News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
Szloty note William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 1-29-20
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Xjsfuak Tsugf
Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: Even a thousand szloty note can’t tapdance.
Thomas Banacek
Ever see an ornate sleeper ray? Probably not. It’s considered the rarest fish in the world. It’s scientific name is Electrolux addisoni. Maybe they should call it a sweeper ray.
Lawmaker Leaving With $120K Pension
By Leo Knepper
Heading into the election season, 14 Pennsylvania lawmakers, so far, have announced that they will be retiring at the end of their term in December. It is worth noting that for one of them, their annual pension payment will exceed their current salary by roughly $30,000.
By our calculations, Representative Thomas R. Caltagirone will be walking out the door with an annual pension payment of roughly $120,000. In addition to this golden parachute, he will also receive lifetime health insurance benefits “generously” subsidized by taxpayers. With only limited exceptions, private-sector employees are offered a defined-contribution retirement plan, such as a 401(k). On average, they can expect to retire with a nest egg that provides them with 50 to 75 percent of their final salary.
Why do Harrisburg’s politicians remain such a costly anomaly? Because they determine their own salary and benefits. In the Pension Grab of 2001, Caltagirone voted to increase his pension by 50 percent. This pension increase, signed into law by Governor Ridge, is one of the primary reasons the Commonwealth’s pension system is in dire financial condition. (For a list of all of the lawmakers who voted for the pension hike, see this blog post on our website.)
Rep. Caltagirone is the only member of the Golden Parachute Club, i.e., lawmakers whose pensions will equal or exceed their current salary, to announce his retirement so far this year. Getting to the Golden Parachute level requires lawmakers to “serve” in the legislature for 35 years or more and be enrolled in the pre-2017 pension program.
According to our research, the other members of the Golden Parachute Club are Representatives Bob Freeman (D-Bethlehem) and Tony DeLuca (D-Pittsburgh). Senator David Argall (R-Lake Hauto) will be joining the Club in November of 2020, provided he remains in office, and there are all indications that he will be sticking around.
There is no limit to how large the legislators’ defined-benefit pension can grow, so long as they stay in office. The Golden Parachute is the most corrupting influence on members of the General Assembly. It makes them prioritize their re-election above everything else, even the well-being of their constituents and the financial health of the Commonwealth
Mr. Knepper is executive director of Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania.
Mighty small package William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 1-28-20
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Kyfdrj Srertvb
Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: A person who gets all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package.
American Folk Saying (Henry Emerson Fosdick)
Pennsylvania Trump Petition Problems — Nominating petitions for the 2020 election start circulation tomorrow, Jan. 28, in Pennsylvania and we have troubling news of sloppiness concerning those for President Trump. At least one glaring typo has been found and we are hearing reports of ill-trained circulators.
Typos shouldn’t keep the President off the ballot but given Pennsylvania’s partisan Supreme Court and pettily arcane ballot access laws who knows what trouble might be brewing.
Bernadette Comfort, who opposed Trump in 2016 and is an ally of never-Trumper Bob Asher, was strangely picked to run the the President’s Pennsylvania campaign.
Feel free to start the conspiracy theories.
Update: We just herad (Jan. 28) from a person involved in the process who says it’s not conspiracy but simple incompetence. We believe her. Call it the DiGiorgio legacy.
For the record we believe that Lawrence Tabas is doing an excellent job as Pennsylvania GOP chairman cleaning up the disaster he inherited.
Yes Anthony, Alaska is a good place to grow oysters.
Joe Billie Explains Campaign
By Joe Billie
I may not be the greatest public speaker. But you know neither was Thomas Jefferson. But what I do have is love of country, determination and leadership. In every role I’ve taken on in life either as Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, Anti Surface Warfare Operations Specialist or Shop Steward in my Union I made people better around me & lead by example. Having volunteered 32 years helping others has been an honor. Saving lives and just helping people in their most desperate times is challenging. Countless hours of training and drilling when I could be home. Volunteer 1st Responders as well as paid are special. Everything we do is for you the people. And that’s what I want to carry on to DC. Working for you the people. I don’t care what your party is, the job of a representative is to work for the people. I’ve spoken with thousands of Republicans, Democrats and Independents across our area and it’s the same message from them, “Step up and help our district!” Many concerns from healthcare or opioids to immigration and just preserving our basic rights as Americans.
I’ve seen the struggle against opioids in our area. I’ve assisted Police & Medics using NARCAN to reverse the effects on an overdose. Performing CPR countless times. Saving many while losing some. Performing CPR and bringing someone back is life altering. But when someone doesn’t make it it’s hard but we must get ready for the next one.
Joining the Navy I took an oath two times in October 1990 and September 2001 to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. I still live by this oath and current representatives use the Constitution as a punchline. Waiving a little book like they actually read it. As a Veteran and like many others we take offense to this. We risked our lives in defense of it while they use it as prop. I’ve done several deployments to the Persian Gulf 91-92, 93-94 with operations in Bosnia, Somalia and Haiti in 1993-94.
I’ve seen the effects of universal healthcare with my wife’s family who still live in Portugal. It’s not the way to go here. I’ve been to many countries in Europe, Israel and the UAE. We must remain a sovereign country and secure our border.
Being a firefighter and during my enlistments we think outside the box. Make decisions that effect lives in split seconds. This is the leadership we need. Make decisions and not walk the fence or listen to big money donors.
So with everything going on in our country we need to unite. Put our petty differences aside and work for the common good. We as a nation lost our way and we need more leaders to step up, work together and find the way. We are still a Country of the People, for the People and by the People. We must be united or divided we fall as the saying goes.
Thank you to Curt Weldon, the Delaware County Firemen’s Association, my local Steelworkers Union and my family for the support! Also Congressman Bishop NC-9 & Congressman Bacon NE-2 for helping. Oh more endorsements to follow!!
If you made it this far thank you for reading.
God Bless You and God Bless The United States of America
Joe Billie is seeking the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District. Circulation of nomination petitions starts tomorrow, Jan. 28, and ends Feb. 18. The primary election is April 28. The 5th District consists of all of Delaware County, southwest Philadelphia and southern Montgomery County. Dasha Pruett, who is also seeking the Republican nomination, is more than welcome to submit a column explaining her campaign as is Democratic incumbent Mary Gay Scanlon.
Doth now preach William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 1-27-20
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Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: But they had heard only: He, who persecuted us in times past, doth now preach the faith which once he impugned: And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 1:23
Man suspect much William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 1-26-20
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Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little.
Francis Bacon
Pacemakers explode during cremations. Funeral directors have to remember to remove them. And joint replacements don’t melt. Those tasked with disposing the remains wait for them to cool down and ship them to the Netherlands for recycling.