Senator John Yudichak Leads The Effort On Marcellus Shale Impact

Back in March of this year Senator John Yudichak(D-Luzerne) proposed legislation that would implement a severance tax on the extraction of natural gas in Pennsylvania. He was joined in his bipartisan effort with Senator Ted Erickson (R) and Senator John Blake(D) at the news conference according to PA Environment Daily.

“My goal is to initiate a fair and responsible severance tax in Pennsylvania. This proposal will generate significant revenue for local governments, our clean water infrastructure, and the Growing Greener program,” Sen. Yudichak said. “At the same time, such a moderate tax would allow the industry to continue expanding and creating jobs, as well as generate the economic development activity that Pennsylvania so desperately needs.”

Under Sen. Yudichak’s plan (Senate Bill 905), the severance tax would be gradually implemented based on the gas production of each well:
• A severance tax of 2 percent of the gross value of the natural gas severed at the wellhead; this tax rate would be in place for the first three years of well production;
• When the well has been in production for more than three years, the tax rate would increase to 5 percent;
• The tax rate would readjust back to 2 percent if a well’s rate of production fell below 150 MCF of natural gas per day and above 60 MCF per day;
• Wells that produce less than 60 MCF of natural gas per day are exempt from the tax.

If implemented, the severance tax would go into effect on July 1, 2011.
According to Yudichak, revenue from the severance tax would be distributed to three program areas:
• 33 percent of the revenue generated to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater and flood control projects;
• 33 percent to the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener); and
• 34 percent to local governments in those areas of Pennsylvania that are experiencing the direct effects of natural gas drilling.

Senator Yudichak has been closely monitoring this legislation as it moves along in the Senate process.

Let me be the first one to put this observation out there in public. I met Senator Yudichak during the last election cycle. He is a straight shooter, very intelligent, and well versed on government and issues affecting the public.

His bipartisan approach out of the gate as Senator is worthy of mention. He has worked well with Representative Tarah Toohil and Congressman Lou Barletta, both Republicans. Keep an eye on Yudichak for a stab at the governor's seat one day. If he continues on this path he will be a formidable candidate.

It is also worthy to note the great job Rep. Tarah Toohil and Congressman Lou Barletta are performing in "crossing the aisle" to reach out to everyone they represent. It is a new era in politics for this area, quite refreshing actually.

Hazleton First To Combat Bath Salts: Its History Of Attacking The Problems

In today's Times Leader reporter Steve Mocarsky tackles the problems many towns and cities in the region are facing concerning the use of products masquerading as "bath salts." These products are designer drugs intended to create an effect on the human body.

Hazleton's Mayor Joe Yannuzzi and City Council are keeping up a record of attacking the problems facing Hazleton. Mocarsky writes this synopsis of Hazleton's efforts against bath salts.

Hazleton
City Council adopted an ordinance on March 23 based on ordinances the city clerk found in other states. It lists 11 chemicals that, if contained in the substances, would make them illegal to sell, distribute or possess within city limits. Violating the ordinance could be punished with a fine up to $500 and/or incarceration up to 30 days, with each day of violation constituting a separate offense.



Yannuzzi and Evelyn Graham were architects of many laws enacted in Hazleton to attack the problems the City has faced over the last several years. During his council term Yannuzzi passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act to combat the influx of illegal aliens into Hazleton.

In 2007 Yannuzzi modeled a law restricting sex offenders from living withing 2500 feet of a school, childcare facility, park, community center or common open space after an Alabama law. He hoped to protect the children of the City with his ordinance.

Hazleton’s proposed ordinance says sexually violent predators have reduced expectation of privacy and residency requirements. Making information about the offenders protects children, the ordinance says.

Yannuzzi helped pass a dangerous dog ordinance in 2005 after attacked animals and humans highlighted the problem in Hazleton. At the same time he showed compassion for animals by providing the platform to start Bailey's Bark Park in the City.

Yannuzzi supported the mine reclammation project by Hazleton Creek Properties that provided the money to hire ten(10) full time police officers for Hazleton. The project remediates an abandoned mine site that has been severely impacted by past deep and surface mining practices containing over 277 acres of un-reclaimed abandoned mine pits and spoil piles. Portions of the site (approximately 50 acres) were subsequently used for disposal of municipal and industrial waste in several mine pits. His support helped put police officers on the street at a time when gang activity increased in Hazleton.

Recently Yannuzzi and Christopher J. Puza, newly appointed Hazleton Councilman attacked the gang problem by bringing local and state resources together in reponse to gang activity increasing fears withing the City's limits.

Hazleton City Administrator Mary Ellen Lieb talks with other officials at City Hall on Wednesday about gang violence. Others pictured are (clockwise from bottom) Councilman Chris Puza; Council President Jim Perry, Mayor Joe Yannuzzi and Councilwoman Evelyn Graham.

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER


“The community didn’t feel safe and we wanted to get everyone together to try to keep the city safe,” Councilman Chris Puza said.

Puza said he organized Wednesday’s roundtable meeting – which included city officials, City Council, Mayor Joe Yannuzzi and state Sen. John Yudichak and state Rep. Tarah Toohil – to discuss gang activity in the area and how the city should address it.

Investigators have said the January double-homicide in the city that took the lives of 21-year-old Vladimir Ruiz and 23-year-old Juda Hope was gang-related, which caused residents to worry for their safety, Puza said.

The roundtable was Puza’s response to those concerns.

It's going to be an interesting election season in Hazleton.

Rapid Fire Reading Around The State

Toohil appointed to leadership post in state House- State Representative Tarah Toohil who trounced then House Majority Leader Todd Eachus evicting him from his 116th Legislative District seat earns the deputy House Majority Whip post announced by House Majority Whip Stan Saylor, R-94, York. ( Read More............) What's that naysayers about losing seniority? If he had won he would have been in the minority anyway, same for Kanjorski, so don't buy into the typical election rhetoric about seniority. It's really about chutzpah..

Towns’ secession won’t be easy, commissioner says- Municipalities are looking to secede from Luzerne County and join Columbia County, one selling point, lower taxes (Read More...........)

Congressional race loser wins Corbett’s nomination- Pride Mobility Owner Dan Meuser's $60,000 campaing contributions to Governor-Elect Tom Corbett parlays into a $135,000 position. Last month, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that members of Corbett’s transition team and their employers gave almost $5 million to Corbett’s campaign, or 19 percent of his total contributions. ( Read More.........)

Grants OK'd by Rendell rapped- During his last three months in office, Gov. Ed Rendell approved almost $488 million worth of projects financed through state borrowing, about a third of them in Philadelphia, where Rendell was mayor.

