November 7, 2006 at 01:06:15

Time for a change in Pa. 16

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By Jpol (about the author) Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Jpol - Writer

Voters in Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional district have a chance to make history this Tuesday by tossing out 5-term Republican Congressman Joe Pitts and electing Democrat Lois Herr in his place. This district has never sent a Democrat or a woman to Congress, but a lot of people in this district sense that history will be made tomorrow. Lois has run indefatiguable campaign and raised over $300,000 with no help from the DCCC. Her TV spots and billboards have enabled her to greatly expanded her name recognition despite limited media coverage, and her yard signs are everywhere. She has earned the endorsement of, among others, the AFL-CIO, The National Education Association, the Political Action Committee for Education, the National Farmers Union Political Action Committee, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Women's Political Caucus, People for the American Way, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Sthe ierra Club's National Political Committee and its Pennsylvania Chapter, the Alliance for Retired Americans, et al. She has won the endorsement of the Lancaster Pa. Intelligencer-Journal. In short, Lois Herr has won broad-based support because of her common-sense and principled approach to the issues.

But what of Joe Pitts who has represented this district for ten years and is now seeking a sixth term in violation of a pledge not seek more than five terms? (the Intelligencer Journal reported on December 19, 1995: "Pitts... promised that he would only serve 10 years in Congress. 'I will support term limits. I always have for Congress.'). To call Joe Pitts "conservative" is an understatement of epic proportions. He is among the most right-wing members of Congress with an anti-women, anti-labor, anti-environment, pro-torture, agenda. He has consistently attempted to weaken the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. He supports the war but turns his back on veterans' benefits. Joe Pitts is, in short, the pits.

But don't take my word for it. I do not like Joe Pitts, but I have a lot of company:

Pitts received a "0%" voting record from NARAL with votes against embryonic stem cell research; for restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions; for providing funding for health providers who refuse to provide abortion info; for banning family planning funding in U.S. aid abroad et al.

Pitts received a 7% score from the American Civil Liberties Union for voting to make the PATRIOT Act permanent; yes on a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage; yes on a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration; yes on banning gay adoptions; yes on allowing torture and suspending habeus corpus, et al.

Pitts received a 100% rating from the conservative United States Chamber of Commerce for voting yes on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks; yes on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment, et al.

On education, the National Education Association (NEA) scored Pitts at 8% for voting no on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges; yes on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror; yes on allowing vouchers in schools; yes on vouchers for private & parochial schools; yes on allowing schools to display the words "God Bless America," et al. Pitts also supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer.

Pitts received a 5% rating from the League of Conservation Voters by voting no on increasing AMTRAK funding; no on barring a website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump; yes on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species; yes on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects, et al. He also supports oil drilling in the ANWR wildlife preserve.

Pitts is rated "A" by the National Rifle Association for voting yes on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse; yes on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1, et al.

Pitts received an 11% score from the American Public Health Association (APHA) for voting yes on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay; yes on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages; yes on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients; no on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs; yes on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits, et al.

Pitts was rated 11% by SANE for voting yes on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight; yes on deploying SDI, et al.

Pitts was rated 7% by the AFL-CIO for his anti-union voting record.

Pitts was rated 100% by the Christian Coalition for his "pro-family voting record."

Pitts was rated "0" by the Alliance for Retired Americans for his "anti-senior" voting record.

Despite his strong support for the Iraq war Pitts received a "0" rating from Disabled War Veterans.

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My primary source of livelihood over the years has been in the field of media ad sales, but I've always written on the side and, in addition to blogging, I have been fortunate enough to have been published in places like Rolling Stone, The Village (more...)

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