McCracken for Congress -- A Call for Energy Independence

As We Celebrate Our Independence, It Is Time for Energy Independence.

On Friday July 4th we will celebrate Independence Day marking 232 years since our founding fathers declared that the United States of America would be an independent nation. Back in 1776, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others showed courage, leadership and vision by drafting the Declaration of Independence creating a democratic government based on freedom and rights for the common people.

Now, 232 years later, we need to see the same courage, leadership and vision from our elected leaders to declare independence again. In 2008, the independence we need to declare is not from tyrannical leaders and an oppressive government but energy independence from foreign sources that have too much control over a product that is so vital to our nation.

Since oil prices began their sharp, steady rise earlier this year, debate has raged over possible solutions to stabilize oil and energy costs. Many people, including both our current congressman and the person he has endorsed to succeed him, are supporting the idea that we can drill our way out of the oil crisis. Those who are supporting the idea that drilling existing domestic oil reserves is the only solution to this most critical problem are being very short sighted and fail to recognize the huge potential of a domestic alternative energy industry.

The United States of America must lead a renewable and clean energy revolution that will diversify our energy sources while stressing the immediate development of domestically produced renewable fuel sources. We need to have the courage and commitment to put all options on the table and place the interests of our nation above partisan politics, corporate interests and undue influence from the traditional petroleum industry. Specifically, the petroleum industry must not be allowed to dictate our nation’s energy policies from this point forward.

If current leaders make the decision to allow drilling offshore or in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge then it should be mandated that all royalties, taxes and fees generated from the drilling be used strictly for investment in the research of domestically produced alternative fuel technology. If our nation is going to tap what is possibly the last remaining large oil reserves under United States control, then we must use the profits realized to research and secure future energy supplies for our children and grandchildren.

Not only would the strict commitment to an energy independence plan make our nation more secure, it would ignite a domestic economic expansion creating millions of new jobs and keeping billions of dollars here in the United States for further investment.

In order to achieve energy independence our nation must commit in a way it never has before. The only comparison I can think of is the commitment we made back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy challenged the nation to travel to the moon stating the following: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”.

I would not want to be accused of plagiarizing President Kennedy, but, if you change his words from “We choose to go to the moon” to, “We choose to achieve energy independence” - the rest of words fit. If we accept the challenge and begin moving towards energy independence now, within a decade our nation could again feel the sense of achievement and pride that we felt when we heard Neil Armstrong’s words “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind…”.


Upcoming Events for the Campaign:

The following fundraising events are scheduled:

Thursday July 17th – Clearfield
McCracken for Congress Dinner
5:30 to 7:30 PM – Lawrence Township Fire Company Social Hall – Mill Road Clearfield
Cost - $20 per person
Event catered by The Country Butcher – Door Prizes

Friday July 18th – Tioga County
McCracken for Congress Picnic
4-8 pm - Hills Creek State Park, Crabapple Pavilion
Cost - $10.00 per person, $18.00 per couple, $25.00 per Family
Hot Dogs, salads, desserts and water, iced tea and lemonade to be served.
RSVP – Ann Gazda

Sunday July 20th – Lock Haven – Clinton County
McCracken for Congress Dinner
3:30 to 5:30 PM – Sons of Italy Hall – Downtown Lock Haven
Cost - $20 per person.
After dinner, although not an official part of the campaign event, people are encouraged to take part in the concert held at the riverfront amphitheatre which will feature a performance from a band featuring classic rock. NOTE – bring lawn chairs in case the stands are filled.

Please contact mccrackenforcongress@verizon.net for additional details on the above events.


Campaign Events for the upcoming week: We will be busy this week with several dinners and parades to attend. Kelly, Amanda and I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July holiday (in spite of the high gas prices). Enjoy your time with family and friends because it is precious.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate For Congress

McCracken for Congress -- Weekly Update -- June 22nd 2008

This past week had important events scheduled every day ending with a very busy weekend. Here is a brief rundown of the highlights of the week:

The first major joint debate between the 2 candidates in the 5th Congressional District was held on Tuesday at the CBICC luncheon. The event was broadcast later that evening on PCN. The feedback I’ve received is that the debate clearly showed the contrast where I stand on the important issues, both regional and national, and where my opponent stands. The important topics addressed included healthcare, the Iraq war and the growing crisis of increasing gas and energy costs.

