Day: October 15, 2010

Glading Calls Ocean City Expenses into Question

Did Andrews Use Campaign Contributions to Fund Family Vacation?

Barrington, NJ – Dale Glading (R-Barrington), running for the House seat currently occupied \"Dale by 20-year incumbent Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights), called today for Andrews to answer questions about possible misuse of his federal campaign account.

Specifically, Glading demanded answers as to why multiple restaurant bills appeared on Andrews\’ Federal Election Commission report during what appears to have been a family vacation in Ocean City, NJ last summer. The dates in question are August 9-20, 2010, during which time Andrews charged $2,146.00 worth of meals at the Island Grill to his federal campaign account. Andrews also dined that week at Spadafora\’s Seafood restaurant where his food and drink tab totaled $488.00.

In addition to using designated campaign funds to eat out that week, Andrews also spent $1,173.00 on gifts to large donors including $376.00 for fudge; $170.00 for salt water taffy; and $70.00 for caramel popcorn.

\”I spoke personally to the owners at the Island Grill in Ocean City,\” said Glading, \”and they confirmed that Congressman Andrews dined at their restaurant multiple times that week. They also confirmed that Mrs. Andrews usually accompanied her husband and that their daughters joined them on at least one occasion.\”

\”Because of the suspicious nature of these expenses, I call on Mr. Andrews to divulge who was in his dinner party on the dates in question and whether these meals were actually campaign related,\” continued Glading. \”To say nothing implies gulit.\”

\”If indeed these meals were legitimate campaign expenses, then Mr. Andrews is off the hook,\” Glading concluded. \”However, if it turns out that he treated his wife and daughters to free meals while on a family vacation, then Congressman Andrews has committed serious election law violations and should be fully investigated by the FEC.\”

 

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No increase in Social Security benefits for 2nd straight year, government says

By Amy Goldstein

Friday, October 15, 2010; 8:53 AM

For the second year in a row, the nearly 54 million retirees and other Americans who receive Social Security benefits will not get any cost-of-living increase in 2011 in their monthly checks, government officials announced Friday morning.

The absence of any growth in Social Security checks for consecutive years is unprecedented in the 3 1/2 decades that payments have been automatically adjusted according to the nation\’s inflation rate. The Social Security Administration made the announcement moments after the Labor Department released the latest figures for the consumer price index. They show that prices for the third quarter of this year rose by 1.5 percent compared with a year earlier, but fell by 0.6 percent compared with the same time in 2008.

In a symptom of the weak economy, last year marked the first time since the automatic formula has existed that consumer prices fell, so Social Security recipients were given no increase in their checks.

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Columbus Day Parade marches on | South Philly Review

By Alexis Abate
Posted Oct. 14, 2010

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Jerry Blavat, left, served as the grand marshall in the 52nd Columbus Day Parade Sunday that City Council President Anna Verna’s late husband Severino co-founded in 1957.

Photo by City of Philadelphia

While Italian flags hanging on the poles above waved in the slight breeze on a sunny afternoon, hundreds lined the streets and stands between Oregon Avenue and Bigler Street Sunday. Mummers’ brigades and string bands, local school marching bands and the United States Marine Corps followed Grand Marshall Jerry Blavat, who rolled down South Broad Street in a yellow sports car, during the 52nd Columbus Day Parade. Even though the annual event was canceled last year because of fiscal problems, local Italians and Italian-Americans alike were back in full effect to celebrate their heritage this weekend.

\”It will be bigger and better than ever,\” City Council Director of Communications Anthony Radwanski said before the event.

The mile-long route, which commenced at Broad and Morris streets, ended in front of Marconi Plaza’s Christopher Columbus statue where local broadcaster Paul Perrello stood announcing each passing group. Mayor Michael Nutter, Council President Anna Verna and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, who were instrumental in making this day happen, among other local representatives shook hands with parade-goers as they made their way up to the stage.

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