The Fairness Center filed another lawsuit, Feb. 24, on behalf of taxpayers against ghost teachers. Officially known as “release time,” ghost teachers are being paid by taxpayers to conduct union business. The most recent lawsuit addresses the Allentown School District where the union president has collected more than $1.3 million in salary and benefits since the year 2000. When you add in the state portion of her pension, the cost goes up even further. According to a news report on the lawsuit, teachers’ union presidents haven’t had to step foot in a classroom since 1990.
The cost to the Allentown School District, while substantial, pales in comparison to the $1.7 million ghost teachers collected from the Philadelphia School District in 2014. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers also enjoys a rent-free office provided by the school district. An article published by Watchdog.org details some of the political work undertaken by union bosses at taxpayer expense:
“Hillary Linardopoulos, who has not taught in a classroom since 2009, ‘coordinates much of our political activism and legislative involvement,’ according to an op-ed penned by union members that endorses its current leadership team going into an upcoming internal election. Since leaving the classroom, her taxpayer-funded salary has almost doubled to $91,156.”
Legislation to eliminate ghost teachers was introduced last August. The General Assembly should shift the cost of union operatives from taxpayers to the unions. Furthermore, given the blatantly political nature of the work, there is no excuse for forcing taxpayers to subsidize the activity.
Wednesday:
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
State Police- Homeland Security
Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Here is what I learned yesterday:
1. During the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources hearing I learned that the Department had entered into a lease to lease land under the Allegheny River for 80 acres at a cost of $4,000 per acre for an approximate total cost of $320,000.
Here is my question to the department – Is $4,000 per acre for one year or multiple years?
Keep in mind – this is high priced swamp land – I want to meet the genius who entered into this deal.
2. The Pennsylvania State Police have between 135 and 145 full time personnel permanently assigned to casinos throughout the Commonwealth – the total cost without vehicle costs for the personnel is $28,491,000 (Million Dollars) – almost $200,000 person.
3. The State began the upgrade of a state-wide radio system approximately 10 – 12 years ago and the State Police use this system. Here is the bad news – the total cost spent so far is approaching $1.0 Billion Dollars and it does NOT work.
Recently a roll-off truck from my waste company was in the Pittsburgh area and our dispatcher in York was able to communicate to the truck via our radio system that costs less than $3,000 for the radio in the truck.
How many radios that cost $3,000 could be purchased for $1.0 Billion Dollars? The radio system sales rep who sold the system to the State is most likely retired and lives on a Caribbean Island from their commission.
Below are two articles that were reported in the last 48 hours –
I forwarded it to my Colleagues in the state House and Senate – with this message:
Dear Colleague:
This story was published yesterday. The message is very clear – Saudi Arabia has declared war on the US Oil Industry. This price war is spreading to the Pennsylvania oil and gas industry. Pay close attention – more layoffs are coming, banks will be writing off bad debt from the energy industry. Saudi Arabia has around $650 Billion in cash on hand so they have at least five years of staying power burning $100 Billion per year. (Cash Burn) Pennsylvania’s golden goose is about to get cooked.
I can assure you that corruption, stupidity, lack of accountability, waste, fraud and abuse and past bad decisions made over the last 30 years are getting exposed.
In closing – I want to thank York County Voters who came out on March 18, 2014 and cast a write-in vote for me and sent me to the PA State Senate.
For me to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate is an honor that I consider priceless and a huge responsibility – you may not agree with me on everything or may not like my style but I can assure you this – I will tell the truth and report what I find – Pennsylvanians deserve better from our state government.
I will continue to lead and be out front to change Harrisburg – and I am happy to report that the number of House and Senate Members right beside me that also want change is growing fast.
What I have seen over the time since I joined the PA State Senate in April of 2014 is simply breathtaking and makes me angry.
Barring a catastrophic collapse, it appears that Donald Trump could well be the Republican presidential nominee. Yet for all their theories about how he achieved his unlikely success, most pundits are still missing the biggest reason: Trump is winning as much because of his bluntness as his opponents’ lack thereof. And the same is true of Bernie Sanders.
People are sick of Washington politicos talking down to them, bickering about miniscule partisan advantage and regurgitating tired talking points on the minutiae of trade agreements, health care and tax policy with inside-the-beltway jargon.
What they seek is a leader who talks in plain English. While Trump and Sanders have, at times, been short on specifics, their willingness to tackle subjects in a conversational way has electrified the electorate.
