Turns out Al Gore was full of hot air

A recent government report debunking global warming alarmists hardly received coverage in the mainstream media. This editorial from The (Delaware County) Daily Times struck my attention. It looks like Al Gore needs to return his Oscar because his "documentary" was based on bogus information. Read on:

Global warming may not be as hot a topic

Earlier this month, NASA quietly corrected its list of the warmest years on earth.
It turns out the hottest year on the planet, as reported in Al Gore’s Oscar-winning film "An Inconvenient Truth," was not 1998.

It was 1934.

In fact, after NASA’s recalculating the average U.S. surface-air temperatures for the lower 48 states, four of the Top 10 hottest years occurred in the 1930s, not in the 1990s or this century.

Why did NASA recalculate it previous findings? Was it done under pressure from the Bush administration?

Hardly.

NASA can thank a man named Steve McIntyre, a Canadian climatologist, who thought there was something wrong with NASA’s raw temperature data for some time and ultimately proved it to NASA’s satisfaction. And embarrassment.

What does this mean?

Well, for one thing, it means that those who believe in global warming dangers are going to have to change their scripts when it comes to their pronouncements of the hottest years on record.

It does not mean that global warming isn’t happening or that it is not a serious and important issue.

But it does raise questions and it can serve as a reminder that global-warming science is only as good as the people who perform it.

And, of course, that people, including scientists, make mistakes.

Moreover, scientists are no less likely to fall victim to a herd mentality than are experts in other fields, like journalism for instance.

Recently, Newsweek magazine produced a cover story on the "global-warming denial machine," in which it portrayed climate change skeptics as corrupt and in the pockets of Big Oil and big business.

But there are excellent reasons why America hasn’t adopted the sort of stringent, anti-warming regulations that were proposed by the Kyoto treaty in the 1990s. They are, simply put, too expensive and too ineffective to justify imposing on our (and the world) economy.

To the extent that carbon emissions are creating a greenhouse effect over the planet, there remain honest scientists unsure of just what the long-term effects will be. Again, that does not mean the issue should be ignored. It does not mean we should jump to "sky is falling" conclusions either.

There are excellent national security reasons for us to try to wean ourselves from foreign oil. And there are fine environmental reasons to cut down on our carbon emissions.
We cheer individual and community environmental efforts to cut pollution and energy usage.

But demonizing those who raise questions about the issue and point out how much we don’t know about it is not the best way to win hearts and change minds.

Copyright 2007, The Daily Times, Primos, Pa.

Thorns to student loan agency for handing out excessive bonuses

A couple of Thorns (ouch!) handed out today by The Mercury to PHEAA and to the State Police. Here's the editorial below. I agree 100 percent with both comments:

THORNS to the officials who run Pennsylvania’s student loan agency for another round of exorbitant spending by an agency with a history of wasting money. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, which was widely criticized earlier this year when it was revealed it spent nearly $900,000 for lavish trips and gifts for its administrators, board members and spouses, has awarded more than $500,000 in bonuses to its top executives. The biggest bonus approved by an executive committee of PHEAA’s 20-member board went to PHEAA’s top executive, Richard E. Willey, who will receive $180,857 in addition to his annual salary of $289,118. Bonuses of $113,514 each were awarded to Tim Guenther, executive vice president and chief financial officer; Brian Lecher, executive vice president of information technology and chief information officer; and James Preston, executive vice president of client relations and loan operations. Kelly Powell Logan, executive vice president of public service and marketing, received a $52,436 bonus. Guenther, Lecher and Preston earn annual salaries of $217,757 each; Logan’s is $201,178. PHEAA previously awarded $852,834 in bonuses in the 2005-06 fiscal year to Willey and six executive vice presidents. “Disturbing, to say the least,” is how a spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell greeted the news of the bonuses. “This is another example of the agency’s failure to understand that its mission is to help students pay for college and not to provide further compensation for well-paid executives,” Chuck Ardo said. We agree. While PHEAA, a nonprofit corporation created and largely controlled by the Legislature, finances its operating expenses from its own investments, it receives $500 million a year in state taxpayer money. The lack of oversight by members of the Legislature who make up the PHEAA board is equally disturbing. A major overhaul of the agency and its board is overdue.

