Monday, November 3, 2008

McCracken for Congress -- Staying Positive with a Message of Hope and Change

There really isn't a lot left to say as we head into the final 48 hours of the campaign. First, and most important, Kelly, Amanda and I want to thank everyone who has helped in any way with the campaign. The one thing I will take away from this experience, regardless of the outcome on Tuesday, is the people I've met, the communities I've visited and the stories we've shared.

It has also been encouraging how many people have stepped up over the last 2 weeks to help with donations to the campaign. Once our opponent got desperate and decided to go negative there were many people and organizations who stepped up and sent in late donations. These late donations allowed us to expand our media advertising and create a second TV ad to combat the distortions coming from our opponent's campaign. I think once they realized they offered no ideas or solutions for the 5th district, the only way they could win was to trot out the usual wedge issues and scare the voters into thinking I'm someone that I'm not. Now we know how Barack Obama feels.

I want to close out this campaign on a positive note. Keep encouraging everyone you know to get out and vote on Tuesday. Remind them that while the top of the ballot for President is the race everyone is interested in, the next most important race is the 5th district race. This is our chance to reverse 8 years of bad policy and take our future back. Tuesday will be historical and we can be part of it by sending a Democrat to Congress from the 5th district for the first time in 30 years. Most important to remember – the Democratic message throughout the long campaign has been a positive one stressing HOPE and CHANGE.


Review of the Past Week on the Campaign Trail:

I participated in several additional debates / forums with the other 2 candidates for the 5th district seat this week. There was really nothing new to report as both my opponents stayed on script with the expected answers to the usual questions. After going through this process, I am pleased that we did so many debates across the 5th district. Voters across the district had many opportunities to come out and see the candidates in person and hear where we stand on the issues.

We had a great GOTV rally in Clarion on Saturday with a nice turnout of people from the Clarion area including members of the Clarion University Young Democrats and members from the IUPAT union. I was honored to share the stage with PA House candidate Matt Ellenberger, Clarion County Democratic Chairman Bill Miller and IUPAT National President James Williams.

I had 2 big highlights this week -- Meeting former President Bill Clinton in State College and meeting our next Vice President, Senator Joe Biden at a rally in Williamsport.

Mark meets and receives the endorsement of Bill Clinton
Meeting our next VP Joe Biden in Williamsport
It was an honor to meet both of these great men and it is something I will always remember. I learned that Senator Biden and I have something in common. He also served as a county commissioner in Delaware before he was elected to the United States Senate.

Here is a picture from the rally in Williamsport that appeared in the Lock Haven newspaper.

The gathering in Williamsport

Schedule for Upcoming Week:

Monday -- 7 PM -- DuBois Democratic Committee Meeting

Tuesday -- Election Day

Wednesday & Beyond -- To Be Decided by the Voters in the 5th District.





Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

Monday, October 27, 2008

McCracken for Congress -- Working the Final Week to Take Back Our Future

The campaign schedule has been pretty intense over the last week and will continue to be so until the BIG day on Tuesday, November 4th. I want to congratulate everyone for putting so much effort into this year's election, not just for an individual campaign, but for the entire Democratic ticket. I've seen people in every community throughout the 5th district working to make sure the message is getting out.

I want to remind everyone it is important that we finish strong. Don't take anything for granted, ignore the polls and work like the polls show our candidates 5 points down. Remember, while all indications show Barack Obama will be our next president, if we believe the polls, Al Gore would be concluding his second term or we would be working to re-elect President John Kerry right now.

On a personal note specifically dealing with our campaign for the United State Congress, I want to assure everyone that I am working as hard as I can heading into the final week of the campaign. Back in January when Kelly and I decided we would enter the race we knew that 2008 would be a difficult year for our family. We've missed opportunities to do things as a family but we knew solving the problems besieging our nation required a sacrifice. What is encouraging is watching the work everyone is doing and seeing people giving of their time and donating their personal skills to bring a positive result on November 4th.

For the final week, I ask that everyone keep in mind what the real goal is. The real goal isn't just to win an election, what we are working for in 2008 is to take back our future. I've been stressing to voters the last couple of weeks to realize over the last 8 years poor decisions in Washington have put the future for our children and grandchildren in jeopardy. The one issue more apparent than any other is the outrageous deficit and debt that George W. Bush will leave behind when he moves out of the White House in January.

My Republican opponent constantly says the "Bush tax cuts are our tax cuts" when the real truth is the Bush debt is our debt. The only way we are going to get our future back is by voting for the right people on November 4th who will make the tough decisions to put our country back in order. It all starts with making our federal government fiscally strong so we can invest in our nation and make the lives of all our citizens better. Sacrifice will be necessary, but in the end our country will be better.


