Posted on 10/23/2009 11:20:41 AM PDT by Born Conservative
U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, is making his mark on financial regulatory reform. The 11th Congressional District representative has four bills he introduced that will be "marked up" or reviewed in committee this week. They include:
* Investor Protection Act (H.R. 3817). * Accountability and Transparency in Rating Agencies Act (H.R. 3890). * Private Fund Investment Advisers Registration Act (H.R. 3818). * Federal Insurance Office Act (H.R. 2609).
Kanjorski has appeared on numerous cable news shows in the past several weeks. He has met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, and had a private meeting with President Barack Obama and other legislators to discuss reform of the financial services industry. The president even applauded Kanjorski's working after the meeting.
There is no doubt that Kanjorski, who is chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, will be part of whatever reforms come out of D.C. in regards to the financial markets. The question Kanjorski may face looking ahead to his 2010 race, is whether he is part of the solution to rebound the economy.
"There is no doubt the economy will be the top issue," said G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., political pollster at Franklin & Marshall College.
Madonna said in numerous polls the economy far outranks health care or any other issue. Connected to the economy questions is the financial crisis, which many in Washington claim was the result of a lack of regulation of top financial sector in key areas.
Kanjorski has taken that approach. In his 2008 race, Kanjorski described how the entire financial system was nearly on "the brink" of collapsing. He touted his role in Congress in helping secure shaky markets.
But, the longer it takes the unemployment rate to improve or the economy overall to recover, the less voters may trust Kanjorski's hand in the matter.
Democratic Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien, Republican Christopher Howard Paige of Monroe County, or any other potential contender the 13-term incumbent faces will likely try to blame Kanjorski for his role in regulatory reform.
Paige already took a shot at Kanjorski, saying: "That's like bragging you were on the bridge of the Titanic and in charge of navigation."
Financial reform isn't always easy to fit into sound bites. Whether the economy improves or voters believe the reforms Kanjorski supported actually work will be key.
"The question that remains for next year is will we see an angst against incumbents, and perhaps that they were part of the problem," Madonna said. "Will voters look at all the wrangling in D.C. and decide throw this group out and put a new group in? Maybe."
Carney, Kanjorski support public option ... or not
Counting heads in Congress is an art beyond this reporter's understanding.
Northeastern Pennsylvania's two congressional delegates are either committed to a public option in health care reform or planning to vote against such a plan, depending on who is writing the article.
The Web site standwithdrdean.com, which is affiliated with former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, lists Kanjorski and 10th District Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, as supporting the public option.
Not necessarily the case, according to staff of both men.
"The congressman hasn't made up his mind on something like that yet," Kanjorski spokeswoman Abigail McDonough said. "He needs to see a full bill to decide on how he would vote on any health care initiative."
Carney, who is a member of the conservative group of Democrats known as the "Blue Dogs," has not changed his position.
His chief of staff April Metwalli said the congressman wants to see portability of coverage and to make sure that people with pre-existing conditions can obtain health insurance.
If those two goals are met without a public option, Metwalli said, the congressman would support a bill. If the public option needs to be included in a bill to meet those goals, Carney would vote for it, Metwalli said.
Will both candidates support a bill that includes a public option? It's possible, but for now, neither is committed to such a vote.
Campaign finance watch
Local and statewide candidates' campaign finance forms should be filed at the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections by the close of business today. Look for updated finance numbers of local campaigns in The Citizens' Voice this weekend.
Note: Statewide candidates and judicial candidates have to file in Harrisburg, which must be postmarked by today, though most are delivered electronically. Judicial candidates are supposed to file courtesy copies with the county bureau of elections.
Paul Kanjorski 2010 Election Cycle
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Federal Dollars are “free money”
Kanjorski: $2 Trillion really isn’t a lot of money
Representative Kanjorski Lies About The Surge
Kanjorski doesn’t apologize to anyone
Kanjorski Sneaks Through Backdoor at Rangel Fundraiser
Paul Kanjorski on Universal Health Care
Rep. Kanjorski on Congressional Pay Raises
ping
Sorry, but every two years we hear the same thing: this bum is near defeat. But,,,,,,,he keeps on winning as Murtha does. Dems cheat, steal elections as in Minn. and here will make no difference unless the GOP actually puts up an electable candidate who can unite the Party.
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