On Thursday, I attended an open house for the expansion of Murmac Farms outside of Bellefonte. This was a very educational trip for me as I got to see the operation of a modern dairy farm with 1000 cows that are milked daily. Speaking with the owner, he explained to me the trials of running the operation which is a 7 day a week, year round operation. It is a family business with 2 of his 3 sons also living and working on the farm. The farm also employs around 25 people on a full time basis. The most interesting thing I learned was how technology is used on a modern dairy farm. Every cow has a device around their neck that is read as they move through the process of milking. The data is retrieved using wireless technology and fed back into computers which monitor their daily milk output and how much feed they consume.

Friday I traveled to Altoona to attend the annual convention of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women. I was honored to be one of the featured speakers along with fellow congressional candidates Tony Barr from the 9th district, Kathy Dahlkemper from the 4th district, State Representative Scott Conklin and Auditor General Jack Wagner.

The week ended with campaign chairman Henry Guthrie traveling with me to Wellsboro on Saturday for the Laurel Festival and Parade. The parade was late in starting due to a nasty passing thunderstorm and the parade had to end abruptly when another storm passed through the area. However, it was another enjoyable visit to Tioga County and I got to speak with a good number of people while I attended the festival prior to the parade.

On the way home from Tioga County, we made a side trip to Williamsport to stop in at the headquarters of the Lycoming County Democratic Party. It was inspiring to see 4 young people from the Obama campaign along with a person from the county Democratic Party working at the headquarters on a Saturday evening. It shows how committed people are to positive change in our country.

Finally on Sunday, Kelly, Amanda and I traveled to State College for 2 house parties hosted by Art and Louise Goldschmidt from 3 to 5 and then it was on to Mary Jane Havanec’s house from 5 to 7. Both house parties offered a great opportunity to talk about the issues important to the people in attendance. I was also encouraged by several college students who are Obama supporters that came to Art and Louise’s party. It is great to see their commitment, not only to Senator Obama, but to the entire Democratic slate of candidates.

It was a very busy week for the campaign with many people taking time to be involved. I want to thank all the Centre County Democrats who turned out to support me at the debate on Tuesday. I also want to thank the Democrats in Tioga County that arranged for a booth at the Laurel Festival and finally, thanks to the Goldschmidt’s and the Havanec’s for hosting the house parties on Sunday and for everyone who took the time to come out and meet with me.

Below is information about a fundraising event we will be having in Clearfield on July 17th:

McCracken for Congress Dinner
Thursday, July 17th at 5:30PM
Lawrence Township Fire Company Social Hall
Mill Road - Clearfield

Come out and support the campaign to elect Mark B. McCracken to Congress from the 5th Congressional District. Cost $20 per person - Meal catered by the Country Butcher - Door Prizes - Call for tickets at 765-6821 or 577-3374 or email requests to mccrackenforcongress@verizon.net .

McCracken for Congress -- Weekly Progress Report -- June 15th 2008

Father's Day -- Our Day to Relax

Today being Father's Day, I'm getting extra special treatment from Amanda. I was treated to breakfast this morning and afterwards, Kelly and Amanda headed to the community pool in Clearfield so I could relax for a couple of hours. For all the fathers, soak up the special treatment today because tomorrow it's back to solving problems.

There are several important events to note from the past week. On Tuesday evening I attended the monthly meeting of the Centre County Democratic Committee. Centre County Chair Dianne Gregg along with Greg Stewart from the Obama campaign hosted a great meeting. The people in attendance are ready to go to work for the entire Democratic ticket and there was much enthusiasm and excitement about what can be accomplished in 2008. Also, voter registration and voting trend numbers are very positive for the Democratic Party in Centre County.

On Friday, Kelly and I were in Bellefonte to take in the atmosphere of the Bellefonte Cruise. Our original plan was to take a classic car and participate in the event, but, when a downpour went through Clearfield around 4 PM, we decided to leave the sports car in the garage. We did get the chance to walk around downtown Bellefonte and talk with people and see some great cars. The only downside was several people commented that participation appeared to be down from prior years. You have to wonder how much the $4 per gallon price of gas affected the turnout.

On Saturday morning, Kelly, Amanda and I were back in Centre County to attend a fundraising breakfast arranged by Keith Bierly. I want to thank the people who signed on to host the event: Elizabeth Goreham, John and Sharon McCarthy, Joe French, Tom and Barbara Thwaites, Bill Cahir and Benson Lichtig It was a tremendous event with attendance from people we had already met during the primary election campaign and many new friends who are joining on to support our campaign. Thanks to everyone who came out and I greatly appreciate all the questions, comments and suggestions that were made to help with the direction of the campaign as we move forward.

Thanks to the Hosts of the State College Breakfast – L-R, Henry Guthrie – Campaign Chairman, Mark McCracken, Hosts Elizabeth Goreham, Sharon and John McCarthy, Barbara and Tom Thwaites, Joe French.

The rest of the day Saturday was busy as we attended a flea market / car show in Bigler at the historic Super 322 Drive-In, spent several hours at DuBois Community Days and eventually ended up in Houtzdale to attend a dinner event.


Events for the Coming Week – June 16th to 22nd:

Tuesday June 17th – State College, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County will be hosting a luncheon and debate with both candidates for the 5th Congressional District.

Thursday, June 19th from 11 AM to 3 PM, Open house at the recently expanded Murmac Farms in Bellefonte PA. Thursday, June 19th as Clearfield County Commissioner, I will be attending the LMIP hearing held by Pennsylvania DEP for the proposed Chest Township landfill.

Friday, June 20th, Kelly and I are tentatively scheduled to attend the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women's 81st annual convention in Altoona.

Saturday, June 21st, Wellsboro, Tioga County - Laurel Festival from 10 AM and Parade at 2 PM.

Sunday June 22nd, State College attending 2 house parties hosted by Art Goldschmidt at 1173 Oneida Street from 3 to 5 PM and at a second location to be determined later from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

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Pins, Pens, Stickers and Magnetic Bumper Signs Available: We have McCracken for Congress pins, pens, lapel stickers and magnetic bumper stickers available for anyone who would like them. Please email the campaign with requests for these items.

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Fundraising: We would like to remind everyone that the FEC quarterly report deadline is coming up June 30th. It is important to show that the campaign is making progress raising funds for the fall campaign. Our message is strong but we need to mount a competitive media campaign after Labor Day. Please visit our website www.mccrackenforcongress.com if you would like to donate online via ActBlue.com. We really appreciate the support we are receiving.

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Important Upcoming Event: We will be holding a McCracken for Congress dinner in Clearfield on Thursday July 17th 5:30 PM at the Lawrence Township Fireman's Social Hall on Mill Road in Clearfield. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this event.



Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

McCracken for Congress -- Weekly Progress Report -- June 8th 2008

A Choice - More of the Same or Something Different

On November 4th, voters will have a choice to make, not only in the race for President between Senator John McCain (More of the Same) and Senator Barack Obama (Something Different), but also in each of the contested races for seats in the US Congress.

Voters have to look no further than two recent congressional roll call votes to see a contrast between the Democratic and Republican parties. On May 21st, with solid Democratic support, HR 6049 passed on a 263 for / 160 against vote. HR 6049 provides energy, business and personal tax breaks totaling $55.5 billion to spur the production of non-fossil fuels, promote energy conservation, stimulate business activity and help homeowners and the working poor. In order to offset the costs of HR 6049, the bill tightens accounting rules on multinational corporations and eliminates certain offshore tax shelters and loopholes utilized by some US hedge fund managers. Most important, HR 6049 does not add any additional burden to the national debt.

Most encouraging, HR 6049 will have a positive effect right here in north central Pennsylvania with funding to spur renewable energy sources from crops (including corn based ethanol) and by providing incentives for the production of non-corn based ethanol. Both of these options will support the alternative fuels industry that is coming to north central Pennsylvania creating jobs and investment in the 5th Congressional District. Additional language authorizes tax breaks for investment in coal gasification technology, another process that could bring jobs and investment to revitalize the coal industry in north central Pennsylvania.

Because HR 6049 invests in domestically produced alternative energy and offers great benefits to north central Pennsylvania, I would have voted, along with 16 other members of the Pennsylvania delegation, to support the legislation. The 3 dissenting votes cast from the Pennsylvania delegation came from Republicans John Peterson, Bill Shuster and Joseph Pitts.

The Republicans offered alternative language that removed the tighter accounting rules to eliminate the offshore tax shelters and loopholes and included language that added $50 billion for a temporary fix for the Alternative Minimum Tax. The Republican alternative shifted the entire $55.5 billion cost for HR 6049 plus the $50 billion for the temporary fix of the AMT directly to the national debt. Since a main theme of my campaign is fiscal responsibility and the elimination of the national debt, I would have voted against the alternative language. The Republican alternative failed 201 for / 220 against with all 8 Republican members of the Pennsylvania delegation voting for the Republican alternative language. TRANSLATION: All 8 Republican members of the Pennsylvania delegation voted to add an additional $105.5 billion to the national debt which is closing in on $10 trillion.

Perhaps most disturbing was the following statement made by Rep. Jeb Hensarling R-Texas in opposing HR 6049. “Under the Democrats control of Congress, we have seen prices at the pump go up about $1.50 a gallon. They have tried to sue their way to lower gas prices. Now they are trying to tax their way to lower gas prices. Yet they never think about producing American energy in America.”.

