PA-04

Former Congresswomen Melissa Hart has issued the following statement on the endorsement of the NRA for her opponent Congressman Jason Altmire.

“The Washington, D.C. NRA group has a policy of giving endorsement preference to incumbents if they have not voted against NRA issues.

Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire picked up a major endorsement today when the National Rifle Association endorsed his candidacy against Melissa Hart. The NRA endorsement is a major blow to Hart who needs every conservative group she can obtain to rally behind her and work for her effort to take back the seat she lost two years ago.

Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) held a telephone town hall meeting with constituents to discuss the energy crisis in America.  According Altmire, more than 10,700 constituents joined him on the call. 

Freshman Congressman Jason Altmire had another successful fundraising quarter as he brought in nearly $460k and ended the second quarter with more than $1.5 million in the bank.  Altmire’s opponent Melissa Hart raised $300k and finished with $625k in the bank.

In a post earlier this month I wrote about Melissa Hart, “Hart is known for her work ethic and willingness to make money calls when she needs to. Well she needs to. Hart will need to put up a bigger number than she did in the first quarter…” It appears Hart made those calls. After a disappointing first quarter where Hart raised $141k, she more than doubled her take in the 2nd quarter and has reported $300k raised over the last three months and finishes the quarter with $625k cash on hand.

Former Congresswomen Melissa Hart has issued a press release taking Congressman Jason Altmire to task for a recently stated on a KDKA Radio interview:

“Oil and gas companies already hold leases on 68 million acres of federal land that they are not producing on. They hold the leases, they could drill at any point, and they are choosing not to do it…”

Hart is taking the opportunity to draw contrast.

Freshman Congressman Jason AltmireFormer Congresswoman Melissa Hart criticizes Freshman Congressman Jason Altmire and the Democrat Congress for destroying the student loan market.

"Congressman Altmire and the House Democrats claim to be protecting access to student loans, but they should call it what it really is - desperately trying to fix a program they broke before the November Elections," said Hart.

Full Press Release

Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Reports has the latest House ratings.  Of the races that are up for grabs, Pennsylvania has six that are Rothenberg’s watch list.  read more »

Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report has the latest House ratings. Of the races that are up for grabs, Pennsylvania has six that are Rothenberg’s watch list.  read more »

Republican 4th District Congressional candidate Melissa Hart is hitting Rep. Jason Altmire and the Democratic Party today for voting to block the Tax Increase Prevention Act from consideration. The bill would have stopped the $683 billion tax increase passed last month with the support of Altmire and the House Democrats as part of their FY2009 budget proposal.

"As taxpayers across America file their income taxes today, Jason Altmire is in Washington voting along with the other tax and spend liberals to ensure our tax bills our higher," said Hart in a press release.