A Very Important Endorsement:

I am please to announce that my candidacy has received the endorsement of the Veterans and Military Families for Progress. In the letter informing our campaign of the endorsement the organization stated "Veterans and Military Families for Progress has chosen to endorse your campaign. We do this in recognition of your support of veteran, active duty, guard, reserve, and military family issues. We hope that in some way our endorsement provides you an electoral advantage and ultimately ensures your election to the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional District seat".

This is a very important endorsement to receive from a prestigious organization that is dedicated to supporting the issues important of the active military and their families along with our veterans. This is an endorsement our campaign can be very proud to receive.


Campaign Commercial:

We are getting our message of fiscal responsibility out to the people of this district. We have a plan to right the ship and move in a new direction that includes balancing the budget, paying down the debt and investing here at home.



We can't afford any more of the "borrow and spend" mentality that has gotten us in this situation. This debt is a national security and issue and we intend to confront it with the experience and even-handedness it requires.


Review of the Past Week on the Campaign Trail:

I participated in 4 more candidate debates this week. We started off Monday evening with a 2 hour debate from Mansfield University in Tioga County that was broadcast live on PCN. Tuesday and Wednesday brought debates in smaller venues with stop in Bellefonte on Tuesday and an event on Wednesday in Lewistown. On Thursday all 3 candidates participated in a live 1 hour debate broadcast live on WPSU-TV.

The one thing I've taken out of all these debates that I've participated in, some just with my Republican opponent and others that also included the Libertarian candidate, is I am on the right side of the issues that affect the majority of the people in the 5th district. When you list off the issues we are regularly asked about in the debates -- Fiscal Responsibility, Health Care Reform, Social Security, Public Education Policy, Energy Policy and the Iraq War, the stances I take which mostly mirrors the rest of the Democratic Party platform are in line with what I am hearing from voters in the 5th district. We won't know until next week if what I'm saying is really resonating with the voters in the 5th district but I feel confident that our message is strong and voters are listening.

Saturday finished the week with a strong day of campaigning. I started out the day at 1 PM in Emporium, Cameron County for the fall Democratic luncheon. I then made a 70 mile dash to Lock Haven to attend a 3 PM GOTV rally headlined by Gov. Ed Rendell. I shared the stage with Rep. Mike Hanna, Obama campaign rep. Jayson Harpster, Clinton County Commissioners Joel Long and Adam Coleman, Lock Haven Mayor Rick Vilello and Clinton County Democratic Chairman Dave Wallace. Then it was on to a 5 PM appearance in Boalsburg at the Centre County Democratic Fall banquet with Gov. Rendell and all the Democratic candidates representing Centre County. The long day ended with a final stop after 7 PM in Lewistown for the Mifflin County Democratic Fall banquet.


Schedule for Upcoming Week:

Monday -- 6 PM -- Meeting with Federal Credit Union Members -- Hampton Inn DuBois

Tuesday -- 8 AM -- Radio Interview WRSC

Tuesday -- 9:30 AM -- Tour of AccuWeather

Tuesday -- 6:30 PM -- Debate in New Bethlehem / Clarion County sponsored by League of Women Voters

Wednesday -- 7 PM -- Penn State Political Science Debate -- West Hall Commons Building -- Main Campus

Thursday -- 8 AM -- Radio Interview -- DuBois

Thursday -- 7 PM -- WPSU Radio Debate

Friday -- 8 AM -- Radio Interview with Jerry Fisher -- State College

Saturday -- Time TBD -- GOTV Rally in Clarion County

Sunday -- Time TBD -- GOTV Rally in State College


FUNDRAISING REMINDER -- Keep talking with people about the 5,000 Friends to Flip the Fifth project. We can win the 5th District Congressional District for the first time in 32 years but we need to be organizing our forces heading into the final weeks. The only way to turn this country around is to send people to Washington who will make the tough decisions. The choice in the 5th district is clear. My opponent regularly states that he supports the fiscal policies of the Bush administration AKA "the Bush tax cuts" and will continue them -- More of the Same. While I continue to stress that we must balance the budget, built a surplus and pay down the debt.

In order to get the message out to voters we will need to advertise which costs money. Please contact your family and friends and urge them to financially support our campaign as we move into the final weeks. Donations can be made online through www.actblue.com or by direct mail to McCracken for Congress, PO Box 332, Clearfield PA 16830.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

Monday, October 20, 2008

McCracken for Congress -- Come January 2009 -- We Must Remember What The American People Expect

Earlier this week I received an email from a 5th district voter with very strong pro-life beliefs who would like to vote for me. She told me via email that she is comfortable that I am Catholic and my stance on pro-life issues is similar to that of Sen. Robert Casey. She feels it is very likely Barack Obama will be elected President and the Democratic Party will gain seats Congress. Where her concern lies is what actions a newly inaugurated President Barack Obama and a United States Congress with a strong Democratic majority will take after January of 2009. She is afraid there will be a far left agenda that will attempt to overturn pro-life initiatives put into effect like the ban on partial birth abortions.

