Thursday, September 30, 2010

Kanjorski And Carney Send Jobs Overseas


In his desperate attack on Lou Barletta Congressman Paul Kanjorski claims that Barletta favors tax breaks for companies sending jobs overseas. Hold one, I am laughing so hard I need to get up off the floor. Let's not leave Chris Carney off the hook either.

Barack Obama has been sending stimulus money to China. Even his own party people are begging him to stop.

"Today, we are demanding the Obama administration suspend this program immediately," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The program has already spent $2 billion, funding enough projects to power 2.4 million homes. Any wind farm created in the U.S. is eligible for stimulus money to put up wind turbines, regardless of where those massive structures are made. Each turbine costs about $3 million, and reaches 40 stories into the sky.

An investigation by ABC News and the Investigative Reporting Workshop found that 79 percent of the program's money has gone to foreign companies, money that Schumer said was "federal tax dollars, the stimulus, which was sold as jobs in America."

The senators are especially alarmed about a project highlighted by ABC News in West Texas that uses turbines manufactured in China. The Texas wind farm is eligible for up to $450 million in stimulus funds.

The frustrated senators are concerned, though, that some of the money is also paying for manufacturing jobs in China, and they are pushing a bill requiring that stimulus projects create jobs in the United States. They want the wind energy program stopped before the Chinese turbine manufacturers can collect any money.


Obama's actions were met with such criticism that "Green" jobs are no longer on his agenda.

Noticeably absent from President Obama's latest economic-stimulus package are any further attempts to create jobs through "green" energy projects, reflecting a year in which the administration's original, loudly trumpeted efforts proved largely unfruitful.

The long delays typical with environmentally friendly projects - combined with reports of green stimulus funds being used to create jobs in China and other countries, rather than in the U.S. - appear to have killed the administration's appetite for pushing green projects as an economic cure.

The Department of Energy estimated that 82,000 jobs have been created and has acknowledged that as much as 80 percent of some green programs, including $2.3 billion of manufacturing tax credits, went to foreign firms that employed workers primarily in countries including China, South Korea and Spain, rather than in the United States.

Peter Morici, a business professor at the University of Maryland, said much of the green stimulus funding was "squandered."


Squandered??? And Paul Kanjorski wants to attack Barletta? Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney voted for the stimulus bill that sent jobs overseas. Nuff said.

Eachus's Office Space Doesn't Support Local Business


If you ride through downtown Hazleton you will notice the legislative and campaign offices of Todd Eachus in the same building. You will also see that Paul Kanjorski shares a campaign office with Eachus even though he continually bashes Hazleton which in essence attacks the morale of its residents. If you look closely at the picture you will see that no one is taking care of Kanjorski's signs. They are laying down out of view. Guess Kanjorski should take care of his own business before he slams others.

With the Kanjorski bashing one has to wonder why he located his campaign office in Hazleton. But this post is about Todd Eachus.

Eachus's legislative office used to be in the Broad Street Exchange located on the corner of Laurel and Broad Streets pictured below. The Broad Street Exchange was owned by the LOCAL non-profit entity, ARCH, until recently when it was turned over to Luzerne County.


He moved his legislative one block east into a building owned by Wills Development where one of the principals, William Joyce, is a financial supporter of his campaigns. Contract Number HDC01030309 has a term of February 03, 2009 to November 30, 2010 in the amount of $35,280.00. Williams Joyce is listed as a prinicipal in Wills Development Company, business entity 2939614, according to records on file at the Corporation Bureau of Pennsylvania. The address of the corporation is 9 North Main Street, Pittston, Pa. not located in Eachus's district.

Not only did Mr. Eachus take care of one of his donors, who is not a registered voter in his district, he leases his office equipment from BMC Desks, Etc., Contract Number HDC01040809, business entity 2893275. Its corporate offices are located at 320 East Gibson Street, Scranton, Pa. again NOT part of his district.

Out of all of the cities, towns, boroughs, and townships in Mr. Eachus's district he couldn't find one local business person to support with his rent or office equipment rental. If that isn't political patronage, nothing is.

Eachus's political flyers placate the voters by saying he supports jobs in our area. He supports one thing, his own agenda for his own benefit. Ask 120,000 seniors who don't have the PACE benefit he promised them.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

House Democratic Caucus Has Legal Appetite


Treasury Secretary Jack McCord has a link on his website for the public to search contracts made by Commonwealth Agencies. SOP performed a search of contracts made by the House Democratic Caucus. Since 2008 there are 12 legal firms who have been hired in a total of 27 contracts and amendments. The total cost to the taxpayers was $1,183,180.00.

There are several interesting contracts that SOP found in its research.

Christopher Casey was hired by Todd Eachus to serve as outside counsel to him according to this report by Robert Swift of the Times-Tribune in December, 2008. Chris Casey, the brother of U.S. Senator Robert Casey, is a partner at Dilworth Paxson LLP.

Christopher Casey is a partner in the Litigation, Corporate Investigations/White Collar, and Media Law Practice Groups. He represents companies, governmental entities and individuals in a broad range of counseling and litigation matters, involving such areas as antitrust, securities, contracts, property disputes, fraud, and political corruption.

These contracts were let out by the House Democratic Caucus with Dilworth Paxson, LLP. Contract Number HDC01021009 had a term of December 01, 2008 to January 16, 2009 not to exceed $100,000.00. Another contract, Number HDC02021009 was approved for Dilworth Paxson, LLP with a term from January 15, 2009 to March 02, 2009 not to exceed $50,000.00. Contract Number 4HDC05031009 termed from March 03, 2009 to June 30,2009 not to exceed $150,000.00 for Dilworth Paxson, LLP. There were two amendments to that contract. The first amendment, HDC02072209 went from July 01.2009 to December 31, 2009 not to exceed $150,000.00. The second amendment, HDC01121009, was for another $50,000 limit extending from December 03, 2009 to December 31, 2010.

Patrick Casey of Scranton is a partner is the legal firm Myeres, Brier, and Kelly. Attorney Casey represents Louis Pagnotti III. Questions on whether his client cooperated in the federal probe looking into corruption at the Luzerne County Courthouse were met with a "No Comment" according to this Legal Intelligencer article appearing on Law.com from June, 2009.

Pat Casey has served as lead counsel in federal jury trials involving charges of bank fraud; ERISA fraud; wire fraud; mail fraud; check fraud; credit card fraud; tax evasion; counterfeit; obstruction of justice; and other monetary crimes.

Myers, Brier, and Kelly were the recipients of contracts let out by the House Democratic Caucus of Pennsylvania as well. Contract number HDC02031909 had a term of December 01, 2008 to June 30, 2009 in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00. An amendment to the original contract extended the term from December 01, 2009 to December 31, 2010 in the same amount of $50,000.00.

It peaks the curiosity that the House Democratic Caucus in Harrisburg would hire a firm in Scranton. As previously reported the HDC also hired the firm of Sprague and Sprague from Philadelphia who represented Robert Powell in the Luzerne County Courthouse corruption probe. The total amount not to exceed in that contract was $100,000.00. It commenced on November 03, 2008 with no end date. The HDC was to inform the firm when it no longer needed its services.

Since all contracts are confidential as to the nature of the scope of work we can only surmise from the areas of practice of the lawyers hired as to the nature of the need for engagement.

On February 10, 2009 Eachus announced the appointment of Attorney Laura Kuller as his chief of staff at salary of $161,000 and Attorney Nora Winkelman as his chief counsel at a salary of $149,900 according to John Micek's March, 2009 column over at Capital Ideas . He must have this need to be surrounded by high priced attorneys.

