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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Twice as Bad: New Tom Corbett radio ad hammers away at ultra-liberals Schwartz and Wolf

Obama's work edicts could kill businesses on military bases

Obama's work edicts could kill businesses on military bases | WashingtonExaminer.com

Why Does 1% of History Have 99% of the Wealth?

Does the Public Utility Commission protect Pa. consumers or companies?

Does the PUC protect consumers or companies? - abc27 WHTM

Pennsylvania, the most linguistically complex state in the country

Pennsylvania, the most linguistically complex state in the country

Opponents of voter ID laws see time to fight running out

Opponents of voter ID laws see time to fight running out | TheHill

Welcome to Georgia


Jay Carney: Benghazi email was not about Benghazi

With the release of damaging emails that prove the Obama White House orchestrated the Susan Rice lies about the cause of the Benghazi attacks, watch the Obama minister of propaganda  try to dance around a question.

Carney: Email was not about Benghazi | TheHill

Should Pa. Attorney General Kathleen Kane be impeached?

Metcalfe resolution to impeach Atty. Gen. Kane gets hearing Tuesday

Public unions may be using funded resources illegally in Pa.

Public unions may be using funded resources illegally - WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg - Top Stories

Ed Rendell sounds a lot like a Republican

Newspaper: Voter fraud is real and widespread

Voter fraud: Deniers' disservice

Monday, April 28, 2014

It's good to work for the IRS


Poll: Obama Approval Rating Could Spell 'Peril for Senate Democrats'

Poll: Obama Approval Rating Could Spell ‘Peril for Senate Democrats’

USDA Made $6.2 Billion in Improper Payments Last Year

USDA Made $6.2 Billion in Improper Payments Last Year

John Kerry: Israel risks becoming 'an apartheid state'

Kerry: Israel risks becoming 'an apartheid state with second-class citizens' | Human Events

Viguerie: Replace Boehner, GOP leaders

Viguerie: Replace Boehner, GOP leaders | Human Events

NBC's liberal hack syndrome

Michelle Malkin: NBC's liberal hack syndrome

Another IRS crock: Bonusmania

Another IRS crock: Bonusmania

New Monster Movie: 'Govzilla'


3 Faith-Based Films Top $150M at Box Office

Three films with a strong Christian message have scored remarkably well at the domestic box office so far in 2014.

"Heaven Is For Real" took in $13.8 million over the weekend, bringing its two-week total to $51.9 million. It finished No. 3 at the box office.

"God's Not Dead" was No. 11 at the box office, earning $2.8 million over the weekend, bringing it's six-week total to $52.7 million. (The film cost a mere $2 million to make, giving it the distinction of being the most profitable film of 2014.

And let's not forget "Son of God," which has been out for nine weeks and has earned $59.5 million at the box-office, another remarkable feat, considering the movie is a re-edited version of the TV mini-series, "The Bible."

Meanwhile, the much-hyped "Noah" will turn out to be one of the biggest flops of 2014, unable to earn back its $125 million production costs. That's what you get when an atheist director decides he can twist a biblical tale to meet his liberal fantasies.

Perhaps the heathens who run Hollywood will take notice that faith-based films have a place in American society.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Controversy surrounding Democratic Pa. AG Kathleen Kane won't go away

Two powerful figures face off in Phila. sting case

GOP salivating at the prospect of Allyson Schwartz as the Dem nominee for Pa. gov

Allyson Schwartz, a far-left Obama acolyte and former abortion clinic owner, would be the easiest Democratic opponent for Gov. Tom Corbett to beat this November.

Schwartz makes waves in primary race for governor

Stop Obama, Fire Reid

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Conservatives in Hollywood: Celebrities who lean right

Check out this photo gallery of 30 Hollywood celebrities who are not afraid to proclaim their conservative views in Liberal La-La Land.

Conservatives in Hollywood: Celebrities who lean right - Photos - Washington Times

NRA President: We're going to flex our muscle in November

NRA President Jim Porter: We're going to flex our muscle in November - Washington Times

Newspaper: PA AG Kathleen Kane's story keeps changing on botched corruption sting

Inquirer Editorial: Kane's story keeps changing

Philly DA won't give Pa. Attorney General Kane a pass on botched corruption probe

Philly DA Williams won't give state Attorney General Kane a pass

Weekly GOP Address: Democratic Senate blocks jobs agenda

Democrats don't want to talk a bout Obamacare

Dems don't want to talk O-Care | TheHill

Why are Gas Prices So High in Pennsylvania?

Why are Gas Prices So High in Pennsylvania? | Local News - WTAE Home

Hillary Clinton runs from her own sorry record

Byron York: Hillary's run from record

2001 vote by greedy state lawmakers set stage for Pa. pension crisis

Pennsylvania pension pain - WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg - Top Stories

Friday, April 25, 2014

Newspaper: 2.7M Obamacare Enrollees Still Unaccounted For

Would Obama lie? Let me rephrase that: Would Obama lie again?

There are some serious questions the mainstream media is not asking about Obamacare enrollment numbers.

