Orie Melvin Resigning From the Supreme Court



Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin convicted of public corruption submitted her letter of resignation from the court to Governor Tom Corbett according to this article on Philly.com.

Orie Melvin is due to be sentenced May 7 and in a letter to Gov. Corbett said "it is with deep regret and a broken heart" that she tendered her resignation, effective May 1. "It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of this Commonwealth for the past 28 years, and I am deeply saddened that I am not able to fulfill my commission."

Gov. Corbett can appoint an interim justice to fill her spot on the seven-member court, with the approval of two-thirds of the state Senate. The appointee would serve through January 2016. The court is currently split 3-3 between Republicans and Democrats and Orie Melvin is a Republican.

The justice still plans to appeal her conviction.

It should be noted that members of the House of both parties were calling for efforts to start impeachment proceedings against her.  Instead she opted to perform her last action of public service and submit her resignation.

UnOfficial Terms Of AFSCME/COMMONWEALTH Agreement

These terms were posted on a PennLive.com story.

SALARIES & WAGES:
-July 2011 – No Raise;
-Jan 2012 – No Raise or increment (step);
-July 2012 – Raise of 1%;
-Jan 2013 – No Raise or increment;
-Apr 2013 – Increment;
-July 2013 – Raise of ½%;
-Jan 2014 – Raise of ½%;
-Apr 2014 – Increment;
-July 2014 – Raise of 2%;
-Jan 2015 – Increment
Total pay increase for the life of the contract is 10.75%. An increment is 2.25% increase. You can still get a lump sum payment if you are at the top of your grade.

SICK LEAVE:
A decrease from 13 days to 11 days for everyone. You can still accumulate as many sick days as you want and there will be no % reduction for any days you use. As an incentive, if you do not take a sick day during the year you will receive one extra personal day.

PERSONAL DAYS:
Will still have 4 days per year. You can use 2 without prior authorization, the other 2 must be preapproved. This is only if management requires preapproval.

ROLLING FURLOUGHS:
There will be no rolling furloughs for the life of the contract.

ALTERNATE WORK SCHEDULE:
If it works for your office there may be a 4 day week with 3 days off or you can schedule your days to have an extra day off every other week. They are leaving this within the AWS section of the contract to be handled through each individual office through normal chain of command.

HEALTH CARE:
First three years of the contract the contribution rate will remain at 3% of your salary. The fourth year of the contract the contribution rate will be 5%. Get Healthy will remain and the 50% reduction will remain in effect if you participate. This means it will be 1½% when the contribution rate is 3% and, when the rate goes to 5% your contribution rate will only be 2%.
Retirees contribution rate will remain at 3% for the life of the contract. When a retiree turns 65 and goes onto Medicare, the contribution rate will decrease to 1½%.
There will be no change in health benefits. All copays will remain the same except ER visits will increase from $50 to $100 beginninig in 2012. Any increases in copays will not be addressed in the contract itself but changes can be made by the board of trustees of PEBTF if they seem necessary.

DRUG/ALCOHOL TESTING:
There will be no drug or alcohol testing during the life of the contract.

OVERTIME EQUALIZATION:
If an employee is on an O/T list and is called for O/T the following will apply: The employee can refuse the O/T or, when the employee does not answer the call, he/she has 10 minutes to return the call or the next person on the list will be called. The employee will have no right to O/T payment if any of those scenarios are met.

BUMPING RIGHTS:
Full time employees can bump into other full time or part time positions. Part time employees can only bump into other part time positions.

NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:
The was other talk and agreement on FMLA prior to 1992 and a person losing seniority for that. There is a way to get that senority back.
Grievances will remain on the accelerated procedures now set up.
There will be a new committee set up to look at repensioning and salary restructuring if recruitment methods are not working.

Again, unofficial.

RALLY TO SUPPORT TOM CORBETT FOR GOVERNOR

Scranton – Tom Corbett, republican gubernatorial candidate will join with Scranton area campaign supporters during a “Turning on the Power of Pennsylvania” rally in Allentown Monday morning. Tom Corbett will visit seven Pennsylvania cities in a barnstorming tour of the state in the 24 hours leading up to the primary election. He will rally supporters and continue to spread his vision for the future of Pennsylvania.

WHAT: Tom Corbett for Governor Rally

WHEN: Monday, May 17th, 2010

TIME: 10:30am Doors open
11:00am Rally begins

WHERE: Scranton Airport

Wings Restaurant

100 Terminal Drive, 2nd Floor

Avoca, PA 18641



Paid for by Tom Corbett for Governor

Rendell Wants Candidates To Be "Factual"

Ed Rendell confirms he will play an active role in next year's gubernatorial selection process.

Rendell, who turns 66 on Jan. 5, also made clear that he expects to be involved in the gubernatorial campaign.