THORNS to the Pennsylvania State Police for not considering the impact on the state’s hunters and gun shop owners when the agency decided to shut down the state’s computerized criminal background check system from Sept. 2-6. The state police announced last week that it was planning to suspend the background checks during the Labor Day weekend to upgrade its computer system, a move that would halt gun sales during the first days of dove and Canada geese hunting seasons. Timing appears to be a problem for the state police. The agency failed to respond in a timely manner during the Valentine’s Day ice storm that stranded thousands of motorists on Interstate 78. The state police’s top brass also drew criticism from lawmakers and residents when it decided to close many of its barracks at 5 p.m. in a money-saving move. Shutting down the computer system at the start of hunting season is another example of bad timing on the part of the state police. The computer maintenance could be done later in the fall or winter.

Copyright 2007, The Mercury

The people running PHEAA never learn

For people in the education field, you'd think they would have learned a lesson by now.

Stung earlier this year by the revelation of $900,000 in spending on lavish trips and gifts by PHEAA board members and top executives, you'd think the agency would be on its best behavior. Not so. The Associated Press reports that PHEAA, which provides student loans to Pennsylvania residents, handed out $500,000 in bonuses to its already well-paid executives.

There are efforts under way in the Legislature, spearheaded by state Sen. John Rafferty to provide more oversight over PHEAA. Those measure can't come soon enough.

Eric Epstein, coordinator of the watchdog group, RockTheCapital.org, is offering a 12-step program to reform PHEEA. I second that motion.

Here's Epstein's plan:

Twelve Step Program to Reform the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency

1) No individual indicted or arraigned by state or federal authorities for felonious conduct can continue to serve on the Board. However, Board Members should only be required to take a leave of absence until the matter is resolved. Full resignation from the Board should only be
required in the event of being found guilty of a felony or an offense involving moral turpitude.

2) The Board should be reduced from 20 to nine (9) members. Members of the Board shall serve no more than three consecutive four-year terms and no more than a total of 12 years.

3) The Board should be composed of directors with appropriate skill sets in accounting, community banking, economics, education, finance, marketing, law or statistics. Board members will be eligible for annual compensation and business meeting stipends as well as reimbursement for legitimate expenses in accord with governance protocol and prevailing public service directorship fees. All data related to Board compensation and expenses will be available for public review.

4) Board members should be nominated by the Governor and approved by 37 senators. Unless a vacancy exists on the Board, the Governor shall nominate no more than four Board Members during each four-year term.

5) No current member of the legislative or executive branches of state government should be a eligible to serve as a member of the Board thereby nullifying the claim that Board members "compel the conclusion that the legislative members of PHEAA's board are acting as an arm of the General Assembly when they engage in PHEAA activities." (Richard Wiley, PHEAA, “Final Decision”, June 7, 2006 )

The Executive Director of PHEAA shall not be a member of PHEAA's Board
of Directors.

6) PHEAA's current Board of Directors, together with senior management, should issue a statement acknowledging that PHEAA is not exempt from Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.

7) PHEAA should reimburse the legal costs of the three news organizations that filed Right to Know requests, i.e., the Associated Press, the Patriot-News of Harrisburg and WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh.

8) PHEAA's current Board of Directors, together with senior management, should immediately release all records requested by legitimate news organizations, including all names or other information necessary to a complete understanding of the nature and purpose of all financial transactions, and release the outstanding records requested by the above-named news agencies.

10) PHEAA's Board should issue a statewide request for proposal for bond lawyers and counsel not affiliated with senior management or the Board of Directors or "contractually affiliated" with any cabinet member of the executive branch or any member of the legislative branch of Pennsylvania's government.

11) PHEAA's Board should issue request for proposals for a forensic audit to be conducted by one of the Nationally-recognized "Big Four" accounting firms. an entity not affiliated with senior management or the Board of Directors.

12) PHEAA's Board should accept Richard Willey's resignation, with severance compensation contractually in effect and required as of his last compensation review date, and conduct a statewide search for a qualified Executive Director, not "contractually affiliated" with senior
management or the Board of Directors or "contractually affiliated" with any cabinet member of the executive branch or any member of the legislative branch of Pennsylvania's government.

Below is a list of PHEAA Board members who are ultimately responsible for the financial excesses at the agency. Most of them are current members of the Pennsylvania Legislature, in which case you might want to ask, "What the hell is wrong with people?"

