Press Releases For Immediate Release July 27, 2005 For more information, contact the Bob Casey for Pennsylvania Committee at 717-233-3211 www.BobCaseyForPA.com Casey challenges Santorum on vets' health care funding HARRISBURG - Bob Casey today challenged U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum to support guaranteed funding for veterans' health care. The veterans' health care legislation would create a mandatory funding component that would take the uncertainty out of veterans' health care. It was introduced Monday in the U.S. Senate as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. [S.AMDT.1435] "Veterans deserve guaranteed health care" said Bob Casey. "No more shortfalls, no more excuses. Rick Santorum should support this important amendment." In 2004, Senator Rick Santorum voted against veterans by opposing a similar amendment. Senator Specter voted in favor of the amendment. [vote #145 on 6- 23-04] Santorum ignored warnings earlier this year that the Veterans Administration would face a funding shortfall that would jeopardize health care services for veterans nationwide - including the more than 1 million Pennsylvania veterans. Santorum cast three votes earlier this year that could have averted a more than $1 billion shortfall announced by the VA on June 23. In March, Santorum voted against an amendment to increase funding for veterans' health care by $2.8 billion. [vote #55 on 3-16-05] In April, he voted twice against an amendment to increase veterans' health care funding by $1.98 billion. [vote #89 on 4-12-05; vote #90 on 4-12-05] ### For Immediate Release June 7, 2005 For more information, contact the Bob Casey for Pennsylvania Committee at 717-233-3211 www.BobCaseyForPA.com HAFER ENDORSES CASEY FOR U. S. SENATE In an emailed letter to over 35,000 activists, Barbara Hafer today announced her support of Bob Casey's campaign to unseat U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. In the letter, Hafer, a former state Treasurer and Auditor General, said "[i]f we are going to retire Rick Santorum, the Democratic Party must stand united in supporting a candidate that can score a win for Pennsylvania families." Hafer highlighted Casey's "record of standing up for fiscal accountability in government. While Rick Santorum has helped drive up the deficit to record levels, I've seen first-hand how Bob Casey held state agencies accountable for spending tax dollars responsibly and with the public good in mind." "Bob Casey is an honorable and thoughtful public servant who has fought his entire career for those less fortunate," Hafer said. "There could not be a greater contrast with Rick Santorum." In closing, Hafer asked activist to join her in supporting an "exceptional Democratic candidate for the United States Senate" and sign up at the Bob Casey's campaign website www.BobCaseyforPA.com. For Immediate Release April 28, 2005 For more information, contact the Bob Casey for Pennsylvania Committee at 717-233-3211 www.BobCaseyForPA.com Bob Casey Hires Campaign Manager for Senate Bid Jay Reiff, a native Pennsylvanian and former campaign manager for North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, has been tapped to lead Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bob Casey's campaign for the U.S. Senate. Casey, a Democrat, is seeking to replace incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum. Reiff managed Easley's successful 2000 gubernatorial campaign as well as his landslide 2004 re-election win. Easley's double-digit re-election victory was won despite the fact that President Bush crushed his Democratic presidential rival, John Kerry, in North Carolina by 13 percentage points. Reiff has also held major governmental positions including Special Advisor to Governor Easley and Director of Communications for South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges. "Jay will be a tremendous asset to my campaign," said Casey. "He is the right person to place at the helm. I have great confidence in his skills, experience, and leadership ability." Born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Reiff, 37, is a graduate of Lancaster Mennonite High School, Lancaster, PA, and American University in Washington, D.C. For Immediate Release April 25, 2005 For more information, contact the Bob Casey for Pennsylvania Committee at 717-233-3211 www.BobCaseyForPA.com MONTCO Democrats Endorse Casey For U.S. Senate The Montgomery County Democratic Committee (MCDC) has unanimously endorsed state Treasurer Robert P. Casey, Jr. for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Rick Santorum. In doing so, the county Democrats became the first county organization in Pennsylvania to endorse Casey. Casey received the endorsement at a recent meeting after MCDC Chair Marcel Groen and former Congressman Joe Hoeffel made impassioned speeches on behalf of Casey. Groen told the Democrats that "we can beat Rick Santorum now, or we can beat him when he runs for president of the United States. Which would you rather do?" Hoeffel, who was mentioned as a possible Senate candidate himself, took himself out of consideration several weeks ago and has enthusiastically been supporting Casey's candidacy. "Bob Casey is the right Democrat to beat Rick Santorum in 2006," Hoeffel told the gathering. "Bob has the name recognition, state-wide support and political skills to win the election -- and his basic decency and government experience will make him a compassionate and outstanding Senator." In announcing the endorsement, Groen said, "Montgomery County Democrats are excited to lead the charge for Bob Casey. Voters understand how important this election will be and I think it is especially significant that Democrats in the most progressive county in the state of Pennsylvania have so enthusiastically embraced Bob Casey." For Immediate Release March 4, 2005 For more information, contact the Bob Casey for Pennsylvania Committee at 717-233-3211 www.BobCaseyForPA.com Bob Casey to run for U.S. Senate in 2006 Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bob Casey said today that he will run for the U.S. Senate in 2006 against incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum.  Casey will make a formal announcement of his candidacy at a later date. “As Senator, I will fight everyday to put middle-class families first,” Casey said. “Pennsylvanians have seen first-hand the devastating effects of unfair federal trade policies that are causing us to hemorrhage jobs and of rising health care costs that are squeezing family budgets and destroying the ability of our businesses to make a profit and hire new workers.” “Instead of confronting these problems, the current Republican leadership in Washington views the results of the November election as a mandate to increase the speed and severity of their push to undermine policies that protect middle-income working families,” Casey said.  “Their actions since the election played a large part in my decision to enter the Senate race.” Casey pointed to the President’s most recent budget proposal and the post-election push to privatize Social Security as examples of the misguided efforts by the Republican leadership to take the country in the wrong direction.  “As Senator, I will fight to protect and strengthen Social Security and will oppose any privatization plan that cuts benefits, requires massive borrowing from foreign countries or does nothing to improve the solvency of the Social Security system,” Casey said. Casey said he looks forward to a vigorous debate about the vital issues facing Pennsylvania and the nation. Click here for biographical information about Bob Casey.  Governor Rendell Endorses Bob Casey for U.S. Senate Governor will campaign on Casey’s behalf in the coming months Governor Edward G. Rendell issued the following statement regarding Pennsylvania State Treasurer Robert Casey’s recently announced candidacy for United States Senate. "Bob Casey will do an outstanding job as Pennsylvania’s next United States Senator. Throughout his public career, he has always put the interests of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania's hard working families first. It is clear that he will continue to do so in the U.S. Senate. “Bob was a terrific Auditor General and has the integrity, the skill, the energy and the experience to be a truly great Senator. He is the kind of public servant Pennsylvania needs. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically endorse his candidacy, and I look forward to campaigning with him in the months ahead."