nothing to stop her ally Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) from ousting Rep. John Dingell as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee after clashing with the octogenarian Michigan Democrat on energy policy and global warming.


Guess who made it to the disfavor list- Paul Kanjorski, and here's why.

Pelosi and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made an all-out effort to help the veteran Scranton congressman win a tight race against longtime nemesis Lou Barletta last fall.

So aides say the speaker was taken aback when the western Pennsylvania representative bucked leadership by voting “no” on the original version of the stimulus bill.

He voted for the conference report later, but hard feelings persist.

The media in Northeastern Pennsylvania has consistently underestimated the amount of money given by outside committees to Paul Kanjorski during this last election. Take this account written by Andrew Seder of the Times Leader. Quoting his article "Kanjorski, a Nanticoke resident who earned his 13th term in Washington, spent $3.07 million." If you go to the FEC report and add up the Party Coordinated Expenditures, Independent Expenditures On Behalf Of The Candidate, Contributions (from PACS) plus the In Kind Contributions using Excel the figure amounts to a staggering $3,548,832.00 from 897 contributions. For this category on Kanjorski's report Non-Party (e.g. PACs) or Other Committees: it only lists $1,531,728.00 worth. Not sure why the big discrepancy.

The DCCC and the National Association of Realtors spent $1,963,132.00 alone on Kanjorski's report. It is interesing to note that the DCCC lists debt of $16,420,991.00 on its own report.

Now if you want to read something really crazy look at the first item in that report, Independent Expenditure Against A Candidate. Read the last entry, Pennsylvania Democratic Party. According to Kanjorski's report is he saying that the Pennsylvania Democratic Party spent $34,756.00 against him? The National Republican Congressional Committee spent $724,363.00 against him.

If you go to Opensecrets.org you can view the net worth of both the House and Senate Members.

Jane Harman (D-Calif) Minimum Net Worth $236,280,153 Average Net Worth $397,412,077 Maxium Net Worth $558,544,002

Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) Minimum Net Worth $-19,038,894 Average Net Worth $62,468,047 Maxium Net Worth $143,974,989

Do you really think Jane Harman cares about Nancy's list?

Just in- Kanjorski's C(r)ash and Burn

The DCCC tells PolitickerPA.com it will spend a total of $2.2 million combined this year to defend U.S. Reps. Chris Carney and Paul Kanjorski. Carney, a freshman, is facing a battle against Republican Chris Hackett, a staffing company executive. Kanjorski, a 12 term incumbent, is running against Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta. Maybe my $4 million figure will be too low.