Specter Ends 30 Years in Senate

Democrat Arlen Specter took on the Supreme Court and increasingly partisan politics during his farewell speech to the Senate.
Specter played a high-profile role in the confirmation process of every sitting Supreme Court Justice, and warned the court has gotten more and more aggressive during his 30 years in Washington.

"The Supreme Court has been eating Congress' lunch by invalidating legislation with judicial activism after nominees commit under oath in confirmation proceedings to respect Congressional fact-finding and precedent. "

Specter said Chief Justice John Roberts promised to "call balls and strikes" as a judge, but ended up "moving the bases."
He says one thing Congress can do is pass a law requiring the Court to allow cameras into hearings.
Specter also argued against increased ideological polarization in politics, saying parties' push to eliminate moderates from their ranks amounts to "sophisticated cannibalism."
Specter says one way to reduce Senate gridlock is to let lawmakers offer more amendments on the floor. He warned reducing that right has led to more and more filibusters.

The five term Senator was defeated in the May Primary by Congressman Joe Sestak who subsequently lost the general election to Republican Pat Toomey.

Listen to the entire speech of Senator Specter.

State Funding for Murtha, Specter Projects Criticized

Governor Ed Rendell is defending allocating 20 million dollars to projects named after Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman John Murtha.
Nearly every state department lost funding in this year’s budget, but an accompanying bond measure hands out 300 million dollars for construction projects across Pennsylvania.
That includes 10 million dollars for an Arlen Specter library at Philadelphia University, and the same amount for a John Murtha Policy Center in Johnstown. Murtha, the longest serving Congressman in Pennsylvania history, died in February. Specter, a 30 year member of the U.S. Senate, lost a primary election in May to Joe Sestak.
The two line items drew the ire of conservative lawmakers during weekend budget votes, but Rendell defends them.

"The Murtha project will help us in the long run because it’s technology. It’s going to be a technology center. The Specter library – it’s just a good construction project. It’s necessary. Philadelphia University, I know about it. I don’t live far from the campus. They could use an expansion and the Specter library will help them do just that."

Rendell points out the borrowed money can’t be used for operating expenses, so the 300 million dollars would not have restored any budget cuts. Still, critics point out that it is money the state is borrowing.
The bond measure was passed by both legislative chambers on Saturday, less than a day after its line items were made public.

NLRC Open Convention in PA

The National Right to Life Committee opened its three-day national convention Thursday morning and the group’s leadership is optimistic about the future. NRLC President Wanda Franz says recent studies show more Americans are calling themselves “pro-life” and the number of abortions performed in the US continues to fall even as the number of women of childbearing age increases. She says it all points to a changing mood in the nation. A mood they hope to be able to tap into in the November elections. NRLC Political Director Karen Cross says that new mood is already showing up in the political arena. She says the last few months have been exciting to watch. “Every week its almost like Christmas for me,” says Cross. She says many of the races pit candidates with clearly defined differences when it comes to abortion issues. That includes the US senate race in Pennsylvania between Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey. Toomey is strongly Pro-life, Sestak is Pro-choice.

The National Right to Life Committee leadership is also praising some state level gains made in the last year including a law in Oklahoma that will force those performing abortions to display the ultrasound in a place where the woman can see the image. Other states with ultrasound viewing laws only force the procedure provider to offer the pregnant woman the opportunity to see the image. NRLC State Political Director Mary Spaulding-Balch says that is a slight difference from other ultrasound viewing laws but one that clearly makes a difference. “In the states where they are offered the opportunity to view there has not been a single challenge and yet when Oklahoma simply changes the language to the point that the ultrasound must be displayed it is challenged by our opponents,” says Spaulding-Balch. That law is to go into effect in October.

The group is also taking an interest in the confirmation of Elena Kagan. NLRC Executive Director David O’Steen says his organization will “very actively oppose” the nomination of Elena Kagan to the US Supreme Court. Hearings for Kagan begin Monday. The Committee has already sent a letter to all members of the Senate asking that Kagan be rejected. The letter lays out an argument that Kagan was key in defeating the partial birth abortion bill during the Clinton administration. He says Kagan’s writings show she strongly argued with the president that he should not support the bill saying it was unconstitutional and that pro-choice groups “will go crazy.” O’Steen says those writings also show that Kagan is a “social engineer” and will be more interested in driving change if she is added to the court rather than defending the constitution. The letter to the Senators reads in part, “she believes that ‘it is not necessarily wrong or invalid’ for appointed judges ‘to mold and steer the law in order to promote certain ethical values and achieve social ends.’” O’Steen says the NLRC Federal Legislative Department will be lobbying members of the Senate Judicial Committee but they will be, “choosing people to speak with based on, of course, the anticipation of success and Arlen Specter (D-PA) is history… it seems he has been rejected by both parties now.” The letter says Kagan will “treat the US Constitution not as a body of basic law that truly constrains both legislators and judges, but rather, as a cookbook in which may be found legal recipes that will allow the imposition of the policies that Ms. Kagan deems to be justified.”

