Wednesday, December 26, 2018
The Top Fake News Stories of 2018
The Top Fake News Stories of 2018: Dan Bongino - Making the world a better place by debunking one liberal myth at a time. Former Secret Service Agent, Contributing Editor at Conservative Review and Host of The Top Ranked Conservative Podcast: The Dan Bongino Show.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Monday, December 24, 2018
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Friday, December 21, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
GUEST COLUMN: America Must be Tough on Crime & Smart on Justice
By Jane Leader Janeczek and Charles Mitchell
Commentators are calling it a “Christmas miracle.” Senate Republicans and Democrats have just cooperated to advance the FIRST STEP Act,America’s most significant federal sentencing and prison reform in three decades.
Thousands of incarcerated Americans are grateful for this bipartisan bill, which outlines fairer sentencing and smarter prison spending. As advocates for Pennsylvania’s landmark criminal justice reform in 2012, we can attest the benefits of humane reforms and commend Congress and the president for balancing public safety, fiscal prudence, and compassion.
FIRST STEP, which overwhelmingly passed the House in May, makes America’s federal laws smarter and our communities safer. The National Fraternal Order of Police, whose priority is crime prevention, endorses the bill for this reason, and for its provision to protect prison guards by allowing them to carry firearms in more circumstances.
Key to the reform are “time credits” non-violent offenders can earn for participation in recidivism reduction programs — trimming pointlessly long, expensive prison sentences. Recent amendments include additional measures to ensure violent criminals won’t qualify.
Smarter Sentences, Lower Costs, Better Results
Research shows a shorter prison stay can lower the recidivism rate of offenders deemed low-risk. Likewise, more prison time means a higher recidivism rate for less serious offenses. Given the prison atmosphere breeds crime and a criminal mentality, American justice too often works against itself by defaulting to long sentences.
That’s why FIRST STEP requires the Bureau of Prisons to transfer certain low-risk, low-need inmates from prison to home confinement. Besides reducing our enormous room, board, health, and guard costs, this reform places small-time offenders in a community setting instead of the crime training facility that federal prison too often becomes.
The fact is, most people who commit crimes will be back on the streets someday. The goal of our criminal justice system should be to reduce the likelihood of a repeat offense. Right now, the system we have makes recidivism more likely. It isn’t just expensive; it’s making us less safe. FIRST STEP takes us the right direction—and it’s about time.
While these reforms alone make serious progress, the bill also includes several proportionate sentencing reforms, such as reducing the three-strike drug penalty from life in prison to 25 years. That’s truer justice: sentences should not stop punishing people who commit crimes, but the punishment must fit the crime.
Pennsylvania Leads the Way
The FIRST STEP Act is an exciting new development for federal prison reform, but Pennsylvania is already a great example of the long-term impact smart reforms can have.
In 2012, we helped lead a bipartisan coalition supporting the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, which passed unanimously and was signed by then-Governor Tom Corbett, a Republican. Those reforms have helped reduce Pennsylvania’s prison population for four consecutive years — more than double the cumulative population reductions since 1970—without compromising public safety. And as the number of people incarcerated has declined, so have Pennsylvania’s violent and property crime rates.
Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, praised the 2012 initiative and recently signed additional legislation to help former prisoners find work. As advocates for fairness and opportunity for all Pennsylvanians, we strongly endorsed the “clean slate” bill, which seals some criminal records. A second bill ended driver’s license suspension for non-violent, non-driving offenses.
Cooperation across gubernatorial administrations and in the U.S. Senate — both Sen. Bob Casey (D) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R) voted for FIRST STEP — proves that criminal justice reform can bridge the partisan divide.
We hope lawmakers see the bipartisan momentum behind the FIRST STEP Act as an opportunity to advance additional reforms at the state level where most prisoners reside. In Pennsylvania, the second Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI2), which contains multiple bills that expand parole for non-violent offenders and improve sentencing, is a great place to start. If JRI2 bills pass, the overall restructuring will further reduce our prison population and save approximately $48 million over five years.
Seeing Congress and President Trump work together to enact humane criminal justice reforms, while protecting our neighborhoods, gives us hope. America is long overdue for these commonsense corrections reforms, and Pennsylvania has the chance to do even more to improve the lives of its citizens. Let’s not let the opportunity go to waste.
# # #
Jane Leader Janeczek is a business executive and the daughter of former Pennsylvania Governor George Leader. Charles Mitchell is president and CEO for the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Guest Column: Red Wave
By Lowman S. Henry
There was much talk this past year about a "blue wave," but what really occurred was a "red wave." This "red wave" has little to do with electoral politics, but rather accurately describes both the federal and state budgets which for the current fiscal year are awash in red ink.
Within days of the November General Election the Independent Fiscal Office revealed the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania faces at least a $1.7 billion deficit as Governor Tom Wolf and lawmakers get set to begin the 2019-2020 state budget process.
That pales in comparison with the federal government which for the current fiscal year is expected to come perilously close to running a trillion dollar deficit. That is trillion with a "T" as current estimates forecast a $985 billion deficit which, if history is a guide, will end up being substantially higher.
The fiscal year 2019 federal budget deficit is 18% greater than the deficit rung up in 2018 largely due to a massive omnibus spending bill passed by congress last December that ended spending restraints Republicans put into place during the Obama Administration. That set the stage for a spending binge.
