Armstrong County Republican Party

Light up night Open House

2011-11-18T14:29:00.005-05:00

On Kittannings light up night will be November 18th. That night our GOP Headquarters will have a open house. Light refreshements will be provided.

Big Wins for Armstrong Republicans

2011-11-10T12:05:00.001-05:00

It was a big win for Armstrong Republicans.

Robert Bower and David Battaglia were elected as new County Commissioners. Amanda Hiles won an open seat for County Treasurer. Repubicans were re-elected to all row offices, Prothonotary & Clerk of courts Brenda George, Controller Myra Miller, and Register & Recorder Marainne Hileman James Owen was re-elected as District Judge.

Obama blames the ATM

2011-06-21T15:42:00.006-04:00

"The other thing that happened though, this goes to the point you were just making, is there are some structural issues with our economy where a lot of businesses have learned to become much more efficient with a lot fewer workers," President Obama said about unemployment in an interview with NBC's Ann Curry.

So it's the ATM fault that America faces over 9% unemployment? What next, self service gas stations?

Kelly Votes Againest Raising the Nation's Debt Ceiling

2011-06-02T13:11:00.002-04:00

U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) voted against H.R. 1954, a bill that would have implemented President Obama’s request to unconditionally increase the amount of money the United States is legally permitted to borrow by more than $2 trillion, raising the current debt limit of $14,294,000,000,000 to a debt ceiling of $16,700,000,000,000.

Tonight’s vote was in response to a request made by the Obama Administration and more than 100 congressional Democrats to quickly consider a “clean” debt limit bill that will raise the debt limit without any spending cuts or reforms. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, although the current debt limit was reached on May 16, 2011, Treasury is taking “extraordinary actions” to provide more room under the limit and estimates that these actions will provide additional borrowing capacity until August 2, at which point America will default on its debt if the limit isn’t increased. H.R. 1954 overwhelmingly failed to pass the House of Representatives by a bi-partisan vote of 318-97.

Kelly said the following:

“To continue spending ridiculous a amount of money and then expect to just raise the debt ceiling without addressing the irresponsible habits that got us here in the first place is unconscionable. “Anyone with a credit card knows how this works. If you keep spending more that your credit card limit allows, the banks will increase your interest rate, lower your credit limit, or close down your account altogether. The banks wouldn’t just keep increasing your credit limit without any assurance that you’ll change your habits and better manage your debt . That’s just not how the real world works. Yet for some reason, Washington thinks it can play by a different set of rules when spending taxpayer dollars. Over the past two years, we have experienced the largest budget deficits in our nation’s history. The White House and the previous Democrat-led Congress have maxed out our nation’s credit cards and are asking us to increase the credit limit without making a commitment to stop the recent and reckless runaway spending. Right now, our national debt is more than $14.2 trillion, almost more than the size of our entire economy. We borrow nearly 42 cents of every dollar we spend, much of it from the Chinese, and then send the bill to our children and grandchildren. In fact, every child born in America today, and that includes the granddaughter my family just welcomed into the world last week, already owes $45,500 in debt they didn’t create.

“This is a shameful legacy we are leaving for our children and I and the American people will no longer stand for it.”

Stabile & Covey win nod for Judge

2011-05-19T19:52:00.003-04:00

PA GOP Voters picked Vic Stabile for Superior Court and Anne Covey for Commonwealth Court by a wide margin. Locally, they had a commanding lead with Stabile getting over 60% and Covey taking almost 73% of the GOP vote. They will now go on to the fall general election.

The Superior Court hears appeals from Court of Common Pleas (County Courts) for criminal, civil, and family cases. It it normally the final stop for most cases as the State Supreme Court hears very few cases.

The Commonwealth Court handles cases in which the State or it's agencies are a party. It also covers most election law matters.

Vic Stabile was recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for the Superior Court stating that he is held in “high regard by his peers, who commend his integrity, strong work ethic and civility…his writing skills are strong and his experience handling cases before the appellate courts is solid. Based on his strong intellect, passion for the law and even temperament, the commission recommends him for a position on the Superior Court.” Currently he is a partner with Dilworth, Paxton, LLP in Harrisburg, where he practices complex civil and commercial litigation. Vic resides in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with his family.

In 2002, Anne Covey was appointed by Governor Mark Schweiker to serve as the first female member of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Anne is the owner of Covey & Associates, P.C. where she practices in all areas of labor and employment law. Anne was recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association where they highlighted her “good character, integrity and an excellent work ethic.” Anne is an accomplished writer who has authored the book, The Workplace Law Advisor, and the law review article entitled, “Contribution of the Commonwealth Court to Public Employee Labor Law,” which was published in the Widener University School of Law Journal. She currently resides in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her family.

Voters tap Bower & Battaglia, ballot set for fall

2011-05-18T15:59:00.002-04:00

Robert Bower and Dave Battaglia will be the GOP nominees this November for County Commissioner. Battaglia is a small business owner and Bower serves as the County Corner. Both campaigned on a message of working to bring economic growth to the county.

Register and Recorder Marianne Heilman, Controller Myra Miller, Prothonotary Brenda George, and Treasurer candidate Amanda Hiles won the Republican nominations without without opposition.

Armstrong School District's New Majority

2011-05-18T15:28:00.007-04:00

(Photo Credit: Louis B. Ruediger, Leader Times)

Armstrong School District voters were bipartisan, as both Republicans and Democrats gave Berdell, Lobby, Robb, Rearic, Choncek, and Lhote an overwhelming majority.

The phrase 'the people have spoken' is used often after an election. In this case, the people did indeed speak. Their ballots showed they supported the efforts and work of Senator Don White and Rep Jeff Pyle.

