Building Trades Union to endorse Senator Specter
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
By: Susan Phillips
sphillips@whyy.org
The primary race for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat is heating up. Senator Arlen Specter is expected to receive the endorsement of one of Philadelphia's major unions tomorrow. Meanwhile, his challenger, Congressman Joe Sestak has challenged the incumbent Specter to 6 debates.
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The Building Trades Council boasts thousands of members in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Pat Gillespie who heads the union says the state's voters need to understand that their endorsement of Specter comes down to seniority, and the ability to bring home the bacon.
Gillespie: They go through that mantra of wanting change, but in the meantime the system doesn't change, and who suffers but Pennsylvanians. So, I'd much rather get leaders in and keep leaders in the Senate who have a high degree of integrity and move the ball forward for all of us.
With voters in an anti-incumbent mood, Sestak is attacking Specter's votes during the Bush Administration, before he switched to the Democratic party last year. The Delaware County Congressman says Specter voted against the interests of working families by supporting the Bush tax cuts.