WASHINGTON - The cash-strapped National Republican Congressional Committee may be largely quiet on the advertising front, but the conservative advocacy organization Freedom's Watch is ramping up its spending in key House races, launching new advertisements this week in Pennsylvania and a handful of other races.

The organization's new ad in Pennsylvania, out today, accuses U.S. Reps. Chris Carney (D-Dimock Township) and Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) of being "like taxing twins."

"Both supported big tax increases two years in a row," an announcer says. "One would be the largest in our history. Higher taxes on married couples, people with children, retirement savings, even the death tax. Tell Kanjorski and Carney that higher taxes are not the answer, especially now."    

Carney and Kanjorski, who represent districts in northeastern Pennsylvania, have difficult re-election races this cycle. Carney, a freshman, is facing a challenge from businessman Chris Hackett, while Kanjorski is running against Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.

Freedom's Watch has also launched ads this week in Senate races in Oregon and North Carolina and House races in New Jersey, Alabama, Nevada, and Illinois.

Freedom's Watch declined to say how much it was spending on the new Pennsylvania ads, but most of the organization's spending on spots in House races have reportedly been in the mid-$100,000 range.  

Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, dismissed Freedom's Watch's ads as being factually shaky.

"Freedoms Watch is a shady soft money group that has a record of running ads that have been taken off the airwaves for being inaccurate.  Northeastern Pennsylvanians are eager for solutions to our weakened economy, not attack ads that distort reality," said James.