Mr. Eachus should explain to the public as to the nature of these contracts. Of course he has yet to answer questions about Bonusgate so I wouldn't hold my breath he would be forthcoming anytime soon.

Sprague And Sprague Connection To Todd Eachus


Trial lawyer Richard Sprague, a member of the legal firm Sprague and Sprague, represented Robert Powell in the Kids For Cash scheme that is part of the Luzerne County corruption scandal. He was also represented by Mark Sheppard, formerly of Sprague and Sprague according to this article that appeard on Law.com from The Legal Intelligencer. The article dealt with the F.B.I. putting its sights on now former Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Toole.

When asked if Toole had taken a payoff from Powell, one of Powell's attorneys, Mark B. Sheppard, formerly of Sprague & Sprague and now a partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, said he could not comment.

Law.com features another story from The Legal Intelligencer dated February 13, 2009. It details a letter signed by Attorney Richard Sprague on behalf of Robert Powell in connection with the ongoing probe.

In a letter signed by Mark B. Sheppard of Sprague & Sprague in Philadelphia, Powell's lawyers said he had been unfairly portrayed in news reports on the corruption probe.

"First, it is grossly inaccurate to suggest that our client ever sought or had any influence in the sentencing of any juvenile offender. In fact, Bob Powell never offered to pay a single penny to these former judges. Instead, Bob Powell was a victim of their demands for payment," the letter says.

The letter goes on to say that, although Powell recognizes he made a mistake by not going to authorities, he remained silent about the judges' demands because they exerted pressure on Powell and his clients.

"The record will show that despite this, Powell not only refused the Judges' continued demands for additional payments, but ultimately reported the conduct to authorities," the letter says.

The letter, also signed by Richard A. Sprague and Geoffrey R. Johnson, says Powell is continuing to cooperate with authorities and is integral to the U.S. Attorney's prosecution of Ciavarella and Conahan.


What does all of this information have to do with Todd Eachus?

On February 3, 2010 Jennifer Lin of the Philadelphia Inquirer penned this article about lawyer Richard Sprague's testimony before two dozen legislators who grilled him, wanting to know just what his group - the Pennsylvania Casino Association - was up to.

The casino group sent big names into yesterday's hearing: Sprague, whose career as a prosecutor and defense lawyer dates to the 1950s, and PCA's adviser, Stephen A. Zappala - a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

During the joint hearing of the House Gaming Oversight Committee and the Senate Committee on Community, Economic and Recreational Development, Sprague conceded that last fall, in the heat of the debate over changing the state's gaming law to allow poker and other table games, his trade group sent three e-mails to all legislators in an effort to budge them on two points of contention: proposed tax rates for table games, and adding more licenses for so-called resort casinos.

He said that was lobbying - but not to a degree that would trip the 2007 law's rules for registering publicly.

The casino association also has drawn particular attention from lawmakers because of its staff. Sprague said he initially brought in Zappala, the former chief justice, as "chair of the association," while Michele Zappala Peck, his daughter, is its director of operations.

In addition, Lisa DeNaples, a principal and financial backer of the Mount Airy casino, is a director of PCA.

Sprague said Zappala brought stature to PCA. "The fact I have Chief Justice Zappala with me is what gives me a voice," he said.

Zappala said he did not lobby lawmakers.

Sprague said his own outreach to legislators was limited to personal visits in 2008 with eight senators and representatives, including House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D., Luzerne) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware).

"When I went to each of them," Sprague said, "my opening statement was 'I am here, and I don't want you to do a thing for me. . . . I'm here to introduce myself.' "

The purpose of his calls? To see "who does what and who's on which side.".


Treasury Secretary Jack McCord's website has a feature where the public can search state contracts called e-Contracts. There is a very interesting piece of information concerning Mr. Sprague's firm and Mr. Eachus.

On November 03, 2008 the House Democratic Caucus awarded Contract Number HDC01111008 not to exceed $100,000.00 in billing to Sprague and Sprague. There is no end date on the contract. The House Democratic Caucus will inform Sprague and Sprague when it no longer desires it services according to page 3 of the document.

Was it convenient that Attorney Sprague didn't mention this fact during his testimony or was it unknown to all those present that Mr. Eachus as well as all of the House Democratic Members of the House Gaming Oversight Committee were being or had been represented by Attorney Sprague's firm? I seriously doubt the second part is plausable.

The question that the media should be asking is whether the engagement of the Sprague firm by the House Democratic Caucus is any way connected to the Robert Powell investigation and are the taxpayers of the Commonwealth paying for Mr. Eachus's possible defense in Bonusgate or any other matter?

Maybe Mr. Eachus should explain to the public which side he is on?

The ending to the story concerning Attorney Sprague and the Pennsylvania Casino Association? Pennsylvania Casino Association Registers with State

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Allegations Of Corruption Against Toohil Unfounded


The Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee paid for and authorized the flyer pictured above. It headlines the word "Corruption" followed by Extreme Partisianship and Political Opportunism.

The PDSC tries to support its claim of corruption by stating "Tarah turned a blind eye to Luzerne County Corruption when she defended a man for embezzling thousands of dollars from the county prison." The PDSC cites Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Robert Mark Licata filed November 10, 2009 as its source.

Anyone following the Luzerne County Corruption scandal knows that the players were charged by the FBI and those federal charges were heard in the chambers of the U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik.

Times Leader reporter Edwin Lewis covered the story on Robert Licata on November 10, 2009. Mr. Licata surrendered with his attorney at Wilkes-Barre Central Court where he was arraigned on charges of theft and tampering with public records. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

According to arrest records, Licata made 17 duplicate copies of haircut inmate sign-in-sheets from Dec. 26, 2006 to Dec. 1, 2008, and submitted them for payment. Licata allegedly received $5,982 in the scheme, arrest records say.


This WNEP news report chronicles the investigation conducted by the Luzerne County District Attorney's office, not the F.B.I.

In addition the money Licata stole was not taken from Luzerne County funds. It was actually taken from the prisoners if the PDSC had bothered to do its homework.

Licata was sentenced to three months home confinement and had to payback the excess charges. He plead guilty before Luzerne County Judge Hugh Mundy according to this Citizen's Voice story by Michael Sisak published August 26, 2010.

Although Mr. Licata worked at the Luzerne County prison his arrest was not part of the F.B.I. probe into Luzerne County corruption. The F.B.I. has been probing corrupt actions by public officials in the performance of their office. Mr. Licata was not an elected official. He was a petty thief. His case was prosecuted by Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney William Dunn with detectives from that office as investigators.

This flyer points to very sloppy opposition research with an even sloppier verification of the information. The facts do not support the allegations.

Tomorrow SOP will post a story about the multitude of legal firms hired by the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus. Maybe they can explain to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania the need for all of these contracts.

Corbett's Bonusgate Investigation Didn't Help


The Pennsylvania Treasury site contains a link to e-Contracts where taxpayers/the public can search to see what contracts were let out by state agencies.

SOP performed a search of the House Democratic Caucus to determine what types of contracts it makes on behalf of the Democratic legislators belonging to this LEGISLATIVE body. Please don't confuse the House Democratic Caucus with the House Democratic Campaign Committee. The later is the political body used for election purposes.

The first interesting contract was made with StrongMail. From their website one can ascertain its type of business.

StrongMail enables businesses to reach, engage and influence their target audience. We can help you improve your email marketing campaign performance, boost deliverability and lower costs, while extending your reach to new audiences using social media.

Contract Number HDC02060809 is for an "Email Marketing Server" plus software and support. It goes from Friday, May 22, 2009 to Friday, May 21, 2010.

