The Delaware County Daily Times (Pa.) published this letter by Lisa Esler in response to an article regarding the rejection of a resolution by the Penn Delco School Board to ask the state legislature to end the mandate requiring school districts to pay a “prevailing wage” for public works of greater than $25,000. This means that to bid on these jobs contractors must pay a wage that “prevails” in each reason. This “prevailing wage” is determined by the state’s Department of Labor and Industry.
One should also note that contractors are also required by federal law to pay “prevailing wage” on all projects which receive in excess of $2,000 of federal funding.
It is well understood that this significantly inflates the cost of public works and the burden on the taxpayer.
And we wonder why our lives are getting harder while the lives of the politically connected are getting easier.
Lisa is a member of the Penn Delco School Board and the Delaware County Patriots.
Here is her letter:
This is in response to the article concerning the prevailing wage resolution which was voted down 6-2 by the Penn Delco School Board.
Prevailing wage inflates the cost of school construction projects costing the taxpayers from 10 to 30 percent for these projects. This money would be better used to help in the education of our children. The school board’s responsibility is to represent the children and the taxpayer, not to pay inflated prices for construction or represent any group of constituents directly.
Many of these same construction companies would do the work for less but are bound by this law (unfunded mandate) which was created by bureaucrats in Harrisburg who continue to feed off of union contributions for their elections. Other school boards in the state have passed the same or similar resolutions, including two in Chester County with a 9-0 vote.
The Pennsylvania School Board Association, which most school boards are members of, including Penn Delco, has said that prevailing wage is the number one unfunded mandate from Harrisburg and provided a similar resolution encouraging school districts to pass.
Legislation from Harrisburg ties the hands of school boards from making financial decisions that would benefit those they represent and legislators continue to put their own personal gain above their constituents. This is seen not only with the prevailing wage law but their unwillingness to end teacher strikes in Pennsylvania as well as deal with the pension crisis which they were well aware of years ago and were not willing to deal with until it hit “crisis status.”
The question remains, who does Harrisburg really represent if common-sense legislation is ignored? And what responsibly does the school board have in shedding light on important legislation that benefits both children and taxpayers?
Obamacare Horrors Detailed To Delco Pats — A near-capacity crowd that approached 300 heard that Obamacare will be much worse than even a Tea Partyer might suspect. Those attending the event at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Newtown Square tonight, Aug. 1. were both optimistic and enthusiastic in stopping it.
Katy Abram of Americans for Prosperity told the attendees at Hands Off My Healthcare that six-and-a-half million Pennsylvanians that now pay an income tax can expect to pay $3,065 more next year because of it.
Dr. Richard Leshner who is chief of cardiology at St. Mary’s Medical Center said doctor-patient privacy will soon be a thing of the past under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“Only two people are supposed to be in the room,” he said during a patient consultation. “That’s not the future”.
Chris Stigall, whose talk show airs 5:30-9 a.m. weekdays on 1210 AM, said he was given a article from an Irish newspaper from friend from Havertown named Brian that described how a young girl had used up her oxygen quota and couldn’t get new tanks. That, he said, was the future here.
Hands Off My Healthcare was hosted by Americans for Prosperity and The Delaware County Patriots.
“It’s not about healthcare,” said Leshner regarding the law. “It’s not about women’s right. It’s about control.”
He said the law creates a vertically integrated payment structure that will keep doctors from having a say in how the treat their patients. He noted that the law strongly encourages employers to dump their health care plans as it costs about $8,000 per year to cover an employee’s insurance while the penalty for not doing so is but $2,000.
He said expect rationing.
Mrs. Abram, who entered the public stage when she told then Sen. Arlen Specter that he “awakened a sleeping giant” during a town hall in the summer of 2009, described how the IRS and Department of Justice will have as much to do with administering Obamacare as the Department of Health and Human Services.
Mrs. Abram, however, also provided details on a way to slay the monster. She showed this video from the Cato Institute as to why states should reject health care exchanges forcing the federal government to foot the load. Feds don’t have the money to fund a national exchange. A state gets no benefit or flexibility for setting one up an exchange of its own as they are but portals into a national system.
Seven states — Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Idaho — had declared they won’t be setting up state ones.
Pennsylvania is a different story. Gov. Tom Corbett — never a Tea Party favorite — has accepted $34 million from Washington for a state exchange. Mrs. Abram played a video of comments made by Corbett shortly after the Supreme Court ruling declaring Obamacare constitutional which indicated that he would comply with the law.
Mrs. Abram said Pennsylvania could either adopt a health exchange through an executive order by the governor or via a bill passed by the legislature. She said she didn’t think Corbett would go out on a limb to issue an executive order. Americans for Prosperity will be circulating Health Care Freedom Pledges for state legislators to sign.
Mrs. Abram said that while supporters of a state health exchange included the usual suspects like unions and Planned Parenthood, they also included the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce.
In other items from the night, Leshner said electronic record requirements cause doctors to see 20 percent fewer patients.
“The great lie is that electronic records help you,” he said.
He agreed with a questioner who asked if Obama was purposely trying to force Catholic hospitals out of business.
He said the reality is that President Obama’s plan is not designed to help the needy.
He said the consequences that we suffer are “the ramifications of his stupidity.”
One woman during the question session said that many workers don’t understand how soon they might lose their insurance benefits. She suggested that people start quizzing management about their plans and asking co-workers what they had heard.
The night’s introductions were made by Mary Ellen Jones of the Patriots.
Aaron Summers of the Republican Party’s Delaware Victory Center made a short presentation about the need for volunteers. The center in Suite 208 at the Springfield Shopping Center, 1001 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
WPHT host Chris Stigall takes a question from the audience for Katy Abram and Dr. Richard Leshner.
Don Adams presents a gift to Pam Geller. At the podium is Teri Adams.
Tea Party Movement Alive In Philly — Teri and Don Adams of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association (IHTPA) had another Independence Day triumph before a maximum occupancy crowd of at least 300 at the Independence Visitors Center Ballroom across Market Street from Independence Hall.
The group has held Fourth of July events at Independence Mall featuring nationally known speakers for four straight years. It was moved inside this time due to forecasts of near 100 degree heat and thunderstorms.
This year’s keynoter was the oft-vilified, always underestimated and near heroic Pamela Geller of the Freedom Defense Initiative.
Ms. Geller, a human rights activist, noted that while she is accused of being anti-Muslim, had no problem with Muslims. She said, however, she had a problem with Sharia Law and its demeaning treatment of women and religious minorities. She said she welcomed Muslims coming to America to escape the oppressive law.
Ms. Geller said that the struggle facing this generation is an old one between those who believe in the autonomy of the individual and those who believe in the supremacy of the state. This is why the left usually finds itself on the same side as Islam, she explained, a matter that sometimes confuses the right.
She said that the fight against Sharia is no different than the fight against communism or Nazis, a name that she pointedly noted stood for National Socialism.
Ms. Geller said the Sharia supporters are making surprising inroads into our nation and culture. Islamic leaders shamelessly defend female genital mutilation here, she said. She stressed the importance of voting out President Obama this November, under whose watch moderate Islamic nations have fallen to Sharia throughout the Mideast and who did not lift a finger to help courageous pro-liberty supporters in Iran.
She said Obama has been a strong supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, support which was instrumental in their takeover of Egypt.
Ms. Geller said that the establishment media is a tool of the left and is effective in marginalizing conservative’s best spokespeople specifically citing Sarah Palin. She said too often the conservatives abandon them when this happens and that conservatives must learn to stick with those who have been knocked down.
Emcee duties were handled flawlessly by Ms. Adams and the flow was kept moving smoothly by presenters WHPT talk show host Dom Giordano and WDEL talks show host Rick Jensen. Jensen pointed out that 40 percent of self-proclaimed conservatives did not vote in 2008, and that the nation couldn’t afford them sitting out again.
Sher Valenzuela, who is Delaware’s Businesswoman of the year and is the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of that state, described the tragedy to come if Obamacare is not repealed. She said that her son was diagnosed with autism and was told he would never be able to read or write. She and her husband began a second job to raise the money so he could be treated by a specialist. The boy is now a freshman at the University of Delaware. She was emphatic that that could not have happened if the new law was in existence at the time.
Brandon Posner, the chairman of the Bucks County Teenage Republicans and the grandson of refugees from Castro’s Cuba, described the importance of freedom and the American ideal. The poise shown by someone who had just ended his sophomore year at CB East High School was remarkable.
The 2012 Patriot of the Year award was bestowed on Ryan Manion Borke of the Travis Manion Foundation. A prior commitment kept Borke from attending. The award was presented by Giordano on behalf of the late Joey Vento who was last year’s winner.
The presentation of awards by prior winners has become an event tradition.
The 2012 Betsy Ross Activist of the Year Delaware Award was presented by Kristen Sherman of Founders Values to John Radell of Faith and Freedom of Delaware.
The 2012 Besty Ross Activist of the Year New Jersey Award was presented by Bill Miller of Project Shining City to Cort Rosholt of the IHTPA.
