Plans to Cut Saturday Mail Service in the Sewickley Area Delayed

Congress isn't allowing the change.

The U.S. Postal Service's plan to cut Saturday mail service is delayed, including the post offices in Sewickley and Leetsdale.  The Board of Governors of the agency stated that Congress passed a spending bill that continues to prohibit the reduction of delivery days. "Although disappointed with this Congressional action, the board will follow the law and has directed the Postal Service to delay implementation of its new delivery schedule," the board stated. Saturday mail service was set to be cut on Aug. 5. Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter Check out some of today's other top stories here.

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From Congressman Rothfus

Rothfus: Balanced Budget Fosters Job Creation and Protects Seniors

Sewickley area U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus discusses the need for a balanced federal budget.

A balanced budget is critical for growing a healthier economy, adding jobs, and ensuring that we have the money to preserve and protect Medicare and Social Security and promote a strong national defense. The budget plan approved by the House last week, which I supported, balances in ten years and will lead to greater economic prosperity for all Americans. The surging debt and persistent deficits run up by the federal government are not abstractions. They are a threat to our economy, national security, seniors, and veterans. Today, every American’s share of the national debt exceeds $53,000. That would pay for a family’s groceries for nearly seven years or a four-year degree at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. To appreciate the …

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Sewickley Area Congressmen Weigh in on Sequestration

Reps. Rothfus, Murphy and others discuss the effects of across-the-board cuts.

Several departments in Allegheny County may be impacted by the sequester if the automatic budget cuts begin officially at midnight, according to members of the state's congressional delegation. U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus said in a recent op-ed piece that the cuts are indiscriminate and fail the first step of good budgeting: prioritization.  "We need to control spending so that we do not run out of money for critical items such as seniors’ and veterans’ health care, infrastructure projects, and a robust military capable of deterring aggressors. This is not the way to do it," said Rothfus, R-Sewickley, prior to the sequester. Instead of the arbitrary, across-the-board cuts, which will impact selected domestic and military programs, Rothfus said…

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Murphy Shows Up in Wheelchair, Leads Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Hearing

The Leetsdale and Edgeworth-area Congressman reportedly has a sore back.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, is leading the Veterans’ Affairs Committee's investigative hearing on the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the VA Hospital in Pittsburgh—and he showed up in a wheelchair. Twitter was abuzz with the news when Washington correspondent of Cox Media Group Seth MacFarlene sent out the tweet: Rep Tim Murphy (R-PA) enters House VA Cmte hearing in wheelchair. Suffering back injury, spokeswoman says. Patch reached out to Murphy's spokeswoman, who is currently busy with the hearing. Murphy was able to get out of the wheelchair and get into a regular chair during the hearing. Check back to Patch later for an update on Murphy's health. Murphy is grilling officials about what was done during the Legionnaires…

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Rothfus Votes Against Hurricane Sandy Relief

The Sewickley Republican was one of 67 House Republicans to vote against the $9.7 billion in hurricane relief aid while Tim Murphy joined the 354 in support.

In his first legislative act as a new congressman, U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus voted against the Hurricane Sandy relief package. Rothfus, R-Sewickley, was one of 67 House Republicans to vote Friday against the bill authorizing $9.7 billion in relief. U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, whose district includes Edgeworth, Leet Township and Leetsdale, supported the legislation (H.R. 41), which passed the House by a 354-67 margin.  Rothfus told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review the reason behind his vote, calling it “irresponsible to raise an insolvent program's debt ceiling without making reforms.” “My problem with the bill is that we are funding offsets for the National Flood Insurance Program,” Rothfus told the Trib. Friday's vote extends the …

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Patch Poll: What's the Best Way to Avoid the 'Fiscal Cliff?'

Tell us what you think is the best way for President Obama and Congress to work together to keep tax rates from rising and major spending cuts from being enacted in January.

Last year, Congress and President Barack Obama agreed to a program—now known as the "fiscal cliff"— to reduce the federal deficit. If Congress and the president don't reach an agreement within the next few weeks, tax rates will rise in January for almost all Americans and major spending cuts will automatically occur next year in most government spending programs. Democrats and Republicans don't agree about how to best raise the federal government's revenues. The president and most congressional Democrats favor tax rate increases on the wealthiest Americans. Most congressional Republicans call instead for closing loopholes and reforming the tax code. Both parties have indicated a willingness to implement spending cuts. A point of …

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Mike Jones

8:05 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012

My mom lost all of her stock in the bailout. She's still bitter about it, but she would've lost it anyway if they had liquidated without the bailout. She probably should've sold it in the 90s. Still, I'm thankful that the bailout agreement left some legacy money/health care for my grandmother, who is practically dependent on it today.   more ›

Sewickley Residents Express Hopes, Optimism on Rothfus Election Win

Locals express thoughts on the high-profile election of Sewickley hometown candidate Keith Rothfus.

Just a day after the elections, the Sewickley community was still buzzing about U.S. Rep.-elect Keith Rothfus's defeat of Incumbent U.S. Rep Mark Critz after a close race to represent the newly redrawn 12th District. “Hopefully he’ll do a good job for the community,” said Lynn Swann of Sewickley, a retired Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and former Republican candidate for governor. Swann, who spent some time on the campaign trail this election season stomping for former Gov. Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, said the key for Rothfus will be working with constituents. “He has an interesting district,” Swann added. As a result of last year's redistricting, Aleppo, Bell Acres, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights, Glen Osborne, Haysville and …

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Incumbent Tim Murphy Defeats Larry Maggi in Congressional District 18

Murphy credits his win to knowing the needs of southwestern Pennsylvania.

It's official. U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair) will serve a sixth term. Murphy declared victory around 10:15 p.m. against retired state police trooper and current Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi, a Democrat. In his victory speech, Murphy credited the win to understanding the needs of southwestern Pennsylvania. He called his team from Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. to join him on the stage and thanked them. Also joining Murphy on stage was his wife, daughter and daughter's fiance. Maggi released this statement following the defeat: "Although we did not get the results we wanted, I am incredibly proud of the campaign I ran. We stuck to the issues, offered a contrast,and educated voters on what Congress is doing on the …

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U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy: Republican Candidate for 18th Congressional District

The Upper St. Clair resident is seeking his sixth term.

Name : Tim Murphy Age : 60 Place of residence : Upper St. Clair, PA Bachelors degree from Wheeling Jesuit University, master’s degree from Cleveland State University and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh Job titles held : Psychologist; Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania State Senator Party affiliation : Republican Running for a: Federal office Running for position: U.S. Congress Chamber/district: 18 Incumbent: Yes First elected: 2002 Previous elective offices : Pennsylvania State Senator Washington, D.C. Office : 322 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Main District Office: 504 Washington Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15228 Westmoreland District Office: 2040 Frederickson Place Greensburg, PA 15601 …

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