From Investor's Business Daily: 
President Obama has for a while been bragging that 8 million people have signed up for ObamaCare. But the administration still hasn't released the state-by-state numbers to back up that number. You'd think that with such good news, the administration would want to put out as many details as possible, as soon as possible. But judging by previous months, the latest Health and Human Services enrollment report is now nearly two weeks behind schedule. As a result, we still don't know where 2.7 million ObamaCare enrollees came from.
Read the full editorial here.

Should Christians surrender the cultural war?

Should Christians surrender the cultural war? | ChurchCentral.com

Autopsy of a deceased church

Autopsy of a deceased church | ChurchCentral.com

Bipartisan push to eliminate school property taxes in Pa.

From the Senate Republican Communications Office:
Senate sponsors and supporters of a bill to eliminate school property taxes will hold a media availability on Monday, April 28 in Room 14 East Wing at 3:30 p.m. in the state Capitol to outline a comprehensive amendment.

Senators David G. Argall (R-29), Mike Folmer (R-48), Judy Schwank (D-11), John Yudichak (D-14) and Jim Brewster (D-45) will discuss their comprehensive amendment to Senate Bill 76. David Baldinger, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations, and Kim Skumanick, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, will also be on hand to discuss their support of the amendment.

Senate Bill 76 was drafted by over 70 grassroots taxpayer advocacy groups known as the Pennsylvania Coalition for Taxpayer Associations, who asked the Senators to introduce the legislation on behalf of taxpayers across Pennsylvania.

The legislation would eliminate school property taxes by increasing the state's Personal Income Tax rate and increasing and expanding the state's Sales and Use Tax.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the amendment on Wednesday, April 30 at 9:30 a.m. in Hearing Room No. 1 of the North Office Building at the state Capitol.
 

The 10 most followed lawmakers on Twitter are Republicans

On Twitter, GOP racks up more followers than Dems | TheHill

Hell is Real for Democrats


Not enough bowing? Obama fails to reach trade deal

Obama fails to reach trade deal | TheHill

Pollster: ObamaCare's numbers bad for Dems

Scott Rasmussen: ObamaCare's numbers bad for Dems

GOP Savages Harry Reid: 'If at First You Don’t Succeed, Lie, Lie Again'

GOP Savages Harry Reid: 'If at First You Don’t Succeed, Lie, Lie Again' | The Weekly Standard

Obama Skipped Aunt's Funeral; Went Golfing Instead

Obama Skipped Aunt's Funeral; Went Golfing Instead | The Weekly Standard

Obama Has Missed 25 Statutory Deadlines Under Obamacare

The Administration Has Missed 25 Statutory Deadlines Under Obamacare | The Weekly Standard

'Progressive' minds? What a waste

Colin McNickle: 'Progressive' minds? What a waste

Thursday, April 24, 2014

7 of 10 'Best States For Taxpayers' Run By GOP

7 of 10 'Best States For Taxpayers' Run By GOP | Truth Revolt

A peak inside the Obama Presidential Library


Democrat Tom Wolf admits part of 'Fresh Start' campaign plan for Pa. governor was plagiarized

Wolf admits part of 'Fresh Start' campaign plan was plagiarized

Pa. AG Kane not turning over corruption sting files to Philly DA Williams

AG Kane not turning over sting files to DA Williams, yet

Barack Obama, the adolescent president

George F. Will: Barack Obama, the adolescent president | Human Events

Pa. business group endorses Tom Quigley for state House seat

HARRISBURG — PEG PAC, the affiliated political action committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council and the state's oldest pro-business PAC, has endorsed former state Rep. Tom Quigley in the Republican race for the 146th House District.

The former mayor Royersford, Quigley held the 146th House seat from 2005 to 2012, when he lost to Democrat Mark Painter.

Quigley is seeking the GOP nomination on May 20 to run in November against Painter, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Also seeking the Republican nomination is Harvey Friedland, a Trappe attorney.

Quigley will be a strong pro-business voice in the state House, said Pennsylvania Business Council President & CEO David W. Patti, who noted that endorsed candidates also received a financial contribution from PEG PAC.

The Primary Election is Tuesday, May 20.

Holder cancels appearance in Oklahoma City amid angry protests

Holder cancels appearance in OKC amid angry protests - Washington Times

After $130 million wasted, Oregon gives up on ObamaCare exchange

Oregon gives up on ObamaCare exchange | TheHill

When Obama Might Get Around To Keystone Pipeline OK


On Twitter, GOP racks up more followers than Dems

On Twitter, GOP racks up more followers than Dems | TheHill

Petition drive forces Michelle Obama to scrap graduation speech

Michelle Obama scraps graduation speech | TheHill

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Pa. Gov. Corbett calls on Democrat Wolf to release tax records

Pennsylvania Gov. Corbett wants candidate Wolf to release tax records

Realtors support bill to eliminate Pa. school property taxes

Realtors® will voice their support of Senate Bill 76 at the Capitol

Democrats and the world's oldest profession


By one key measure, income inequality is actually dropping

By one key measure, income inequality is actually dropping

Ga. governor signs sweeping gun rights bill

Ga. governor signs sweeping gun rights bill | TheHill

Delinquent IRS employees rack up bonuses

Delinquent IRS employees rack up bonuses | TheHill

IRS paid $1M in bonuses to workers who owed back taxes

Bonuses given to IRS employes who owed back taxes - Washington Times

Liberal Hypocrisy 101


4 Charged With Voter Fraud in Colorado; 155 Illegals Suspected of Voting

Colorado County Charges 4 With Voter Fraud « CBS Denver

Monday, April 21, 2014

Rep. Joe Pitts: The IRS is out of control

By Congressman Joe Pitts
Guest columnist


The Washington Post recently told the story of how Mary Grice's tax refund was claimed for an old debt. One that she apparently incurred when she was just 4 years old.

