He's a minority member of Congress. He's only halfway through his second term. But U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) will still bring $22.5 million in earmarked funds to the Lehigh Valley next year. It's all part of the 2008 Omnibus Budget package approved by Congress last week. Bush is expected to sign this time.In addition to funding local worthwhile projects at Christmas, this budget package demonstrates Dent's growing influence. Dent co-chairs Congress' Tuesday Group, a coalition of forty centrist Republicans.
These appropriations are detailed at Dent's website, and include all the public safety initiatives I first told you about back in July. In addition, Dent has secured $1 million to help implement flood mitigation plans and $2 million to complete the American Parkway.
If you think this is all just a walk in the park, think again. Dent's proposal to restore some buildings at Moravian College, for example, was unsuccessfully challenged by Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake.
54 comments:
And his challenger is passing out gold painted garden rakes!
Come November I'll be heading over to the Carmike to see "Flushed Away II" the story of what happened to Sam Bennett's campaign money!
..and still ethically challenged Charlie Dents gets the endorsement
of Lehigh Valley Ramblings. Picture sort of looks like Bush on that tragic day!
Or not so tragic day for the globalist war machine and profiteer
of the peoples money.
Who side are you on Bernie? Seems pretty clear here that your not on the peoples.
A simple announcement that Dent has managed to get $22.5 million earmarked for his district results in a comment that (a) calls him ethically challenged with no factual foundation; (b) a comparison to GW on 9/11; and (c) and accusation that I'm not on the peoples [sic] side.
Not too biased now, are you?
It doesn't matter whose side I'm on. I hold no office. But given the amount of money a minority member of Congress has been able to get for his district only halfway thru his second term, it's a safe bet that Charlie Dent is closer to being on the people's side than you.
In recent history, the Lehigh Valley has been treated like a readheaded step child when it comes to federal funding. Thank goodness we finally have a congressman who will work for our area. There is not one single "bridge to nowhere" in the package of projects he is obtaining funding for. Our emergency preparedness lags well behind many areas, and make no mistake about it, if there is a disaster in NYC or Philly we will get the refugees here. We have severe flooding problems and have been consistently pushed to end of the line for funding, this will be a big step forward for the area and will in the longrun save us local and state tax dollars in mitigation for flood and erosion.
I think we owe Charlie Dent a vote of confidence and a big thank you for being such a good represetative for the Lehgh Valley.
Seriuosly, we cry about all the money being wasted nationally on ridiculous earmarks and we applaud when our congressman gets some. Why do you think he was so successful. Let me give you a hint. This is a swing district.
Tom Foolery,
1) I would continue to condemn wasteful earmarks, and Murtha has a few beauties. I don't consider any of these LV earmarks to be wasteful in the least. They are all documented, and Dent actually defended them on the House floor.
2) This is a swing district, and Dent is a minority member. It make sense to you that a Dem congress gives him $22.5MM?? You'll have to explain that one to me some day.
You'll have to explain that one to me some day.
When pigs wallow around in mud, it's hard to distinguish one pig from another. So they are all just having fun in one big pork party.
Meaning, voters overturned control of congress to end earmarks, end the war, and fix the economy. It looks like we have more earmarks, the war is still on, and the economy is tanking.
So since our actions put further incompetent people in charge of congress, and should we question their actions? Or, ours?
O_o
P.S. Happy Holidays everyone. I hope we all are enjoying them safely!
9:12 anonymous,
B+)
You go girl!
Goes to show how many don't understand Politics. If we can
10% of the Middle Class and Working Poor from shooting themselves in the foot, we could really change thing!
More aide and comforts for the R's ?
I hate to admit this, but Charlie Dent has been a damn sight better than Pat Toomey or McHale ever was.
Actually getting meaningful appropriations for the district.
Charlie dent interceded to find funding to put a soundwall along the Route 222 bypass where one wasn't planned. It's about serving ALL your constituents, and while he is a Big Oil guy, he leverages that to get things done at home.
