PA State Nurses Association Endorses Congressman Lou Barletta For Re-election

This press release was sent by Lance Stange Jr. of the Lou Barletta For Congress campaign.

October 15, 2012

American Nurses Assoc., PA State Nurses Assoc.

Endorse Lou Barletta for Second Term

 

Hazleton, PA – The American Nurses Association, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, which represents more than 211,000 nurses in the Commonwealth, endorsed United States Representative Lou Barletta for a second term in Congress.

“Congressman Barletta has been a champion for nurses throughout the state of Pennsylvania within the 11th Congressional District,” stated PA State Nurses Association (PSNA) CEO Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN.  “As a member of the House Nursing Caucus, he has shown a willingness to work with ANA and PSNA to build long-term relationships with his constituent nurses.  Congressman Barletta recognizes the important role nurses play in today’s changing healthcare environment and we are proud to stand behind ANA-PAC’s endorsement.”

Rep. Barletta added, “I am deeply honored by the endorsement of the American Nurses Association and the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association.  Nurses play a vitally important role in our nation’s health care system and are deserving of our respect and gratitude.  I look forward to continuing to advocate for issues of importance to nurses throughout the district.”

Casey-Smith Senatorial Race Pennsylvania

Following politics for a long time one never knows how a race will turn out until election day.  Polls give each side its best guess but the data is only as good as the pollster.  I truly believe the polls in Ohio don't reflect what is actually going to happen election day between Romney and Obama.   Using 2008 election data to create the sample of voters will be the factor in that race.

Likewise I believe the senatorial race between Bob Casey and Tom Smith is alot closer than most believe.  This report from GoErie.com exemplifies the tightening in that race.

The Washington Post has moved the race from "solid Democrat'' to "lean Democrat,'' an indication the race is in play. But the newspaper said Casey is still the clear front-runner.

Casey estimates that his campaign has spent $11 million, but he said he must raise most of his funds while Smith can afford to write checks.

Smith acknowledges that he and his wife have spent millions of their own money, but he said he's been busy with successful campaign fundraisers, too.

As for the polls, Smith, 64, a former coal company owner, said the Philadelphia Inquirer survey is just one. "When you add them all up and you do an average, this race is tightening,'' he said.

I had very prominent Democrat tell me he is leaning toward Smith in this race.  I know one person doesn't make an election but it was a telltale sign that all is not what is seems to be on the evening news.

Their upcoming debate may have an impact on election day.

Pennsylvania- Maybe Government Needs To Go On A Diet

Three days ago the Pittsburgh Tribune published this article about tax revenue by Thomas Olson.

Pennsylvania tax revenue increases 6.2% over last year

If Pennsylvania's tax collections are any guide, the state's economy is starting to pull out of its recessionary slump, according to experts in Harrisburg.

Overall tax receipts from individuals and companies in Pennsylvania for the fiscal year ended June 30 increased 6.2 percent to nearly $26.5 billion, according to the state Department of Revenue. And taxes of $194 million collected in July and August, the first two months of the current fiscal year, were 5.9 percent ahead of last year's pace.

Today the Times Leader features this article.

Pa. state tax revenues lag expectations by $215M


HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania tax collections are lagging $215 million behind projections after the first three months of the state government's fiscal year.

State Revenue Secretary Daniel Meuser announced Monday the state general fund brought in $5.8 billion from the start of July through the end of September. That's 3.5 percent below expectations.

September collections were $152 million less than had been estimated. Major categories contributing to the shortfall are corporate and personal income taxes.

However, taxes on liquor, cigarettes and table games are running ahead of expectations.

What a beautiful dysfunctional state.  Jobs and sales of goods aren't leading us out of the recession.  The vices are.  They should just legalize prostitution and get it over with.

Maybe this is what they mean by tolling 80!!!

Democrats Block Disaster Aid Bill

Just last April Democrats were excoriating House Republicans asserting they were holding government hostage during the contrived government shutdown debacle. In a tit-for-tat move the Senate Democrats are now the "stonewallers" on keeping the government going by failing to pass the stopgap CR(continuing resolution).

In this latest saga the government is holding disaster relief hostage. Up and down the Wyoming Valley political pundits took jabs at Congressmen Lou Barletta and Tom Marino during the first showdown. It remains to be seen whether they voice the same opinion against the likes of Harry Reid and his cohorts in the Senate. Senate Blocks House Disaster Aid Bill

The Democrats are holding out for funding what they call an "Energy Department Loan Program".  Well twist my britches in a knot and send me over the edge.  The White House embarassment over the  Solyndra bankruptcy announcement after backing it with loans(Obama administration agreed to Solyndra loan days after insiders foresaw firm's failure) this past week and charges it inflated the claim of green jobs (Fly a plane or drive a bus? Then Obama says you've a GREEN job: White House accused of massaging eco-employment figures) shows genuine chutzpah to make this issue a stumbling block to disaster aid.