In my response back to her, I explained that my agenda when I arrive in Washington will be exactly what I’ve been campaigning on. I want to concentrate on fiscal responsibility, a national energy policy that stresses domestically produced alternative fuels, health care and health insurance reform, saving and strengthening Social Security, rescinding No Child Left Behind and bringing our troops home from Iraq. I also mentioned that I will not stand for Congress losing sight of what the agenda must be -- solving the problems important to the middle class.

There are so many important issues the American people want resolved and, if they give the Democratic Party a mandate with the election of Barack Obama as President and a larger majority in the United States Congress, we must strictly honor the wishes of the people. From Barack Obama on down, we need to realize going in the American people want results and they want the mess left by George W. Bush cleaned up. What they not accept is veering off on a far left agenda that brings issues to the table that have nothing to do with the economy and the problems of the middle class.

For the first time since the so called “Reagan Revolution” in 1980, the country is ready to put their full trust in the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party the voters want to see is one that will concentrate on the problems of the middle class and will reflect the leadership values of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy. To make this happen and to honor the trust the American people will give to the Democratic Party on November 4th, the far left elements must stand down and allow Barack Obama and a moderate Democratic Congress to lead this country. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to turn our country around and there is no margin for error.


Gen. Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama:

Today’s endorsement by Colin Powell of Barack Obama is news that will likely solidify what the outcome will be on November 4th. To have someone of Gen. Powell’s stature come out and endorse Sen. Obama should speak volumes to any of the undecided voters still out there. It should also encourage those to of us who long ago decided that Barack Obama is the leader we need that we made the right choice.


Review of the Past Week on the Campaign Trail:

This week I participated in 3 candidate forum / debates with my opponents. I feel very confident in my performance against my 2 opponents and I am able to show the voters that we are on their side on the important issues like fiscal responsibility, health care reform, saving Social Security, energy policy and the concern for the problems of the middle class.

On Friday evening, Henry Guthrie and I traveled to Forest County to meet with members of the Democratic Party there. Thanks to Sheriff Bob Wolfgang for arranging the meeting. There was a large contingent of Forest County Democrats at the meeting and they are ready to do everything they can to help our campaign and see a big Democratic victory on November 4th.

On Saturday evening, Kelly and I traveled to Ridgway for the Elk County Democratic Committee fall dinner. It was a wonderful event and we got to hear a round of great speeches from Nye Simmons representing the Obama campaign, Don Hilliard running for the State Senate and Rep. Dan Surra running for re-election to the state house. The folks in Elk County are out working hard for the Democratic ticket and I reminded them that Elk County with a solid Democratic registration majority will play a large role in the outcome of the 5th district race.


Schedule for Upcoming Week:

Monday -- 11:30 AM -- Williamsport Rotary

Monday -- 5:00 PM -- McCracken for Congress Pre-Debate Reception - St. James Church Parish Hall -- 30 Wellsboro Street -- Mansfield PA.

Monday -- 7:00 PM -- Tioga County Debate -- Mansfield Univ. Straughn Auditorium

Tuesday -- 3 - 3:45 PM -- Arnold Addison Court in St. College -- with Art Goldschmidt

Tuesday -- 4 - 5 PM Foxdale Retirement Community in St. College -- with Art Goldschmidt

Tuesday -- 7 PM -- Bellefonte Media Outlet Debate

Wednesday -- 6:30 PM -- Mifflin County Farm Bureau Debate -- Indian Valley HS - Lewistown

Thursday -- 7 PM -- WPSU TV Debate -- State College

Friday -- WJAC Debate in Centre County -- Details TBA

Saturday -- 1 PM -- Cameron County Democratic Lunch - Emporium

Saturday -- 5 PM -- Centre County Fall Democratic Banquet -- State College

Sunday -- 12 Noon -- House Party at Marie Sweets in State College


FUNDRAISING REMINDER -- Keep talking with people about the 5,000 Friends to Flip the Fifth project. We can win the 5th District Congressional District for the first time in 32 years but we need to be organizing our forces heading into the final weeks. The only way to turn this country around is to send people to Washington who will make the tough decisions. The choice in the 5th district is clear. My opponent regularly states that he supports the fiscal policies of the Bush administration AKA "the Bush tax cuts" and will continue them -- More of the Same. While I continue to stress that we must balance the budget, built a surplus and pay down the debt.