Rather than plunge the nation into a government shut-down President Donald Trump signed that spending bill, but pledged to never do so again. That promise will be tested next week as congress faces a December 7th deadline for passing another continuing resolution to keep the government running.
In this midst of this spending orgy some conservative Republicans are offering plans to begin getting the budget under control. One particularly promising idea has been put forth by Senator Rand Paul and has been aptly titled the "Penny Plan."
Realizing that most peoples' eyes glaze over when talking about billions and trillions, Senator Paul has simplified the discussion by proposing that for every on-budget dollar the federal government spent in fiscal year 2018 it spends one penny less for each of the next five years. That one penny per dollar reduction would reduce spending by $13.35 trillion over the next ten years.
Keeping in mind that much federal spending is "off budget," that means total spending will still increase by 14.6% during those ten years. Thus those who howl at the prospect of reducing on-budget spending by one percent per year for five years will still see an overall increase in federal spending.
It is important to note the one penny per dollar cut does not apply to Social Security and other safety net programs. It also makes no specific policy assumptions, allowing congress and the deep state bureaucracy to determine how to achieve one percent annual reductions by increasing efficiency, consolidating services or other means.
In introducing the Penny Plan Senator Paul called upon conservatives to "govern like conservatives," something they failed to do during the two years Republicans held complete control of congress. Paul added it is time to "prove to the American people that it (congress) is serious about getting our fiscal house in order."
Meanwhile, back in Penn's Woods, the likelihood of an extend budget battle in 2019 has grown dramatically with the Independent Fiscal Office's report. Like their colleagues in Washington, D.C., many legislators in Harrisburg have been addicted to higher and higher spending. They have utilized a series of budget gimmicks and one-time revenue sources in an effort to avoid making hard decisions.
Their profligate spending has now caught up with them. You can bet the mortgage that Governor Tom Wolf will propose even more spending, especially to pour down the public education rat hole. He will also propose what will likely be a menu of tax hike options with a so-called "severance tax" on natural gas as the main course.
Southeastern Pennsylvania RINOs are virtually extinct after this year's elections, so fiscal conservatives will find their voices amplified in the coming legislative session. The Achilles heel, however, remains weak-kneed Senate Republican "leadership," which tends to cater to spending interests. As a result, strategies for reducing spending to match projected revenue will be driven by the House of Representatives where leadership is much more taxpayer friendly.
With divided government at both the federal and state levels getting spending under control, which is difficult under the best of circumstances, will be even more so this coming year. Bipartisan unity only seems to exist when both sides are feasting at the taxpayers' table. It remains to be seen whether the "red wave" begins to subside, or whether it turns into a tidal wave of red ink.
(Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address islhenry@lincolninstitute.org.)
Monday, December 17, 2018
That time Tony Phyrillas was mentioned in a book ...
By Tony Phyrillas
Have you ever Googled yourself? Come
on, admit it. Who hasn’t? My name pops up in a lot of places on the Internet because
I work for a newspaper and have been known to write a story or two. Or 5,000 or
6,000 … but who’s counting? I’ve also posted hundreds of my columns online.
Once in a while my name pops up in
the strangest places. Until recently, I had no idea that I was mentioned in a
book.
It wasn’t exactly a best seller, but
there I am on page 456 of “Actors of the
Spaghetti Westerns” by James Prickette. I gotta hand it to Mr. Prickette for
doing his research on the actors who appeared in these classic 1960s movies
directed by the legendary Sergio Leone.
So how do I fit in with Clint
Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Sergio Leone? This is where I applaud Mr. Prickette
for doing his research.
I wrote an article in 1989 about
actor Lee Van Cleef, who died of a heart attack that December at age 64. While
his name may not have been a household word, everyone who’s ever watched
Westerns will instantly recognize Van Cleef. It’s a face you don’t soon forget.
He’s best known for the “Spaghetti
Westerns” that were all the rage in the mid-1960s and made a superstar out of a
little-known TV actor named Clint Eastwood. Van Cleef played Eastwood’s
arch-rival in two of the films, “For A Few Dollars More” and “The Good, the Bad
and the Ugly.”
In the latter film, Van Cleef played
“the Bad” of the title trio, with Eastwood and Eli Wallach handling the other
two leads.
I wasn’t working for The Hollywood
Reporter at the time of Van Cleef’s death. Turns out the actor was a native of
Somerville, N.J., and I was an editor at the Somerset Messenger Gazette, a
weekly community newspaper in Somerville.
I was also the biggest Clint
Eastwood fan around and everyone at the newspaper knew it. So while I normally
assigned stories to reporters, I decided to write about Van Cleef myself. It
was the first – and so far only opportunity – to mention my favorite actor –
Clint Eastwood – in a news story.
The article I wrote was titled,
“Somerville remembers the good side of a ‘bad guy’” and I was able to find a
few local residents who grew up with Van Cleef and remembered him before he
went off to Hollywood to make a name for himself in the movies.
Back to James Prickette and his
book. The author billed the book as “A unique reference book, jammed full of
informational tidbits about some of our favorite actors of the genre…”
And he certainly did his homework,
referencing the article I wrote in which I recounted that a young Van Cleef
wrote a column for The Messenger Gazette about his experiences in Hollywood.
The newspaper featured many articles about Van Cleef as his career blossomed.