Outgoing School Board President Rose Sitt and Vice President Jim Solak spent months taking shots at anybody that dared oppose their wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. Going so far as to claim that any support for Senator White was just a "pep rally" created by Republican Chairman Mike Baker.

There will be change coming to the Armstrong School District board. This board will have many difficult decisions to tackle. However, we can count on the new leadership of the district to respect the taxpayers and voters when making those decisions.

This is a team that can put the petty disputes of the past aside and focus on the greater good of our area and how to improve the educational opportunities for our children.

Congressmen Kelly appears on Fox & Friends

2011-05-12T00:27:00.000-04:00

Congressmen Mike Kelly recently appeared on Fox & Friends. He commented about bringing his business experience to Washington.

"In my business, I have to borrow money from time to time to keep the doors open. But I've got to have a turnaround plan that makes sense. And when I go to a lender, they're asking me, 'Prove to me that you can pay it back, and prove to me that the things you've done in the past, you've mended your ways. If you haven't, I'm not lending you the money.' And I think that's the fallacy here. We continue to do poor things, bad things, things that don't make sense to the common guy, and we continue to do it. And if we can raise our own debt limit, if we can print our own money, if we can do things that just don't make sense fundamentally, then we're wrong. We've got to change the fundamental way that we run government."

For the entire clip: Kelly on Fox & Friends

Republicans Widen Lead

2011-05-09T09:47:00.003-04:00

Republicans are widening the lead over Democrat voters in Armstrong County. Republicans now have a lead of 1,477 compared to led of just 300 voters in 2004 and trailing in 2001 by almost 1,400 voters.

It seems that people are responding to Obama's change with a change of their own. County records show more people changing to Republican over the past several years.

For more information, check out Mitch Fyer's story in the Leader Times:

Republican Voters Take Lead - May 7th, 2011

Thanks to the US, a major terrorist is gone

2011-05-02T14:14:00.003-04:00

Today let us congratulate our brave men and women who defend the United States. Their precision and execution enabled the United States and the world to be free of a major terrorist. Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent men, women, and children on September 11, 2001. Again we praise the work, courage, and sacrifice of the military and intelligence in carrying out their duties.

UPDATE: Oberlander's Bill Signed by Governor

2011-04-22T12:36:00.003-04:00

The first bill passed by the both the PA House and Senate was sponsored by Rep. Donna Oberlander. If signed by Governor Corbett, the bill will roll back a costly provision of Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code (UCC).

Starting January 1st, the UCC mandated that all new single single-family and duplex homes would require a sprinkler system costing between $3,000 to $15,000. PA would be only the second state in the nation to have such a costly and burdensome regulation.

“Make no mistake, both new home building, which represents no less than 14 percent of our state’s Gross Domestic Product, and ultimately the dream of home ownership will remain in severe jeopardy throughout Pennsylvania until the governor signs this repeal legislation into law,” said Oberlander.

UPDATE: Oberlander's bill has been signed by Governor Corbett.

Rep. Kelly Supports Ending ObamaCare

2011-03-29T22:58:00.003-04:00

Congressmen Mike Kelly started his service in Washington by first rejecting taxpayer paid healthcare. Now he's joining the effort to end government run healthcare.

Today Kelly joined with 48 other members of Congress including Speaker John Boehner in the American Center for Law and Justice amicus brief before a federal appeals court. The brief supports Virginia's lawsuit challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA), which is now on appeal.

In December, U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled in favor of Virginia against the federal government. The Judge stated that the individual mandate provision "exceeds the constitutional boundaries of congressional power." The case is now on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The brief may be read at:
http://www.aclj.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=4172

Baker named one of the best County Chairs in Pennsylvania

2011-03-03T16:42:00.012-05:00

Politicspa.com recently made their picks of who the best county chairs were from around Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Armstrong County's own, Mike Baker made the list of seven selected in the Keystone State.

They wrote “Insiders know they can count on Baker to do the work and deliver the votes. A businessman with not discernable political aspirations beyond county chairman, Baker is that rare person in politics who works more than he talks about working. His county performed well in 2010, but also did well in 2008 and 2006.”

Baker commented that, “It’s an honor to be named to such a list. I believe it’s a testament to the work that our county party is doing. Theirs is no “I” in Team GOP and working together we get the job done. While it’s great to recognized, it’s an even bigger honor to be the leader of such a team dedicated people from around this great county. To everyone for making what we do everyday even possible, thank you.”

For more information:

http://www.politicspa.com/pennsylvania%e2%80%99s-best-county-chairs/21371/

Charlton Starts New Firm

2011-02-08T14:07:00.006-05:00

Armstrong GOP's legal counsel, Joseph V. Charlton with his wife Kathleen, recently opened their own law firm. Charlton & Charlton, Attorneys at Law. The firm will practice criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury, wills, estate planning, small business representation, property issues, and oil and gas law.

Joe is an outstanding asset to our party. He is a proven attorney. Named a 2010 "Rising Star" by the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. A distinction only held by 2.5% of lawyers in Pennsylvania. We wish Joe and Kathleen all the best on starting their new business together.

For more information:

http://www.charltonlawyers.com/

Pyle Joins Appropriations

2011-01-25T23:08:00.002-05:00

State Rep. Jeff Pyle will be serving on the powerful House Appropriations Committee this term. He'll continue to serve on the Environmental Resources & Energy, Game & Fisheries and Transportation committees.

Lincoln Day Dinner

2011-01-25T23:03:00.002-05:00

The Armstrong Republican Women will be having a Lincoln Day Dinner.

February 17th, 2011

Latain American Club, Ford City, PA

6:30 Pm Reception & 7pm Dinner

For tickets and more information call 724-297-5237