Administration Defends Half Billion Dollar Loan to Bankrupt ‘Clean Energy’ Firm

Obama administration officials told U.S. lawmakers Wednesday that a contributor to the president’s 2008 campaign played no role in pushing the $535 billion federal loan to the bankrupt solar panel firm Solyndra, Inc., raided by the FBI last week.

However, one Energy Department official did not answer directly when asked whether he had direct communications with the White House over the loan provided through stimulus money.

Emails obtained by the House Energy and Commerce Committee appear to show that Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Department of Energy (DOE) employees had expressed concerns that the process was being rushed – even as President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu were touting the California-based “clean energy” company as the wave of the future.

The Administration was warned back in 2009 about Solyndra but they threw caution to the wind with taxpayer money.

There's an even bigger problem that has been put on the back burner.  Our government has not passed a budget in 900 days making these CR's a necessary evil.

Is it any wonder why this nation is so colossally screwed?  Right now party leaders on both sides of the aisle are using this nation as a pawn in their political brinksmanship.

The amount of disaster aid needed to re-fund FEMA is a drop in the federal budget bucket at $ 7 billion when we are racking up multi trillion dollar deficits.  Everyone in Washington knows that FEMA is going to get its money so get on with it. 

Did anyone tell the leaders that 1 in 4 children in Northeastern Pennsylvania live in poverty? 

One in every four children in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metropolitan area lived in poverty in 2010, a dramatic increase over the previous year that came even as median household income in the region edged up slightly, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates indicated Thursday.

The jump was accompanied by a rise in the number of regional households that received food stamps, according to the American Community Survey, a census sampling of counties with population of at least 65,000.

"We are really talking about a huge portion of residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania who have trouble putting food on the table," said Teri Ooms, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, a Wilkes-Barre-based think tank.

Families have lost everything, children are living in poverty, and Washington is quamired.  They got molasses in their britches in a time when this nation needs action and compromise.  The Democrats know they can't keep spending and the Republicans know that the government still has responsibilities.  In that statemen

ACORN, DEMOCRATS, AND INVALID VOTER REGISTRATIONS

Straight off the PR Newswire. ACORN's strong arming lead to an unprecedented number of invalid voter registrations in the state of Colorado.

Judicial Watch, a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law, uncovered documents from the Colorado Department of State showing that ACORN and its affiliate, Project Vote, successfully pressured Colorado officials to implement new policies for increasing the registration of public assistance recipients during the 2008 and 2010 election seasons.

The documents, obtained pursuant to a June 8, 2011, Colorado Open Records Act request to the Colorado Office of the Secretary of State, include approximately 400 internal emails. They relate to a complaint by ACORN and Project Vote that the state of Colorado was in violation of Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Under Section 7, states are required to offer voter registration services at all public assistance agencies, including unemployment offices and food stamp offices.

As a result of this collaboration between ACORN, Project Vote and Colorado officials, the number of voter registrations at Colorado public assistance agencies rose from 3,340 in 2007 to almost 44,000 in 2010. (In a February 15, 2011, email to Project Vote, Christi Heppard, Special Projects Coordinator for the Elections Division of the Colorado Department of State, wrote, "…I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the numbers.") However, the collaboration also led to a large number of invalid and duplicate voter registrations. A total of 8% of rejected registration forms came from public assistance agencies in Colorado in 2009-2010. This is more than four times the national average of 1.9% for that same time period.

According to the documents, Amy Busefink, who at the time was under indictment on 13 voter registration violation charges in Nevada, stemming from her time as regional deputy director for ACORN, later she managed the online program for Project Vote nationally, including Colorado.

Project Vote's Busefink ultimately entered an Alford plea to two gross misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of compensation for registration of voters. (An Alford plea is a guilty plea, where the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.)

Democrat Bernie Buescher, who served as Colorado Secretary of State from January 2009 through January 2011, received support from the Secretary of State Project, an organization funded in part by liberal financier George Soros and organized by the leftist group Moveon.org. (In April 2010, Buescher campaigned with former State House Speaker Terrance Carroll for a proposed bill that would have implemented universal mail-in balloting, same-day voter registrations and pre-registration of 16 year olds. Facing stiff opposition from county election clerks, the bill was tabled on April 21, 2010.)


According to the documents, while Colorado officials took measures to satisfy the demands of Project Vote related to the registration of public assistance recipients, Buescher sought a waiver from the Obama administration that would allow a delay in sending out ballots in time for the military to vote in the last election. The Department of Defense rejected the request.