Ask yourself this question: Could Sam Bennett do a better job?
Her non profit fiasco should answer that question easily.
That's the best we Dems could do, Sam Bennett? I'm voting for Dent, when I have a choice between a work horse and a boob, there is no choice.
I don't know that you can compare Dent to Toomey in that Toomey is for a decreased federal spending and a decrease in these types of earmarks.
McHale was too long ago for a meaningful comparison as well in my humble opinion.
Charlie's base wants small government frowns on these types of programs almost 2 to 1.
He is smart and he knows that most of his base could never vote for a D, he is likeable enough to fool the rest, and earmarks like these coming to the valley sway enough D's into believing he is a good enough representative in Washington.
He was clearly a rubber stamp to the Bush Administration, he is moving back to the center now, and he is a making all the right moves when he needs to. His seat is no longer in as much trouble as many of us once thought.
Well played Mr. Dent, well played.
Bang, Bang, goes
the Middle Class
and working poor foot!
Dents gets another election
say Good Bye America, Good Bye!
Make this story Big:
Dents finally does it!
America Ends!
Earmarks are bad government at its worst as they purposely insulated from the kind of careful fiscal scrutiny that would doom most of them.
It's not always good to be good at something, and Charlie Dent is a phony of the highest order, parading around as a fiscal conservative.
He's slopped more poorly managed federal money for our area than any lefty to precede him, and he's well to the left of Hillary and several Democrat presidential candidates on the wars.
It's easy to understand Charlie's support from the left.
Earmarks are bad government at its worst as they purposely insulated from the kind of careful fiscal scrutiny that would doom most of them.
That is complete bullshit. Although they certainly can be abused, earmarks are also a useful way to direct funds to worthy programs within a congressional district. In a deviation from previous practice, we now know who is sponsoring these grants. They must be transparent. If you look at the requests Dent made, I think he was reasonable. Perhaps you don't think we need flood mitigation money or money to enable a more rapid response to child abuse reports, but most of these grants benefit the middle class.
BO has it correct as "must be transparent" is the key! Hidden tax money for bridges to nowhere and the like were a big problem in the past! Why "anybody" has a problem with any elected official garnering some tax monies for worthwhile projects for their constituents, is beyond me? Go figure. larry@kisslinger.com
Here in lies the difference:
As Bernie mentioned, Dent's requests were transparent and stood the test of scrutiny. They actually do make important and long needed contributions to the area, and do not merely grease anyone's palms.
Murtha has money coming into the Johnstown area that only goes to companies in which he has financial interests ...You can look that up.There are videos of the wheeling and dealing and it all gets swept under the capet. What he is doing only greases his own palms.
When there is work to be done it is a benefit to the area to get some of our tax money back to do that work, That is part of a congressman's job. When we merely grab money to spread around to cronies and to invest in our own private companies, that's corruption
The way for the Dem Congress to get their earmarks through is to allow GOP earmarks also. Otherwise they couldn't override a presidential veto...What do you think, Dent is so damn good that they fell in love with him and appropriated the earmarks. No, the Republican leadership push these...
Pol 101...
Tom Foolery,
Agreed. And the amount of money a three-year Congressman gets for his district is an indication that his influence is growing. I believe some members of that Tuesday group sit on the appropriations committee. The fact that Dems let Dent get so much is also an indication that the LV may no longer be considered a swing district. You probably have read Josh Drobnyk's post about Bennett. It appears she's lost favor w/ congressional Dems.
You can't believe everything you read-- and when the writer and his publication have a markedly reactionary and Republican agenda, as is so often the case with owners of small town newspapers and the lackeys who work for them, you're better off ignoring whatever they have to say about politics altogether and just heading straight for the high school sports scores. It's bad all around the country, but I've probably never seen it so bad as in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, where the Allentown Morning Call functions as a mouthpiece for the forces of right-wing reaction. Their political "reporter," a wet-behind-the-ears, two-bit hit man named Josh Drobnyk seems to have a goal-- and it isn't reporting.
