The latest comes from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and their SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise) Trust.  NFIB is a well-regarded voice for small business, the engine of economic growth and job creation.

We’ll get more endorsements as we get closer to the election, and I’m proud of the important ones we have so far. I’m proud that groups that believe in the value of human life, the right to keep and bear arms, the growth of the region, and small business and job creation have endorsed this campaign.

I hope to see you there.

It seems like just yesterday we were six months away from November 4th. Now we’re half that.

In a month Labor Day will be here, the start of the traditional election season. From there, we’ll be galloping towards the finish line.

The office is practically across the street from the Cambria County Courthouse, at 119 South Center Street. We’ll have light refreshments and some good political discussions as we ramp up for the fast-approaching election.

I hope to see you there.

Did you know that our state government spends $32 million in advertising to get us to buy lottery tickets? You know the ads, the ones with the groundhog in them.

And then we throw people in jail for gambling.

As the Commonwealth Foundation says, it’s time to put our government on a diet. Go to http://www.padietplan.com to find out how.

Every American should take some time on the 4th to read, or hopefully re-read, the Declaration of Independence. It’s a great read, and it really puts things into perspective.

The Founding Fathers risked a lot to “mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

So, why did they put so much on the line? The Declaration contains a list of their complaints against the King. They list a series of offenses that impelled “them to the Separation.”

My favorite is this one:

HE has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.

This could be written today! Our governments, at both the state and federal levels, have indeed erected too many “Offices” and have “sent hither Swarms” of bureaucrats to “Harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.”

It’s funny how some things change, and some things stay the same.

He points out that since 1950 the U.S. population has doubled, but Pittsburgh lost more than half its population. A similar observation could be made about our region.

Reiland points out that the government wants to address this problem by adding new taxes and new government programs. And that just chases more people, corporations, and jobs away.

Will we ever learn?

This event will feature Rep. Mike Turzai, chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. (Rep. Turzai has a vote scheduled on this date, but will try to get here on time.)

The Ridge is a beautiful facility in Upper Yoder Township, at 3984 Menoher Highway. (It’s on 271, 14 miles from Ligonier and 8 miles from Johnstown.)

Ticket price is only $25. I hope to see you there!

- We have known oil sources in the United States that we refuse to drill.

- We have an abundance of coal deposits right here in Pennsylvania, but the same folks who don’t want us to drill for oil in Alaska or off the U.S. coast won’t let us utilize clean coal technology.

- We have the ability to generate nuclear power, just as France does, and we have producers of Nuclear generators right here in Pennsylvania, and yet those same folks who don’t want us to drill for oil or dig for coal won’t let us use nuclear power.

- Wind power technology is developing clean energy, and the windmills are manufactured in Cambria County, but some don’t want us to develop that either.

And yet we wonder why gas prices are so high.