Congressional Candidate Strouse Goes After Lobbyists’ Influence on Fitzpatrick

Democratic candidate for congress Kevin Strouse earlier this week challenged incumbent Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick  (R) to make meetings he’s holding with lobbyists public.

At a sparsely attended brief  press conference on Wednesday in Bristol Borough with the pristine Delaware River as the back drop, Strouse  talked about the seedier side of politics and influence.

Strouse who pledged a week earlier to be transparent when it comes to lobbyists he meets with if elected to congress, said he was disappointed with Fitzpatrick’s lack of response in making the same promise.

Strouse said in one breath he didn’t want to villanize  lobbyists, however, in the next breath said the lack of any substantial movement on important issues in the house is a direct result of the influence lobbyists have on sitting members of congress.

“One week ago today, I made a very simple and sincere pledge–if elected to serve the people of the 8th District, my sole purpose in going to work each morning will be to fight to give families in Bucks and Montgomery counties a fair shot–not to set up a future job as a lobbyist as so many other Congressmen have. I will never take a job as a lobbyist upon leaving Congress, and I will also voluntarily disclose all meetings with registered lobbyists. The people of the 8th District deserve a representative who works for them, and it is deeply troubling that Congressman Fitzpatrick has been silent on this issue and failed to join me in this pledge,“ Strouse said

In a request for comment to the Congressman, Reelection Coordinator Sam Bolstein told LevittownNow.com,

“Mike Fitzpatrick has said he will not lobby. He has no interest in lobbying, and has encouraged other officials to follow his lead – on lobbying reform, declining Congressional healthcare and championing term limits. He (Fitzpatrick) is fully committed to returning to Bucks County after his service to take care of his family, and will continue to work for the community he was born and raised in,”  Bolstein said.

Although the congressman’s campaign did not address the direct request, and or the pledge Strouse made,  to make lobbyists who meet with Fitzpatrick public, one need only to read between the lines of the response to understand the thinking of Fitzpatrick’s,  one Bucks county political operative said.

“This isn’t an issue high on the major issues list for voters in the 8th district,” the source offered. “Congress has essentially been at a stalemate on a number of issues and to say either side is at fault would be factually incorrect. Quite clearly both sides of the political aisle are responsible for the lack of any movement congressionally.”

The Strouse campaign  thinks differently, however, signaling there is a disconnect in the district about the Congressman in terms of his public image and how he actually votes.

Citing prior votes  and influence lobbyists have on Fitzpatrick with regards to the  banking industry and consumer protection agencies, which Strouse contends Fitzpatrick has assisted in cutting the legs out from under it, the congressman voted in favor of “limiting” the regulatory “effectiveness” of the Consumer Financial Protection Buerau,according to Strouse.

Additionally Strouse contends Fitzpatrick has voted to expand loopholes in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Bill.

Strouse simply wants “transparency” in the process he said, so voters of the district can separate truth from fiction when it comes to Fitzpatrick and the influence lobbyists have in congress and on important votes.

Strouse, asked by LevtttownNow.com, if he lost his congressional bid would pledge not to become a lobbyist said he would “add that” to his pledge.

LevittownNow’s Amanda Kuehnle contributed to this report