On health care, hold the applause
By NINA OWCHARENKO AND ROBERT E. MOFFIT - The Heritage Foundation
Last March, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the Obama administration's health-care bill had to become law "so you can find out what is in it." Six months later, we're finding out, all right. And its popularity is flat-lining.
Public opinion - fueled by daily revelations of higher costs, heftier premiums and disruptions in current and future health insurance coverage - is quickly hardening in favor of full-scale repeal. A closer look at how specific groups will be affected shows why:
Businesses: The White House heralds the small-business health-care tax credits, and the taxpayer bailout for retiree coverage, as business boosters. This might impress anyone who doesn't run a business. But business leaders know that disruptive employer mandates; a raft of new taxes on insurance, drugs, medical devices and investment; plus mounds of regulation and IRS paperwork, will hike costs considerably.
Meanwhile, the New York-based Mercer consulting firm reports that 47 percent of employers expect to lose the "grandfathered status" of their health plan next year under new federal rules. So much for that repeated presidential promise of "keeping" the plan you like.
Seniors: The White House team thinks that Andy Griffith can sell their Medicare changes to gullible seniors through television ads. But Medicare's Office of the Actuary projects that the record-breaking payment reductions due to hit hospitals, home health agencies, and nursing homes will make 15 percent of these providers unprofitable and possibly "jeopardize" seniors' access to care.
Payment cuts to Medicare Advantage plans will hit especially hard. These plans' projected 10-year senior enrollment is expected to drop from 14.8 to 7.4 million. By 2017, the average annual per capita cuts for Medicare Advantage enrollees will be about $3,700 - a 27 percent reduction from today's levels. Perhaps Griffith could cut another ad explaining to seniors why this is good news.
Doctors: They lose big time. The law doesn't fix the Medicare physician payment formula, meaning that doctors again face draconian payment cut of 23 percent this December. And with an estimated 18 million more persons enrolled in Medicaid, which pays doctors on average 56 percent of what they'd make in private practice, physicians will see their pay being set even more through government formulas.
Doctors will have to comply with new federal quality and reporting standards or face mandatory reductions in Medicare payments. They can expect more bureaucracy, more rules and regulations, more compliance and reporting requirements. Top it off with more emergency room overcrowding and a shortage of colleagues, and still no relief through medical liability reform. Doctors should sue their lobbyists for malpractice.
States: Washington's micro-management of health care is very unpopular in state capitols. Twenty states have filed suit against the imposition of an unconstitutional individual mandate to buy federally approved insurance, and 13 are suing over the mandatory Medicaid expansion. Already 44 states report that they have exceeded projected Medicaid enrollment and spending targets for this year, but Washington is ordering even higher state spending.
Under Section 1311, the cash-strapped states "shall" set up federally designed health insurance exchanges, and, in so doing, comply with numerous federal rules on their establishment and management. While the Congressional Budget office says the 10-year federal costs for "start up" and related expenses to establish these exchanges is $7 billion, additional costs to the states is unknown. Expect more court challenges.
Taxpayers: President Obama promised he wouldn't raise taxes on middle-class Americans. Supposedly, no family making less than $250,000 annually would be touched. Not so. Most of the new taxes, estimated to generate more than $500 billion in the coming decade, will fall on middle-class Americans.
The president now admits that the new law doesn't lower health-care costs. With more than $1 trillion in additional federal spending, plus the creation of two new entitlements - a program of taxpayer subsidies for insurance and a federal long-term care program - government spending will skyrocket in 2014, driving up costs for taxpayers.
With such strong economic incentives to drop workers' coverage, former Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Holtz-Eakin predicts 35 million people or more could be dumped out of their employer's plan. That would mean bigger taxpayer subsidies for the displaced workers to get their coverage through the state exchanges, much higher federal spending that would raise the deficit by an additional $554 billion in the first 10 years, and as much as $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years.
Some "reform" bill. No wonder so many Americans want to pull the plug.
Showing posts with label wasteful spending. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wasteful spending. Show all posts
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Corbett's Bonusgate Investigation Didn't Help
The Pennsylvania Treasury site contains a link to e-Contracts where taxpayers/the public can search to see what contracts were let out by state agencies.
SOP performed a search of the House Democratic Caucus to determine what types of contracts it makes on behalf of the Democratic legislators belonging to this LEGISLATIVE body. Please don't confuse the House Democratic Caucus with the House Democratic Campaign Committee. The later is the political body used for election purposes.
The first interesting contract was made with StrongMail. From their website one can ascertain its type of business.
StrongMail enables businesses to reach, engage and influence their target audience. We can help you improve your email marketing campaign performance, boost deliverability and lower costs, while extending your reach to new audiences using social media.
Contract Number HDC02060809 is for an "Email Marketing Server" plus software and support. It goes from Friday, May 22, 2009 to Friday, May 21, 2010.
The next contract is with Listrak, Ltd to furnish email services to the House Democratic Caucus. What makes this contract interesting is that it was signed by Christine Zarek who's name appears multiple times during Grand Jury testimony in the Bonusgate investigation.
