Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney excoriates Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak, Pa., who is challenging Sen. Arlen Specter in a May primary election, for underpaying his campaign staff. The Hotline reports on the letter that chairman Rooney wrote in order to embarrass Sestak:
“As Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman, I am increasingly concerned about the numerous news media reports that you are in violation of state and federal law for failing to pay your campaign employees at least the minimum wage,” Rooney wrote to Sestak.
“If you were to be successful in your primary campaign, you would be leading the Democratic ticket in this fall’s critical elections for state and local office. It is inconceivable to me that our standard bearer wouldn’t be paying his workers the minimum wage. Particularly at a time of deep recession, we can’t hand an issue like this to the Republicans or have the candidate leading our ticket being investigated for such violations,” Rooney added.
A former Sestak campaign aide had calculated on his blog that the campaign was paying him between $1.60 and $3.18 per hour for his work. Sestak trails Specter by double digits in recent polls, with just over two months left before the May 18 primary. Sestak’s bid, to which the Left has rallied, is encountering strong opposition from the party establishment.
