After prayer and light conversation - on topics such as vacations and Michael Moore's new documentary - speakers took the podium at the Lancaster County ACTION quarterly breakfast.

ACTION is a local, Christian-based conservative organization that promotes candidates for office.

The featured speaker was former U.S. Congressman Pat Toomey, who provided the crowd with an update on the conservative movement.

Toomey lost in the primary Senate race against U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. He is also the president of the Washington-based conservative group The Club for Growth, which promotes economic freedom and raises funds for conservative candidates.

"It's all about protecting our Christian heritage," Toomey said. "And, a culture that is under assault."

Toomey said when government expands and takes over the roles belonging to the church, parents and civic groups, it damages prosperity.

Among the ways a government promotes economic freedom is with property rights for citizens, low taxes, freedom to start new businesses and a convertible currency, he said.

Toomey also spoke of The Club for Growth's mission to "scour" the nation in search of conservative candidates to support financially.

"It's not enough to send Republicans," he said. "We have to send the right Republicans to Washington."

Toomey also addressed the upcoming presidential primary. The Republican party tends to nominate someone from the center of the spectrum, but no one from the center has thrown their hat in for the race yet.

With this in mind, Toomey said he believes that U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson will run.

Toomey also spoke of Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama (who is "captivating the media like nobody's business") and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

He believes that if Clinton gets on the Democratic ticket, it will energize the right to stand against her.

Earlier, before Toomey took the podium, James Bednar, a member of the government study commission, gave an update on the possibility of home rule.

District Attorney Don Totaro, a candidate for county judge, and Scott Martin, candidate for county commissioner, thanked the audience for support in the primary.

Jere Swarr, a Republican turned independent, promised to run a clean campaign for county commissioner.

And state Rep. Scott Boyd gave an update on the budget, which he says raises spending too much. He pledged to vote against the governor's spending plan.

CONTACT US: rmeadows@LNPnews.com or 481-6025