Contract Number HDC01052510 states "Whereas the Client desires to communicate on legislative issues with the residents of the Commonwealth". The amount of the contract is for $20,000.00. It's term is from Saturday, May 1, 2010 to Friday, December 31, 2010. Now anyone with half a brain knows that the term coincides with the election season. There is no good reason to terminate legislative issue notification to Commonwealth residents on December 31st except that election season is over.
Lables and Lists obtained a VOTER FILE AGREEMENT in 2008 for the purpose of providing an enhanced voter regsitration file to the PADITO. The contract amount was $9,600.00. NOTE: PADITO= Pennsylvania Democratic Informtaion Technologies Office.
This agreement is very clear it is for voter names, not constituent names.
Lables and Lists, Inc. goes on to receive a contract to provide statewide constituent data files to the House Democratic Caucus from Thurday, January 08, 2009 to Thursday, December 31 2009 in the amount of $49,500.00.
This contract seems to contradict the Code of Conduct posted by the House Democratic Caucus on its website about the prohibition of political activity by its members and staff. Keep in mind that many constituents are not registered voters.
According to the contract terms with Labels and ListsItem 4. Provision of Constituent Files it states a. Creation of Constituent Files Labels and Lists hereby agrees to create and supply to the PADITO two specially formatted and electronically processed copies of the Pennsylvania constituent file. The base data for these files will be obtained from publicly available lists of all Pennsylvania voters in each county of the state. These data will then be processed to create statewide data files of uniform format and will be enhanced to matches of national telephone databases and the U.S. Post Office's National Change of Address(NCOA) and Locatable Address Corrections System(LACS). The copies of the file will then be processed into a format specified by the PADITO. The final enhanced files shall be referred to as the "PADTIO Constituent Files".
It gets better. b. Delivery Dates Labels and Lists shall provide the PADITO with two PADITO Constituent Files during the year 2009. The date of delivery of the files will be the sole determination of the PADITO but no earlier than 30 days following notification of Labels and Lists of the requested dates. Item c covers Use and Ownership of PADITO Constituent File Data. Two elections per year, furnishing two files per year, really not that hard to figure out.
But then it gets to item d. Transfer of Raw County Data Files. Labels and Lists agrees to provide to the PADITO, at the latter's request and at no additional charge, copies of all the raw county or state voter files acquired and used by Labels and Lists as the basis for the creation of the PADITO Constituent Files.
Let's roll back to a previous post by SOP from December 30, 2009. It refers to emails at a different time about the "incumbent protection program" put together by Eachus et al found on CasablancaPA.com.
THE VEON PAPERS
EXHIBIT F
Attachment 11
Document and mails shoping John Paul Jones performing House Democratic Campaign Committee campaign work on state time using state resources in 2007 under Todd Eachus' supervision.
From: Jones, John Paul
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 11:28 AM
To: Manzo, Michael; Cott, Brett
Cc: Manzo, Rachel
Subject: Incumbent Protection Meetings.
GOALS;
1. TO FOCUS, COORDINATE, AND DIRECT CAUCUS RESOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCUMBENT PROTECTION.
2. TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF INCUMBENT PROTECTION FUNCTIONS BETWEEN CAUCUS STAFF/offices.
3. To notify key caucus staff and leadership of progress (or lack thereof) by individual incumbents with regards to incumbent protection.
4. To share information across offices in order to constantly improve incumbent protection activities.
Meeting Composition:
Chairs- Rep. Eachus,
Mike Manzo,
Brett Cott
Leader's office- Paul Parsells
LCO- Chris Zarek
LRO- Jen Brubaker
OMS- Eric Webb
Approp.- Miriam Fox
ODA- Scott Casper
Policy Com-Rachel Manzo
Secretary-Mike Risch
Comm.-Barb Grill & Bill Patton
HDCC- Dan W. & Jess W.
F/R- Erin Madison
Misc. Staff- Jon Price, Bob Caton
Seems like things haven't really changed in the House Democratic Caucus political activity using taxpayer funds. If they were truly interested in Constituent Data files all they had to do was purchase public mailing addresses. This contract includes the identification of cell phone numbers, county and state voter files.
It should be noted that Lables and Lists received a new contract, Number 100129002, for $48,750.00 which ends January, 2011 by the entire House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, for email addresses in file format.
Disclaimer: This post implies no misconduct on the part of Strongmail, Listrak, Ltd. nor Labels and Lists, Inc.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
PennDOT 35 Person Unit Criticized By Grand Jury To Be Disbanded
The panel that investigated the state legislative corruption scandal criticized the 35-person unit in a scathing assessment of the Legislature released this week.
Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma said Wednesday that the unit will be disbanded in the next few days and the employees reassigned elsewhere in PennDOT. However, he says they'll continue to help legislators with constituent requests.
The report also says the House Democratic and Republican caucuses employ — at a cost of nearly $900,000 a year — dozens of people to expedite processing of mostly routine PennDOT paperwork for businesses and other constituents.
Here are Brett Marcy two statements in the past week.
"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.
On the grand jury report:
House Democratic spokesman Brett Marcy was critical of the report, saying it "seems to be based largely on the past and incorrect assumptions about the legislative process, rather than an accurate reflection of today's legislative operation."
Brett, now let me get this straight. Governor Rendell is disbanding a crew of 35 who serve the only purpose to expedite paperwork for legislators seeking to win favor with voters and you said what about the accurate reflection of the legislative operation? On top of that the House Dems and the Republican caucuses are wasting another $900,000.00!! What a buffoon. Hanging around with Kanjorski teaches you how to stretch the facts.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Editorial: Eachus's Reasoning Is Way Out of Line
In the Patriot News today this editorial written by Cindy Jones she makes a great point about what the threshold is for deciding what is the proper expenditure of taxpayer money.
Eachus' reasoning is way out of line
By Letters to the Editor
April 02, 2010, 12:47AM
I was appalled when I read House Majority Leader Todd Eachus' reason (March 28) for allowing the 12 staffers to keep the pay raises they received in error was because the combined amount was small.
I'm curious as to exactly what dollar amount of taxpayer money is considered inconsequential enough to warrant it not being returned? That way, if I receive a tax refund from the state that I don't deserve, I'll know how much I can keep or how much of my tax burden I can withhold from paying to the state because, after all, it's not that much money.
"Finders keepers" should never apply when taxpayer dollars are involved.
CINDY JONES, Hummelstown
Eachus' reasoning is way out of line
By Letters to the Editor
April 02, 2010, 12:47AM
I was appalled when I read House Majority Leader Todd Eachus' reason (March 28) for allowing the 12 staffers to keep the pay raises they received in error was because the combined amount was small.
I'm curious as to exactly what dollar amount of taxpayer money is considered inconsequential enough to warrant it not being returned? That way, if I receive a tax refund from the state that I don't deserve, I'll know how much I can keep or how much of my tax burden I can withhold from paying to the state because, after all, it's not that much money.
"Finders keepers" should never apply when taxpayer dollars are involved.
CINDY JONES, Hummelstown
Monday, March 29, 2010
Earmarks Are Alive And Well With Kanjorski And Carney
The two congressmen who represent the Poconos each brought between $17 million and $21 million in earmarks for their home districts in fiscal year 2010, but only one delivered some of that money to Monroe County. The article was written by Michael Sadowski of the Pocono Record.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
100 Stimulus Projects- A Second Opinion
Senator Tom Coburn penned this report titled 100 Stimulus Projects- A Second Opinion.
1. “Free” Stimulus Money Results in Higher Utility Costs for Residents of Perkins, Oklahoma ................ 6
2. FutureGen: The Stimulus Earmark that Wasn’t, Becomes the Costliest Pork Project in History ........ 7
3. Little-Used “Shovel-Ready” Bridges in Rural Wisconsin Given Priority Over Widely Used Structurally Deficient Bridges ...................................................................................................................................... 9
4. $800,000 for little-used Johnstown, Pennsylvania airport to repave a back-up runway; the “Airport
for Nobody” Has Already Received Tens of Millions in Taxpayer dollars ...................................................... 10
5. $3.4 Million for Wildlife “Eco-Passage” in Florida; Project Still May Take Years to Finish .................. 11
6. Nevada Non-Profit Gets Weatherization Contract After Being Fired For Same Work ........................ 12
7. Non-Existent Oklahoma Lake in Line for Over $1 Million To Construct a New Guardrail .................. 13
8. Taxpayers Taken for a Ride: Nearly $10 Million to be Spent to Renovate a Century Old TrainStation that Hasn’t Been Used in 30 Years ............................................................................................................... 14
9. Ten Thousand Dead People Get Stimulus Checks, Social Security Administration Blames a Tough Deadline ............................................................................................................................................................................ 16
10. Town of Union, New York, Encouraged to Spend Money It Did Not Request For a Homelessness Problem It Does Not Have ........................................................................................................................................... 17
1. “Free” Stimulus Money Results in Higher Utility Costs for Residents of Perkins, Oklahoma ................ 6
2. FutureGen: The Stimulus Earmark that Wasn’t, Becomes the Costliest Pork Project in History ........ 7
3. Little-Used “Shovel-Ready” Bridges in Rural Wisconsin Given Priority Over Widely Used Structurally Deficient Bridges ...................................................................................................................................... 9
4. $800,000 for little-used Johnstown, Pennsylvania airport to repave a back-up runway; the “Airport
for Nobody” Has Already Received Tens of Millions in Taxpayer dollars ...................................................... 10
5. $3.4 Million for Wildlife “Eco-Passage” in Florida; Project Still May Take Years to Finish .................. 11
6. Nevada Non-Profit Gets Weatherization Contract After Being Fired For Same Work ........................ 12
7. Non-Existent Oklahoma Lake in Line for Over $1 Million To Construct a New Guardrail .................. 13
8. Taxpayers Taken for a Ride: Nearly $10 Million to be Spent to Renovate a Century Old TrainStation that Hasn’t Been Used in 30 Years ............................................................................................................... 14
9. Ten Thousand Dead People Get Stimulus Checks, Social Security Administration Blames a Tough Deadline ............................................................................................................................................................................ 16
10. Town of Union, New York, Encouraged to Spend Money It Did Not Request For a Homelessness Problem It Does Not Have ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Merry Christmas, Wilkes Barre! The Grinch That Stole The Hotel Sterling
Merry Christmas, Wilkes Barre! That was the headline on a press release from Paul Kanjorski's office on 12/17/2004.