Drobnyk is out to derail Democratic chances to defeat Bush rubber stamp Charlie Dent. By any standard, the tripe he pours out about Democratic candidate-- in the Morning Call and at the paper's poisonous website, Pennsylvania Ave.-- wouldn't pass muster at a beginers journalism class. It goes far beyond partisan bias and into the realm of character assasination and premeditated propaganda.
But at least we can turn to the internet for some reality, right? Um... not in the Lehigh Valley, apparently. Aside from Drobnyk's assinine and transparent distortions, the two bloggers covering Sam's campaign against Dent are even worse than Drobnyk. One is apoparently the mentally ill chief of staff to hack local politician Lisa Boscola. Bernie Kieklak uses the name "Bernie Takes NO prisoners" when he blogs. This summer he went to Lehigh Valley Ramblings and left-- and then defended-- a vicious, filthy, sexist rant.
Bernie thank you; you made my case, if Charlie Dent's influence is growing in congress, we the people must put a stop to it and stop it now! The further we move from reliance from the Federal Government the stronger the People of Pennsylvania will be free from that institution abuse and corruption.
Timing is everything, it's not what he does mow; since, it's election season and Charlie will do anything to remove the stink from himself
to the stupid people of the 15th District who thinks he's the man of the people.
It's the horrific legislation he'll create when he gets back in.
If the people of the 15th District want to higher their civic and political amplitude they will not reelect any person with experience in current public office; specially one who has been in for so long like Charlie Dent.
And the site owner, Bernie O'Hare is a volunteer for a putative Democrat challenging Sam, but who basically agrees with Dent on almost every important issue. Remember, Bernie Kieklak (Bernie Takes NO Prisoners) is on the public payroll. The other Bernie admires his political acuen and his way with words but wrote this about him recently: "...over the past few weeks, he's posted increasingly bizarre and bigoted comments about nuking Iraqis and Muslim holy sites, followed by sexist rants directed at Sam Bennett and female bloggers."
if Charlie Dent's influence is growing in congress, we the people must put a stop to it and stop it now!
Well, good luck with that.
Anon 4:28,
Wait a 'tic - that's the exact point Josh Drobnyk makes in Morning Call news account published today! But I thought we're supposed to ignore the "markedly reactionary and Republican agenda" of that two-bit hit man. I guess he's OK so long as he makes the same points as you.
Do you realize how frickin' nutz you read? You're telling people they can't read the papers or local blogs. One of the reasons you give is that Benie Kieklak at one time commented here. And he may have been off his meds, but had enough respect for the reader to identify himself. That's more than you can say.
And now we have you and your goofy conspiracy theories. Aren't we lucky?
Josh Drobnyk, incidentally, is the MC reporter who nailed Bernie K. I guess that must have been OK, too.
Bernie O'Hare said...
if Charlie Dent's influence is growing in congress, we the people must put a stop to it and stop it now!
Well, good luck with that.
Let's look at Arlen Spector, That was he's campaign - I'm not impressed in what we got.
I do admit choices for that race the people didn't have any advocates.
However, with Bill Hall, Drake Minder, and other like them the people have a choice. They are willing to put themselves out there
for public scrutiny. The People have had choices all along for the last 40 years warning that we would be in this position now.
Bernie, you not a bad guy! However,
you help promote the Branding these insider like to have to help manufacture further their destruction on Average American Citizens - from my point of view.
Times running out and the end
game is too close for my comfort.
So stop it! Please!
However, with Bill Hall, Drake Minder, and other like them the people have a choice.
Dude, when Bill Hall announced his intentions, it was posted here first. When he had a press conference re health care, that was posted here first, too. As far as other candidates are concerned, I've heard nothing. I know Cunningham has flatly said NO. I know Callahan is getting some heavy duty pressure, and will probably say NO. I know much of this bc of the very blog you snarked - Pennsylvania Avenue.
Drake Minder is running? Isn't he that dude who was trying to build a moat around his house? I can see him going over real well. I'll bet Dent is shaking now. Come on! Let's get real here.
Drake Minder is running? Isn't he that dude who was trying to build a moat around his house?
"Dude" I like your framing now!
He must have hit a nerve.
I think he was giving examples of people who ran for office that wasn't part of the machine.
Moat around his house; boy I wished I had one of those.
Where can I see it?
Yeah! A moat around the house, would be great! I could finally have fresh water that isn't fluoridated and a buffer to keep all the local crazy people away.
Like the rich have from keeping the poor people away; who want their money back or some change so they can have some food to eat. From the likes like Dent and his supports.
truth about fluoride
Bernie what do you got against moats?
That is so funny!
Oh man, how ridiculous can you be?
Now I understand, why you support Dent and the Republican clan in the Valley.
U all r cr%zy!
You do make me laugh from time to time though. Thanks!
Yeah, That flouride must be designed to keep the middle class down. Drake, do us a favor and answer three questions: (1) Are you running for Congress; (2) Is it true you're hiring Josh Drbnyk as your press spokesperson; and (3) Seriously, didn't you try to build a moat or something around your house?
Bernie, I happened to find your blog through a blog search for Jeff Flake, the Republican House member in Arizona's Sixth Congressional District, who is well-known for his campaign against earmarks.
I'm running unopposed for the Democratic nomination in AZ-06, and oddly, I've been to see Moravian College. As a kid and teenager growing up in Brooklyn, I often accompanied my father and grandfather when they saw customers in the Lehigh Valley.
The lousy (in terms of the vast federal budget) $150,000 for the renovation of the college's Payne Art Gallery gathered all kinds of ridicule from Jeff Flake, his Club for Growth sponsors, and the people who want government to do almost nothing but get out of the way and let rich people make more money.
Moravian College is one of the oldest institutions of higher ed in America, I think, and it's a truly beautiful campus. Jeff Flake seems to make a specialty out of vigorously opposing worthwhile projects that benefit educational and cultural institutions.
$150,000 wouldn't pay for a minute of the Iraq war. The money is better spent at Moravian College.
No, No, No! Oh! I'm sorry, you won't understand that; here's your Orwellian Decoder, Yes, Yes, Yes!
Bernie, please don't take my moat away!
How do you feel about this.
Bernie the slayer of
moats and a defender of; well, you'll just have to see.
Richard,
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I believe that Congressman Flake was embarrassed on the floor of the house by what happened with Congressman Dent. I can't find the exact exchange, but if I do, I'll send you a link.
Good luck in your race! If you want my vote, I'll come out and cast one for you. We Dems cheat!
Richard said...
$150,000 wouldn't pay for a minute of the Iraq war. The money is better spent at Moravian College.
I don't want to stop this love feast here; but unsubstantiated statement drive me; well like Bernie.
How do we know this?
Couldn't 150,000 Dollars be spent to or embark on creating jobs that would allow to have American have jobs, health care, and security for years to come?
Couldn't 150,000 Dollars be spent on a do something congress; unlike Charlie Dent, that could save lives in this Bull Sh%t War!
No, according to this blog which is getting sillier and sillier here all the time.
Mr. Minder, that appropriation was justified on the House floor. I have a link to the vote. That's the weay democracy works. Under your approach, it appears that the papers must be shut down. Blogs, too. And only your view matters. What form of government is that? Oh yeah, we fought a world war against folks with those views. Carry on.
9:12 anonymous,
I think they meant to say:
You go word girl:
Bernie O'Hare said...
Under your approach, it appears that the papers must be shut down. Blogs, too. And only your view matters. What form of government is that? Oh yeah, we fought a world war against folks with those views. Carry on.
Mr. O'Hare I like that we move from the word Dude!
Your additives and ingredients of blogs, newspapers, and government being shut down; is of your own making! If you would like to go to war over that; well than I can see why you thinks it's a good idea to be in Iraq and the push to other places are good.