The largest grant was $20 million to refurbish Lackawanna County Baseball Stadium, where a New York Yankees farm team will play. Three Philadelphia projects each received $10 million, including a corporate headquarters for brokerage firm Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. Smaller projects included $3 million for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender senior housing center in Philadelphia and $500,000 for a Kohl's store in Lycoming County. ( Read More............)

Gov. Ed Rendell signs execution warrants, including Middletown man's(Read More..........)
Rendell: Streamline executions or scrap them
Gov. Ed Rendell says the state's death penalty needs to be reviewed by the Legislature and either be fixed so that more murderers are executed or replaced with life sentences without the possibility of pardons.
(Read More..........)

Gov. Ed Rendell Has Meltdown On 60 Minutes, Suggests Lesley Stahl Is A “Simpleton” In case you missed it, Governor Ed Rendell was interviewed by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes and he demonstrated his apparently “infamous temper” over a harmless question about casino gambling (Read More.........)

Did anyone notice Sallie Mae is lowering interest rates on student loans? Isn't this the agency that Paul Kanjorski touted about becoming one of the top ten employers in our region? From May, 2010- Sallie Mae, the USA's largest private student lender, will announce today that starting May 10, rates on its Smart Option Student Loan will be 2.88% to 10.25%, based on the current London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the benchmark for the variable-rate loan. That's down from a range of 4.38% to 12.88%. And they picked on the mob???!!! Oh and....The rates for borrowers attending non-degree granting institutions will range from LIBOR + 7.75% to LIBOR + 12.50% (8.13% APR to 13.88% APR

Here is a link on how to refinance a Sallie Mae loan for those in need. By the way you can save money by paying back Sallie Mae while you are still in school...duhhh..Sallie...who can afford to pay back while still in school??? Would they be borrowing the money in the first place??

Judge Correale Stevens To Swear In Pa. House

Steve Mocarsky of the Times Leader reports that Judge Correale Stevens, soon-to-be President Judge of the Superior Court, will perform the swearing-in ceremonies for the House of Representatives at the State Capital January 4, 2011.

“As a former member of the state House, it is a special privilege and honor for me to participate in the ceremony,” Stevens said on Tuesday.

Stevens, 64, of Butler Township, was invited by incoming Speaker of the House Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney.

Stevens in November was unanimously elected to a five-year term as president judge of the Superior Court beginning on Jan. 9. In 2007, he was retained on the statewide appellate court to serve a second 10-year term.

A former state representative, Luzerne County district attorney and Common Pleas Court judge, Stevens graduated from Penn State University and from Dickinson School of Law, engaged in private law practice and served as solicitor for the city of Hazleton before his election to the state House in 1980 and re-election to three additional terms.

After serving four years as district attorney, Stevens was elected to the county Court of Common Pleas in 1991. He was elected to the state Superior Court in 1997 and won a retention vote by a nearly 2-to-1 margin in 2007.

It is going to be an honor for Tarah Toohil and the rest of the incoming class to be sworn in by a hometown native. (SOP picked a better picture of Judge Stevens to be posted).

Eachus's Harrisburg Home For Rent

Before the November election the Times-Tribune penned a story about homes owned in Harrisburg by state legislators including former House Majority Leader Todd Eachus. His spokesman, Brett Marcy, made these statesments over the controversy.

- Mr. Eachus, D-116, Butler Twp., and his wife, Ellen, own a two-story brick townhouse listed as commercial property with apartments at 225 South St., near the Capitol building.

They bought it for $125,000 on Aug. 30, 2005, and have a $100,000, 30-year mortgage on it. The previous owner paid $82,000 for it at a 1996 sheriff's sale. The property is also listed as a source of income on his 2008 financial interest statement.

Efforts to reach Mr. Eachus were unsuccessful, but his spokesman, Brett Marcy, said House rules do not distinguish among types of lodging.

"He incurs food and lodging expenses, so he deserves to be reimbursed for those expenses," he said.

"What you are getting at is whether this is permissible," he added. "The next question is whether it's right. We meet the threshold of whether it is permissible. He's following the rules."

Marcy never did comment on whether it was right.

The Pennsylvania Independent reported on Representative-Elect Tarah Toohil's comments over the controversy.

Ms. Toohil attacked her opponent for his per diem usage, particularly for using $27,000 in per diems to purchase a house in Harrisburg during a time when Pennsylvanians are struggling with an 8.9 percent unemployment rate.

She resoundingly defeated Eachus on November 2nd in what amounted to a stunning victory still talked about in Harrisburg. It will be recorded as one of the most amazing feats, rocking Harrisburg's political scene by coming out of nowhere and kicking the House Majority Leader out of office.

The picture above shows that Eachus put his house up for rent. It must be hard for him to afford a 2nd home when the taxpayers aren't footing the mortgage payments. Any bets on him returning any profit he makes on the sale right back to the state budget? Hmmm...look at it this way. I guess it is better than a sign outside a legislative office that says "For Sale."

Pennsylvania Government's Failure With Eachus's Turnabout

On election day House Majority Leader Todd Eachus lost his bid for reelection to newcomer Attorney Tarah Toohil. At his concession speech he had these words to say.

“Next week, I’m going to be going to the House floor, and I’m going to be Leader, and I’m going to focus on protecting the pension system and the obligation to our public citizens.”

Although Eachus was nowhere to be found he surfaced Friday in Harrisburg in time to help cancel the rest of the post election House sessions. According to this Associated Press report filed with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review outgoing House Speaker Keith McCall issued a memo announcing that the House would not have the lame-duck voting sessions later this month that were previously scheduled.

House Majority Whip Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, said he argued against the decision to cancel the remaining session days when he discussed it with McCall and Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne.

"I thought it was the wrong approach, that we should go back and that we ought to address a couple issues, the pension issue, among others," said Dermody, who is running for Democratic floor leader in the coming session.

Dermody said the overriding factor in McCall's decision was opposition to establishment of a legislative fiscal office, which is a provision of the Senate-passed pension bill pending in the House. He called it an unfunded mandate, but said he would vote for the pension bill even if it contains the new office.

A main opponent of the fiscal office has been Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia.

His spokeswoman Johnna Pro said Friday that the pension bill does not pass constitutional muster because it contains the fiscal office, citing an Oct. 14 ruling by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau that the legislation violates the state's constitutional requirement that laws may not address multiple, unrelated topics.

"We're talking about creating a $4 million legislative agency with three dozen employees," Pro said. "We just don't agree with that." Dwight Evans doesn't agree with someone looking over his shoulder. Mr. Evans...what was it about that $29 million that went to that charity in Philadelphia.

Karen Heller of the The Philadelphia Inquirer does a nice job of exposing another Harrisburg boondoggle involving the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars.

