Donald Trump has said he values loyalty ahead of almost anything else. The two Pennsylvania congressmen who have stood with him the longest have been rewarded accordingly.
Congressman Tom Marino, a Republican from Williamsport, and Congressman Lou Barletta, a Republican from Hazleton, today joined the Presidential Transition Team’s Executive Committee, along with RNC chair Reince Priebus, Trump campaign CEO Steve Bannon and rich person Peter Thiel. Also Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka Trump.
Here are the basics on Marino and Barletta, who have both spent months stumping for Trump across Pennsylvania:
Congressman Tom Marino
Where he represents
Originally from Williamsport, Marino represents Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district, which encompasses parts of central and northeast Pennsylvania.
His political background
Marino was first elected to Congress in 2010, after serving as the district attorney of Lycoming County, where Williamsport is located. He’s also a former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
When he endorsed Trump
Marino was the fifth member of Congress to officially endorse Trump, and he did so in February. According to Politico: “The congressman called endorsing Trump ‘one of my life-changing moments’ — along with quitting his job at 30 to go to college and law school, adopting his children, and deciding to run for Congress in 2010.”
Fun facts
- Sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Judiciary Committee
- Serves as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Kidney Caucus
- Is a three-time cancer survivor
- Once got chased around the House chamber by Nancy Pelosi after an argument about immigration
- Called Louis DeNaples — a convicted felon with mob ties — a “close friend”
- Had to put his press secretary on leave for bringing a handgun into a House of Representatives office building
- Might not know that Libya is in Africa
- Likes to wear vests
Congressman Lou Barletta
Where he represents
Barletta was first elected to Congress in 2010 and represents the 11th congressional district. The district encompasses… well, it’s hard to explain. Gerrymandering is a thing. Here’s a picture:
His political background
In 2010, Barletta was elected to serve in Congress on his third attempt. Before that, he was the mayor of Hazleton, in Luzerne County, where he was elected three times. He was known nationwide for his 2006 “Illegal Immigration Relief Act,” which would have revoked business licenses from people that hired “illegal aliens.” It was shot down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Twice.
When he endorsed Trump
Barletta endorsed Trump in March, saying: “Donald Trump’s voice is resonating with average Americans who feel their voice has been lost by their party,” according to the Washington Post.
Fun facts
- Serves on three House committees: the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
- Known in Congress as the immigration “hard-liner”
- Left college to play professional baseball, but was cut because he couldn’t hit a curve ball
- Touted success of his Hazleton immigration policies by citing failing Mexican restaurants
- Sits on the board of advisors of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has been classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group
- Is “not convinced that there’s scientific evidence that proves” that global warming is real
- Apparently has a pretty cute dog. WHO’S A GOOD BOY?