Rep. William F. Adolph, Jr. Chairman Springfield
Senator Sean LoganVice Chairman Monroeville
Rep. Ronald I. Buxton Harrisburg
Senator Jake Corman Bellefonte
Honorable J. Doyle Corman Bellefonte
Rep. Craig A. Dally Nazareth
Senator Jane M. Earll Erie
Senator Vincent J. Fumo Philadelphia
Senator Vincent J. Hughes Philadelphia
Rep. Sandra J. Major Montrose
Rep. Jennifer L. Mann Allentown
Rep. Joseph F. Markosek Monroeville
Senator Michael A. O'Pake Reading
Honorable Roy Reinard Holland
Senator James J. Rhoades Mahanoy City
Rep. James R. Roebuck, Jr. Philadelphia
A. William Schenck III Pittsburgh
Rep. Jess M. Stairs Acme
Senator Robert M. Tomlinson Bensalem
Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak PA Department of Education

Lumber tycoon, 84, divorces 23-year-old wife

I really thought the marriage was going to last. The couple had so much in common.

84 Lumber founder Joe Hardy, who happens to be 84 years old, has filed for divorce from his third wife, 23-year-old Kristin Georgi.

The marriage lasted just four months.

This is big news in Western Pennsylvania, where Hardy, the founder of 84 Lumber, is the closest thing to celebrity this side of Lynn Swann.

According to The Associated Press, it was Hardy who filed a divorce petition Monday in Fayette County, citing "irreconcilable differences."

Maybe it was the nearly six decades in age difference that pulled the honeymooners apart, but then again, the couple looked happy in this April 2007 photo just before they exchanged vows.

Here's some other tidbits from the Associated Press:

Hardy, a flamboyant philanthropist who also serves as a Republican Fayette County Commissioner, celebrated his 84th birthday earlier this year with a party that included entertainers Christina Aguilera, Bette Midler and Robin Williams.

Hardy had five children with his first wife and high school sweetheart, Dorothy, whom he divorced in 1997. He had two daughters with his second wife, Debra, an employee of the lumber company, before divorcing her.

Hardy and Georgi were married May 5 in Las Vegas. Before that, Georgi worked in a salon at Hardy's posh Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa in Farmington.

Hardy's daughter Maggie Hardy Magerko now runs the lumber company.

(Photo credit: Tony Tye/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Another black eye for Pennsylvania State Police?

The Pennsylvania State Police wants to shut down an important part of its computer system over the Labor Day Weekend and possibly into the first week of September.

The problem with taking the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) offline is that nobody in the state will be allowed to buy guns (legally that is) because background checks can't be performed. That includes shotguns and rifles used by the state's many hunters.

Outdoor enthusiasts and gun dealers are up in arms over the planned shutdown and they are letting their elected representatives know about it.

In turn, the politicians are putting pressure on State Police Commissioner Col. Jeffrey Miller to reconsider his decision on the timing of the shutdown.

House Majority leader Bill DeWeese and Rep. Ed Staback, D-50th Dist., who is chairman of Game and Fisheries Committee, sent a letter today to Miller.

Here are some highlights:

"The beginning of September is a bad time to shut down PICS. For hunters, dove season begins at the start of September. Each year, dove season serves as an introduction to the hunting experience for countless new license buyers. Shotgun purchases during this time of year reflect the eagerness that these new hunters enter into their sport. Also, the more experienced hunters seeking to upgrade equipment at the outset of the year's firearm season will be turned away. Whether for dove or the other seasons that closely follow, the beginning of September is an established commencement to the state's hunting year."

And let's not forget about the gun dealers:

"Because of the importance of the first week in September, including the Labor Day weekend, gun retailers historically rely on this period to run promotions to encourage buyers. One large retailer, Bass Pro Shops, uses this time to hold their Fall Hunting Classic. The impact of the unavailability of PICS to Bass Pro Shop, and to the other establishments with whom they compete, is obvious."

The computer upgrade will require that PICS be offline for several days, but DeWeese and Staback argue that Miller could have picked a better time to pull the plug.

"A better span of days can be found by utilizing the extensive records of gun sales during previous years along with a general recognition of the scheduled state firearm hunting seasons. Several suggestions for a better time period for a shutdown have been made in recent days. By working with input from affected interested parties, the plans for PICS can be fulfilled with much less inconvenience to gun buyers and to retailers."

The lawmakers want to meet with Miller ASAP to find a more suitable time to shut down the computer system.

