Category: Pennsylvania Governor

Corbett’s Gang Muscles In On DRPA

Gov. Tom Corbett has cleaned the rodent-droppings from Pennsylvania’s vermin-infested  contribution to  Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) appointing himself as chairman and replacing five board members.

But will it be the case of “meet the new rat, same as the old rat”?

Corbett’s appointments — William Sasso, Joanna Cruz, Joann Bell, Walter D’Alessio and David Simon — are all heavy political contributors to the governor each donating at least $1,500, personally or institutionally, to his attorney general and gubernatorial campaigns with Simon and Sasso kicking in $29,500 and $22,000 respectively as individuals.

DRPA is a Congressionally-approved arrangement between Pennsylvania and New Jersey charged with overseeing the maintenance and development of the Philadelphia-Camden port district and much of the Delaware River crossings including the four big toll bridges. The 16-member board is split evenly between the states. All  New Jersey members are appointed to set terms by its governor. In Pennsylvania, six members are at-will gubernatorial appointments with the state’s treasurer and auditor general being automatically given seats.

Are Corbett’s picks going to be exterminators or just more bald-tailed looters looking for their cheese? One sign will be if crossing the Delaware gets cheaper and more convenient. Look to see what happens with the 20 percent toll hike schedule for July.

Hat tip Chris Freind.

AFP Gives Lesson In Right Blogging


The first event of Sam Rohrer’s tenure as director of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) can’t be said to have gone off without a hitch but today’s 8-hour RightOnline Training Seminar ended as a major success.

The event was not held at the Valley Forge Convention Center as scheduled but at the adjacent  Radisson Hotel. A raging windstorms snarled roads throughout Southeast Pennsylvania causing the start to be delayed for late arrivals. Then, just as things got underway, power went out throughout Montgomery County putting, for a couple of hours, the proceedings in the dim glow of emergency lights and making the prepared PowerPoint presentations a moot endeavor.

Using the restrooms at the prestigious facility became a ad hoc cellphone flashlight adventure.

Still, the presenters, many of whose names are recognized throughout the nation, improvised and taught their lessons sans technology at the technology-oriented conference.

And the lights really were on for most the day.

Rohrer’s opening remarks were followed by ones from Steve Lonegan , the former mayor of Bogota, N.J. who ran against Chris Christie in 2009 Republican New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary. Lonegan is the director of AFP’s New Jersey chapter.

“The once proud Democratic Party of my union grandparents has now become the Democrat Party of government workers,” Lonegan said referring to the turmoil that the Democrats and government workers are now causing by bizarre, angry demonstrations in Wisconsin, which are filled with violent imagery.

The first session of seminars followed with noted blogger Erick Telford giving a lesson on basic blogging and Rich Shaftan of Mountaintop Media giving tips on how to handle the press. They were followed by long-time journalist Trent Seibert of Texas Watchdog who described ways citizen-bloggers could do investigative reporting.

It was during Seibert’s talk that the power went out, ruining an elaborate visual display he said he had prepared. This  ironically occurred while he was  pointing out how bloggers caused major grief to Oscar/Nobel/etc. winner Al Gore by exposing his energy hypocrisy.

Still Seibert managed to convey that audits are often overlooked means of exposing government malfeasance that Tea Party activist would do well to mine. He cited several useful websites, including one capable of generating  Freedom Of Information Act letters, whose links AFP would be sending to event attenders.

In describing the new power of blogs, it was either Telford or Seibert who said that it was a Montana blogger who exposed the lies Dan Rather told shortly before the 2004 election regarding President Bush’s Texas Air National Guard Service.  The one who did the exposing was from Georgia and the site on which the exposing occurred was FreeRepublic.Com

With the power out, the agenda was rearranged with talks by Pennsylvania State Rep Jim Cox (R-129) and Lonegan coming next.

