Pat Meehan Hits Choppy Water

Pat Meehan Hits Choppy Water
Pat Meehan, has he opened a door for Casacio?

Pat Meehan Hits Choppy Water — Incumbent Pennsylvania Congressman Pat Meehan expected smooth sailing in his cuddly customized 7th District cocoon but he has hit some chop.

His opponent in the April 26 Republican primary, Montgomery County businessman Stan Casacio, got the endorsement of the Berks County Republican Committee in late February.

Granted the Berks section is but a small part of the district but it is worth noting that its Republican leaders are obviously unsatisfied with the representation they are receiving from Meehan.

More damning, though, is the revelation reported by Philly.com on  March 4 that Philadelphia Democrats are  big backers of Meehan.

 

So, what’s up with that Pat? If the GOP rank and file learn of this, the cost will be far greater than any benefit this support provides. You might have even opened the door for a Casacio win, something we would not have thought possible two months ago.

Pat Meehan Hits Choppy Water

 

Stan Casacio Gets 1500 Signatures

Stan Casacio Gets 1500 Signatures
Stan Casacio announcing his candidacy Jan. 21.

Stan Casacio Gets 1500 SignaturesThe petitions for Montgomery County businessman Stan Casacio were accepted, Feb. 16, by the Pennsylvania Department of State and he will be on the ballot, April 26, for the Republican 7th congressional primary.

He is challenging incumbent Pat Meehan.

Over 1500 names were collected.

Casacio is running because of concerns about fiscal irresponsibility and uncontrolled immigration among other things. While he  still faces an uphill battle, Meehan better take him seriously considering what happened in South Carolina on Saturday.

Casacio’s website is here.

Meehan’s website is here.

Stan Casacio Gets 1500 Signatures.

Casacio Crashes Delco

Casacio Crashes Delco
Stan Casacio at the Esler home.

Casacio Crashes Delco — Stan Casacio spent almost two hours this afternoon, Jan. 31, on his opponent’s home turf explaining the whys of his candidacy.

Casacio is a Montgomery County businessman long active in that county’s GOP politics who is mounting a GOP primary challenge to incumbent 7th District Congressman Pat Meheen.

The site of the invasion was a petitioning signing/meet and greet at the Esler home in Aston. Hostess was Lisa Esler, the Penn Delco School Board member who ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign last summer after local Republican Party leaders picked a Democrat-supporting union boss as their candidate for the vacated 161st Pennsylvania State House Seat.

Casacio said he was the son of an Italian immigrant who loves this country and the things for which it stands. He said existing policies abetted by Meehan will lead her to ruin. He described a fiscal policy that is impoverishing us. Meehan voted to raise the debt ceiling four times, he noted. We now owe over $18 trillion in debt.

Casacio said the immigration policy now in effect is a disaster. He said that when his father arrived his desire was to assimilate and become an American, not to impose strange and intolerant laws from the land that  they fled.

He said Meehan is among the enablers of Obama’s strange policy and has been non-existent in fighting it

Casacio also said he was motivated by his reverence for life.

“Each life is a nugget of gold,” he said.

He noted how the government has spend hundreds of millions seeking life in outer space and that merely shows how precious life is. He said that Meehan, who runs as a pro life candidate, voted to keep abortion-mill-operator Planned Parenthood funded and that he wouldn’t do it. He also noted that Meehan made robo-calls for one-time Planned Parenthood boardmember Scott Zelov in last year’s Montgomery County Commissioner Republican Primary. Zelov lost to Joe Gale, who was opposed by the party establishment and supported by Casacio.

Casacio said he spent his early years in Northeast Philadelphia before his family moved to Cheltenham where he attended Catholic Schools before graduating from Cheltenham High in the same class as “Yoni” Netanyahu, with whom he was friends.

It’s worth noting that Meehan also grew up in Cheltenham.

Casacio stayed in Cheltenham after starting a development company with his brother and sister, and got involved in local politics serving on the township’s board of commissioners. Among those whom he helped nurture in politics was talk show host Mark Levin, who was elected to the community’s school board in 1977 at the age of 20.

Casacio now lives in Whitemarsh.

Casacio, who is 68, said his age naturally term limits him but he still supports making limits mandatory for everyone.