"The ACORN/Project Vote gang has not gone away, and continues to help generate fraudulent voter registrations that can lead to voter fraud. These emails clearly demonstrate that the corrupt organization ACORN/Project Vote had an inappropriate level of influence over the electoral process in Colorado," said Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton. "Colorado officials bent over backwards to abide by the demands of ACORN/Project Vote, which was helped to run by an activist facing criminal charges. So it comes as no surprise that there was a sharp increase in voter registration irregularities. And it is shameful that the concern for voting rights of the citizens of Colorado did not apparently extend to military personnel in the state. If we're going to protect the integrity of the 2012 elections, attention must be paid to the continuing nefarious activities of ACORN/Project Vote."


MoveOn, George Soros, Democrats, voter fraud??? Say it isn't so. They weren't ZIPcars that were spotted in the Poconos during the 2008 election. Heaven forbid there was voter fraud in Pennsylvania. Of course our then Secretary of the Commonweath Pedro Cortes said it wasn't so saying the state has laws and safeguards in place to deter voter fraud.

Pedro, venga aqui. There are laws against child abuse/pornography, bank robbing, and murder. Of course EVERYONE obeys them. Tu eres un idiota.

End of this story. Acorn filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy November 2, 2010. Look at this file photo of Acorn activists

They sure as hell sold "economic recovery" as the path to the future. But Obama failed miserably in delivering on that promise of change. How could he being from Chicago and part of their polluted political machine.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court- Out To Touch With Reality

The American Bar Association printed an article penned by Debra Cassens Weiss about the perks Chief Justice Ronald Castille receives while occupying his office.

Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille drives a 2010 Cadillac, but he's not paying the lease costs. He has attended dinners, golf outings and a social meeting at a luxury hotel, but he's not picking up the tab.

The state pays for the Cadillac lease, a perk provided to state appeals judges, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Twenty-five judges lease taxpayer-financed cars, including Justice Max Baer of Mt. Lebanon. Baer drives a 2010 GMC Acadia he leases at government cost from his brother's Washington dealership, the story says. Thirteen judges don’t participate in the program.

Meanwhile some of Castille’s dinners and outings are paid for by lawyers and business people, including some with cases before the court, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier this month. Last December, he attended a meeting of the Pennsylvania Society, a state booster club, at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria. The law firm Saul Ewing paid the $1,900 tab for the hotel room and dinners, just as it had done the previous two years. Since 2007 the firm was involved in around 20 cases before the state Supreme Court.

A New York Times editorial criticizes the state ethics rules that allow Castille and other appeals judges to accept gifts as long as they disclose them. The state supreme court has ruled that it alone has the authority to set the ethics rules; almost no other state has rules that would allow the gifts.

Similarly, the state auditor general can’t audit the judiciary budget. “Appellate judges spend what they want, with little accountability,” the Tribune-Review says, quoting the opinion of Duquesne University law professor Bruce Ledewitz.

Castille said in a May interview that he accepts rounds of golf as gifts from friends at golf courses he could never afford, but did not give the Inquirer an interview for its November story. Saul Ewing lawyer Timothy Carson told the Inquirer the firm financed Castille’s New York trip because the justice should have a chance to interact with other state leaders.

Leo Strupczewski of the Legal Intelligencer writes this article about the precipitous drop in work output by Pennsylvania's highest tribunal

The state Supreme Court had one of its least productive years in recent memory in 2010, issuing far fewer opinions and hearing fewer cases than it had in the last decade.

Normally one to hear about 100 cases and issue authored opinions in another 150, the high court fell short of both traditional performance marks in 2010.

And it didn't come very close, either.

According to a review by The Legal , the justices authored just 67 published opinions in 2010 — a figure that represents a nearly 50 percent reduction in output over the year before. Similarly, the court scheduled just 79 cases for oral arguments last year — less than the 90 it scheduled in 2009 and the 125 it scheduled in 2008.

Though several individuals The Legal spoke with said it's better for the court to take its time when deciding confusing and complicated areas of law, 2010's low figures don't appear to be a result of the court becoming more judicious over what cases it takes or the court becoming more efficient in its work.

The justices, for example, granted allocatur in 497 cases from 2006 through 2010. And at the end of 2009, according to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, there were 280 "pending appeals" before the court.

Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille did not respond to an interview request for this story. Jim Koval, a spokesman for the judiciary, said at the time of that request that Castille would want to see the court's statistics before discussing workload.

Hank Grezlak of the Legal Intellingencer authored a great editorial, Pa. High Court Needs to Cure Its Black Robe Disease, about the Supreme Court which can be found here.

One wonders how the mess in the Luzerne County Courthouse started. Well, from reading these articles it appears it may have started with the lack of accountability at the top. Castille said he accepted the rounds of golf he could never afford. Castille's salary, not including benefits and pension contributions paid for by you and me, last year was $191,876.00. I guess that is a measely salary to be able to afford a $200.00 round of golf.

Oh, did I mention that he gets pensions from his service in the Marines as well as his stint with the Philadelphia District Attorney's office. Poor, poor, Ron.

Legislature Pay Raise- Same Old Issue With A New Twist

Recent artilces and reports by the media told us that more Pennsylvania legislators and the governor are forgoing the pay raise slated for next year. Andrew Seder of the Times Leader penned this story on the topic.

The real problem for Pennsylvania taxpayers is the fact that their elected official are still taking the money from the Commonwealth's Treasury. I believe that is an important point for newly elected officials to consider. I know that their intentions are good but feel they need to look at the greater picture.

The last two elections were turning points in political history. The people want government to change. If they don't get it from one party they are fickle as hell. They will jump ship faster than greased lightning.

Consider the following:

1. Taking the COLA in any form still means legislators are taking it from the taxpayers in a time when Pennsylvania is facing a $5 billion deficit.

2. Forget the argument that it is a small, insignificant amount and won't make a difference in the Treasury. Leaders must lead by example regardless of the maginitude of the impact. At the very least the COLA amount for this year in its entirety between both chambers of our bicameral legislture is over $330,000.00. Last time I checked to the average voter that is a huge amount.

3. There are many Consumer Price Indexes(CPI). Price indexes are available for the U.S., the four Census regions, size of city, cross-classifications of regions and size-classes, and for 26 local areas. Due to differences in the CPI picked for calculating solons' raises(CPI for mid Atlantic states) our legislators received $7,751.16 more per seat since 2003 more than if the same CPI determinator used for seniors receiving Social Security was applied over the same time period. As a result, since 2003, the legislature received a total increase of $1,961,043.48. Leadership figures will bump that calculation slightly higher but safe to say over $2 million dollars. That's not chump change by any standard.

4. Taxpayers know that Legislators accepting the raise and donating it to charity still means the dollar amount used will go towards calculation of their pension.

5. Taxpayers know that the pension also has a COLA attached to it compounding the benefit of accepting a COLA and donating it to charity.

6. Taxpayers know that Legislators are getting the credit for donations to charities by those organizations rather than the taxpayers receiving the credit for their hard earned money.

It is time to turn off the COLA process for the next few years until their pay balances out with what it would have been using the CPI multiplier used by seniors. Next, unless they repeal the COLA, they should change the CPI used for calculating their COLA to the one seniors are forced to accept by the federal legislators.

Lastly they should always be mindful that California is a five hour flight but you can be there through the internet in 0.4 seconds. The new twist I am making is that it very easy to see what legislators in other states are making. The National Conference of State Legislatures complied this list of salaries and per diems for state lawmakers. Only California and New York surpass Pennsylvania in annual pay.

The Waccama Times reports on pension benefits for state legislators. Nine states – Alabama, California, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming – no longer provide pensions to state legislators, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures in Washington, D.C.

In South Carolina, retired legislators earn an annual average of $19,605 in gross retirement benefits, based on July figures from the state retirement system. Newly retired Keith McCall could receive a benefit near $90,000.00 according to the Post Gazette. Prior to retirement his salary was $122,254 as Speaker of the House.

With information like that Governor-elect Tom Corbett will have plenty of ammunition to support his campaign platform of reducing the size of Pennsylvania's legisalture as part of government reform.

Reducing the Size & Cost of Government – The size and cost of state government has grown out of control, and it is time to bring fiscal responsibility and accountability back to Pennsylvania. We must continue the forward momentum on streamlining state government by reducing the cost of how state government does business. Through technology upgrades, centralizing communications between agencies and lowering the overall administrative costs associated with running state government, we can return millions of dollars to Pennsylvanians. Tom Corbett has called for a 10 percent reduction in government administrative operations in all branches of government.

2011- A Look Back And What's Ahead, Hold Onto Your Wallet

John Cole Times-Tribune Toon

It seems Pennsylvania government can't run from the "pay raise" issue. In 2005 legislators tried to ram through a "pay grab" mistakenly labeled a pay raise. As Pennsylvanians are learning once again legislators already receive an automatic pay increase every year authorized in a 1995 law.