When she wasn't even in elementary schools yet, Mary's father passed away and her family received Social Security survivor's benefits along with her mother and the rest of her siblings. At some point, Social Security figured out that they had overpaid someone in the Grice family. They didn't know who, but they determined that Mary would be the one to pay. The government wants $2,996 dollars from Mary or one of her younger siblings.

When the Washington Post tried to find out why the IRS and the government was trying to claim these old debts, the finger-pointing started but no one ever claimed responsibility. Republican members of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax policy, demanded that the IRS and Treasury explain why Mary and many other taxpayers suddenly find themselves having to pay decades old debts to the government.

They shouldn't hold their breath while waiting for a straight answer. In recent years, we've seen a number of demonstrations of just how powerful the IRS can be and just how unaccountable IRS leaders are to the American people.

Perhaps the clearest breach of ethics and likely breach of the law has been the targeting of conservative and Tea Party groups that were seeking tax exempt status. Lois Lerner, the former head of the tax exempt unit, has plead the Fifth in two separate hearings of the House Oversight and Investigations Committee and has been referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution by the House Ways and Means Committee.

Now that the Ways and Means Committee has recommended that Lerner be held accountable for crimes, we understand a little more why she resorted to pleading her Fifth Amendment right not to testify.

The IRS is not supposed to engage in political actions. In the 1970s, when President Nixon tried to use the agency to target his political enemies, Commissioner John Walters refused to do so. He took no action when handed a list of Nixon's enemies and eventually gave it to Congressional investigators when it was requested.

Lerner's actions stand in stark contrast. After the Supreme Court struck down limits on campaign speech on First Amendment grounds, President Obama publicly attacked the decision. His allies in Congress wrote letters to the IRS urging investigations of conservative groups. Liberal interest groups and media outfits echoed the calls of the President and Democratic Senators.

Instead of following the example of Walters and refusing to engage in politics, Lerner interfered in the work of the Cincinnati office in charge of approving tax exempt status and worked to deny an exemption to a top conservative group, Crossroads GPS.

As the Treasury Inspector General began to investigate why conservative applications were being held up, Lerner prepared a cover story. Even with the IG actively investigating, Lerner kept meeting with liberal pressure groups and kept pushing for Crossroads to be audited. She made inquiries that were against IRS regulations and that may have broken the law.

When her actions started to come to light last May, Lerner then blamed lower level IRS agents in Cincinnati even though she had been orchestrating the targeting of conservative groups for years.
It's now up to the Justice Department to bring charges against Lerner. Again, don't hold your breath. Lerner was doing exactly what the President and his allies wanted, try to shut down their political opponents.

It seems unlikely that Attorney General Holder will try to hold anyone at IRS accountable for the targeting of conservative groups. Just as no one will probably be held accountable for trying to make Mary Grice pay thousands of dollars for payments made under her dead father's Social Security number.

With a complex tax code spanning thousands of pages and more than 90,000 employees, it's nearly impossible to hold anyone at IRS accountable when taxpayers get abused. We need potent tax reform that every American can understand. Only a simpler, fairer tax code can reduce the IRS power over our lives.

Rep. Joe Pitts is a Republican who represents Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District in parts of Berks, Chester and Lancaster counties.

Another Obamacare Casualty


The truth behind Obamacare's phony 8 Million signups

The truth behind Obamacare's phony 8 Million signups

GAO report details ObamaCare shakedown

GAO report details ObamaCare shakedown | Human Events

If you like your Keystone pipeline, you can keep you Keystone pipeline

White House: No politics in Keystone delay | TheHill

Stuck in 1999 with M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan made a great movie in 1999 called "The Sixth Sense," followed by two good movies "Unbreakable" in 2000 and "Signs" in 2002, followed by a fair movie, "The Village" in 2004.

Since then, he has made four of the worst movies of all time: "Lady in the Water" in 2006, "The Happening" in 2008, "The Last Airbender" in 2010 and "After Earth" in 2013. Not only have the last four movies been critical failures, but they've also bombed at the box office. The trend is clear and it's been downhill for the Philadelphia-area director over past decade.

So why would Philadelphia Magazine put the director/writer on its most recent cover, which it dubbed the "power issue" along with several other prominent Philadelphia-area power brokers? It appears the editors of the magazine are stuck in 1999. If the guy can't sell tickets to his movies, what makes the editors think he's going to sell magazines? Not only has Shyamalan's influence declined rapidly in Hollywood, but another clunker at the box-office and he might be filming infomercials in the near future.

