In the News

Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-8) took some time to enjoy a cup of joe and some conversation with his constituents at the Bushkill Volunteer Fire Company on Tuesday evening.

Crowds of people from Pike County and beyond stopped off at the fire hall for Cartwright’s “Coffee with your Congressman” event to discuss matters near and dear to their hearts.

Cartwright spent over an hour and half hopping from table to table, engaging with his constituents on a personal level that was well-appreciated by the citizens in attendance.

“It’s a chance for me to come and listen to people, listen to what their concerns are not only on the national level, but on the local level as well,” Cartwright said. “For example, tonight we’re hearing a lot about concerns that there is going to be a National Park Service fee to drive through the area. Everybody’s understandably upset about that, and I’m here to say I’m going to fight that with my last breath.”

Melissa Langone, human resources coordinator for Woodloch Properties in Hawley, said she came out to discuss the H-2B program, which allows employers to temporarily hire non-immigrant workers from outside the country. Langone said that even with 1,300 U.S. employees, the business still struggles during peak seasons, and that she valued the opportunity to discuss the issue with the Congressman face-to-face.

“I wanted to come here for the opportunity to speak to Cartwright, because I know he supports the program, to put a little bug in his ear to keep signing the petitions that I keep sending him,” Langone said. “I think it was well received. He’s been to the property before, and he wants to come back out and meet with the owners.”

Others, such as Gavin Brazanskas of Shohola, paid a visit to thank Cartwright for his invaluable assistance in personal matters.

“I was applying to the Naval Academy and West Point, both dream schools for me, and Rep. Cartwright helped me out in terms of giving me the Congressman’s blessing I needed to get accepted to the Naval Academy, which I just got word that I did last week,” Brazanskas said. “I was saying how we’ll keep in touch, expressing my gratitude in person for what he’s done for me and what he’s done for all the youth in the area in this process. I’m so stoked; I can’t wait to do my community and nation proud.”

Cartwright also noted that several constituents brought up the subject of the 2009 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, which marked its tenth-year anniversary on the Tuesday. In the landmark case, the Supreme Court held that restricting unions, corporations and profitable organizations in their means of political spending and advertising violated freedom of speech rights. Cartwright emphasized that he contests the decision, as it derails the basic tenets of democracy.

“The Supreme Court of the United States decided that money equals speech, and that corporations are people,” Cartwright said. “I’m against that, I’ve fought against that. I think it should be one person, one vote, not $1, one vote. That’s the way democracy is supposed to work. That’s something we’ve been talking about, this is the ten year anniversary that this country’s been suffering under the Citizens United decision.”

The Congressman said that the meet-and-greet event was a great opportunity to ascertain the most fundamental issues affecting residents of northeastern Pennsylvania, and when he steps into a new role come next year, he will be able to better address the needs and wants of his community.

“I’m on the House Appropriations Committee,” Cartwright said. “This time next year, I will take over one of the 12 subcommittees of appropriations. I will be controlling $70 billion of federal spending every year, and that puts more clout in the hands of northeastern Pennsylvania than we’ve had in two generations. It means that I’m going to have a much louder and stronger voice in Washington when it comes to defending against projects like [National Park Service fees in Pike County].”