The problem with the automatic pay increase is the index used for its calculation. Instead of the overall Consumer Price Index used for most in private industry and seniors receving Social Security Pennsylvania legislators figured out that the CPI for mid-Atlantic states runs slightly higher. As a result their automatic pay increases since 2003 gave them an additional 10% boost more than if the overall CPI were the benchmark.

In these trying economic times and a bloated, over-staffed state, Pennsylvania lawmakers should reject the pay increase until they resolve the budget deficit and pension crisis issues. As this article by Jan Murphy at PennLive.com points out the costs to Pennsylvanians over the "pension grab of 2001" will escalate due to recent legislation designed to lessen the impact.

The law is aimed at addressing the soaring costs of the state's public pensions systems. Here's a look at what it means: TAXPAYERS: It smooths out the anticipated spike in taxpayer contributions to fund the pension systems. But it costs taxpayers more in the long run. It is akin to refinancing a 15-year mortgage to a 30-year mortgage, which makes the monthly payments smaller but the overall amount paid bigger.

Critics such as the Commonwealth Foundation assail the added debt and say it doesn't address the looming crisis. Supporters say the new law is nonetheless a good start by saving costs on new workers. NEW EMPLOYEES: They now must have 10 years of service to become vested, compared with five for current employees. State employees must work until age 65 (instead of 60); school employees must work until 62 (instead of 60).

New workers receive a 25 percent reduction in retirement benefits. They also are barred from taking a lump-sum payment of their contributions upon retiring. CURRENT EMPLOYEES: These changes do not impact any school or state employees hired before Jan. 1 or incumbent lawmakers. Their benefits remain the same.

As Senator Lisa Boscola points out in her February, 2005 flyer Pennsylvanians have faced the following tax increases since 1997.

• 1995 Automatic Pay Raise
• 1997 Gas Tax Increase
• 2001 Legislative Pension Grab
• 2002 State Tax Increase
• 2003 State Income Tax Increase
• 2004 Occupational Privilege Tax Increase

The tax increases don't include what happened on the county and local level as well as our school district property taxes. In 2002 a COLA was added to the pension benefits as well.

The following stats are from the Berks Patriot Presentation by Nathan Benefield of the Commonwealth Foundation.

Pennsylvania has the 11th highest state and local tax burden, up from 24th in 1990. It is 43rd in job growth, 47th in population growth, and 48th in personal income growth.

People are moving out of Pennsylvania due to this horrendous environment. United Van lines reports 58% of movers are leaving Pennsylvania and Allied Van Lines reports that number at 60%.

As the American Conservative points out Pennsylvania has the highest Corporate Net Income Tax rate in the world.

The Commonwealth Foundation reminds us of the unemployment trust fund debt facing Pennsylvania taxpayers to the tune of $3 billion. Pennsylvanians will also be faced with paying back $800 million to the MCare fund due to a court order.

When the stimulus money runs out in 2011 Pennsylvania's bicameral legislature and Governor Tom Corbett will have a daunting task facing them to fix what is wrong.

Kanjorski MisManages Washington

In the last post I answered Paul Kanjorski's absurd assertion that Hazleton City looks bad. This post debunks the next two questions posed by Congressman Kanjorski who said he would start answering once Barletta did.

Kanjorski said he would be happy to answer any questions Barletta has, but only after Barletta tells him a few things. Kanjorski wants Barletta to tell him:

• Why Hazleton city is near bankruptcy.

• Why Barletta wants to sell the city water authority.

He issued a press release today instead of enjoying the holiday making the same claims about mismanagement so Paul, here is your answer.

When Hazleton's Mayor Lou Barletta announced his plan to lay the foundation for a long term solution to the City of Hazleton's financial crunch many of the taxpayers of the City and Congressman Paul Kanjorski actually did not see the presentation at City Hall. Due to the impact on low income working families and seniors of the City SOP has obtained the file for the presentation from the City's website.

As you are about to see the fixed cost expenses are outpacing revenue despite the Paul Kanjorski's claims in this Times Leader article yesterday that the City was mismanaged.

The first slide(not in the presentation but presented here) shows the one time revenue sources by year from 2004 that have postponed the financial crunch from occuring sooner.

The next slide demonstrates how adjusted income failed to keep pace with adjusted expenses.

This next image shows how real estate tax revenue actually declined over the period from 2004-2008.

There was a slight increase in Earned Income Tax Revenue but considering the time frame one could argue that it was essentially flat.

Likewise the Mercantile and Business Privilege Taxes were essentially flat to only very slightly down.

Emergency Municipal Services Tax revenue took a dramatic drop due to Harrisurg and Todd Eachus's messing with the way the revenue is collected. Municipalities across the state suffered, not only Hazleton, because our legislators lack the acumen to understand their mistake.