In order to get the message out to voters we will need to advertise which costs money. Please contact your family and friends and urge them to financially support our campaign as we move into the final weeks. Donations can be made online through www.actblue.com or by direct mail to McCracken for Congress, PO Box 332, Clearfield PA 16830.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

Monday, October 13, 2008

McCracken for Congress -- Who is Responsible for the Financial Crisis? -- October 12th, 2008

Not surprisingly, we are seeing on TV and across the nation a strong and sometimes vicious debate erupting about who or what is to blame for the financial meltdown that is impacting not only our domestic markets but world markets as well. This was also a hot subject at the debates and forums held this week for the candidates in the 5th district race.

It is very troubling to see certain people on the national scene attempt to blame this crisis on people who took out mortgages they could not afford. We are also hearing criticism that federal government policies put in place during the 90's to encourage home ownership by low income minorities was a major factor in the crisis.

The problem was not caused by hard working people who were trying to purchase a home. The problem lies with the lending institutions that made bad loans and the people who approved the loans. The lending institutions should have been performing stringent reviews and they had the authority to approve or reject loans and mortgages. Regardless of what the federal government was saying, the lending institutions should have been looking out for their own best interests and when someone applied for a mortgage that was a risk, the lending institution should have rejected the application and advised the person to find a home that was more affordable.

The problem is widespread and I know first hand of people who were rejected by local lending institutions only to find an out of the area lender that approved their mortgage on a property they will struggle to afford. Not only do they have a problem paying the mortgage but the property taxes are also more than they can reasonably afford. There are many cases where good lending institutions will tell someone no but there were others willing to take a gamble and approve risky lending.

The gamble these risky lenders took was two fold. First, the lending institution gambles the borrower can struggle and make the payments, with the second part of the gamble being somewhat unethical. They were betting against the people they were lending money to with the secondary goal being foreclosure on the property. The unethical portion of this is betting that someone would fail, causing families to lose their homes so a corporate interest could gain ownership of real estate. Of course what goes around comes around. The housing bubble burst, values went down and the risky lending institutions were left holding ownership to properties that are now worth less than what was owed on their books.

It is unconscionable that corporate America, Wall Street and certain political and media elements now point the finger of blame at people who just wanted a better life with a nice home. Blame and responsibility lies with those who had the control to approve or reject lending. Over the last 30 years, corporate America, Wall Street and the financial interests have been granted wide ranging powers by our federal government and they decide the direction of our free market economy. REMEMBER -- With power comes responsibility. Now, ask yourself -- who is ultimately responsible for the financial crisis? Is it your neighbor down the street that lost his home or does the blame lie with those who made the risky business decisions?


Another Important Endorsement:

The McCracken for Congress Campaign has received another important endorsement from the 23,000 member United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776. In the letter to our campaign informing us of the endorsement, UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell W. Young IV wrote "Our endorsement recognizes your commitment to policies that will benefit working families".


Review of the Past Week on the Campaign Trail:

It was a busy week with candidate forums in Punxsutawney on Monday, Emporium on Tuesday, DuBois on Thursday and Williamsport on Friday. All of these events were very good with the forum in DuBois on Thursday lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes that was broadcast live of 4 radio stations. The DuBois forum sponsored by the DuBois Chamber along with both the Democratic and Republican county committees offered some unique and challenging subjects for all 3 candidates to address.

Late Friday evening I attended the oPROMa event in State College that was organized by the Penn State College Democrats. In speaking with the Penn State College Democrats, I reminded them to spread the word to their fellow students that this election is their election to change the future. During the last 8 years, George W. Bush and his administration's policies have mortgaged the future of our nation. I concluded my brief speech with the call "During the last 8 years Bush has tried to take your future from you - Go out on November 4th and take your future back".

Saturday was a busy day with events on both ends of the district that were complicated with some personal problems. I woke up on Saturday with a very sore throat and hardly any voice. I was hoping it would get better during the day but it didn't. What a nightmare -- a politician without a voice.

We attended the Flaming Foliage Festival Parade in Renovo early in the afternoon. It was a great parade with the streets jam packed with people.

The Democratic float including State Rep. Mike Hanna, County Chair Dave Wallace, Clinton County Commissioner Adam Coleman, Senator John Wozniak and Clinton County Commissioner Joel Long. Not pictured -- Kelsey Lomanson who drove the Jeep pulling the float.

Mike Hanna and I tossing candy to the crowd.

With supporter Jonah and his mom Linda at the Venango County Dinner. By this time my voice was gone but Jonah assured me he has the 2nd grade votes at his school lined up for me.


