Wow, it's Christmas Eve and all and we'd really like to be all joyous and all. But this one was practically handed to us on a silver platter.

We missed, until now, this "Highlights of the Casey Record in 2007" news release put out by Sen. Who's office on Thursday. We found it while going through messages in our spam filter. (New Year's resolution: Check the spam filter more often).

We couldn't make this up.

We did our own write-up on Sen. Who? a week ago. We wished we could take credit for the "Senator Who?" headline, but that was done above our pay grade.

Any who, here's what Bob Casey Jr. did in his first year in the U.S. Senate, according to his office, with some added clarification by us.

Highlights Of The Casey Record In 2007

Since taking office after his record-setting victory last November, Senator Bob Casey is following through on his pledge to change the direction in Washington and focus on Pennsylvania priorities.

Senator Casey has already established himself as a leader on Iraq, children's issues, responding to the subprime mortgage crisis, cleaning up Washington, protecting Pennsylvanians, supporting Pennsylvania's economy and working in a bipartisan fashion for the good of the Commonwealth. His first amendment introduced in the Senate was passed into law as part of the ethics reform legislation. And he is the top Senate freshman in bringing appropriations back to his homestate.

He has joined with a Democratic Congress that has begun to reverse the failed policies of the Bush Administration to shift attention back to domestic issues by passing into law the first minimum wage increase in ten years, the 9/11 Commission recommendations, legislation to make college more affordable and improvements to veterans' health care.

On the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Casey has focused on transitioning the mission in Iraq, responding to the threat posed by Iran and addressing the crisis in Darfur. On the Banking Committee, he has been at the forefront of the response to the subprime crisis. On the Agriculture Committee, Senator Casey ensured that the priorities of Pennsylvania agriculture were addressed in the Farm Bill. On the Joint Economic Committee, Senator Casey focused attention on the burden of rising health care and energy costs on families and he chaired a hearing to increase awareness of the importance of pre-kindergarten education. And on the Aging Committee, Senator Casey has worked on issues affecting Pennsylvania's seniors like long-term care and assistance for direct care workers.

Changing the Direction in Washington

Cleaning Up Washington - The very first amendment introduced by Senator Casey in the Senate was signed into law as part of the landmark ethics reform legislation. Because of his amendment, participation in the K Street Project is now a federal crime. Republicans had used this vehicle to fill high-profile lobbyist positions with Republican loyalists.

Casey's amendment actually failed, but other changes to prevent a future K Street Project were enacted.

Standing Up to President Bush - In addition to fighting to reverse President Bush's failed Iraq policy, Senator Casey has also fought the Bush Administration on nominations and spending priorities. He voted against the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General because of Mukasey's refusal to say waterboarding is torture and because he was concerned about his ability to be independent from the White House. Senator Casey has also spoken out against the Bush veto of investments in education, health care and worker protections.

Last we checked MuKasey was confirmed, so so much for standing up.

Returning to Fiscal Responsibility - Senator Casey voted for a Budget Resolution and appropriations bills that restore fiscal responsibility by balancing the budget while also funding domestic priorities and reversing Bush budget cuts to important programs like the COPS program, Amtrak and Community Development Block Grants.

Didn't he just boast about being "the top Senate freshman in bringing appropriations back to his homestate?" Are you for fiscal discipline or pork?

Focusing on Pennsylvania

Securing Pennsylvania's Fair Share - Senator Casey has stood up to ensure Pennsylvania receives a good return for taxpayer dollars sent to Washington. He joined with other senators in a push to increase the amount of homeland security funding distributed to states like Pennsylvania that have a higher risk of terrorist attack. He has also helped secure appropriations funding for Pennsylvania projects and helped to overturn a presidential veto of several vital Pennsylvania flood control and water projects. This was the first time Congress has overridden a Bush veto.

Pork alert, again.See above.

Delivering for Pennsylvania - Senator Casey was recently recognized as the first-year Senator who received the most congressional-directed projects for his state. Senator Casey is committed to Pennsylvania receiving its fair share of federal funding and ensuring that this funding goes to good projects that will benefit Pennsylvania and the United States. Some of the projects he received funding for include the Pennsylvania National Guard, a pre-kindergarten education program for the Harrisburg Area School District and SEPTA in Philadelphia for its interoperable communications program to allow transit police to communicate with other first responders.

Does this count as one item or three? It's at least the third time it's been mentioned in some form or another.

Focusing on Constituent Service - Senator Casey believes that the role of a public official is to offer a voice and assistance to all Pennsylvanians, especially those who do not have lobbyists representing them. Across his seven offices in Pennsylvania and his Washington, D.C. office, Senator Casey and his staff have helped thousands of the Pennsylvanians who contact him on issues like assistance with Social Security benefits, ve