Rep. Jim Gerlach Should Immediately Cancel Rove Fundraiser

Public Campaign Action Fund called on Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA) to cancel his big-money fundraiser featuring presidential advisor Karl Rove tonight, and criticized him for placing special interest fundraising above the interests of his constituents. Rove, who is embroiled in an a scandal regarding his role in leaking the identity of Valerie Plame, is scheduled to attend a fundraiser for Gerlach tonight just a block away from the White House at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“Neither rain, nor sleet, nor swirling scandals can keep Jim Gerlach away from a big money Washington fundraiser,” said David Donnelly, National Campaigns Director for Public Campaign Action Fund. “In March this year, Gerlach received about $150,000 from a Tom DeLay-sponsored Washington fundraiser when DeLay’s name was in the news every day for ethically-challenged behavior. Today, Gerlach is raising money from a who's who of Washington lobbyists and insiders with scandal-ridden Karl Rove as the draw.

“Jim Gerlach ought to cancel the event immediately.”

Gerlach, who ranks fifth in Congress on Public Campaign Action Fund’s DeLay Rankings, has received $20,000 from Tom DeLay’s contributed $2,000 to DeLay’s legal defense fund. Public Campaign Action Fund ran TV advertising in Gerlach’s district in April urging him to return the money he received from DeLay.