In a steelmaking state, this appointment make sense.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey,  R-Pa.,  has been named a vice-chairman of the bipartisan Senate Steel Caucus.

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

Toomey joins a leadership group of Sens. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Jay Rockefeller , D-W. Va., who will serve as co-chairmen, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who will also serve as a vice-chairman.

The Senate Steel Caucus works to promote American manufacturing and the steel industry, according to Toomey’s office. The caucus will serve as a forum for policy talks regarding issues that affect the U.S. steel industry.

Steel is still an important driver of the state’s economy.

The steel industry employs more than 12,000 people across the state, according to a 2011 study that Toomey’s office cited from the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The same report showed that more than $9.3 billion is generated by the state’s steel industry annually.

“Western Pennsylvania is known as the heart of steel country,” Toomey said in a statement.

“The production of steel is key to our state and national economy. It is an integral component in products we find everywhere, from our cars to our kitchens. I appreciate the efforts of Senators Rockefeller, Sessions, and Brown to help ensure that American steel producers and the industries they supply remain strong to boost our national security and our economy,” he said.

– John Guerriero

The latest poll numbers for Gov. Tom Corbett again don’t look good.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. Photo by CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE

His job performance remains low, with only 25 percent of registered voters saying he’s doing an excellent or good job,  according to the Franklin & Marshall College poll released today.

That percentage represents little change from February’s 26 percent.

Not surprisingly, the poll showed that few Democrats (12 percent) or Independents (20 percent) think he deserves re-election in 2014, but the poll summary said it’s surprising that fewer than half of Republicans (46 percent) think he should get a second term.

“The governor’s difficulties with voters may be due in part from the priorities he has emphasized in recent months,” the pollsters wrote.

“Debate in the state capital has centered on efforts to privatize the state liquor stores and the state lottery, but these issues rank well below the economy, creating jobs, or improving public schools as important issues (that) voters want state government to address,” they wrote.

The data represented the responses of 526 registered voters, including 265 Democrats, 196  Republicans and 65 registered as Independent or a third party.

The survey was conducted April 30-May 5.

Among other findings, the survey showed that U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey’s favorability ratings jumped to 35 percent, up from the 26 percent in February.

That could be due to the senator from Pennsylvania’s bipartisan effort to close the loopholes on background checks for gun buyers – an effort that was defeated in the Senate.

– John Guerriero

So much for that.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey’s bipartisan compromise proposal to expand background checks on gun purchases has been defeated in the Senate.

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

Toomey had teamed with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on the amendment that failed late this afternoon in the Senate.

The legislation would have made it harder for criminals and the dangerously mentally ill to obtain guns, while preserving the rights of law-abiding people to do so, Toomey’s office said.

It would have expanded background checks to cover gun shows and sales over the Internet.

“I did what I thought was the right thing for our country. I sought out a compromise position that I thought could move the ball forward on an important matter of public safety,” Toomey said in a statement.

“My only regret is that our amendment did not pass. It’s not the outcome I hoped for, but the Senate has spoken on the subject, and it’s time to move on.

“We have a lot of other very important issues to deal with such as getting the economy back on track, dealing with the debt ceiling and creating more jobs for Pennsylvanians,” he said.

– John Guerriero

Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri and other members of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association are supporting a proposal to expand background checks on gun purchases.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., today announced support for the bipartisan legislation from Daneri and the rest of the association.

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

Toomey and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have written the compromise measure that would expand background checks to cover sales at gun shows and over the Internet.

Daneri, in a statement, said: “I support Sen. Toomey’s efforts in securing passage of the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Plan. Responsible gun owners claim, ‘Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.’ I agree.

“Then let us check the background of those who wish to join the ranks of gun owners who understand that with rights come responsibilities,” he said.

Crawford County District Attorney Francis Schultz, immediate past president of the association, also joined in putting his name on a letter to Toomey in support of the legislation as currently written.

– 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

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, R-Pa., has been assigned to the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

He will be one of only two freshmen senators on the panel.

Besides the  Finance  Committee, Toomey will keep his seats on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Budget; and Joint Economic Committees. He will no longer serve on the Senate Commerce Committee.

“I am honored to receive a seat on the Senate Finance Committee, which is a huge win for Pennsylvania and will ensure that our state is represented on one of the most important committees in Congress,” Toomey said in a statement.

The panel oversees matters relating to taxes, trade agreements and health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

– 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