Fukushima Not A Nuclear Disaster

Fukushima Not A Nuclear Disaster — What happened March 11, 2011 in Fukushima, Japan wasn’t a nuclear disaster according to physicist Kelvin Kemm. Granted, it was a earthquake and tsunami disaster but the actual destruction caused by the core meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant was minor.

Kemm notes that there no deaths or injuries caused by radiation , and no private property damaged by radiation.

“What there was, was a major media feeding frenzy fueled by the rather remote possibility that there may have been a major radiation leak,” says Kemm.

Kemm notes that the only deaths caused by the meltdown were due to the forced evacuation of thousands of persons leading to heart attacks and disrupted medical treatment.

If a near half-century old nuclear plant can experience a nine magnitude earthquake and 30-foot tsunami without causing nuclear energy related deaths, then nuclear energy is a technology that should be encouraged.

For Kemm’s full article visit here.

Fukushima Not A Nuclear Disaster

Daryl Metcalfe Responds

Daryl Metcalfe RespondsState Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) took to the floor of the Pennsylvania House to defend himself against attacks made against his character to the ire of the real bullies and bigots of our society.

Standing up to the bullies and bigot is something all people who care about things like the truth and other people should do. Well done Rep. Metcalfe.

Watch Metcalfe defend himself here:

Daryl Metcalfe Responds

 

Gordon Denlinger Seeks Brubaker Seat

Gordon Denlinger Seeks Brubaker SeatState Rep. Gordon Denlinger, the Republican whose 99th District is contained in Lancaster County, is seeking to replace retiring State Senator Mike Brubaker in that body’s 36th District.

It’s a safe Republican district.

Denlinger is the brother-in-law of former State Rep. Sam Rohrer, who is one our favorites here, and is strongly endorsed by taxpayer activist Fran Coppock, who is Sam’s aunt.

On the other hand, taxpayer activist Bob Guzzardi is rather cool to Denlinger’s candidacy noting that Brubaker had not proven himself to be The Forgotten Taxpayer’s friend” and that he fears Denlinger will simply follow his lead. Guzzardi cites Denlinger’s votes for the debt increasing Capital Budget.

Mrs. Coppock simply asks that potential voters and supporters check him out.

Gordon Denlinger Seeks Brubaker Seat

School Spending Transparency Coming?

Pennsylvania earned a “C+” for providing citizens information on how public schools spend money, according to a recent report from the Cato Institute titled “Cracking the Books”.  While the report ranks Pennsylvania 9th among states, our mediocre grade and comparison to “A” states shows opportunity for improvement.

We should strive to provide the most comprehensive and user-friendly tool for parents, teachers, researchers, and taxpayers to know how public schools are spending money.

Legislation (HB 1411) pending in the General Assembly would do just that.  In 2011, state lawmakers passed, and Gov. Corbett signed, legislation which put state spending—including budgets, payments to vendors, and employees’ salaries— online.  That website, PennWATCH, has already proven to be a useful tool for tracking state spending.  HB 1411 would mirror this success, creating SchoolWATCH to put public school spending data (including charter schools) into a searchable website.

There are ways to improve SchoolWATCH from its present form.  Because Commonwealth Foundation has run OpenPAGov.org—a transparency database letting users find school district spending, performance, tax, and salary data acquired from the Department of Education—for the past four years, we have some suggestions. Some of these have already been proposed as amendments to HB 1411.

SchoolWATCH should include school performance data already being collected by the state Department of Education.  Being able to link spending with performance is an important tool for parents and researchers.  Such information will allow education advocates to identify successful schools and develop best practices for what works and is cost-effective.

SchoolWATCH should include collective bargaining agreements.  Putting these union contracts online provides a resource for teachers, parents, advocates, and members of the media—particularly during contract disputes and strike situations.

SchoolWATCH should include individual salary information for all employees.  Salary information is public record and is already collected (and provided on request) by the state Department of Education.  Moreover, salary information for state workers is currently available on PennWATCH. It would be inconsistent to treat public school employees different than state workers.

Commonwealth Foundation already provides individual school employee salary information on OpenPAGov.org—in fact, that is our most popular search.  Newspapers have also posted this information from state data.  If SchoolWATCH is to be the most comprehensive tool for school financial information, it should include data already being provided on external databases like ours.

In the past, transparency has been a bi-partisan issue. Lawmakers should be able to work together once again to enhance our ability to get good information from state government.

Mr. Benefield’s original column can be found at Commonwealth Foundation

School Spending Transparency Coming?

Pennsylvania Assembly Revamped Website Online

Pennsylvania Assembly Revamped Website Online -- Pennsylvania General Assembly revamped website went online last week. It allows residents to follow the activities of the House and Senate says state Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). The new website includes information about all members of both chambers, a search engine for all legislation, a record of all votes taken in both chambers, a searchable database of laws and information about the state Constitution. Pennsylvania General Assembly revamped website went online last week.  It  allows residents to follow the activities of the House and Senate says state Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The new website includes information about all members of both chambers, a search engine for all legislation, a record of all votes taken in both chambers, a searchable database of laws and information about the state Constitution.

To check it out, click here.

Pennsylvania Assembly Revamped Website Online

Diet Soda Bad Bad Bad

Diet soda has been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes, headaches, bad teeth, bad bones and depression.

Oh, and it actually causes weight gain. Researchers in Texas found that over a decade diet soda drinkers had a 70 percent greater increase in waist circumference than non-drinkers. Apparently in the artificial sweeteners confuse the body.

And don’t use it to mix drink as those sweeteners are absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly than sugar hence will get you drunk faster.

And diet soda has absolutely no nutritional value.

Here’s the link that spells everything out.

Diet Soda Bad Bad Bad

New Hunting Law Protects Landowners

New Hunting Law Protects LandownersAs the Pennsylvania hunting seasons get into full swing, the Commonwealth has a new law ensuring that property owners are not held responsible for hunting violations committed by those who are granted permission to hunt on their land, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The old law could be interpreted to mean landowners could be held liable for the actions of hunters who committed violations of hunting law on their property.

The House amended the bill to protect against liability unless the landowners aid, abet, assist, attempt or conspire in the commission of any unlawful act committed on their land.

New Hunting Law Protects Landowners

Veteran Demographics

Veteran DemographicsHere are some facts about veterans courtesy of the United States Census Bureau:

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Veterans

21.5 million

The number of military veterans in the United States in 2011. Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S2101>

1.6 million

The number of female veterans in 2011.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21001>

2.3 million

The number of black veterans in 2011. Additionally, 1.2 million veterans were Hispanic; 264,695 were Asian; 153,223 were American Indian or Alaska Native; 27,469 were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 17.2 million were non-Hispanic white. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and non-Hispanic whites cover only those reporting a single race.)
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21001B>
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21001D>
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21001I>
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/C21001C>
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21001E>
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21001H>

9.2 million

The number of veterans 65 and older in 2011. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.8 million were younger than 35.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21001>

When They Served

7.5 million

Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2011: 5.1 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 1.8 million in World War II (1941-1945); 2.4 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 5.4 million in peacetime only.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21002>

51,079

Number of living veterans in 2011 who served during the Vietnam era and both Gulf War eras and no other period.

Other living veterans in 2011 who served during three wars:

  • 43,942 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam era.

Living veterans in 2011 who served during two wars and no other period:

  • 876,663 served during both Gulf War eras.
  • 205,205 served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
  • 129,972 served during both World War II and the Korean War.

Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21002>

Where They Live

3

Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2011. These states were California (1.9 million), Florida (1.6 million) and Texas (1.6 million).
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S2101/0400000US06|0400000US12|0400000US48>

14.0%

Percent of people 18 and older in Alaska who were veterans in 2011. The percent of the 18-and- older population who were veterans was 12 percent or more in Maine, Montana, Virginia and Wyoming.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02/0400000US02|0400000US23|0400000US30|0400000US51|0400000US56>

Education

26.3%

Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2011. In comparison, 28.5 percent of the total population had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S2101>

92.3%

Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2011, compared with 86 percent of the population as a whole.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S2101>

Income

$35,821

Annual median income of veterans, in 2011 inflation-adjusted dollars, compared with $25,811 for the population as a whole.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S2101>

On the Job

9.1 million

Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2011.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/C21005>

Disabilities

3.5 million

Number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating. Of this number, 810,245 have a rating of 70 percent or higher. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0 to 100 percent and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/B21100>

Voting

15.8 million

Number of veterans who voted in the 2008 presidential election. Seventy-one percent of veterans cast a ballot in the presidential election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2008
<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/index.html>

12.4 million

Number of veterans who voted in the 2010 congressional election.
Fifty-seven percent of veterans voted in the 2010 congressional election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2010
<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/index.html>

Business Owners

9%

Percentage of all U.S. nonfarm firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised an estimated 2.4 million of the 27.1 million nonfarm businesses nationwide in 2007.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo>

75%

Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55 or older in 2007. This compares with 37 percent of all owners of respondent firms. Similarly, in 2007, 56 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms with employees reported that their businesses were originally established before 1990. This compares with 39 percent of all employer respondent firms.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo>

8%

Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo>

Veteran Demographics

Pat Toomey Describes Fiscal Strategy

Pat Toomey Describes Fiscal StrategySen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa) has made this statement regarding the recent partial government shutdown and the fiscal state of the nation.

If you followed the recent goings-on in Washington this past month, you are aggravated. I understand. This has been a frustrating time for me, and for anybody who wants to see our country on a sustainable fiscal path.

After almost three weeks in shutdown mode, Congress extended government funding and raised the debt ceiling by several hundred billion dollars with nothing to show for it –  no reforms that rein in our country’s deficits and debt, no spending constraints, no changes whatsoever.

While this result is disappointing, I hope we will see a more fruitful outcome in December as members of the House and Senate meet over the next two months to iron out a budget. I will serve as a member of this conference committee. While the chances of us reaching an agreement are uncertain, I will be adamant about the need for fiscal discipline.

We need to keep the 2011 bipartisan spending caps in place. However, I’d like to give the administration and agency managers greater flexibility to prioritize, fund, or cut programs under these caps. Finally, to ensure that we do not face another shutdown in the future, I will be working to pass legislation that will keep the government funded if Congress does not pass appropriations bills.

We must stop lurching from crisis to crisis. Our country needs less spending, not more. Washington needs more commonsense governing, not less. Most of all, the American people need leadership. I believe we can take real steps to avert future fiscal cliffs and shutdowns while holding fast on modest spending restraints. Finding common ground on reining in spending, without sacrificing principles, is possible. I will work with members of both parties to achieve it.

Pat Toomey Describes Fiscal Strategy

Good Senator Supports Bad Bill

Good Senator Supports Bad BillPat Toomey (R-Pa) was among the senators who voted for the Employee Non-Discrimination Act,  yesterday, Nov. 7, and the bill that would  make it a federal crime to discriminate against employing gays is now before the House.

Hopefully, it dies a quick death. It’s a bad bill. In the current form, the bill does not exempt religious institutions that hold homosexuality to be sinful but even with such an exemption it would still be a bad bill.

Senator, you are a good guy but the only thing anti-discrimination laws do with regard to hiring and firing is to screw things up for the “protected category”.

The source of all anti-discrimination laws regarding employment is the civil rights movement that freed blacks from Jim Crow. Even those, while understandable, were still bad ideas.

The black experience differed from the Irish/Italian/Japanese/Jewish/everybody-whose-ancestors-did-not-come-on-the-Mayflower experience not in the existence of job discrimination but in the existence of government oppression which included acts of terror. And those other ethnic groups would go on to thrive despite the discrimination, and that would have likely happened with blacks as well once the government oppression was ended.

As it is now the protected category makes it less likely for a black to be hired. Ask yourself this: if you are an employer would, everything being equal, be more or less inclined to hire the guy you can’t easily dismiss?

And gays certainly don’t need protection with regard to hiring.

In fact, if gays do become protected by civil rights laws, I envision a whole lot of bad employees suing their employers for disciplining them who care not a whit about their sex lives. Ironically, this will make employers much more, well, thoughtful, about hiring gays.

To Toomey’s credit he attempted to add an amendment that would have exempted religious institutions. To his discredit, he voted aye anyway even though the amendment was rejected.

“I voted for final passage to help move the legislative process forward. I hope that – should the House consider this bill – it will move to improve and strengthen this measure so we can both advance equality in the workplace and protect religious liberty,” he said.

As we noted, it’s still a bad bill even with the amendment.

Good Senator Supports Bad Bill