Shapiro Transition Team Revisted

Shapiro Transition Team Revisted –This is old news but let’s revisit, especially concerning our claim about how Democrats now in power are going to ignore the people they wooed to get them there.

The transition team Josh Shapiro formed in December to prep him for governor was nearly 300 people including lobbyists, activists, attorneys, executives, and former elected officials as per the Centre Daily Times.

The Times highlighted: Philadelphia FOP President John McNesby; ; Abolitionist Law Center Executive Director Robert Saleem Holbrook; Cheyney University Chief Diversity Officer Pamela Keye; Susquehanna International Co-Founder Joel Greenberg; Johns Hopkins Medicine professor Ravi Gupta; Former Pennsylvania Republican Party head Val DiGiorgio; Conservation Voters of Pa. political director Katie Blume and Former Pa. Democratic Party head Marcel Groen.

It’s was almost as though they were picked by Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young.

Note our old pal Val as in DiGiorgio was on the list.

Did we call it or what?

And we weren’t the only one.

Since transitioning, Shapiro has named Republican Al Schmidt as Secretary of State and former Montco GOP Boss Mike Vereb as Secretary of Legislative Affairs.

Schmidt was a member of the the Philadelphia Election Board. Write your own joke. Or use this one: We can now be confident all of Pennsylvania’s elections will be as free and fair as those in Philadelphia.

Vereb, well, he was the former chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee, and, like DiGiorgio who headed the state and Chesco GOPs ,he wanted Shapiro to win.

Please understand it is not about Republicans vs Democrats anymore. It is about thieves and victims. We victims have to learn to stand together. We have to stop being clipped by six-figure public pensions, inflated construction projects, and officials indifferent to suffering.

And we can do this but only if we boldly call out the crooks and stand together.

Shapiro Transition Team Revisted
Who would have though the head the state GOP would work for a Democrat governor? Besides us, we mean.
Shapiro Transition Team Revisted

Shapiro Wants His Secrets Secret

Shapiro Wants His Secrets Secret

By Bob Small

Due to the inability of our new governor, Josh Shapiro, to participate in any pre-election debates — he ran unopposed in the Primary and neither his campaign nor Doug Mastriano’s Campaign could agree on the details of a proposed debate– there were some unasked questions. One question he would of answered with a resounding no! would have been “will you disclose your inaugural donors.”

According to Philadelphia Metro, the Gubernator is not  legally required to disclose this information.

Whereas New York City and Philadelphia, along adjoining New Jersey, and Maryland and Virginia have such laws.   Aaron McKean, a lawyer who works for the DC-based Campaign Legal Center says “The whole goal here is to prevent corruption or even (my ital)  the appearance of corruption.”

He went on to say “Nobody is giving this money just for fun.”

Shapiro Wants His Secrets Secret
Man of many secret donors

Because Governor Shapiro’s inaugural committee was organized as a 501 (c) (4) he is not required to disclose the donor information. Many local arts organizations have been formed as a 501 c (3) and the law requires they must account for every dollar.  In a previous life, I was one of the persons who made these budgets match.  A big difference between a 3 and a 4.

Spotlight Pa has a great deal to say about Shapiro’s Secrecy.  I urge you to read the whole seven pages. Spotlight Pa. is a non-partisan newsroom connected with The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Patriot -News and other newspapers.y

Did you know that Shapiro asked his team to sign NDAs?

Pennsylvania’s previous governors, Corbett and Wolf released the name of private donors.

Meanwhile, The University of Delaware’s Biden Institute will not disclose its donors since Joe Biden became President.

Though this article is over a year old, there doesn’t seem to be any changes.

And yes, we do know who the corporate donors to President Trump were.

Shapiro Wants His Secrets Secret

Kim Ward Becomes Temporary Lieutenant Governor

Kim Ward Becomes Temporary Lieutenant Governor

By Bob Small

For about two weeks, Pennsylvania will have a Democratic governor and a Republican lieutenant governor.  Since John Fetterman resigned as lieutenant governor on Jan.4 Kim Ward, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, was sworn in to the position.  Her term will last until Jan. 17 when Austin Davis will be sworn in.

Ms. Ward is the first female to serve as President Pro Tempore.  She was chosen by her fellow GOP members who hold a 28-22 majority in the State Senate.

Undser the Pennsylvania Constitution,” the president pro tempore handles all the duties of the office of lieutenant governor, which include presiding over the state Senate sessions, chairing the state pardons board and chairing the state emergency management committee.”

Kim Ward Becomes Temporary Lieutenant Governor
Kim Ward, first female majority lead in Pennsylvania

Kim Ward has been the State Senator for District 39 since 2009.  District 39 includes Latrobe, Pa. (home of Rolling Rock Brewery and Fred Rogers) along with 37 other towns in Westmoreland County. 

Kim Ward is the first woman to be elected majority leader in either the Pennsylvania House or Senate.

Prior to her election to the state House, she was a Westmoreland County Commissioner and on the Hempfield County Board of Commissioners.