Development along the Riverfront is closely tied with the revitalization of the Hotel Sterling being undertaken by the non-profit community development organization CityVest, which Congressman Kanjorski helped to found several years ago. CityVest purchased the Hotel Sterling in 2002 and recently named three finalist architectural firms to compete to design the hotel's renovation into office, residential, and retail space. The renovation is expected to cost more than $20 million.
"Many of these projects have been on the planning books for years, but 2005 is the year we are going to see visible progress in downtown Wilkes-Barre with more than $100 million of public and private construction underway. As we look forward to a bright New Year, we should take a moment to look around at everything that is moving forward in Wilkes-Barre. We have a strong team in place, and we are doing some great things to improve the quality of life for the people who live and work in the City of Wilkes-Barre," said Congressman Kanjorski.
Uhh..Paully boy c'me here. Let's roll the picture forward to this article which appeared in the Citizen's Voice by DENISE ALLABAUGH on October 19, 2008.
CityVest, a nonprofit developer, still does not have a co-developer for the Hotel Sterling at River and Market streets, but the property acquisition, demolition and environmental abatement for the project has been complete, Rogers said. The riverfront project is capturing the attention of prospective developers and people interested in living in the historic landmark, he said.
After enduring years of decay and a close call with a wrecking ball, CityVest received a $1 million federal grant to purchase the once-majestic hotel at a tax sale in 2002 with the hope of retaining a co-developer to restore the building to its past prominence. Officials from the city, Luzerne County and Wilkes-Barre Area School District agreed to forgive $1 million in back taxes owed by the former owner.
CityVest also received $6 million in county funds and has a commitment for $3 million from the state. The county funds enabled CityVest to complete the property acquisition, demolition, environmental abatement and architectural work. Rogers estimated the entire project to redevelop the hotel could cost $24 million to $25 million.
Bill O'Boyle over at the Times Leader wrote a a similar article on July 30, 2008.
How about this press release from "Fast Eddy" Rendell dated August 2004.
The Governor also awarded $3 million in RACP funds for the redevelopment of the once prestigious Hotel Sterling, which is now vacant. The Hotel Sterling Complex, which is a designated Keystone Opportunity Zone, will include four structures totaling 180,000 square feet of commercial, office and residential space. CityVest, the Wilkes-Barre-based, non-profit residential and commercial development corporation, has already secured millions in city, county and federal funds and is anticipating immediate redevelopment of the hotel. Each of these projects brings promise of an attractive streetscape and revitalization to the downtown riverfront area.
RACP is a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, and historical improvement projects. The $640 million in RACP funding approved by the Legislature in July is a vital component of the Governor’s economic-stimulus package, which leverages $2.3 billion in grants, loans and guarantees over the next three years to generate an anticipated $5 billion in private-sector investment to help start new businesses in Pennsylvania and help existing companies expand here. Where is the stimulus if there is no progress on the project?
So Eddy and Paully, let's talk about this money you've been handing out. Who is checking on the progress? If the money is not being used for almost 5 years isn't there another project worthy of funding? I'll give you one. How about the next phase of the Intermodal project in Hazleton? Shovel ready and instant jobs.
Ohh that's right. Republican Mayor, City of Hazleton. Democratic Representatives. Some bipartisanship. Only Obama should get that courtesy.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
We Need The Committee Of Seventy In Luzerne County
Let me introduce you to the Committee of Seventy.
The Committee of Seventy fights for clean and effective government, fair elections and a better informed citizenry in Philadelphia and the region.
We’re known for our election-day oversight programs, but we work year-round to keep elected officials honest and encourage positive change in local government. Our staff publishes information about important policies and public officials. We requests public hearings -- and send our experts to testify -- on topics ranging from Philadelphia campaign finance to the way Pennsylvania judges are selected. Our policy papers, news alerts and web resources help keep the public, the media and government informed about key issues.
The Philadeplphia Daily News reports "'Seventy'calls for ending 6 row offices."
The Committee of Seventy, a non-partisan civic group, called yesterday for the abolition of six elective city row offices, suggesting their work should be handled by other city agencies.
The offices are the Clerk of Quarter-Sessions, responsible for much of the court system's record-keeping; the City Commissioners, a three-person panel in charge of the city's election machinery; the Register of Wills, whose office records wills and estates, collects inheritance taxes and issues marriage licenses, and the city Sheriff, whose portfolio includes courtroom security, transporting prisoners, serving warrants and auctioning real estate on which taxes or mortgage payments are delinquent.
"After studying these offices carefully . . . we found no reason why the offices need to be elected," said Zachary Stalberg, Seventy's president and CEO.
Its report, titled "Needless Jobs: Why Six Elected City Positions Should Die," estimated that the city could save at least $1 million a year in salaries and perks now paid to the elected officials.