Schedule for Upcoming Week:

Tuesday 7 PM -- PSU DuBois -- Meeting with Students for Obama

Wednesday 8:30 AM -- St Marys -- AHUG Breakfast Forum

Wednesday 7 PM -- Centre County League of Women Voters Debate -- State College

Thursday 7 PM -- WPVL Debate -- State College

Friday 7 PM -- Meeting With Forest County Voters and Officials

Saturday 8 AM -- AARP Candidates Breakfast -- DuBois

Saturday -- 6 PM -- Elk County Democratic Fall Banquet -- Ridgway / Royal Inn


FUNDRAISING REMINDER -- Keep talking with people about the 5,000 Friends to Flip the Fifth project. We can win the 5th District Congressional District for the first time in 32 years but we need to be organizing our forces heading into the final weeks. The only way to turn this country around is to send people to Washington who will make the tough decisions. The choice in the 5th district is clear. My opponent regularly states that he supports the fiscal policies of the Bush administration AKA "the Bush tax cuts" and will continue them -- More of the Same. While I continue to stress that we must balance the budget, built a surplus and pay down the debt.

In order to get the message out to voters we will need to advertise which costs money. Please contact your family and friends and urge them to financially support our campaign as we move into the final weeks. Donations can be made online through www.actblue.com or by direct mail to McCracken for Congress, PO Box 332, Clearfield PA 16830.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

McCracken for Congress -- United States National Debt Surpasses $10 Trillion

While everyone was focusing on the fate of the bailout plan this week, the federal government’s debt passed the $10 trillion mark with hardly anyone noticing. Of course, the bailout plan insures that this debt will climb even higher as there is specific language in the bailout plan authorizing the federal government to raise the debt limit and borrow up to $840 billion to fund the bailout.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK

The Outstanding Public Debt as of 05 Oct 2008 at 12:45:21 PM GMT is:

$10,156,891,193,312.09


The estimated population of the United States is 304,852,050
so each citizen's share of this debt is $33,317.19.

The National Debt has continued to increase an average of
$3.08 billion per day since September 28, 2007!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The working people of the United States should be outraged that the members of Congress passed the bailout bill without addressing a way to fund the cost. It is bordering on criminal that our elected leaders at the federal level continue to allow this debt to grow ignoring the impact it will have on the future security of our nation. I have continued to stress as the main theme of my campaign that we must elect leaders who will make fiscal responsibility a top priority. We must solve this problem now or we will pass it on to our children and grandchildren, leaving this country a weak shell of what it once was.

In a typical campaign year, voters would be looking for the candidates that are spreading the “Happy Days Are Here Again” message. However, in 2008, unless you are living a severe state of denial, you have to realize that tough times are upon us and tough choices must be made. I’ve heard my Republican opponent regularly state “I believe our best days are ahead of us.” The hard facts are people are struggling with higher fuel prices, no health care coverage, higher food prices and higher local taxes because of the failed policies of the last 8 years and the neglect of the problems affecting the middle class. While they’ve worked to reform welfare for individuals, our government is now passing bailout legislation that amounts to corporate welfare.

The real message voters need to hear is the hard truth. This country is a mess and tough decisions must be made to turn the country around. The turn around won’t be a quick and it won’t be easy. But, if voters do their part and make the right choices on November 4th, we can start the process to bring our country back. And, in bringing the country back, the emphasis must be on putting the needs of the working people above the desires of corporate America for profits.


Review of the Past Week on the Campaign Trail:

This past week I was on the road doing interviews with several newspapers from within the 5th district and I also recorded a ½ hour interview that will be broadcast later in October on PCN. There were also candidate forums this week in Clearfield and Bradford where I had the chance to discuss the issues with my opponents. Finally, we finished the week with 2 great events. On Friday in State College Justin Braz and Bill Van Saun arranged an event with some Penn State students so we could talk with them about how important this election is to young voters. State Rep. Scott Conklin also spoke with the young voters.

On Saturday we traveled to Clarion to participate in the Autumn Leaf Festival parade. It was a great event with special guests Franco Harris and his wife Dana on hand representing the Obama campaign. The people in Clarion were chanting “Franco, Franco” throughout the parade route and it was really encouraging to hear the cheers for the Democratic floats and the enthusiasm for Barack Obama. Special thanks go out to Clarion County Democratic Chairman Bill Miller for pulling everything together, State Rep. Matt Ellenberger and the Clarion University Young Dems for their work building 2 great floats.

Franco Harris with Clarion University Young Dems

With State Rep Candidate Matt Ellenberger in front of Democratic Float

Bob Myers from Venango County getting autograph from Franco Harris

Talking with Franco Harris

Schedule for the Upcoming Week:

Tuesday -- Cameron County Debate - 6:00PM

Wednesday -- WJAC Interview - 9:00AM

Thursday -- Debate at State College High School [TENTATIVE] - 10:00AM, PSU-DuBois Debate - 6:30PM

Friday -- Lycoming County Grange Meet the Candidates Forum - 6:00PM, Dinner with the PSU Young Dems - 8:00PM

Saturday -- Renovo Flaming Foliage Parage - 12:00PM, Venango County Democratic Dinner - 7:00PM


FUNDRAISING REMINDER -- Keep talking with people about the 5,000 Friends to Flip the Fifth project. We can win the 5th District Congressional District for the first time in 32 years but we need to be organizing our forces heading into the final weeks. The only way to turn this country around is to send people to Washington who will make the tough decisions. The choice in the 5th district is clear. My opponent regularly states that he supports the fiscal policies of the Bush administration AKA "the Bush tax cuts" and will continue them -- More of the Same. While I continue to stress that we must balance the budget, built a surplus and pay down the debt.