While the state is bankrupt and deserving programs have been slashed, career politicians like Rep. Dwight Evans continue to siphon money for their pet projects.

According to the Darwyyn Deyo of the Pennsylvania Independent House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne) said Friday the pension bill was unconstitutional and would not be brought to the floor for a vote.

Since they cancelled the sessions before the election McCall and Eachus have given legislators who earn $78,314 per year minimum a two month vacation on our tax dollars.

A spokesman for House Majority Leader Todd Eachus says the Democratic caucus is still trying to decide what to do about a Senate bill that packages pension reforms with the creation of an independent fiscal office.

The message being sent to the citizens of Pennsylvania. Don't dare ask us for an independent review. And Eachus wonders why he was a target?

It is rumored...well more than that..he said after the results of the election.."I was cheated". No Mr. Eachus...the taxpayers are cheated if for two months our legislature is prevented from coming to work.

Shame on the media in Northeastern PA for not getting to the bottom of this.

Tarah Toohil's Unbelievable Accomplishment

Back in January Tarah Toohil announced that she was considering a run at the 116th Legislative District seat occupied by House Majority Leader Todd Eachus. Through a truly grassroots campaign effort she was able handily defeat Eachus in probably the most stunning political upset in this Pennsylvania election season.

In the most classless handling of the loss it appears Todd Eachus never called Tarah Toohil to congratulate her on the win. According to this report from WNEP 16 Eachus is nowhere to be found.

In the state house Republicans reclaimed the majority for the first time in four years in part by defeating Democratic leader Todd Eachus of the Hazleton area.

Some people thought they would never see Tarah Toohil, a political unknown as a rising star in the republican party.

She beat an unseated Democrat Representative Todd Eachus, the powerful house majority leader.

"I am just elated and I can't thank the people enough. I will be so honored to serve them," said Tarah Toohil.

"Tarah was the surprise of the evening, she got out fast and worked real hard and had the help of Todd Eachus who kept shooting himself in the foot every time he did something he did it wrong," said Joe Yannuzzi, Hazleton Council President.

Traditionally the loser of a political race calls the winner after an election with words of support.

Newswatch 16 asked Toohil if representative Todd Eachus congratulated here? "No," said Toohil. We then asked Toohil what she thought about that? "I wish his family the best, I really do and we are just moving in a new direction," added Toohil.

Newswatch 16 wanted to get some input from representative Eachus about what he thought of his loss. We started at his campaign headquarters, he was not in, then his legislative office where one staffer told us he was out to lunch and another said he wasn't available.

Newswatch 16 tried to contact Eachus by phone this is the recording we got. "The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time, please try your call later."

There was also no answer at his house in the Drums area.

Newswatch 16 left messages at every location for representative Todd Eachus, but received no response.

SOP went to great lengths acknowledging Paul Kanjorski's sincere congratulations to Lou Barletta. Kanjorski seemed to be relieved that the election was over. He seemed at peace with himself, something that also should be part of his legacy when historians look back. Mr. Eachus would have received the same treatment but there is a saying "Temper tantrums don't require an audience." When historians look back on him the writings won't be so flattering.

Where To Be Election Night

Terry Casey, Chairman of the Luzerne County Republicans sent out an email announcing the GOP parties on election night.

Please join us for a victory celebration at Luzerne County Republican Headquarters, 41 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, on Election Night.

There will be food and beverages.

Other GOP parties:

· PAT TOOMEY, Holiday Inn, 7736 Adrienne Drive, Allentown

· TOM CORBETT/JIM CAWLEY, Pittsburgh

· LOU BARLETTA, Mea’s Restaurant, 8 W. Broad St., Hazleton

· TOM MARINO, 33 East Restaurant, 33 East St., Williamsport

· STEVE URBAN, Luzerne County GOP HQ, Wilkes-Barre

· FRANK SCAVO, Arcaro & Genell, Main Street, Old Forge

· KAREN BOBACK, Lakeside Skillet, Harveys Lake

· RICK ARNOLD, Cavanaugh’s, Mountain Top

· BILL GOLDSWORTHY, Bo Brothers, Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming

· JAMES O’MEARA, Luzerne County GOP Headquarters

· TARAH TOOHIL, Elks Lodge, East Broad Street, Hazleton

· TERRENCE O’CONNOR, Luzerne Co. GOP Headquarters, Wilkes-Barre


· TERRY CASEY, LUZERNE COUNTY GOP CHAIRMAN
GOP Headquarters, Wilkes-Barre

570-208-4671

Eachus Hired Admitted Felon Robert Powell's Attorney Firm

In Jewish they would call this chutzpah. For the past month House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and the Pennsylvania Democratic Campaign Committee have been malicously attacking Tarah Toohil for representing a barber in Luzerne County Court. In addition they tried to tie her to one of the attorneys representing a judge in the Luzerne County corruption scandal just because his office is in the same building as Attorney Toohil's private solo practice.

In this article which appears on Law.com dated February 25, 2009 Attorney Richard Sprague from Philadelphia is mentioned as representing now admitted felon Robert Powell in that very case cited by Eachus and his politcal party campaign caucus.

Stacey Witalec, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, said the department's records show attorney Robert J. Powell, of The Powell Group in Drums, Pa., and Western Pennsylvania investment banker Gregory R. Zappala were owners of PA Child Care. Powell sold his interest in the company to Zappala last year, Witalec said.

The Citizens' Voice, a Wilkes-Barre, Pa., newspaper, has previously identified the builder as Robert S. Mericle, owner and president of Mericle Construction Inc.

A day before the judges appeared in federal court, attorneys for Powell acknowledged he was the former co-owner of the detention centers identified as Participant No. 1.

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.

On November 03, 2008 the House Democratic Caucus led by Todd Eachus hired Sprague and Sprague in a contract numbered HDC01111008 potentially worth $100,000.00. This contract provides for Sprague and Sprague to furnish legal services to the House Democratic Caucus. Total compensation for this contract shall not exceed $100,000.

The contract has no end date so presumably the HDC is still a client of Sprague and Sprague. Click on this link to the actual contract.

The audacity of the Eachus camp to employ such a stupid tactic with this information readily available to the public is mind boggling. Eachus actually hires Powell's attorney and he wants to tie Toohil to something just because she shares the same office building address as another attorney. Eachus flies for free on Powell's jet but he has the effrontery to open up this subject. Chutzpah,nahhh...arrogance, unashamed boldness, stupidity..closer...

Eachus's Potential Ethics Problems Over "Air Corruption" Flights

In what is being labeled as a case of "jet lag" House Majority Leader Todd Eachus is being taken to task over his bogus claims that he didn't have to report flights he accepted from now admitted felon Robert Powell aboard his jet, earning the Pulp-Fiction like name of "Air Corruption". Steve Mocarsky penned this story today in the Times Leader.