Employee insurance costs are up over $417,000 for the period 2004-2008. Every municipal employer, as well as most private entities, in the state is facing the same exhorbitant rise in those costs.

Employee salaries really demonstrate one of the biggest reasons for Hazleton's financial crunch. Unfortunately one of the only solutions to this problem is to decrease the size of the police department which in SOP's opinion is not an option given the current crime element trying to take a foothold on Hazleton's streets.

This graph showing overtime costs illustrates another uncontrollable problem for Hazleton that is tied to the last chart. Police investigations into crimes in Hazleton, just like the Derrick Kichline murder, are the biggest reasons for these overtime costs. Snowplowing in the winter time is another factor contributing to this area. If someone can figure out how to control crime and the weather, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, move over another billionaire will be joining the crowd.

Just these three budget areas demonstrate the devastating impact on the budget of the City of Hazleton and to its taxpayers.

That presentation in a nutshell sums up the reason the sale of the Water Department of the HCA is even being considered. The Mayor and City Council weighed different options before coming to this conclusion. The proposal has spawned ideas on how to help solve Hazleton's problems while staunch Democratic opponents Todd Eachus and Paul Kanjorski use their constituents as pawns in their game of debaucherous political shenanigans. While Wilkes Barre touts its Intermodal Center Hazleton is not forgotten but purposely ignored. Hopefully those alternate ideas will help Hazleton until new representation emerges in Harrisburg and Washington that is willing to put politics aside in the name of progress.

Why doesn't Paul Kanjorski ask Todd Eachus why Pennsylvania is in the shape it is in? Paul, how about that $1.2 billion deficit? How about the federal deficit runup since you and Obama got an unchecked and unbridled hold on our purse strings in a little over a year and a half? Mr. Kanjorski you have mismanaged the financial industry for years because your two friends, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, gave you so much money you had to look the other way. Heck Freddie Mac received so much it has now changed its name to Big Mac. You are hypocritical of your claims of mismangement. Out of touch too. How many cities and states are facing severe financial crises in light of the 10+ percent unemployment and the fact unemployment benefits are looking like they will be extended for TWO years?

Mr. Kanjorski, there are the answers to your questions. Balls in your court. Start explaining your actions or inactions. You bailed out Wall Street, the auto industry, and mismanaged Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security into insolvency. You abolished town hall meetings, raised our taxes and socialized healthcare. Care to respond?

House of Greed- State of Despair

Newspaper after newspaper are giving a thumbs down to the on-time delivery of the Pennsylvania General Fund budget. Much to the chagrin of our illustreous solons the media is not taking the bait to pat them on the back for a job well done.

The Philadelphia Inquirer assessment. Pennsylvania's state budget meets the deadline... but it's still one ugly baby

Opinion in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Faux budget: Hey, Harrisburg, your work's not done

Assessment of the budget by Pennlive.com Pennsylvania budget: What it means to you

Editorial that appeared in the Times-Shamrock publications. Lawmakers pass sacrifice to others New budget contains many cuts in service

It is painfully obvious that many legislators are going to have a tough re-election battle come this fall. It is evident that the Democratic party attacking the Repulicans over fiscal conservancy will surely cost them dearly. But the Repulicans are not without blame over the lack of cuts in the legislative budget. Per diems, per diems, per diems. That is a message Harrisburg will hear loud and clear.

It in unconscionable that a legislator making a minimum of $78,314.00 per year demands another $163.00 TAX FREE PER DAY to perform his or her work. Don't let any legislator fool you. Eachus keeps saying what he takes is legal. It's only legal because he gets to make the rules. Its like saying you think a hole in golf "shouldn't be PAR 4 I'll change it to PAR 8".

The unaccountable expense account, fully paid healthcare, dental, eye, vision, too generous pension, car allowance, and telephone provisions plus franking privileges will not be tolerated in a 10 plus percent unemployment environment well into its second year.

To thumb their nose at constituents will go down in history as a period in Pennsylvania government when the legislature finally subcombed to a culture of greed. Not all legislators are greedy but those that aren't need to step up to the plate with a voice much louder than what we are hearing from the House Majority Leader.

Mr. Eachus allowed the power of the leadership to haze his understanding of the needs of those he represents. Families are affected directly by his decisions and votes. He ignores that possiblity when he tries to attack his opponents. He quickly forgets what he did to the people of the 116th who once supported him. Well, come November, he will be reminded.

He can't be Majority Leader unless he gets re-elected. Of course from the ramblings in Harrisburg his tenure will be cut short anyway if he is. His bully style of leadership, the same way he deals with certain constituents, has a short leash of toleration.

Pennsylvania will earn the nickname "State of Despair" unless its leaders or those who should be leaders step forward and do the right thing. Don't tell us you eliminated wasteful spending, DO IT!

