Free Republic

An eastern Pennsylvania member of Congress is the only one from the state’s delegation to break party ranks in a dispute that's plunging the nation into a partial government shutdown. U.S. Rep. Charles Dent voted late Monday night against Republican attempts to scale back President Barack Obama’s signature health care law as the price to keep the federal government open and running. …

Turkey has recalled its ambassador to the United States on the heels of a vote on a resolution in the House Foreign Affairs Committee declaring the 1915 massacre of millions of Armenians a genocide, previewing the potential problems the measure could create for ties between the U.S. and Turkey.

WASHINGTON | -- Pennsylvania's Democratic House members are encouraging state Sen. Lisa Boscola to run for the open 15th District seat. Boscola, of Bethlehem, met with the seven members Thursday morning on Capitol Hill. ''I was impressed, and I think the other ones were, too,'' said Rep. John Murtha of Johnstown, the delegation leader heading up recruitment efforts in the state. Murtha said he liked Boscola's drive and reputation as a hard-working campaigner. ''A Democrat certainly has a chance of winning,'' he said. ''She could be a very formidable candidate.'' Boscola didn't make a commitment, saying she wanted to talk...

HARRISBURG | -- State Rep. T.J. Rooney has closed the door on running for Congress after learning that Gov. Ed Rendell will formally recommend him to be the next chairman of the state Democratic Party. U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Johnstown, the dean of the state's House delegation, had recruited the Bethlehem lawmaker to run in the 15th District. Rooney says he was flattered but felt he could be more effective in Harrisburg than in Washington.