Congratulations to the 2.9 million Pennsylvania voters who came out yesterday and cast their vote for Donald J. Trump as our next President of the United States.
We have once again earned our nickname, “The Keystone State.”
Pennsylvania was instrumental in pushing Donald Trump over the finish line, turning our state RED for the first time since 1988.
York County voters came out big to vote for Donald Trump.
Here in York County, the unofficial vote count is as follows:
Donald Trump – 126,933
Hillary Clinton – 67,428
I keep hearing the same question being asked in the media: How did this happen?
I can tell you how it happened.
Working class men and women came out in record numbers to vote for Donald Trump.
They’re tired and fed up with getting the same old excuses out of our elected officials and bureaucrats in Washington.
Our roads and bridges are crumbling; Obamacare is strangling the middle class; our economy is stagnant; and most importantly, taxpayers are tired of being overlooked and underappreciated.
Donald Trump’s victory is a huge win for taxpayers – your message and this Movement were heard loud and clear.
I’m optimistic that Donald Trump will surround himself with professionals who are experts in their fields and can help him be successful.
I am also happy to report that we have secured a veto-proof majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate.
Republicans picked up three more Pennsylvania State Senate seats, giving us the ability to override the Governor’s veto pen.
In a huge upset in Erie, Dan Laughlin was able to claim victory in the 49th Senatorial District.
My long-time friend John DiSanto was able to unseat the Democratic incumbent in Harrisburg winning the 15th Senatorial District.
Wayne Langerholc was able to claim victory in the 35th Senatorial District which covers Bedford, Cambria and Clearfield counties.
Finally, Senator Tom Killion was re-elected to serve a full four-year term in the 9th Senatorial District representing the Philadelphia suburbs.
We were unsuccessful securing the 19th Senatorial District which covers Chester County but we had a superior candidate, Jack London, who as of this past Sunday knocked on over 21,000 doors in the District.
As the Cycle Chairman for the Senate Republican Campaign Committee (SRCC), I am extremely proud of our candidates who were on the ballot this year and I look forward to working with our newest Senators to Make Pennsylvania Great Again.
A special thank you to our volunteers across the Commonwealth. You are the unsung heroes of elections. Without you, we wouldn’t be celebrating these victories today.
The Presidential election is just five days away and both the Clinton and Trump campaigns are in full gear to win.
Imagine you were on their jury.
I am deeply disturbed as the news continues to pour out every day revealing more of Hillary Clinton’s activities while she served as the Secretary of State for our country and her involvement with the Clinton Foundation.
The news last week that the FBI has obtained more emails from Hillary Clinton’s top aide Huma Abedin via her husband Anthony Weiner, a former U.S. Congressman, has turned this story of massive political obstruction into a complete disgrace of our justice system.
If you or I broke 1% of the laws broken by Hillary Clinton we would have been arrested, convicted and given a life sentence in prison.
It has now become clear from news reports that President Obama had inserted himself into the FBI and Justice Department investigation which resulted in no charges being brought against Hillary Clinton.
Over the last several weeks President and Mrs. Obama have been campaigning across the country for Hillary Clinton – both of the Obama’s are traveling on Air Force One with Secret Service Security Details campaigning for Hillary Clinton all paid for by American Taxpayers. Does that bother you? IT BOTHERS ME.
News articles have reported the following:
FBI Docs: Aide Destroyed Hillary’s Old Phones With A Hammer:
It is completely baffling to me that there are Americans who are willing to turn a blind eye to the criminal activities committed by Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Simply put, Bill and Hillary Clinton are criminals and the thought that these two criminals would step foot inside the White House makes me sick to my stomach and outraged as an American.
All of the criminal activities committed by the Clinton’s and their foundation took place while Hillary Clinton was receiving a paycheck from the federal government. I ask again – do you smell rotten fish?
Donald Trump is by no means an altar boy but his words and actions have not begun to approach the level of political corruption committed by the Clinton’s.
I will be glad to wake up next Wednesday morning with this election behind us. The American people are now catching on to Hillary Clinton’s bag of tricks and her mission to do anything she has to do to get elected.