There were two Betsy Ross awards given to Pennsylvanians. Carol Klein of numerous groups presented one to Lin DeCesare of the IHTPA and Saturday Morning in America. The other was presented by Phil Schieber of the IHTPA to Lisa Esler of the Delaware County Patriots, who is also a member of the Penn Delco School Board. Ms. Esler also played an instrumental role in Rogers Howard’s primary challenge to Dominic Pileggi in 9th District State Senate race.
The George Washington Leadership Award was presented by Carol Klein, Teri Adams, Sharon Cherubin to Rich Davis of American Sheepdogs whose successful efforts to lead a counter protest against anti-military demonstrators in West Chester that greatly helped the morale of returning veterans and their families.
Also speaking at times were Ms. Adams and Rick Eckert of the IHTPA. The invocation was given by Rev. Jesse W. Woods Jr., associate minister of the 2nd Baptist Church of Germantown. Music was provided by the 286 Band
The formalities ended with a panel discussion about how to defeat Obamacare presented by Don Adams; moderated by Gary R’nel of WPHT; and featuring Dr. Ed Turzanski of the Foreign Policy Research Institute; Arvin Cabali, M.D., of Docs for Patient Care, Pennsylvania; attorney Matt Rooney of SaveNewJerse.com; Mark A. Young, M.D. of Physicians for Palin; Sgt. Robert Mansfield (ret), Iraq War veteran and the Republican congressional candidate for Pennsylvania’s 2nd District; and Rick Jensen.
An expected counter protest by Occupy Wall Street fizzled in the sizzle. Some signs were held up during the city’s Fourth of July Parade down Market Street preceding the event. A handful of unwashed types with duffle bags were seen lounging on the lawn of the Mall, although they denied being with OWS when asked and expressed concern that the asker was with the police.
This fellow said he was not a member of Occupy Wall Street but said he came down to join their protest. He found himself trapped on the south side of Market Street during the parade, while most of the other sign holders were on the north side. His signs, which were made from pizza boxes, say “End The NWO New World Order” and God’s Voice Not Man’s Voice”.
Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi who helped give state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi the grief he got this primary season has now turned his sights on Springfield’s own Bill Adolph who represents the 165th District in the State House and chairs the House Appropriations Committee.
“Routinely, Appropriations Committee Chair Republican Bill Adolph and the Republican Controlled General Assembly forces the Pennsylvania taxpayer to subsidize Penn State, a $4 billion tax exempt nonprofit big business billionaire corporation each year,” Guzzardi says. “. . .As the subsidies increase, tuition has increased, salaries have increased the number of non-teaching administrators and staff have increased, student learning performance has not increased. What has government oversight accomplished? Students leave Penn State with loan burdens that stay with them for years.”
The Delaware County Patriots will be among those participating in the Americans for Prosperity rally, Tuesday, March 27, in front of the Supreme Court. Their bus will be leaving for Washington, D.C. from the Granite Run Mall at about 9 a.m.
Cost is $10. AFP will provide snacks for the way down but you are advised to bring something for the way back.
To RSVP, either click here or call Mary Ellen at 610-572-3442. The checks are need by March 15.
Pennsylvania Senate Changes Health Plan — State Senate President Pro-Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) confirmed in a Feb. 9 letter to the Bucks County Courier Times that the Senate is replacing its luxury employee medical plan with one akin to the kind almost universal in the private sector. It is expected to save the state $1 million annually.
The elimination of indemnity health plans was approved in December by The Senate Committee on Management Operations, according to the Courier Times, and all senators, employees and retirees will be in a preferred provider organization plan by April 1.
The Courier Times and its sister paper, The Intelligencer ran a series of articles in May describing the scandalous benefits. They deserve a big pat on the back.
But one suspects the matter would have been quickly forgotten if it wasn’t for the growth of certain ornery constituent groups whose loyalty lies with issues rather than an established party.
Health benefits for about 900 Senate employees cost $16.8 million last year.
Under indemnity plans, the insured can see any doctor who accepts the insurance and all expenses are covered after a deductible is reached.
They are almost non-existent in the private sector now.
The state Republican Party is warning the county organizations about associating with those unendorsed, fiscally responsible types favored by the Tea Party.
They seem particularly concerned about U.S. candidate Steve Welch whose votes for President Obama and support for Congressman Joe Sestak isn’t sitting real well with people who think the Republican Party shouldn’t pick candidates who support Democrats.
In a letter sent to every county GOP chairman, the state honchos say:
— Only candidates endorsed by the PA GOP should be recognized and/or allowed to speak at official party events and that they should be able to attend events as complimentary guests.
