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August 1, 2008

Stevens’ cash to Barletta rapped

Kanjorski questions funds for ’02 run. Mayor’s campaign cites “desperation.”

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski is questioning a donation made by U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens to Lou Barletta’s 2002 congressional campaign, a move the Republican challenger called desperate.

Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, called on Barletta to return a $1,000 contribution from Stevens, the Alaska senator who was indicted this week on charges of scheming to conceal thousands of dollars worth of gifts from an oil-services company.

Barletta received the contribution from the Northern Lights PAC, which is registered with the Federal Election Committee as a political action committee of Stevens, according to FEC records.

“This just shows again how Bush Republicans are bankrolling Barletta’s feeble fundraising effort,” Kanjorski said in a prepared release. “By taking and keeping the Stevens money, Barletta basically buys into the GOP culture of corruption that forced them out of the leadership in Congress in 2006 and still persists today. Special interests like Halliburton and oil companies dominate the Bush administration, lobbyists run the McCain campaign and indicted public officials contribute to Barletta.”

Barletta campaign manager Vince Galko said Kanjorski’s “desperation knows no limits.”

“This campaign has not received a contribution from the PAC in question,” Galko said. “Six years ago this PAC made a contribution to the 2002 campaign. This was long before any allegations were made against the senator.”

Galko scrutinized Kanjorski’s political contributions.

“If Mr. Kanjorski would like, we could send a release a day on all the questionable contributions he has received during his 24 years in Congress,” Galko said. “This is a country of laws, and any elected official accused of corruption and unethical behavior has the right to due process.”

Galko reiterated a public request for Kanjorski to meet Barletta in a debate, urging him to “show some courage and schedule some debates rather than hide behind his smear team.”

Barletta has challenged the 12-term incumbent to a series of debates, but Kanjorski has yet to accept. No debates have been scheduled.

Kanjorski, through his spokesman, said he will debate Barletta before the November general election.

The Kanjorski-Barletta race is viewed as leaning slightly toward Kanjorski, according to The Rothenberg Political Report, a non-partisan publication in Washington D.C. The race had been rated as leaning heavily toward Kanjorski prior to the latest analysis.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.

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