Come on Home and Let’s Talk about Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Come on Home and Let’s Talk about Energy
Tom Manion challenges Congressman Murphy to a debate on Energy

(August 1, 2008) – Doylestown, PA. (Manion for Congress)

“If Nancy Pelosi won’t let you discuss energy in DC, let’s talk about it here at home,” said Congressional candidate Tom Manion to Congressman Patrick Murphy. The day Congressman Murphy was scheduled to arrive home for the summer recess, Manion challenged the Congressman to a debate on the topic of energy.
“Gas prices are of great concern to our community. There are viable solutions to this problem, but when legislation is blocked from coming to a vote, nothing can get done,” said Mr. Manion. “We at least owe it to our community to discuss the issues.”
“I’m planning to be at Doylestown Township municipal building next Thursday evening, August 7th, at 7 pm. I invite Congressman Murphy to join me there for a debate on our energy problems and solutions,” said Mr. Manion.
Murphy’s reaction to the debate invitation and debate details will be added to our website, www.votemanion.com when confirmed.

About Manion for Congress
As a successful business executive and Marine Colonel, Tom Manion has spent nearly 30 years bringing people of different views together to solve problems. Tom Manion is running for the 8th Congressional district as an outsider - an ordinary citizen - committed to changing our government so it once again works for us.
Tom graduated from public schools and then worked his own way through college, graduating from Widener University. He then went on to serve his country in the Marines. Tom served 11 years of active duty as a Marine, and another 19 years in the Marine Reserves, retiring at the end of 2007 as a Colonel. While serving our country, Tom also furthered his education, earning a Masters Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.
After ending his active service, Tom began consulting for Fortune 500 companies and then, in 1990, began a successful career as a business executive at Johnson and Johnson. Married now for nearly 30 years, Tom and Janet raised their children in Bucks County, sending them to our local schools. Their daughter Ryan and her husband Dave live in Doylestown with Tom’s granddaughter, Maggie Rose. For nearly 20 years, our community has been Tom’s home and he wants it to remain as special for future generations as it has been for him.
Tom and Janet’s son, Travis, was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and gave his life in Iraq last year. He made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of public service. And in doing so, Travis reminded Tom that his service to our country - and his fellow citizens - is not over. Today, Tom is again called to service — inspired by his son’s sacrifice, supported by his family, and committed to making a difference on all the issues that affect America and our local community.

Contact Information:
Karen Smith
Press Secretary
Cell: 215-622-1779
Office: 215-348-9080
E:mail: karenformanion@gmail.com and karen.smith@manionforcongress.com

It’s Simple, Murphy – Give the Money Back

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“It’s Simple, Murphy – Give the Money Back”
Donations to Murphy Raise Ethical Questions

(Jul. 25, 2008) – Doylestown, PA. (Manion for Congress)

“It’s simple – very simple,” Patrick Murphy (D-PA) told Mike Fitzpatrick in June of 2006 during his first congressional campaign. “Give the cash back.” When Murphy’s challenger Mike Fitzpatrick was linked to donations from two Congressmen allegedly involved in ethics violations, Murphy called for Fitzpatrick to return the donations.

Rep. Murphy finds himself in the same position as Fitzpatrick in the current campaign against challenger Tom Manion. Murphy’s campaign has received $14,000 from Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Rangel’s PAC, the National Leadership. Rep. Rangel has been the target of numerous news stories recently surrounding his ownership of four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem. One of the apartments is being used as a campaign office instead of a residence, which is against state and city regulations. Rangel is also defending his use of congressional stationary and taxpayer-funded earmarks to support a pet project, the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service.

In 2006, Murphy called Fitzpatrick’s campaign contributors “a band of rogues.” Now that Murphy finds himself with a rogue donator of his own, will he take the ethical high road and give the cash back?

“My campaign is all about fixing a broken system in Washington where politicians spend our money recklessly and where all too many of them are out of touch with the principles that guide our lives here at home,” said Murphy’s challenger Tom Manion. “In tough economic times we should expect members of Congress to find ways to save us money, but yet again it seems like guys like Congressman Rangel are willing to put ethics aside to save themselves instead.”

“Character is priceless – and should certainly be worth more than $14,000 to Congressman Murphy and his campaign,” Manion said. “More and more Patrick just appears to be yet another part of what’s wrong with Washington.”

