Why the Transporation Vote was bad for Democrats

As I try to wrap my head around contested primary races in Allegheny County, no one seems to be letting go on the Transportation Bill. On the surface, I would be in favor of this legislation. Raising the gas tax is a user based fee that goes directly into improving roads and bridges and funding mass transit to get congestion off of the roadways.

However, I believe it was the wrong vote for Democratic legislators. Number 1, the Democrats backed themselves into a tax increase corner if they represent a swing district. Number 2, they upset labor because of the increase in the prevailing wage limit. Number 3, the Democrats are now fighting and spending limited campaign resources to go after each other for a bill that ultimately passed.

On top of that, the Democrats didn't find candidates to run against legislators that voted in favor of the Gas Tax in conservative leaning districts such as Senator Randy Vulakovich's and Rep. Hal English in the North Hills. Instead the Democrats seem more concerned with Primary races in Pittsburgh.

This is why Democrats don't have more seats in the State House and State Senate.

Do Republican voters not have to show ID for the August 7th Special Election?

SPECIAL ELECTION - AUGUST 7, 2012 - PA STATE SENATE, DIST. 40

Here is another mailer that Rep. Randy Vulakovich sent out to Republican voters. Other than Mr. Vulakovich running with his lie that he doesn't take 'perks' from Harrisburg, there is a interesting little thing about the absentee ballot application that is included. This is what the official PA Department of State absentee ballot looks like. It includes a section asking for your PA Driver's Licence number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. However on the Randy Vulakovich absentee ballot application, there is no section asking for identification numbers.

The Democratic candidate, Dr. Sharon Brown, is using these absentee ballot applications that clearly ask for identification numbers.

So why don't the Republicans have to go by the same voter identification laws (that they created and Mr. Vulakovich voted for) and claim that the Voter ID legislation isn't about suppressing the vote?

Why does Randy keep getting away with his lie about not taking 'perks?' When will candidates stop lying in campaign materials? When will the press call them out for these lies?

Randy Vulakovich Mailer to Republicans

SPECIAL ELECTION - AUGUST 7, 2012 - PA STATE SENATE, DIST. 40

Here is a mailer from State Rep. Randy Vulakovich that a Republican voter sent to me. Pretty standard stuff, but I have some issues with Mr. Vulakovich claiming that they have passed balanced budgets when they have ignored the pension crisis that led to a downgrade of the state's credit rating. How does someone get away with saying they 'will protect taxpayers' when the majority of the school districts in the 40th PA State Senate District have raised taxes since Mr. Vulakovich voted for millions of dollars in education cuts since Governor Corbett was elected?

“No perks” Randy Vulakovich amasses more than $20,000 in state perks

FROM THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE:

“No perks” Randy Vulakovich amasses more than $20,000 in state perks

Per diems, state car, excess mileage, and other expenses found in state records show more of the same from Republican wanting to replace jailed GOP senator

(Pittsburgh – July 23, 2012) – As Republican Randy Vulakovich runs commercials in his race for the 40th State Senatorial seat claiming to be a “real reformer” who is “refusing the Harrisburg perks such as per diems and a state car,” the Allegheny County Democratic Committee has discovered that Vulakovich received $20,978.67 in perks from January 2007 to May of this year. The details of the Vulakovich secret perks were found in records of the Office of the Comptroller of the House of Representatives.

“’No perks’ Randy is a fraud,” said Nancy Patton Mills, Chair of the County Democrats. “As a state legislator, he gets more than his share of perks – and plenty of them. He has accepted per diems. He has had a state car. And when he hasn’t had a state car, he has received mileage and other car payments of more than $13,000 -- all of which went directly into his pocket.

“Meanwhile, the people of his district are paying through the nose for both his perks and his policies,” continued Mills. “While Randy has been feeding at the public trough, he has also been voting to cut funding to schools and local municipalities. The schools in his district have had to raise property taxes to make up the difference to keep their quality schools going. This is certainly not a record he should be proud of.

“This special election on August 7 is happening for one reason only – the previous Republican senator engaged in unethical, untruthful, and ultimately criminal behavior, and she was convicted and jailed for violating the public trust,” said Mills. “Now we have another Republican who claims to be a reformer, but apparently sees nothing wrong with lying to the public.

“The voters of this district deserve far better – and electing Dr. Sharon Brown will give them the ethical and honest representation they want and need,” continued Mills. “Dr. Brown has real world experience – as a nurse practitioner, an educator, and a small business owner. She has met a payroll. She knows how to care for people in a time of shrinking budgets. She knows that the schools of the district are a major reason why families move to and stay in the district, and that we must protect them – for now and in the future. And she knows that to continue the same kind of leadership that failed us before will only fail us again.”

State House Elections - 30th District

Here is the new map of the 30th State House Distinct. The green parts are the old district and the aqua blue line is the outline of the new district.



This is another incumbent protection redistricting of a Republican member of the State House. State Rep. Randy Vulakovich won this seat in 2006 defeating a 6 month incumbent that won a special election after Jeff Habay resigned the day before he was going to be sentenced for corruption charges.

The only real changes is adding Richland Township and getting rid of some of Ross Township and some river towns from the old district. I think this is a very solid Republican seat.

Incumbent: Randy Vulakovich (Republican)

Possible challengers: Haven't heard a peep about this race.