Pennsylvania’s 7th District is horrifically gerrymandered. About 60-percent lies in Delaware County with the rest split between Montgomery, Chester, Lancaster and Berks counties.

The primary election is April 26.

Casacio Crashes Delco

 

 

 

Pat Meehan Primaried

Stan Casacio Pat Meehan Primaried
Stan Casacio throwing his hat in the ring in the Pa. 7th congressional race.

Pat Meehan Primaried — Montgomery County businessman Stan Casacio announced tonight, Jan. 21, he will challenge incumbent Pat Meehan for  Pennsylvania’s 7th District congressional seat in the April 26 Republican Primary.

Among those with Casacio at the event at his Whitemarsh home where he made the announcement were newly elected Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale and WPHT talk show host Dom Giordano.

Casacio, a local Republican leader, was a big backer of Gale. He said he was motivated to run against Meehan because of his unwillingness to fight to reign in out-of-control spending and illegal immigration, among other things.

He described Meehan as a nice guy but said he felt action was needed.

Meehan was elected to the seat in 2010.

The traditional center of the 7th District has been Delaware County and it has been represented by a Delco resident since 1945. It has been horrifically gerrymandered, though, and now includes large parts of Montgomery, Berks and Chester counties, and, believe it or not, even part of Lancaster County.

Pat Meehan Primaried

Meehan Grills V.A. About Fear Of Reprisals

Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) has taken the lead in demanding reforms following a scathing report by the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the Philadelphia Veterans Administration’s benefits office.  Meehan Grills V.A. About Fear Of Reprisals Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) has taken the lead in demanding reforms following a scathing report by the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the Philadelphia Veterans Administration's benefits office

Meehan during a recent hearing points out the investigators “serious mistrust and fear of reprisals”  Below is the video:

Hat tip R.M.

 Meehan Grills V.A. About Fear Of Reprisals

Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act To Return

Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act To Be Introduced Again

Sen. Pat Toomey announced at today’s Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally that he will be bringing back the Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act.

With the temperatures in the teens a crowd of almost 200 gathered at Independence Mall this afternoon, Jan. 10, to show unequivocally that blue lives mattered.

The event,  the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally, was organized by Independence Hall Foundation and featured an all star lineup of local media and political figures.

“It’s a pretty brisk day in Philadelphia but it’s a good day to stand up for police officers,” said Headliner Sen. Pat Toomey.

Toomey noted that the site, 13th and Locust streets, where Philadelphia Police Officer Danny Faulkner was murdered by hipster celebrity Mumia Abu Jamal was not all that far from where the rally was taking place. He said he will be reintroducing the Danny Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, which will guarantee the maximum in federal Pell Grants to children of police and military personnel who died on duty. The bill had been introduced in 2010 but died in committee.

Toomey also remembered Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Bryon Dickson, who was murdered in an ambush attack, Sept. 12,  by whackjob Eric Frein in Blooming Grove, and State Trooper Alex Douglass, who was wounded in the attack.

He said that people like Frein were part of the madness police have to deal with every day.

“The protestors don’t speak for America,” he said.

Toomey was preceded by Congress Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) who noted that he awoke to read this morning that 2,000 men, women and children were murdered by Boko Haram Muslim extremists in Nigeria.

“I don’t know how many academic professors will be out in protest,” he said.

He noted that three of those killed in Paris terror rampage of the last 48 hours were police officers.

Speakers mercifully kept their remarks short due to the bitter cold.

Long-time Media, Pa. Mayor Bob McMahon read a message in support of police from fellow Democrat Congressman Bob Brady of the First District. Brady, who was scheduled to speak, could not attend due to a bout of the flu.

McMahon, speaking for himself, said with regard to his experiences in Vietnam and elected office is “What I’ve learned is that the most important issue in any city or borough is public safety.”

State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160) said “We must make sure there is never another rally in which people chant “What do we want? Dead cops!”

Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh noted that no matter what the badge says police work together. She told an anecdote about how a young man had entered a contest to go hunting with the Chester County sheriff not realizing that the Chester County referred to was in South Carolina. She worked with her Southern counterpart, whom she knew, to get the boy his hunting trip.

Philadelphia County Sheriff Jewell Williams said “People should come out to support the men and women in blue.”