####

Sources:
“Rangel gets bargain on apartments”; The New York Times, July 10, 2008
“Murphy blasts campaign contributions”; The Intelligencer, June 17, 2006
“Candidates trade barbs over funds”; Bucks County Courier Times, June 29, 2006
Opensecrets.org; expenditure detail, Charles B. Rangel, 2008

About Manion for Congress
As a successful business executive and Marine Colonel, Tom Manion has spent nearly 30 years bringing people of different views together to solve problems. Tom Manion is running for the 8th Congressional district as an outsider - an ordinary citizen - committed to changing our government so it once again works for us.
Tom graduated from public schools and then worked his own way through college, graduating from Widener University. He then went on to serve his country in the Marines. Tom served 11 years of active duty as a Marine, and another 19 years in the Marine Reserves, retiring at the end of 2007 as a Colonel. While serving our country, Tom also furthered his education, earning a Masters Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.
After ending his active service, Tom began consulting for Fortune 500 companies and then, in 1990, began a successful career as a business executive at Johnson and Johnson. Married now for nearly 30 years, Tom and Janet raised their children in Bucks County, sending them to our local schools. Their daughter Ryan and her husband Dave live in Doylestown with Tom’s granddaughter, Maggie Rose. For nearly 20 years, our community has been Tom’s home and he wants it to remain as special for future generations as it has been for him.
Tom and Janet’s son, Travis, was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and gave his life in Iraq last year. He made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of public service. And in doing so, Travis reminded Tom that his service to our country - and his fellow citizens - is not over. Today, Tom is again called to service — inspired by his son’s sacrifice, supported by his family, and committed to making a difference on all the issues that affect America and our local community.

Contact Information:
Karen Smith
Press Secretary
Cell: 215-622-1779
Office: 215-348-9080
E:mail: karenformanion@gmail.com and karen.smith@manionforcongress.com

Manion calls on Murphy to debate gas prices

By GARY WECKSELBLATT
Bucks County Courier Times

Tom Manion tried to bring some energy to his congressional campaign Friday by talking about energy — more precisely, its cost.

The Republican candidate for the 8th District seat, Manion stood in the courtyard of the Bucks County Courthouse, across the street from Patrick Murphy’s Doylestown headquarters, and challenged the Democratic congressman to a debate on “skyrocketing gas prices.”

Backed by about a dozen associates on the warm morning, Manion invited Murphy to the Doylestown Township building Thursday for a 7 p.m. “debate on energy.”

“It’s the most important issue facing taxpayers in District 8,” Manion said. “For me it’s an important, important issue.”

The cost of fuel, which has trickled under $4 a gallon in the last two weeks, has exacerbated a weakening economy and rising inflation.

The problem is “impacting all household expenditures,” he said.

In a press release inviting Murphy “to join me in engaging the voters,” Manion chided Murphy after House Democrats voted for a five-week vacation in August and September without taking any action to lower gas prices or work on an energy policy.

“If Nancy Pelosi won’t let you discuss energy in D.C., let’s talk about it here at home,” Manion said.

Murphy’s campaign responded with a two-page release, handed out at Manion’s event, citing the congressman’s two votes “against adjourning Congress until September” … “one of only 17 Democrats to do so.”

In an e-mail, Nat Binns, Murphy’s deputy communications director, stated, “After seven months of refusing to state his positions on a range of issues, Tom Manion offered voters only a political stunt and vague Bush talking points. Congressman Murphy has already agreed to seven debates and forums before November but this Thursday, he had already scheduled his 53rd “Congress on Your Corner’ where he will talk to constituents about his plan to lower gas prices.”

Manion said he supports a multi-tiered energy policy that pushes for alternative energy sources, conservation and an increase in the domestic supply by drilling.

“Everything should be on the table,” he said. “People are paying for our failure to do something.”

On his campaign Web site, Murphy said he’d force oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of federal land to which they already have access. He also supported an effort to charge oil companies an escalating fee for not using these federal lands, telling them they need to “use it or lose it.” Murphy wants more taxes on oil company windfall profits, a measure Manion said he opposes because those taxes would just be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

Murphy said the effort to increase domestic oil production should be matched by a national investment in the development of alternative energy and conservation.

Manion cited the failure of the House’s Democratic majority to “even bring an energy debate to the floor,” as his reason for calling on Murphy to debate the issue now.

