Kittappa becomes 5th candidate for 16th District seat
Dr. Raj Kittappa
It’s not even 2016 yet, but the race to replace U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts (R-16) got even more crowded this week when a third candidate, Dr. Raj Kittappa announced he would seek the Democratic nomination in the the 16th District. A total of five candidates are now vying for the seat.
Kittappa joins fellow Democrats Dr. Gary Wegman, a dentist from Berks County and Christina Hartman...
Toomey talks economy, odds of federal shutdown during Chesco visit
U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) gets a tour of the facility from Lord’s Pantry Executive Director Jan Leaf, Monday in Downingtown.
U.S. Senator said he thinks shutdown is doubtful; seeks new policies to get economy moving
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
DOWNINGTOWN — U.S Sen. Pat Toomey spent much of Monday morning in Chester County, visiting a local food bank and attending a Veterans’ Administration...
Saving the Post Office
Handcuffed by Congress, Postal Service faces a murky future
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
I’ve always been a fan of the post office. I enjoy getting the mail out of the letterbox attached to my house six days a week; I like knowing that a mail carrier is walking around my neighborhood and going to people’s doors without asking for subscriptions or conversions. I enjoy taking...
Op/Ed: Time to boost accountability and transparency for Congress
By Ryan Costello, Chester County Commissioner
Ryan Costello
The gridlock and partisan rancor in Congress is taking its toll on the public’s perception of Congress, and rightfully so. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 14 percent of Americans think Congress is doing a good job. That puts the public’s approval of the job Congress is doing at one of its lowest points in history.
As a...
County conventions leave May questions
Few primary battles were settled at either county convention
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
There was a little high drama at the two county party conventions, and in many ways the status quo was largely maintained.
There were just a handful of endorsement battles at the meetings — and maybe only one vote there changes the landscape for May.
We’ll get to the Democratic endorsements, which...
County GOP endorses most of slate for 2014
Corbett, 167th battle highlights of largely quiet convention
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
County Commissioner Ryan Costello thanks Chetser County Republicans after being endorsed as the party’s candidate for the 6th Congressional District, Wednesday, during the committee’s annual convention.
WEST GOSHEN — Although most of Wednesday night’s endorsement votes during the Chester County...
Op/Ed: The Joe Pitts government shutdown
By Tom Houghton, Special to The Times
Tom Houghton
As a parent, husband, self-employed attorney, former township supervisor and state representative, I watched with dismay as our Washington representative, Joe Pitts, was the only representative in southeastern Pennsylvania, who supported the recent government shutdown. Whatever you think about the new healthcare law (ACA or “Obamacare”), shutting...
Letter: Pitts votes no to protect women from violence
To The Editor:
I was disgusted that our congressman, Joe Pitts, voted against reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Even as backwards and archaic as his views generally are on women’s issues, this vote was surprising. Congressman Pitts hadn’t provided any public comment one way or the other on the legislation, and I had hoped he would join nearly 40% of Congressional Republicans...
My view on the local Congressional races
Americans don’t like Congress, but keep sending the same people to D.C.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
In these highly partisan times, it seems likely that many voters will be voting one party, one ticket, putting ideology over competency.
Ironically, most polling shows that we Americans hold our Congress in very low esteem, yet seem to continually send representatives to Washington, D.C....
7th District Election Preview
Redrawn 7th is more GOP friendly, but race is a microcosm of presidential race
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The new Seventh Congressional District, in green above, runs through numerous counties and adds many new voters for 2012.
In an unusual race because of redistricting, an incumbent congressman is a virtual new face to nearly two thirds of his new constituents — but a district that is...