So the question I have is "Who Is Looking Out For Luzerne County Taxpayers?" If Philadelphia does not need a Register of Wills with the size of its population what makes Luzerne County feel it NEEDS one? Jill Moran was habitually known for not being present in her office as Prothonotary? Do we need a full time Prothonotary?
Can Luzerne County government be streamlined to eliminate certain management positions to save money? Can departments be consolidated to save the taxpayers money? Our courts seem to be taking a look at their problem, why not our Commissioners at ours?
Luzerne County Departments And Agencies
911 Emergency Services
Assessor
Buildings and Grounds
Bureau of Elections
Correctional Facility
County Engineer
Emergency Management
Environmental Special Projects
Flood Protection Authority
Human Resources
Human Services
Information Technology
Luzerne County Retirement System
Office of Community Development
Planning Commission
Property and Supply
Parks and Recreation
Solid Waste Management
Tax Claim Bureau
Veterans Affairs
Workforce Investment Office
Luzerne County's Row Offices
Clerk of Courts
Controller
Coroner
District Attorney
Prothonotary
Recorder of Deeds
Register of Wills
Sheriff
Treasurer
Luzerne County Senior Staff
County Manager/Chief Clerk
Chief of Budget and Finance
Director of Human Resources
Communications
Maybe the government study commission can speak for the taxpayers.
The Committee of Seventy fights for clean and effective government, fair elections and a better informed citizenry in Philadelphia and the region.
We’re known for our election-day oversight programs, but we work year-round to keep elected officials honest and encourage positive change in local government. Our staff publishes information about important policies and public officials. We requests public hearings -- and send our experts to testify -- on topics ranging from Philadelphia campaign finance to the way Pennsylvania judges are selected. Our policy papers, news alerts and web resources help keep the public, the media and government informed about key issues.
The Philadeplphia Daily News reports "'Seventy'calls for ending 6 row offices."
The Committee of Seventy, a non-partisan civic group, called yesterday for the abolition of six elective city row offices, suggesting their work should be handled by other city agencies.
The offices are the Clerk of Quarter-Sessions, responsible for much of the court system's record-keeping; the City Commissioners, a three-person panel in charge of the city's election machinery; the Register of Wills, whose office records wills and estates, collects inheritance taxes and issues marriage licenses, and the city Sheriff, whose portfolio includes courtroom security, transporting prisoners, serving warrants and auctioning real estate on which taxes or mortgage payments are delinquent.
"After studying these offices carefully . . . we found no reason why the offices need to be elected," said Zachary Stalberg, Seventy's president and CEO.
Its report, titled "Needless Jobs: Why Six Elected City Positions Should Die," estimated that the city could save at least $1 million a year in salaries and perks now paid to the elected officials.
So the question I have is "Who Is Looking Out For Luzerne County Taxpayers?" If Philadelphia does not need a Register of Wills with the size of its population what makes Luzerne County feel it NEEDS one? Jill Moran was habitually known for not being present in her office as Prothonotary? Do we need a full time Prothonotary?
Can Luzerne County government be streamlined to eliminate certain management positions to save money? Can departments be consolidated to save the taxpayers money? Our courts seem to be taking a look at their problem, why not our Commissioners at ours?
Luzerne County Departments And Agencies
911 Emergency Services
Assessor
Buildings and Grounds
Bureau of Elections
Correctional Facility
County Engineer
Emergency Management
Environmental Special Projects
Flood Protection Authority
Human Resources
Human Services
Information Technology
Luzerne County Retirement System
Office of Community Development
Planning Commission
Property and Supply
Parks and Recreation
Solid Waste Management
Tax Claim Bureau
Veterans Affairs
Workforce Investment Office
Luzerne County's Row Offices
Clerk of Courts
Controller
Coroner
District Attorney
Prothonotary
Recorder of Deeds
Register of Wills
Sheriff
Treasurer
Luzerne County Senior Staff
County Manager/Chief Clerk
Chief of Budget and Finance
Director of Human Resources
Communications
Maybe the government study commission can speak for the taxpayers.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Toomey May Take Specter Out Of Republican's Misery
According to DeRoy Murdock over at Scripp News Pat Toomey, a former Pennsylvania Congressman who stuck to his word on term limits, is pounding on Arlen Specter's electoral door over the next round of balloting for his seat.
Senator Arlen Specter's support for the 1,071-page Obama-Pelosi-Reid "stimulus" package will cost taxpayers $787 billion. That vote may cost the Pennsylvania Republican his job.
"I am very likely to make a run for the Senate," says Pat Toomey, a former Keystone State congressman and free-market stalwart. "Specter's vote was a profound betrayal of the Republican Party and conservative principles. It's a big factor (behind Toomey's potential challenge to Specter in 2010's Republican Senate primary).''
This rematch would pit Toomey, 47, against Specter, 79, seeking his sixth consecutive Senate term. Buoyed by conservative irritation with Specter's barely Republican, big-government record, Toomey came within two percentage points of retiring Specter in 2004. But Specter prevailed, thanks to the support of GOP establishmentarians and the incumbent loving, Republican-lite Bush political team.
