This is no fish tale.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., called on the Obama administration today to act quickly to prevent Asian carp spawning, which he said can occur in more varied environmental conditions than researchers first thought.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey/File photo

Casey pointed to the destructive effects Asian carp could have on Lake Erie and Pennsylvania’s economy. That caution was made in a letter to Daniel Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Lake Erie, an invaluable natural resource, supports local businesses and industries in Pennsylvania and is threatened by the spread of Asian carp. In fact, Lake Erie’s coastal region supports 1.2 million Pennsylvanian jobs and is an integral part of Pennsylvania’s economy,” Casey wrote.

“We must address the threat posed by Asian carp in order to ensure that Pennsylvania’s economy remains strong and jobs are protected.”

Casey said he has pushed for a law to require the speedy creation of an action plan to block Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes through a number of rivers and tributaries.

He said he has also urged the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to crack down on the smuggling of live Asian carp into Canada from the U.S.

Casey is an original co-sponsor of the Strategic Response to Asian Carp Invasion Act, which will enable the federal government to have a more effective partnership with state and local entities that are working to slow the spread of Asian carp.

– John Guerriero

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., is stating his opposition to a plan that would change the way Pennsylvania’s electoral votes are allocated for president.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey/File photo

Casey spelled out his opposition to Senate Bill 538 in a letter to Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi.

“S.B. 538 is the wrong policy at the wrong time,” Casey said in a statement. “For over 200 years Pennsylvanians have spoken with one voice on presidential elections and that should continue. Today, I’m urging the General Assembly to reconsider this proposal that is the wrong path for Pennsylvania.”

Here is the full text of Casey’s letter to Pileggi:

“I write to express my opposition to S.B. 538, legislation recently introduced by you and 12 other state Senators to amend Pennsylvania’s Election Code.  If enacted, S.B. 538 would drastically alter the method by which the Commonwealth allocates its 20 electoral votes and diminish the historical role Pennsylvania has played in electing our nation’s presidents.  I respectfully urge you to reconsider this legislation.

“Since the first presidential election in 1789, Pennsylvania citizens have participated in 56 presidential elections.  For over 200 years, the Commonwealth’s electoral votes have gone to the candidate receiving the plurality of the popular vote.  As you know, 48 states and the District of Colombia also use this so-called general-ticket method, yet S.B. 538 would make Pennsylvania the only state in the country to allocate its votes proportionately.  Under this system, all but two electoral votes would be allocated based on the percentage of the statewide popular vote received by a candidate, dividing the Commonwealth’s 20 votes. 

“Several political scientists have asserted that by doing away with the current winner-take-all system, Pennsylvania’s influence would diminish, ceding power to the voters of other large, politically diverse states.   As a commonwealth, our state should speak with one voice when the people of Pennsylvania make a decision in a presidential election.

“As S.B. 538 moves forward, I respectfully urge you to ensure that this bill is considered and debated with complete transparency, allowing for a thorough review by way of public hearings in the Senate.  To pass this bill absent appropriate Senate hearings would not be in the best interests of the people of Pennsylvania.  Thank you for your consideration of my views on this legislation.”

What are your thoughts on the bill?

– John Guerriero

You might recall U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s recent appointment to the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Now Casey, D-Pa., has been appointed chairman of the panel’s Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey/File photo

Here is his statement:

“I am honored to have the chance to serve as the chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth.

” We face no greater challenge than how we grow our economy and get our fiscal house in order. As a former Pennsylvania auditor general, I understand what is at stake for our commonwealth and the nation.

I look forward to the opportunity to work on a range of issues including responsible tax reform to spur innovation, create jobs and promote economic growth.”

– John Guerriero

The two U.S. senators from Pennsylvania have something else in common now.

Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., are now both serving on the powerful Senate Finance Committee following Casey’s appointment this week.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey/File photo

Casey was appointed to fill the vacancy left by John Kerry,  D-Mass., when he became secretary of state.

Casey, in a statement, said that he was honored for the chance to serve on the commitee, “where I will continue to fight for Pennsylvania priorities. This assignment means I will have a seat at the table in addressing responsible tax reform to spur innovation, create jobs and promote economic growth.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey/ File photo.

“I will also be in an even better position to continue my efforts to level the playing field for American manufacturers through reasonable trade policy, ensure essential programs like Medicare work for current and future beneficiaries, (provide incentives for) research and development, and protect our future by providing children with access to affordable health care,” he said.

– John  Guerriero

As they have in the past, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., will sit together during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Democrats and Republicans have traditionally sat on different sides of the House chamber during the SOTU until 2011.

“Our nation confronts a host of challenges that will require serious bipartisan solutions,” Casey said in a statement.

“Sen. Toomey and I work together regularly on behalf of Pennsylvanians. I look forward to once again sitting with him at the State of the Union and hope this small gesture will help foster a spirit of bipartanship in Congress,” he said.

Toomey said he will be “proud to sit with my fellow colleague from Pennsylvania. … We plan to work together – as we have in the past – to help our fellow Pennsylvanians. Bipartisan seating at the president’s speech is symbolic and sets a civil and cooperative tone for the challenging work ahead of us.”

– John Guerriero

While Congress and President Barack Obama continue to tackle the “fiscal cliff” concerns, a coalition of concerned citizens plans action today at noon in Erie.

Congressman Mike Kelly

Community leaders, seniors, students, working families and people with disabilities are expected to call on U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-3rd Dist., and U.S. Sen Bob Casey, D-Pa., to support a deal in which the wealthy would pay a fair share in taxes and tax cuts would be extended for the middle class.

They also want to protect programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.

The rally will be outside Kelly’s office at the Intermodal Transportation Center on Erie’s east bayfront.

A news release states that “Kelly Claus” and his eves will give out lumps of coal to represent potentially drastic cuts.

– John Guerriero

Political pundits Terry Madonna and Michael Young are already handicapping the field for the 2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election.

Gov. Tom Corbett/ETN file photo

Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to seek re-election. But Democrats smell blood in the water based on his job polling numbers, and the Nov. 6 Democratic victories in the state highlighted by President Barack Obama’s second-term win and U.S. Sen Bob Casey’s re-election.

Their column can be found here.

Madonna and Young say it’s even possible that Corbett could face a challenge in the GOP primary.

They say the field of potential Democratic candidates includes Ed Rendell (again, though he says no), state Treasurer Rob McCord, Attorney General-elect Kathleen Kane, former Congressman Joe Sestak, Casey, and Josh Shapiro, current chairman of the Montgomery County commissioners.

Sounds like 2014 could be interesting.

– John Guerriero

Campaigning continues until the last minute, and that includes in Erie County.

Republican Tom Smith, who’s running against U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in Tuesday’s election, is scheduled to be at Erie County Republican Party headquarters, 2206 W. 15th St., at 5:30 p.m. today.

Tom Smith, file photo/GREG WOHLFORD

And he’ll have some company.

Also scheduled to appear are David Freed, the GOP nominee for state attorney general; U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler, R-3rd Dist.; U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson of Centre County, R-5th Dist.; and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey.

Bob Casey/File photo

Only Toomey isn’t on Tuesday’s ballot.

– John Guerriero

For weeks now, your mailbox has been full of more than just the usual bills and advertisements.

We’re at the height of the campaign season, so campaign brochures and fliers are crammed in your mailbox, too.

Bob Casey/File photo

But FreedomWorks for America, a super PAC, is sending out more than just a brochure to some households. The PAC is sending out a 42-page magazine urging voters to retire Sen. Bob Casey, who’s running against Tom Smith.

The PAC is a project of FreedomWorks, Inc., a conservative advocacy group that helped foster the tea party movement, according to FactCheck.org.

Tom Smith, file photo/GREG WOHLFORD

– John Guerriero

Tom Smith, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, today completed a statewide tour that touted what he called a record of job creation and a plan to “restore the American dream.”

Tom Smith/File photo

Smith’s tour included six stops throughout the state: Philadelphia, Mountain Top, Pittsburgh, Meadville, Harrisburg, and ending this afternoon in Tyrone. Erie wasn’t on the schedule.

Smith said his policy initiatives are aimed at cutting wasteful spending, repealing and replacing ObamaCare, and simplifying the U.S. tax code.

Learn more about the plan here.

Partisan gridlock has crippled the federal government, he said, but added, “I believe working together, we can and will meet the challenges our country faces.”

The Republican from Armstrong County is running against U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton.

– John Guerriero