He said he plans to send a letter to all gubernatorial candidates, offering to provide background briefings on the intricacies of the state budget and any issues in which they are interested.

"I hope they'll avail themselves of it," he said. If they make factual errors about the administration on the campaign trail, "I will correct them, Democrats and Republicans alike."

Who the heck is going to correct Rendell's factual errors? What a pompous ass statement.

Rendell and Doherty- Says It All

Spending In Pennsylvania Has Increased 40% In The Last Three Years!!!

On a campaign stop today Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett highlighted one of the huge problems with Ed Rendell and the Democrats in control of the Pennsylvania purse strings- wasteful spending. The following excerpts come from pittsburghlive.com.

Corbett said the biggest obstacles facing better government in the state are out-of-control spending and public corruption.

In the past three years, state spending has increased more than 40 percent without any attempts by lawmakers to rein in or cut spending, he said.

"We're spending our money," he said, "but we're spending our children's money, we're spending our grandchildren's money, and in effect, I believe we're spending our great-grandchildren's money."

He said public approval for Rendell and the Legislature is at an "all-time low." Corbett's said his criticism covers both Democrat and Republican leaders.

Corbett said the state operates a fleet of 17,000 vehicles and has a support staff of more than 3,000. He said voters should watch the budget process to see whether lawmakers make any cuts. He said some high-level staffers earn more than Rendell.

"See if they reduce their staff," he said.

"I can do more as governor setting an example of how things should be done than investigating what needs to be done," he added.

Can Joe the Plumber claim his income went up 40% in the last three years? Todd Eachus can steer the ship but someone should clue in him that he ran out of gas.

Why haven't the power Democrats in Luzerne County denounced the crime spree exposed by the FBI? Why are they hiding? Why do they refuse to be leaders and face the music for their party? What steps are they taking to make sure integrity is restored among their candidates and elected officials? The lack of sound is almost deafening. Yet the morning local talk show host Kevin Lynn still bashes the Republicans. Clean your own house Kevin before complaining about the neighbors!

AG Corbett Moves Closer Toward Running For PA Governor

There is this thing about being a governor who cannot seek another term. People want to jump in your grave faster than spit. An anticipated announcement was reported today on Philly.com.

Two-term state Attorney General Tom Corbett has taken his first official step toward a run for governor.

Corbett, 59, a Republican, filed paperwork today to form an exploratory committee after discussions with friends and family, a spokesman said.

"Pennsylvanians are looking for a leader with the experience to create economic opportunities for Pennsylvania families through tax cuts, cutting government waste and spending, reforming state government, and creating good family-sustaining jobs," Corbett said in a statement.

The paperwork filing allows Corbett to begin raising money and hiring staff for the 2010 race.

Corbett also announced members of his exploratory committee, among them some of the most influential names in state Republican politics. They include Bob Asher, Republican national committeeman, and Jack Barbour, CEO-elect of the Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney law firm, as cochairmen of his committee.

Christine Toretti, a Republican national committeewoman, will serve as a finance chairwoman. Sandra Schultz Newman, former Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice, will serve as an honorary chairwoman to the committee.

I believe he will work Bonusgate to victory for Governor. Of course along the way a few other criminal types will make it to the front page.

And Their Off- First Governor Horse Out Of The Gate

A former revenue secretary for Pennsylvania announced his bid for governor to succeed Ed "Fast Deal'em" Rendell. According to an article in the Post-Gazette Tom Wolf who made a fortune in the family supply business filed the official papers to raise money in his quest for governor.

"His personal wealth could allow him to be one of his own biggest donors. That capability could invest his campaign with instant credibility despite Mr. Wolf's modest name recognition and relatively short public resume. The York businessman is better known within state political circles as a regular contributor to the campaigns of state Democrats. Mr. Rendell appointed Mr. Wolf revenue secretary in 2007, a post he resigned in November in anticipation of a run for office."

"...Mr. Wolf's potential rivals include Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Auditor General Jack Wagner, Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, and another wealthy businessman, Tom Knox of Philadelphia.

Among the Republicans mentioned as possible contenders to replace Mr. Rendell, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, are Attorney General Tom Corbett; Pat Meehan, the former U.S. attorney for the state's Eastern District; U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach; and Pat Toomey, a former congressman who just missed in a bid to wrest the GOP Senate nomination from Sen. Arlen Specter in 2004."

Joseph Scarnati, a Republican Senator, was sworn in as the 31st Lieutenant Governor following the untimely death of Katherine Baker Knoll. It is the first time in Pennsylvania history that the lieutenant governor serves with a governor of the opposing party. It has been reported that Karen Beyer is eyeing a run at that spot. She would join a list that now includes state Rep. Mike Turzai and Sen. John Pippy, both of suburban Pittsburgh, and current Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor.

Don't be surprised if you see a local well known office holder enter that race.