Hackett campaigns on ending pork barrel spending

On the third day of his “Take Back Washington Tour”, 10th Congressional District candidate Chris Hackett (R-Shavertown) spent the day campaigning with Tom Schatz, chairman of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste Political Action Committee.

“It’s a very small PAC,” Schatz said. “We do not get involved in a lot of primary races, only when we are certain that the candidate will stand up for the tax payers, will fight wasteful spending and has a good chance to win in November.”

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste PAC recently endorsed Hackett on March 31.

Hackett’s message on the campaign tour was consistent with “eliminating wasteful spending and gaining back control of our country.”

“Pork barrel spending is the gateway drug for politicians,” Hackett said. “Pork barrel spending is wasteful of tax payer dollars and that’s why it has to stop.”

Federal spending was the hot topic during the final debate between Hackett and his Republican opponent Dan Meuser.

Hackett said he opposes them and would not be connected to any deals to secure funding for local projects by agreeing to building bridges to nowhere and monuments to congressmen, according to the Times Leader.

Hackett referred to the $2 million pork project of Rep. Charles Rangle’s (D-N.Y.) monument and library as an example of wasteful spending. He said pork barreling is a corrupting process in Washington.

Hackett and Schatz toured nine cities throughout the 10th District today. However, Hackett will spend the final days canvassing and speaking to residents alone.

“We are excited about where our campaign is,” Hackett said. “We look forward to winning the primary and going after Chris Carney.”

Tomorrow the Hackett campaign will launch a closing television advertisement where the candidate will speak about the issues most important to him and ask voters for their support.

Hackett did not speak to how many new ads will run in the days leading up to the primary or if they would be negative attacks against his rival Meuser. Over the course of the race, both Meuser and Hackett have launched a series of negative attack ads.

“It’s a good day to be with someone who is a good candidate,” Schatz said. “We would like to see more people like Chris in Washington.”