Pennsylvania's Budget Is A Political Document Meant For Incumbent Protection

As you will hear in the Youtube video below Rep. Matt Gabler states that WAM money is back in the Pennsylvania budget. Yet, from Eachus's office Brett Marcy this comment back on May 09, 2010.

"We have worked hard to trim costs and find ways to improve efficiencies," said Brett Marcy, press secretary to House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne.

His boss had this comment reported in the Citizen's Voice today concerning the passing of the budget.

The budget is responsible and frugal yet provides funding to help education and economic development, said House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township.

The cuts hit programs big and small but not the legislative budget.

While a $23 million homeless assistance program might face a $189,000 reduction during an economic recession, only $58,000 was squeezed from $5.8 million in expense accounts for state Senate and House members in the proposed 2010-11 budget.

While 600 libraries statewide will likely be forced to swallow a $5.5 million reduction in a $60 million state subsidy for operations, the $20.7 million in state House "special leadership accounts" will have to deal with $206,000 less in funding.

And while there will be $500,000 less in emergency mortgage assistance for people who have lost their jobs - at a time when the state unemployment rate is 9.1 percent and the local unemployment rate is 10.3 percent - the General Assembly reduced its $10.8 million budget for "incident expenses" by only $109,000.

Overall, the budget to operate the General Assembly increased by $1.3 million, from $299 million to $300.3 million.

Here's what the Grand Jury investigating Bonusgate had to say about those special leadership accounts.

Among other reforms, the grand jury said the Legislature should:
— Eliminate, or at least make more transparent, the special leadership accounts that give House leaders millions of dollars in discretionary spending to control.

Eachus just can't give up his bad spending habits.

Tara Toohil Reaches Milestone In Her Campaign

Tara Toohil issued this press release


TOOHIL REACHED BENCHMARK 2,500 Doors

Hazleton, PA- Candidate for State Representative, Tarah Toohil has knocked on over 2,500 doors and plans to reach another 7,500 households before the General Election on November 2nd, 2010. Toohil is running a grassroots campaign that consists of visiting constituents at their homes in order to communicate her message. Toohil is concerned with bringing more jobs to the area, reducing property taxes, and working to better our schools.

"Voters have been very receptive and are ready for new representation down in Harrisburg. People in our community are hoping to put a fresh face into office because they are fed up with politics as usual," stated Toohil.
People also want to talk about the corruption in the legislature. People want to know why the local media isn't reporting more on these issues.

Toohil's response is that she "will work to eliminate unethical practices and restore honesty and transparency in government."

James O'Meara Meet And Greet

Friends:

I've got a "Meet and Greet" lined up for Tuesday, June 15 from 6PM to 8PM in Plains.

Join me for pizza and soda at "The Naked Grape," 15 North River Street in Plains (in the Weis Plaza). It's a great place, and we should have a great evening.

I will also have Dessert Bar tickets available for my upcoming Dessert Bar Fundraiser. The Dessert Bar is on Thursday, June 24 at GOP Headquarters.

I hope to see you at both of these events...

Have a great weekend!

James O'Meara, Sr.
Republican Candidate for Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
District 121 - Ashley, Hanover Township Ward 02, Plains Township, Wilkes-Barre City, Wilkes-Barre Township

Palin Rumor??

Back in 2008 then Governor Sarah Palin stumped in Northeastern Pennsylvania as a candidate for Vice President of the United States. She has been very critical of Congressman Chris Carney and wants to hold his feet to the fire on his healthcare vote.

Rumor has it that she may be back into Northeastern Pennsylvania for the trifecta involving Carney, Kanjorski, and Sestak. Let's wait and see.

Paul Kanjorski Claiming Economy The Best Of All Mankind

IS HE FOR REAL???? Here is today's newspaper headlines.

JOBLESS RATES HITS DOUBLE DIGITS...And Paul Kanjorski claims
"We are helluva alot better off as a country and as an economy than we have ever been in the history of mankind"  His words clearly demonstrate that he is out of touch with what is going on in his district.

When he won his election to Congress in 1984 he made the same claim about Congressman Frank Harrision whom he defeated. It was time to retire Harrision and now it is time to retire Kanjorski. In this document from Ed Mitchell's website Roderick Random's column from 2006 recalls the race.

Back then, 1984, the 11th Congressional District’s heart was Luzerne County and didn’t include any of Lackawanna County. So the story of how Mr. Kanjorski took out a freshman congressman and Democratic rising star named Frank Harrison is worth re-telling here.

It was the days of giardiasis, the flu-like disease instigated by a tiny cyst.