WHAT WAS THAT? The entire purpose of HR 6049 is to spur the production of alternative fuels produced right here in the United States of America, creating jobs, investment and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. Perhaps it is time for Rep. Hensarling and his cohorts to acknowledge that foreign policy failures by the Bush administration destabilized the Middle East which is THE reason oil is now $140 a barrel and gas is over $4 a gallon.

The votes on HR 6049 and the Republican alternative language that would have increased the national debt by $105.5 billion are prime examples of what voters must consider when they vote in November. Maybe the choice isn’t between More of the Same or Something Different. Perhaps the real choice comes down to More of the Same or Something Better!


Campaign Highlights for the Week:

Friday morning, Campaign Chairman Henry Guthrie and I stopped in Lock Haven to participate in a candidate forum that was sponsored by Hub’s Home Oxygen Supply. The event was broadcast live on the radio with Glenn Thompson joining me to take questions for about an hour. The on site audience consisted of customers and employees of Hub’s Home Oxygen and 10th and 11th grade students from a nearby high school. Questions ranged from I-80 tolling / highway and bridge funding, health care reform, our stance on Second Amendment rights, the war in Iraq and who we support for president.

Mark answers the hard questions.

Later Friday and on Saturday, Henry and I attended the Democratic State Committee meeting in Harrisburg. During our time at the state committee meeting we spoke with several people including former Congressman Joe Hoeffel, Ruth Rudy who ran for the 5th District seat in 1996, PA-16 candidate Bruce Slater and Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll among others.

Mark with Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll.

It was also encouraging to hear strong statements about the Democratic Party unifying behind Senator Barack Obama as our candidate for President. These messages came from Governor Ed Rendell, Senator Bob Casey and State Chairman T. J. Rooney. With our party unified we offer voters Something Better on November 4th.



Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

McCracken for Congress -- Progress Report -- June 2nd, 2008

The upcoming week is going to be a busy week of listening and learning. I have 3 important meetings to attend that will give me the chance to discuss important issues in the north central region.

On Monday June 2nd, I am scheduled to meet with Kirk Johnson to discuss issues surrounding the Allegheny National Forest. Mr. Johnson is the founder of Friends of Allegheny Wilderness and he contacted me several weeks back to request a meeting to discuss the future of the Allegheny National Forest. I have been a supporter of the PA Wilds tourism promotion initiative and I recognize that the Allegheny National Forest is large attraction for tourism in the PA Wilds region. I look forward to speaking with Mr. Johnson and learning more details about the ANF.

On Wednesday, June 4th, I will be meeting at the Clearfield Hospital with members of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania to discuss the important issue of healthcare. While comprehensive healthcare reform has been discussed for almost 20 years, the federal government has been consistent on only one front – the failure to enact meaningful legislation to solve the problem. The meeting with the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania will be very valuable to learn what their association feels will be necessary to help achieve healthcare reform.

On Friday June 6th and Saturday June 7th I will be in Harrisburg attending the Democratic State Committee Meeting. I look forward to meeting with county chairs, state committee members and other people from the 5th congressional district that will be in attendance at the meeting.

A quick update on events from the past week. Kelly, Amanda and I visited Centre County on Monday to attend the Memorial Day celebration in Boalsburg. While it was a humid day, many people were out enjoying the festivities.

On Wednesday, I traveled to Reynoldsville to attend the monthly meeting of the Jefferson County Democratic Committee.

Mark gives an update on the campaign to the Jefferson Co. Democratic Committee.

DNC Western Field Organizer Brigid Sullivan addressed the Neighorhood Leader Initiative.

On Thursday, I traveled to Wellsboro, Tioga County to attend a fundraiser for PA Senate candidate Don Hilliard and later, the monthly meeting of the Tioga County Democratic Committee.

Tioga County is beautiful in Spring. We'll make it BLUE in November!

Mark with Emily Rizzo of Tioga County and State Senate Candidate Don Hilliard.

Finally, yesterday Kelly and I made a trip to Lock Haven in Clinton County to attend a fundraiser for State Senator John Wozniak. While at Senator Wozniak's event, Kelly and I spent some time speaking with Rick and Marie Vilello. After the event was over, at Rick and Marie's urging, Kelly and I took some time visit the riverfront area and walk along the levee. Throughout the primary campaign I listened to Mayor Rick speak with such pride about his community of Lock Haven. After our visit today, I can see why Rick is so proud and excited about his town.

Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress