News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
So, how did groundhogs get their reputation as forecasters of spring? Male groundhogs leave their burrows in February to look for a female’s burrow and move in upon finding one. It’s just to introduce themselves. The mating doesn’t start until spring.
GOP Establishment Endorses Novice For Superior Court — Playing games as they play games, the Pennsylvania Republican Party twisted enough arms this morning (Feb 2) to get a a woman of little experience endorsed for state Superior Court in the May 21 primary.
Megan King, a Chester County deputy district attorney — note that’s DEPUTY district attorney — was a last minute replacement for establishment favorite former state rep Kate Harper who dropped out after being overwhelmingly rejected in the caucus straw polls.
Ms. King had been considering a run for county Common Pleas Court until a panicked establishment drafted her for the state post. She has never held elected office.
Also getting endorsed by the State Committee was Cumberland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christylee Peck, who was the top vote-getter in the straw polls.
Two seats are being contested for 10-year terms on the court which is theintermediate appellate court for most matters in the state.
Not getting the endorsement was much admired, woman-of-the-people Rebecca Warren, a highly regarded former Montour County District Attorney.
Ms. Warren had finished second in the straw polls.
We will note that endorsements aren’t the final say and encourage all Republicans to vote for Ms. Peck and Ms. Warren in May.
This morning’s committee vote was reportedly 261 for Peck; 223 for King; and 131 for Warren.
Pennsylvania Non Citizen Voters Confirmed At 11,198 — The Democrat Wolf Administration has confirmed that 11,198 non-citizens are registered to vote in Pennsylvania.
Whether they have in recent elections has yet to be ascertained.
Gov. Wolf fought to release the information until finally succumbing to the persistence of State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12).
Still, the information was not released until after the November election.
Metcalfe is demanding that they be immediately removed from the voter rolls. That this didn’t happen automatically is remarkable.
Re-energizing Tea Party — Our Time host John Haenn will discuss re-energizing the Tea Party on Monday’s (Feb. 4) show. It airs 8:30 a.m. on WFYL 1180 AM or online here.
February days William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 2-2-19
Dolu Jolrovc zhd aol svun dpualy, ol zhd h dpualy islhr huk khyr huk ilylma vm ovwl. Fla dl ruvd aoha dpualy pz qbza huvaoly zalw pu aol jfjsl vm spml. Iba zahukpun olyl htvun aol wlvwsl vm Wbuezbahdulf huk ihzrpun pu aol dhytao vm aolpy olhyaoz huk olhyaz, P jvbsku’a pthnpul h ilaaly mhal aohu h svun huk sbzayvbz dpualy.
Wops Jvuuvyz
Answer to yesterday’s William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit quote puzzle: February days are a marketing gimmick; love happens every day.
Randeep Hooda
February’s name comes from februa which were instruments of purification used in the Roman festival dies Februatus also called Lupercalia.
Slow Roasted Pork Loin Apple Stuffed — Here is a simple, delicious recipe that you can quickly prepare and forget about as it cooks.
Take a pound and a half of pork loin — tip: buy a pork loin on sale, cut it in thirds and freeze them — butterfly it and heavily salt and pepper the inside. Peel and dice one apple — we recommend Granny Smith — and do the same to an onion. Spread the apple and onion pieces on the loin. Roll it up and tie it.
Spread the outside with a nice rub, such as Memphis Dust Rub.
Put it on a rack and roast it in an oven at 220 degrees for six or seven hours. Internal temperature should be 160 F.
For a side chop some root veggies — we used onion, potatoes and carrots drenched in olive oil and seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic — and put it beneath the loin to catch any drippings as it cooks. Do the same for any left over stuffing.
Slip on the pavement William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 2-1-19
Lkhxagxe jgey gxk g sgxqkzotm mossoiq; rubk ngvvkty kbkxe jge.
Xgtjkkv Nuujg
Answer to yesterday’s William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit quote puzzle: A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue; the downfall of the wicked will occur just as speedily.
Sirach
Scientists can’t tell you why ice is slippery or why ice skates work.
Pennsylvania Ranks Low For Business
By Leo Knepper
Every year tax dollars are used to bribe businesses to come to or stay in Pennsylvania. The General Assembly, the Governor, and local governments may call it “economic development” but it’s another version of engaging in central planning for economic growth. Based on lackluster job growth, and an ever-dwindling population you would think that our elected officials would have learned their lesson after fifty years of failure; they haven’t.
For evidence of their failure, look no further than the Commonwealth’s rank in terms of overall business tax climate. According to the Tax Foundation’s latest analysis, Pennsylvania ranks thirty-fourth out of the fifty states for business taxes. An article from Watchdog.org gives a good breakdown of the methodology used in the comparison:
“The analysis examined more than 100 variables involving the states’ primary methods of taxation: corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales taxes, unemployment insurance taxes and property taxes. Many of the top-rated states lack one of those five major taxes, but a few apply all the taxes with low rates and broad bases.
“Pennsylvania ranked No. 43 for its corporate tax; No. 18 for its individual income tax; No. 21 for its sales tax; No. 34 for its property tax; and No. 46 for its unemployment insurance tax.”
Our poor tax climate, an overly-burdensome regulatory environment, and a reputation as a place ripe for lawsuit abuse all combine to put Pennsylvania at the bottom of the list as far as a place to start a new business. If the legislature were really interested in fostering economic growth in the Commonwealth, lawmakers would make a concerted effort to move Pennsylvania into the top ten states to do business.
For evidence of their failure, look no further than the Commonwealth’s rank in terms of overall business tax climate. According to the Tax Foundation’s latest analysis, Pennsylvania ranks thirty-fourth out of the fifty states for business taxes. An article from Watchdog.org gives a good breakdown of the methodology used in the comparison:
“The analysis examined more than 100 variables involving the states’ primary methods of taxation: corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales taxes, unemployment insurance taxes and property taxes. Many of the top-rated states lack one of those five major taxes, but a few apply all the taxes with low rates and broad bases.
“Pennsylvania ranked No. 43 for its corporate tax; No. 18 for its individual income tax; No. 21 for its sales tax; No. 34 for its property tax; and No. 46 for its unemployment insurance tax.”
Our poor tax climate, an overly-burdensome regulatory environment, and a reputation as a place ripe for lawsuit abuse all combine to put Pennsylvania at the bottom of the list as far as a place to start a new business. If the legislature were really interested in fostering economic growth in the Commonwealth, lawmakers would make a concerted effort to move Pennsylvania into the top ten states to do business.
Mr. Knepper is executive director of Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania.