HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding Democratic Congressional candidate Mark Critz:

“Mark Critz often touts his experience as the Coordinator of Economic Development for the 12^thCongressional District in campaign commercials, but he fails to mention his poor performance in that role,” Gleason said.  “Since Critz became Director of Economic Development in 2006, unemployment rates for the counties within the 12^th Congressional District have risen dramatically.

“With an atrocious record of creating jobs as a career bureaucrat, it is unimaginable to me why Critz worked to advance the national energy tax known as cap-and-trade which would only drive unemployment rates in this region to a higher level.  This legislation will endanger the jobs of countless workers in our critical energy sectors while having a devastating impact on the economy in the 12^th Congressional District.

“The 12^th Congressional District can’t afford the failed leadership of a Washington bureaucrat whose rhetoric doesn’t match his record.  Tim is the only candidate in this race that has a record of creating jobs.  We need to elect Tim Burns to Congress on May 18^th, 2010.”
The Somerset Daily American reported earlier today that unemployment in the 12th District rose at least 76 percent and as much as 135 percent in the counties of the district since Mr. Critz took over as head of Economic Development.
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