Miller is already in hot water with lawmakers because of the State Police's mishandling of the Valentine's Day ice storm on Interstate 78. He needs all the friends he can get in the Legislature.

Lawmakers also took Col. Miller to the woodshed when he proposed closing many state police barracks after 5 p.m.

Better clear your schedule, colonel, and set up a meeting with DeWeese and Staback pronto. You don't want to piss off the people who decide how much money your agency gets next year.

Would you rather pay or receive interest?

One of my favorite letter writers, Bill McIntyre of Camp Hill, sent this missive today. Food for thought.

Interest – Pay or Receive?

There has been much recent discussion concerning increasing tolls of the PA Turnpike and tolling I80 for improving our roads and bridges. Tolls are a hidden tax. When we tax transportation; the costs are passed along to the consumers in higher prices. Companies don’t pay taxes. We do!

We’re at a crossroads in Pennsylvania (seems like we’re always at a crossroads here). The governor and legislature recently passed a budget without much serious thought and foresight. In it, they elected to issue bonds for immediate cash. We will be paying millions in interest for years on these bonds.

Why not receive interest. The longer I considered our governor’s proposal to lease the Turnpike, the more convinced I became it is the way to go. Why? Our state budget and recent developments have convinced me that government alone, especially our government, does not have the answers.

Gov. Edward G. Rendell recently said as much on CNBC when he stated that private investment is needed to prevent disasters like the Minnesota bridge collapse. He also stated that by leasing the Turnpike, the state could expect to receive $500M more than the budget would provide.

P3s (Public-Private Partnerships) are the answer. A private company wouldn’t need A-Manager-A-Mile ; but would need road crews and toll collectors who actually do the work. Just think; I80 remains toll-free as it was born-free and should remain that way.

For additional information – go to: www.CommonwealthFoundation.org and type in Turnpike.

BILL McINTYRE
Camp Hill

Property Tax Circus Coming To Your Town

House Democrats have come up with another scheme they are billing as property tax relief. Pennsylvania lawmakers have embarked on a statewide tour to promote the latest plan to partially reduce property taxes by increasing other taxes.

This one is called House Bill 1600. If the plan sounds familiar, it's because it's another bait-and-switch scheme the Legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell have cooked up. It sounds like another half-measure similar to Rendell's slots bill of 2004 or Act 72 of 2005 or Act 1 of 2006, House Bill 1600 is more smoke and mirrors. Another carnival shell game.

This is not the property tax elimination promised by the Commonwealth Caucus Plan, which was last voted on by the House two years. The plan was supported by 64 Republicans and 10 Democrats, but was rejected by the majority of the Democratic Caucus. Supporters want to resurrect a modified version of the Commonwealth Caucus Plan this fall (now called the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007), but not if House Bill 1600 gets any traction.

The two leading state taxpayer groups advocating elimination of property taxes in Pennsylvania have already rendered a verdict on the Democrats' version of tax relief. It's thumbs down on House Bill 1600 from both the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayers Associations and S.T.O.P. (Stop Taxing Our Properties).

Both groups warn that this is nothing but another half-measure by politicians who want to fool taxpayers with another Band-Aid approach to tax reform.

Here's what Bob Logue of S.T.O.P had to say:

"They’re at it again. Some legislators, led by Rep. Dave Levdansky, D-Allegheny County, have repackaged the same old property tax scam voters have rejected three times. House Bill 1600 would: Temporarily reduce school property taxes while permanently increasing sales/use taxes and the state income tax. Because there is nothing in this legislation that would prevent school taxes from increasing again, you would eventually be paying higher property taxes again along with the higher income and sales taxes."

S.T.O.P. is urging Pennsylvania residents to contact their state legislators and tell them you want him or her to oppose House Bill 1600.

"Tell them the only true property tax reform is total abolishment of all property taxes and assessments/reassessments on primary residences," Logue said. "The S.T.O.P. plan is complete, proven workable by the legislative budget and finance committee, and permanent. The S.T.O.P. plan kills property taxes on primary residences … period."

Read more about plan at http://www.grandoldusa.com/

Here's what David Baldinger of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations said about House Bill 1600: "Pennsylvania taxpayers won't accept another feeble attempt at property tax reform by the Pennsylvania Legislature. Like Act 1 and its predecessors, Act 72 and 50, HB 1600 would offer only token reductions in property taxes while opening up new avenues to tax Pennsylvania citizens without addressing the cause of the current crisis."

