PA-17 Republican candidate Rob Mercuri recently celebrated an endorsement from a billionaire Koch-funded super PAC — despite the Koch network having “opposed legislation aimed at preventing future train derailments.”
Back in March, the Koch networksent a letter to members of Congress urging them to oppose the bipartisan Railway Safety Act introduced by Rep. Chris Deluzio in the House in the wake of the catastrophic Norfolk Southern derailment.
In a newsletter to subscribers, Mercuri said the endorsement was “another sign” that the campaign had the “values” it would take to win in 2024.
DCCC Spokesperson Aidan Johnson:
“It’s sad that Rob Mercuri is taking marching orders from dark money donors and special interest groups in Washington. Opposing bipartisan rail safety legislation because your billionaire buddies have you by the short hairs is not something to brag about.”
“Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Mercuri, who is running against U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio for Congress, received a key endorsement this week from a super PAC funded by the conservative Koch brothers’ network.”
“Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Action said in a news release this week it was endorsing Mercuri (R-Allegheny) and several other ‘key races for the U.S. House of Representatives,’ including state Rep. Ryan MacKenzie (R-Lehigh) who is running for the GOP nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-7). The news of the endorsements was first reported by Politico.”
“Mercuri’s campaign highlighted the endorsement in a newsletter to subscribers on Friday: ‘This is another sign that our campaign has what it takes to win and represent our values in 2024,’ the message reads. Mercuri’s campaign did not reply to a request for comment Friday.”
“The Koch network and affiliated groups have opposed legislation aimed at preventing future train derailments. The conservative think tank FreedomWorks, which also has ties to the Koch network, sent a letter in March to members of Congress urging them to oppose the Railway Safety Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. JD Vance (R) and Sherrod Brown (D) of Ohio, and joined by Democratic Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY), and Deluzio (D-17) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House.”
“The Railway Safety Act was prompted by the catastrophic February Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which borders Deluzio’s western Pennsylvania district, and which has also been affected. The legislation would tighten safety requirements on railroads and strengthen the Department of Transportation’s oversight. It was that oversight that the FreedomWorks letter specifically objected to, saying the bill would ‘grant this struggling agency unimaginable authority.’”
“Deluzio campaign spokesperson Zoe Bluffstone said in a statement that the people of western Pennsylvania, ‘like our neighbors in East Palestine, demand federal action on rail safety.’”
“‘They want nothing to do with a sellout politician celebrating an endorsement from a billionaire Koch-brothers funded super PAC, that through its think tank is openly trying to kill rail safety reform efforts like Rep. Deluzio’s bipartisan Railway Safety Act.’”
