News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
Montco Favorites Nominees Sought — Montco resident? Here’s a chance to nominate your favorite Montgomery County person, place, business or event at Montco Happening.
Nomination for the 3rd Annual Happening List® competition opened on Jan. 4. The voting starts Jan. 15.
Information can be found here.
Chesco Empire Strikes Back — The Chester County GOP Empire is striking back.
Marian McGrath, the East Bradford committee woman who chairs the Party’s Area 12 has sent out an email blast expressing hurt and outrage over recent stories publicizing the employment (and candidate contributions) of Republican Party boss spouses.
“The tone of these email/blog posts against our Chairman and his wife has compelled me to respond,” she says.
“It saddens me,” she says.
Don’t be sad. Val DiGiorgio isn’t sad. He’s happy. His wife is making $105,000.
Now granted the guy that gave her the job is Josh Shapiro, the Dem bigwig who runs Montgomery County but a job is a job and $105 Gs is $105 Gs.
And Marian, that case back in 2011 where you had to remove a “moderate-leaning” committee person who violated bylaws? Were there four of them, one being an area chair? If you have that many people violating bylaws the problem is with the bylaws — or the people interpreting them.
And what’s with party bosses supporting an organization that primarys committee people? You have to admit that kind of raises eyebrows.
Here is Marian’s complete “unite together” (cough) apologetic.
Dear Friends of the GOP:
You may have received an email or read a blog post indicating that the Chester County Republican Committee is “trying to purge Conservatives.” The tone of these email/blog posts against our Chairman and his wife has compelled me to respond.
The individuals sending these messages are under review by the Republican Committee of Chester County for allegedly violating RCCC bylaws in the November election by working against the candidates the Republican voters chose in the Primary Election. Multiple witnesses have accused these committee people of working against our Republican candidates in the General Election.
After the Republican voters choose their candidates in the Primary Election, it is imperative and required under our bylaws that our committee people support those candidates. Working against these candidates is working against the will of the Republican electorate, and we cannot stand by and allow any committee person to oppose the will of our Republican voters.
As the bylaws require, we are in the process of scheduling a hearing and three republicans will hear testimony and determine if in fact a violation did occur. The accused have been provided with copies of the complaint letters and the materials provided by the complainants. Each side has the opportunity to state their case and present evidence. At this time, no decision has been made as to anyone’s guilt in this matter and that decision will be made only after a hearing and in accordance with our bylaws and precedent.
In 2011, while I was acting Chair of RCCC, a similar incident occurred in which a committee person, who was moderate-leaning, also violated the bylaws and was removed from committee through the same procedure. The allegations that the RCCC is purging conservatives could not be further from the truth. The bylaws state that action needs to be taken and if found not guilty, the individuals will remain on the committee.
It saddens me that at a time when our nation is facing real threats abroad and economic threats at home, these individuals would disparage the wives of our party leaders and our Chairman versus having an open and honest discussion about their actions.
As we head into 2016, we need to unite together in order to be successful.
Best regards,
Marian McGrath
Bob Asher Behind Chesco Purge? The Chester County GOP big bosses called in the candyman when they needed some cash to try to crush the grassroots activists encroaching on their turf.
The United Republicans of Chester County (URCC) which primaryed, mostly without success, several new committeepersons in 2014 received $5,000 — about half its income — from Pa Future Fund which is run by the Bob Asher, owner of Asher’s Chocolates and convicted felon.
The other major donors were Bryan McElwee of Valley Forge and Richard Ireland of King of Prussia who gave $2,500 each.
The URCC was chaired by Alex Rahn and its treasurer was Bradley Vasoli. It was terminated on Jan. 15, 2015.
And where were these Chester County “Republicans” working from? According to the campaign finance report it was 241 S. 6th St., Apt. 405 Philadelphia.
Go figure.
And then go figure why the GOP’s state-wide big money guys are trying to chase away their most motivated activists.
William of Newburgh was one of the most esteemed and learned men of the Middle Ages.
While his reputation is based on his histories, he delved into other matters.
Like zombies.
“It would not be easy to believe that the corpses of the dead should sally (I know not by what agency) from their graves,” he wrote. “And should wander about to the terror or destruction of the living, and again return to the tomb, which of its own accord spontaneously opened to receive them, did not frequent examples, occurring in our own times, suffice to establish this fact, to the truth of which there is abundant testimony.”
And the poor people back then didn’t even have shotguns to shoot them in the head.
