the New PA 16th

Pitts Watch...News Items

Congressman Pitts' philosophy of Government is possibly best described by remark he made during the last campaign cycle in a debate with his Democratic opponent, Lois K. Herr.

"It is not the job of Government to help people. It is the job of Government to help people help themselves."

Representative Joseph Pitts,16th Congressional District (PA) - the district includes all of Lancaster County and portions of Berks and Chester Counties.

Congressman Pitts website

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Why Did Rep. Pitts Vote Against the Hate Crimes Bill?
by Alison L. Needles, Oxford, PA,

Rep. Pitts’ understanding of the powerful impact of hate crimes occurring in our nation seems to be that hate crimes are fiction. He voted “NO”on H.R.1592 ( bill which recently passed to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes), and that was that. No reasons are provided for us on his website currently. Does he think this horrific hate crime reality is fiction?

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Saturday, May 5, 2007

U.S. House Approves Funding for Head Start

The U.S. House of Representatives approved more money for the popular Head Start program Wednesday after rejecting a GOP-led attempt to allow religious groups participating in the program to hire and fire staffers based on religious grounds.

The bill, which passed 365-48, approves $7.4 billion in spending in fiscal year 2008 for the 42-year-old program that helps low-income children prepare for school, an increase of $500 million over fiscal year 2007.

The bill increases enrollment for children aged 3 to 5, boosts teacher and staff salaries and expands services for homeless, migrant and non-English-speaking children.

Before the final vote, Democrats voted down the Republican proposal to change a 1972 Head Start law in order to allow religious groups to take religion into account in hiring. Instead, House Democrats passed an amendment, offered by Rep. Heath Shuler, D - N.C., that confirms the rights of religious groups to participate in Head Start programs on the same basis of other organizations.

If the Senate, now considering a similar bill, and the House come to agreement, it would be the first congressional action on the education, nutrition and health program since the last reauthorization bill expired in 2003. Since then, Congress has voted on money for the program but has been unable to make substantive changes in it. Read more...

Rep. Joseph Pitts voted AGAINST this bill.

U.S. House Approves National Science Foundation Authorization Act

The House of Representatives passed this last week The National Science Foundation Authorization Act. The House bill passed by a lopsided vote of 399 for and only 17 against. It provides critical support for researchers, educators, and students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). NSF supports American innovation and competitiveness in many capacities, providing funding for high risk research, while also improving education in the STEM fields.

Science and Technology Committee member and cosponsor of H.R. 1867, Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA), also spoke of the importance of the legislation, saying, "I commend my colleagues for having the vision to keep America competitive by providing the much-needed funding for the National Science Foundation for science and technology programs that will benefit future generations." Read more...

Rep. Joseph Pitts voted AGAINST this bill.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Pitts Made It a Two-day Trifecta...

First, on Wednesday, Representative Joseph Pitts voted against funding Project Head Start. He followed on Thursday by being one of only 17 members of Congress to vote against progress with his no vote on “The National Science Foundation Authorization Act”.

Finally, later Thursday, he cast his vote against HR 1592 which would expand federal hate crime categories to include violent attacks against gays and people targeted because of gender. The bill had 171 co-sponsors in Congress and passed with 237 votes for (including 25 Republicans); 180 against. The White House is threatening a veto this legislation.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Pitts Votes for Jackasses But Not Our Troops...

Congressman Joseph Pitts voted against a House bill in the U.S. Congress that appropriates $124 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan but sets a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

On the same day, he voted for the Wild Horse Protection Bill that prohibits the Bureau of Land Management from selling wild horses or burros to be slaughtered for commercial use.

The Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation split on party lines on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 which passed the House of Representatives by a 218 to 208 margin. The bill passed in the Senate by a margin of 51 to 46 with Bob Casey voting for the timetable and Specter voting against.

The President vetoed the Democrats' bill that would end the war and bring our troops home on the fourth anniversary of his infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech that declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq.

Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, said, "I had hoped that President Bush would accept my offer to work together on a new direction in Iraq and sign crucial legislation holding the Iraqi government accountable. Instead, the President chose to continue to isolate himself from Congress, the international community, and the American people by vetoing the Democratic plan for change in Iraq."

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Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007

Pitts Introduces a Resolution...

Congressman Joe Pitts introduced a resolution commemorating the end of the slave trade and honoring William Wilberforce on Friday, Feb. 23rd. The resolution coincides with the release of Amazing Grace, a movie about William Wilberforce and his fight to end the slave trade in Great Britain.

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Comments:

Paul Hentz - By his votes in the United States Congress, Joe Pitts has done as much to enslave Black and Afro-Americans to poverty and second-class citizenship as William Wilberforce did to free human beings from the slave trade in the British Parliament 200 years ago. If Wilberforce were his true hero, his voting record would be far different and source of pride to the constituents of the 16th Congressional District. His sponsorship of this resolution is ludicrous in the extreme.

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007

Pitts: A Strong Supporter of Stem Cell Research? I Think Not!
Alison L. Needles

Rep. Pitts says he supports ethical stem cell research because it does not destroy a human embryo. Background information posted on the Pitts website said, “research using stem cells without destroying human embryos has proven successful in treating 72 different diseases and conditions.” The American Diabetes Association website describes Mr. Pitts’ assumptions as myth rather than fact. The fact is that while there is promise in adult stem cell research only a handful of treatments are currently FDA-Approved.” Read more...

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Saturday, January 26, 2007

Pitts Proposes "Savings for Working Families Act"...

At the beginning of January, Congressman Joseph Pitts introduced legislation that would aid low-income families to afford college tuition, home mortgages and start new businesses. He said in a news release, "The working poor in America have a hard time making ends meet. Saving for college, a mortgage down payment, or entrepreneurship is even harder. My Savings for Working Families Act would provide tax incentives to financial institutions to match savings of up $500 a year so America’s working poor can plan to buy a first home, pay for college, or start (or expand) a small business.”

Comments:

Tom Harner - How wonderful of Joe Pitts for careful thought to provide tax incentives for financial institutions to donate up to $500 a year to working families... more

Don LeVasseur - Way to go Joe. Tell me how $1000 could do any of the above. What world do you live in? more...

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comment on this Representative Pitts' voting record..