There’s no doubt that if the Republican nominee tackles the lunacy invading America’s culture – perpetuated by a small extremist movement hell-bent on off-the-wall social engineering – he will gain a significant advantage in the general election. Many of these issues transcend party lines, but it would seem only a Republican – as part of the “lesser politically correct” party – will have the courage to use his bully pulpit to inject common sense into the debate.
Consider these four recent examples, and the traction that could be gained by addressing them head-on:
The Sandy Hook parents’ lawsuit against the gun manufacturer. It goes without saying that no one can imagine the pain of parents who lose a child, especially in a senseless killing spree. While some motivations of the killer will never be understood, we should be working toward real-world solutions that could help prevent another such tragedy. Casting blame the gun manufacturer on the grounds that it was somehow complicit solves nothing, and only derails serious efforts to discover the root causes.
Adam Lanza murdered his mother and stole her legally owned guns and ammunition. Therefore, he, and only he, is responsible for the massacre. Not his mother. And certainly not gun manufacturer Remington. Period. That’s like a car company being held liable because a reckless driver kills someone, or a beer maker incurring responsibility for an individual who drinks to excess. The Sandy Hook parents do not think the weapon used in the murders should have been legal. Fine. That’s their opinion. But indisputably, it was legal. This case should have absolutely no legal standing. A presidential candidate who, while showing empathy, focuses on real solutions instead of placating those who refuse to accept the truth, would find immense success.
2. The elimination of Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas in schools. Incredibly, the banning of “dominant” holidays – whatever that means – is becoming more commonplace, ostensibly because they may “offend” those unfamiliar with them. Really? That’s what educators think is best for our children? In point of fact, we are mandating close-mindedness in our kids while crushing their natural inclination for discovery. In other words, we are teaching them to be wholly intolerant of other people, cultures and traditions. If that warped mindset remains unchecked, it’s only a matter of time before the last truly free country on Earth collapses.
The vast majority of Americans – despite their collective silence on these types of issues for fear of being labeled insensitive bigots – would respond favorably to a candidate rejecting such mandates by asking:
• Since when is a holiday celebrating love and friendship “offensive?”
• Why is it wrong to celebrate holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah – without pushing religious beliefs – in what has always been a Judeo-Christian country?
• And how can the uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving – rooted in peace and friendship between Europeans and Native Americans – be eliminated in America?
While the role of commander-in-chief is not to intervene on the local level, using the office as a bully pulpit to shine light on policies gone awry is eminently presidential.
3. Transgenders using bathrooms of their choosing: Bowing to political correctness, schools and city councils are allowing transgender people to use whatever bathroom with which they most “identify.”
Extremists aside, what parents in their right minds – Republican and Democrat alike – would feel comfortable sending their young daughter into a “ladies” bathroom where a man, who on “feelings” alone, can freely use the same facility?
How could such a regulation possibly work in the military? Or the workplace, for that matter?
Tolerance and inclusion are admirable, but forcefully pushing back when things go too far would be met with resounding applause.
4. Nevada high school athletic associations suspending coaches for being successful: This isn’t an early April fool’s prank, but a rule that has made a joke of high school athletics. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has created a mandate – supposedly to encourage sportsmanship and prevent embarrassing scores – stipulating that a team can’t win by more than 49 points, and if, God forbid, they do, “coaches are required to submit documentation explaining how it happened and how they tried to prevent it. If it happens three times in a season, the winning coach is suspended. The rule also institutes a running clock in the second half after a lead gets to 40 points,” according to ESPN.
What has America come to? No one likes to be on the losing end, especially when a contest is lopsided, but having to document why a team wins? Seriously? That punishes players and coaches who worked hard to achieve success, and, ironically, humiliates the losing team that much more, as the better team often just holds the ball in what amounts to a patronizing move.
The answer is not to penalize those who earn success, but encourage those on the losing end to work harder – the best form of motivation, and the way it’s always been. It makes no difference whether a team loses by 49 or 69. A loss is loss, but to mandate a mercy rule at the high school level is ludicrous.
What next? Will we see mandated running plays in football if the margin exceeds 50 points? Will running backs simply fall down on their own? Will winning basketball teams be required to give their opponents 20 straight scoring opportunities while playing tepid defense so the losing players can feel good about themselves?
Don’t laugh. Grade school athletic programs have been doing this for years: Up by five in soccer? Pull your goalie and no shooting. Leading by 1- in baseball? Purposely strike out. And of course, give everyone a trophy. So the push for homogenization at the expense of individual achievement marches onward.
Enough is enough. If a presidential candidate advocates re-instilling traditional American values, with common sense as a guide, the keys to the Oval Office will be his, or hers. For all our sakes, here’s hoping.
