Get to know the Democrat of the Day- Bob Casey. - 9/23/2006

[LibraLiz1973]

I thought it would be a good idea to start posting a D.O.D each day up until election day. Seems a good way for people
who either aren't inclined or just don't have the time to surf all over the place to get info on the candidates. This also seemed like a good way to focus on the issues at hand in a positive way. If you have any other facts to add, please do so.
I chose Casey first because I live in PA. I have my fingers BIG TIME crossed that Casey wins. I don't agree with all of his positions, but I DISAGREE with ALL of Santorums...




Democrat of the Day 9/23/2006
Robert P. Casey Jr. - A.K.A Bob Casey
Casey is currently ahead of Santorum in the polls!!



Bob is running for Senate in Pennsylvania against Republican (hack) Rick Santorum.

Bob’s BIO
http://www.dscc.org/2006races/bios/bobcasey/

Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Bob Casey, Jr., 45, graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in 1982 and spent the following year teaching fifth grade and coaching an eighth grade basketball team in inner city Philadelphia for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He received his law degree from Catholic University in 1988 and entered the practice of law in Scranton.
Casey was elected Auditor General in 1996 and re-elected in 2000. In 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor. In 2004, he was elected State Treasurer, winning more votes than any other candidate for any state or federal office in the history of the Commonwealth.
As Auditor General - the Commonwealth's independently elected fiscal watchdog and whistle blower - Casey aggressively fought to stop waste and fraud involving tax dollars and improve the effectiveness of government services and agencies. His efforts directly resulted in changes that have saved Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $1 billion.
Casey's 2002 review of state contracting practices revealed that over $3 billion in state contracts had been awarded to 1,800 firms that owed taxes or other monies to the Commonwealth or that had been banned from state projects for fraudulent billing practices.
His investigation of Pennsylvania's long term care system revealed that the state Health Department was letting weeks and months elapse before investigating complaints about life-threatening conditions at nursing homes. Now, as a result of his leadership and advocacy, all life-threatening nursing home complaints must be investigated within 24 hours.
Casey's investigation of compliance with Pennsylvania's Megan's Law found that less than one-half of one percent of the state's convicted sex offenders were subject to the community notification requirements that were supposed to inform local residents when a sex offender moved into their area. Casey's shocking report and his subsequent demands for change led to passage of tough new legislation in 2004 that requires information about all convicted sex offenders to be posted on the Internet.
Casey has also been a tireless advocate on behalf of children. He fought successfully to get the Department of Public Welfare to change many of its policies after his first-ever performance audit of the state's child care oversight system found serious problems including unreported child abuse, late investigations of "high-risk" complaints, and child care centers operating with expired licenses. He also successfully pushed Governor Ridge to mandate criminal background checks for state-funded child care providers after his audits found 25 individuals with criminal backgrounds caring for children at taxpayer expense.
In 2000, after months of relentless advocacy and Casey's discovery that the state was failing to spend its federal child care funds, Casey forced Governor Ridge to roll back unfair and unnecessary hikes in child care fees charged to struggling working families. If it had not been for Casey's tenacious efforts, these excessive fee increases would have remained in effect and the state would have forfeited millions of dollars in federal child care funds back to the federal government because of the state's failure to use them.
In 2001, a groundbreaking Casey audit demonstrated that qualified women- and minority-owned businesses were being unfairly shut out of state contracts. Casey followed up the audit with creation of a statewide task force whose recommendations are now being implemented by Governor Rendell.
Casey is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Beacon Award from the Pennsylvania Child Care Association and the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award from the Interdenominational Ministers Conference. He has also been one of the state's most outspoken advocates for affordable health insurance and better working conditions, training and pay for nurses and nurses' aides.
Casey and his wife, Terese, were married in 1985 and live in Scranton with their four daughters: Elyse, Caroline, Julia and Marena. Casey is the eldest son of the late Governor Robert P. Casey and his wife, Ellen. Throughout his public career, Bob Casey has been guided by the legacy of his father, and an inscription on the state office building in which he works that reads "All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor."




Link to Casey’s stand on the issues:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Bob_Casey.htm


Editorial from the (PA) Pocono Record: <9/22/06>
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060922/NEWS04/609220356
Dump Santorum, send Casey to U.S. Senate
September 22, 2006
Editor, the Record:

What doesn't Rick Santorum want us to consider when we vote in November?

1. His support and vote for 98 percent of Bush's objectives including Iraq war.

2. His support for Bush's "staying the course," a course that has resulted in the deaths of 2,600 Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives.

3. His ardent support for Bush's attempt to privatize Social Security.

4. His going along with Bush's defense of Exxon's record $36 billion in profits, while you pay through the nose to gas up.

5. His support for Bush's sweetheart tax reductions for 2 percent of the richest Americans, creating the biggest deficit our children and grandchildren will shoulder.

And many more issues.

Santorum now talks of "keeping us safe from terrorist attack." Yet ports, train stations, atomic power plants and chemical laboratories remain unprotected.

All good reasons to vote for Bob Casey for U.S. Senate.







Article from the Pittsburgh Tribune <9/20/06>
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/send/s_471217.html
Like his late father, Bob Casey is a man of integrity and conscience. In his public life he has proven to be an independent voice whose primary concern is the well-being of everyday Pennsylvanians. There is no question that on issues that matter most to Western Pennsylvanians, Bob Casey is with us.
If anyone is a shill for party politics and a radical agenda, it is Rick Santorum. His campaign of half-truths and fear mongering makes me wonder if he has any clue what we Western Pennsylvanians want and deserve from our senator.









“(Santorum) is the incumbent in the deepest trouble in the entire country,” said Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia.

“This is a Democratic year,” said Sabato. “It’s just a matter of him being out of sync.”

[skipos]

1. I am glad he is going to send Santorum packing

even though I don't agree with him on some issues.

[Olney Blue]

2. Feel that same- but Santorum's GOT TO GO.

[LibraLiz1973]

3. yes he really,really does

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. "Democrat of the Day" Very good idea. Thanks! n/t

[LibraLiz1973]

6. Thanks! I am going to do one every day

I thought it would be a great way for us to talk about our candidates.
Sometimes it's hard with all of the BS the rethugs are up to and spouting off with
to talk our own candidates up here on DU- its the nature of the beast though.
We're well informed, but there is just SO MUCH negative that the repubs are up to
you can get lost

[wisteria]

5. This is a great positive idea to showcase our wonderful dem candidates.

I, for one appreciate a good positive post for once. I am happy you started with Casey too, I am from PA also. Santorum is a nasty, partisan shrill for this administration and he needs to go.

[LibraLiz1973]

7. His ad campaign against Casey is absolutely ridiculous

and I am offended.

I hate Rick Santorum- the sooner he is out the better

[blue neen]

8. Wonderful idea.

I'm looking forward to voting for Bob Casey in November and have had the opportunity to work for his campaign.

It's almost unbelievable that the Tribune Review had good things to say about Casey. That paper is the biggest right-wing rag going. If Santorum doesn't have their support, his goose is really cooked.

Thanks for the great idea! :)

[longship]

9. I nominate Dr. Victoria Wulsin for a future DOD.

She's running against Mean Jean Schmidt in OH-02.

Dr. Wulsin has raised a teeny-tiny bit of money. However, Mean Jean is worried enough that she has spent nearly all her money, and has even contributed her own money to her campaign. In spite of this imbalance, and the fact that the district is usually safe Republican, the race is currently a statistical dead heat.

And yes, she is a physician.

[LibraLiz1973]

10. Your on!

She will be the D.O.D tomorrow