WirePOLITICS: Santarsiero criticized for missing votes

Tom Waring, the Wire

On July 13, state lawmakers passed a plan to fund the state budget and a bill on how education funds are spent.

Santarsiero was not present. A video taken by the National Republican Congressional Committee showed him in Washington, D.C.

“Rep. Santarsiero’s constituents deserve to know where he stands on this spending plan to fund our schools and our state and why he wasn’t in Harrisburg serving as their voice and vote,” Fitzpatrick said. “Disappointingly for those he represents, this isn’t the first time Rep. Santarsiero has chosen to skip work instead of representing those who elected him and are paying him.

“Steve needs to explain to voters the reason for his disturbing pattern of missing important votes. When average Americans don’t show up for work, they get fired. When Rep. Santarsiero does it, he looks for a promotion. This is the career politician mindset that voters are sick and tired of. With the Pennsylvania House now out of session on a summer-long recess, it shouldn’t have been too much to ask for Rep. Santarsiero to be in Harrisburg doing the job he holds now, not campaigning for the one he wants in Washington.”

The NRCC faulted Santarsiero for playing “hooky.”

“Steve Santarsiero is currently in Washington campaigning for Congress when he should be in Harrisburg finishing up work on the state budget. Once again, Steve Santarsiero is showing that he’s a do-nothing politician who is putting his congressional campaign ahead of his constituents,” said NRCC spokesman Chris Pack.

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Meanwhile, Santarsiero’s campaign for Congress announced a fundraising haul of more than $500,000 over the months of April, May and June.

“Our grassroots donors are the engine of our campaign,” he said. “I’m proud of our supporters who have been working around the clock to help us restore reason to Congress.”