For Specter, loyalty flows uphill. While top Republicans back him in tight races, he typically joins Democrats when the GOP desperately needs him. Exhibit A: Specter's February 13 "stimulus" vote, which will cost more than $1 trillion after interest payments are slathered atop its $787 billion budget.
"This stimulus bill is such a really outrageous lurch to the Left by the federal government," Toomey said. "It's not just a trillion dollars in spending. It is a huge expansion of government, undermining welfare reform, and staggering amounts of money to be borrowed. All of this could have been blocked. When the House Republicans voted this down, they empowered the Senate Republicans to demand real pro-growth tax cuts, less spending, and less of this terrible, liberal policy. President Obama would have had to agree, because he would have had no bill in the face of united Republican opposition. Instead, these three -- Specter plus Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine -- capitulated."
For many Republicans, Specter's vote for this pork-encrusted, incentive-challenged boondoggle was the final insult. "In a two-person race, Specter is toast," James Lee of Susquehanna Polling and Research told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. His late-February survey of 700 registered Pennsylvania voters found that 53 percent want a "new person" as senator. So do 66 percent of Republicans. (Error margin: 5.9 percent.)
The artillery is already lining up with promises of oodles of cash for Specter. This story was highlighted over at GrassrootsPA.com. Big Union Vows To Back Arlen Specter In 2010 If He Supports Employee Free Choice
This is big: Senior officials with the powerful AFL-CIO have privately assured GOP Senator Arlen Specter that they’ll throw their full support behind him in the 2010 Senate race if he votes for the Employee Free Choice Act, a senior labor strategist working closely with the AFL on the issue tells me.
This is significant, because it represents a big incentive for Specter to switch parties — and to support Employee Free Choice. Specter may be facing a serious GOP primary challenge from Club for Growth head Pat Toomey. If he loses that — or pulls out of the GOP first and becomes an Indy or a Dem — supporting Employee Free Choice could give him the organizational muscle from labor and Democratic support he needs to prevail in a general election and hold his seat.
The labor strategist tells me that top AFL-CIO officials have told Specter they’ll back him to the hilt if he supports their top priority.
“If Senator Specter supports working people — particularly voting with us on Employee Free Choice — the AFL-CIO will support him 100 percent of the way, whether in a primary or a general election,” the strategist says.
AFL-CIO spokesperson Eddie Vale declined comment.
Interestingly, because labor support would actually hurt him in a GOP primary, AFL-CIO’s promise also is an incentive to switch parties earlier, rather than later. Some analysts think his only hope of holding on to his seat is to switch parties and prevail in a general election, something which labor backing would make easier.
To be sure, there’s no telling what Specter will do, and another wild card is whether Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell would back a Specter switch.
Markos Moulitsas, who first heard these conversations, has an interesting rundown gaming out all the possibilities for Specter. This is getting mighty interesting.
Update: The AFL-CIO goes on the record about supporting Specter.
Update II: The story is sparking controversy among EFCA’s opponents. Associated Builders and Contractors national chair Jerry Gorski issued a statement blasting the AFL-CIO as “union bosses in Washington” who are trying to “buy a vote in support of the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act” and “shove this legislation onto the American public.”
Senator Arlen Specter's support for the 1,071-page Obama-Pelosi-Reid "stimulus" package will cost taxpayers $787 billion. That vote may cost the Pennsylvania Republican his job.
"I am very likely to make a run for the Senate," says Pat Toomey, a former Keystone State congressman and free-market stalwart. "Specter's vote was a profound betrayal of the Republican Party and conservative principles. It's a big factor (behind Toomey's potential challenge to Specter in 2010's Republican Senate primary).''
This rematch would pit Toomey, 47, against Specter, 79, seeking his sixth consecutive Senate term. Buoyed by conservative irritation with Specter's barely Republican, big-government record, Toomey came within two percentage points of retiring Specter in 2004. But Specter prevailed, thanks to the support of GOP establishmentarians and the incumbent loving, Republican-lite Bush political team.
For Specter, loyalty flows uphill. While top Republicans back him in tight races, he typically joins Democrats when the GOP desperately needs him. Exhibit A: Specter's February 13 "stimulus" vote, which will cost more than $1 trillion after interest payments are slathered atop its $787 billion budget.
"This stimulus bill is such a really outrageous lurch to the Left by the federal government," Toomey said. "It's not just a trillion dollars in spending. It is a huge expansion of government, undermining welfare reform, and staggering amounts of money to be borrowed. All of this could have been blocked. When the House Republicans voted this down, they empowered the Senate Republicans to demand real pro-growth tax cuts, less spending, and less of this terrible, liberal policy. President Obama would have had to agree, because he would have had no bill in the face of united Republican opposition. Instead, these three -- Specter plus Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine -- capitulated."
For many Republicans, Specter's vote for this pork-encrusted, incentive-challenged boondoggle was the final insult. "In a two-person race, Specter is toast," James Lee of Susquehanna Polling and Research told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. His late-February survey of 700 registered Pennsylvania voters found that 53 percent want a "new person" as senator. So do 66 percent of Republicans. (Error margin: 5.9 percent.)