“We need a new tone,” Manion said. “It’s not about the party you’re in. It’s about the country.”

Vets of Iraq, Afghan wars fight to win seats in Congress

By David M. Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, August 4, 2008

Moments after Army Lt. Col. William Russell ended his 28-year military career, the Iraq war veteran revved up his Harley-Davidson and set out on an improbable journey.

In his first political outing, Russell is trying to topple a political giant.

The 45-year-old Republican this weekend kicked off his campaign against U.S. Rep. John Murtha, 76, of Johnstown, a powerful Democrat and decorated Vietnam War veteran seeking a 19th term.

“Murtha has a lot of issues on his hands, in terms of keeping his seat this November. There are chinks in the armor,” contended Russell, who rode a motorcycle to greet supporters at a rally in Uniontown. The event at 12:01 a.m. Friday marked the start of Russell’s civilian life and the end of military restrictions on his campaign.

The battle of the veterans in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District reflects a surge nationally of vets returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and running for seats in Congress this year.

More than twice as many veterans of these wars are running for Congress as in 2006. They are about evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, and they tend to take their respective party’s position regarding the Iraq war.

At a time when public opinion supports withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, Democrats believe the strength of that issue could help them increase their 37-seat majority in the House. Republicans, citing recent successes in Iraq, hope to reverse their losses by reviving public concern about national security, a winning issue for the GOP in elections before 2006.

“Party officials are seeking out veterans to run as a way of validating a position,” said Peter D. Feaver, a Duke University political science professor and co-author of “Choosing Your Battles: American Civil-Military Relations and the Use of Force.”

Democrats fielded about a dozen Iraq vets as congressional contenders two years ago. Only one was elected, but their chorus of calls for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq suggested all returning soldiers held that position, which prompted the GOP to recruit veterans with an opposing view this year, Feaver said.

“In 2008, what you are partly seeing is the continuing fruits of the Democratic effort matched by Republicans seeking to counter it,” Feaver said. “All veterans don’t think alike, obviously.”

At least 26 candidates in races from California and Colorado to New Jersey and Florida hope to swell the ranks of veterans in an institution where the number of members with military experience has declined sharply for more than a decade.

“I’m looking forward to some of my battle buddies to join me here in Congress,” said Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Democrat from the Philadelphia suburbs and the lone Iraq war veteran in Congress. “I think they will have a unique perspective on war, on terror, but also on what it means to take care of our troops.”

Murphy, 34, who served in Iraq in 2003-04 as a captain in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, was elected in 2006 while calling for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq along a structured timeline. His position hasn’t changed.

“We need the Iraqi government to stand up and be held accountable. They continue to rely on American forces to do their heavy lifting. Our troops did everything they were asked to do,” Murphy said.

Tom Manion, Murphy’s Republican opponent for the 8th Congressional District post, disagrees. Manion is a Marine veteran whose son Travis was killed by sniper fire in Iraq last year.

“There are discussions about withdrawal but nobody wants to talk about the consequences,” said Manion, 54, of Doylestown, a Philadelphia suburb. “Even though we have been successful, there are those in leadership in Washington that don’t seem to get it. We need to keep that momentum going for the best interest of our country.”

Russell, the Republican trying to oust Murtha, opposes a timeline for withdrawal.

“The enemy will just wait out a timeline,” Russell said.

Russell said he adopted Johnstown as his residence about a year ago because he and his wife consider Pennsylvania a good place to live. He said the decision was not because he wanted to run against Murtha.

But he added that his decision to run “was very much driven” by Murtha’s comment in 2006 that a Pentagon probe into the death of Iraqi civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha would show Marines “killed innocent civilians in cold blood.”

Russell chided Murtha for not apologizing for the remark although seven of the eight Marines charged in the killings, including one who lives in the district, have been cleared and “fully exonerated.”

“When it comes to supporting our troops and their families, Congressman Murtha takes a back-seat to no one,” responded Murtha spokesman Matthew Mozonkey. “His distinguished 37-year career in the Marine Corps is well documented, and his 35 years in Congress is well known.

“You could write an entire book on what he has done for our military,” Mozonkey said.

In other races, Iraq veterans are running for several open seats:

Eastern Ohio: Democratic state Sen. John Boccieri, an Air Force major who flew C-130 cargo planes in Iraq and Afghanistan during four tours, faces Republican state Sen. Kirk Schuring. The closely watched contest is to replace longtime GOP Congressman Ralph Regula, who is retiring from a seat held by Republicans since 1950.