Eachus said he wasn’t required to report the flight on his 2007 filings with the state Ethics Commission because “it was in the act of work, at least the way I consider it.” He initially said the value of the flight was “below the reporting threshold."

Dave Georges, Eachus’ campaign spokesman, said legislative counsel told him last week that the flight did not have to be reported because it “was taken in the discharge of his duties and he did not profit from it personally.” He said last week the 2007 flight was the only one Eachus made on the jet.

If legislative counsel, which SOP previously reported at 12 firms with 27 contracts and amendments, gave advice Mr. Georges should produce the written opinion. Eachus, like his former boss Paul Kanjorski, must feel he can make up his own rules.

Here's what others have to say on the matter.

Steve Miskin, House Republican Caucus spokesman, said the trip should have been reported. “When you attend a press conference, you are deriving a benefit. You get your picture in the paper, you get on the news; that’s a benefit,” he said.

Robert Davis Jr., a Harrisburg attorney who limits his practice to attorney ethics matters, said he has had clients who were confused about the instructions.

“A fair reading … would leave people wondering whether to report it or not. … But I would think the better judgment would be to list it,” Davis said, adding it might be difficult to determine the value of the flight or flights.

Dick Denison, president of Denison Jet Sales, Greer, S.C., was hired to sell the jet in 2009. He estimated the cost to operate the plane at about $2,000 per hour.

Capt. Ross Aimer, CEO of Aviation Experts LLC, San Clemente, Calif., agreed with the $2,000-per-hour figure and estimated the flight time from Hazleton to Harrisburg at 12 minutes, from Hazleton to Allegheny County at 45 minutes and Allegheny County to Harrisburg at 20 minutes. But charges begin from the moment the plane is powered up until the engines are turned off, which could add half an hour to an hour to the calculations, he said.

Can Mr. Eachus explain to the public how attending a private firm's media circus is part of HIS legislative duties?

Tarah Toohil, Eachus’ Republican challenger for his seat in the 116th Legislative District(and an attorney), said Eachus should have reported both flights on his ethics forms. “We have a real problem with a lack of ethics here; that’s very apparent.”

By SOP's calculations the cost of these particular double round trip flights approaches $3,000.00. The jet flew to Harrisburg to pick Mr. Eachus up and bring him to Hazleton. Then it took him back to Harrisburg and returned to Hazleton. Do your own calculations based on the information from the aviation experts and see if Mr. Georges and Mr. Eachus pass the smell test?

Eachus- Frequent Flyer On Air Corruption?

In today's Times Leader there is a story by Steve Mocarsky that questions Todd Eachus's claims that he only received one ride on now admitted felon Robert Powell's jet, media coined "Air Corruption".

Contrary to a statement from state House Majority Leader Todd Eachus’ spokesman, Eachus made more than one flight on a jet owned by admitted felon Robert Powell, according to sources.

Eachus, D-Butler Township, was aboard the 1981 Sabreliner 65 for at least part of a flight from Hazleton to Allegheny County to Harrisburg, back to Allegheny County and back to Hazleton on Dec. 27, 2006, the sources said.

Last week, Eachus confirmed that he took a round-trip on the jet from Harrisburg to Hazleton and back for a press conference to announce a development plan for a cargo airport near Hazleton on Jan. 31, 2007.

Through his campaign spokesman, Dave Georges, Eachus said last week that was his only time on the jet.

For months SOP has been reporting that close sources relayed similar information about multiple flights. It isn't so much that Eachus flew on Powell's jet. It is the fact that he failed to report it on his Ethics Commission filings. Only he can answer why.

Clinton Can't Remember Where His Wife Was Born

Yesterday former President Bill Clinton came to Nanticoke, Pa. to stump for his long time friend Paul Kanjorski. Although Elvis was sighted in the crowd no one saw Monica Lewinsky. It might be a good thing.

Andrew Seder of the Times Leader reported that Clinton forgot where his wife was born.

Clinton, as he always does when appearing in the region, reminded people that his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was born in Scranton and still has relatives in the area.

From Wikipedia:

Hillary Diane Rodham was born at Edgewater Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised in a United Methodist family, first in Chicago and then, from the age of three, in suburban Park Ridge, Illinois. As a child, Hillary Rodham was a teacher's favorite at her public schools in Park Ridge. She participated in swimming, baseball, and other sports. She also earned numerous awards as a Brownie and Girl Scout. She attended Maine East High School, where she participated in student council, the school newspaper, and was selected for National Honor Society. For her senior year, she was redistricted to Maine South High School, where she was a National Merit Finalist and graduated in the top five percent of her class of 1965. In 1965, Rodham enrolled at Wellesley College, where she majored in political science. Rodham then entered Yale Law School, where she served on the editorial board of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action. In the late spring of 1971, she began dating Bill Clinton, also a law student at Yale. That summer, she interned at the Oakland, California, law firm of Treuhaft, Walker and Burnstein. The firm was well-known for its support of constitutional rights, civil liberties, and radical causes (two of its four partners were current or former Communist Party members); Rodham worked on child custody and other cases. Clinton canceled his original summer plans, in order to live with her in California; the couple continued living together in New Haven when they returned to law school. The following summer, Rodham and Clinton campaigned in Texas for unsuccessful 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern. She received a Juris Doctor degree from Yale in 1973, having stayed on an extra year to be with Clinton. Clinton first proposed marriage to her following graduation, but she declined. She began a year of postgraduate study on children and medicine at the Yale Child Study Center.During her postgraduate study, Rodham served as staff attorney for Edelman's newly founded Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and as a consultant to the Carnegie Council on Children. During 1974, she was a member of the impeachment inquiry staff in Washington, D.C., advising the House Committee on the Judiciary during the Watergate scandal. Under the guidance of Chief Counsel John Doar and senior member Bernard Nussbaum, Rodham helped research procedures of impeachment and the historical grounds and standards for impeachment. The committee's work culminated in the resignation of President Richard Nixon in August 1974. In August 1974, she moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and became one of only two female faculty members in the School of Law at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville,[58][59] where Bill Clinton also was. She gave classes in criminal law, where she was considered a rigorous teacher and tough grader, and was the first director of the school's legal aid clinic. She still harbored doubts about marriage, concerned that her separate identity would be lost and that her accomplishments would be viewed in the light of someone else's.

Early Arkansas years

Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton lived in this 980 square feet (91 m2) house in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock from 1977 to 1979 while he was Arkansas Attorney General. Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton bought a house in Fayetteville in the summer of 1975, and Hillary finally agreed to marry.She was born on October 26, 1947.

(Note: One reader questioned using Wikipedia as a source which I believe to be a fair one. You will find the same information at the National First Ladies Library site.)