WIP commentator and former Philadelphia Eagle Garry Cobb it was his father, who served in the Army, who taught him how to respect men and women in uniform. He noted he learned to play football in the Police Athletic League and a policeman was his first coach of whom he had fond memories.

Filmmaker Tigre Hill said his respect for police began at a young age. “My mother pointed at a policeman and said ‘he is your friend'”

State Rep. Mike Verb (R-150) expressed concern about some of the statements made by public officials regarding law enforcement officers.

“Demand leadership at all levels, not just in the Commonwealth but at the federal level.”

Educator and activist Armond James said many of his students see police as “the enemy.” He said honest conversation is needed. He said cops put their lives on the line everyday.

Rich Davis of West Chester-based American Sheepdogs said “Police officers have our backs and their families have our hearts.”

Homeless advocate and Philadelphia Police Advisory Board member Joe Eastman noted that he never saw an officer who was superman.

“But I have seen hundreds of dedicated men and women who have taken an oath to protect this city.”

He said that police were all that stood before utter chaos.

Businesswoman and commentator Renee Amoore and attorney Matt Rooney, who is founder of SaveJersey.com, gave rousing statements in appreciation of those in blue, as did Bob Ballentine, secretary for Philadelphia FOP Lodge #5.

Master of ceremonies duties were performed by Teri Adams and WPHT Talk Show Host Dom Giordano, who was instrumental in promoting the event. Ms. Adams also started things with a moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

The invocation was given by Rev. Todd Johnson of First Emmanuel Baptist Church.  The ceremony ended with taps by Kevin Gruenfeld.

Montgomery County Sheriff Russell Bono and a Philadelphia councilman whose name we missed attended and were recognized from the podium.

Those interested in making a contribution to the families of slain New York Police officers Wenjian Liue and Rafael Ramos can contribute via PayPal by sending payments to Daily News Charities, account number  9387-575-837, routing number 021-000-322 or sending a check payable to Daily News Charities Inc. to Daily News Charities, Ramos and Liu families, New York Daily News, 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004.

Kudos to Don and Teri Adams and the rest of the Independence Hall Foundation.

For more photos of the event go here.

 Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act To Be Introduced Again
Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act To Be Introduced Again

 Danny Faulkner Scholarship Act To Be Introduced Again

 

 

Dems Tap Lefty La Salle Prof Against Pat Meehan

Springfield Republican Party Chairman Mike Puppio announced at last night’s (Feb. 19) campaign kick-off meeting that the Democrats have tapped La Salle University political science professor Mary Ellen Balchunis-Harris to take on incumbent Republican Pat Meehan in Pennsylvania’s 7th District congressional race.

Visit here to see what Ms. Balchunis-Harris’ students say about her.

Also, Puppio noted that the race to fill the 26th District state senate seat being vacated by Republican Ted Erickson is expected to turn out to be the most expensive state senate race in Pennsylvania’s history.

County Council Chairman Tom McGarrigle, a Springfield mechanic who worked his way up to owning his own garage, will be the GOP nominee.

He is endorsed by the party and does not appear to have a primary opponent.

Visit BillLawrenceDittos.com for Dems Tap Lefty La Salle Prof Against Pat Meehan
Visit BillLawrenceOnline.com for Dems Tap Lefty La Salle Prof Against Pat Meehan

 

 

Meehan Syrian Statement

Meehan Syrian Statement — Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) has placed the following statement on his Facebook page:

Meehan Syrian StatementI have very serious concerns about potential strikes on Syria. Many critical questions remain unanswered: What are our national goals and objectives, and what is the strategy to implement it? How will it strengthen our national security, and can we guarantee we can end Syria’s chemical weapons programs?

What are the potential consequences for our allies in the region, specifically Israel? 

Sending our men and women into combat is the most grave decision a public official can make, and so far

I’m not satisfied that this administration has sufficiently answered these questions to the Congress and the American people. I will continue investigating, asking for answers to these questions, and listening to the people of the 7th District before the vote next week.

Meehan Syrian Statement

Why Does Agribusiness Give To Rep. Pat Meehan?