Representatives of the PCTA's 21 member taxpayer groups from across Pennsylvania met in Chester County over the weekend to unanimously condemn House Bill 1600 and to endorse the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007.

"Since school property taxes are not eliminated under HB 1600, they will continue to escalate leaving the taxpayer with the same burdensome property tax plus new taxes under HB 1600, without addressing the cost of education, the property tax crisis, or the issue of equitable funding for public schools," Baldinger said.

Members of various taxpayer groups plan to attend hearings across the state by House Democrats to speak against HB 1600.

The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. in the Oley Fair Center, 26 Jefferson St., Oley. Berks, Chester and Montgomery residents are urged to attend the meeting and voice their opposition to House Bill 1600 and support for the Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007.

For more information, visit the PCTA Web site at http://www.ptcc.us/

For all the talk state lawmakers have given us so far this year about reform, the No. 1 reform Pennsylvania taxpayers want to see — elimination of property taxes — has yet to be considered by the Legislature.

It's time to put pressure on your lawmaker, especially the ones who ran on a reform platform in 2006, to bring the Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 up for a vote. Let's see where lawmakers stand on genuine property tax reform.

(A big thanks to Vicki Rhodier for this timely cartoon)

Indicted judge took my advice

The political shelf life of Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Michael T. Joyce expired in less than five days.

Judge Joyce announced his retirement Monday, the same day his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Joyce to a federal indictment charging the judge with bilking insurance companies for $440,000.

The retirement came just five days after federal prosecutors announced the charges and three days after Joyce vowed to stay in the race to win retention to another 10-year term on the state's second highest court.

In a matter of days, the Erie Republican went from respected jurist to legal pariah. A federal indictment will do that to you. Joyce was suspended Friday by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, but the suspension was with pay ($165,000 a year) and did not preclude him from running for re-election.

As I mentioned in my weekend posting, Joyce needed to step down immediately. The indictment alone, regardless of whether he's found guilty, sealed his fate. Terms like mail fraud and money laundering don't play well in election campaigns.

Both political parties will now nominate candidates to battle for Joyce's seat on the bench.

The criminal case against Joyce stems from an August 2001 traffic accident that he said left him in such pain that he was unable to exercise or play golf for more than a year, The Associated Press reported. Prosecutors say the judge's car was rear-ended by another vehicle at about 5 mph, and that he faked his injuries to cash in on the insurance money, the AP said.

The indictment says Joyce was playing 18-hole rounds on courses as far away as Jamaica, going scuba diving and inline skating, and working out at a local gym, according to the AP. Joyce used the insurance money to buy a motorcycle and make down payments on a house and plane, the indictment alleges, according to the wire service.

One pissed-off constituent

I come across a lot of letters from irate constituents, but this one from today's edition of The Mercury takes the cake. I don't think state Rep. Tim Hennessey, R-Chester County, can count on this guy's vote in 2008. Hennessey, who has represented the 26th House District since 1993, was born under a lucky star. Hennessey has done little to distinguish himself in the past 14 years and has a terrible voting record but the district is heavily Republican and nobody has been willing to challenge Hennessey in the GOP primary. That's Hennessey on the right, who may not be smiling next year if voters are given a choice on the ballot. Here's the letter:

Stuck with a lousy legislator

I write as a lifelong Republican. Like many of my fellow citizens in this Commonwealth, I have become disenchanted with our state government.

Through the pay raise debacle, ethics scandals, an obese legislature responsible to no one, a bureaucracy run by has beens, wannabees, and never-will-be's, the I-80 fiasco and the continuing rape of the populous through outdated, burdensome property tax reminiscent of medieval Europe, I have tried to keep the faith and hope for some one good and decent in our general assembly.

Sadly, I just checked the National Weather Service's Web site and the forecast for Hell is — still hot!

I have been having a problem with a state agency as of late. I contacted my so-called state Rep Tim Hennessey’s office for assistance. The phone number to his district office in Coatesville goes straight to voicemail. A voicemail that is not checked. After calling for six weeks to the district office and his office in Harrisburg I finally got someone on the phone.

I tried to explain my problem. She cut me off. Then she proceeded to ridicule me and told me to (putting it nicely) “bugger” myself. Then she hung up the phone.

I find it very sad that Tim Hennessey has to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find someone as incompetent and ignorant as his staff members. Then again, for someone like Tim Hennessey who wins elections by default, has a no-show job in the general assembly, and has not worked for the people in his district since Moses was floating down the Nile, what is one to expect?