Can someone please tell me when Hillary Diane Rodham lived in Scranton??? WTF?? There isn't one mention of Scranton on Wikipedia.

I forgot. We are back to Kanjorski's statement where we stretch the facts to win an election. Next thing you know she was related to Jim Thorpe.

Talk about lying to the public. No wonder Todd Eachus was Master of Ceremonies.

Todd Eachus In His Own Words About The Cargo Airport Taxpayer Support

During a debate aired on Channel 13 of Hazleton with Tarah Toohil, House Majority Leader Todd Eachus declared that "not a penny of tax dollars went to that project" in reference to the proposed cargo airport outside of Hazleton by now admitted felon/airport partner Robert Powell. Listen.



Here is scan of the DVD paid for by taxpayer dollars to promote the project.

Here is a screen capture of his House website paid for by the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.

Here is a slide from a PowerPoint presentation Eachus presented on behalf of the proposed cargo airport using a taxpayer funded email address.

In baseball isn't it three strikes and you're out?

Toohil Poll- Press Release

The following press release was sent out by the Tarah Toohil for State Representative campaign office.

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
Contact: 570-788-2479 or toohil@gmail.com
October 25, 2010
TOOHIL LEADS HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER IN NEW POLL

HARRISBURG – A recent poll released by the Pennsylvania House Republican Campaign Committee shows State House candidate Tarah Toohil leading Rep. Todd Eachus by 5 points as Election Day nears.

"It's clear the voters in the 116th legislative district are looking for a candidate who's willing to take on the entrenched establishment, fight for the interests of our community, publically stand up to discuss the issues, and a leader who won’t hide behind staff or attack mailers,” Toohil said. "This poll just confirms that voters have embraced my campaign’s message and that momentum is clearly behind my campaign."

Toohil surged ahead in the polls despite Eachus’ malicious attempts to discredit and harass her. In 6 days, Toohil's numbers moved from being behind 4 points to being ahead by 5 points. The newest poll of 800 voters was conducted on October 18th. The question asked "If the election were held today, would you vote for Tarah Toohil or Todd Eachus?" The Results: Toohil 49%, Eachus 44% with 9% undecided. The poll has a 3.5% margin of error.

PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT TARAH TOOHIL

It should be noted that this poll was conducted before the revelation that Todd Eachus flew on Robert Powell's airplane, failed to report it on his Ethics Commission filing, and then retracted his explanation for the flight.

SOP has previously reported on these poll results with Capitolwire as the source.

Eachus Spent Taxpayer Money On Cargo Airport

In his debate with challenger Tarah Toohil on Channel 13, House Majority Leader Todd Eachus stated of the proposed cargo airport project by now admitted felon Robert Powell as one of the partners, "..not a penny of tax dollars went to that project."

The following pictures were from his Power Point presentation on January 31, 2007 at the announcement of the project.

The "pahouse.net" is a computer system fully paid for by the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. SOP has previously posted this scannned image of the DVD that was passed out the the media on the day of the cargo airport announcement.

I guess Mr. Eachus should explain these slight discrepancies.

Toohil Pulls Ahead of Eachus

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

CAPITOLWIRE: HRCC POLL:
TOOHIL 49% EACHUS 44%

Eachus Knew About Problems With Powell's Juvenile Facility In 2006- Casino Connection

In the Channel 13 debate between House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and formidable challenger Attorney Tarah Toohil, Eachus made the claim that he broke off ties with Robert Powell over the proposed cargo airport outside of Hazleton once he found out about the corruption. He also stated that "..not a penny of tax dollars went to that project."

Let's examine his claims and see if they pass the smell test.

First, the picture above is a scan of a disc/dvd presented to the press and attendees at the press conference held January 31, 2007 at 1:00P.M. to announce the proposed cargo airport by partner/now admitted felon Robert Powell. As you can see it was produced by the Legislative Communications Office and contains the "Seal of the House of Representatives". That proves Eachus lied about "not one penny of tax dollars went to that project."

Let's move on.

On October 14, 2009 the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice held a hearing at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg. Here is a link to the transcript of that hearing.

Todd Eachus's testimony begins on page 28 of that transcript.

He was asked "Are you aware of any complaints that have been filed wither with the Disciplinary Board, which regulates attorneys; the Judicial Conduct Board, which regulates judges,; or any other governmental investigative agencies?" Eachus's response was "No, I'm not. But to Mr.--one of the Commissioner's questions, asa a member of the Northeast delegation, it would have been around 2006, we were briefed by the Department of Public Welfare, and there were a number of people who came before the delegation to talk about the increased rates of incarceration at the juvenile level in Luzerne County."

"I think they would have been led by Mr. Cohn, who is the legislative liason for the Department, still is, for the Rendell Administration. I can't recollect exactly who the others were within the department, but there was a significant spike in incarceration which, you know, retrospectively today having conversations with the administration did not get through in a way that helped changed the system."

He goes onto state "It is troubling though that that kind of data from a state agency couldn't get through to the court system in order to help rearticulate a direction or review of the juvenile system in Luzerne County."

When asked if there was any follow up meeting Eachus conveys who the delegation was at the time. "It would have been Representative Phyllis Mundy; Kevin Blaum; who is now retired; a number of other members of Luzerne County and northeast delegation who would have been part of that briefing by the Department."

There wasn't much we could do about it legislatively because the interaction was administrative and they said not to worry, that they were going to handle it. But they wanted to raise the concern with the delegation.

There wasn't much we could do about it but they wanted to raise the concern with the delegation. I don't believe I took that paragraph out of context.

By Judge Gibbons:

Q: Mr. Leader, do you have constituents that came to your office registering complaints during the operative time frame regarding what was going on in the juvenile justice system in Luzerne County?

Eachus: I had one couple, and I'm happy to do some research to provide the information. I looked back at it. It would have been somewhere in 2006. A young couple came to me relating to incarceration of their daughter. It would have been a young girl in high school age.

Q: Could you tell us what you did?

Eachus: Well, I reached out to the court administrator....The family expressed to me that -- that the young lady was incarcerated for this theft, that she did not have any jewelry in her possession.

They were unaware that she stole anything, but the terms of the incarceration wre that if she did not return the jewelry, that she would stay in the detention center, the juvenile detention center in Luzerne County, for an indeterminate period, which I thought was a strange practice as related to how young people in the juvenile system would be incarcerated."

"I inquired. And I can't tell you whether my inquiry helped or didn't, but I can check back on my records."

I inquired but can't tell you whether it helped or not. Shesh.

That testimony is some of the most inculpatory words regarding knowledge of plain old "something ain't right here" that should spark the offensive flames in any father's mind.

Let's get to the timeline here.