The next contract is with Listrak, Ltd to furnish email services to the House Democratic Caucus. What makes this contract interesting is that it was signed by Christine Zarek who's name appears multiple times during Grand Jury testimony in the Bonusgate investigation.

Contract Number HDC01052510 states "Whereas the Client desires to communicate on legislative issues with the residents of the Commonwealth". The amount of the contract is for $20,000.00. It's term is from Saturday, May 1, 2010 to Friday, December 31, 2010. Now anyone with half a brain knows that the term coincides with the election season. There is no good reason to terminate legislative issue notification to Commonwealth residents on December 31st except that election season is over.

Lables and Lists obtained a VOTER FILE AGREEMENT in 2008 for the purpose of providing an enhanced voter regsitration file to the PADITO. The contract amount was $9,600.00. NOTE: PADITO= Pennsylvania Democratic Informtaion Technologies Office.
This agreement is very clear it is for voter names, not constituent names.

Lables and Lists, Inc. goes on to receive a contract to provide statewide constituent data files to the House Democratic Caucus from Thurday, January 08, 2009 to Thursday, December 31 2009 in the amount of $49,500.00.

This contract seems to contradict the Code of Conduct posted by the House Democratic Caucus on its website about the prohibition of political activity by its members and staff. Keep in mind that many constituents are not registered voters.

According to the contract terms with Labels and ListsItem 4. Provision of Constituent Files it states a. Creation of Constituent Files Labels and Lists hereby agrees to create and supply to the PADITO two specially formatted and electronically processed copies of the Pennsylvania constituent file. The base data for these files will be obtained from publicly available lists of all Pennsylvania voters in each county of the state. These data will then be processed to create statewide data files of uniform format and will be enhanced to matches of national telephone databases and the U.S. Post Office's National Change of Address(NCOA) and Locatable Address Corrections System(LACS). The copies of the file will then be processed into a format specified by the PADITO. The final enhanced files shall be referred to as the "PADTIO Constituent Files".

It gets better. b. Delivery Dates Labels and Lists shall provide the PADITO with two PADITO Constituent Files during the year 2009. The date of delivery of the files will be the sole determination of the PADITO but no earlier than 30 days following notification of Labels and Lists of the requested dates. Item c covers Use and Ownership of PADITO Constituent File Data. Two elections per year, furnishing two files per year, really not that hard to figure out.

But then it gets to item d. Transfer of Raw County Data Files. Labels and Lists agrees to provide to the PADITO, at the latter's request and at no additional charge, copies of all the raw county or state voter files acquired and used by Labels and Lists as the basis for the creation of the PADITO Constituent Files.

Let's roll back to a previous post by SOP from December 30, 2009. It refers to emails at a different time about the "incumbent protection program" put together by Eachus et al found on CasablancaPA.com.

THE VEON PAPERS
EXHIBIT F
Attachment 11
Document and mails shoping John Paul Jones performing House Democratic Campaign Committee campaign work on state time using state resources in 2007 under Todd Eachus' supervision.

From: Jones, John Paul
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 11:28 AM

To: Manzo, Michael; Cott, Brett
Cc: Manzo, Rachel

Subject: Incumbent Protection Meetings.

GOALS;
1. TO FOCUS, COORDINATE, AND DIRECT CAUCUS RESOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCUMBENT PROTECTION.

2. TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF INCUMBENT PROTECTION FUNCTIONS BETWEEN CAUCUS STAFF/offices.

3. To notify key caucus staff and leadership of progress (or lack thereof) by individual incumbents with regards to incumbent protection.

4. To share information across offices in order to constantly improve incumbent protection activities.

Meeting Composition:
Chairs- Rep. Eachus,
Mike Manzo,
Brett Cott

Leader's office- Paul Parsells
LCO- Chris Zarek
LRO- Jen Brubaker
OMS- Eric Webb

Approp.- Miriam Fox

ODA- Scott Casper

Policy Com-Rachel Manzo

Secretary-Mike Risch

Comm.-Barb Grill & Bill Patton

HDCC- Dan W. & Jess W.

F/R- Erin Madison

Misc. Staff- Jon Price, Bob Caton


Seems like things haven't really changed in the House Democratic Caucus political activity using taxpayer funds. If they were truly interested in Constituent Data files all they had to do was purchase public mailing addresses. This contract includes the identification of cell phone numbers, county and state voter files.

It should be noted that Lables and Lists received a new contract, Number 100129002, for $48,750.00 which ends January, 2011 by the entire House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, for email addresses in file format.

Disclaimer: This post implies no misconduct on the part of Strongmail, Listrak, Ltd. nor Labels and Lists, Inc.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Eachus Challenges Toohil On Character??


From the bully pulpit comes gutter politics Todd Eachus style. His attempt through the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee to define Tarah Toohil is clearly an attempt to assasinate Tarah Toohil's reputation. It is right out of the Veon/DeWeese playbook where hardball politics is its own ideology. It takes class to act competitively but it takes no class to attack in a ruthless manner. His political syndrome tries to hide behind a public veneer of idealistic concern where he hopes to accomplish shock and awe before the election and the truth surfaces.

In this book by Lloyd Etheredge "Hardball Politics A Model" he suggests that it is a subculture of the domestic and international political culture, a subculture constructed and sustained by a particular personality type, men with what is clinically known as narcissitic personality disorder. The book describes persons with this disorder as having a "grandiose self." Enter Mr. Eachus.

This flyer mailed into 116th district homes calls Tarah Toohil a "political opportunist". Todd Eachus and the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee must have very short memories.

The year was 1995 when Tom Stish, a Democratic State Representative, decided to switch parties and become a Republican.



Now convicted felon Michael Veon and Bonusgate defendant Bill DeWeese persuaded a young Democrat in 1995 named Todd Eachus who was born in Harrisburg, moved to Wilkes Barre in 1964, graduated from Coughlin High School in 1980, graduated from Pitzer College, Claremont, California, in 1984 with a political science degree, began his public service career in 1985 on the staff of Congressman Frank J. Guarini(somewhere along the line he mentions that he also worked for Congressman Paul Kanjorski), until opening his own small business in 1990 as President and Owner of Portable Space in Exeter which he owned until 1996 to run against Tom Stish.

Eachus was not from the area but, as a typical carpetbagger, moved into the area to run for Stish's seat. Eachus should talk about being a political opportunist.

The flyer attacks Tarah Toohil for switching to Republican from Democrat. It makes the erroneous assertion that she was "talked into running" by citing her press conference announcing her run for Eachus's office on 02/09/2010.

This article that appeared in the Citizen's Voice on January 13, 2010 Ms. Toohil confirmed her intentions to run against Eachus as a Democrat.

"I've been approached by some members of the Democratic Party in the Hazleton Area and have received a lot of encouragement," said Tarah Toohil, an attorney with a Kingston law firm.

The 30-year-old political newcomer she said she wants to make a difference in the area and has some specific goals.

"I would be someone who is accountable, hard-working and take my job very seriously if I decide to run for state representative in the 116th Legislative District," Toohil said.

She is a Hazleton Area graduate, who received her Juris Doctorate from Penn State University and the Dickinson School of Law. Toohil also has a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology from Northeastern University.


But then something happened.

In this follow-up article on February 9. 2010 Andrew Seder reports Until Jan. 25, Toohil was a registered Democrat but switched parties. She declined to go into detail but said she was dissuaded by some party members she would not name.

The party bosses wouldn't support her in her bid against Eachus. One of those persons was Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla. Toohil was so committed to cleaning up Harrisburg she decided to register as a Republican after being turned away by Democrats.