In order to get the message out to voters we will need to advertise which costs money. Please contact your family and friends and urge them to financially support our campaign as we move into the final weeks. Donations can be made online through www.actblue.com or by direct mail to McCracken for Congress, PO Box 332, Clearfield PA 16830.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

Monday, September 29, 2008

McCracken for Congress -- Who Understands the Problems Facing the 5th District and the Nation -- September 28th, 2008

Throughout the campaign I've been involved in several candidate forums with my opponents for the open seat in the 5th Congressional District. Additionally, during the final 5 weeks of the campaign there will be several additional opportunities for voters in the 5th district to watch all three candidates debate the important issues facing the district and the nation. The important question voters should consider while watching or listening to these events is which of the three candidates really understands the important problems facing our nation.

There are several issues that clearly define and differentiate where I stand and what I believe in versus my two opponents. I've found that my stances on Health Care Reform, the future of Social Security, understanding the economic problems in the 5th district and, most importantly, fiscal responsibility by the federal government separate me from my two opponents.

Starting with Health Care Reform, my Republican opponent has repeatedly stated "the United States has the best healthcare system in the world" and says "we don't turn people away." But, the sad fact is there are 45.7 million uninsured people in the United States and many more underinsured. He also regularly says that a "tremendous debate needs to occur" and that the way to solve the nation's health care crisis is to "peel away the layers of federal regulations."

In contrast, I understand that too many of our citizens, both here in the 5th district and across the nation, lack access to affordable health care. The statement that "we don't turn people away" is completely false. The fact remains that people who have no health care coverage do get turned away and those who finally get treatment once it is a critical situation that requires a trip to the emergency room are then faced with harassment from the billing department at the hospital or by a collection agency.

On health care reform, my opponents are wrong on several counts -- we don't need a "tremendous debate" we've talked long enough and we need more detailed solutions than just "peeling away the layers of federal regulations." Throughout the campaign, I have proposed as a first step a voluntary national health insurance purchasing pool to provide low cost health care coverage for individuals and small businesses. Once this proves successful, then we can move forward on the real solution which is universal health care for everyone.

On Social Security, the contrast is also clear. On numerous occasions my Republican opponent has touted his strong support for the idea of allowing young people to take part of their Social Security to invest in private accounts. I have stressed that we must work to save and strengthen Social Security for all future generations and any policy that includes private accounts like those proposed by my Republican opponent would only weaken Social Security.

Of even greater concern is the fact that private financial investments fail as we've clearly witnessed in recent weeks. What happens in the future if funds diverted from Social Security to private accounts fail? Will the taxpayers in the future have to bailout millions of individuals who chose to go the private accounts route when their investments fail and they have no retirement to fall back on. The choice must be to save and strengthen Social Security for our children and grandchildren. Policies that would weaken the system while placing the future retirement of millions of our young people at risk is unacceptable and candidates proposing these ideas should be rejected.

Finally, the one issue that I'm asking the voters in the 5th district to really judge the candidates on is the issue of fiscal responsibility in Washington. This is an issue I understand as a citizen, as a former school board member and now as a county commissioner. I will continue to stress that the most important thing we need from Congress is fiscal responsibility with a commitment to balancing the federal budget which currently has a $482 billion deficit, building a solid surplus and, most important, paying down the $9.7 trillion federal government debt. My Republican opponent continues to build his campaign around "extending the Bush tax cuts" while at the same time proposing increases in spending.

As proof of my commitment to supporting fiscal responsibility and my honesty with the voters in comparison to my Republican opponent's mixed signals on fiscal matters go to www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org and compare both of our responses on increased federal funding for research. Throughout the campaign and in surveys I've been asked to complete, I stress that there is a fiscal crisis in Washington and there is NO MONEY for increased domestic spending until we make the commitment to solving the fiscal crisis. In contrast, my Republican opponent continues to support the failed fiscal policies from the last 8 years and he continues to suggest that federal funding increases are possible in many areas.

