United States Senator Rick Santorum, (R-Pennsylvania), endorsed Congressman Bill Shuster in the Ninth District race on Tuesday afternoon in Altoona.
Santorum made the announcement after presenting the keynote address at the Blair Technology Group\’s CIO Interact 2004 Technology and Business Symposium at the Blair County Convention Center.
Shuster appeared with Senator Santorum at the Railroaders Museum for the announcement where the senator said it was a real pleasure to be standing up for a “true conservative.”
“If it wasn’t for the strong leadership of Bill and his House colleagues, we wouldn’t have gotten the tax cuts we needed to turn the economy around,” said Senator Santorum.
He was referring to the congressman’s support for the President’s tax cuts which have helped grow the economy according to a press release from Shuster’s campaign office.
Senator Santorum also made note of the working relationship between the two men, saying their partnership netted real results for the residents of the Ninth District.
“Bill Shuster and I have a great working relationship,” said Santorum. “It was Bill Shuster who got on the phone to alert me that the Senate version of the transportation bill lacked the funding for an important bus testing project in Altoona. Within 24 hours it was in the Senate version. Thanks to our partnership and leadership, we are working to secure that funding.”
Santorum also praised Shuster’s conservative credentials and his willingness to move forward a conservative Republican agenda.
“Bill has been helpful moving forward the Republican agenda,” said Santorum. “It is a pleasure to stand up for a true conservative who is serving his community by serving in Congress.”
Shuster said Santorum’s endorsement is another sign of the strength of his campaign. A recent poll memo released to Shuster’s supporters showed he held a 30 point lead over challenger Michael DelGrosso for the Ninth District Republican nomination in the April 27 primary.
“It is great to have the support of Senator Santorum who has been a voice for the conservative movement in Washington,” said Shuster. “I look forward to continue working with Senator Santorum to move the Ninth District and Pennsylvania forward.”
In addition to his appearance with Shuster at the Railroaders Museum, Senator Santorum also spoke about a number of issues at the CIO Interact symposium and during a brief press conference after his address. Blair Technology Group, which sponsored the symposium, provides Information Technology Risk Management Consulting and IT Resources. He also focused on economic opportunities in Central Pennsylvania as a result of the area’s increasing role in enhancing information technology security that protects businesses, communities, and the nation.
Santorum also touched on homeland security issues at the symposium on the same day his office released information announcing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is providing Pennsylvania with $72,370,500 in federal funding to enhance the ability of first responders to prevent, respond and recover from potential acts of terrorism.
The funding is being distributed as part of three programs that provide significant resources to state and local governments.
Prior to his appearances in Altoona, Santorum was in Clearfield County on Tuesday where he led a roundtable discussion at Clearfield Hospital with approximately 40 doctors and administrators on Pennsylvania medical liability issues. Senator Santorum addressed questions about rising medical liability insurance, and shared statistics on this escalating problem within the Commonwealth.