Sestak Upsets Specter

Arlen Specter's bid for a sixth, 6-year term in the U.S. Senate has failed. The 30 year senior Senator from Pennsylvania lost the Democratic Primary to Congressman Joe Sestak of Delaware County. Sestak received 54% of the vote to Specter's 46% capping a big rally by the former Navy admiral who trailed Specter in the polls by 20 percentage points 2 months ago.
It was Specter's first election since he switched from the Republican Party 13 months ago. In his victory speech, Sestak called the vote a win for the people over the establishment, the status quo and even Washington, D.C.

In a brief concession speech, Mr. Specter thanked those who had supported him. "It's been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania," he said. "And it's been a great privilege to be in the United States Senate, and I'll be working very, very hard for people of the Commonwealth in the coming months."
The vote was also a defeat for President Barack Obama, who supported Specter when he defected from the GOP. Governor Ed Rendell, who also endorsed Specter, said he was disappointed because he thought Specter had the better chance of defeating Republican nominee Pat Toomey in November's general election.

Specter, Sestak Criss-Cross PA on Final Day to Campaign

With the Democratic Senate race in a virtual dead heat up on the eve of Pennsylvania’s primary, the national media is focusing on the race, and waiting to see whether Arlen Specter’s party switching gamble will pay off.
The final Quinnipiac poll today has Joe Sestak leading Specter 42 to41 percent with 16 percent undecided. The final Muhlenberg College tracking poll over the weekend shows Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak tied at 44 percent each.
Specter has the backing of the Democratic establishment, and three decades worth of accomplishments to tout, but Sestak is doing all he can to out-hustle the incumbent.

"Am I working my toes off from now until then? Absolutely. Because until that ball is in the end zone, you just keep on working. But look – I understand and I respect the establishment. I just disagree."

Sestak made his remarks in Philadelphia’s Love Park, where he greeted voters on Friday afternoon.
A few blocks away, Specter held a press conference in a high-rise office tower with Governor Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter and members of the city’s black clergy.
He says he’s seen his political obituary written before, and he’s confident going into Tuesday.

"I counted them up: I’ve been in 14 contested election. Six have been within three points. I’m still in the lead in key polls, but the poll that counts is next Tuesday."

Specter says he may have switched from Republican to Democrat last year, but he’s always been consistent when it comes to bringing back federal dollars and resources for Pennsylvania.

Onorato Widens Lead, Specter Margin Shrinking

Two weeks before the Pennsylvania Primary, a new Quinnipiac University poll was released today amid heavy TV advertising.
The survey of likely primary voters shows that Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato is widening his lead in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. In the four-way race, Onorato received 36% support....up from 20% a month ago. Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel received 9% and Auditor General Jack Wagner and State Senator Anthony Williams 8% apiece. 37% of those surveyed are still undecided.

Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Polling Institute, says in the Senate Democratic Primary, 5-term incumbent Arlen Specter leads Congressman Joe Sestak 47% to 39%. A month ago, Specter led 53% to 32%.
"The Senate race is closing and could be headed for a close finish."

Brown says the narrowing of the Specter/Sestak race is confirmed by other factors.
The narrowing of the Specter/Sestak race is confirmed by other measures as well:

* Democrats trust Specter more than Sestak to do what he says he will do 42 - 31 percent, compared to 43 - 26 percent April 7;
* Voters give Specter a 57 - 31 percent favorability, compared to 60 - 26 percent;
* Sestak gets a 43 - 11percent favorability, compared to 33 - 6 percent.

However, Democrats say 60 - 23 percent that Specter is more likely to win in November.