In the closing weeks of the campaign, I'm going to stress to voters to use the fiscal crisis as the key issue to decide the 5th district race. The question voters must ask themselves is this: Do you want a person representing you in Congress who understands our biggest problem is the $9.7 trillion debt owed to nations like China and Saudi Arabia OR do you want a person who disregards this threat in favor of extending tax cuts that benefited the most wealthy and affluent citizens? Perhaps more important to consider is this: Will we send people to Congress who will confront and solve this threat now, or will we pass responsibility for this problem on to our children and grandchildren?


More on the Bush bailout plan: I wrote last week of my concern about President Bush's plan to provide a $700 billion bailout to rescue failing financial institutions. Earlier this week I watched President Bush speak to the nation about his plan where he attempted to explain what he was doing and why he wanted to do it. While we heard the what and the why, he failed to offer the most important information the nation needed to hear -- How is he going to pay for it. Sadly, the facts are out in his proposal that the $700 billion bailout will be paid for by increasing the federal debt limit which means the bailout will be funded with more borrowed money AKA fiscally irresponsible policies.
If I was a member of Congress now, I could not support any bailout bill that fails to address funding the bailout and I would strongly and vocally oppose adding this cost to the debt. However, I would be offering solutions on how to raise the funds to pay for the bailout. Specifically I would suggest the following recommendations to raise revenue to fund the bailout:

1. I would call for immediate investigations to identify any corporate executives who were responsible for this financial fiasco and would demand that the bailout bill include language to freeze and seize the assets of those responsible for the mess. The assets of those responsible would then be liquidated to pay restitution to the federal government to help fund the bailout.

2. I would propose 2 funding streams that would expire once the bailout costs are recovered. First, there would be a ½ % stock transfer fee. In order to waive this fee for private citizens who dabble in the stock market, the first $5,000 per year would be exempt from the fee. Second, there would be a ½ % mortgage fee that would be waived from the first $75,000 of the mortgage amount so it would not severely impact first time home buyers.

These two suggestions would raise significant revenue to fund the bailout plan and would also keep the cost from being applied to the federal debt. It would also place responsibility for funding the bailout costs on those who will benefit from the bailout rather than the middle class taxpayers. The most important language that would be included in regards to both the stock transfer fee and the mortgage fee is that they will expire once the crisis is over. This will provide the incentive for leaders in the financial services industry to do everything they can to get us through the financial crisis so the added fees to the federal government will expire as soon as possible.


Schedule for the Upcoming Week:

Monday -- Newspaper Interviews -- The Progress / Clearfield, Clarion, Ridgway and St. Marys, Daily Collegian

Tuesday -- WJAC Interview, Meet the Candidates -- Clearfield Chamber of Commerce at Elks Club

Wednesday -- Meeting with Fayette Resources / DuBois, Interviews with PCN and Lewistown Sentinel, State College Borough Democratic Committee event -- 6 PM Ramada Inn in State College

Thursday -- Newspaper Interviews during the day, Debate in Bradford at Pitt / Bradford Campus 6 PM

Friday -- Event in State College with PSU Students

Saturday -- Clarion Leaf Festival and Parade


FUNDRAISING REMINDER
-- Keep talking with people about the 5,000 Friends to Flip the Fifth project. We can win the 5th District Congressional District for the first time in 32 years but we need to be organizing our forces heading into the final weeks. The only way to turn this country around is to send people to Washington who will make the tough decisions. The choice in the 5th district is clear. My opponent regularly states that he supports the fiscal policies of the Bush administration AKA "the Bush tax cuts" and will continue them -- More of the Same. While I continue to stress that we must balance the budget, built a surplus and pay down the debt.

In order to get the message out to voters we will need to advertise which costs money. Please contact your family and friends and urge them to financially support our campaign as we move into the final weeks. Donations can be made online through www.actblue.com or by direct mail to McCracken for Congress, PO Box 332, Clearfield PA 16830.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

McCracken for Congress -- Before Any Bailouts Are Approved Those Responsible MUST Be Held Accountable. -- September 21st, 2008

The last few weeks have seen our nation's economic and financial institutions in the most critical condition since the days in 1929 when the stock market crashed and banks failed sending the country into the Great Depression. This morning I came upon an online headline that read "Bush team, Congress negotiate $700 Billion Bailout". At first glance, the general public probably feels that this is welcome news. However, there are many troubling details about this plan by the lame duck Bush administration that the American people need to be aware of. Below are some of the details about the plan found online at http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080921/D93AVJUO0.html.

1. The rescue plan would give Washington broad authority to purchase bad mortgage-related assets from U.S. financial institutions for the next two years. It does not specify which institutions qualify or what, if anything, the government would get in return for the unprecedented infusion.

2. The proposal is a mere three pages long, but it gives sweeping powers to the government to dispense gigantic sums of taxpayer dollars in a program that would be sheltered from court review.