The artillery is already lining up with promises of oodles of cash for Specter. This story was highlighted over at GrassrootsPA.com. Big Union Vows To Back Arlen Specter In 2010 If He Supports Employee Free Choice
This is big: Senior officials with the powerful AFL-CIO have privately assured GOP Senator Arlen Specter that they’ll throw their full support behind him in the 2010 Senate race if he votes for the Employee Free Choice Act, a senior labor strategist working closely with the AFL on the issue tells me.
This is significant, because it represents a big incentive for Specter to switch parties — and to support Employee Free Choice. Specter may be facing a serious GOP primary challenge from Club for Growth head Pat Toomey. If he loses that — or pulls out of the GOP first and becomes an Indy or a Dem — supporting Employee Free Choice could give him the organizational muscle from labor and Democratic support he needs to prevail in a general election and hold his seat.
The labor strategist tells me that top AFL-CIO officials have told Specter they’ll back him to the hilt if he supports their top priority.
“If Senator Specter supports working people — particularly voting with us on Employee Free Choice — the AFL-CIO will support him 100 percent of the way, whether in a primary or a general election,” the strategist says.
AFL-CIO spokesperson Eddie Vale declined comment.
Interestingly, because labor support would actually hurt him in a GOP primary, AFL-CIO’s promise also is an incentive to switch parties earlier, rather than later. Some analysts think his only hope of holding on to his seat is to switch parties and prevail in a general election, something which labor backing would make easier.
To be sure, there’s no telling what Specter will do, and another wild card is whether Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell would back a Specter switch.
Markos Moulitsas, who first heard these conversations, has an interesting rundown gaming out all the possibilities for Specter. This is getting mighty interesting.
Update: The AFL-CIO goes on the record about supporting Specter.
Update II: The story is sparking controversy among EFCA’s opponents. Associated Builders and Contractors national chair Jerry Gorski issued a statement blasting the AFL-CIO as “union bosses in Washington” who are trying to “buy a vote in support of the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act” and “shove this legislation onto the American public.”
Stimulus Watch Officially Launched - Help Spread The Word
StimulusWatch.org is officially open for business, and we need your help spreading the word about it. Please tell your friends and family about it by emailing them, blogging about it, and posting it to your Facebook profile.
Stimulus Watch looks at the “shovel-ready” projects listed in the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ “MainStreet Economic Recovery Report.” The mayors and local officials around the country have asked that these projects be funded with federal money. However, once the stimulus bill passes, not every project will be funded. The agencies that administer the federal grant-making programs, which Congress will fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will have to decide which of these projects to fund.
While these funding decisions are largely made by formula, the Obama administration has promised to be smart about which projects it funds with stimulus money. In his address on economic recovery on January 8, President Obama said:
We have to make tough choices and smart investments today so that as the economy recovers, the deficit starts to come down. We cannot have a solid recovery if our people and our businesses don’t have confidence that we’re getting our fiscal house in order. That’s why our goal is not to create a slew of new government programs, but a foundation for long-term economic growth.
That also means an economic recovery plan that is free from earmarks and pet projects. I understand that every member of Congress has ideas on how to spend money. Many of these projects are worthy, and benefit local communities. But this emergency legislation must not be the vehicle for those aspirations. This must be a time when leaders in both parties put the urgent needs of our nation above our own narrow interests.
Stimulus Watch exist to help the President keep his pledge. Citizens around the country can judge for themselves the merits of the mayors’ proposed projects. Using this site they can voice their opinions and local knowledge of the projects letting everyone know which are worth an investment and which are not. Local government officials are also invited to join the conversation to give context for their requests.
We hope you enjoy the site, and we hope you will help us spread the word.
You can also visit the U.S. Budget Watch site for a the site that cover institutions, i.e. banks brokerage houses, consumer/tax stimulus as well as "projects". The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget runs the site.
US Budget Watch is a project designed to increase awareness of the important fiscal issues facing the country, through and beyond the election. The project seeks to bring attention to the presidential candidates’ tax and spending policies, to help the public become informed about these issues, and to track the new president’s fiscal policies after the election. US Budget Watch is a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget at the New America Foundation and is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts. None of these organizations support or oppose any candidate for office.
Stimulus Watch looks at the “shovel-ready” projects listed in the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ “MainStreet Economic Recovery Report.” The mayors and local officials around the country have asked that these projects be funded with federal money. However, once the stimulus bill passes, not every project will be funded. The agencies that administer the federal grant-making programs, which Congress will fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will have to decide which of these projects to fund.
While these funding decisions are largely made by formula, the Obama administration has promised to be smart about which projects it funds with stimulus money. In his address on economic recovery on January 8, President Obama said:
We have to make tough choices and smart investments today so that as the economy recovers, the deficit starts to come down. We cannot have a solid recovery if our people and our businesses don’t have confidence that we’re getting our fiscal house in order. That’s why our goal is not to create a slew of new government programs, but a foundation for long-term economic growth.