Funeral Bill Called Conflict For Tomlinson
By Leo Knepper
In Harrisburg, most people know Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson as a state senator from Bucks County, serving his fifth four-year term representing the 6th District. A career politician, he also represented the people of the 18th House District from 1991-94.
But most people back home in his district know him primarily for his other career – as a full-time funeral director and owner of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Bensalem, which was opened by his father in 1945.
These two careers shouldn’t interfere with each other, but Sen. Tomlinson’s role as chairman of the Senate of Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee is putting his two jobs in conflict, raising profound ethical questions that should concern Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Despite no documented consumer complaints, his committee and the Senate have approved SB 874, pushed by Sen. Tomlinson and his fellow funeral directors to stop legitimate competition with cemeteries in the area of pre-need sales. The name of the committee is ironic since the legislation would create less competition and higher prices for families burying loved ones.
While he isn’t the prime sponsor of SB 874, Capitol insiders refer to it as “Tommy’s bill.” Many are rightly calling this bill a product of a “turf war” between southeastern Pennsylvania funeral homes and a company called StoneMor.
Here’s a brief primer on pre-need sales and the incarnation of SB 874: In May 2014, StoneMor entered into a lease to operate eight of the diocesan cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and a management agreement for the remaining five diocesan cemeteries in the Philadelphia area. Before StoneMor assuming operational responsibility of the cemeteries, the archdiocese didn’t offer customers the option of purchasing vaults and caskets directly from the cemetery. As a result, those products were purchased only from funeral directors, with no competition from cemeteries. When StoneMor entered the market, it started selling cemetery merchandise in competition with the funeral directors.
Senate Bill 874 would force cemeteries to adhere to the 1982 Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, even though the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has refused to include cemeteries due to a lack of consumer complaints. The FTC reviewed this legislation and concluded Senate Bill 874 could result in potentially higher prices and less consumer choice, without producing any benefits for consumers.
Last legislative session, a similar House bill received a hearing by the House Consumer Affairs Committee. Shockingly, Sen. Tomlinson, a funeral home owner whose business would benefit greatly by the legislation’s passage, was permitted to participate in the panel during the hearing and ask questions. The transcript of the hearing reads like an attack on StoneMor by Sen. Tomlinson and Rep. Micozzie.
At one point, former Pennsylvania Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association President Guy Saxton testified: “I know you don’t like StoneMor, but I’m not StoneMor. And this bill puts me out of business. And everything I’ve heard today tells me that this bill is not in good faith. It’s not trying to help the consumer, it’s attempting to put StoneMor out of business, and we’re collateral damage.”
Why should Pennsylvania taxpayers care?
Taxpayers from Bensalem to Bethlehem to Butler should worry when a powerful, five-term senator is using the legislative process to protect his family business by eliminating the competition.
The state Senate must answer serious ethical questions on how Sen. Tomlinson is allowed to chair a committee that directly impacts his industry. Further scrutiny is required to understand how Sen. Tomlinson was permitted to vote on the Senate floor for this legislation.
If Sen. Tomlinson were interested in what’s best for consumers, he would reduce the regulatory burden for funeral homes. There is a disparity between how funeral homes and cemeteries are treated under the law. Cemeteries have few restrictions on who can sell preneed products and how the funds from preneed sales are allocated. Pennsylvania government has created an environment that increases costs for consumers. Instead of working to make it easier for funeral home operators and thereby reduce the cost for consumers, Thomlinson is advocating for policies that will increase funeral costs for consumers and hurt his competition.
SB 874 is an excellent example of crony capitalism and a perfect illustration of how government increases the cost of living, or in this case dying, in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Knepper is executive director of Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania.
Edward Franklin Albee III, the favored playwright of 1960s academics, was the adopted grandson of Edward Franklin Albee II. Albee II ran vaudeville theaters.
William Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 1-5-16
Today, Jan. 5, is the 12th Day of Christmas and hence ends Christmastide for the Anglican and Lutheran churches.
For Catholics, the season doesn’t end until Sunday, which is the first Sunday after Epiphany which is Jan. 6.
Before 1955, Catholics ended Christmas as did their closely related Protestants on Jan. 5, and this was followed by the Octave of Epiphany which were the eight days following.
So we wish you a Merry Christmas.
Chesco GOP Hearts Dinniman? — It keeps coming in from Chester County.
