Brady: McCain’s
a Bush third term

Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady isn’t impressed with Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s economic policies.
As McCain, the senior senator from Arizona, was visiting a Bucks County plumbing and heating company to discuss his economic agenda last week, Brady (D-1st dist.) was holding a telephone conference call with reporters.
Brady recalled McCain’s comments that the economy isn’t his strongest issue and that the country has made "great progress" economically during the two terms of President George W. Bush.
The congressman cited five consecutive months of job losses across the country, adding that McCain’s support for corporate tax cuts won’t help. He criticized the senator for voting so often with the president and likened a McCain presidency to "Bush’s third term."
"McCain is going to continue the failed Bush policies," he said.
McCain has called on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent per-gallon federal gas tax and the 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, opposes the idea. Sen. Hillary Clinton, whom Obama beat for the nomination, backs the tax suspension.
Brady said McCain and Clinton are wrong to take money from the government.
"That leaves less money coming into states like Pennsylvania," he said.
McCain does not seek earmarks for projects for his state. He has vowed to veto pork-laden spending bills.
Brady believes there is nothing wrong with earmarks as long as they are requested publicly. He proudly brings money back for hospitals and universities in his district.
"What’s wrong with that?" he asked.
McCain’s other economic ideas include a proposal to force a three-fifths majority vote in Congress to raise taxes; a one-year spending "pause" on non-military and veterans programs to review their effectiveness; passage of the line-item veto for spending bills; and opposition to Internet taxes or any new taxes on cell phone calls and text messages.

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Mayor Michael Nutter, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13th dist.), City Controller Alan Butkovitz and City Councilman Bill Green (D-at large) attended a recent party at a Mayfair house that united supporters of Obama and Clinton.
The Obama campaign scheduled the parties across the country on June 28.
The four public officials visited the Englewood Street home of David Lynn and Barb Baur to show their unity. They were joined by Bob Dellavella, Democratic leader of the 55th Ward.
About 40 people, including former supporters of presidential candidate John Edwards, watched a video produced by the Obama campaign.
Nutter, Schwartz, Butkovitz and Dellavella backed Clinton in the primary but are now in Obama’s camp. Green sided with Obama from the start.
Nutter and Butkovitz were elected as Democratic National Convention delegates for Clinton in the April 22 primary. Schwartz will attend the convention, scheduled for Aug. 25 to 28 in Denver, as a "superdelegate" for Clinton.
More than 100 similar parties took place in Philadelphia. There were more than 3,000 gatherings across the country.

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Marvin Barrish’s radio show on politics will feature several local candidates in upcoming weeks.
The show can be heard Sundays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on WNJC (1360 AM).
State Rep. Tom Murt (R-152nd dist.) will be the guest on July 27. The Aug. 3 show will feature Tom Manion, the Republican candidate in the 8th Congressional District. On Aug. 17, the guest will be Belinda Nelson, the Republican challenger to state Rep. Mike McGeehan.
The call-in numbers are 1-856-227-1360 or 1-856-232-7077. The show can also be accessed by visiting www.wnjc1360.com and clicking "listen now."
In related news, City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez will present a citation to Barrish, a Bell’s Corner resident, when Council resumes its regular Thursday sessions on Sept. 18. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com