That also means an economic recovery plan that is free from earmarks and pet projects. I understand that every member of Congress has ideas on how to spend money. Many of these projects are worthy, and benefit local communities. But this emergency legislation must not be the vehicle for those aspirations. This must be a time when leaders in both parties put the urgent needs of our nation above our own narrow interests.
Stimulus Watch exist to help the President keep his pledge. Citizens around the country can judge for themselves the merits of the mayors’ proposed projects. Using this site they can voice their opinions and local knowledge of the projects letting everyone know which are worth an investment and which are not. Local government officials are also invited to join the conversation to give context for their requests.
We hope you enjoy the site, and we hope you will help us spread the word.
You can also visit the U.S. Budget Watch site for a the site that cover institutions, i.e. banks brokerage houses, consumer/tax stimulus as well as "projects". The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget runs the site.
US Budget Watch is a project designed to increase awareness of the important fiscal issues facing the country, through and beyond the election. The project seeks to bring attention to the presidential candidates’ tax and spending policies, to help the public become informed about these issues, and to track the new president’s fiscal policies after the election. US Budget Watch is a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget at the New America Foundation and is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts. None of these organizations support or oppose any candidate for office.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The More Things Change The More Things Stay The Same
Something from the church bulletin:
The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled. Public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be Tempered and Controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be Curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, Instead of living on public assistance. Cicero-55BC
The actual quote is: "The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign hands should be curtailed, lest Rome fall."
This alleged quote from Marcus Tullius Cicero that began circulating on the Internet in October, 2008, is based on a true statement from the great Roman orator, but someone added a lot to it to make it match some of what the United States was facing economically.
The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled. Public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be Tempered and Controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be Curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, Instead of living on public assistance. Cicero-55BC
The actual quote is: "The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign hands should be curtailed, lest Rome fall."
This alleged quote from Marcus Tullius Cicero that began circulating on the Internet in October, 2008, is based on a true statement from the great Roman orator, but someone added a lot to it to make it match some of what the United States was facing economically.
MORE NEW HIRE$: House Majority Leader Todd Eachus With 2 High-priced Hires…
Over at Capital Ideas with John Micek there is an interesting story about Representative Eachus hiring more attorneys.
New House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, was swept into office late last year vowing to clean up the reputation of a caucus battered by scandal and to act as an aggressive steward of the public purse.
“In the end, we have to match our work to the policies that people are struggling with,” the Hazleton lawmaker told The Morning Call earlier this year. “People are losing their jobs … and we must forge policies that matter to real people.”
But in the last month, Eachus has made at least two high-priced hires — taking on a new chief-of-staff and a caucus counsel at salaries larger than those paid to their predecessors, according to data provided by his office.
Both are key positions within Eachus’ office, as is the new press secretary the northeastern Democrat announced Monday.
But at least one other legislative caucus in Harrisburg, the Senate Republicans, has pursued a policy of not paying new employees more than the people they succeed.
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. (By me Ms. Williams is still on Mr. DeWesse's staff at the same rate of pay)
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.
The Post-Gazette goes on to talk about some more hires not in the first article.
Another newcomer to Mr. Eachus' office is Director of Legislation Richard Speese, whose salary is $105,014, up from the $87,411 he received as compensation last year as executive director of the House Insurance Committee.
Another of those parts is Zane Phoenix, a former senior policy analyst to moved into the newly created position of personnel director for the majority leader's office. The change moved him from a job that provided $97,179 in compensation last year to one that pays $128,518 a year.
The opening line in that article says it all. The state House's new Democratic leaders say they are serious about reducing staffing costs, but so far, Majority Leader Todd Eachus isn't setting much of an example.
For a full listing of House employee salaries click here.
New House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, was swept into office late last year vowing to clean up the reputation of a caucus battered by scandal and to act as an aggressive steward of the public purse.
“In the end, we have to match our work to the policies that people are struggling with,” the Hazleton lawmaker told The Morning Call earlier this year. “People are losing their jobs … and we must forge policies that matter to real people.”
But in the last month, Eachus has made at least two high-priced hires — taking on a new chief-of-staff and a caucus counsel at salaries larger than those paid to their predecessors, according to data provided by his office.
Both are key positions within Eachus’ office, as is the new press secretary the northeastern Democrat announced Monday.
But at least one other legislative caucus in Harrisburg, the Senate Republicans, has pursued a policy of not paying new employees more than the people they succeed.
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. (By me Ms. Williams is still on Mr. DeWesse's staff at the same rate of pay)
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.
The Post-Gazette goes on to talk about some more hires not in the first article.
Another newcomer to Mr. Eachus' office is Director of Legislation Richard Speese, whose salary is $105,014, up from the $87,411 he received as compensation last year as executive director of the House Insurance Committee.
Another of those parts is Zane Phoenix, a former senior policy analyst to moved into the newly created position of personnel director for the majority leader's office. The change moved him from a job that provided $97,179 in compensation last year to one that pays $128,518 a year.
The opening line in that article says it all. The state House's new Democratic leaders say they are serious about reducing staffing costs, but so far, Majority Leader Todd Eachus isn't setting much of an example.
For a full listing of House employee salaries click here.
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