As thousands boiled water to kill cysts in it, Mr. Harrison took “junkets” to Costa Rica and other exotic places, Mr. Mitchell’s research found. Mr. Harrison’s spokesman repeatedly made the point that things were well in hand here, but Mr. Mitchell fashioned a television commercial that altered local political history. It portrayed Mr. Harrison as having a non-chalant attitude about the cysts, coupling video of jets landing in tropical locales, narration pointing up the congressman’s inaction and a final scene with a kettle shooting steam on a stove.

“It’s enough to make you boil,” a narrator said as the commercial ended.

The commercial is a big part of why Mr. Kanjorski is a congressman today. When he drove up Wednesday morning from Washington, it was a sign he remembered the political lesson he inflicted on Mr. Harrison.

Ed, look what my research is finding. The mistake your client, Paul Kanjorski, is making lies in the fact that inflicting a political lesson is one thing...learning from the infliction is another. You're Outta Touch, Paul

Website ranks Pennsylvania among top 10 corrupt states

We shouldn't be proud. Here is the link at the Patriot News.

A analysis by the Daily Beast of the most corrupt states in the country based on arrests and convictions for public corruption, fraud and more ranked Pennsylvania No. 8. Tennessee was ranked No. 1 and New Hampshire 51st on the list that includes the District of Columbia (No. 36). Nevada is 7th, New Jersey 21st, New York 24th and Maryland 23rd

Do The Facts Support Brett Marcy's Statement?

The more one pays attention to Todd Eachus the more the bogus claims become evident. This press release is located on ToddEachus.com.

Legislative leaders trim salaries of top staffers

It is based on this original article written by Tracie Mauriello of the Post-Gazette.

The bogus claim-
"We have worked hard to trim costs and find ways to improve efficiencies," said Brett Marcy, press secretary to House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne.

The fact- Back in February Eachus announced the selection of Laura Kuller as the Democratic Caucus chief of staff. On March 9, 2009 Capital Ideas John Micek wrote this blog "Working For Mr. Eachus".

In February, Eachus announced that he’d hired Harrisburg lobbyist, and onetime Democratic employee, Laura Kuller as his new chief-of-staff.

Kuller will earn $161,000, or nearly $24,000 more than the salary paid in the last legislative session to Sandra F. Williams, who served as chief to then Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene.

Eachus’ new counsel, former Rendell administration senior lawyer Nora Winkelman, is being paid $149,900, or $16,781 more than the $133,119 salary paid to DeWeese's top lawyer William Martin Sloane last year.

He raised Kuller's position pay by almost 18%. But it doesn't stop there.

Eachus’ new counsel, former Rendell administration senior lawyer Nora Winkelman, is being paid $149,900, or $16,781 more than the $133,119 salary paid to DeWeese's top lawyer William Martin Sloane last year.

As further evidence of the facts not supporting the claims to the public look at this PDF file compiled by Mauriello.

Susan Schwab was hired as "legal council to the floor leader". Her salary is $132,522, an expense that wasn't there in 2009 according to the document. Patti Glasser was hired as Director of Administration with a salary of $125,684, another expense not listed in 2009. Arthur McNulty was hired as Democratic Committee Exective Director at a salary of $110,006, nada in 2009. That's $368,212 in extra expenses for 2010 alone. Is that what Brett Marcy meant by trimming expenses?

Yudichak Over Leighton

In the 14th Senatorial District SOP is predicting that State Representative John Yudichak will win handily over challenger Mayor Tom Leighton. Leighton should (Bill) brace for the loss.

Voter turnout is extremely light. In West Hazleton only 200 voters have made it to the polls so far.

Leighton Worker Campaigns In Front of Lou Barletta Headquarters

There is no secret in the political world that Tom Leighton and John Yudichak have been battling hard for the senate seat after Senator Ray Musto announced his retirement in the 14th district. Leighton has been campaigning side by side with Todd Eachus even to the point that they parked by Mayor Lou Barletta's house in the Terrace section of Hazleton as a sort of "poke in the eye" strategy.

As John Yudichak has reiterated throughout the campaign and quoted in this Standard Speaker article "The mayorLeighton) at the end here was making some wild allegations and trying to intimidate me and bully me as he has done with citizens here in the city of Wilkes-Barre who criticize him," Yudichak said.

Here is a picture of a campaign worker holding a Leighton sign in front of Barletta's campaign headquarters in downtown Hazleton. Todd Eachus's office is directly across the street. It appears Leighton wants to misinform the public that Barletta supports him by having this person campaign on the side of the street where Barletta's office is located, not Eachus's office. Typical Leighton and Eachus bully tactic.

Pennsylvania As A Bellweather State For Election