By Tom Waring
Wire Staff Writer
Kevin Strouse, the Democratic candidate in the 8th Congressional District, criticized Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick for being part of what he sees as the constant dysfunction in Washington.
Strouse noted that on a recent Monday, the House of Representatives gaveled in for a mere three minutes and 18 seconds before recessing until later that week.
According to Strouse, this is just the latest example of a do-nothing Congress that refuses to proactively work to solve America’s problems.
Strouse wants to see Fitzpatrick be part of a Congress that passes a minimum wage increase.
“Pennsylvania families will continue to struggle as long as Congressman Fitzpatrick is around to keep kicking the can down the road,” he said.
Strouse is a former Army Ranger, CIA counterterrorism analyst and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He lives in Middletown with his wife and two young children. He is program director of Teach2Serve, a nonprofit that teaches social entrepreneurship to local high school students.
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Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on President Barack Obama to increase communication with Congress as the administration considers possible relief from economic sanctions for Iran.
“I’m proud to join with members of both parties in support of our ally Israel, and American interests internationally, by opposing unilateral action by the administration when it comes to relief of sanctions against Iran,” Fitzpatrick said. “This discussion should not be limited to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but also include their weapons programs and financial support for terrorism internationally. It is critical that our nation speak with one voice while working diplomatically in the world, and I encourage the president to seek consultation with Congress prior to any decisions regarding the future of the successful sanctions against Iran.”
A letter to Obama was co-authored by Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel and Republican Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Fitzpatrick was one of more than 25 signers.
The letter read, in part, “With the July 20 negotiating deadline on the near horizon, we hope that your administration will now engage in substantive consultations with Congress on the scope of acceptable sanctions relief. It would be wise for Congress and the executive branch to work closely together to end the threat that Iran’s efforts to acquire a nuclear weapons capability pose to U.S. national security.”
Fitzpatrick is serving his third term. The 8th district includes all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County.
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In other news, Fitzpatrick is accepting applications for fall semester internships in both his Washington, D.C. and Langhorne offices.
The unpaid internships are an opportunity for any students interested in the legislative process, public service and learning more about the inner workings of the federal government.
The opportunity is open to college students, law students, and recent graduates. Responsibilities include answering phone calls from constituents, organizing mail and faxes, leading constituents on tours of the Capitol Building, greeting visitors and assisting the congressman’s overall legislative efforts through research and writing.
The deadline for applications is Aug 8.
If interested in working in Washington, contact Anna Marie DiMascia at 202–225–4276 or [email protected].
If interested in working in Langhorne, contact Jen Nawalinski at 215–579–8102 or [email protected].
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Gov. Tom Corbett debuted a campaign commercial last week that touts the 178,000 private sector jobs created in the last three years and an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent that is the lowest since September 2008.
In addition, the television spot references a survey conducted by Site Selection magazine showing Pennsylvania №1 in the northeastern United States for building new facilities.
Corbett’s running mate is Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, a former Bucks County commissioner.
“Gov. Tom Corbett is building a stronger Pennsylvania, and that’s a story we are excited to tell to the voters,” said campaign communications director Chris Pack. “Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is at a five-year low, and we have more people working in the state’s private sector than at any other point in history. Gov. Tom Corbett is building a stronger Pennsylvania for our future, and he’s not done yet.”