3. Lawmakers digesting the eye-popping cost and searching for specifics voiced concerns that the proposal offers no help for struggling homeowners or safeguards for taxpayers' money.

4. The proposal would raise the statutory limit on the national debt from $10.6 trillion to $11.3 trillion to make room for the massive rescue. -- FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY ALERT!

Perhaps most troubling is there is no mention of placing responsibility for this disaster on anyone, especially the financial geniuses that made millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses overseeing and mismanaging their firms. In fact, there are reports that people involved in the failures of these financial institutions had guaranteed buyout contracts that will pay millions of dollars to them as the go out the door.

Let's be blunt - any bailout plan offered by the federal government should immediately freeze all funds going to those who perpetrated this disaster on our nation. Additionally, any person responsible for this mess should have their assets seized and eventually liquidated with the funds generated going towards financial restitution to help reimburse the federal government for the bailout. Those who were responsible for this mess must be held accountable!

Finally, it is completely unacceptable that the bailout plan includes language that raises the statutory limit on the national debt from $10.6 trillion to $11.3 trillion. There it is, more of the same borrow and spend mentality from the Bush administration and Congress. They will again place the financial cost on our children and grandchildren rather than making the tough decision on how to fund this bailout.

I will go on record that I will not support this type of legislation while I am serving in the United States Congress. It is completely unacceptable that the Bush administration and leaders in Congress are negotiating a bailout that fails to address holding those accountable who are responsible for this mess. Instead, they are going to tack an additional $700 billion on the deficit and debt while those responsible slink off to their compounds in the Hamptons with golden parachute buyouts that will leave them set for life. These are probably the same people who most benefited from the Bush tax cuts.

As a reminder -- here is the Debt Clock which is available on line at http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock


U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK


The Outstanding Public Debt as of 21 Sep 2008 at 03:02:37 PM GMT is:

$ 9 , 6 6 9 , 6 3 3 , 2 3 6 , 9 6 3 . 9 1

The estimated population of the United States is 304,768,519
so each citizen's share of this debt is $31,727.80.

The National Debt has continued to increase an average of
$1.84 billion per day since September 28, 2007!

I believe Barack Obama said it best -- ENOUGH! It is time to start sending people to Congress who will make the tough decisions and hold those people accountable who are tearing our country apart.


Defining a "Cowards Tax Increase"


I've received many positive comments about my statement referencing a "coward's tax increase" I made during a candidate forum in Philipsburg this week. As a school board member and as county commissioner, I've seen many unfunded mandates come down to the local level from both Washington and Harrisburg. A perfect example of a "cowards tax increase" is the No Child Left Behind legislation that was implemented by the Bush administration and the Republican controlled Congress.

While they were granting record tax cuts for the wealthiest 5% of Americans, they were mandating that all public school systems adopt No Child Left Behind without providing adequate funding down to the local level. Washington knew when they mandated No Child Left Behind that it would cost money at the local level. When they knew that it would cost additional money from the taxpayers but they passed responsibility for raising taxes to pay for it down to the local level they are guilty of a "Coward's Tax Increase". It should also be recognized that cutting taxes on the wealthiest 5% while passing the cost for No Child Left Behind to people who pay school property tax is clearly another shifting of tax burden from the wealthy to the middle class that has been a consequence of "trickle down" economics.


Schedule for the Upcoming Week:

Sunday -- Union Township Fire Company Anniversary Celebration and Truck Show -- Rockton P

Monday -- We're Backin' McCracken Golf Outing - Belles Springs Golf Course - Clinton County, Tour of CATA Facilities -- 2 PM, Meeting with Representatives from PA Office of Rural Health -- 3:15 PM

Wednesday -- Jefferson County Democratic Meeting -- 7 PM

Thursday -- Newspaper Interviews during the day, WPSU Radio Debate -- 6:30 PM

Friday -- Event at Bob Sheppard's House -- PA Furnace -- 6 PM

Saturday -- 1890's Festival Parade and Festival -- Tioga County

Sunday -- Fall Festival -- Snow Shoe


FUNDRAISING REMINDER -- Keep talking with people about the 5,000 Friends to Flip the Fifth project. We can win the 5th District Congressional District for the first time in 32 years but we need to be organizing our forces heading into the final weeks. The only way to turn this country around is to send people to Washington who will make the tough decisions. The choice in the 5th district is clear. My opponent regularly states that he supports the fiscal policies of the Bush administration AKA "the Bush tax cuts" and will continue them -- More of the Same. While I continue to stress that we must balance the budget, built a surplus and pay down the debt.

In order to get the message out to voters we will need to advertise which costs money. Please contact your family and friends and urge them to financially support our campaign as we move into the final weeks. Donations can be made online through www.actblue.com or by direct mail to McCracken for Congress, PO Box 332, Clearfield PA 16830.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress