GLENOLDEN — Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, was endorsed Monday afternoon by the National Federation of Independent Business.

“As I’ve traveled across the district, I’ve heard the concerns of small business owners who say that the Democrats’ economic policies are stifling job creation,” said Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney. “Business owners fear looming tax hikes and new regulations that make hiring new employees more costly. The best way to spur job creation is to cut taxes and put more money into the hands of consumers and investors.”

The federation endorsed Meehan at both Howell Door Co. in West Chester, and also the Suburban Collision Specialists in Glenolden. The federation represents small and independent businesses across the country.

“Pat Meehan wants a health care system that would allow individuals more affordable choices when purchasing health insurance,” said Kevin Shivers, state director of the federation. “He wants portability, so that Americans can change jobs without losing their coverage, and he wants tort reform that will help reduce additional costs being added into the system. These are all key principles that (the federation) affirms and will help increase access and affordability to health care for small businesses.”

Meehan has also been endorsed by several other business organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Main Line and TriCounty Area Chambers of Commerce and the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry. He was also endorsed by SEPAC, a political action committee made of representatives from multiple chambers of commerce in southeast Pennsylvania.

“When we look at the agenda put out by both candidates, Pat Meehan’s agenda is the one that will create jobs,” said Gene Barr, vice president of government and public affairs at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Meehan is running against Democratic candidate state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, and third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller.

“It’s no surprise that an organization that is a rubber stamp for Republican policies that endorses Republicans more than 90 percent of the time would want to endorse Pat Meehan’s campaign,” said Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz. “What is a surprise is that when given the chance to support legislation earlier this year that increased access to credit that small businesses said they needed, Pat Meehan opposed it for the sole purpose of scoring political points.

“Bryan Lentz has been going around the district and talking to local business owners about what they need to create good-paying jobs, and start hiring again, and his recently released jobs plan offers concrete steps in that direction.”

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/10/19/news/doc4cbd05d188fba641845076.txt