Competence in state government. The rule of law in the Commonwealth. The right to know about what actually happens in Harrisburg. A freedom of information law like every other state in the union. Not in Pennsylvania, babe! We have a state government that would make Joseph Stalin blush. This Commonwealth has closed the windows and locked the doors to her people.

The old state motto of “Virtue, Liberty and Independence” has been replaced by “Vicious, Lethal and Dependent on a corrupt system.”

Tim Hennessey has not been challenged for his state representative seat for some time now. He is like a member of the old Soviet Politburo. Answerable to the feudal lords, not the serfs. He will not swear off his pension, his perks, or his pay. He has not joined the fight to downsize the legislature because he needs to protect his job at all costs. He refuses to eliminate property taxes. He refuses to stop the brain drain. He refuses to help Pennsylvania’s small businesses grow without burdensome government regulations. He refuses to control spending and cut taxes. He refuses to work for us. Voters be damned.

He will not voluntarily step aside to permit the great intention our nation’s founders had for the states, general assemblies ruled by citizen legislators, to be viable in Pennsylvania. By choice or by force of the voters, Tim Hennessey has to leave Harrisburg. Tim Hennessey has to be challenged in 2008. The people of this Commonwealth deserve better!

BRYAN J. SHINE
Spring City

Ed Rendell's Fuzzy Math

There's a fascinating analysis on The Allegheny Institutes' Web site about how Gov. Ed Rendell's administration routinely spins employment numbers to make it look like Pennsylvania's job climate is improving.

"Extravagant Gubernatorial Jobs Hype" by Dr. Jake Haulk, president of The Allegheny Institute, makes the case that Rendell routinely fudges employment numbers to show growth when Pennsylvania is losing thousands of good-paying jobs because of high taxes and oppressive government regulations.

Haulk debunks three assertions Rendell makes in a recent press release touting "Pennsylvania's Economy Continues to Outperform Nation."

"Each of these assertions is so easily debunked, it is almost embarrassing to do it," Haulk states in his policy brief. "However, since this was an official statement and some may find its assertions credible, debunking is necessary."

By the way, the caption under the photo to the right could read, "Only about this much of what I say is true."

Read Haulk's full report at http://alleghenyinstitute.org/

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy bills itself as the "nation's first think tank devoted exclusively to bringing free-market solutions to local government."

Similar findings about Rendell's jobs shell game have been reported by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association at http://www.pamanufacturers.org/ and The Commonwealth Foundation at http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/ and The Lincoln Institute at http://www.lincolninstitute.org/

Who do you believe? Ed Rendell, who has repeatedly lied to Pennsylvania residents about property tax relief or the leading independent public policy research groups in the state? I think I'll go with The Allegheny Institute and the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association and the Commonwealth Foundation and the Lincoln Institute on this one.

(Photo Credit: Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

Influence-buying and lobbyists in Pennsylvania

This editorial was published Sunday in The Mercury. It sums up the need for campaign finance reform and open government in Pennsylvania, where lobbyists control Harrisburg. Politicians won't act on these important reforms unless the people demand it. Where does your legislator stand? How money has your legislator accepted from lobbyists? You need to know these things before the 2008 legislative elections. Here's the editorial:

Campaign finance reforms separate money and influence

"You change how we raise money ... you will fundamentally change the entire legislative process."

Rep. David Levdansky, an Allegheny County Democrat, told a House panel this week that his bill for campaign finance reform is an attempt to change influence-buying and lobbyist pressures in Harrisburg that are at the core of criticisms of this state’s legislature.

Calling campaign finance reform "the mother of all reforms," he said that changing the way political campaigns are funded is a critical step toward renewing the public's trust in state government.

"You change how we raise money ... you will fundamentally change the entire legislative process," he told the panel.

Levdansky is not the only lawmaker pushing for finance reform in the wake of public scandals and legislative missteps that have shaken voters’ confidence in state government.

Levdansky, one of at least three lawmakers sponsoring bills to impose stricter limits on campaign fundraising and spending, acknowledged that change has been a tough sell over the last 20 years, mainly because leaders of both parties were satisfied with the current system.

Legislative leaders like state Sen. Vincent Fumo -- the Philadelphia Democrat under federal indictment for fraud and tax evasion -- have built a career on their ability to raise and leverage campaign contributions for themselves and others.