Please, let me and my people out of your and Charlie's war!
Mr. Minder, Dude!
You still have not answered my three questions. You yourself have claimed the local papers are nothing more than propaganda, and then proceed to steal the ideas of one of the reporters you criticize. You've criticized Bernie K for posting here, but it's OK for you to post your own bizarre and incomprehensible rants. Only your views matter, and that's a little scary.
I never supported the initial decision to invade Iraq. I was opposed and quite vocally, and took more than a few hits for it while you were building your moat. On a talk radio show I was doing at the time, I was nearly drawn and quartered. The big Dem, Joe Long, stiffed me when I asked the Dems to come on and give a little help. Everyone was too busy goose-stepping all over the place and saluting each other back then.
But now the wind direction has changed. Now that the war is unpopular, you're speaking up. How convenient! Where the hell were you when it mattered most?
I oppose an immediate and nonsensical unilateral withdrawal for the same reason I opposed the decision to invade - I respect human life. You see, I have this little problem with genocide. You're doing whatever you're doing because you must have forgotten to take your pills today.
Why not go over and post on Drobnyk's blog? I'm sure he could use some of your advice.
But let me warn you - I just stuck my finger up, and it seems that wind direction is changing again.
Until you ID yourself, I'll call you Dude or Dudette.
Let's see Mr. Minder according to Bernie; was building a moat around his house.
For the record -
I would like to have a moat around my house, just like the rich people do. Not to mention, I would have my own supply of fresh water that isn't fluoridated and polluted by other means. Like the wealthy, who drink from their own wells and decide policy on what goes into our public water ways.
Not only that, he was also able to run for office serveral times; while, Bernie was talking on the radio. To put himself in a realistic position in future years to stop the war. He promoted policies and infrastructure that would have strengthen the Middle Class and Working Poor. Something
we are all our now or closer too. Something, Charlie Dent never did while in office. All the while; working a part time job just making it just like many Americans around the Valley. We all watched our taxes and living expenses go up and the value of our dollar go down, while having commuters with better pay moving in; that can afford the higher taxes, living expenses in a devaluation dollar market and you want to disrespect this man; while, supporting the likes of Dent who has been in office all this time.
If Dent doesn't shake in the presents of Drake Minder and the citizens of this valley; he does so, at his own arrogances.
I remember Dent on TV in that horrific September time frame, walking around the local armory showing his puff out chest telling how he was going to be a strong policy maker. Many of us where upset; for we knew then, that this was going to be wrong for us and our Country.
He should have been protecting us from making a mistake by going into a false war in other lands, creating job opportunities with living wages, building infrastructure that support American values here at home.
Come on! Bernie! Come on Now! Who got your soul! gee!
So if I understand you correctly, the great Drake Minder was strangely silent in those pre-invasion days, more concerned about flouride in his water than invading a weak nation half of whose population was then under 15. Now the great Drake Minder is unwilling to out himself and take responsibility for his own statements. But the great Fake Mindless has the gall to criticize those who do, including Congressman Dent. Dude, take your pills and wash them down with flouridated water.
"don't know that you can compare Dent to Toomey in that Toomey is for a decreased federal spending and a decrease in these types of earmarks."
Toomey was full of crap on earmarks. I remember a debated between Ed O'Brien and Toomey when Toomey defended an 8 million dollar earmark for LV Hospital and then boasted about a letter of thanks from the CEO. To him, it wasn't an earmark.
What's up with the rants about a moat and such? Is that really Drake? Has he seriously lost his mind?
What's up with the rants about a moat and such? Is that really Drake? Has he seriously lost his mind?
Yeah, that's Minder, but he doesn't want to admit it. Yes, he is totally out of his mind. Yes, he did try to build a moat or some such thing around his house a fgew years back, and I want details. I'd like to know if he has a drawbridge and a dungeon, too. He could store his unflouridated water there.
I don't understand most of the nonsense posted here!