I point to an article by Kyle Buchanan about Shymalan's rapid decline as a filmmaker:
Ten years ago, M. Night Shyamalan was on top of the world, touted as “the next Spielberg” by Newsweek and fresh off a string of successes including the Oscar-nominated smash The Sixth Sense, the Bruce Willis superhero origin story Unbreakable, and the alien thriller Signs, which would be Mel Gibson’s last studio hit. But things have changed: The filmmaker who could once open a movie on his moniker alone has a new film coming out today, the sci-fi story After Earth, where his name doesn’t appear in the key marketing materials at all. It’s only the latest setback for Shyamalan, whose career woes have been compounded by giddy press reports chronicling his fall from grace, including a memorable round of media attention in 2010 when audiences supposedly booed his title card in the trailer for the horror film Devil, which Shyamalan produced. Where did it all go wrong?

Should Revenge Porn Be a Crime?

Should Revenge Porn Be a Crime?

Eric Holder is President Obama's 'whistling lap dog'

Jonah Goldberg: Eric Holder is President Obama's 'whistling lap dog'

What's Next For Obamacare?


980,000 Page Views

My site counter has recorded 980,000 Page Views from 500,000 Unique Visitors to Tony Phyrillas on Politics. Closing in on that magical 1,000,000 mark. Thanks for checking out the blog ... and come back again.

NYT's David Brooks: Obama has 'manhood problem' in Middle East

NYT's David Brooks: Obama has 'manhood problem' in Middle East - Washington Times

'Heaven Is For Real' earns $21.5M over Easter weekend

Christian-themed films continue to do well at the box-office.

"Heaven Is For Real" is the latest hit, earning $21.5 million over the Easter weekend. The film opened in the middle of last week and has a total domestic gross of $28.5 million in its first five days. With a production budget of $12 million, "Heaven Is For Real" has already recouped its money.

"God's Not Dead" continued to score with audiences, earning $4.8 million over the Easter weekend, bringing its five-week total to $48.3 million. That's a remarkable showing for a film that cost just $2 million to make and has had little publicity. But audiences are finding it.

Another remarkable box-office story is "Son of God," the re-edited version of the History Channel's "The Bible" mini-series. "Son of God" has earned $59.4 million over the past eight weeks.

And then there's "Noah" which cost $125 million to make but has grossed just $93.2 million in four weeks. So much for anti-Christian Hollywood bragging that this film was directed by an atheist and it avoided mentioning the word "God" at any point.

Documents cite Hillary Clinton in chaos of Afghan aid

USAID documents cite Hillary Clinton in chaos of Afghan aid - Washington Times

Sunday, April 20, 2014

It's time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to enact true tax reform

PERSPECTIVE: It's time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to enact true tax reform - LancasterOnline: Editorials

Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.
If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.
He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.
He both honors the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!
O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!
You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted: let no one go forth hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.
Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken by death has annihilated it!
He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed: "Hades was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions".
It was embittered, for it was abolished!
It was embittered, for it was mocked!
It was embittered, for it was purged!
It was embittered, for it was despoiled!
It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and came upon God!
It took earth and encountered Ηeaven!
It took what it saw, but crumbled before what it had not seen!
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.
To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages.
Amen.

Over 35,000 Cases of 'Double Voting' Found in North Carolina

From the Capitalism Institute: 
Opponents of voter ID laws will often claim that voter fraud is nonexistent, maybe occurs in small and insignificant numbers, and that there is absolutely no evidence of it being widespread and rampant. However, investigations have been occurring in the swing states after the 2012 election.  Both Florida and Ohio have discovered numerous cases of illegally registered voters, dead voters, illegal immigrant voters, and other discrepancies that taint the integrity of the voting system.
BOMBSHELL: Over 35,000 Cases of "Double Voting" Found in North Carolina

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Happy Easter - God's Not Dead


Christ is Risen from the Grave! Trampling Down Death by Death!


Happy Easter - Christ is Risen!


Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' Adapted For Easter

2014 Paschal Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Χριστός Aνέστη – Christ Is Risen Αληθώς Aνέστη – Truly He Has Risen

 
Χριστός ανέστη – Christ is Risen. Αληθώς Aνέστη – Truly He has Risen. 

Friday, April 18, 2014

'Automatic Government' is Leading to an Automatic Spending Disaster

"Automatic Government" is Leading to an Automatic Spending Disaster

Bipartisan Hypocrisy on Free Speech

Bipartisan Hypocrisy on Free Speech

Does anyone still watch CNN?


Harry Reid blasts Bundy ranch supporters as 'domestic terrorists'

With leaders like Harry Reid, the Democratic Party may want to change its name to the Lunatic Fringe Party.

Harry Reid blasts Bundy ranch supporters as 'domestic terrorists' - Washington Times

Poll: Hillary Plummets, GOP Surges

Poll: Hillary Plummets, GOP Surges | Truth Revolt

New reports question PA AG Kane's version of corruption sting

Something doesn't smell right when a Democratic attorney general pulls the plug on a corruption sting involving fellow Democratic politicians allegedly caught on tape accepting bribes.

