HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP — Mercer County Republicans agreed it was time for a change from the current administration at their annual Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night at Hempfield Station One Banquet Center, and Congressman Mike Kelly called not only for change but for more accountability.

Kelly, R-Butler, 3rd District, a member of the Oversight and Government Reform committee, has taken on the investigation of Operation Fast and Furious – when the government allowed weapons to fall into the hands of Mexican criminals in an effort to help track crime, but nearly 1,400 of more than 2,000 guns have been lost.

“The attorney general is as slippery as a greased pig at a county fair,” Kelly said, noting Eric Holder can tell you everything that went on – and went wrong – in the previous administration, but claims he didn’t know about the Fast and Furious operation until the beginning of last year. The operation, which was one of four similar plans hatched under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, began in 2009.

The oversight committee has called for the attorney general to release all documents related to the operation.

State Sen. Bob Robbins, who introduced the congressman, praised Kelly for his work on that investigation in particular and also for other stances he’s taken.

“As our congressman, he is standing up for what is right,” Robbins said. “Mike has played a role in helping to change the debate in Washington from how much do we grow government to how much do we shrink government.”

Kelly, who’s running for reelection, urged those present to get their friends and neighbors to stop being apathetic.

“We can’t let them think things are going to be OK,” he said, reminding the crowd that Republicans, who have passed more than 30 jobs bills out of the House only to be stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate, represent only one half of one of the three branches of government.

“You need to call (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid, you need to call (Pennsylvania Senator) Bob Casey, and we need to get Republicans in office, that’s the only answer,” he said.

Kelly took the podium for the second year in a row as the night’s keynote speaker, but others running for office also took a turn with the microphone.

Sam Rohrer, a former state representative who’s running for U.S. Senate, denounced Casey, who Rohrer said claims to be pro-life and pro-Second Amendment but is in fact not those things.

“I will fight strongly and on principle,” Rohrer said.

Ed Bardella, who was planning to run for the 7th District state House seat against Democrat incumbent Mark Longietti but may not be able to due to redistricting changes, also spoke about the importance of a change in the country’s leadership.

Matt McConnell and John Lechner gave the county commissioners report. They hailed the fact the county now has a Republican majority, and Lechner spoke of the county’s successful efforts to cut costs and streamline. He also noted it’s difficult for the county to sustain federal and state cuts, meaning their only option will likely be to start cutting programs.

State Rep. Dick Stevenson, Grove City, R-8th District, gave a report from Harrisburg, saying the goals have been fiscal responsibility, job creation and integrity.

Stevenson noted the legislature passed the state budget on time for the first time since 2003 with no tax increase, cut spending by more than $1 billion and made the Department of Public Welfare more efficient.

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