She lists her accomplishments as helping to pass laws on “reducing spending on state-subsidized methadone treatment transportation,”  and “implementing the federal E-Verify program to ensure workers on publicly funded construction projects are legally permitted to work.”

She also helped to “extend benefits to the families of campus police officers who die in the line of duty”.

Prior to elective office, she worked as a board-certified Respiratory Therapist at Allegheny General Hospital, Vanderbilt University Hospital, and Hershey Medical Center.

She and her husband Dr. Thomas Ward have three sons.

She is a breast cancer survivor and stresses how important screenings are.

Kim Ward Becomes Temporary Lieutenant Governor

Mastriano Demands Baby Formula Crisis Be Addressed By Wolf

Mastriano Demands Baby Formula Crisis Be Addressed By Wolf

This letter from May 13 was forwarded to us by Carol Klein. Thank you Carol.

Dear Governor Wolf and Acting Secretary Johnson:

We write to you today regarding mounting concerns over baby formula shortages throughout our Commonwealth and nation. Knowing that this critical predicament is affecting our most vulnerable population –newborns and infants– we are seeking immediate redress. Within the past few weeks, this issue seems to have only escalated, and the reports throughout Pennsylvania of scarce formula stock and empty shelves at grocery stores and pharmacies are numerous and unacceptable.

We are concerned for the families who are unable to find formula for their infants, including for babies with rare metabolic diseases, such as Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), Phenylketonuria (PKU), and Homocystinuria, who require special formula to survive.

While this issue is nationwide, Pennsylvania’s leaders cannot sit idly by and wait for the federal government to act. We have an obligation to be proactive for Pennsylvanians in addressing this matter and to have alternate plans in place before we face a statewide crisis.

Accordingly, your response to the following questions would be appreciated:

  • What is your plan to address the baby formula shortage within our Commonwealth and the concerns of parents and families?
  • What is the status of baby formula availability in our hospital nurseries?
  • Is the Commonwealth actively working with the federal government to address this crisis? If so, in what ways?
  • Is there any credence to reports that baby formula is being shipped to the border for illegal immigrants while many Pennsylvania store shelves are empty?
  • Do we have a government emergency stockpile in our state? If so, what is your plan for use and distribution? 

Additionally, we propose the Commonwealth consider the following options to help bring some immediate relief to parents:

  • Urge the Attorney General to monitor formula pricing and hold retailers and anyone having access and/or attempting to resell baby formula accountable for price gouging. Such individuals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
  • Communicate with parents and families about efforts being taken to resolve this crisis, and instructions on how to obtain formula, with regular updates on the state’s progress.
  • Explore public-private partnership (s) with food banks, charitable organizations, and other nonprofits who may have access to baby formula.

We trust that you will both be diligent in your responsibility to address this crucial matter to ensure the well-being and health of our children. It is imperative that we act now.

Sincerely,

Senator Doug Mastriano, 33rd Senatorial District

Senator Michele Brooks, 50th Senatorial District

Mastriano Demands Baby Formula Crisis Be Addressed By Wolf
Mastriano Demands Baby Formula Crisis Be Addressed By Wolf

Wolf Income Tax Hike Would Reward The Corrupt

Wolf Income Tax Hike Would Reward The Corrupt

By Leo Knepper

Every year Pennsylvania’s Governor presents a “budget proposal” to the General Assembly. Governor Wolf’s budget addresses have typically included items that would be harmful to Pennsylvanians. For example, Wolf has requested a new extraction tax on natural gas producers every year. And every year, the General Assembly declines. They point to the impact fee that generates millions of dollars per year for the Treasury to justify their correct decision.

Wolf Income Tax Hike Would Reward The Corrupt
Worst governor? Tough competition but in the running.

Governor Wolf decided that simply recycling his standard bad ideas just wouldn’t cut it this year. Instead, he added a request for a massive personal income-tax increase. How large of a tax increase does he want? The Governor is asking the General Assembly to increase the personal income tax rate by 46 percent. He notes that Pennsylvania has a “structural deficit” and that his tax increase would increase education funding. (See, he’s doing it for the kids.)

Governor Wolf didn’t mention that the structural deficit was caused by chronic overspending by the General Assembly. Nor did he say that he made it worse due to his unilateral decision to shut down vast swaths of the Pennsylvania economy last year. It must have surprised him to learn that shuttered businesses wouldn’t provide the same level of tax payments as open ones. As a side note on educational funding, Pennsylvania spends over $20,000 per year per pupil and ranks ninth in the country for per-pupil spending.

The Governor also included a call for increasing Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. We doubt that he has considered how many of the businesses who survived his shutdown can now afford higher labor costs.

It’s doubtful that the Republican-controlled General Assembly will go along with either proposal. It’s hard to rule it out entirely, though. Remember that Pennsylvania now has one of the country’s highest gasoline taxes thanks to a Republican Governor, Tom Corbett, and Republicans in the General Assembly. However, we don’t anticipate either the House or the Senate going along with much of Governor Wolf’s budget proposal. We’ll keep you informed as the budget process moves forward over the next few months.

