McCandless Democrat Jason Altmire was one of six Democrats to vote with House Republicans today on a resolution against increasing the U.S. debt ceiling.

Democratic leaders in the House were dead set against it. From The Hill:

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) called it a "political stunt," and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the vote was designed to give Republicans the appearance that they oppose the debt ceiling increase, even though the increase was all but assured in legislation that Congress approved last year.

"This is a game that will say, see, I voted against debt," Hoyer said.

But it's not a surprising move from the congressman, who often points to having an "independent voice" in D.C. (including in a recent web video introducing himself to the new 12th District). In a similar move today, he also criticized President Obama's rejection of the Keystone pipline. From the Democrat:

“The rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline permit is a missed opportunity to drastically turn this economy around.  This pipeline would have created thousands of new jobs and helped to ensure our energy independence.  Make no mistake, this pipeline will be built, but now Canadian jobs will be created and China and its markets will benefit from the oil transported through this pipeline.  At a time when American families and businesses are saving to cover rising fuel costs, a pipeline to  the Gulf Coast could provide a savings to them.  I strongly urge the president to reconsider his objection to this pipeline. The positive impact it can have on our country is too great to pass up.”

UPDATE: Altmire's rival for the Democratic nomination in the new 12th District, Mark Critz, also criticized the president's move. (The pipeline, incidentally, had a good deal of labor support.) His statement:

“I disagree with today’s decision to deny the approval of the pending application for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.  I have said all along that if the states where this pipeline runs are supportive, then the federal government should not stand in the way of its construction.

“I will continue to work to make this project a reality because of its immense implications to our country’s domestic energy, economic and national security needs.”

No Western Pa congressional districts are on the "Red to Blue" list the DCCC released today, of districts targeted for flipping from Republican hands. Neither of the two WVa districts held by the GOP in the Democratic state are listed either.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting PA8 and PA6 outside Philadelphia.

As Keegan Gibson writes over at PoliticsPa, congressman Tim Holden today withdrew his sponsorship of the Stop Online Piracy Act in the face of massive public outcry over the proposed bill. (Wikipedia, Google and others in the tech world worry it will have unintended consequences and put a chill on tech intervention. )

Is Bob Casey next?

Casey is one of 40 co-sponsors of the Senate version of the bill (the Protect IP Act, aka PIPA), which has also taken heat from conservative circles for allegedly "allowing Eric Holder to take control of the internet and shut down websites he does not like."

UPDATE 1/19/2012: Casey said in an interview that he remains in favor of efforts to protect intellectual property and trademark rights, but would support provisions protecting free speech concerns.

"We've got to figure out ways to get tough, but also be consistent on free speech and making sure people have access to all kinds of information," he said during a visit to Pittsburgh Thursday. "I think there's a way to get there and I think folks on both sides -- at least on the Judiciary committee -- can accelerate those discussions."

He said his Senate office received a high number of calls on the legislation, but staffers had not totaled them up.

UPDATE: According to ProPublica data, Casey received six times as much in campaign donations from the pro-legislation TV/movie/music industry ($75K) as he did from the tech industry ($12K).

UPDATE 1/19/12: U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has announced his opposition to the bill. His statement:

“Piracy of intellectual property is a legitimate concern that should be addressed. However, the PROTECT IP Act and the Stop Internet Piracy Act are flawed, and I cannot support them in their current form. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues on this issue and finding a better legislative approach for tackling online piracy,” Sen. Toomey said.

GOP US Senate candidate Steve Welch, a Chester County entrepreneur, was the first of those trying to unseat Casey to take him to task for the bill:

"As someone who has been intimately involved in the startup of multiple web-based companies, this SOPA/PIPA legislation is the perfect example of how out–of-touch Washington is with the real world.  Protecting Intellectual Property Rights is something we need discuss.  However, SOPA/PIPA goes beyond that and is just another regulation being shoved down the throats of Americans that will empower the regulators and power brokers in Washington, and infringe on every citizen’s First Amendment rights.  Giving bureaucrats in Washington the power to shut down and censor websites based on very loosely-defined terms in this legislation is completely unacceptable.”

“Senator Casey has no clue how damaging this type of legislation could be and how it would affect people in the real world.  This is just another example of how Senator Casey sees the federal government as the solution.  He only knows how to grow government, since he has spent his life in government.”

There's still a bit of suspense on the South Carolina Republican primary, but you wouldn't know it if you were hanging around the DNC folks. Here as in the earlier venues of the nomination fight, they've been stalking Mitt Romney non-stop.

On Wednesday, under the rotunda of the historic Capitol building in Columbia, former Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges joined several Democratic legislators in demanding that the former Massachusetts governor release his tax returns. Noting that Mr. Romney had said that he would release at least one year's tax data in April, Mr. hodges said, "That's far too late."

Echoing an argument made by Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry the previous day, he insisted that South Carolina voters needed to know more about the front runner before they vote on Saturday.

Spotlighting Mr. Romney's record at Bain Capitol, Mr. Hodges contended that said that the personal tax records are particularly relevant since Bain frequently took advantage of tax breaks in reorganizing the companies it took over.

"He's taken advantage of the system," the former governor said. "His record as a corporate raider had had devastating consequences. "