Not every small town can boast a
well-known actor. Van Cleef would often write letters of thanks to The Gazette,
expressing his gratitude for the publicity about his acting career.
Prickette used that anecdote and a
few others from my article in his book.
So there you have it. A nearly
30-year-old article about Lee Van Cleef found its way into a book and
immortality … as long as Google is around.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Friday, December 14, 2018
Is Google Manipulating User Opinions And Behavior?
Is Google Manipulating User Opinions And Behavior?: Research suggests that Google is using search engine suggestions to sway user opinions, Dr. Robert Epstein explains on the Federalist Radio Hour.
As American Religion Declines, Identity Politics And Tribalism Rises
As American Religion Declines, Identity Politics And Tribalism Rises: Jon Ward is a Senior Political Correspondent at Yahoo News and host of the podcast, “The Long Game.” Ward recently interviewed Andrew Sullivan on his ideas Read More
How Ballot-Harvesting Became The New Way To Steal An Election
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Saturday, December 08, 2018
France's Riots Aren't Just About Gas Taxes, But About The West's Decline
France's Riots Aren't Just About Gas Taxes, But About The West's Decline: The yellow jacket protests are just a small symptom of a much larger problem––the decline and fall of once-magnificent France.
Wednesday, December 05, 2018
10 Beloved Christmas Movie Characters Who Are Actually Terrible People
10 Beloved Christmas Movie Characters Who Are Actually Terrible People: 'Frosty the Snowman' is the story of a self-absorbed nitwit who kidnaps an impressionable young girl and brings her to the deadliest terrain on earth.
Climate Change Alarmism Is The World's Leading Cause Of Hot Gas
Climate Change Alarmism Is The World's Leading Cause Of Hot Gas: The problem for climate change alarmists is that warming is already here, yet somehow humanity slogs onward, living longer, safer, richer lives.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Friday, November 23, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
How Misguided Environmentalism Is To Blame For California Wildfires
How Misguided Environmentalism Is To Blame For California's Wildfires: The saddest part about these fires in California is that they are self inflicted. Californians should not allow such mismanagement to continue.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Lowman S. Henry: Bluer Blue, Redder Red
By Lowman S. Henry
Guest Columnist
On the surface it would appear the power dynamic in Pennsylvania state government changed little as a result of last week's General Election. Governor Tom Wolf was re-elected and Republicans retained solid control of both the state House and the state Senate.
Back from where we started?
Not quite. The 2018 election cycle saw the continuation of two trends: the drift of Democrats into the arms of the socialist Left, and a Republican power shift from the Philadelphia suburbs to the more conservative central and western parts of the state.
Governor Tom Wolf has often (and for good reason) been labeled the most liberal governor in America. To the degree that Lieutenant Governors matter, the state's new second banana will push him even further in that direction. Lt. Governor-elect John Fetterman is a Bernie Sanders-style socialist. He replaces the hapless Mike Stack, a Philadelphia pol more interested in the power dynamics of politics than ideology.
Wolf titled to the far Left to win his first primary four years ago and clearly felt at home. He went on to propose tax hikes that exceeded those offered by governors in all 49 other states combined and has remained a staunch advocate for Left-wing policies ever since. Fetterman, and the avowed socialists who upended traditional Democrats in the primary to claim seats in the General Assembly, are certain to fortify his position.
As liberal policies made the city more and more unlivable Philadelphia Democrats fled to the suburbs. There they have continued voting into office candidates who espouse the very same policies that destroyed the city. As a result, the four counties surrounding Philadelphia which had for decades been the epicenter of Republican power in the state have trended Democrat.
If there was a "blue wave" this election year it crashed ashore in those counties. The numbers could change a bit as the official count progresses, but Republicans lost 13 state House seats and four state Senate seats in that region. It is rare for more than three or four incumbents to lose statewide in a given election cycle, so the GOP wipeout in southeastern Pennsylvania can rightly be described as a blue tidal wave.
Continuing the westward shift of the statewide GOP, Republicans partially offset their losses in the southeast by flipping three Democrat seats, one in Bucks County and two elsewhere in the state. Republicans held historically high majorities in both state legislative chambers. Thus the losses left them in solid control, but with margins closer to the historical average.
What the election did do was to shift the ideological center of both the House and Senate Republican caucuses away from southeastern liberalism into the mainstream conservatism that is popular in the balance of the state.
While legislative Democrats voted in lockstep with their leadership, Republican legislative leaders had the more difficult task of moving conservative policies advocated by their caucus majority, while trying to appease their southeastern members. The goal was to hold onto those southeastern seats - it didn't work.
The end result is absent the need to protect its members from suburban Philadelphia because - well, they are no longer there - legislative Republicans are now free to stand firmly against the socialist policies Governor Tom Wolf and Democrats are sure to pursue.
This means Pennsylvania's divided state government has become even more divided. The first battle will come in a matter of weeks when Governor Tom Wolf proposes his next state budget. It is sure to be chock full of tax hikes and new spending. Republicans effectively blocked the more radical elements of his agenda during the governor's first term. A more conservative majority should be able to do so in the years ahead.
Thus have voters across Penn's Woods put into effect all the elements needed for epic policy and budget battles which are likely to end in gridlock. Given the fact that most legislation that actually passes expands the dependency state at the expense of taxpayers gridlock may be the best outcome.
Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org
Guest Columnist
On the surface it would appear the power dynamic in Pennsylvania state government changed little as a result of last week's General Election. Governor Tom Wolf was re-elected and Republicans retained solid control of both the state House and the state Senate.
Back from where we started?
Not quite. The 2018 election cycle saw the continuation of two trends: the drift of Democrats into the arms of the socialist Left, and a Republican power shift from the Philadelphia suburbs to the more conservative central and western parts of the state.
Governor Tom Wolf has often (and for good reason) been labeled the most liberal governor in America. To the degree that Lieutenant Governors matter, the state's new second banana will push him even further in that direction. Lt. Governor-elect John Fetterman is a Bernie Sanders-style socialist. He replaces the hapless Mike Stack, a Philadelphia pol more interested in the power dynamics of politics than ideology.
Wolf titled to the far Left to win his first primary four years ago and clearly felt at home. He went on to propose tax hikes that exceeded those offered by governors in all 49 other states combined and has remained a staunch advocate for Left-wing policies ever since. Fetterman, and the avowed socialists who upended traditional Democrats in the primary to claim seats in the General Assembly, are certain to fortify his position.
As liberal policies made the city more and more unlivable Philadelphia Democrats fled to the suburbs. There they have continued voting into office candidates who espouse the very same policies that destroyed the city. As a result, the four counties surrounding Philadelphia which had for decades been the epicenter of Republican power in the state have trended Democrat.
If there was a "blue wave" this election year it crashed ashore in those counties. The numbers could change a bit as the official count progresses, but Republicans lost 13 state House seats and four state Senate seats in that region. It is rare for more than three or four incumbents to lose statewide in a given election cycle, so the GOP wipeout in southeastern Pennsylvania can rightly be described as a blue tidal wave.
Continuing the westward shift of the statewide GOP, Republicans partially offset their losses in the southeast by flipping three Democrat seats, one in Bucks County and two elsewhere in the state. Republicans held historically high majorities in both state legislative chambers. Thus the losses left them in solid control, but with margins closer to the historical average.
What the election did do was to shift the ideological center of both the House and Senate Republican caucuses away from southeastern liberalism into the mainstream conservatism that is popular in the balance of the state.
While legislative Democrats voted in lockstep with their leadership, Republican legislative leaders had the more difficult task of moving conservative policies advocated by their caucus majority, while trying to appease their southeastern members. The goal was to hold onto those southeastern seats - it didn't work.
The end result is absent the need to protect its members from suburban Philadelphia because - well, they are no longer there - legislative Republicans are now free to stand firmly against the socialist policies Governor Tom Wolf and Democrats are sure to pursue.
This means Pennsylvania's divided state government has become even more divided. The first battle will come in a matter of weeks when Governor Tom Wolf proposes his next state budget. It is sure to be chock full of tax hikes and new spending. Republicans effectively blocked the more radical elements of his agenda during the governor's first term. A more conservative majority should be able to do so in the years ahead.
Thus have voters across Penn's Woods put into effect all the elements needed for epic policy and budget battles which are likely to end in gridlock. Given the fact that most legislation that actually passes expands the dependency state at the expense of taxpayers gridlock may be the best outcome.
Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org
Monday, November 12, 2018
Celebrity Endorsements Hurt The Candidates They Were Trying To Help
Celebrity Endorsements Hurt The Candidates They Were Trying To Help: Voters in Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia chose the un-flashy Republicans over the celebrity-backed Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterms.
2018 Proved Obama Is Electoral Kryptonite In Battleground States
2018 Proved Obama Is Electoral Kryptonite In Battleground States: Former President Obama's aggressive effort to turn out the Democrat vote in key Senate, House and gubernatorial races largely failed.
Wednesday, November 07, 2018
Sunday, November 04, 2018
More Voters Blame Media Than Trump For Political Division
More Voters Blame Media Than Trump For Political Division: More Americans think members of the news media are to blame for political divisions than President Donald Trump is, according to a new poll.
Why Did Democrats Abandon Their Investigation Into Brett Kavanaugh?
Why Did Democrats Abandon Their Investigation Into Brett Kavanaugh?: If Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is really a rapist and sexual assailant, as Democrats claimed, shouldn't the story continue to be covered?
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Left-Wing Actor Vows 'Blood In The Streets' If Democrats Lose Midterms
Left-Wing Actor Vows 'Blood In The Streets' If Democrats Lose Midterms: At an awards show Sunday night, character actor James Cromwell said there will be 'blood in the streets' if Democrats don't stop President Trump.
5 freed from Gitmo in exchange for Bergdahl join Taliban’s political office in Qatar
5 freed from Gitmo in exchange for Bergdahl join Taliban’s political office in Qatar: They may complicate efforts toward peace talks with Taliban, some analysts say.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
How Political Correctness Ruined Disney's Most Recent Princess Movies
How Political Correctness Ruined Disney's Most Recent Princess Movies: Instead of telling stories and developing compelling characters, children’s movies today prefer to promote boring feminist and anti-family propaganda.
U.S. Adults Have Few Friends — and They’re Mostly Alike
A new study finds the majority of adults has anywhere between two and five close friends, but one in five regularly or often feels lonely.