— All endorsed candidates should be given an opportunity to speak at such events
— County organizations should only be circulating petitions for state-endorsed candidates.
— County chairs should decline promotional materials from non-endorsed candidates.
If the state GOP has such a handle on things, one kind of wonders how this unflattering memo is getting circulated.
Roger Howard Explains Pileggi Challenge — Roger Howard in his own press release spells out why he is challenging Pa. Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) in this April’s primary.
Here it is, with a hat tip to Bob Guzzardi:
Roger Howard will be challenging Senator Dominic Pileggi in the Republican Primary. This is the first ever Primary challenge for Pileggi.
Howard, who is seeking to be a citizen legislator, was moved to enter politics after watching the Republican Senate leadership in Harrisburg fail to pass badly needed reforms. Reforms, he says, which are critical to growing the economy of the District and the Commonwealth. Unfunded pension liabilities, fraud and abuse of entitlements and a continuation of the Harrisburg ‘political favor factory’ are among top of the list.
“Harrisburg has me worried,” Howard said, “When the Republicans took over Harrisburg in the 2010 elections we, the voters, were promised bold action. What we have seen is maintaining the status quo; which is to spend now and let future generations pay later. I can’t sit by and do nothing, as our legislators have done.”
“We are truly a grassroots movement against politics as usual in Harrisburg. People are fed up and are being energized and involved to secure the financial future for our children and grandchildren. We are tired of seeing our kids grow up here, get the best education here and then have to leave because there are no jobs,” Howard said.
Roger Howard is a retired chemical engineer who has lived in the 9th Senatorial District for over 20 years. He served honorably in the 82nd Airborne Division. He is the proud father of 5 daughters and grandfather to 8 grandkids. As a patent holder and small businessman he understands how to support entrepreneurs and small businesses. He is a member of the Coalition of Advancing Freedom in Chester County and has volunteered on local campaigns. In addition, Howard teaches free Constitutional classes with a focus on securing the blessings of liberty by being informed and involved in government at all levels.
G. Rogers Howard, the man who hopes to replace Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi as the senator for Pennsylvania’s 9th District told an enthusiastic crowd of 60 at The Delaware County Patriots, tonight, Jan. 11, that it was his grandchildren who are motivating him to run.
Howard said the state plus its municipalities are $125 billion in debt and that this debt is a form of taxation without representation on the unborn and the young which include his grandchildren all of whom are under 7 years old.
He said that the state Republican establishment is quite happy with the status quo regardless of what suffering should occur, and that this especially applies to Pileggi. He noted that the GOP took over the executive and legislative branches of state government last year after sweeping the 2010 elections.
“You expect to see the reform legislation that occured in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana,” he said. He said what we got though were long discussions about “red light cameras in Chester.”
Howard, who will be using Roger as his first name throughout the campaign, pointed out that Pennsylvania gets about $27 billion in revenue annually but actually spends about $65 billion. The money to cover the gap comes from bond issues, and regarding bond issues he said the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is basically just a huge slush fund.
The program which was begun with $400 million in 1986 was given the ability to borrow up to $700 million in 1993 which was increased to $1.2 billion in 1999 and with continued periodic increases now stands at $4.05 billion.
The program is used to give Aker Philadelphia Shipyard its annual $42 million payoff to keep from closing. It’s also used to fund things like the Arlen Specter Library and the John Murtha Library which have each received grants of $10 million apiece and the Comcast Center which has gotten a grant for $35 million. Howard explained that the actual cost of that $10 million grant is $33 million when funded with a 30-year bond.
Howard lives in Unionville, has a Ph.d in chemistry and served in the 82nd Airborne Division. He has pledged not to participate in the state pension system. He answered audience questions in which he spoke out in opposition to teachers strikes and in favor of the right to work. He said he is against gay marriage.
He says he will be getting a better website.
In other business, the Patriots passed out flyers regarding legislation passed by the State House that is being held up in the Senate run by Pileggi including HB 42, a bill that would make parts of ObamaCare impossible to enforce in the state.
Regina Scheerer announced that 12 members of the Pats including herself were running for committee seats — most against party wishes — and that help and funding were needed. She also issued a plea for help and funding for Howard.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi will face a Tea Party challenger for his 9th District seat this April 24 in the Republican Primary.
The challenger, Rogers Howard, is a Unionville resident with a PhD. in Chemistry.
“I met Rogers Howard yesterday for two hours,” said Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi. “He may the smartest candidate I have met – so smart that he can admit he doesn’t know something.”