Specter, Sestak Square Off

Two weeks from today, Democratic voters in Pennsylvania will go to the polls to choose their party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate.
Don’t look for another debate in the next 2 weeks. The one and only face-to-face exchange between the incumbent Arlen Specter and the challenger Joe Sestak was held this past weekend. The race seems to be tightening. A Quinnipiac University poll from early April gave Specter a 53-32 lead over Sestak, but a Muhlenberg College survey released over the weekend shows a gap of just six points, with Specter ahead 48-42.
Listen to DUQ’s Scott Detrow's report.

Senate Debate 2 Weeks Before Primary

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak both claimed the other was distorting his record during a Saturday night debate in Philadelphia.
Specter, who switched from Republican to Democrat a year ago, began the debate by asking Sestak to apologize for calling him a liar in a recent television ad.
Sestak didn’t take the bait, and did his best to try and label Specter as an opportunistic career politician who only switched parties to avoid a tough primary fight.

"The major difference is this: I am a Democrat out (of) core beliefs and conviction."

Specter said his long track record of legislative achievements sets him apart from Sestak, pointing to a measure he authored during a back-and-forth on crime.

"Congressman Sestak talks about a resolution he introduced. I introduced a bill that was enacted into law."

The two debated each other during a February State Democratic Committee meeting, but this was the only face-to-face forum broadcast live across the state.
Sestak has called for more debates again and again, but Specter says this is the last one he’ll agree to. Specter's campaign has said all along that the 5-term incumbent traditionally does only one debate during the primary campaign.

Sestak: Specter is Swift Boating

Democratic US Senate candidate Joe Sestak is pushing back against an Arlen Specter ad claiming he was "relieved of duty" as a Navy Admiral. In what could be considered the first attack ad of the democratic primary the voice over says Joe Sestak was, “Relieved of duty in the Navy for creating a poor command climate.” Sestak says that isn't true. Sestak explains he was reassigned after a new chief naval officer took over, and the two butted heads, “I respect the new CNO… I proposed 260 ships, he believes it should be 315. I respected that. He wanted his own team.” Sestak, who had attained the rank of Three-Star Admiral, decided shortly thereafter to leave the Navy. He says it was only partially based on the stance taken by Admiral Michael Mullen. Right around the same time Sestak’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer and he says that played a major role. He served 31 years in the Navy, and commanded an aircraft carrier battle group during the early portion of the Afghanistan war. The ad notes that even though Sestak attained the rank of three-star admiral, he is listed as having just two stars in his retirement. Sestak says he was not demoted, “You need three years to retire as a three-star admiral. I don't even know if I'd had a year yet as a three-star.” Sestak says Senator Arlen Specter crossed the line by attacking his military record.

Specter to Republican Filibuster Threat: Bring It On

US Sen. Arlen Specter of PA says he is looking for President Barack Obama to nominate a “strong” candidate for the US Supreme Court vacancy being created by the retirement of Justice Stevens. Specter is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He says the president must not worry about the threat of a filibuster. “If the Republicans are looking for a fight, Bring it on,” says Specter. The state’s Senior Senator defines ‘strong’ as, “Somebody who has a good academic and professional record, somebody who is strong intellectually and somebody who, inside that Supreme Court conference room, can carry the day to stop the court from pulling so far to the right.” Specter says, “You have justice Scalia who is very resolute and very adroit. We need somebody who can match him. You have to fight fire with fire.” Specter says it may also be time to look more closely at individuals that are not currently serving as a circuit judge, “Maybe an ex governor like Earl Warren or an ex senator like Hugo Black or an ex attorney general like Robert Jackson. I think it is time for some diversity on the court.” 8 of the 9 justices were elevated to the post after serving as a circuit judge.

Call for More Debates

Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak continues to hammer Senator Arlen Specter for only agreeing to one debate before the May 18th Democratic Senate primary.
Sestak’s campaign has proposed debate after debate with Specter, but the incumbent keeps turning down requests.
The two will meet in Philadelphia on May 1st, but that’s not enough for Sestak.

"And if there was one media market in Pennsylvania, I think I could understand. But there are differences of what happens to Lake Erie, as opposed to what happens in Philadelphia. As opposed to where the Marcellus Shale might be, and what it means if it’s not done well. For those whose water might be contaminated."

Specter recently told the Erie Times more debates would just provide free publicity to Sestak, who’s trailing in every recent poll.
The Delaware County Congressman says that comment reveals Specter feels entitled to the seat he’s held for three decades.
Specter’s campaign has maintained the Republican-turned-Democrat traditionally holds just one debate during primary campaigns.