U.S. Adults Have Few Friends — and They’re Mostly Alike - Barna Group: In light of a loneliness epidemic in this country, Barna takes a look at the state of friendship in America.
U.S. Adults Have Few Friends — and They’re Mostly Alike - Barna Group: In light of a loneliness epidemic in this country, Barna takes a look at the state of friendship in America.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Guest Column: Window of Opportunity
By Lowman S. Henry
Columnist
Release of the grand jury report into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has dominated the news in recent months. As details of the report emerged the scope of abuse in terms of the sheer number of victims, and the institutional cover-up that followed resulted in demands for reform within the church and for government action to provide some measure of compensation to the abused.
It has taken a long time to get to this point. Despite decades of swirling rumors the problem was not taken seriously until a few years ago. The film "Spotlight," which details the work of Boston Globe journalists who cracked the veil of secrecy in that city's diocese, did much to raise awareness. That triggered investigations in many other venues nationwide.
In an era when the news media is rightly under scrutiny for its lagging journalistic standards the work of the Globe reporters stands out as a shining example of how reporting is supposed to work. Coverage of this tragic story extends far beyond Boston as the media nationwide and especially here in Pennsylvania have been exemplary in the performance of their investigative and watchdog duties.
The legal system has also risen to the occasion. Empaneling of an investigative grand jury gave prosecutors the tools needed to cut through the church's institutional barriers to arrive at the truth. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has worked hard to ensure the grand jury's report does not get relegated to collect dust on a shelf, but rather becomes the impetus for reform.
And then there is the Pennsylvania legislature. It is crystal clear that existing state statutes are inadequate to the task of providing victims with a mechanism for gaining compensation for the mental and physical anguish they have suffered at the hands of clergy. Regrettably, release of the grand jury report came at a time when the legislature had adjourned for a nearly three month summer recess. That left little time for lawmakers to act when they returned to session in mid-September.
House Speaker Mike Turzai got behind what was termed a "compromise" plan that would open a two year "window" for victims to file civil suits. This action is necessary because many abuse cases date back decades and the statute of limitations has expired meaning victims can no longer sue for financial compensation. This is a widespread and extraordinary problem because institutional cover-up created a climate where victims were intimidated and therefore did not feel able to step forward.
And so the lower chamber did its job - but the weak link in the chain of responsible action has become Senate Republican leadership, specifically Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati. Senator Scarnati believes the "window" is unconstitutional and has instead proposed a victim's compensation fund - which has the official support of the church.
That, however, falls short of giving victims their day in court and allowing them to seek compensation on a case-by-case basis. Senator Scarnati and by extension the entire state Senate is the one institution (aside from the church itself) that has failed to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
It is not the role of the legislature to determine the constitutionality of legislation. Although it is only prudent for lawmakers to actually read the state's governing document and act accordingly, if there is a doubt that doubt should be left to the courts to decide.
Rather than stand in the way of a solution, Scarnati and the Senate should advance the concept of a "window," and send it along to Governor Tom Wolf who is expected to sign it into law. At that point court challenges will likely ensure with the issue making its way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Given the fact they frequently ignore the state constitution in issuing decisions it is impossible to predict what the state's Supreme Court Justices will do. However, they will either find the "window" constitutional, or rule it unconstitutional and explain why perhaps even offing suggested legislative remedies in issuing their opinion.
In other words, it is worth letting the process play out. To do otherwise only adds to the suffering of abuse victims. It is time to pursue every possible remedy so they might be appropriately compensated, arrive at some sort of closure, and get on with their lives.
(Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org)
Columnist
Release of the grand jury report into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has dominated the news in recent months. As details of the report emerged the scope of abuse in terms of the sheer number of victims, and the institutional cover-up that followed resulted in demands for reform within the church and for government action to provide some measure of compensation to the abused.
It has taken a long time to get to this point. Despite decades of swirling rumors the problem was not taken seriously until a few years ago. The film "Spotlight," which details the work of Boston Globe journalists who cracked the veil of secrecy in that city's diocese, did much to raise awareness. That triggered investigations in many other venues nationwide.
In an era when the news media is rightly under scrutiny for its lagging journalistic standards the work of the Globe reporters stands out as a shining example of how reporting is supposed to work. Coverage of this tragic story extends far beyond Boston as the media nationwide and especially here in Pennsylvania have been exemplary in the performance of their investigative and watchdog duties.
The legal system has also risen to the occasion. Empaneling of an investigative grand jury gave prosecutors the tools needed to cut through the church's institutional barriers to arrive at the truth. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has worked hard to ensure the grand jury's report does not get relegated to collect dust on a shelf, but rather becomes the impetus for reform.
And then there is the Pennsylvania legislature. It is crystal clear that existing state statutes are inadequate to the task of providing victims with a mechanism for gaining compensation for the mental and physical anguish they have suffered at the hands of clergy. Regrettably, release of the grand jury report came at a time when the legislature had adjourned for a nearly three month summer recess. That left little time for lawmakers to act when they returned to session in mid-September.
House Speaker Mike Turzai got behind what was termed a "compromise" plan that would open a two year "window" for victims to file civil suits. This action is necessary because many abuse cases date back decades and the statute of limitations has expired meaning victims can no longer sue for financial compensation. This is a widespread and extraordinary problem because institutional cover-up created a climate where victims were intimidated and therefore did not feel able to step forward.
