Marjorie Margolies, a Democratic candidate in next year’s 13th Congressional District race, last week released a video on the 20th anniversary of her vote for President Bill Clinton’s economic plan.
Margolies served in Congress in 1993–94. On Aug. 5, 1993, she cast the deciding vote for a Clinton plan that Republicans opposed because of its tax hikes. Forty-one Democrats voted against the plan.
The following year, Margolies was defeated for re-election.
“I told President Clinton that night when he asked me for my vote that it had to be the vote that put the bill over the top,” she said.
“The Republican right wing and those Democrats voting with them must see that it is possible for a member of Congress to sacrifice her political career for something greater — to give the newly elected Clinton presidency a chance to change the economic trajectory of our country. And change it we did in a way that allowed for the largest sustained expansion of jobs in America in the last 60 years. I was not sent to Washington to back down from the tough issues then, and I don’t intend to back down from them now.”
Margolies is in a four-way Democratic primary that also includes state Sen. Daylin Leach, state Rep. Brendan Boyle and Dr. Val Arkoosh, a health-care reform advocate.
The seat will be open because incumbent Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz is running for governor.
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Pennsylvanians for Allyson hosted 38 house parties in 15 counties across Pennsylvania on Aug. 4.
The parties were for grassroots volunteers supporting Allyson Schwartz’s 2014 campaign for governor.
Schwartz spoke from the home of a Lansdale woman, and her remarks were webcast to all the parties.
“Allyson has been incredibly effective because of her determination, leadership and her ability to work across the aisle,” said supporter Alex Reber, from a party in Harrisburg. “She knows how to get things done, and that’s why so many grassroots supporters are excited about her candidacy to take back Pennsylvania from Governor Corbett.”
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Katie McGinty, another Democratic candidate for governor, has added a former Western Pennsylvania union boss as a senior adviser on labor issues.
New to her campaign is J.J. Johnston, former president of the AFL-CIO’s Greater Westmoreland Labor Council and executive director of the Service Employees International Union Pennsylvania State Council.
“I am proud to join Katie McGinty’s team because she is the strongest candidate to take on Tom Corbett,” said Johnston, who has more recently been active in California labor battles. “As governor, Katie will stand up for working men and women and will fight for policies that rebuild the middle class and create jobs for Pennsylvanians.”
McGinty is a Rhawnhurst native whose government experience includes serving as an aide to former U.S. Sen. Al Gore Jr. and as chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality in the Clinton administration. She was an adviser on Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign and spent six years as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She lives with her husband and three children in Wayne, Chester County.
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The Republican City Committee has relocated its offices to 3525–27 Cottman Ave. in Mayfair.
The former office was in The Windsor, at 17th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
“This move has given us the opportunity to have a more fully functional office that will include several offices, meeting locations and conference areas as well as accessible on-street parking that our previous location lacked,” said state Rep. John Taylor (R-177th dist.), who recently succeeded Vito Canuso as party chairman. “We are excited about starting the new chapter in the storied history of the Republican City Committee in a new location.”
The Philadelphia office of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania has also moved to the Cottman Avenue location. It had been at 529 S. 4th St.
In addition, Taylor will house his reelection campaign office in the space, which is located in the 64th Ward, 11th Division.
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The 23rd annual Stu Bykofsky Candidates’ Comedy Night is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the third-floor banquet room of Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd and Spring Garden streets.
The performers will be District Attorney Seth Williams and his Republican challenger, Danny Alvarez, along with City Controller Alan Butkovitz and his GOP opponent, Terry Tracy.
The event is a fundraiser for Variety: The Children’s Charity. Since the first show during the 1991 mayoral race, some $475,000 has been raised for Variety.
Tickets cost $75. Call 215–735–0803, Ext. 11.
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The 29th annual Billy Meehan Republican City Committee Clambake will take place on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cannstatter’s, at 9130 Academy Road.
Tickets cost $100 and include an open bar and an all-you-can-eat feast. ••
