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Patriots’ Belichick says letter to Trump ‘not politically motivated’

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Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams ‘thrilled’ with home rule ballot question results

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Now that the election is over and Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration, part of the process will be to name a transition team and to begin deliberations on who will be a part of the president&#8217;s administration and cabinet.</p><p>U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, was one of the first members of Congress to endorse Trump&#8217;s candidacy and served as co-chairman of Trump&#8217;s Pennsylvania campaign with his Republican colleague in the House, Rep. Tom Marino, R-Lycoming Township.</p><p>At Monday night&#8217;s rally in Scranton, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani had this to say:</p><p>&#8220;You have two outstanding congressmen in Northeastern Pennsylvania &#8212; Lou Barletta and Tom Marino,&#8221; Giuliani said. &#8220;And both will play an important role in the Trump administration.&#8221;</p><p>When asked if he knew what Giuliani was talking about, Barletta said he had no idea.</p><p>&#8220;There have been no discussions about that,&#8221; Barletta said Wednesday. &#8220;My focus is on representing the people of the 11th Congressional District, and I will do all I can to best serve them.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta Tuesday won a convincing re-election bid over Democrat Michael Marsicano to earn his fourth term in Congress.</p><p>Barletta said he has not talked to Trump since the election, but will reach out to the president-elect over the next few days.</p><p>&#8220;I want to give him time to come down from this victory,&#8221; Barletta said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure he has a lot on his plate right now.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta said all he wanted to do was help Trump win the White House.</p><p>&#8220;To be a part of that is one of the greatest thrills of my life,&#8221; Barletta said. &#8220;Especially when Pennsylvania was the state that put him over the top.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta recalled that when he endorsed Trump for president, the &#8220;experts&#8221; had given him a less-than one percent chance of becoming president.</p><p>&#8220;This is personally gratifying to me that here we are today &#8212; Donald Trump is the next president of the United States and Pennsylvania played a major role in making that happen,&#8221; he said.</p><p>In an Associated Press story that was published Wednesday, Barletta was quoted as stating, &#8220;He&#8217;s an executive who knows how to pick people to fix problems. Why aren&#8217;t our problems fixed? Politicians just talk about what&#8217;s wrong; they don&#8217;t do anything about it.&#8221;</p><p>Trump has already released a list of potential Supreme Court appointees to allay conservative fears, Barletta told AP, demonstrating &#8220;an ability to get people to go along.&#8221;</p><p>In the AP story, Barletta argues Trump will gain popularity among his skeptics by erasing regulations and creating jobs, and he said if House and Senate leaders cannot work with Trump, &#8220;there will be somebody else in their place. You&#8217;re seeing a new beginning in government.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, left, was one of a handful of politicians Donald Trump, right, called up on stage during a campaign rally at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township in October. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_donaldtrump06-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, left, was one of a handful of politicians Donald Trump, right, called up on stage during a campaign rally at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township in October. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Barletta: No talks (yet) with Trump about joining administration