And so the lower chamber did its job - but the weak link in the chain of responsible action has become Senate Republican leadership, specifically Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati. Senator Scarnati believes the "window" is unconstitutional and has instead proposed a victim's compensation fund - which has the official support of the church.
That, however, falls short of giving victims their day in court and allowing them to seek compensation on a case-by-case basis. Senator Scarnati and by extension the entire state Senate is the one institution (aside from the church itself) that has failed to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
It is not the role of the legislature to determine the constitutionality of legislation. Although it is only prudent for lawmakers to actually read the state's governing document and act accordingly, if there is a doubt that doubt should be left to the courts to decide.
Rather than stand in the way of a solution, Scarnati and the Senate should advance the concept of a "window," and send it along to Governor Tom Wolf who is expected to sign it into law. At that point court challenges will likely ensure with the issue making its way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Given the fact they frequently ignore the state constitution in issuing decisions it is impossible to predict what the state's Supreme Court Justices will do. However, they will either find the "window" constitutional, or rule it unconstitutional and explain why perhaps even offing suggested legislative remedies in issuing their opinion.
In other words, it is worth letting the process play out. To do otherwise only adds to the suffering of abuse victims. It is time to pursue every possible remedy so they might be appropriately compensated, arrive at some sort of closure, and get on with their lives.
(Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org)
The Traveling Wilburys Debut Holds Up As Extraordinary, 30 Years Later
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Friday, October 12, 2018
Dems Blaming The Senate For Their Problems Need A Reality Check
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Saturday, October 06, 2018
Alex Trebek Should Have Moderated The PA Debate Like 'Jeopardy’
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Its Campaign Against Kavanaugh Exposes ACLU As A Massive Hypocrite
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Monday, October 01, 2018
Prosecutor Details 12 Huge Inconsistencies In Kavanaugh Accuser’s Story
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Saturday, September 29, 2018
Here’s How To Successfully Debate A Democratic Socialist
Here’s How To Successfully Debate A Democratic Socialist: As the democratic socialists become more prominent, both nationally and at our dinner tables, it’s very likely you will find yourself debating one.
Why The Ritual Defamation Of Kavanaugh Threatens Every American
Why The Ritual Defamation Of Kavanaugh Threatens Every American: A metaphor for ritual defamation is the gang rape of one’s character and good name. This episode represents a rape of Brett Kavanaugh’s character.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Friday, September 14, 2018
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Saturday, September 08, 2018
To Have A Prayer In The Midterms, Republicans Need To Start Talking
To Have A Prayer In The Midterms, Republicans Need To Start Talking: Republicans need to do an end run around the media by means of millions of friendly one-on-one conversations between voters.
The New York Times Anonymous Op-ed Pushes Electoral Sabotage
The New York Times Anonymous Op-ed Pushes Electoral Sabotage: The problem with the much-discussed New York Times op-ed isn't that the author is anonymous, it's that author celebrates nullifying a presidential election.
Friday, September 07, 2018
Sunday, September 02, 2018
Schaffrillas Productions 'Why Disney's Twist Villains Don't Work' Goes Viral - 1.3 Million Views
Very proud of my son James Phyrillas, whose latest video on his YouTube channel has gone viral and has been viewed more than 1.3 million times in just one week. The video about Disney villains attracted several thousand new fans for his YouTube channel, which now has more than 60,000 subscribers. Check out his work at the link below.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Friday, August 10, 2018
Saturday, August 04, 2018
Monday, July 23, 2018
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Monday, July 16, 2018
Academics Try And Fail To Understand The Appeal Of Clint Eastwood
Academics Try And Fail To Understand The Appeal Of Clint Eastwood: A new collection, 'Tough Ain't Enough: New Perspectives on the Films of Clint Eastwood,' discounts one of America's greatest actors and filmmakers.
Trump Is Right: Mueller’s Latest Indictment Suggests It's A Witch Hunt
Trump Is Right: Mueller’s Latest Indictment Suggests It's A Witch Hunt: Contrary to the mainstream media’s narrative, Robert Mueller’s latest indictment does not implicate President Trump, but exonerate him.
Media's Obsession With 'Collusion' Continues To Destroy Its Credibility
Media's Obsession With 'Collusion' Continues To Destroy Its Credibility: One of things we learned from Rod Rosenstein is that there’s still no evidence of 'collusion.' But that didn't stop MSM outlets from finding some anyway.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Who Checks the Fact-Checkers?
A lot of left-wing organizations are now in the "fact-checking" business. It's like having the fox guard the hen house. One of the worst now is The Associated Press, which displays its left-wing bias daily in "news" articles. I can't use 90 percent of the so-called "fact-checking" articles AP moves about Donald Trump because they are so biased.
Who Checks the Fact-Checkers?
Who Checks the Fact-Checkers?
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Wednesday, June 06, 2018
Pennsylvania School Districts Hoarding Billions in Cash
Pennsylvania school districts are sitting on billions of dollars in reserves at the same time school boards are raising property taxes.
School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion: School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion
School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion: School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion
Thursday, May 24, 2018
A $2,000 Blister and Other Medicaid Failures
A $2,000 Blister and Other Medicaid Failures: A $2,000 Blister and Other Medicaid Failures
Pennsylvania School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion
All over Pennsylvania, school boards are voting to raise property taxes while holding on to $4.5 billion in "reserves."
School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion: School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion
School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion: School Districts' Cash Hoard Grows for 12th-Straight Year, Tops $4.5 Billion
Friday, May 18, 2018
MSNBC Blames Trump for Media 'Confusion' Over His MS-13 Comments
It might be time for 71-year-old Andrea Mitchell to retire since she seems to get confused so easily these days. Anyone who saw the clip of President Trump calling MS-13 gang members "animals" was not confused. Just the anti-Trump media, led by Mitchell.
MSNBC Blames Trump for Media 'Confusion' Over His MS-13 Comments
MSNBC Blames Trump for Media 'Confusion' Over His MS-13 Comments
Looking for news? Better skip CNN
Somebody should look up obsession in the dictionary. The anti-Trump media, led by CNN, has devoted much of its air-time to a non-story.
UPDATE: Porn Star Lawyer Interviewed 147 Times in 10 Weeks
UPDATE: Porn Star Lawyer Interviewed 147 Times in 10 Weeks
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Saturday, May 05, 2018
Penn State president joins million dollar club
Will your Penn State student get a better education now that the university's president is earning $1 million per year?
Penn State president joins million dollar club
Penn State president joins million dollar club
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf Receives $8 Million from Government Union PACs
Gov. Wolf Receives $8 Million from Government Union PACs: Gov. Wolf Receives $8 Million from Government Union PACs
Tony Phyrillas returns to 'Journalists Roundtable' on Pennsylvania Cable Network
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| Seated from l-r: Tony Phyrillas, Michael Rellahan, Brian Lockman and Phil Heron. |
Friday, April 13, 2018
95% of Univision's 'Fact Checks' Target Trump, Republicans
NewsBusts: If you want to see just how politically warped and weaponized the use of
so-called ‘fact-checking’ has become in the national media, look no
further than Univision, the United States’ leading Spanish-language
broadcaster.
95% of Univision’s ‘Fact Checks’ Target Trump, Republicans
so-called ‘fact-checking’ has become in the national media, look no
further than Univision, the United States’ leading Spanish-language
broadcaster.
95% of Univision’s ‘Fact Checks’ Target Trump, Republicans
Wednesday, April 04, 2018
Is your elected official owned by labor unions?
The Commonwealth Foundation continues to expose the unholy alliance between government officials and Big Labor ...
Pa. Government Union Politics: $114 Million Since 2007: Pa. Government Union Politics: $114 Million Since 2007
Pa. Government Union Politics: $114 Million Since 2007: Pa. Government Union Politics: $114 Million Since 2007
Fox News Channel rated No. 1 in cable news for past 16 years
Why is CNN on in every airport and every doctor's office in the country when most Americans would prefer to watch Fox News Channel?
Fox News Channel rated No. 1 in cable news for past 16 years, says Nielsen Media Research
Fox News Channel rated No. 1 in cable news for past 16 years, says Nielsen Media Research
Monday, April 02, 2018
Berks among counties with most distracted driving in Pennsylvania
As someone who drives Berks County roadways on a daily basis, I can attest to the distracted drivers on the roads. What is so important that they have to check their damn phones while behind the wheel?
Berks among counties with most distracted driving citations - WFMZ
Berks among counties with most distracted driving citations - WFMZ
Sunday, April 01, 2018
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Porn star Stormy Daniels to perform at Pittsburgh strip club
If you didn't get enough of Stormy Daniels on "60 Minutes" Sunday night (and you live in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area), you're in luck. The "actress" will be performing at a so-called gentlemen's club on May 2 and May 3. No word on whether Donald Trump will be in the audience for either performance.
Porn star Stormy Daniels to perform at Blush Gentlemen's Club in Pittsburgh
Porn star Stormy Daniels to perform at Blush Gentlemen's Club in Pittsburgh
Friday, March 23, 2018
Thursday, March 01, 2018
Trump 2020: Making America Even Greater
Trump 2020: Making America Even Greater: Trump hires a 2020 campaign manager - marking the earliest presidential reelection campaign launch ever.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Lawsuit Filed Against Pennsylvania for Registering 100,000 Noncitizens to Vote
Lawsuit Filed Against PA for Registering 100,000 Noncitizens to Vote: On Monday, a lawsuit was filed against the Pennsylvania Department of State by the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) “for failing to disclose a reported 100,000 noncitizen registered voter records under federal law.” PILF summarizes its lawsuit:
The Democrats' Deeply Dishonest Memo
The Democrats' Deeply Dishonest Memo: The report was released as Congressman Devin Nunes said a secret surveillance court’s days may be numbered.
Monday, February 26, 2018
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Are The Clintons Behind The Whole Trump-Russia Collusion Story?
Are The Clintons Behind The Whole Trump-Russia Collusion Story?: ‘I’ve been watching the Clintons work for 30 years. That’s all the evidence I need,’ my dad told me about the Russia story. Time is proving him right.
The Left Is Conditioning College Students To Hate Free Speech
The Left Is Conditioning College Students To Hate Free Speech: From canceled classes at Princeton to sobbing undergrads at Stanford, colleges across the country are training students to be intolerant.
Why The Media Stopped Reporting The Russia Collusion Story
Why The Media Stopped Reporting The Russia Collusion Story: The press has played an active role in the Trump-Russia collusion story since its inception. It helped birth it. That's why they're done now.