Tarah Toohil was quite clear why she decided to go after Eachus. Read her announcement in the Times Leader dated February 8, 2010. “When you look around our community, you see the hard times that people are facing. You also see the lack of leadership and support coming from Harrisburg. It is time to stand up and say we deserve better,” Toohil said.

Eachus is feeling the pressure according to party insiders. His latest diatribe about Tarah Toohil's character at a Democratic meeting went over like a lead balloon. He walked away publicly displaying his acts of desperation.

There will be another post on Tarah Toohil's values. It is an area that Eachus has made one of the biggest political mistakes of his career. He probably skipped the political science course on character assasination. Rarely do you ever cross the line and attack a person's profession to ruin their public image and perception by the public. Misquoting the article to make people believe she was talked into running when she announced as a Democrat that she was going to run shows amateurs at the helm of the attack. Attacking a trial lawyer who specializes in juvenile cases is another amateur mistake in trying to convince people Tarah does not care about children. In the next post more points about Tarah Toohil's excellent reputation as a person will demonstrate how bullies like Eachus are part of the distant past political system. It's time to end the stinkin thinkin and replace Harrisburg with forward thinking.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Kanjorski Flip Flops On Town Hall Meetings


Back on July 2, 2010 Paul Kanjorski appeared on the Webster and Nancy show featured on WILK news radio. According to "Hot Air" he made these comments when asked about town hall meetings with Lou Barletta's response.

Last week the 13-term Democrat from Nanticoke was criticized and attacked for his statements about minorities and “defective” people. On Thursday, while appearing as a guest on WILK Radio’s “Webster and Nancy Show,” Kanjorski was asked if he was going to hold any public town hall meetings with his constituents.

“We will do everything we can to meet with people, but I’m not going to set myself up for, you know, nuts to hit me with a camera.”

He said often times “people can’t resist changing what you said or taking things out of context.” He said these “snippets” lead to “distortions.”

“I’m not going to arm my opponent with a baseball bat,” Kanjorski said later in the interview.

Kanjorski’s Republican opponent, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, leveled criticism against the congressman.

“Paul Kanjorski has been in Congress for 26 years and his response to our region’s 10 percent unemployment rate is to call his constituents ‘nuts’ and to attack the city of Hazleton,” Barletta said. “Do these so-called ‘nuts’ who attend town meetings fall into Kanjorski’s ‘defective people’ category?”

The voters have every right to expect Kanjorski to meet with them in their district to hold him accountable for his job performance. Whether that means “nuts” who want to take down his responses or just voters who are sick of the big-spending agenda Kanjorski supports, those constituents deserve Kanjorski’s time. If he feels above accountability, then he should find another line of work, preferably with those who share his unique perspective on “defectives” and “minorities.”


Kanjorski had no problem attending a town hall meeting sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority held at the Woodlands on July 8, 2010, just six days after the exchange on Webster and Nancy. I guess the prospect of a free meal was too enticing for Kanjorski to pass it up.

Rockin Traddy chided Kanjorski for his "Telephone Town Hall Meetings" back in August, 2009.

It seems that Paul Kanjorski is afraid of having a real town hall meeting with his constituents.

They are planning a "telephone town hall meeting" tomorrow evening at 7pm. You have to call his office to get on the list and they will call you prior to the meeting. You will then be connected in a conference call with him. Call his office and and plan to holler at Kanjorski with the Traddy.

What a wuss.


Barletta attacked Kanjorski in August over these taxpayer funded tele-town hall meetings and the carefully veiled mailers from his Congressional office.

In today's Times Leader Ed Mitchell, Kanjorski's media spokesman, tries to spin this issue claiming Kanjorski has held several town hall meetings during the current election cycle and all were open to the public.

The Times Leader e-mail archives indicate the paper received five of the six “media advisories” sent from Kanjorski’s Washington, D.C., office. Only one of the five advisories mentioned the term “town hall meeting” – the one held at the Downtown Scranton Senior Center.

None of the advisories mentions that the general public was invited. Each has a specific topic to be discussed by Kanjorski. The topics for the Sept. 1, 2 and 8 appearances were Social Security and health care reform law. On Sept. 7 and a second Sept. 8 appearance, the topic was the Wall Street reform law.

Shawn Kelly, spokesman for Barletta, said the meetings held by Kanjorski are not actual town hall meetings.

“It’s bogus,” Kelly said. “Kanjorski cannot go back in time and say that he held town hall meetings when he clearly did not. No matter what Kanjorski claims they are, these were not town hall meetings.”

In June, Kanjorski, 73, D-Nanticoke, announced he would forego the face-to-face town hall meetings for telephone town halls. Other congressmen across the state, mainly Democrats, also announced they wouldn’t be holding the traditional town hall gatherings in their districts or hadn’t decided if they would.

Kanjorski explained his decision by saying he has found that telephone town meetings can be especially effective because he can interact with as many as 8,000 Northeastern Pennsylvanians on a single phone call. On Wednesday of this week, however, Mitchell said Kanjorski had held six town hall meetings since Sept. 1.

“He changed his mind,” Mitchell said.

That came after Barletta’s announcement on Tuesday that he would hold five town hall meetings – one in each of the five counties that comprise the 11th District.

Commenting on the debate, Chris Borick, Ph.D., political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, said the term town hall meeting is not clearly defined. He said there is no set rule in Congress that defines what a town hall meeting is.

“It’s basically a matter of semantics. You can call a meeting with anybody a town hall meeting, but if the argument is that (Kanjorski) is not meeting with citizens in a well-advertised, open forum, then these don’t appear to qualify.”

Borick said Kanjorski has had meetings with certain elements of his constituency regarding predetermined, specific topics.

“As we’ve come to know town hall meetings in the last two election cycles, these don’t seem to fit the standard definition of what constitutes a town hall meeting,” he said.


Kanjorski's incumbency gives him the power to waste taxpayer money so he can reach his constituents voters surreptitiously.

At this link in the Times Leader article you can read Kanjorski's invitations. Read them. "Congressman Kanjorski...will discuss his efforts... For the past two years Kanjorski has been working on this legislation..." It appears to be the definition of soft campaigning at taxpayer expense.

This article from Queens Crap spells it out correctly.

“This is a persistent problem that the incumbent newsletters that go out ... are all about promoting the individual [and] much less about constituent service,” the literature is more about self-aggrandizement and evoking “warm and fuzzy feelings” than providing constituent service.

Whether it is mailers or carefully orchestrated meetings it is really about getting re-elected, not the taxpayer. In the old days if an elected official wanted to talk to the taxpayer the solon went to meet with Joe, not the other way around.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Todd Eachus's Attempt To Escape Voter Backlash



Back in 2005 a legislative "midnight" payraise bill passed the House of Representatives and was signed into law. To be accurate the bill passed at 2A.M. The Post-Gazette penned this article on the bonus scandal timeline that includes the pay raise debacle.

July 7, 2005
State lawmakers approve hefty raises for themselves, sparking voter outrage and turning the next election cycle into one of the most contentious in Pennsylvania history.
"General Assembly votes itself a 16 percent minimum pay raise"

Nov. 5, 2005
Lawmakers buckle to public pressure and repeal the pay-raise bill. Democratic Whip Michael Veon, D-Beaver Falls, stands alone as the only lawmaker to vote against the repeal.
"Repeal of pay raises passes quickly, 50-0, as leaders ask for forgiveness"


DemocracyRising reported on this article from RockTheCapital.org on July 10, 2010 titled "60 Current and Former Legislators Continue to Profit for Stealing Taxpayer Dollars and Refuse to Pay the Money Back"

Initially, 131 House members and 27 Senators signed up for “unvouchered expenses.” Payments were received between July 7 and November 16, 2005, ranging from $1,288 to $14,553.32 (before taxes). The repealed pay raises would have boosted lawmakers’ salaries from 16 to 54 percent, depending on seniority, rank, title and leadership.

