Critz hits Rothfus for new endorsement

The Mark Critz campaign is again attacking GOP opponent Keith Rothfus' ties to a conservative group, which the Rothfus camp is dismissing as "scare tactics"

Last week the Critz camp hit Rothfus for talking to a Tea Party group that supported Paul Ryan's budget (with its changes to entitlement spending) and today it dinged him for getting the endorsement of the House Conservatives Fund, the political arm of the Republican Study Commission. The RSC authored the similar budget that caused such a stir in the PA12 primary, when Critz joined a Democratic effort to embarrass Republicans by voting "present" on the proposal while opponent Jason Altmire voted it down.

Said Critz spokesman Mike Mikus:

Millionaire Keith Rothfus today gained the endorsement of yet another fringe group. Rothfus was endorsed by the House Conservative Fund, an extreme group which is "dedicated to increasing membership" in the Republican Study Committee (RSC), according to Politico. Over the last few years, The Republican Study Group proposed budgets would end Medicare by turning it into a voucher program, raise the retirement age to 70, and lead to massive cuts to the Children's Health Insurance Program, and kill 700,000 jobs. Additionally, the RSC is a leading proponent of privatizing Social Security.

"Keith Rothfus wants to end Medicare by turning it into a voucher program and raise the retirement age, so it is not surprising that fringe groups are rallying around him," Critz for Congress Spokesman Mike Mikus said. "This is further evidence that Western Pennsylvanians can't afford Keith Rothfus in Congress because he supports policies that will hurt seniors and children while killing hundreds of thousands of jobs."

Rothfus spokesman Jonathan Raso said his candidate was rather committed to saving Medicare, and attempted to tie Critz to the Obama administration:

"It's really unfortunate when a sitting member of Congress has to purposely deceive his constituents in order to save his political career. When Congressman Critz had the opportunity to stand with seniors, he failed them and decided to stand with President Obama and his takeover of our healthcare instead. Obamacare ends Medicare as we know it, and because of Congressman Critz's actions, Medicare has already been placed in jeopardy.

But the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania are above these deceitful scare tactics and class warfare. Keith Rothfus is dedicated to protecting and strengthening Medicare for this and future generations. Keith knows that with unemployment above 8% for the entire time Congressman Critz has been in office, we need to change from empowering Washington bureaucrats to empowering the workers of Pennsylvania. If Congressman Critz thinks his job record is something to run on, he must be just as out of touch with the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania as President Obama."