Thursday, February 08, 2018
Tuesday, February 06, 2018
The New York Times’ Fact-Check Fail
The New York Times’ Fact-Check Fail: The NYT’s “fact-checking” article on Trump’s SOTU address deserves special ridicule.
Monday, February 05, 2018
3 Million Page Views at Tony Phyrillas on Politics
My site counter has been spinning a lot in recent weeks. I'm an now up to 3,000,000 Page Views from 573,000 Unique Visitors to Tony Phyrillas on Politics. Thank you to everyone who has visited my blog ... and keep coming back for more. - TP
Drunk Driver Who Killed NFL Player an Illegal Deported Twice
Drunk Driver Who Killed Indianapolis Colts Player a Two-Time Deportee: On early Sunday morning, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson, 26, and his ride-share driver were killed on Indianapolis’s Interstate 70 when a black Ford F-150 driven by a drunk driver rammed into them as they stood on the emergency shoulder. The driver of the truck had a blood-alcohol level that was almost twice the legal limit and was driving without a license. He attempted to flee the scene on foot but was arrested by police. The driver identified himself as 37-year-old Alex Cabrera Gonsales, but that’s an alias. His real name is Manuel Orrego-Savala.
NFL Ratings Decline Continues Into Super Bowl
Thursday, February 01, 2018
FISA Abuse Memo on the Verge of Public Release
FISA Abuse Memo on the Verge of Public Release: After McCabe's departure, is Deputy AG Rosenstein the next to go in surveillance scandal?
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
President Trump Said 'We' 129 Times During Speech
President Trump Said 'We' 129 Times During Speech: President Trump did something in his first State of the Union address that we didn’t see in the eight years Barack Obama was in office. He showed restraint in using the word 'I.' The Daily Caller tabulated that Trump only referred to himself with that term a scant 29 times in the 80-minute speech. Instead, he preferred talking with the constitutional “we,” saying that 129 times. He also used “our” 104 times. Here is an example:
CBS Poll: 75% of Viewers Approve of Trump's SOTU Address
CBS Poll: 75% of Viewers Approve of Trump's SOTU: A CBS News survey reveals that a whopping three out of four viewers approved of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday evening. From the glum looks of the grumpy Democrat leaders in attendance, particularly a black-clad Nancy Pelosi, they were the remaining one in four.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Facebook-Google-Twitter 1984
Facebook-Google-Twitter 1984: How to fight for freedom in the Left’s social media gulag.
The Obama Government’s Secret Societies
The Obama Government’s Secret Societies: Exposing the anti-Trump conspiracy within the DOJ.
Media Dreams Crushed: Oprah Says No to 2020
Media Dreams Crushed: Oprah Says No to 2020: Despite the media’s best efforts to make their agenda-driven dreams come true, Oprah Winfrey won’t be a candidate in 2020. During an interview with InStyle magazine, the media mogul said she isn’t cut out to be president: “I’ve always felt very secure and confident with myself in knowing what I could do and what I could not. And so it’s not something that interests me. I don’t have the DNA for it.”
Monday, January 15, 2018
Illegal Alien Who Threatened to Kill Fellow Bus Passengers Had Been Deported 5 Times
Illegal Alien Who Threatened to Kill Fellow Bus Passengers Had Been Deported 5 Times: In yet another instance of our broken immigration system failing Americans, an illegal alien who allegedly threatened to kill passengers recently on a Greyhound bus and led police on a chase from Wisconsin to Illinois has been revealed to be a multiple-deportee.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Twitter Employees Confirm Shadow Banning Conservatives
Twitter Employees Confirm Shadow Banning Conservatives: It’s the second day of Project Veritas’s undercover exposé on Twitter and James O’Keefe has uncovered more conservative censorship on the social media platform. Appearing in this video are both current and former employees that openly admit to “shadow banning” content that contradicts their own world views.
Teacher's Union One-Percenters Make More than $300K Per Year
Teacher's Union One-Percenters Make More than $300K Per Year: It seems that we are always hearing stories of how teachers aren't paid enough, of teachers going on strike for increased wages, that 'the rich' need to be taxed more so that their income may go to the teachers. Education website The 74 Million found that, while these teachers in the classrooms speak of their financial struggles, their union bosses are some of the richest people in America.
Google Censors Conservative Media Sites
Google Censors Six Conservative Media Sites, Treats Them as “Fake News” By Posting Warnings About Their Content: In a search in the browser Google Chrome, 6 of the top 20 conservative sites had “reviewed claims” showcased in the summary. By contrast, none of the top 20
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
How Hillary’s FBI Allies Undermined Trump Before the Election
How Hillary’s FBI Allies Undermined Trump Before the Election: The swamp’s secrets, lies and media leaks.
Dems Admit They Need Illegals For Their Votes
Dems Admit They Need Illegals For Their Votes: Leaked memo reveals they are fighting to make the DREAMer nightmare permanent.
PROOF: Google Fact-Checks Only Conservative Websites
PROOF: Google Fact-Checks Only Conservative Websites: If you head to Google.com and search for “Truth Revolt,” the results will tell you a little about our website and what we cover. But a new feature Google offers to the side of the page includes a tab for “Reviewed Claims.” This is Google’s new fact-check feature. It looks like this:
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