Most are "off topic" and personal opinions in nature. Anybody with a brain, not anons, care to opine? larry@kisslinger.com
Bernie you could draw a cartoon of his place - anyway you like. Just, like they did in the build up at the UN; when, they made their case for war.
See, here my little cartoon of the fantasy vehicles that don't exist.
Larry, most of those anonymous comments come from Drake Minder, who thinks he's ready for Congress. I think he's running under the wingnut party.
If I posted a blog that just contained one word - Dent - it would still attract all the nuts and loonies.
If I posted a blog that just contained one word - Dent - it would still attract all the nuts and loonies.
I wonder why?
First they ignore you...
Then they fight you...
Then they laugh at you...
And then you win...
(Mahatma Gandhi)
Bernie
Just let me take two quick examples of Dent's earmarks. A $162thousand to renovate/repair the sewers in Slatington and $1.75 million for the design and building of a parking garage in Easton. I pulled out my trusty copy of the Constitution, went to Article 1 section 8 and found absolutley no power given to Congress to repair municipal sewers and design and build a municipal parking garage. Our governmental officials have a nice racket going in that money is collected via taxes, is run through the filters of all governmental levels and comes back to us as pennies on the dollar. To put it yet another way, why should I pay for Slatington's sewers and for a building where I will have to pay for parking once it is built--that is a double hit on me. We laud the fact that Charlie along with Specter and Casey are bring back the paltry sum of 22 million dollars to an area that sure as hell sent a lot more money to DC.
Our Founding Fathers wanted the federal government to tend to the big issues and actually be a relatively small entity. The action was to occur in the states that were to serve as laboratoties for various ideas with the good ones being copied and the bad ones discarded. This would have allowed for more individuals taking part in local and state government. Let me refer you to Amendment 10.
Up until the beginning of the 20th century that was what was happening then Teddy Roosevelt came along, began the Progressive Era and started the interference of government into the affairs of the market. We would move full steam ahead toward socialism under FDR who would give us that unconstitutional monster known as Social Security and it has been all downhill since then. We are now at the poing where we have a bunch of arrogant bastards from both parties who believe it is there job to come up with more programs for us for our own good. They actually believe they can pass domestic policy that will please all 300 million of us located in 50 diverse states. Charlie Dent and every other elected representative needs to be told that they have to justify the constitutionality of every penny they spend. We, the citizens of the greatest nation in history, are allowing these people to govern without our consent. when will we wake up and stop these guys from using our tax dollars to buy votes for their next election.
That was a more a political commentary than a history lesson.
Who the hell said anything about history here?
Well Okay Chris, Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
First of all Fema has provided Flood mitigation money so that issue is off the table since it is legit. Remember Katrina?
If he (Dent) brings money for sewers in Slatington he is abusing the tax dollar. If he does nothing and there is a flood and huge Fema money needs to be spent for repair and homes are lost, you would be the first yelling "where was the government? Why didn't they do something" If the money was raised from levying more taxes locally you would be the first person complaining about that too, and correctly so since it would worsen the plight of the low income people and seniors in the less finanacially flexible Borough situation.
Pick your poison I will take the federal money everytime.
Did you complain when Rendell was on his relection tour of developers handing out greenways and Main street funding to multi millionaire contributors under thr guise of economic development? State tax money was flowing to them at a rate of over 1 million PER DAY!
Let's face it, you have no legitmate complaint here and so you just crow like a blind rooster.
This is where
Drake Minder stood;
while, Bernie spoke on the radio.
also see:
Drake, Dude, There is nothing at that link to indicate your opposition to the invasion of Iraq before we actually invaded that countrry. Now kindly stop polluting this blog with your nonsense. Your moat awaits.
We are now at the "poing" where we have a bunch of arrogant bastards from both parties who believe it is "there"...
English, spelling & political advice available upon request. larry@kisslinger.com
Health Professionals Call for End to Water Fluoridation
Just curious, how does that compare to other representatives from PA?
It seems impressive, but I'd like some context.
That's a good question, and I'm trying to get an answer.
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