PA-9

Three House Republicans from Pennsylvania who had voted against the original $700-billion bailout bill on Monday changed course Friday to support an amended bailout package that had already passed the Senate.

House Republicans were largely blamed for the original legislation's demise, and some lawmakers may have been bending to changing public opinion after stock markets plummeted following Monday's vote.

U.S. Reps. Bill Shuster (R-Frankstown), Jim Gerlach (R-West Pikeland) and Charlie Dent (R-Allentown) all voted for the bill Friday after opposing it Monday.

None of the three is facing a particularly competitive reelection challenge-at least compared to other vulnerable incumbents. Shuster faces Tony Barr in the 9th Congressional District, Gerlach is running against Bob Roggio in the 6th Congressional District and Dent is being challenged by Sam Bennett in the 15th Congressional District.

No Democrats changed their vote.

Shortly before Congress was set to vote on a new bailout package approved by the Senate, U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Frankstown) said the new legislation had his support.

Shuster, who is running against Democrat Tony Barr in the 9th Congressional District, told reporters that the Senate had improved the bill which had failed in the House, The Associated Press reports.

"I've pushed as far as I can, and we're at a point where there are only two directions we can go from here, and they are backwards or nothing, and I believe deeply that neither is an option," he said. We must move forward."

Congressman Bill Shuster backed out of a debate with his challenger Tony Barr on October 12th citing the financial crisis as a reason he could not attend. If today's recovery bill was passed, Shuster may have lost that argument and may have actually had to think about debating his opponent. Shuster got at least a temporary reprieve today from having to put his record on the line in a debate as the first version of the bill fell short.

Shuster, Chris Carney and Allyson Schwartz continue to duck a series of debates against their opponents.

For months we have been writing about how Chris Carney is only agreeing to one debate with his challenger Chris Hackett in PA-10. He is not the only one looking for ways to avoid debates with a challenger. Republican Bill Shuster (PA-9) is backing out of an October 12th debate with Tony Barr. According to reports Shuster says he may need to be dealing with the financial crisis and may be busy. On October 12th?

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg) is declining an invitation to debate his opponent, Democrat Tony Barr, on Oct. 12 because of the country's financial crisis, The Associated Press reports.

A spokesman for Shuster told the AP the debate might be rescheduled after the country emerges from the financial crisis.

Shuster is a heavy favorite against Barr in the very conservative 9th Congressional District.