New reports question Kane's version of "the sting"

New Poll: Most Americans think Obama lies to the nation

Fox poll: Most think Obama lies to the nation | TheHill

Harry Reid now calling American patriots 'domestic terrorists'

Paul to Reid: Cool it on Bundy ranch | TheHill

Easter adaptation of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Democrats Testing 2014 Election Strategy


Easter falls on same Sunday for East, West churches

Easter falls on same Sunday for East, West churches | SeacoastOnline.com

New emails show IRS coordinated Tea Party targeting with Justice Department, FEC and liberal political activists

This is worse than Watergate, but no special prosecutor assigned to the case. No Woodward and Bernstein, either. Today, the news media is helping Obama with the cover-up instead of exposing it.

New emails show IRS coordinated Tea Party targeting with Justice Department, FEC and liberal political activists | WashingtonExaminer.com

Pennsylvania county to display 'In God We Trust' in public meeting room

Pennsylvania county to display 'In God We Trust' - abc27 WHTM

Faith-based films top $100M at box-office

Two movies with Christian themes have sold a combined $100 million in tickets at the box-office so far in 2014. (And we're talking about 'Noah' a film written and directed by an avowed atheist who never mentions the word "God" in the movie.)

"Son of God" has earned $59.1 million going into the Easter weekend. "God's Not Dead" has earned $42.8 million going into the Easter weekend.

The Left's Intellectual and Moral Corruption

Peter Wehner: The Left's Intellectual and Moral Corruption

Ad attacks Sen. Landrieu for fake Senate hearing



Ad attacks Landrieu for fake Senate hearing | TheHill

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Pennsylvania's oldest pro-business PAC makes 2014 Primary endorsements

We must be getting close to Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania.

PEG PAC, the affiliated political action committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council  and the state's oldest pro-business PAC, issued the following press release endorsing  seven incumbent members of the state House for re-election – three Republicans and four Democrats.

PEG PAC endorsed:
     GOP incumbents Mike Fleck (81st) of Huntingdon County, Seth Grove (196th) of York County and Karen Boback (117th) of Luzerne County; and,

    Democratic incumbents Margo Davidson (164th) of Delaware County, Patty Kim (103rd) of Dauphin County, Jake Wheatley (19th) of Allegheny County and Jim Roebuck (188th) of Philadelphia.
  
"These seven House members all supported both the recent Transportation overhaul legislation and the 'Apology' bill, a tort reform measure which prohibits plaintiffs from using most physician apologies against them in court," said PBC President & CEO David W. Patti.  

All but Fleck are engaged in competitive primaries – his primary opponent was recently removed from the May ballot.

 In addition, PEG PAC backed three GOP candidates in House districts across the state:

   Republican Jason Ortitay, a small business owner and member of the Burgettstown Area Community Development Corporation, from the 46th District in Washington and Allegheny counties who is vying to take on incumbent Rep. Jessie White;

  East Marlborough Township Supervisor and former Chairman of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, Republican Cuyler Walker, business owner and Partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, running in the open 158th District in southern Chester County; and,

   Former Rep. Tom Quigley, running to reclaim his seat in the 146th District in Montgomery County.

"We believe Ortitay, Walker and Quigley will be strong pro-business voices in the state House," said Patti, who noted that all of the candidates also received a financial contribution from PEG PAC.

More about PEG PAC: Since its founding in 1972, PEG PAC has worked to build a better Pennsylvania by electing candidates for office who offer the best capacity to create and sustain a better Pennsylvania. PEG PAC supports candidates who are best for the business community without regard to political party membership. PEG PAC supports candidates for office with financial contributions, campaign consulting, and grassroots action.

Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania is Tuesday, May 20.

When Democrats Start Losing the Debate ...


Homeschoolers more politically tolerant, study finds

Homeschoolers more politically tolerant, study finds

Allyson Schwartz pitch for Pa. governor: Vote for me because I'm a girl

Ultra-liberal Allyson Schwartz, the former abortion clinic owner running for Pennsylvania governor, is trying to separate herself from the tax-and-spend crowd seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett. But all Schwartz can think of is Pennsylvania has never had a female governor and she should be the first one.

Schwartz ad pledges to 'break through' boys club

Obama's America: 86M Full-Time Private-Sector Workers Sustain 148M Benefit Takers

86M Full-Time Private-Sector Workers Sustain 148M Benefit Takers | CNS News

You Call This Property Tax Relief? Average Pa. Homeowner To See $200 Savings From Casino Revenues



Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Certifies More Than $779 Million for Statewide Property Tax Relief (via PR Newswire)

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Budget Secretary Charles B. Zogby today certified that more than $779 million in gaming revenue will be available for property tax relief in 2014. The 2006 Taxpayer Relief Act established the…

PA DEP awards 26 counties $2.1M to combat West Nile Virus



DEP Awards 26 Counties Nearly $2.1 Million in West Nile Virus Grants (via PR Newswire)