2006- Eachus is told about problems at the juvenile detention facility owned in part by now admitted felon Robert Powell.

He accepts this donation from Powell.
Contributor Date Amount
Robert Powell
Drums , PA 18222 6/12/2006 $340.00
Occupation: lawyer
Employer: PA
Description: Monetary Contribution-
Recipient: Friends of Todd Eachus
Report: 2006 Cycle 4

January 31, 2007- At 1:00P.M. there is a press conference to announce a proposed cargo airport outside of Hazleton. Representative Todd Eachus, Robert Powell, and Greg Skrepenak attended that conference among others.

January 31, 2007- Eachus accepts a ride on Robert Powell's jet from and to Harrisburg.

Then he accepts the following donation six days later from admitted felon Robert Powell's PAC.

February 6, 2007-
Contributor Date Amount
Conservatives for Good Government
Sugarloaf, PA 18249 2/8/2007 $5,000.00
Occupation: -
Employer: PA
Description: Monetary Contribution-
Recipient: Friends of Todd Eachus
Report: 2007 Cycle 2

On Jun 18, 2007 Representative Dwight Evans introduces a budget bill in the House. On June 28, 2007 Representative Todd Eachus offers an amendment to that bill inserting $250 million worth of funding for Powell's proposed cargo airport outside of Hazleton.

Eachus's claim that he broke off ties with Robert Powell once he found out about the corruption is classic misdirection to the public about his real knowledge. According to his sworn testimony he knew "things weren't right in Denmark" in 2006. His platitudes are incomprehensible and incompatible with common sense and basic values. He continued to accept contributions and rides on Powell's jet.

The following is flight activity for Robert Powell's jet, N69WU. Maybe Mr. Eachus could explain to the public whether he was on any of these flights. In particular did he fly to the Bahamas, San Salvador, or the trip to the Final Four in St. Louis or Las Vegas that occured the same trip in March, 2007?  Start from the bottom of the list up to follow the flights.