City, County Look for Federal Money for Arena Site

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials have submitted a request to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter’s office for $1.3 million in federal assistance this year, and another $27 million in the future, to build new streets and infrastructure on the land currently occupied by the Mellon Arena.

The funds would restore a grid pattern similar to the one that existed before the arena was built, (ee pictures below) with the goal of making it easier to attract new development to the 28-acre parcel. Sen. Specter says he thinks he can get the request through the Transportation Committee or the Urban Redevelopment committee.

He says it is a reasonably-sized request and it has all the earmarks of projects that congress is focusing on these days. “We are talking about stimulus back in Washington. We’re talking about putting people back to work, we’re talking about infrastructure, we’re talking about long term projects that will last,” says Specter.

The city and county will also be looking at state funds to finish the work. Not only is the move being pushed as an economic development tool for the land on which the arena sits, it is also being touted as a way to reconnect the Hill District with downtown.

Councilman Daniel Lavelle represents the Hill and says this is “imperative” for the hill and a “dream come true.” He says it will also help to link downtown with Oakland. County and city officials have long noted that those two areas of the city need to be better connected logistically. If the Golden Triangle and Oakland were stand-alone cities they would represent the number two and number three economic centers in the state.

Specter Maintains Big Lead Over Sestak

Six weeks before the Democratic Senate primary, Senator Arlen Specter holds a solid lead over challenger Joe Sestak.
That's according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll, which surveyed likely primary voters.
Assistant polling director Peter Brown says Congressman Sestak has a big challenge ahead of him, if he wants to make the race more competitive.

"The simple math tells you that if, since Mr. Specter's at 53 percent, if Sestak won every undecided vote, he could still only get to 47, under this poll. It's a tough climb for Mr. Sestak. It's not an impossible climb."

In the poll of likely primary voters, Sestak received 32% support.

Specter Proposes Worker's Bill of Rights

Senator Specter unveiled his 5-point plan today at the US Steel Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, PA. He says the nation continues to see manufacturing plants plants and jobs head overseas. He says the steel industry is especially under threat.

Specter says for many years American Steel Workers have had to compete in a world that preaches free trade but often practices illegal trade. He said the chief threat is from China whose predatory trading practices and currency manipulation are flooding the market with low-priced imports in violation of international trade laws.

He says it is time for American workers to have a bill of rights like the first ten amendments to the Constitution that would protect them from unfair competition and destructive trading practices.

His proposed bill of rights includes:
1- The Yuan Must Float: American Workers have a right to expect China and other states in the WTO to allow their currencies to fluctuate with the rest of the market.
2- American Workers have a right to expect the government to act aggressively to defend their jobs and livelihoods from illegal trade.
3-Congress should rescind the President's authority to overrule recommendations made by the ITC
4-American workers have a right to speedy remediation if claims arising from illegal trade.
5-American workers have a right to have the strongest possible "Buy American" requirements for funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

A Day With Arlen Specter

It’s been nearly a year since Pennsylvania's senior U.S. Senator Arlen Specter joined the Democratic Party. The five-term incumbent says he hasn’t changed his principles, but his main opponent in May's Senate Democratic Primary, Congressman Joe Sestak of Delaware County says Specter is a political opportunist who’s just trying to hold onto his job. However, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Pennsylvania's junior U.S. Senator Bob Casey have all endorsed Specter DUQ's Scott Detrow spent part of a day recently shadowing Specter in Washington, DC.

Listen to Scott's report.



If you missed Detrow's "Day With Joe Sestak," listen to it here.

A Day With Joe Sestak

Like a borderline athlete who's determined to make up for his lack of raw talent with pure hustle, Congressman Joe Sestak is trying to compensate for Senator Arlen Specter's lead in the polls by outworking his primary opponent. Specter is in his 30th year in the U.S. Senate while Sestak, a retired Navy admiral, is in his fourth year in the House. While they are campaigning, both candidates have day jobs....in Congress.
DUQ’s Scott Detrow spent time in Washington with Sestak who packed in a full day of campaigning and legislating.
Listen to Detrow's report.

Reporter Detrow also spent a day with Arlen Specter. Listen to that report here Friday after 10 a.m.

Rendell on Sestak's Chances for Primary Win

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is declaring Congressman Joe Sestak’s primary challenge against Senator Arlen Specter a lost cause.
Last year, Rendell said Sestak would “get killed” if he challenged Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania’s primary.
During an interview in his Capitol office, Rendell said he’s sticking by that statement. Rendell, who endorsed Specter immediately after the Senator switched parties last year, says Sestak is a solid congressman, but he can’t match Specter’s decades-long track record.