The latest is that Democrat State Senator Andy Dinniman whose 19th District covers much of that county is a Republican Party play thing; that he literally ran like a puppy from across the room when former Chesco GOP boss “Skip” Brion whistled.
When Steve Kantrowitz ran against Dinniman in 2008 on the GOP ballot he says he did not get an iota of help from the party establishment. He even had to drive his own nominating petitions to Harrisburg. In a snowstorm.
He says the party actively discouraged him from running in the primary which ultimately he won uncontested.
The story is that Dinniman gives the county GOP what they want and they make it easy for him to keep his job.
And is this why nothing ever gets done for the hard-working little guy and gal in the Pennsylvania Legislature but a whole lot gets done for the special interests.
Ask yourself, do teacher strikes really help children. Why are they legal?
Chesco Purge Orchestrated By Big Money?
By Dick Gould
I want to tell you a story.
Three years ago my wife and I, as solid Reagan Republicans, were tired of yelling at the TV, watching our country as we know it slip away towards socialism, and we were worried about our kids’ future. We decided to attend a Flag Day ceremony on the courthouse steps in West Chester, and we took the kids as an educational experience to learn about our country. There we met a number of interesting people including Sheriff Bunny Welsh who was the impetus for us to try to make a positive difference by running for Republican committeepersons in our precinct. In the five years that we had lived on Valley Forge Mountain, we had never met our committee people, had no idea who they were, nor had we ever had any political literature or sample ballots delivered to our house, so we knew we could do a better job and perhaps help move the needle towards getting more good Republicans elected.
So we ran in 2012 and found out some people in West Chester didn’t like concerned independent-minded newcomers, but would rather appoint their own who might then feel obligated to act and endorse as they were told. For two years we worked hard and we believe we have made a difference in our community with fund raising and new creative ideas.
Earlier this year, when I saw that I was being challenged in the primary, I thought “Fine, that’s our system. Let’s see if he can do a better job than I can.” However, we quickly realized this was a well-organized, professionally managed and funded effort. We spent $66 through Vistaprint for some palm cards, plus we had to fork out $100 just to get our names on our own Republican sample ballot. My opponent had professionally designed and edited literature and an extensive mailing campaign of red, white and blue glossies with our GOP elephant emblem on them, all paid for by the United Republicans of Chester County. They probably spent around $2000 just against me. He even had his own committeeman lawn signs.
So I started digging into this United Republicans of Chester County. And please, don’t take my word for any of this, it is all easily verifiable through the internet and through your own contacts and political friends. United Republicans targeted and tried to unseat dozens of Reagan Republican committeepersons in this past Chester County Primary. United Republicans is run by a guy named Alex Rahn who was the former SE PA Political Director for Arlen Specter, who was obviously not a Reagan Republican. Rahn is also a committeeman in Honeybrook and he happens to attend an awful lot of the Republican Committee of Chester County executive meetings. I was told that Alex Rahn was running a “black ops” campaign to get rid of committeepeople who would not get in line. In their efforts to purge people like me, the United Republicans hired help to call and to vet potential candidates to run. Another committeeperson in Chester County answered a robocall from the United Republicans and after “correctly” answering all of the vetting questions, asked who ran the organization and got the response “Alex Rahn and Rob Brooks”. Neighbors told us that our own Area Chair endorsed my United Republicans’ opponent.
By the way, the United Republicans of Chester County is an unregistered political entity that probably spent between $25,000 and $50,000 on their operations so far. But unregistered means that there is also no public record of political funding. I question where the United Republicans funding came from. I would rather use that money to work against the Democrats.
If this were a plan hatched by the Democrats to fracture our party, it would be flat out brilliant. Is this what causes us to lose elections? Of the dozen or so races contested by the United Republicans, near as we can tell they lost just about every one by huge margins, strong evidence that voters are repulsed by their divisive attacks. I ended up winning my race 136-54. By the way, I called up my opponent after the election to congratulate him on a hard fought campaign. I don’t fault him because he was just a pawn in this scheme, and he is eager to deliver some literature bags for us in his neighborhood.
Does our Republican leadership work harder against its’ own Reagan Conservative Core than it does against the Democrats? I’m speaking out because I think that sunlight is the best disinfectant. What I really want to do is to help the best possible Republican candidates win on every level. The system works best when it is fair and honest.
Mr. Gould is the GOP Committeeman for Tredyffrin Ward 5 in Chester County.
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 1-4-15
Professional cooks don’t use Teflon pans. They are too fragile. The pros use stainless steel and cast iron.