For a more in-depth examination of the Governor’s budget proposal, watch the video below. CAP CEO Leo Knepper sat down with Carl Marrara, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Manufacturer’s Association, to discuss the Governor’s budget address and its impact on the Commonwealth’s economy.

Mr. Knepper is executive director of Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania.

Wolf Income Tax Hike Would Reward The Corrupt

Pennsylvania Constitutional Amendments Considered

Pennsylvania Constitutional Amendments Considered — Leo Knepper of Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania sent us the below discussion of proposed state constitutional amendments. They are aimed at limiting the use of emergency declarations by the governor and replacing state-wide elections of judges to the Supreme, Commonwealth and Superior courts, with election by district. This would weaken the power the corrupt Philadelphia and Pittsburgh machines have over the judiciary.

They are desperately needed as the governor and the state courts behaved more like those of a banana republic in the last year rather than one that respects rights.

Frankly, the entire Constitution should be rewritten.

“Full time” legislators ought to be replaced by part-time ones compensated solely by per diem with a term of no more than 20 days. Legislative districts should no longer be allowed to include a partial county. More than one county, yes. Partial counties no.

Pennsylvania Constitutional Amendments Considered
Pennsylvania Constitutional Amendments Considered

Levine Incompetence Led To Elderly Deaths

Levine Incompetence Led To Elderly Deaths — Chris Saullo sent a link to this article from the Delaware Valley Journal describing how the incompetence/indifference of the Wolf Administration and Health Secretary Rachel Levine led to thousands of unnecessary Covid-19 deaths in Pennsylvania.

Wolf and Levine ignored desperate pleas from advocates of the elderly as deaths in long-term care facilities exploded.

And now Illegitimate President Joe Biden has nominated Levine, a seriously disturbed person, as the nation’s assistant health secretary.

Pennsylvania has 20,063 covid deaths as of today (Jan. 22), with 10,212 coming from long term care facilities.

Levine Incompetence Led To Elderly Deaths
Levine Indifference Led To Elderly Deaths

LocalisedAperture More Pennsylvania Proof Positive Of Vote Fraud

LocalisedAperture More Pennsylvania Proof Positive Of Vote Fraud — Twitter poster LocalisedAperture downloaded a million 2020 General Election records from Data.pa.gov — about a third of the data set — and did some deep diving.

He filtered for ballots recorded as received by the state the day they were requested by mail. He found more than 11,000. Do we have a great postal system or what?

He then filtered for applications “approved by the government, mailed out by the government, received by the voter, filled out by the voter, mailed back to the government on the same day.” He found 8,205.

We don’t just have a great postal system, we have a magic postal system.

He then filtered for ballots received by the government before they were mailed. He found 7,403.

What can explain this? Time travel. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Time travel

Donald Trump won this election. There is really no doubt.

LocalisedAperture More Pennsylvania Proof Positive Of Vote Fraud
LocalisedAperture More Pennsylvania Proof Positive Of Vote Fraud

Covid Death Rate Dropping Dramatically But Wolf Sees Need For Thanksgiving Obstacles

Covid Death Rate Dropping Dramatically But Wolf Sees Need For Thanksgiving Obstacles — Gov. Tom Wolf has announced for Pennsylvania restrictions greater than when Covid-19 was most virulent last spring. These include wearing a mask in the home; and requiring out-0f-state visitors to be tested 72 hours before arriving.

It’s just in time for Thanksgiving.

The Wolf Administration is saying they are warranted because of the spike in Covid cases as per the below chart for Bucks County:

Covid Death Rate Dropping Dramatically But Wolf Sees Need For Thanksgiving Obstacles

Pretty scary, huh.

Here’s another chart from yesterday for Bucks:

Covid Death Rate Dropping Dramatically But Wolf Sees Need For Thanksgiving Obstacles

Yeah, we are being played. Maybe Wolf & Levine think with Dominion voting machines being used in Pennsylvania, their side will be in office as long as Iran’s ayatollahs. We think they are wrong. Resist.

Charts are courtesy of Dean Malik.

Covid Death Rate Dropping Dramatically But Wolf Sees Need For Thanksgiving Obstacles

Blank Ballots Markable In Pennsylvania By Election Workers

Blank Ballots Markable In Pennsylvania By Election Workers — Noted cyberactivist Ron Watkins a.k.a CodeMonkeyZ has discovered that the Pennsylvania Department of State had Dominion Voting Systems include a function to allow operators to re-mark blank ballots.

There certainly must be an innocent explanation, right?

Here’s the source document from the Pennsylvania Department of State’s official website.

You can find the request on page 9 in the Scope of Certification section or page 63 of the pdf document.

Or just look here:

Blank Ballots Markable In Pennsylvania By Election Workers
Blank Ballots Markable In Pennsylvania By Election Workers