House Democratic members who took “unvouchered expenses” and did not pay the money back or “donated” the “unconstitutional” income to charities have been rewarded with leadership positions, job promotions, or committee chairmanships and assignments to the Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform.

Democratic Payjackers in House Leadership (5):
• Keith McCall (D-Carbon), Speaker.
Todd Eachus (Luzerne), Majority Leader.

According to the Majority Leader, Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne), "The payraise thing, I think, is finally behind us. I think we're on to other issues now."(Patriot News, February 17, 2008).


Eachus believes he is going to "escape" this issue. That ain't gonna happen.

Remember the budget impasse in Harrisburg last year. CnnMoney.com reported on how that failure of leadership hurt Pennsylvanians. Here' what Todd Eachus had to say about the impasse as reported in the News Item while racking up his per diems during that time.

Eachus said it was his responsibility as a leader to engage in the negotiations with Gov. Ed Rendell and Senate leaders and work out the compromises needed to pass the budget. While it took a long time to resolve, Eachus said the final budget came together in the way he hoped by maintaining health care for children, distributing additional money for education and providing enough recurring revenues so Pennsylvania doesn't have to reopen its budget like some states are doing this fall.

"We ought to be able to get through the next two years without a revenue increase," he said.

Eachus pointed out that lawmakers - unlike the governor - don't have a taxpayer-funded residence to stay in when they are in Harrisburg.
That is the most disingenous statement to the citizens of the Commonwealth as they come. What do you call this Mr. Eachus?


He will try to escape the issue of owning this home in Harrisburg while still collecting per diems. That ain't gonna happen.

When Todd Eachus ran for office in 1996 he was proud that then "State Representative Michael Veon and Democratic Majority Leader William DeWeese were prime sponsors" of a fund raising event scheduled for him on April 4, 1996. In the same publication he stated that "While voters are attentive to the political process, we are determined to build positive name recognition. Today Michael Veon is in prison and DeWeese faces trial on charges stemming from the Bonusgate investigation.

On June 30, 2007 Gort reported on his blog that Todd Eachus was trying to secure funding for Robert Powell's company in its quest to open a cargo airport outside of Hazleton. Powell donated over $17,000 to Eachus's campaign over the years. In an apparent pay to play scheme Eachus returned the favor.



Supporters of a proposed cargo airport in the Hazleton area are eyeing slots revenues to help pay for the $500 million project. State Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township, inserted a $16.5 million authorization for the cargo airport in a new House bill listing projects under the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund. Robert Powell plead guilty for his role in the FBI's Luzerne County corruption probe that has snared 30 officials to date.

He will try to escape the corruption that swirls around those he surrounds himself with. That ain't gonna happen.

Standard Speaker reporter Bob Salitza reported on Todd Eachus's announcement that he was running for state representative in the 116th Legislative District on December 7, 1995. Below is a snapshot of that article. Eachus is quoted in the article.


"Now is the time for fundamental change in Harrisburg,." he declared. "We must put an end to midnight votes on pay raises for legislators. We have been taxed and WAM'ed(WAM is "walking around money" that state lawmakers does out as they see fit) until we can't take it anymore."

Todd Eachus not only voted for a midnight pay raise, he failed to return it to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

Maybe it is time we can't take Todd Eachus anymore. He shouldn't escape losing this election. Obviously he is part of the culture that Dan Onorato says pervades Harrisburg.

Kanjorski Fundraiser $5000 Per Sponsor- Excessive Culture


At Politicalpartytime.or, "Documenting The Political Party Circuit" the political fundraising invitation for Paul Kanjorski appears on its website. It clearly demonstrates the high price of "Pay To Play" politics representing the hallmark of Kanjorski campaigns who is in a position to influence legislation for the financial services industry.

According to Linkedin.com Jen Ustynoski is a finance assistant at Bonner Group Inc. and an associate at Orion Group Inc. where it states that the Orion Group is part of the "financial services industry".

This article from the Sunlight Foundation sums up the problem with this type of fundraising.

One year after the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression, Congress is still debating new financial regulations to protect consumers and prevent risk-taking in the financial sector. The House Committee on Financial Services is currently undertaking the important first step of writing, amending and voting on some of the pieces of the long-proposed financial regulatory reform.

Twenty-seven committee members have so far received over one-quarter of their contributions from the finance, insurance and real estate (FIRE) sector.

Pennsylvania Rep. Paul Kanjorski is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises and is tasked with crafting many of the initial bills for the proposed financial regulatory reform. While undertaking this important work Kanjorski has had enough time to raise large sums for his reelection. Of the $397,215 that Kanjorski has raised in 2009, 54% of it comes from the FIRE sector. For his career, Kanjorski received 44% of his contributions from the FIRE sector. Of all Financial Services Committee members, only Kanjorski and Bachus receive over 40% of their career campaign contributions from the FIRE sector.

Kanjorski has stated that he will be watchful of the influence the finance and insurance companies hold in the committee, “”We must ensure that special interests do not weaken particular solutions to the point of becoming toothless.” Earlier this year, however, Kanjorski held a fundraiser that was thrown by lobbyists for financial services organizations. Kanjorski refused to release a list of attendees to the fundraiser.


The Huffington Post wrote an article about Kanjorski's refusal to release the list.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, raised $164,500 from finance, insurance, and real estate interests during the second quarter of 2009, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by the nonpartisan Public Campaign Action Fund.

"Anytime you take $164,000 from just one sector of the economy," PCAF Campaigns Director David Donnelly told the Huffington Post, "clearly those that are giving to him hope he helps him out."

In an effort to see Kanjorski shake the money tree in real time, the Huffington Post visited a fundraiser Wednesday night at a home in Northwest Washington. Upon setting foot in the house, the Huffington Post was immediately asked to leave.

Price of admission to Kanjorski's dinner party was a $1,000 campaign contribution for individual guests, $2,500 for political action committee reps, and $5,000 for "co-hosts." The Sunlight Foundation posted an invitation to the event on its website, www.politicalpartytime.org. The house belonged to big-time lobbyist Tony Podesta, who co-hosted the event with wife Heather Podesta and Gwen Mellor, whose clients include the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the National Installment Lenders Association.

There's no telling who attended Wednesday's fundraiser. Event organizers and Kanjorski's office declined to provide details about the guest list for the run-of-the-mill event, and arriving guests politely declined to speak with a reporter.


The Huffington Post reported on the Podesta's in this article.

Tony and Heather Podesta basked in the praise when they donated the iconic, five-foot tall "Hope" portrait of Barack Obama to the National Portrait Gallery just before Inauguration Day. But to those who hoped Obama would reduce the influence of lobbyists in Washington, there was also something uniquely depressing about the gift -- because the Podestas are exactly the sort of K Street powerbrokers candidate Obama railed against.

And while Obama's presidency so far has in many ways failed to live up to his campaign poster, it's been a cash cow for the Podestas, who have been able to leverage their insider status into a slew of new high-paying clients. The husband-and-wife lobbyist couple have become icons themselves -- of the lobbying industry's imperviousness to Obama's change agenda.


Whether you call it "Pay To Play" or "Pay For Play" it doesn't pass the smell test.

Monday, September 20, 2010

How Much Is Too Much For A Legitimate Fundraiser?