By Tom Flocco

“It’s a life of hell for people who are illegally trying to work…”  Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7-PA—The Philadelphia Inquirer—7/9/2013

“I believe we still need the special skills and talents of foreign workers coming into the country.”  Patrick Meehan—9/10/2010—Valley Forge Tea Party Meeting

Speaker John Boehner led a House Republican Conference meeting last Wednesday (July 10) to discuss how to handle the increasing frustration of its party base regarding the looming prospect of illegal immigration amnesty and whether any bill should be sent to a House-Senate Joint Reconciliation Conference where amnesty would likely be guaranteed.

Questions are being raised as to why GOP members would even consider the ultimate legalization of some10-40 million new U.S. workers and their “chain immigration” relatives plus foreign professionals to compete with an already staggering number of unemployed Americans for the few job scraps still available.

Constituents or Immigration Interests?

One answer could lie in the western suburban Philadelphia counties of Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks surrounding the city which have been traditional GOP strongholds with serious Tea Party involvement—but with increasing Democrat registrations due to redistricting sections of Philadelphia which occasionally tips the balance of power.

In the 7th Congressional District, however, campaign finance dollars could also be playing a quiet role as Patrick Meehan, a respected former Delaware County DA and United States Attorney, faces on the surface a third easy race and no primary opposition in 2014—since former Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak left for a losing Senate race against Patrick Toomey.

Meehan’s Democrat opponent will likely be weak enough so that he would have a large enough victory margin to vote for a House Immigration bill loaded with “Tea-Party-style” conservative goodies to be sent over to a compromised House-Senate reconciliation conference ready to do the dirty work.

At that point Meehan and other GOP House members would have political cover to blame Sen. Marco Rubio and his “gang of ocho” for legalizing 11-40 million new workers but also stripping out e-verify job protections, defunding sanctuary cities, ending chain immigration, limitations on foreign visa professionals and ending foreign birthright citizenship, etc.

Meehan told The Philadelphia Inquirer on July 9  that “It’s within my contemplation that we’ve got to figure out some kind of earned legal status for people who are here,” indicating that he is intent on providing 11-40 million more workers to compete on an even playing field with millions of currently unemployed American citizens. [http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news&id=214696841]

Unemployed 7th District constituents—let alone all Americans out of wok–may take issue with Meehan’s ‘expressions of sympathy for people who came here illegally but are striving for a better life,’ as the Inquirer phrased it.

Meehan then added, “It’s a life of hell for people who are illegally trying to work.”
Many Delaware County families are also going through a life of unemployed hell—and they are all citizens who did not break United States laws.

Follow Congressional Dollars

U.S. corporations and smaller businesses expect something in return for the gobs of green grease donated to encourage the GOP to betray both their unemployed and working constituents with some curious political shenanigans.
Millions of newly legalized workers will drive down salaries and wages through increased competition—from those breaking into the country illegally and those coming in legally with the help of immigration law firms and very liberal visa policies.

An examination of Patrick Meehan’s campaign finance records available on OpenSecrets.org reveals that two of his top five contributors, Cozen-O’Connor and Pepper-Hamilton—individual law firms with sizable immigration practices — gave a combined $100,000.from a total $867,000 contributed by other U.S. law firms and lobbyists handing out cash during Meehan’s first two terms.

Many of the other law firms also have substantial immigration practices throughout the U.S.

Interestingly, Cozen O’Connor is one of many large law firms providing counsel to the detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

A 2008 Pew Research report said 17 percent of all American construction workers were not U.S. citizens while Rep. Meehan received $292,000.in contributions from the Construction Industry during his two terms in Congress.

The same Pew report listed 25 percent of all American farm workers as illegal and undocumented while the 7th District suburban Philadelphia representative received $74,000 from the Agri-Business industry, also according to Open Secrets.org.

A key example as to where Meehan may lean on immigration came in a May 2012 House amendment to prohibit the use of funds to be used by Obama Attorney General Eric Holder to originate or join in any lawsuit that sought to overturn, enjoin, or invalidate Immigration Enforcement Laws in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona, Utah, Indiana, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The amendment passed 238-173 with most Republicans supporting it and most Democrats opposing it.

However, Patrick Meehan voted against the amendment and no one in Delaware County has asked him to explain why he voted to allow Holder to use taxpayer funds to help overturn immigration enforcement laws in 10 states.