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced it is awarding nearly $2.1 million in West Nile Virus (WNV) Control Program Grants to 26 counties. "These county grants ensure…

Pa. gambling revenues up slightly in March



PA Table Games Revenue Up In March (via PR Newswire)

$67.9 million in revenue highest single month to date HARRISBURG, Pa., April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Revenue from the play of table games at Pennsylvania's casinos rose 1% during March, producing the highest level of revenue, $67.9 million…

MSM Takes A Shoe For Hillary


IRS Documents Show Lois Lerner in Contact With DOJ about Potential Prosecution of Tax-Exempt Groups

JW Obtains IRS Documents Showing Lerner in Contact With DOJ about Potential Prosecution of Tax-Exempt Groups

More damaging revelations about Lois Lerner

IRS documents show Lois Lerner wanted to sic the Justice Department on targeted conservative groups | Human Events

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Sebelius' insult added to Obamacare injuries

Ron Hart: Sebelius' insult added to Obamacare injuries - The Orange County Register

Editorial: Federal taxes too high, too complex

The Orange County Register: The 74,000-page tax code has Americans spending 6 billion hours trying to comply.


Editorial: Federal taxes too high, too complex - The Orange County Register

The significance of April 15


What worship style attracts Millennials?

What worship style attracts Millennials? | ChurchCentral.com

Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham joins ABC News

Laura Ingraham joins ABC News

New Los Angeles newspaper embraces print in digital world

New LA newspaper embraces print in digital world - The Santa Fe New Mexican: News

Pa. senators propose tax break for volunteer firefighters

Pa. senators propose tax break for volunteers - abc27 WHTM

Climate Change Forecast


Obama has proposed 442 tax hikes since taking office

Obama has proposed 442 tax hikes since taking office

Census survey rewritten to make ObamaCare look better

Census survey rewritten to make ObamaCare look better | Human Events

A GOP long shot with high hopes challenges Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett

A long shot with high hopes: Bob Guzzardi

Columnist: It's Comcast's world. We just pay for it.

Karen Heller: We've seen this cable show before

Monday, April 14, 2014

The Dilemma of Divided Cyprus and the Turkish Trap

The Dilemma of Divided Cyprus and the Turkish Trap | GreekReporter.com

Former CBS Reporter Attkisson: Obama Pursuing 'Aggressive' Campaign 'Designed to Have a Chilling Effect' on Journalists

Attkisson: Obama Pursuing 'Aggressive' Campaign 'Designed to Have a Chilling Effect' on Journalists

4 Dead, 31 Wounded In Weekend Shootings in Obama's Hometown of Chicago

One would think that Obama's hometown, run entirely by Democrats and with one of the toughest gun control laws in the nation, would be a safer place to live. Another glaring example of how Democrats have ruined this country.

Four Dead, 31 Wounded In Weekend Shootings « CBS Chicago

What's a job?


2014 Pulitzer winners in journalism and arts

2014 Pulitzer winners in journalism and arts - abc27 WHTM

Man named 'God' sues credit rating agency

Man with 1st name 'God' sues credit rating agency | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times

Feds retreat from Nevada ranch standoff, release captive cattle

Cowmageddon: Feds retreat from Nevada ranch standoff, release captive cattle | Human Events

Newspaper: N.C. proves multiple voting occurs and dead cast ballots

EDITORIAL: Democrats deny voter fraud. Ask North Carolina. - Washington Times

Dems' latest false wedge issue

Salena Zito: Dems' latest false wedge issue

Friday, April 11, 2014

975,000 Page Views

My site counter has recorded 750,000 Page Views from 498,000 Unique Visitors to Tony Phyrillas on Politics. That 1,000,000 mark is just around the bend. Thanks for checking out the blog ... and come back again.

Survey: Americans Say Government Wastes Half of Every Tax Dollar it Collects

Americans Say Government Wastes Half of Every Tax Dollar it Collects

Democratic Nev. Official Tells Rancher's Supporters They 'Better Have Funeral Plans'

Liberal fascism is on the rise in Obama's America.

Rancher's Supporters Told They 'Better Have Funeral Plans'

John Stossel: How the Tax Code Manipulates Us

How the Tax Code Manipulates Us

Tax Day is Coming: 'Game of Thrones' Edition

Pa. Democrat Tom Wolf releases details of loan to his campaign

Wolf releases details of loan to his campaign

Highlights From New Hillary Clinton Book


Columnist: The Fourth Estate's repugnant double dichotomy

Columnist Colin McNickle raises an interesting question about freedom of the press in an age when the liberal media works in conjunction with the White House to spread propaganda:
Why is it that a free press claiming to work so assiduously to protect its constitutionally guaranteed right — and that of its first cousin, speech — appears to be working so unremittingly to undermine both?
The Fourth Estate's repugnant double dichotomy

Guest Column: My Obamacare Plan is Failing Me

By Priya Abraham
Guest columnist


Tuesday is the last day to sign up for health insurance on the Obamacare exchange. Luckily, I’ve already purchased an exchange plan. But barely one month into my new health care coverage, I’ve started running into serious roadblocks.

I battle fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that forces me to work from home many days. My need to see specialists and try expensive prescriptions makes affordable health insurance crucial to softening the financial sting. This longtime uninsured, sickly gal ought to be happy.

Plaster my picture on Healthcare.gov now, right?

But this victim — who knows intimately the pressures of no health coverage — can’t get over how damaging the Affordable Care Act is across the nation. Must we really destroy jobs, inflate others’ health costs, and enact countless new taxes and fees just to help people like me?

Worse yet, Obamacare isn’t even keeping its promise to provide quality health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions.  On top of higher premiums or deductibles, critical drugs may not be covered at all, and the costs patients incur by buying them with cash won’t count against out-of-pocket caps or deductibles.

As Pennsylvania moves to shift 6,960 people from its high-risk pool to Obamacare, more people will discover how limited their new coverage really is.

Information about covered drugs on Obamacare exchange plans is hard to find and in some cases doesn’t appear to be available at all. Restrictions on covered drugs are nothing new, but the limits are more widespread in exchange plans to keep premiums low.

Only one brand-name drug that works on the nervous system has helped me keep the pain at bay over the years. Getting it on my Obamacare plan has proven a challenge.

Without insurance or discounts, the drug costs $400 per month. But I couldn’t simply refill my regular prescription — my new insurance company required pre-authorization for the drug. Just last week, my exchange plan insurer told me they will not cover the drug. For now, I’m surviving by driving 50 miles to pick up free samples from my doctor’s office. This isn’t the affordable, quality care I was promised.

Many Americans sicker than me are doing much worse. Take Lupus patient Emilie Lamb. Her state-subsidized plan was cancelled because it didn’t provide enough coverage — a “junk” plan according to President Obama. Lamb’s premium jumped from $52 to $373 a month, forcing her to get a second job so she can still see her doctors and buy medicine.

Fifteen-year-old Michigan twins Austin and Micheala Davert, suffer from a bone disease called osteogenesis imperfecta. They lost their primary insurance due to Obamacare’s mandates. Their parents, after failing to resolve technical issues on Healthcare.gov, purchased an exchange plan directly from an insurer with a similar premium plus a nearly $8,000 deductible increase.

Their mother noted, “The only other plan that had a lower out of pocket maximum was a plan that’s not accepted by their doctors.”

With the health conditions I face, my $176 per month premium for a silver exchange plan is almost inconceivable.  Before, all I could get in Pennsylvania after multiple denials was a $476 per month premium with a high deductible.

Don’t get me wrong: I know the country desperately needed health care reform — and still does. But millions of canceled plans, special exemptions, and countless extensions show that Obamacare is incapable of ensuring all Americans can access quality and affordable care.

However, real health care reform could reduce skyrocketing costs on everything from doctor visits to MRIs. It could promote visible pricing, which would allow people to plan and pay for much more of their own routine health care.

For people with pre-existing conditions, like me, who couldn’t get individual health insurance, expanding state high-risk pools would have been a better option. They give the “uninsurable” an affordable option by offering subsidized coverage comparable to private plans, rather than restructuring the entire insurance marketplace.

It’s the states, not Washington, that have the real solutions to our health care crisis. There was — there is — a better way than Obamacare.  Even on my most pain-filled days, I know that.

# # #

Priya Abraham is a senior policy analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation (CommonwealthFoundation.org), Pennsylvania’s free market think tank.

Bill O'Reilly: No accountability for Obama and the big spending liberal movement

From Bill O'Reilly's latest column, "The Tax Collector Knocketh" -
The problem for President Obama and the big spending liberal movement is accountability. The former boss of Medicare candidly admitted that about 30% of all payments are wasteful, with the health care money either stolen or used for unnecessary treatments. You may have seen the news this week that Florida ophthalmologist Dr. Salomon Melgen billed Medicare for $21-million in 2012. That's $21,000,000! We might add that, coincidentally or not, Melgen is a close pal and wing man of Democratic Senator Robert Menendez.

President Obama continues to expand the federal government, and the Democratic Party wants more of our pay diverted to them so they can give it to those not earning very much. But the Obama administration, like others before it, refuses to watch how the money is dispatched. Therefore, tens of billions of dollars are abused every year. Even as federal debt nears $17-trillion, government waste continues to climb right along with the red ink.
Read the full column here.

Liberal Hypocrisy 101


Study: Your share of the federal debt is $106,000

Harvard study: Your share of the federal debt is $106,000 | WashingtonExaminer.com

Andrew Klavan: Obamacare - Lies or Crap?

Newspaper: Obama, Holder stoke racial tensions to cover for failed policies

EDITORIAL: Baseless charges of racism the new last refuge of scoundrels - Washington Times

Eric Holder's contempt for the American people

TAMMY BRUCE: Eric Holder's contempt for the American people - Washington Times

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The Rise of American Totalitarianism By The Far Left

BEN SHAPIRO: The Rise of American Totalitarianism | Truth Revolt

Breaking: Shoe Thrown at Hillary Clinton During Las Vegas Speech

Breaking: Shoe Thrown at Hillary Clinton During Las Vegas Speech | Truth Revolt

The Perfect Person to Replace Sebelius


I nominate Susan Rice to replace Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary. We know for a fact that Rice is an accomplished liar (see Benghazi), so she would be the perfect person to continue the Obama Administration's propaganda campaign for Obamacare.

Sen. Lee: Will Comcast discriminate against conservatives?

Senator: Will Comcast discriminate against conservatives?

Obama's War On Women


Annual Report on Casino Gaming's Impact on PA's Horse Racing Industry Released by Gaming Control Board



Annual Report on Casino Gaming's Impact on PA's Horse Racing Industry Released by Gaming Control Board (via PR Newswire)

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today released its seventh annual Racetrack Casino Benchmark Report. Since its first release in 2008, this annual report has concentrated on the impact…

Jimmy Carter dismisses Hillary Clinton's State Dept. work

Carter dismisses Clinton's State work | TheHill

Comcast Bought Democrats with Billion$, NBC News Coverage

Comcast Bought Democrats with Billion$, NBC News Coverage

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

If Archie Bunker lived during the Obama years ...


House kills Obama budget 413-2

Who says there's no more bipartisanship left in Washington? The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly defeated President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 by a vote of 413-to-2. The two "yes" votes came from Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Jim Moran (D-Va.), who is retiring. Moran is the same idiot who is pushing for a pay raise for members of Congress.

House kills Obama budget 2-413 | TheHill

Lowman S. Henry: A Taxing Tale


By Lowman S. Henry
Guest Colimnist 

President Obama's claim that "If you like your health care plan you can keep your health care plan" was dubbed by pundits as the 2013 lie of the year. Fast forward to this year's gubernatorial campaign and two lies are competing for top honors.  Take your choice between: Governor Tom Corbett has slashed spending on public education; and Marcellus Shale gas drillers, unlike other states, are not paying high enough taxes.

Pollsters for the four remaining Democratic candidates for governor seem to have all discovered that education funding has surpassed unemployment and the melting polar ice caps as the main issue concerning likely voters in the upcoming primary.  Thus a happy convergence of the two lies has occurred.  The candidates can promise voters their cake - more education spending - and they can eat it too because they will tax the robber baron gas drillers to pay for it.

Setting aside the fact more state dollars are being spent on public education than at any time in the history of the commonwealth, let's focus on whether or not companies drilling in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale reserve are paying their fair share.  One candidate claims on his website that we are giving ". . . away our state's valuable resources without generating revenue for critical investments like schools . . . "  His television ads point out that gas drillers in Penn's Woods do not pay a severance tax as do companies operating in every other state in the union.

That is a true, but misleading statement.  Pennsylvania does not levy a severance tax, which is a tax applied on gas as it leaves the well, but the commonwealth does charge gas companies - as it does all other businesses - both a Corporate Net Income Tax and a Capital Stock & Franchise Tax.  We are the only state in the nation that levies both of those taxes.  That alone would place Marcellus shale drillers on an equal footing with the 49 other states.

But, it doesn't stop there.  Act 13 of 2012 imposed an impact fee on natural gas wells in Penn's Woods.  It is called a fee because Republicans supporting the measure did not want to be accused of raising taxes.  A rose by any other name, however, is still a rose.  The dictionary defines the word tax as "a sum of money demanded by a government for its support, or for specific facilities or services." Thus, the Marcellus Shale impact fee is, by definition, a tax.

The impact tax is levied based upon the price of natural gas traded on the market and on the age of the wells.  Thus the amount of revenue generated each year fluctuates depending on market performance and number of wells drilled.  According to the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy in Pittsburgh, the impact tax generated $204.2 million in revenue in 2011 and $202.5 million in revenue in 2012.  Less was generated in 2012 because the market price of the gas had decreased.

So, to put this into perspective, an industry that supposedly is not paying its fair share over the past two years paid every tax every other business in the state paid plus an additional $406.2 million.  What sort of outrage would there be if, for example, we asked farmers to pay an impact tax? They use natural resources - soil and water - to produce their product.  Or, perhaps to make it fair we should enact a "success tax" - in addition to Corporate Net and Capital Stock & Franchise taxes - on any business in Pennsylvania that expands rapidly and reaps higher profits?

The current political debate focused on adding another layer of tax on Marcellus Shale drillers implies, and in some cases outright states, that the gas companies are taking a natural resources and we are left with no benefit.  But the Allegheny Institute's analysis of where dollars from the impact tax have gone shows that a wide range of state agencies, county and local governments have received revenue from the tax.  These funds have gone to repair and replace local bridges, improve water and sewer projects, clean up acid mine drainage, pay for green space initiatives and watershed projects. Money has been set aside in the Environmental Stewardship Fund to pay for any future problems which may arise, and into community and economic development.  Counties - all 67 of them - have shared in over $21 million in revenue.

As in most political campaigns truth is the first casualty.  Candidates can certainly propose higher taxes, but they should at least not mislead voters. Instead they should tell the whole story and not just those parts of it that fit their campaign narrative.

Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org.