If a Nigerian child continues to wet the bed past the age of 8, the parents send for a man with a hyena on a leash and the child is made to ride the hyena through the public square. The bedwetting then ends. Reportedly.
Rodney Dangerfield Jack Benny — Who was Rodney Dangerfield? He was a cowboy character used by Jack Benny on his radio show in the early 1940s. There was a different one? Well, Rodney Dangerfield was the stage name of comedian Jack Roy who was bornJacob Rodney Cohen but that one got no respect.
Rodney Dangerfield Jack Benny William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 2-23-16
John Hanger resigning is good for Pennsylvania. John Hanger was not a nice guy and it was either his way or the highway. It was very clear that John Hanger’s personal beliefs had become a large part of Governor Wolf’s agenda.
Even better news – John Hanger is moving to Massachusetts to join his wife.
Second Subject – PA Senate Appropriations Committee hearings began yesterday (Feb. 22) and go on for the next six weeks.
Governor Wolf has an unfinished budget from last year and delivered his 2016 – 2017 budget address two weeks ago.
Governor Wolf is again asking Pennsylvanians to pay more taxes while continuing to use the “more money for students” line.
I reported in an email blast several weeks ago that the PA Auditor General completed an audit on the Pittsburgh School District and found $129 million that was not being reported.
The first budget hearing that took place yesterday was with staste Budget Secretary Randy Albright.
I asked Secretary Albright if he was aware of the Auditor General’s report on the Pittsburgh School District and was if he was aware of the missing $129 million. He replied that he was not aware of the missing $129 million.
I responded that his answer was unacceptable.
My question is this: How could the PA Budget Secretary who represents the Governor’s Office appear in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee to ask for more money and not be aware of the $129 million that our own PA Auditor General found in a public school district audit?
Within the next month the Auditor General will be issuing the results of an audit that was recently performed on the Philadelphia School District. I predict the findings will reveal massive financial mismanagement in the Philadelphia School District.
Patriot News reporter Jan Murphy published a story, Feb. 16, titled – “$100,000 Club – Search the database of PA state government top 2015 earners.”
The story noted that in 2013 there were 4,822 people who earned $100,000 per year or more in state government. In 2014 the number grew to 6,356 people earning over $100,000 per year or more. It grew again to 7,692 people in 2015 earning $100,000 or more.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee I will be participating in budget hearings with agencies that are all looking for increased funding. At the same time, Governor Wolf is again looking for Pennsylvanians to pay more in taxes. With that in mind and after reading Jan Murphy’s story I have to ask myself this question….when is enough money enough?
Ms. Murphy asks a great question in her story: “Take a guess at which person in all of state government made more money last year: The Governor, A Supreme Court Justice, A Legislator, A Professor, or a swimming coach.”
“There’s little chance the swimming coach would be the one you’d pick.”
The swimming coach at West Chester University had earnings of $420,172 last year.
I believe that Pennsylvania is in the beginning stages of a recession.
Many elderly homeowners living on fixed incomes cannot afford their school – property taxes and are faced with selling their homes.
Many businesses linked to the energy industry are laying off employees in droves because of historic low gas and oil prices.
Still Governor Wolf wants more money from the people I just mentioned?
The answer is simple for me – Absolutely Not – it is time for Pennsylvania Government to immediately go on a diet – and that means now.
To be Crystal Clear – I will NOT be voting for any tax increases for the 2016-17 budget and I fully intend to educate and lobby my Republican colleagues to also vote for zero tax increases.
Since I joined the PA State Senate in April of 2014 I have seen firsthand, examples of waste, fraud, abuse and financial mismanagement. It is time to clean house and restructure the mess in Harrisburg and get our financial act together.
Stay tuned – I will be asking many questions during the Senate Appropriations Hearings – one of my questions for each agency head will be – “You need to figure out how to live on less funding from Harrisburg – are you capable of doing that?
The next head of the Pennsylvania Republican Party?
Val DiGiorgio Replacing Gleason? — A little birdie told us that Chester County Republican Chairman Val DiGiorgio has the inside track to replace Rob Gleason as chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.
Former Congresswoman Melissa Hart, who has quite a bit of influence in state-wide GOP circles, was reportedly boosting him big at the Feb. 15 Spirit of Lincoln Dinner hosted by the Allegheny County Republican Party out there in Pittsburgh.
If our birdie is accurate, we betcha Montco Dem boss Josh Shapiro is quietly cheering.