Cox noted a big difference between Gov. Tom Corbet and his predecessor Ed Rendell in that while Rendell would have a press conference at the drop of a hat, Corbett has been avoiding them. He said he hoped it was because Corbett was deliberately preparing a case to make to the citizens regarding his plans for the state. Cox said we will know on March 8 when he makes his budget address.

Cox said there were 98 new faces in the State House since 2007 and 110 since 2005 so the chance for real reform is good.

He said there has already been some significant rule changes. Uncontested resolutions — such as those honoring a Little League championship team — can now be voted on in bulk saving the legislators about an hour and a half a week. He also said bills are now going to be almost complete coming out of committee allowing more time to study them and less time for sneaky amendments.

Cox said he is concerned about various plans being aired to shrink the size of the legislature as this would result in representation that is much less responsive to the citizenry.

He said his crusade to abolish property taxes is advancing and a property tax relief caucus has formed in the House which now has 91 members.

Lonegan said that New Jersey led the nation in economic growth from 1776 to 1976. He said it’s now 48th. He said that while The Garden State’s property tax rate was the third highest in the nation by the 1960s it had neither a sales nor income tax. He said that  in 1966 tax a “temporary” sales tax strongly supported by the New Jersey State Education Association was passed to ease the property tax burden. The tax was made permanent in 1970 and raised to 5 percent. Six years later a income tax was added.

Lonegan said the rates continued to rise and that the state now has among the highest sales and income tax rates in the country and the highest property tax rate.

He said the NJEA is now pushing to consolidate school districts “to save money.”

The post lunch seminars featured Ethan Demme of Keystone Conservative talking about social media; Jennifer Stefano of Americans for Prosperity giving advice on the media skills for which she is noted; Telford describing the power of online video; and Shafton explaining how to interpret polling.

The day would down with a panel discussion  consisting of Demme, columnist Chris Freind and New Jersey blogger Rob Eichmann; followed by a talk by Guy Benson of Townhall.com

During the panel discussion Freind noted that he picks on both parties and described how he was harshly critical of Gov. Corbett’s $42 million plan to bail out Aker Shipyard. Lonegan chimed in that Christie just OK’d a $260 million bailout of an Atlantic City casino.

Benson encouraged all Tea Party people to stick to truth and the high road in dealing with their opponents despite the temptation to do otherwise regarding their hypocrisy concerning claims of desire for civil debate.

The event ended with a call by Lonegan for Pennslvania Tea Party members to pressure State House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Adolph (R-165) into letting HB 42 come to a vote. HB 42 — The Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act — protects the rights of patients to pay directly for medical services, and it prohibits penalties levied on citizens and businesses for declining to participate in a particular health plan.


Clouds On The Right For Corbett


Allegations are circulating among the more conservative elements of the Tea Party Movement regarding corruption in the State Attorney General’s Office run by Gov.-Elect Tom Corbett.

The allegations have been sent in an email by Edward D. Martino, a Lancaster County activist and private investigator, who claims that the office has destroyed thousands of documents; pays 40 percent to collection agencies which is eight times higher than neighboring states; and awards no-bid contracts to the agencies.

Martino says he has interviewed “various people that either are presently working for Mr. Corbett, or have previously worked in his office.”

He would not say who it was he interviewed. He did say he did it on his own.

Goodbye Rendell Rant On 60 Minutes

Goodbye Rendell Rant On 60 Minutes — Ed Rendell wound down his disastrous eight years as Pennsylvania’s governor with a remarkable rant at CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl in defense of the casino gambling he brought to the state.

The promotional clip which can be found here shows him angrily calling those who run her show “simpletons” and “idiots”.

Judging by the a released transcript he was frustrated as to why she couldn’t understand how it was better for blue-collar Pennsylvanians to lose their paychecks in state rather than Delaware or New Jersey.

The show will air Sunday.

Hat tips to Philly.Com and Capitol Ideas.

Below is a transcript of some of Fast Eddie’s rage:

RENDELL: “The biggest downside is that some people lose their
paychecks. But understand, Lesley, they’re not losing their paychecks
because Pennsylvania instituted gaming. These people were losing their
paychecks in Atlantic City, in Delaware at the racetracks, or in West
Virginia.”

STAHL: “So why not lose it here . . .”

Rendell: “Well, if they were going to lose it anyway, let’s get the
upside. We were getting all the downside and none of the upside.”

STAHL: “The counter-argument is that you’re creating new gamblers. And lots of new gamblers.”

RENDELL: “We’re not creating new gamblers.”

STAHL: “Well, ’cause it’s down the street.”

RENDELL: “Those people play the lottery. They bet on football. How much money is bet on the Super Bowl.”

STAHL: “People are losing money for the state to get its revenue. They’re losing money.”

RENDELL: “Let me answer this. You . . . you’ve . . . I’ve always . . .
I’ve known, uh, for two or three decades, you’re a very smart person.”

STAHL: “But not now.”

RENDELL: “But you’re not getting it.”

STAHL: “I’m dumb now.”

RENDELL: “You’re not getting it. Those people would lose that money
anyway. Don’t you understand? You guys don’t get that. You’re
simpletons. You’re idiots if you don’t get that . . . That’s the answer
and it’s the right answer.”

Goodbye Rendell Rant On 60 Minutes

Pa Continues To Top Nation In Teacher Strikes

Obviously, Pennsylvania teachers are not in it “for the children.”

The Keystone State, as always, led the nation in teachers strikes last year with eight matching the ’08-’09 total and up one from ’07-’08. And we are not talking close contests here. More than half the school strikes in the nation occur annually in Pennsylvania.

And for what? The average salary for a Pennsylvania teacher in 2007 was then $54,970 for 190 days work, which was behind six states that prohibited such a child-hating practice.

Gov-elect Corbett has said he might support banning teacher strikes and adopt a mandate for binding arbitration to solve disputes. Binding arbitration for teachers, however, would be against the state Constitution as StopTeacherStrikes.Org clearly points out.

And considering those who would likely do the picking for the arbiters, the problem could conceivably be made worse.

So what to do? It’s not complicated. Teachers acquired their right to strike in 1970 with the passing of Act 195 .

Section 401 reads It shall be lawful for public employees to organize, form, join or assist
in employee organizations or to engage in lawful concerted activities
for the purpose of collective bargaining . . .

Change the first four words to read It shall be unlawful. Repeal articles VI, VII, VIII and IX.

Problem is solved. Taxes drop and schools improve. Win-win for everyone but the child-haters.

Corbett Taps 2 Tea Partyers For Transition Team

Gov.-elect Tom Corbett has tapped Diana Reimer, a co-founder of the Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots and statewide coordinator for the national Tea Party Patriots organization, as a member of the Budget, Pensions and Revenue Committee of his transition team. He also picked Ana Puig, who co-chairs the Kitchen Table Patriots of Bucks County, for a spot on the teams’ Education Committee.

The transition team has 400 unpaid members serving on 17 committees.

Hat tip to Bob Guzzardi of LibertyIndex.Com .

Rendell Vetos Castle Doctrine

As expected, Gov. Ed Rendell today vetoed HB 1926 , a bill which would have greatly expanded the grounds on which one could used deadly force to defend oneself. The bill would have ended significant requirements to retreat from a potential assailant before employing protective force and would  have expanded the “Castle Doctrine”  to matters outside the home and workplace.

The Castle Doctrine, as specifically described in HB 1926, is a “Common Law doctrine of ancient origins which declares that a home is a person’s castle.”

The bill passed the State House 61-35 and the State Senate 45-4 which are easily enough to overturn a veto. The legislative session, however, has ended for the year and so the bill will have to be introduced in the next one. Incoming Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to be willing to sign such a bill.

Rendell also vetoed HB 1231, which
would define cancer as an occupational disease for firefighters making
it easier for them to get workers’ compensation. He also vetoed a bill that would have restricted public access to autopsy reports.

 

GOP Up In Pa

The  Reuters/Ipsos poll released, today, has Republican Pat Toomey up 47-37 percent among likely voters over Democrat Joe Sestak in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Among registered voters, a category historically more favorable to the Democrats, Toomey is up 40-37 percent.

Meanwhile, the latest Rasmussen Poll has Toomey up 45-39 percent among likely voters with Toomey ahead 48-42 percent if leaners are factored in.

In the governor’s race, Reuter/Ipsos has Republican Tom Corbett head of Democrat Don Onorato 49 percent to 34 percent.

In other election news, Sestak has launched his first attack ads in which he accuses Toomey to be in the pockets of Wall Street and features a CNBC interview from 2007 in which he advocates ending corporate income taxes.

The ad buy is estimated to cost $110,000 and will run in every market but Philadelphia.

Toomey has responded saying he was just trying to explain to consumers that it is they who ultimately pay for taxes on corporations, and that he recognizes that a 0 percent corporate income tax is is “impractical for a host of reasons”.

Some friendly advice, Joe. You are living in a greenhouse on the “capitalist tool of Wall Street” matter so be careful about throwing stones. It’s not like Toomey ever voted to take $700 billion in taxpayer money to bailout Goldman Sachs et al. That’s not his name there in the yes category of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

It’s funny that even though the TARP bailout was pushed by President Bush most Democrats voted for it and most Republicans voted against it.

 

Pa. Becomes Top Beggar Under Rendell

The dynamic leadership of Gov. Rendell has lead Pennsylania to a number one ranking in each year of his administration in the category of money spent on lobbying Washington. In other words, Pennsylvania had dedicated more state taxpayer money to attempting to leech off the federal taxpayer than any other state.

Pa. snatched the crown in 2003 walloping second-place New Jersey $890,000  to $400,000.

By 2009, the winning streak was John-Woodenesque with Pennsylvania outspending second-place Nevada more than 5 to 1 at $1.48 million to $280,000.

“We’ve done awesome in getting funds from Washington both under the BushAdministration and the Obama Administration,” said Rendell.

Hat tip to Pennsylvania Independent and GrassrootsPa.Com

Kimmett Suit Derail Corbett Or Smoke Sans Gun?

A pending civil rights lawsuit against state Attorney General Tom Corbett who is the GOP’s nominee for governor is the simmering subject of discussions in the blogosphere with rumors about a pending autumn surprise that would derail his candidacy.


The case was filed Aug. 11,  2008   in United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on behalf of Thomas D. Kimmett and Sherry E. Bellaman by attorney Donald A. Bailey and amended two months later. The amended complaint names Corbett and nine others in the state attorney general’s office as defendants. 

Bailey is a former congressman and state auditor general but has acquired a reputation about being a little quick in filing a lawsuit.

Kimmett worked as a senior deputy attorney general according to the complaint and Ms. Bellaman was his assistant.

Kimmett alleges that Attorney General’s office unlawfully gave breaks to tax delinquents and unlawfully paid commissions to collection agencies. He also alleges that they ruined his chance of promotion after he complained about it to the Department of Revenue by running “him in a circle between the two Agencies.”

In the amended complaint, Kimmett says that “immediately after Kimmett filed the original suit the defendant’s (sic) Roman, Keiser, and others in the Attorney General’s office began a retaliatory program of harassment and ostracism”  and acted  “to alienate him from his assistants including the plaintiff Sherry E. Bellaman”

According to the court, the last action taken on the matter was a phone conference in April and no trial has been scheduled.

A phone call was placed to Bailey’s office to provide him a chance to elaborate.
Kimmett Suit Derail Corbett Or Smoke Sans Gun?
Will Kimmett Suit Derail Corbett Or Smoke Sans Gun?