PEG Releases Study of Top Political Action Committees in 2005-2006 Campaign Cycle.
(HARRISBURG) Republican campaign committees outspent their Democrat counterparts by a wide margin, albeit in losing causes; and businessman/Republican National Committeeman Robert Asher ran the top political action committee (PAC) in the Commonwealth in the 2005-2006 campaign cycle according to new research from the PEG Education Committee – a research organization operating under the umbrella of Pennsylvanians for Effective Government.“Money in politics is just as American as apple pie,” said PEG President David W. Patti, continuing, “and like apple pie perfectly healthy in moderation and as part of a balanced diet with regular exercise of voting and other first amendment rights.” According to Patti, the organization is an advocate for transparency and accountability in political giving. The group today released its initial findings of a biannual research project that dates to 1991. “By helping everyone to understand better who is making political contributions,” offered Patti, “PEG is advancing ethical and democratic elections.” ….… The table below lists the top 10 PA PACs ranked by Pennsylvania expenditures in 2005-2006 and provides their rank in the 2003-2004 PEG Study..1. PA Future Fund 2 2. PSEA-PACE for State Elections 133. Laborers’ District Council PAC (Regional) 54. Carpenters PAC of Philadelphia and Vicinity 45. LAWPAC (Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association)76. Local 0098 IBEW COPE (Philadelphia) 17. AFSCME Council 13 Political & Legislative Account88. Ortho PAC (PA Orthopedic Society) N/A9. Ninth Decade Fund (WBS) 10 10. PA Realtors PAC 12.The table below lists the top 10 PA Political PACs ranked by Pennsylvania expenditures in 2005-2006 and provides their rank in the 2003-2004 PEG Study..1. Republican State Committee of PA $8,829,6002. House Republican Campaign Committee $8,304,2063. Pennsylvania Democratic Party $8,173,8244. House Democratic Campaign Committee $5,763,1795. Senate Republican Campaign Committee $4,047,0296. Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee $3,070,2587. Philadelphia Democratic Campaign Committee$1,861,4828. Bucks County Republican Committee $992,7989. Montgomery County Republican Committee $936,65510. DelCo Rep Finance Committee $904.Among political parties and organizations, Republicans outnumber Democrats on the top 10 list. The Republican State Committee alone expended more than $8.8 million on behalf of its candidates for state and local office in the two year cycle. The House Republican Campaign Committee was a close second at $8.3 million. By comparison the Democrat State Committee expended about $8.1 million and the House Democratic Campaign Committee expended about $5 million. Senate Republicans outspent their Democrat counterparts at about $4 million to $3 million.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Pot Calling The Kettle Black. 
On his blog, Republican Commissioner candidate, George Dunbar criticizes the campaign funds of Commissioner Balya and myself by calling it a “huge war chest.” He goes on to ask the question of “how can anyone preach fiscal conservatism while overspending on a campaign?” Hey George, why don’t you talk to your running mate, Kim Ward, who was a paid hired gun for former Senator Rick Santorum, a Candidate that raised almost $26 million to lose in his last election bid. She’s the same gal who worked for President Bush and one can only guess what ungodly amount he spent locally to get elected. And we can also point to the $800,000 + your Republican State Senator Bob Regola spent to get elected. Before you criticize us about our raising money to fund our election, maybe you should look at your fellow Republicans’ spending habits around here and Kim Ward’s role in helping out and just maybe you have underestimated the cost of doing a campaign in the media market that you have chosen to seek election.
On his blog, Republican Commissioner candidate, George Dunbar criticizes the campaign funds of Commissioner Balya and myself by calling it a “huge war chest.” He goes on to ask the question of “how can anyone preach fiscal conservatism while overspending on a campaign?” Hey George, why don’t you talk to your running mate, Kim Ward, who was a paid hired gun for former Senator Rick Santorum, a Candidate that raised almost $26 million to lose in his last election bid. She’s the same gal who worked for President Bush and one can only guess what ungodly amount he spent locally to get elected. And we can also point to the $800,000 + your Republican State Senator Bob Regola spent to get elected. Before you criticize us about our raising money to fund our election, maybe you should look at your fellow Republicans’ spending habits around here and Kim Ward’s role in helping out and just maybe you have underestimated the cost of doing a campaign in the media market that you have chosen to seek election.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Actions Speak Louder than Words
A refreshing article caught my eye in the Tribune Review yesterday (6-21-07), “Hempfield supervisor calls for 2 resignations.” The article stated that Hempfield Township Supervisor Bob Davidson has asked two of the members (Mr. Bob Regola and Mr. Brad Melenia) of the Hempfield Township Municipal Authority to resign due to "excessive abuse" of credit cards. Good for Mr. Davidson! At least one of the supervisors in Hempfield cares about the rate payers of this authority. I wonder why Kim Ward, Chairman, Hempfield Township Supervisors, has remained silent on this issue. She certainly preaches enough about ethics and accountability on her Web site, yet never follows through with the actions to back up her statements. Clearly, she is just another candidate trying to get elected based on “sound bites” and not on the basis of successfully governing the people in the capacity in which she was elected to do. Kim—you’ve brought the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do” to a whole new level. Practice what you preach and ask these men to step down. I ask myself, what does George Dunbar think about this situation? Certainly “silence is golden” is not the case here.
A refreshing article caught my eye in the Tribune Review yesterday (6-21-07), “Hempfield supervisor calls for 2 resignations.” The article stated that Hempfield Township Supervisor Bob Davidson has asked two of the members (Mr. Bob Regola and Mr. Brad Melenia) of the Hempfield Township Municipal Authority to resign due to "excessive abuse" of credit cards. Good for Mr. Davidson! At least one of the supervisors in Hempfield cares about the rate payers of this authority. I wonder why Kim Ward, Chairman, Hempfield Township Supervisors, has remained silent on this issue. She certainly preaches enough about ethics and accountability on her Web site, yet never follows through with the actions to back up her statements. Clearly, she is just another candidate trying to get elected based on “sound bites” and not on the basis of successfully governing the people in the capacity in which she was elected to do. Kim—you’ve brought the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do” to a whole new level. Practice what you preach and ask these men to step down. I ask myself, what does George Dunbar think about this situation? Certainly “silence is golden” is not the case here.
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