Activity Log
History Search for N69WU
Date Type Origin Destination Departure Arrival Duration
28-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
08:37AM EST 09:00AM EST 0:23
20-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
11:27AM EST 11:36AM EST 0:09
20-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
11:27AM EST Diverted
11-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Manchester (KMHT)
07:14PM EST 07:50PM EST 0:36
11-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
04:13PM EST 06:22PM EST 2:09
11-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
12:20PM EST 02:32PM EST 2:12
10-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Minot Intl (KMOT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:50PM CST 08:13PM EST 2:23
10-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
Minot Intl (KMOT)
09:22PM GMT 04:08PM CST 0:46
10-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
11:17AM EST 08:15PM GMT 3:58
08-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Manchester (KMHT)
02:52PM EST 03:33PM EST 0:41
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:29PM EST 11:28PM EST 1:59
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
05:37PM EST 08:49PM EST 3:12
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:12PM EST 04:43PM EST 0:31
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
10:52AM EST 11:33AM EST 0:41
05-Nov-2007
SBR1/W Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:44PM GMT 01:49PM EST 3:05
05-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:44PM GMT result unknown (?)
n/a
04-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
05:20PM EST 02:10AM GMT (+1) 3:50
04-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:50PM EST 04:43PM EST 0:53
04-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
02:06PM EST 02:58PM EST 0:52
02-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
03:28PM EDT 04:35PM EDT 1:07
02-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
01:26PM EDT 02:59PM EDT 1:33
02-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Norwood Memorial (KOWD)
01:26PM EDT Diverted
01-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:09AM EDT 11:39AM EDT 0:30
01-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
09:50AM EDT 10:44AM EDT 0:54
01-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:00AM EDT 09:16AM EDT 0:16
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:35PM EDT 04:41PM EDT 0:06
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
03:30PM EDT 03:57PM EDT 0:27
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KCXY)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
03:02PM EDT 03:23PM EDT 0:21
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Capital City (KCXY)
10:02AM EDT 10:43AM EDT 0:41
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
08:51AM EDT 09:08AM EDT 0:17
13-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Yampa Valley (KHDN)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
02:40PM MDT 07:41PM EDT 3:01
08-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Fort Dodge Rgnl (KFOD)
Yampa Valley (KHDN)
11:00AM CDT 10:30AM MDT 0:30
08-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Sidney Muni/Lloyd W. Carr Field (KSNY)
06:58AM EDT 08:19AM MDT 3:21
08-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Fort Dodge Rgnl (KFOD)
06:58AM EDT Diverted
02-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:20AM EDT 09:28AM EDT 0:08
02-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
08:27AM EDT 08:50AM EDT 0:23
02-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
07:31AM EDT 07:55AM EDT 0:24
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
06:26PM EDT 07:34PM EDT 1:08
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
04:32PM EDT 05:47PM EDT 1:15
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
09:34AM EDT 10:56AM EDT 1:22
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
06:58AM EDT 08:08AM EDT 1:10
15-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Norwood Memorial (KOWD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:36PM EDT 01:48PM EDT 0:12
15-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Norwood Memorial (KOWD)
12:26PM EDT 01:14PM EDT 0:48
15-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
11:22AM EDT 11:29AM EDT 0:07
14-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Butler County/K W Scholter Field (KBTP)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:58PM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
14-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Butler County/K W Scholter Field (KBTP)
12:48PM EDT 01:36PM EDT 0:48
07-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:30AM EDT 09:38AM EDT 0:08
07-Sep-2007 SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
08:39AM EDT 08:42AM EDT n/a
07-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
08:30AM EDT 08:31AM EDT 0:01
06-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:06PM EDT 09:25PM EDT 2:19
29-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
06:16AM EDT 08:38AM EDT 2:22
28-Aug-2007
SBR1/G Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
10:30AM EDT 11:24AM EDT 0:54
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:36PM EDT 06:16PM EDT 0:40
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
04:29PM EDT 04:39PM EDT 0:10
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
03:46PM EDT 04:03PM EDT 0:17
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
12:04PM EDT 12:36PM EDT 0:32
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
11:37AM EDT 11:49AM EDT 0:12
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:59AM EDT 10:16AM EDT 0:17
19-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Manchester (KMHT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:46PM EDT 08:36PM EDT 0:50
19-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
Manchester (KMHT)
05:21PM EDT 07:20PM EDT 1:59
19-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
02:42PM EDT 04:13PM EDT 1:31
17-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:44PM EDT 03:10PM EDT 1:26
17-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
11:25AM EDT 12:48PM EDT 1:23
16-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
05:04PM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
16-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Manchester (KMHT)
05:04PM EDT Diverted
13-Aug-2007
N265/A Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Manchester (KMHT)
03:20PM EDT 03:33PM EDT 0:13
10-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
02:00PM EDT 02:51PM EDT 0:51
10-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
12:24PM EDT 01:07PM EDT 0:43
09-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Rapid City Rgnl (KRAP)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:44AM MDT 02:34PM EDT 2:50
06-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
Rapid City Rgnl (KRAP)
10:10AM EDT 11:04AM MDT 2:54
06-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
08:47AM EDT 09:37AM EDT 0:50
06-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
07:50AM EDT 08:14AM EDT 0:24
02-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Republic (KFRG)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
12:43PM EDT 01:15PM EDT 0:32
02-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Republic (KFRG)
11:39AM EDT 12:14PM EDT 0:35
01-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Republic (KFRG)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:31PM EDT 06:07PM EDT 0:36
01-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Republic (KFRG)
04:41PM EDT 05:19PM EDT 0:38
28-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:07PM EDT 01:26PM EDT 0:19
28-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Cape May County (KWWD)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
12:01PM EDT 12:37PM EDT 0:36
28-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cape May County (KWWD)
10:03AM EDT 10:45AM EDT 0:42
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KLAN)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
04:04PM EDT 05:13PM EDT 1:09
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L St Paul Downtown Holman Fld (KSTP)
Capital City (KLAN)
10:12AM CDT 12:14PM EDT 1:02
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L St Paul Downtown Holman Fld (KSTP)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
10:12AM CDT Diverted
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
St Paul Downtown Holman Fld (KSTP)
08:25AM EDT 09:27AM CDT 2:02
19-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Cape May County (KWWD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:27AM EDT 09:58AM EDT 0:31
19-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cape May County (KWWD)
08:46AM EDT 09:14AM EDT 0:28
18-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:19PM EDT 07:45PM EDT 0:26
16-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:46PM EDT 05:43PM EDT 0:57
16-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
03:13PM EDT 04:28PM EDT 1:15
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Newport News/Williamsburg Intl (KPHF)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:37PM EDT 04:33PM EDT 0:56
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Newport News/Williamsburg Intl (KPHF)
11:35AM EDT 12:20PM EDT 0:45
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Waukegan Rgnl (KUGN)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
08:49AM CDT 11:05AM EDT 1:16
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Waukegan Rgnl (KUGN)
07:34AM EDT 08:16AM CDT 1:42
02-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Columbus Muni (KBAK)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:46AM EDT 12:54PM EDT 1:08
02-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Columbus Muni (KBAK)
06:42AM EDT 09:08AM EDT 2:26
27-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Martin State (KMTN)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:31AM EDT 07:54AM EDT 0:23
27-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Martin State (KMTN)
06:43AM EDT 07:03AM EDT 0:20
26-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
02:13PM EDT 02:42PM EDT 0:29
26-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
10:24AM EDT 10:58AM EDT 0:34
19-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:23PM EDT 05:32PM EDT 1:09
19-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
06:30PM GMT result unknown (?)
n/a
19-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
10:48AM EDT 04:53PM GMT 2:05
15-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:50PM EDT 06:55PM EDT 1:05
15-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
08:04PM GMT 05:11PM EDT 1:07
15-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
12:25PM EDT 07:14PM GMT 2:49
13-Jun-2007
N265/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
03:55PM EDT 04:57PM EDT 1:02
13-Jun-2007
N265/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
03:20PM EDT 03:45PM EDT 0:25
13-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:57AM EDT 10:36AM EDT 0:39
13-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
07:23AM EDT 08:29AM EDT 1:06
13-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
06:19AM EDT 06:56AM EDT 0:37
10-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
06:31PM EDT 07:02PM EDT 0:31
10-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
04:42PM EDT 05:14PM EDT 0:32
09-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
11:08AM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
09-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:08AM EDT Diverted
09-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
10:03AM EDT 10:27AM EDT 0:24
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
12:36PM EDT 01:02PM EDT 0:26
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L New Castle (KILG)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
11:30AM EDT 12:01PM EDT 0:31
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
New Castle (KILG)
10:05AM EDT 10:44AM EDT 0:39
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
09:13AM EDT 09:46AM EDT 0:33
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
07:45AM EDT 08:17AM EDT 0:32
03-Jun-2007
SBR/L Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:27PM EDT 01:57PM EDT 0:30
03-Jun-2007
SBR/L New Castle (KILG)
Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
12:18PM EDT 01:02PM EDT 0:44
23-May-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:20PM EDT 08:12PM EDT 0:52
23-May-2007
SBR1/L Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
09:21PM GMT 06:45PM EDT 1:24
23-May-2007
SBR1/A San Salvador (MYSM)
Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
08:05PM GMT 09:43PM GMT 1:38
23-May-2007
SBR1/G Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
San Salvador (MYSM)
07:21PM GMT 07:48PM GMT 0:27
23-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
12:13PM EDT 06:27PM GMT 2:14
21-May-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
03:57PM EDT 05:04PM EDT 1:07
21-May-2007
SBR1/G Nassau Int'l (MYNN)   <----------Bahamas
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
05:54PM GMT 03:20PM EDT 1:26
21-May-2007
SBR1/L Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
02:28PM GMT result unknown (?)
n/a
21-May-2007
SBR1/L Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
San Salvador (MYSM)
02:28PM GMT Diverted
20-May-2007
SBR1/L San Salvador (MYSM)
Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
11:05PM GMT 12:13AM GMT (+1) 1:08
20-May-2007
SBR1/L Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
10:28PM GMT 06:32PM EDT 0:04
20-May-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
02:31PM EDT 09:35PM GMT 3:04
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
08:56PM EDT 08:59PM EDT 0:03
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
07:59PM EDT 08:36PM EDT 0:37
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:59PM EDT Diverted
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
05:38PM EDT 06:08PM EDT 0:30
16-May-2007
SBR1/F Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:48AM EDT 12:16PM EDT 0:28
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
10:32AM EDT 11:13AM EDT 0:41
11-May-2007
SBR1/L Atlantic City Intl (KACY)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:33PM EDT 06:03PM EDT 0:30
11-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Atlantic City Intl (KACY)
04:42PM EDT 07:00PM EDT 2:18
10-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
01:56PM EDT 02:22PM EDT 0:26
18-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
11:46AM EDT 12:09PM EDT 0:23
14-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Greater Binghamton/Edwin A Link Field (KBGM)
08:56AM EDT 08:55AM EDT n/a
10-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Orlando Intl (KMCO)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:51PM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
10-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Orlando Intl (KMCO)
09:50AM EDT 12:15PM EDT 2:25
09-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
02:53PM EDT 04:48PM EDT 1:55
09-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)
Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
03:24PM GMT 02:23PM EDT 2:59
09-Apr-2007
SBR1/G Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)      <----------------------Aruba
07:22AM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
01-Apr-2007
SBR1/I Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)
Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
08:44PM GMT 06:45PM EDT 2:01
01-Apr-2007
SBR1/G Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)
11:19AM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
01-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
08:31AM EDT 10:39AM EDT 2:08
25-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
07:42PM CDT 10:37PM EDT 1:55
25-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)
06:21PM EDT 07:14PM CDT 1:53
25-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)     <-----------Las Vegas
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
10:07AM PDT 05:20PM EDT 4:13
23-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)   <---------Final Four
Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)
01:12PM CDT 02:28PM PDT 3:16
23-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)     <-----------Final Four
10:48AM EDT 12:10PM CDT 2:22
23-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:52AM EDT 10:17AM EDT 0:25
22-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:54AM PDT 04:48PM EDT 3:54
21-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Garden City Rgnl (KGCK)
Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)
11:32AM CDT 11:37AM PDT 2:05
21-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Garden City Rgnl (KGCK)
09:03AM EDT 11:06AM CDT 3:03
14-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
06:45PM EDT 07:14PM EDT 0:29
14-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
05:56PM EDT 06:37PM EDT 0:41
09-Mar-2007
SBR1/F Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
01:49PM EST 02:36PM EST 0:47
09-Mar-2007
SBR1/Q Princess Juliana Int'l (TNCM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
02:41PM GMT 01:08PM EST 3:27
06-Mar-2007
SBR1/W Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Princess Juliana Int'l (TNCM)
09:08AM EST 05:10PM GMT 3:02
06-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
07:19AM EST 08:24AM EST 1:05
06-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
06:29AM EST 06:36AM EST 0:07
02-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:49PM EST result unknown (?)
n/a
02-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
05:49PM EST Diverted
02-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
04:50PM EST 05:31PM EST 0:41
28-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta Intl (KATL)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
04:19PM EST 05:36PM EST 1:17
28-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Municipal (KMMU)
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Int'l (KATL)
08:39AM EST 10:34AM EST 1:55
28-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Morristown Municipal (KMMU)
07:50AM EST 08:12AM EST 0:22
07-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Wiley Post (KPWA)
Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
06:05PM CST 09:17PM EST 2:12
07-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Austin Bergstrom Int'l (KAUS)
Wiley Post (KPWA)
04:19PM CST 05:21PM CST 1:02
06-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Austin Bergstrom Int'l (KAUS)
05:30PM EST 08:03PM CST 3:33
02-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KCXY)    <---------Harrisburg
Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
10:34AM EST 10:48AM EST 0:14
02-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Capital City (KCXY)                 <----------Harriburg
08:35AM EST 08:56AM EST 0:21
31-Jan-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KCXY)   <------Harrisburg
Allegheny Co (KAGC)
04:15PM EST 05:10PM EST 0:55
26-Jan-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny Co (KAGC)
Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
01:59PM EST 02:29PM EST 0:30
26-Jan-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Allegheny Co (KAGC)
12:43PM EST 01:26PM EST 0:43