Placing limits on campaign contributions erodes the power that well-connected lawmakers, including Gov. Ed Rendell, hold in swaying those around them for support on issues.

Candidates need money to wage campaigns, and as the need for that money grows, so grows the importance to a candidate of campaign contributions.

But with momentum building to make state government more open and accountable to the public, the movement to reform campaign finance rules has also grown. At least four bills have been introduced in the House this year and a proposal has ben floated by the governor. They call for widely differing limits on contributions.

The contribution limits proposed under Levdansky's bill would range from $200 per election from individuals to candidates for the Legislature, county judgeships and local offices to $20,000 per year from an individual or political action committee to a state party committee.

Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, is proposing to limit contributions to $2,300 per individual and $5,000 per political action committee for candidates in all state and local races.

Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, has proposed public financing of races for governor and lieutenant governor and fundraising and spending limits on candidates who accept public money. His bill is modeled after a New Jersey law that instituted public financing in 1977 for gubernatorial candidates who adhere to spending limits.

Vitali said public financing would lessen the influence of special interest groups in elections and encourage more people to run for public office. Under his bill, the public dollars would come from the state budget and a $5 contribution made through a checkoff box on state income tax returns.

"We do want races to be about ideas, not about who can raise the most money," Vitali said.

Rendell has proposed a $5,000 contribution limit for individuals and political action committees for statewide offices and big-city executive contests. A $2,000 limit would apply to all other races, including those for seats in the Legislature.

The Vitali proposal offers the most potential to make a real difference. It would remove power from special interest groups and open up elections to people who are not prepared to forfeit their life savings or sell their integrity just to buy a few TV ads.

But the Vitali proposal also is the most radical, and we have seen how radical reforms fare in Pennsylvania (abolish the property tax, include legislative records in open records laws, etc.).

As Levdansky said, these proposals are not just about setting a limit on how much money a candidate can raise. They are aimed at reforming the system, top to bottom, but taking money out of the power equation.

Quite simply, it's about time.

Copyright 2007, The Mercury

Indicted judge has more time to campaign

Good news and bad news for Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Michael T. Joyce, indicted earlier this week on federal charges of bilking insurance companies out of $440,000.

The state Supreme Court announced Friday it was suspending Joyce with pay "to protect and preserve the integrity of the Unified Judicial System and the administration of justice for the citizens of this Commonwealth."

That's the good news. With his case load cleared and a steady paycheck coming in, Joyce can now concentrate full time on his re-election campaign.

Joyce may continue this campaign because his suspension is an administrative action that does not affect his employment as a judge, Pennsylvania State Department Spokeswoman Catherine Ennis told The Associated Press Friday. "He's not technically out of office," Ennis said.

Joyce, a Republican from Erie who was elected to the state Superior Court in 1997, is seeking retention to another 10-year term on the court.

While an indictment is not proof of guilt, the feds don't usually indict people on a whim (not counting Scooter Libby, of course).

The bad news, of course, is that people now know who Joyce is. Retention elections are automatic unless somebody knows your name and they have a reason to vote against you. See Russell Nigro, who lost his retention bid to the state Supreme Court in 2005 because voters wanted to punish somebody for the legislative pay grab.

Voters will remember Joyce as the indicted judge and will vote "No" on his retention in November. That is unless Joyce wises up and quits the race before we get to November. That would be decent thing to do. He should be more concerned with clearing his name than winning an election.

The biggest ham in Pennsylvania

They say any publicity is good publicity, but Gov. Ed Rendell may be proving that maxim wrong.

Gov. Rendell (he's the one on the right) is pictured here with Smiley the Hatfield Pig during the third annual "Grillin' with the Guv" event Friday at the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

I'm not sure if Smiley is giving Rendell political advice or the governor is attempting to plant a smooch on the Hatfield mascot.

It's hard to say how some traditions get started, but this one will hopefully end when Rendell leaves Harrisburg in 2008 (if Hillary Clinton is elected president) or 2010, when Pennsylvania elects a new governor.

Rendell spent a few minutes in the blazing heat Friday grilling hot dogs for anyone who passes by. With the Pennsylvania Legislature on vacation until mid-September and many state workers using up vacation time, there weren't many takers, even if the hot dogs were free.