Maine: Republican Charlie Summers, a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve whose wife campaigned for him while he finished a tour in Iraq, is up against Democrat Chellie Pingree. The race is to replace Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, who is running for the Senate.

Minneapolis suburbs: Iraq veteran Ashwin Madia, an attorney and former Marine, is the Democratic nominee trying to snag a Republican seat held by retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad. Madia faces GOP state Rep. Erik Paulsen, a former Ramstad aide.

Buffalo area: With Republican Tom Reynolds retiring in New York’s 26th Congressional District, endorsed Democratic candidate Jon Powers, an Army platoon leader in Iraq, is attempting to take that seat from the GOP. If Powers wins the nomination Sept. 9, he likely will face Republican businessman Christopher Lee. Former Army Staff Sgt. David Bellavia, who wrote a memoir about fighting in Fallujah, was seeking the Republican nomination before dropping out in May, leaving multimillionaire Lee as the lone Republican.

Candidates oppose taxing windfall profits

By BRIAN SCHEID
Bucks County Courier Times

Dave Costanzo, 20, of Morrisville, spent a lot more time at his job than he wanted to this summer.

High gas prices were the reason, he said, as he filled up his car with nearly $40 of gas at a Wawa in Bristol Township Friday.

Costanzo, who was on his way to start his junior year at Kutztown University Friday afternoon, said not only did high gas prices put a crimp on his social life, they kept him from coming back home to Morrisville during the school year. He just couldn’t afford the trip.

The college student wants Congress to do something — anything, really — to lower the prices at the pump, but he’s a realist.

“Anything that would help would be great, but what can they do?” Costanzo asked. “Once the oil companies know that they can charge us $4 for a gallon and we’ll pay for it, they’re not ever going to go back to 99 cents a gallon.”

And Americans are paying for it, in record numbers.

Last week, oil giant Exxon Mobil announced second-quarter profits of $11.68 billion, the largest profit of any quarter for any corporation in American history. Other major oil companies, Shell and Chevron, announced record profits as well.

But should these oil companies be punished for making record profits as Americans pay more than ever at the pump?

Several Democrats, including presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama, have proposed a new windfall-profits tax on oil companies.

None of the three candidates in this year’s 8th District congressional race said this week that they’d support such a tax.

Tom Manion, the Republican challenger, said efforts to tax oil companies for windfall profits in the 1970s failed. The issue isn’t about oil company profits, but about Congress’ inaction on the nation’s energy crisis, he said.

“Congress recessed [Friday] without even bringing options to the House floor for a vote,” Manion said. “Let’s concentrate on finding alternate sources of energy, conserving the energy we have and expanding our domestic oil exploration.”

Higher taxes on oil company profits would do nothing to lower the prices at the pump, Manion said.

“Taking a share of their profits, which would amount to pennies on the dollars for our taxpayers, would actually be the reverse of what we’re trying to do, which is to [give them incentive] long term, to find creative, innovative solutions to the energy crisis,” he said.

Bucks County Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-8, said instead of a tax on windfall profits, Congress should work to close tax “loopholes” he believes oil companies are taking advantage of, such as the royalty fees oil companies aren’t paying.

“It’s outrageous that ExxonMobil is making $1,500 per second, while Pennsylvania families are paying over $4 per gallon of gas,” Murphy said. “Big Oil should not be using our tax dollars to pad their profit margin and I proudly voted to close their loopholes and invest in renewable energy, which will lower gas prices and create more green jobs right here in Bucks County.”

Tom Lingenfelter, who is running an independent campaign for Congress, said a tax on windfall profits would only be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher gas prices. “Basic Economics 101,” he said.

He said he opposes closing tax loopholes for oil companies.

“Tax breaks encourage more development and increase free market investment,” Lingenfelter said. “Oil companies already pay billons in taxes every year, contrary to the propaganda of opponents of the American free market.”

Murphy represents the residents of Bucks County, some districts of Abington, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland in Montgomery County and two wards in Philadelphia.

Editor’s note: The candidates in this year’s 8th District congressional race all have short- and long-term plans they believe Congress should act on to lower gas prices. Today, we look at the proposals to tax record oil company profits. Fourth in an occasional series.