If you are still with this article there is more. As part of the House Democratic Caucus Mr. Eachus and Company hired the law firm of Sprague and Sprague, the same firm that represented admitted felon Robert Powell in 2008. He not only hired Richard Sprague but also sat in audience with him as Sprague "educated" him on the casino industry.

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.' "

You may also recall the connection between Sprague, Powell, and other judges in the Luzerne County courthouse who testified against former Judge Ann Lokuta.

Betty Roccograndi of the Times Leader wrote December 7,2008 The links between Sprague, Powell, Conahan and other Powell pals who testified against Lokuta is disturbing, and any fair-minded person has to wonder whether Sprague’s objectivity was clouded even a little bit.

The Citizen's Voice printed this observation in May, 2010.

Richard A. Sprague, a prominent Philadelphia case, remained on the case despite representing former Drums attorney Robert J. Powell, who has pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to two former Luzerne County judges.

That relationship has compromised Sprague's ability to conduct a fair and impartial hearing, Lokuta's attorneys, George A. Michak and Ronald V. Santora, said in an appeal filed today with the state Supreme Court.

The depth of the connections continue. Mark Sheppard, formerly of Sprauge and Sprague representing Robert Powell on former 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.

"It would be inappropriate for our client or I to comment at this time, except to say that Mr. Powell continues to cooperate fully with any investigation," Sheppard said.

Sheppard, along with other attorneys from Sprague & Sprague, had previously authored a letter released to the media in February disputing the notion that the money Powell paid to Conahan and Ciavarella amounted to kickbacks, and instead said that Powell was the victim of a judicial shakedown.

"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 said.

Got off the beaten path so back to the casino business.  Look how Eachus helped one particular casino.  Although Foxwoods is not part of the association where Sprague is involved this story may point to the reason tavern owners are having such a hard time getting small games of chance legislation passed in Harrisburg that would help save their industry and jobs.

How Foxwoods got a leg up

Time was not on the casino's side. Access to heavy hitters was.
By Jennifer Lin, Mario F. Cattabiani, and Amy Worden

Inquirer Staff Writers

Autumn was make-or-break time for the Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia.

Opposition in neighborhoods and City Hall had stalled the project. Lenders had grown wary as casinos elsewhere struggled. State regulators set a final deadline: Foxwoods had to open by May 2011, or lose its license.

Foxwoods needed help in Harrisburg.

So its lawyer and lobbyist, Stephen A. Cozen, turned to an old friend whose campaigns he had generously supported: Gov. Rendell.

Then Cozen called on legislative leaders - Democrats Todd Eachus and Dwight Evans in the House, Republican Dominic Pileggi in the Senate. It was as if someone had drawn Cozen a map. Indeed, someone had.

"I advised him to talk to everyone in leadership, on both sides of the aisle," Rendell remembered.

By December, a 42-word sentence appeared on Page 55 of the 230-page bill to legalize poker and other table games at Pennsylvania casinos.

It said the state Gaming Control Board could extend a casino's license for "36 months . . . or December 31, 2012."

Those words spelled hope for Foxwoods' future.

Cozen said Gerber had suggested he talk to the House majority leader, Eachus (D., Luzerne). Later, Gerber began checking in with negotiators about the Foxwoods extension - not to lobby, Gerber said, but just to get progress reports.

An anxious Cozen phoned the House majority leader.

Eachus said Cozen had voiced concern about rising resistance from local lawmakers. (In a recent interview, Eachus defended the bill, saying casinos unbuilt meant state revenue uncollected. "It's a balance-sheet issue.")

He assured Cozen the Foxwoods language would stay..

I will end this post by returning to the open ended contract let out by the House Democratic Caucus to Sprague and Sprague in the amount not to exceed $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.

Guess it didn't pass the smell test did it?

Pictures Of Robert Powell's Jet