I ask you to vote next week with this thought in mind: If you were selected for jury duty and you were asked to serve as a juror during a Hillary Clinton federal political corruption trial where bribery, destroying of evidence, influence pedaling, and violating national security laws were the major issues that she was charged with, would you as a juror, based on the evidence presented by the prosecution, find her guilty or not guilty?
When I vote next Tuesday for the next President of the United States, my choice is very clear – I will be voting for Donald Trump.
In my past articles, I have reported repeatedly many of the findings in Harrisburg where I see first-hand waste, fraud and abuse.
Here is another great example of how mismanaged Harrisburg really is. Last Thursday (Sept. 29) the Auditor General held a press conference and reported the findings of an audit that was performed at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS).
It was reported at the press conference that from July 2013 to June 2014 DHS paid public assistance benefits (CASH) to over 2,300 deceased (DEAD) people.
I continue to pound on the table that “Harrisburg does not have a revenue problem – Harrisburg has a spending problem.”
Well here is another slogan – “Harrisburg is out of control – zero accountability – who cares, it is not our money.”
I have reported previously that there is a total lack of accountability in the various state agencies. DHS is the best example of an agency out of control.
You may ask yourself how an agency could be out of control. Here is the best and most accurate answer: Lack of leadership, direction and accountability.
Where should leadership, direction, and accountability start in Harrisburg you might ask – here is the simple answer – the Governor’s office.
Gov. Wolf has been in office for almost two years and I have not seen any large initiatives in any single state agency to determine how well a specific agency is performing or not performing.
In the last several months I have met with two separate companies and their representatives who have presented to me a scenario where, due to fraud and abuse, there are between $1.8 billion to $4 billion of fraudulent claims being paid by Medicaid through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services annually – the $1.8 billion and $4 billion are numbers that the federal government has provided based on total Medicaid dollars spent in Pennsylvania. Medicaid is the subsidized health care program for low income people that is managed by DHS. What is being done about this fraud and abuse?
Absolutely nothing.
Since the beginning of this year I have received continued complaints from private sector companies and the natural gas industry that the Department of Environmental Resources (DEP) is delaying earth disturbance permits for pipeline projects.
Why are these permits being delayed? Here is the answer: No leadership, direction and accountability.
Just a few weeks ago I received a complaint from a constituent that a specific agency was not returning telephone calls to discuss the constituent’s issue. I directed a person in my Senate office to work on a resolution and guess what? Our telephone calls went unanswered.
How could our telephone calls go unanswered? No Leadership, direction and accountability.
I could go on for hours of how mismanaged Harrisburg really is. No leadership, No accountability, career bureaucrats and an attitude that instead of doing any heavy lifting and managing the money that already flows into Harrisburg. The first quick solution is to just raise taxes.
Governors come and go. House and Senate members come and go. Career bureaucrats stay below the radar screen to keep their jobs, generous benefits, and their coveted pensions when they retire.
At the end of September I completed my 30th month (two and a half years) in the Pennsylvania State Senate. All I can say is – WOW. I knew that state government was out of control in Harrisburg before I arrived and guess what? It is 10 times worse than I expected.
I anticipate that in January of 2017 the Pennsylvania Legislature will be presented with a budget from Governor Wolf that will ask for substantial tax increases.
Who cares?
The current mentality from Governor Wolf is that Pennsylvania taxpayers can afford to pay more taxes.
If you are willing to pay more taxes instead of Governor Wolf providing leadership, direction and holding every person who works in state government accountable, please send me an email so we can put your name on a list so Harrisburg can send you a tax bill.
Out of control government in Harrisburg – the gift that just keeps on taking !
The Pennsylvania Constitution mandates that judges retire at age 70. Some thought that was too early and wanted to make it age 75. The amendment process requires one of the legislative chambers — both of which have been under Republican control since 2011 — to write the amendment. It is then advertised in at least two newspapers in every county at least three months before the next general election. It then must be passed again via simple majority by both chambers in the next session. The wording is then placed on a ballot as a referendum giving the general public final say.
The chambers approved this: Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to require that justices of the Supreme Court, judges and justices of the peace (known as magisterial district judges) be retired on the last day of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years, instead of the current requirement that they be retired on the last day of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 70?
The referendum was scheduled for the April 26 primary and the mandated advertising — costing the public $1.3 million — was performed.
The Senate leadership had second thoughts, however. Cynics are saying they feared the public might vote it down which would have forced the removal of Chief Justice Thomas Saylor, a Republican, giving the Democrats control of the state Supreme Court.
So they filed a legal challenge claiming the words were too confusing. The state Supreme Court laughed and threw it out.
The legislature then passed resolutions, April 6 and April 11 invalidating the election two weeks away. They re-wrote the amendment for the Nov. 8 general election as: Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to require that justices, judges and justices of the peace be retired on the last day of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75 years.
Democrats filed a legal challenge saying the delay was unconstitutional because the legislation was not presented to Gov. Wolf as required. Commonwealth Court rejected the argument.
They filed another challenge saying the delay illegal because it was political in nature. Commonwealth Court rejected this claim on July 6.
A challenged was filed on July 21 by former Supreme Court justices Ronald Castille and Stephen Zappala Sr, and Philadelphia attorney Richard Sprague saying the new wording was deceitful.
Supreme Court took the case and voted 3-3 which left the wording as the short version. Saylor appropriately recused himself.
Yesterday, Sept. 16, the court ruled 4-2 that the case can’t be reconsidered, hence the short version without the mention of an existing mandated retirement age is what the voters will see.
The Court got it right with the last argument. It isn’t their job to determine the wording of amendments. On the other hand, it is judiciary’s job to judge process and if constitutional amendments require legislative votes in consecutive sessions with advertising in between, then one wonders how changes in the wording can be made at the last minute.
And what’s it say about our solons if they can’t get it right in the first place?
The word changes are pointless gamesmanship and political pettiness at the highest level. This stuff always backfires especially when one learns it has wasted $1.3 million of our money.
And, for what it’s worth, the retirement age should not be increased. Vote this amendment down on Nov. 8.
Scott Wagner represents the 28th District in the Pennsylvania Senate.
This column is regarding the ever frustrating presidential campaign.
Shown below in this email is a letter to the editor by Charlie Sexton from Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Charlie Sexton has been involved in politics for over 60 years and is a well-known advocate for Republican candidates and causes in the Philadelphia region and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Charlie’s letter to the editor makes great points about the upcoming General Election and who we elect as our next President.
I have heard many Republicans over the last several weeks say they will never support Donald Trump.
They’re embarrassed to be associated with him and they’re afraid how they’ll be perceived if they publicly support him.
I can understand to some extent why people are hesitant to put their name behind someone who seems to be constantly putting his foot in his own mouth.
Donald Trump is not polished; he says what he’s thinking and many times he goes off the reservation.
I certainly do not agree with everything he says and does but that does not change the fact that he is our Republican nominee.
Donald Trump was not appointed – Donald Trump was not handpicked – he was elected by individuals across the United States to be the Republican candidate in the upcoming November General Election.
Donald Trump represents a movement by the voters and taxpayers who are sick of the same old waste, fraud, and abuse that has become synonymous with both Washington and Harrisburg.
Donald Trump was elected by individuals who are sick of the status quo and want to see changes.
I have attended many events all around Pennsylvania over the last month – I have heard repeatedly from individuals and elected officials that say, “we need to beat Hillary Clinton.”
Do people understand the path to beating Hillary Clinton in November is by electing Donald Trump? At this point, there is no other way that is going to happen.
A congressman made the following comment to me several weeks ago and I wholeheartedly agree – If Hillary Clinton wins in November every Republican elected official should be concerned.
People need to understand how critical this election is – If Hillary Clinton wins, there’s a good chance Republicans will lose the US House and Senate.
In addition, the single largest factor people need to understand is that if Hillary Clinton is elected she will appoint Supreme Court Justices who will impact our country over the next 40 years.
We cannot afford to have Hillary and Bill Clinton back in the White House.
It is critical that people who want change in America vote for Donald Trump on Nov. 8.
Letter to the Editor: Forgive Trump’s big mouth and let him lead the world POSTED: 08/08/16, 7:56 PM EDT | UPDATED: 1 DAY AGO
I have been involved in American politics for 60 years, starting as a block worker, junior committeeman, committeeman, and township chairman of the most successful Republican committee in Delaware County. I was chairman of the Springfield Township Republican Committee from 1976 to 2007. I was elected by the voters seven times as a delegate to the national convention. I was three times the vice chairman of the credentials committee.
During this 31-year period, as chairman, I said and did some things that were plain dumb and sometimes stupid. Being Irish and not willing to take a punch in the nose was part of my problem; the other part was lack of discipline. The discipline part is something I couldn’t understand, I was a product of Catholic schools and taught by St. Joseph nuns. After my education I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, I only shot my big mouth off once — they shut it and I found out what discipline was all about.
I was not a supporter of Donald Trump, I like Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. I went out to the convention as an observer, I was not happy when Mr. Trump was nominated. The people who nominated him were representatives who the voters, Republican voters picked, they were from all over the country. A decision was made, an honest and fair decision, by the Republican electorate. Once they made that decision it was and still is my duty as a Republican to support our party’s nominee.
Mr. Trump has made some very bad mistakes with his undisciplined big mouth; probably the biggest mistake was his comments about the Gold Star mother’s silence. I can understand where he is coming from when being attacked verbally by opponents. He must have some Irish in his background because he also will not take a punch in the nose from anyone. If I said to you he must learn discipline, it would be an understatement.
Do I think he will discipline himself in the future? Yes I do. I think he is a smart guy. He has to know that he is destroying his chances to lead this nation into a national recovery, and be the leader of the free world.
I will now tell you my reasons other than he is my party’s choice, for supporting Donald Trump for president.
For the last eight years I have lived through changes in this country that have turned it from a nation that was founded and raised by a capitalistic principles, with a work ethic second to none to become a politically correct welfare state and a divided nation.
President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both have blood on their hands from the deaths of our ambassador to Libya. That three o’clock phone call came in and Secretary Clinton did nothing to help protect those brave Americans that made the ultra-sacrifice for our nation. Benghazi is something I think the American people cannot and will not forget. There is also the matter of the missing emails, I heard what the FBI director stated. I heard what she said. Again she lied to the American people. Mrs. Clinton cannot tell the truth when the truth would do.
She was a part of an administration that has been anything but transparent. Now the latest scandal is the money laundering, $400 million in Swiss francs and euros sent to Iran for the release of prisoners held there. She supports this deal that was made with Iran and it is unpopular in this nation. I believe a lot of these funds will find their way to terrorist organizations.
Most importantly is the terrorist organization known as ISIS. This group gained their power and made their so-called bones under Mr. Obama’s and Mrs. Clinton’s watch. How could anyone ever elect her president with the dismal record she has posted as Secretary of State?
As a 27-year-old attorney for the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate Investigation, Hillary Rodham was fired by her supervisor, Democrat Jerry Zeifman. When asked why Hillary was fired Zeifman said in an interview, “Because she was a liar. She was unethical, dishonest lawyer, she conspired to violate the Constitution, the rules of the House, the rules of the committee, and the rules of confidentiality.”
I submit to you, leopards don’t change their spots.
This election is so important to the future of our children and grandchildren, their safety, the protection of the Constitution with regard to the appointment of Supreme Court justices! Forgive Trump’s dumb, stupid shooting off of the mouth. I do believe he has what is needed to lead the country in a different direction. In all good conscience how could you ever support Secretary Clinton, who can’t tell the truth and had proven by her reckless behavior, at Benghazi, emails, and other misgivings, she is not fit to lead.
There is a phrase in the outside world called “ass backwards”. Here is a story that reinforces this term.
A second phrase that is used frequently is – “Timing is everything.”
And a word that applies to Governor Wolf is “Secrecy.”
Late yesterday afternoon (Aug. 3) Penn Live posted a story titled, “Proposed contracts reached with Pa’s two largest state employee unions.”
The article reports that Governor Wolf negotiated pay increases for employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13 and Service Employees International Union Local 668.
The first increase becomes effective on Oct. 1 – there are total of five increases – the last increase becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2019.
Oct. 1, 2016 to Jan. 1, 2019 is 27 months.
Oct. 1, 2016 2.75%
July 1, 2017 2.00%
Jan. 1, 2018 2.25% (Step increase)
July 1, 2018 2.50%
Jan. 1, 2019 2.25% (Step Increase)
Total increase 11.75% – over 27 months
Here is where the “ass backwards” phrase applies – The PA State legislature just voted on the 2016-2017 PA budget this past June. Where in the budget that was just passed are these increased labor costs factored and what is the total cost?
The Independent Fiscal Office is reviewing the contracts so we should know soon how much this will cost PA taxpayers.
Should the legislature have been given details so that we could evaluate these additional labor costs to determine where the money is coming from to cover these costs?
The Penn Live article states that “neither the union or administration would release details of the tentative agreement” – it is important to note that Governor Wolf has the sole authority to negotiate with the public sector unions representing state employees without any input or review from the legislature – the legislature simply gets handed the bill for these increases – this is “Secrecy” at its best.
On Aug. 3 on ABC 27 Governor Wolf stated that he is running for re-election – Governor Wolf gives generous raises to unionized state employees and then announces that he is running for re-election – so you see folks – “Timing is everything.”
My beef as a PA State Senator is with the current budget process in Harrisburg and the lack of transparency – what are the details?
If the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, actions by the legislature, Governor Wolf, and his staff would be considered criminal acts and we would be led out of the Capitol building in handcuffs for hiding money and not disclosing off balance sheet liabilities.
It is important to note that I asked dozens of questions over the last year regarding the budget – I serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee – I asked a lot of questions and did not get answers to many of my questions – Governor Wolf and his budget staff operated with a large amount of secrecy.
The current budget process and its many faults could be solved by moving to performance-based budgeting.
I have a rule in my business world – if I ask questions – I expect answers – over my 350year private sector business career I have had times where I did not get all of the details and it ended up costing me money, and in some instances, a lot of money.
As a result of unanswered questions on the budget – I voted “NO” on the increased spending package of $1.4 billion and tax increases of $1.2 billion in June.
Last time I checked – voters in my district sent me to Harrisburg to do the right thing – I can assure you I will continue on that path.
At the end of this month I will have been in the Pennsylvania State Senate for 28 months.
I see first hand the opportunities to get Pennsylvania back on the financial track that it needs to be on.
While everyone continues to believe the outstanding Pennsylvania pension obligations for state employees and public school system employees is $60-70 billion, with recent market fluctuations and other world events (i.e. Brexit), I believe the pension obligation is creeping closer to $100 billion.
Sen. Scott Wagner (R-28)
Pennsylvania has an obligation to fulfill all of the pension commitments that were made.
What Pennsylvania needs is a strong leader who understands cutting edge business practices.
The first step is to have the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania move to zero-based budgeting.
A quick back-of-the-napkin estimate shows me that savings could be between $1.5 -6 billion just in the first year alone after switching to zero-based budgeting.
Our “code red” financial situation is not a Democrat problem or a Republican problem – it is everyone’s problem who lives in Pennsylvania.
I have at least a dozen ideas that would yield sizable efficiency savings in Pennsylvania state government.
I lay awake at night thinking about all the opportunities here in Pennsylvania that we are missing out on.
Trump Train Rolls — With the Republican Convention over, all should be on the Trump train unless, perhaps, one is a government civil employee or otherwise milking the public cow.
Donald Trump’s acceptance speech, last night, was long, substantive, extraordinarily unifying and consistent what he had been saying for the last 16 months. Trump has been remarkably consistent, in fact, regarding what he thinks is wrong with the country and how he plans to fix things.
The scary thing is that the simple, common-sense solutions he advocates have not merely been ignored for the last two decades but out-and-out condemned by our political and media leaders.
Also remarkable were Trump’s children. We cannot recall any candidate’s child ever giving such detailed, meaningful conventions speeches, much less three of them.
Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka are products of the first marriage so give a hand to Ivana, too.
Theil also baldly said that “fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline.”
And this baldly applies to those pushing incredibly stupid and unpopular laws that would open public ladies rooms to all and make businesses unmanageable by drastically increasing the protected class when they should have been fighting for pension reform and to keep an unbalanced budget from passing.
Wagner Two-Faced On Anti-Business Law — Sen. Scott Wagner, who says in the below article, that he is “extremely concerned with how Federal and State Regulations are choking businesses” and “Barack Obama’s anti-business agenda” is pushing legislation to make life harder for small business by adding “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression” to the list of “protected classes“. Nobody likes bullies but what Wagner and Sen. Pat Browne (R-16) are ignoring with the laws they are pushing is that bullies exist in government too and especially in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission which would be tasked with enforcing this garbage.
There are employers and supervisors who take pleasure in humiliating employees and prospective employees. Nobody likes them. They are not an iota as dangerous, however, as the government officials with that character trait.
Like those in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
The anti-business bill Wagner is pushing, SB 1307, is advancing and was re-referred to the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee on June 27.
A bill, SB 1316, sponsored by Sen. Browne which would forbid discrimination against men claiming to be women regarding housing such as college dorms moved to the State Government committee June 21.
How is giving more power to the PHRC helping business?
The Pennsylvania state budget for 2016-17 was finalized July 13. I will be reporting in depth the details in an email next week.
This email is focused on the Presidential election.
I will be traveling to Cleveland next week to attend the Republican National Convention.
It appears that the Presidential race is down to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
I expect that Donald Trump will be nominated as the Republican candidate for the General Election in November.
I would like to share my thoughts and opinion.
As a private sector business owner I am extremely concerned with how Federal and State Regulations are choking businesses.
Case in point – Barack Obama’s war on coal has just about vaporized the coal industry in the US and especially Western Pennsylvania.
Businesses employ people and create jobs – they always have, and always will.
I am very concerned about the thought of Hillary Clinton stepping foot into the White House and doubling-down on Barack Obama’s anti-business agenda.
Americans have witnessed firsthand the last three weeks of events – first when Bill Clinton just by chance happened to be on the same tarmac, at an airport on an airplane, at the same time that the United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch was at the same airport, the same tarmac and on an airplane, and they just happened to meet.
The press reported that Bill Clinton and Ms. Lynch discussed golf, the weather, their children and grandchildren – ironically several days after this chance meeting the FBI announced that they are not going to pursue action against Hillary Clinton over her emails.
Cut me a break – The press, Bill Clinton and Hillary must think that Americans are clueless and stupid – the meeting was preset and a deal was definitely done on an airplane.
I have been watching Donald Trump very closely – I watch what he says and what he does.
Looking back to 2013 when I announced that I was going to run for the Pennsylvania 28th State Senate seat I called a donor in the York community – he told me that he was going to sit on the sidelines with my race – he had concerns that my style wouldn’t work in Harrisburg.
I have worked hard on my style – but at the end of the day – my style is asking questions and continuing to ask questions until I fully understand the issue – demanding accountability – I am pushing the envelope on change and breaking the status-quo mold.
Please allow me to point out – I did not have a lifelong plan to run for a seat in the Pennsylvania State Senate – I was fed up, and when our Senator resigned I decided to roll up my shirt sleeves and get involved to make a difference.
I think Donald Trump is similar in many ways to me – he doesn’t need the job as President and he doesn’t need the money – the guy is seventy years old – I am sure he would be much more happy continuing to operate his businesses – it appears that his children are highly active in the businesses and are smart and intelligent – Donald Trump could spend the rest of his life working with his children and watch them become great business people.
I think that Donald Trump, in his own large ego way, said one day, “I have had enough of America being pounded and run down by career politicians and the crony system.”
I stayed on the sidelines up until a few weeks ago – I made a decision to let the Republican candidates work through the process – at the end of the day I respect each and every Republican candidate who stepped into the ring with their own ideas of how to get America back on track.
Now that Donald Trump is most likely going to be the Republican Candidate I am going to do everything I can to help him get elected.
I put a lot of effort into Mitt Romney’s campaign in 2012 – his campaign was not run well in Pennsylvania, and as a result he lost.
This past weekend I reached out to someone in the Pennsylvania State Republican Party to arrange a meeting with the top person or people who are running Donald Trump’s campaign.
I received a call this past Monday afternoon that a meeting had been set up with Trump’s campaign people for that evening.
I traveled to Cleveland and had a forty-five minute private meeting with Paul Manafort, the National Campaign Manager for the Trump campaign and five other high level campaign people.
The conversation was direct and to the point – I expressed that many people in Pennsylvania want to be part of this critical race.
I requested 20,000 yard signs so that any person who wants a “Trump for President” sign for their yard can get one in South Central PA.
I also asked what may be a strange question – Does Mr. Trump have a best friend? – A best friend who can be off stage at an event that Mr. Trump is speaking at, and if he says something stupid that this friend can yell at Mr. Trump for the stupid comment or comments he made.
I am lucky – I have several friends who yell at me if I say something stupid – I am getting better and so will Mr. Trump.
I left the meeting on Monday night with Paul Manafort with an increased level of confidence that Donald Trump has hired Mr. Manafort and a very strong team is being assembled to win the General Election in November and put Donald Trump in the White House.
News releases today are suggesting that Governor Mike Pence from Indiana may be Donald Trump’s pick as his running mate for Vice President.
I had an opportunity to meet and have a conversation with Governor Pence at an Republican Governor’s Association event in Detroit this past October.
Governor Pence has done good things for Indiana since he has been in office – I can tell you he is not a status-quo person and wants to make positive changes – he is very pro-business – remember what I said earlier – businesses employ people and create jobs.
So here is my ask of everyone who cares deeply about our great country – please put aside all of your differences and be supportive of Donald Trump – the bottom line is we cannot – I repeat, we cannot allow Hillary Clinton in the White House.
Please don’t make comments that you are not going to vote for either candidate – your lack of a vote is not acceptable – please remember this great country – the United States of America – please remember the many brave people who fought for, and the people who died for, the freedoms we enjoy each and every day.
Bathroom Bills Back In Pa As SB 1306 And SB 1307 — Public outcry stopped pending Pennsylvania legislation that would open ladies rooms and girls sports teams to men but the termites in Harrisburg never sleep and new bills were quickly introduced to catch the sane occupants of the Keystone State off guard.
So on June 10, SB 1306 and SB 1307 were introduced by Republican zealots that, like SB 974, would prohibit “sexual orientation, gender identity or expression” from discrimination in “public accommodations” like, well, public restrooms.
And school showers.
And school sports teams.
And it would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” to the protected classes making it difficult for businesses to fire or discipline those describing themselves as gay or transgendered or whatever.
The prime sponsor of both bills is Sen. Pat Browne, a Republican who represents the 16th District which is in Lehigh County, and who is also the prime sponsor of SB 974.
Brown is being strongly backed by former conservative hero Scott Wagner, a Republican who represents the 28th district which is York County.
SB 1307 adds to the law the phrasing Public policies, reflecting an open and welcoming environment and ensuring equal opportunity, foster economic growth and prosperity which benefit the inhabitants of this Commonwealth. Conversely, the absence of nondiscrimination protections hinder efforts to recruit and retain the diversity of talented individuals and successful enterprises required for a thriving economy and strong public sector on which the inhabitants of this Commonwealth depend.
Sen. Wagner, are you saying that if a guy wearing fishnet stockings comes to you asking to drive one of your trash trucks, there is policy that now prevents you from hiring him?
This is not true.
Sen. Wagner, let this man drive your trash truck!
The only thing Senator that would now prevent you from hiring such a man is your own prejudices. Please don’t project them on to the rest of us.
Protected classes do not foster economic growth and prosperity. They hurt economic growth and prosperity. The goal should not be to expand them but to eliminate them.
A discussion of Wagner’s and Browne’s bizarre crusade can be found on this archived broadcast of It’s A New Day 1180 AM WFYL below:
