PENNSYLVANIA — Tea Party Senator Scott Wagner is spraying friendly fire in his continued assault against labor unions and anyone that doesn’t meet his extremist litmus test. In a broader piece about Republican discontent over Wagner trying to meddle in the Senate 31st district primary, WHTM reports that Wagner said, “Pennsylvania does not need another Republican in the state Legislature that has taken public sector union contributions.”
These come on the heels of comments a few weeks ago in which Wagner said of Republicans with labor support, “We’re purging Senate members out, and there’s a large purge out in the House.”
But there are some Republican legislators out on the wrong end of Wagner’s “purge” that indicate a full-fledged GOP civil war. Both Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman have received contributions from unions, among other Republicans that have been endorsed by major labor groups.
As chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, Wagner won’t rest until the Pennsylvania Legislature is as extremist as he is. Which of his colleagues would he “purge” first?
abc27: Midstate senators in dust-up over primary election
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Emails do not stay within political boundaries.
Neither does Senator Scott Wagner (R-York), according to neighboring Senator Pat Vance (R-Cumberland).
Vance says she just had to speak up about a three-page missive Wagner sent to his supporters that dissed her and encroached on her 31st District.
“I was initially very surprised,” Vance said of the email sent Tuesday. “I thought it was way out of bounds.”
Vance is retiring and her successor will likely be chosen in Tuesday’s primary. There are four candidates running: state Representative Mike Regan, former NFL football player Jon Ritchie, dentist Brice Arndt, and lawyer Scott Harper.
In his email, Wagner ripped Vance’s hand-picked candidate, Ritchie, and endorsed Regan.
Vance called it bad form and unheard of that a sitting senator would intrude on a fellow senator’s district and push an alternate candidate.
The email mostly focused on the folks running Ritchie’s campaign, lobbyists Long Nyquist and Associates, specifically that public sector unions are clients of Long Nyquist.
“I met Jon Ritchie at an event this past January,” Wagner wrote. “He is a decent person but has now been tainted by his campaign advisors. He has no clue as to how Long Nyquist are using him. Pennsylvania does not need another Republican in the state Legislature that has taken public sector union contributions and been endorsed by these same unions.”
“I thought it was uncalled for,” Vance said of the Wagner email, “but sometimes people who are very affluent are used to having what they want and this another case of he wants who he wants.”
And what Wagner wants, the email makes clear, is Regan to win the election.
What Vance wants is for Wagner to butt out of her district.
“He has no vote. It’s kind of arrogant to think that he should make the decision when he doesn’t even live here,” she said.
Vance warned that voters should be wary of Wagner’s motives. She quoted a recent York Daily Record story in which he said he’s trying “to purge the Senate.”
“That’s a frightening word,” Vance said. “I know the way he thinks and he’s purging the Senate? That’s his thought.”
Does Vance think Wagner is a bully?
“Yes, I do.”
Read the full article here.
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