This email was sent out to invite persons to a $5,000 per
Sponsor fundraiser for Todd Eachus. Forget the average Joe, how many small businesses could legitimately afford a ticket to this event? Fundraisers like this only fuel the distrust of the voters against legislators who lost their way in upholding that trust. If you are the average Joe this event will only set you back $1,000.00.

This fundraiser is not about the 116th district which Todd represents. SOP feeels people or organizations who pay this amount of money for a state representative fundraiser fall must be looking for a place in the front of the line for access to that legislator. Too bad for the average citizen.

Dan Onorato is campaigning on reform within the Pennsylvania Legislature. "Cut the size and cost of the Legislature, stop them from being able to raise their own pay, and term limits."

Fundraisers such as this one are designed to help the incumbent fight against such ideas and ultimately to work against the public interest. Tarah Toohil should campaign to the voters of the 116th and tell them she is not for sale.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Kanjorski Is Out Of Touch


In today's Standard Speaker Paul Kanjorski wants to remind Americans that the Democrats should be proud of what they accomplished.

"First, and foremost, when I say Democrats, stand up tall, be proud. My God, the Democratic Party did everything that was good for this country and good for the working individuals of this country, and good for the middle class of this country. We have nothing to apologize for."

"You know why I'm charged up?" Kanjorski said in an interview later. "Because I think it is one of the most definitive elections in our lifetime. And that's why I'm in it. Because I think we can't afford to make the mistake of going in the wrong direction. And all of these people who are talking about going in another direction, they're (like) pre-Franklin Roosevelt people."


Evidently this chart is what he means.


"They want to go back to when Wall Street billionaires or millionaires controlled this country and their kids could just slosh around, didn't have to work, didn't have to produce and they were guaranteed their membership at the country club and their membership at the yacht club," Kanjorski said. "I don't believe in that. I believe in a merit society.

Paul, are you talking about the firms that gave you $4 million in political contributions? Paul, are you talking about the people who had American working?


This statement by Kanjorski is going to resonate over the next few days.

"The fight's not about the damn mosque in New York," he tells the Democrats at Waldorf Park. "All of us are annoyed at the fact that ... they want to build that mosque, but it's not going to have an effect on our lives.

Kanjo, you tell that to these people.


I feel sorry for you. When you are used to this it is hard to remember the sacrifices I guess.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Kanjorski Ignores Bloomsburg Univeresity Students

Apparently Charlie Rangel wasn't invited to the event so Kanjorski decided to stay away. J/K. Bloomutoday.com is reporting that the congressman that claims to represent Bloombsburg University students blew off Constitution Day, "an opportunity for students to become more knowledgeable about their rights and opportunities as American citizens.”

After making demands of Bloomsburg University officials to allow him to speak at Thursday’s Constitution Day event, Congressman Paul Kanjorski didn’t even bother to show up. Kanjorski’s staff was not present, and there were not even surrogates speaking on his behalf.

Mayor of Hazleton and Congressional candidate Lou Barletta accepted and attended his alma mater’s invitation to speak. Mayor Barletta fielded questions from students on topics ranging from constitutional issues to the current economic crisis.

“A majority of questions I received were related to concerns about the job market and how to stop Washington’s out-of-control spending. The first stimulus package and now Obama’s proposed second stimulus package have everyone scared. Americans are worried about putting food on the table and paying their mortgage. Washington’s reckless spending is adding to an already difficult situation,” Mayor Barletta said.

Mayor Barletta expressed his gratitude to the students and faculty of Bloomsburg University for being allowed to participate in this very important event. “It’s always an honor to be invited to speak at Bloomsburg. I have such great memories from here while I was a student.”

It's Time For Eachus To Answer To His Constituents

In today's Standard Speaker the following Letter To The Editor appeared from Tiffany Cloud, local resident and an Eachus constituent.

Eachus should answer Toohil's questions
Published: September 18, 2010

Editor,

Candidate Tarah Toohil provided State Rep. Todd Eachus a deadline of 5 p.m. Sept. 9 to answer a series of questions related to Bonusgate and various investigations of misuse of legislative time and funding, as was reported in this newspaper.

A week has passed and Eachus has yet to answer those questions, and I feel it is his obligation to do so and, as his constituents, our absolute right to know. And all in the community should keep demanding Eachus respond to every single question until all they are answered to our satisfaction. This is not an election about him. It is an election about us, the people and we have rights to know the ethics and practices of those in office.

Apparently, not answering is a trend with Mr. Eachus. Ms. Toohil also sent him a certified mail request for a debate in early August and, an entire month later, no response.

So, why so mum? Why can't he answer the Bonusgate questions? And why is he so afraid to debate?

Granted, perhaps he's too busy paying off the mortgage of his Harrisburg home with per diems he took ($27K last year alone, in fact...on top of his salary) to answer questions and debate?

Or maybe he is too busy campaigning at events that are legislative events (such as his campaigning at the Senior Expo at the mall - he took an interview on Channel 13 at that event to discuss his opponent and the campaign.

But, as the man apparently keeps his campaign team working out of the same space as his legislative team in Hazleton, I suppose the concept of "separation" of legislation and campaigning has never quite registered with our state representative?

Answer Ms. Toohil's questions. Agree to a debate so your positions vs. Ms. Toohil's can be heard by all.

I'm really not asking for much. Just what I'd expect of any representative.

Tiffany Cloud,

Conyngham


Eachus had no problem self promoting on the parking decks for Hazleton's Intermodal Center. He should have told the public that project won on its own merits, not any influence from a legislator.

I truly believe that Mr. Eachus actually believes what he says. It's just that the rest of us don't trust him anymore.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Kanjorski And Carney "Dumped" By DCCC



DCCC scales back NEPA ad buys

Democrats are slightly pulling back the TV help they’ll be giving to Congressmen Chris Carney (D-10) and Paul Kanjorski (D-11).

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has made some changes to its airtime reservations in northeast Pennsylvania, cutting off half-a-week’s worth of its planned TV buys in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre media market.

The move came as speculation builds among political insiders that Democrats are preparing to cut Kanjorski loose as part of their so-called triage plans to preserve a majority in Congress. When the DCCC recently posted a fundraising list of candidates in its Frontline Program for defending incumbents, Kanjorski’s name was nowhere to be found (Carney was on the list).


In June, 2010 it was reported that Kanjorski failed to pay his $250,000 in dues to the DCCC.

I guess the DCCC has a rule. No pay, No play.

Home Foreclsoures Five Year High



Pennsylvania home foreclosure filings, bank seizures hit five-year highs

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The number of Pennsylvania homeowners falling behind on mortgage payments and the number of homes seized by banks hit five-year highs in August.

New figures out Thursday from foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. showed 6,500 Pennsylvania homes received at least one foreclosure filing in August, while banks repossessed 2,300 properties.



President Barack Obama:

“In just 20 months, this movement has accomplished a tremendous amount,” Obama wrote in an e-mail. “But we couldn’t have done it without the Democrats in Congress who were willing to take a stand and fight for policies that would move America forward.

“And with so much still left to be done, and too many families struggling to get by, we need to keep America moving forward -- which means I need you to support Paul Kanjorski for Congress.


Kanjorski, Pelosi, and Obama own this mess. It is time to clean it up and send them clean out of Washington

Commentary In The Times Leader- Stephen M. Alinikoff

Election will offer clear philosophical choices for U.S. COMMENTARY Stephen M. Alinikoff

I CONSIDER myself an average citizen, lucky enough to be born in a country that has bestowed bountiful gifts to my family and to me. I have lived my entire life in the Wyoming Valley and was born in the waning days of World War II. The country has changed dramatically since then and I must say in most respects not for the better. I honestly feel that we will not be leaving our children a country in which their generation will be better off and better equipped to surpass the achievements of previous generations.

