Expense Report Protest

==Press Release: March 6, 2006==
:From Daniel Repovz, Media Coordinator, Elect.Rauterkus.com, Media@Rauterkus.com, 412-904-2976
===Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian candidate for Pittsburgh City Council in the district 3 special election slated for March 14, 2006, attached a protest statement with the submission of a campaign finance report to the election department today. ===
Rauterkus has boldly spoken against big-ticket, wrong-headed spending projects from federal to council matters. The top message from Elect.Rauterkus.com is embraced in a song, Lay The Shovel Down, that makes an emotional connection to a solution for our city's bankrupt status.
Rauterkus urges prudent financial behaviors. His prudent campaign makes a four-point statement of protest:
1. US Senator Rick Santorum is bringing President George W. Bush to Pittsburgh for a $10,000 photo opportunities and a $1,000 a plate fund raiser while the US Treasury Secretary, John Snow, urged Congressional lawmakers to pass a new debt ceiling immediately to avoid the nation's first-ever default on its obligations.
:Rauterkus said, “The Federal government is about to hit the $8.2 trillion national debt limit. Big ticket spending isn't sexy. The President and Senator can do every child a favor by thinking again on how much they squander. Start by saving Pittsburgh and the nation by pulling the plug on the planned $300-million tunnel to head under the Allegheny River to service the stadiums.”
2. Rauterkus said, “The city has a new mayor and two oversight boards. We are waiting to see any offer of constructive solutions to help the long-term outlook for the city. We should merge those overloards into a single body and insist earnest work. New mayor, Bob O'Connor, promised an adjusted 2006 budget by the end of January, yet that wait continues.”
3. In 2005, Rauterkus called a public hearing that pressured William Peduto of City Council to table a measure on local campaign laws. Rauterkus is upset that the work-product and revised bill from the associated task force is not yet back on the agenda.
4. Rauterkus has called for new methods of campaign finance reporting in the form of transparent PAC accounts at local banks. All taxpayers should have the ability to witness real-time transactions into and out of political accounts. The details were presented to PNC's top economist as well as many other local banking officials on January 19, 2006. Campaign Finance
This election fills the ninth and final seat on our city council. Rauterkus hopes for votes on March 14 from any citizen who shares outrage with government's status quo, its spending priorities and treatments afforded to our kids.
In related news, the campaign's political action committee treasurer, Michael Cooper, has been absent from the campaign for the past four weeks due to a new job. His role is being terminated along with fund raising. A new committee might be announced after the polls close on March 14. To date, both fund raising and expenses amounted to less than $250 for the reporting period. A $40 fine was paid by the candidate.