On the trail: Ross Feinberg (center) shares a laugh with Al Taubenberger (left) and Otto Voit during a fundraiser on Saturday at Pub 36. TOM WARING/ TIMESÂ PHOTO
Ross Feinberg held a fundraiser on Saturday, attracting City Councilman Al Taubenberger, Republican state treasurer candidate Otto Voit and others in support of his campaign in the 5th Senatorial District.
Feinberg, who was unopposed in the GOP primary, faces Democratic Sen. John Sabatina Jr., who edged state Rep. Kevin Boyle by 692 votes in the primary.
A year ago, Feinberg ran for register of wills, falling to longtime Democratic incumbent Ron Donatucci.
This year, he is running on a platform to “Make the Great Northeast Great Again.”
The challenger is trying to get Sabatina to agree to a debate, but the incumbent has said he is focused for now on unsettled budget issues.
“He’s a nice guy, but we need somebody more proactive and somebody more aggressive,” Feinberg said.
Before addressing supporters at Pub 36, Frankford and Sheffield avenues, he called for a moment of silence for the slain Dallas police officers, along with other cops who’ve been killed in the line of duty.
Feinberg said he would be more effective than Sabatina since he would be serving in the majority caucus, as Republicans hold a 31–19 advantage in the Senate.
The candidate supports lawsuits challenging the city’s beverage tax, which is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. He believes the tax will hurt grocery stores, bars and pizza and sandwich shops, and threaten jobs at the Pepsi and Coca-Cola plants.
Taubenberger said Feinberg would bring spirit, vitality and energy to the Senate.
“We need more people like incoming Sen. Feinberg,” he said. “He’s gonna win this thing.”
Voit, a Berks County businessman and former U.S. Army officer, faces Democrat Joe Torsella. He is calling for more transparency in Harrisburg and promising to save $1.1 billion in his first term. He credited Feinberg with standing up against the beverage tax.
“He’s going to make a great state senator,” he said.
ull;•
Mayor Jim Kenney last week released a statement on U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey’s proposed legislation to cut off federal funding to “sanctuary cities.”
“Sen. Toomey’s bill is pulled straight from Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant playbook. The City of Philadelphia does cooperate with the federal government in the case of suspected terrorism, when the individual has been charged with a federal crime and when the individual in question has committed violent first- or second-degree felonies. Sen. Toomey’s inaccurate claims to the contrary are nothing more than fear-mongering to further his re-election campaign and to distract from his record of supporting funding cuts to the police.”
One of Kenney’s first acts as mayor was to reinstate Philadelphia’s sanctuary city status through an executive order.
Toomey’s bill was supported by a vote of 53–44, but needed 60 votes to pass. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Jr. voted against it. Two Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana, voted for it. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois was the only Republican to oppose it.
ull;•
One Nation, a public policy advocacy organization, last week launched a television ad airing in Pennsylvania through Friday on broadcast and cable TV.
The ad, entitled “Pass the Trash,” highlights the case of how a known Delaware County serial molester was able to continue teaching, and was later found guilty of abusing multiple students and murdering one.
“Pass the Trash” also focuses on how Sen. Toomey passed a law to prevent the abuse from happening again, and encourages him to fight to mandate background checks for all school employees.
“Where others merely talk tough about security, Sen. Toomey rolls up his sleeves and gets to work on the kind of commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will actually protect our children,” said Steven Law, president of One Nation. “We encourage Sen. Toomey to keep up the fight and pass the Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act.”
Meanwhile, the Toomey for Senate campaign announced that it had raised $3.1 million in the second quarter of 2016. He is being challenged by Democrat Katie McGinty.
ull;•
U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D-1st dist.) is among those criticizing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump following Democrat Hillary Clinton’s speech last week in Atlantic City about her opponent’s business record.
Clinton cited Trump’s business bankruptcies, lost jobs and alleged stiffing of contractors.
“Donald Trump is unfit to be president, and we cannot allow him to take the wheel of the American economy,” Brady said. “His reckless business tactics bankrupted his Atlantic City casinos, robbing countless hard-working employees and contractors of their jobs and livelihoods. While his companies shut down and his workers suffered, he made millions.
“Donald Trump prioritized making a quick buck over the livelihood of workers in Pennsylvania. His presidency would be no different. His recklessness and selfishness demonstrate that he doesn’t have the desire to improve our nation’s economy. His presidency will be just like his business career: Trump first, hardworking Americans last.”
ull;•
State Sen. John Rafferty, the Republican nominee for attorney general, released a statement regarding the shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas.
“The tragic shooting of our brave police officers in Dallas is the latest reminder that our law enforcement officers literally put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe from criminals and protect our streets. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the entire law enforcement community in Dallas and across the country,” he said.
Rafferty noted that the Dallas Police Department announced that the shooter was motivated by the recent police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana.
“There is no doubt that those incidents must be investigated and if any wrongdoing occurred, those involved should be punished. With that being said, there is no possible excuse for killing law enforcement officers, the overwhelming majority of whom are dedicated, honest and courageous. It is despicable that our brave law enforcement officers were targeted in such a cowardly manner. Now is the time for everyone to unite and support all of our brave law enforcement officers,” he said.
Rafferty faces Democrat Josh Shapiro, a Montgomery County commissioner. ••