If I were not so angry with what is happening with my beloved country I would have merely passed over an article in The Times Leader, which reported a meeting that Congressman Paul Kanjorski hosted at the East Mountain Inn on Sept. 8.

What Kanjorski was reported to have said is emblematic of one of, if not the major problems facing this nation: a dysfunctional Congress totally out of touch with the desires, needs and history of this country.

Kanjorski related his defense of the bailout packages over the last two years: “Those days will be remembered as the most instrumental moments of the 21st century.” Kanjorski, Nancy Pelosi, Charley Rangel and Maxine Walters were the ones standing between us and the total financial collapse of the United States. Yes, he honestly believes that and expects us to believe it.

The congressman went on to say: “If you recall gun sales were way up, America was weaponed up, that’s what the times were like two years ago.” He then said something that has yet to be followed up by our local or national media. He told the group “8,000 troops stood at the ready” in North Carolina to come to Washington to guard the White House and the Capitol.

I certainly was not aware we were so close to an armed insurrection. My question is: from whom?

It really is hard to believe, if nothing else Congressman Kanjorski is at the top of his game when it comes to political hyperbole on the campaign trail. History and its facts do not lie. The facts are that over the last 77 years, we have seen an undeniable march of one-party rule and that party’s philosophy being legislated into statutory policy.

It is the undeniable philosophy of central government growth at the expense of federalism and individual rights.

It is an undeniable fact that we are on the verge of a national bankruptcy, which, if continued, will have consequences for our national security and ability to remain the world’s preeminent power.

It is an undeniable fact that all legislation concerning matters of revenue, taxes, spending and finance must constitutionally originate in the House of Representatives.

From 1933, (the 73rd Congress) to the present (the 111th Congress) there have been 38 sessions of Congress. Thirty-one of the sessions – 81 percent – have been controlled by the Democratic Party. In the most recent 26 sessions the percentage in Democratic control has been 85 percent – even higher.

Kanjorski, one of the most senior Democrats, has served since 1985. He has worked to bring us public projects such as: an inflatable dam; some sort of shooting range/training facility to be placed somewhere. He also was successful in steering over 5 million in taxpayer funds to a failed business owned by family members. As one of the most senior members, he was one of the leaders in bringing us “Obamacare,” which will create the single largest bureaucracy by any Congress in our history.

In his meeting at the East Mountain Inn, he also heralded his role in passing Wall Street reform although he didn’t mention that the two main culprits – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – were left noticeably untouched in this new legislation. Those agencies have been used by Congress for years as a repository for political jobs and bad loans.

After reading the article, I do not for one moment doubt that Congressman Kanjorski believes in what he said and has done and is proud of where he has taken us. He is not only one of the leaders of the present majority in Congress, but also one of its most outspoken defenders.

So, our choice seems clear. If you are satisfied with the politics of Kanjorski, Pelosi, Walters and Rangel, and where they are taking us, your choice is easy.

However if you feel anger about the half truths, the lack of integrity, the self serving attitude and arrogance as well as the downright incompetence of our elected representatives, the choice is also yours.



Stephen Alinikoff lives in Kingston. He is a managing principal in a local insurance and investment firm.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Obama Supports Kanjorski- There Go Our Jobs



Unemployment Locally By Gary Visgaitis, Times Leader

The Times Leader is reporting that Barack Obama is urging voters to support Paul Kanjorski in the 11th district.

“In just 20 months, this movement has accomplished a tremendous amount,” Obama wrote in an e-mail. “But we couldn’t have done it without the Democrats in Congress who were willing to take a stand and fight for policies that would move America forward.

Gort put up a post containing Kanjorski's press release about the Obama support.

Let's explore how Obama and Kanjorski moved America forward but first let's take a look back. Here are some unemployment charts that distinguish the pre-Barack Obama presidencies from his own. Everyone complains about George Bush. This chart shows what happened to unemployment during his last term.


Let's take a look at the impact when Republican majorities and Democratic majorities have control.


Now let's look at a graph that depicts what happened to unemployment when Barack Obama tried to fool the American public that "We are beginning to turn the corner, the worst is over".


Obama and Kanjorski said they were going to fix America. How did they do?

Monday, September 13, 2010

Kanjorski To Announce Energy Institute Formation Today



Later today Paul Kanjorski is expected to announce ANOTHER 1,000 jobs coming to our area via an Energy Institute he proposed earlier in the year. In this Citizen's Voice article by Michael Sisak Kanjorski shared the details of his plan on April 10, 2010.

Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, envisions a public-private partnership between the federal government and regional colleges and universities which would support a "smart growth" approach to the gas drilling and infuse the region with more than 1,000 jobs. The institute would initially be funded through a five-year allocation of federal energy funds, he said.

Pay carefull attention to the ultimate players in this Energy Institute. Its more of our "Free Money".
"I have had the desire to have something that really manages the development, the smart development, of an energy field such as ours," Kanjorski said Friday.

Without planned development, the drilling of the Marcellus Shale could develop haphazardly, with rival gas companies crisscrossing the four-state shale footprint with independent pipelines, roads and waterways.

"At the state level, everyone's walking around saying, 'well, the state government is the only one with jurisdiction,' and the state government isn't doing very much about it," Kanjorski said. "At the federal level, we're looking at this."


Did I just read that Paul Kanjorski was telling Todd Eachus he is not doing his job?

Wilkes and the 12 other colleges and universities within Kanjorski's Congressional district could partner to shape the institute's long-term research, policy development and impact on the Marcellus Shale.

Jack Chielli, a spokesman for Wilkes University, confirmed the school's involvement in the proposed institute, but said, "it is a bit premature to be able to be commenting on this in any substantive way, because it's in the development stage.

Just as Joe Sestak lied about using non-profits to hide earmarks in his latest scandal it appears Kanjorski is following the same path. Earlier this year he hid an earmark for Schott Glass through the University of Scranton.

As this article points out some for profit companies are forming non-profit entities so they can circumvent the congressional ban on earmarks. Kanjorski appears to use a little different twist with Schott Glass and announced a "partnership" between the non-profit and the for-profit Schott Glass to skirt the rules. After all it was Paul Kanjorski who said "we have our own rules and we allocate this money."

If Paul Kanjorski is bringing all these jobs to Northeastern Pennsylvania why is our jobless rate at an all time high, why did our foreclosure rate jump 74%, and why are our home sales the lowest in 15 years?

Paul, we are patiently waiting for your answer.

Update: Like I said. Fiber optics, high speed rail, moving sidewalks, embassy training center, Wall Street West, Cornerstone Technologies..blah, blah, blah, blah. The catch-all phrase. The institute could continue receiving $1 million in DOE funding for the next few years, based on performance, need, and on the annual federal budget If it such a great idea Paul with the utomost significance to the area why is it that funding is guaranteed only for this year? Hmmmm...race..behind..yep that outta do it.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

How Does The Media Let Eachus Spokesman Get Away With His Comments



Back in 2009 Eachus Spokesman Brett Marcy made this statement to the press about Todd Eachus and Bonusgate.

HDC spokesman Brett Marcy said Eachus was not among the legislators who testified before the grand jury, nor was he interviewed by any law enforcement officials regarding the Bonusgate case.

In the very same article Todd Eachus had this to say.

Eachus wanted to make it clear that the subpoenas were not served by the attorney general or any law enforcement agency, but by the defense. He said he and current HDC staff have “cooperated fully” with the attorney general’s investigation.

On Decembere 4, 2009 Dennis B. Roddy and Tom Barnes of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote this article, House leadership invited to testify to grand jury.