"But he has, in my judgment, no chance to win. In the time that has elapsed he hasn’t done anything to narrow the lead. In fact, the lead has actually increased. And I just don’t think he has enough money, vs. his opponent, to make a dent in a lead that big."


Rendell says that’s mostly because Specter has steered federal funding and projects to Pennsylvania’s 67 counties for three decades.

"So I think Senator Specter has done so much for the state, has worked so hard, has been so many places, that he’s created those type of relationships. If Democrats voted for him when he was a Republican, it’s a whole lot easier for them to vote for him now when he’s a Democrat and a staunch supporter for the president – and in turn, the president’s a staunch supporter of his."

Sestak insists most Pennsylvanians haven’t tuned into the race yet, and momentum will shift his way when his campaign starts running television ads.

Specter on "Reconciliation"

Democratic leaders are preparing to push health care legislation through the Senate using reconciliation, which would bar Republicans from filibustering the measure.
In a recent interview with DUQ News, Senator Arlen Specter said he supports the tactic despite opposing it a year ago.
Like many other Democrats, Specter is talking up the fact reconciliation has been used 22 times, including with several notable bills, like legislation creating the COBRA and SCHIP programs.

"So there are lots of precedents for it. And the people who are objecting most strenuously among the Republicans now have been fervent advocates for it. Their words are enshrined in the Congressional Record."

But so are Specter’s. In March 2009, when he was still a Republican, Specter said passing a health care or cap and trade bill through reconciliation would be a “colossal mistake,” arguing such a move would “destroy a most precious aspect of Senate procedure.”
Now, Specter thinks it’s the only option, saying Democrats need to “fight fire with fire” if Republicans won’t allow an up or down vote on the measure.
The Senate-passed health care bill is currently working its way through the House.

Sestak, Specter Keep Jousting Over Pay

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter and his challenger in the May Democratic Primary Congressman Joe Sestak continue to argue over the money Sestak pays his campaign workers.
Specter continues insists the salaries Sestak pays his campaign staff violate minimum wage laws.
According to data provided to the Federal Election Commission, ten of Sestak’s staffers would make below the $7.25 minimum wage, if you assumed a 40 hour work-week.
Specter says Sestak is violating the law, and has an obligation to increase his staffers’ pay.

"I am calling it to the attention of the voters. There’s a question here as to whether someone who doesn’t comply with the law it fit to make the laws. And to abuse employees raises question of character, as to whether somebody should be promoted to the United States Senate."

A look at legal guidelines suggests Sestak is in compliance with state laws but could be violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry spokesman Troy Thompson says the Specter team’s math isn’t entirely correct.

"You cannot calculate the minimum wage that way. It’s based on the number of hours worked within a specific week. If I work ten hours a week, and I do that for four weeks, you cannot assume I am working a forty hour workweek."

Thompson says salaried employees, that is, people who make a set non-hourly wage, are exempt from the statute. The Sestak campaign says that’s the case with its employees.
Federal minimum wage laws also include a salary exemption, but generally require employees to make at least 455 dollars a week.
The FEC data shows 11 Sestak employees earned below that level in late 2009.
The federal law applies to companies that conduct interstate commerce. It’s unclear whether a Senate campaign falls into that category.
Sestak has praised his staffers for making a financial sacrifice to work for the campaign, and argues Specter is making this attack to distract voters, calling it “dishonest negativity.”

Specter Keeps Lead Over Sestak

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows just four in ten Pennsylvania voters think Senator Arlen Specter deserves another term. But the survey has the incumbent maintaining a wide lead over primary challenger Joe Sestak.
About two and a half months before the Democratic primary, Specter holds a 53 to 29 percent lead over Congressman Sestak, with fourteen percent undecided.
The main explanation for the margin, according to assistant polling director Peter Brown, is the fact seven in ten Democratic voters don’t know enough about Sestak to form an opinion.

"This is a race, again, where name recognition really matters. And until Mr. Sestak is able to tell voters who he is and what he’s for, Specter has a lead."

Brown says among respondents familiar with both candidates, Sestak holds a lead.
Just 38 percent of voters think Specter deserves another term in Washington, though six in ten Democrats say he should be reelected.
A recent Franklin and Marshall College poll found only one in four voters think Specter deserves another term.