Immigration website NumbersUSA.com lists Meehan’s stances as virtually  unknown and a blank slate from his questionnaire regarding such key issues as amnesty, mandating E-verify to protect American jobs, limiting worker importation, ending chain immigration, and defunding sanctuary cities for illegals across America.

While Speaker Boehner attempts to craft something palatable to his base and his large contingent of revolting conferees, some GOP members are looking for cover from the Senate after they send a bill to conference which will ultimately placate wealthy contributors needing cheap labor from legalizing those entering illegally but also those coming in legally—albeit with the help of immigration law firms handing out congressional dollars.

Special Skills And Talents Of Foreign Workers

This reporter’s own experience questioning Meehan came on Sept. 10, 2010 at about 8:45 p.m. during an evening campaign stop at a Valley Forge Patriots Tea Party meeting in Phoenixville, PA, attended by some 300 voters.

During the Q&A this reporter asked Meehan whether Congress should reduce or perhaps institute a moratorium on H-1b and L-1 visas which bring highly-skilled professionals into the country to take American jobs at a time when millions of U.S. professionals are already jobless.

Meehan’s face turned red as he replied, “I believe we still need the special skills and talents of foreign workers coming into the country.”

There was a smattering of applause while most of the 300 voters sat in stunned silence—so much so that Meehan’s aides walked about assessing the political damage previously unreported by any news organization—but those in attendance will remember.

Meehan took no more questions and immediately excused himself, saying to the crowd, “Thank you for coming. Now I have to get to a 10:30 p.m. coffee meeting in Springfield,” (40+ minutes away) while his aides stayed long after attempting to smooth over the comment about foreign workers.

While Rep. Meehan has previously served honorably and capably in Delaware County law enforcement, serious concerns can be raised as to whether the congressman and so many of his GOP cohorts—also beholden to immigration-oriented campaign finance benefactors—can navigate the murky waters of loyally representing the job interests of their own constituents when so much corporate money is riding on their upcoming amnesty vote to drastically increase the labor pool—and competition for jobs.

Perhaps voters will confront GOP House members regarding amnesty and its effect on unemployment at upcoming summer recess events in home congressional districts as they did a few summers ago after the taxpayer bank bailout—which led to the Tea Party.

Or perhaps American citizens have just had enough—disgusted with lawbreakers demanding legalization and amnesty, but also with GOP congressmen who don’t understand the employment hell their own constituents are experiencing nation-wide.

Maybe it’s time for an electoral Tea Party.

 

 

Why Does Agribusiness Give To Rep. Pat Meehan?

 

Why Does Agribusiness Give To Rep. Pat Meehan?

Meehan Only Hero In ConocoPhillips Tragedy

Meehan Only Hero In ConocoPhillips Tragedy — ConocoPhillips announced billions in profits, yesterday, shortly before it was expected to layoff its workforce at its refinery in Trainer, Pa.

This has resulted in outrage, and there should be outrage. Not just an employer but a major part of our industrial infrastructure is shutting down.

Where is the attempt to save it?

ConocoPhillips spokesman Rich Johnson explained the reasoning for the closing as being “based on the level of investment required to remain competitive in the U.S. East Coast refining market that has been under severe market pressure for several years.”

He cited product imports, weakness in motor fuel demand and costly regulatory requirements as the cause of this market pressure.

Where were our politicians in demanding relief from these requirements? Congressman Pat Meehan (R-7) is the closest thing we have to a hero on this and even he could have been a lot louder.

Congressmen Bob Brady (D-1) and Chaka Fattah (D-2) have been dead silent on the issue. One of the similarly endangered Sunoco refineries is in Fattah’s district and Brady’s district includes many of refinery workers.

How about the union leaders? Notice Johnson was not blaming labor costs for the closings? Why do they continue to support politicians who want to regulate away our industry?

Our senators Pat Toomey (R) and Bob Casey (D) haven’t been particularly outspoken on providing relief for the refineries and their workers.

And of course there is President Obama. Obama didn’t even make the feeblest effort to save them and it would have been likely been all that it would have taken. Does Obama want to destroy our industry? I fear the answer to that.

So outrage is warranted but don’t direct it all at the oil company.