HARRISBURG -- A statewide grand jury has invited the state House majority leader, the man he displaced in that job and the state secretary of revenue to appear before the panel, a move that has presaged charges against others who received such letters in an ongoing corruption probe.

The letters went to State Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, the House majority leader; State Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Greene, who served as majority leader until Mr. Eachus succeeded him in a caucus shakeup; and Revenue Secretary Stephen Stetler, a former eight-term Democratic House member from York.


Eachus never testified. So let's get this straight. Eachus makes the claim he fully cooperated but his spokesman says Eachus was not among the legislators who testified before the grand jury, nor was he interviewed by any law enforcement officials regarding the Bonusgate case.

The deception doesn't stop there. Statements are being made about Michael Manzo, admitted participant in the Bonusgate proceedings.

In February, 2010 Fox News 43 out of York ran this story.

HARRISBURG - The former chief of staff to the House Democratic floor leader testified Monday that none of the people who were given bonuses out of state funds for working on campaigns ever turned down or returned the money.

Mike Manzo spent a fifth day on the stand in the theft, conspiracy and conflict-of-interest trial of former Democratic Whip Mike Veon and three of his ex-aides.

Manzo also told the jury he never asked any of the caucus lawyers directly about the legality of handing out cash rewards from the state treasury for election efforts.

"I knew what the answer would be," said Manzo, who previously testified that he knew what he was doing was wrong.

There were months when 90 percent of his e-mails concerned campaigns, Manzo said.

He said he has run his own public relations and communications company, Hurzo LLC, for about a year.

"I still design strategies for folks who work in the House," Manzo said.

Brett Marcy, a spokesman for current House Democratic Leader Todd Eachus, said Manzo has not been doing work for the caucus and is not being paid by the caucus.


That isn't what Michael Manzo said Mr. Marcy. He said he worked for folks who work in the House. However, Michael Manzo was former chief of staff for the House Democratic Caucus.

So we have a spokesman who states Eachus was never approached by law enforcement but Eachus stating he fully cooperated. We have a former chief of staff testifying about his role in Bonusgate but a spokesman stating he doesn't work for the Caucus now.

Keep the count. Brett Marcy is the spokesman for Eachus as Majority Leader. David Georges is his campaign spokesman. In this article we have a new spokesman for the House Majority Leader, Bill Thomas.

Three people need to tell us what Todd Eachus has to say. But the one person, Attorney General Tom Corbett, who asked Eachus to speak for himself was met with silence.

Wall Street West-Kanjorski Brainchild Died And Slips Into Obscurity


There was much excitement when Paul Kanjorski announced he was going to "potentially" bring 1,000 jobs to our area via bombing reclaimed mine- scared land. Instead of mines scarring the land it would now be almost 500 detonations per year. People quickly realized that it is election time and just like the FBI playbook cited by Hans Gruber in the movie "Diehard" Mitchell and Kanjorski were up to their same old "Let's Save The Gipper" tactics.


Yesterday, David Pierce over at the Pocono Record, reported on the death of one of Kanjorski's former "Let's Save The Gipper" tactics, Wall Street West. In this press release from Kanjorski's office in 2006 he promotes a talk he had about Wall Street West at a National Conference on Business Continuity.

Scranton, Pa. - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today presented the Wall Street West initiative to 1,500 attendees at the national Business Continuity Conference of the Securities Industry Association in Manhattan. Wall Street West is a concept that grew out of the realization that major financial services firms need secondary facilities in the wake of a catastrophe like September 11.

The Penn Regional Business Center, a division of LTS Builders in Monroe County, recently announced plans to create a financial district in northeastern Pennsylvania that would be fully compliant with federal recommendations for business continuity, and is set to break ground in June 2007.

"Wall Street West is a concept that we have been working on diligently since September 11. Northeastern Pennsylvania is suitably located for backup facilities because it is less than 125 miles from Manhattan, and is located in a different watershed and separate electrical grid. I am pleased that so many local and state officials, as well as community and business leaders in our region, have realized the benefits of Wall Street West. Our area is fortunate to have businessmen like Larry Simon, who took the seed of our vision and planted it with his investment in the Poconos," Congressman Kanjorski said.

Congressman Kanjorski earlier this month met with Simon, elected officials and financial services industry representatives to discuss the establishment of reliable backup facilities in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Simon, chairman of the board and CEO of PRBC, hosted a reception at the SIA conference.


But the press release gets better.

In August 2003, Congressman Kanjorski addressed the SIA Business Continuity Task Force, and several firms expressed interest in Wall Street West. Governor Ed Rendell successfully applied for a $15 million Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant for training and education from the U.S. Department of Labor. Additionally, Gov. Rendell recently pledged $30 million to Penn Regional Business Center for low-interest grants and loans.

Taxpayers threw $45 million at this project and it ended up dying a slow death. And that is not the end of the story.

Look at this article that appeared in the Pocono Record back in 2006 by Micahel Sadowski. Again the headlines are from the "Let's Save The Gipper" playbook. $125M PROJECT BRINGING 1,300 HIGH-END JOBS WITH AVERAGE SALARY OF $50,000- 'Wall Street West' in the works

A shovel hasn't even touched dirt yet for construction of the first building, but developer Larry T. Simon already envisions a second building — or more.

That's how confident he is that his pet project, the $125 million, 300,000-square-foot Penn Regional Business Center, will be a success, establishing back-up data centers for financial companies based in New York City.

The numbers being cited for this undertaking — the first "Wall Street West"-designed building in the region — are staggering. At least 1,300 high-end jobs would be created, with an average salary around $50,000, according to those supporting the project. Proponents also say the project, which will be built on 14.6 acres of land, could lead to more than $400 million a year in local revenue.

The state could benefit to the tune of $3.5 to $4 million in income taxes per year, which is part of the reason it has committed about $30 million in grants to the project's construction.


Click on the link in that article to read about the infamous fiber optic network from Manhattan to the Poconos that never saw the light of day. The article is from June 8, 2007.

POCONO MANOR — The key element of the Wall Street West project is in place.

State and federal officials announced that Level 3 Communications of Bloomfield, Colo., will be constructing the $24-million fiber-optic network allowing the Wall Street West idea to become a reality.

Construction will begin on the 600-mile fiber-optic line within the next 12 months and be completed 12 months later, according to Jeffrey Allen, vice president of management for Level 3 Communications.


There are more links in this article.

Related Stories

East Stroudsburg group wins Wall Street West grant

With fiber-optic network coming, local developer can begin building

Scranton lands first Wall Street West jobs

Business center planned for Independence Road

Wall St. West developer gives pitch to NYC firms

'Wall Street West' in the works

Two Poconos projects promise jobs

Back to the Pierce's article on the closing of Wall Street West.

In its closing press release, WSW officials pointed to an organization formed in 2009 — the Pennsylvania-based National Center for Organizational Continuity — as a natural successor to Wall Street West for regional job-skills training and development.

"The National Center for Organizational Continuity is an interdisciplinary training and research collaborative," states the NCOC website. "It is dedicated to ensuring the nation's workforce obtains and maintains the high demand skills required to ensure both public and private sector resiliency in the event of a disruption of any scale or type."

The sole phone number listed on the Organizational Continuity website this week was disconnected. E-mails to a web address listed on the site went unanswered.


About all those promised jobs..well...let's quote Martin Luther King "I had a dream" then I woke up to reality. A politician like Paul Kanjorski will say anything and do anything to keep getting elected including blowing tens of millions of our hard earned dollars on Tomfoolery. To jerk around with the emotions of the unemployed or those aspiring to stay in our area borders on villain type behavior like Hans Gruber.








.