In fairness to the folks at Hatfield, the event is a fundraiser with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club of Central Pennsylvania. Hatfield contributes $1 for each hot dog served. The company also donates cases of hot dogs to homeless shelters.

(The photo was released by The Associated Press. It was taken by Sean Simmers of the The Patriot News)

Looking at the bright side of 258 murders

Eight more people were shot in Philadelphia Wednesday. Two of them died. That brings the murder total to 258 for the year in the City of Brotherly Love.

That's up from the 244 people murdered by the same date in 2006, but there is a bright side to all this carnage.

The ray of sunshine comes from none other than the city's beleaguered police commissioner, Sylvester Johnson.

In an interview with the Philadelphia Daily News, Johnson said overall shootings are down by 121 compared to the same time last year. Violent crime has also dropped 9 percent from last year, according to Johnson.

Now that's what we want to hear from the city's top law enforcement official.

The police commissioner blamed the violence on the "availability of guns," The Daily News reports.

Now let me see if I get this straight. There are fewer shootings, but more people turning up dead. Sounds to me like the thugs who are doing the shooting have improved their aim since last year. Pardon me if I don't see the bright side here, commissioner.

There are 138 days left in the year (and we're 138 days closer to Johnson's retirement). Unfortunately, if the trend continues, another 138 people will be shot to death in Philadelphia this year.

Mayor John Street, the Philadelphia City Council, Gov. Ed Rendell and the members of the Philadelphia delegation in the state Legislature could not be reached for comment. All are vacationing somewhere where it's safe ... somewhere away from Philadelphia.

To read more about the latest deadly day in Philadelphia, check out "More Gunfire" in the Daily News.

A new GOP blogger in Pennsylvania

The lefty bloggers who dominate the Internet aren't going to like this one bit, but there's a new Republican blogger in town. Actually it's not just in town, but all over Pennsylvania. And the new GOP blogger is none other than Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr.

As part of a long overdue redisign of the Pennsylvania Republican Party's Web site, Chairman Gleason is joining the blogosphere.

Gleason's new blog is one of several interactive features at www.pagop.org

"Blogs have become an essential means of communication in modern day politics, and our party realizes the importance of having an online forum to promote our stance on the issues that effect Pennsylvanians every day," Gleason said in a press release. "I look forward to using our newly launched Chairman's blog to carry on a more personal dialogue concerning the issues of the day with Pennsylvania's Republican voters."

Judging on how poorly the Republican Party has done in Pennsylvania in recent years, Gleason better do more than carry on a "personal dialogue" with voters.

Gleason's first posting is about the loss of manufacturing jobs under Gov. Ed Rendell. Pennsylvania has lost 12,000 manufacturing jobs and 300 plants have closed down, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association cited by Gleason..

In addition to the Chairman's Blog, the new-and-improved PAGOP.org Web site also features a news blog that will include daily posts on the important issues of the day from across the state.

"Our goal is to provide links to the latest legislative news from Washington and Harrisburg, while providing commentary on how the Party sees these specific measures affecting their everyday lives," said Michael Barley, Republican Party of Pennsylvania communications director. "The PAGOP.org blog allows the Party to better articulate our message to our Republican committee members and grassroots volunteers in a timely manner. This tool will prove to be an indispensable resource."

PAGOP.org also includes links to our GOP candidates' Web sites, political blogs, the Pennsylvania Department of State, and statewide newspapers, television and radio stations. An online store with various GOP merchandise is also set to come online in the coming weeks, Barley said.

Only in Pennsylvania: Indicted judge seeks reelection

Merit selection of judges versus direct election by voters? That's been debated for years. Does it really matter? This is Pennsylvania. Where else but the Keystone State would a judge indicted for insurance fraud run for reelection?

According to The Associated Press, Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Michael Thomas Joyce of Erie vows to continue his bid for a second 10-year term despite a federal indictment.

The indictment alleges Joyce of bilking insurance companies out of $440,000 in fraudulent claims after a traffic accident, the AP reports.

Joyce is not legally required to step down because the charges do not directly involve his court-related duties, Joseph A. Massa Jr., chief counsel for the state Judicial Conduct Board, told The Associated Press.

The Judicial Conduct Board investigates and prosecutes charges of misconduct by judges, according to the AP.

While Joyce is innocent until proven guilty, voters can make up their own mind about the judge's fitness to continue on the bench on Nov. 6. That's when voters get to cast a "Yes" or "No" vote to allow Joyce to continue on the court for another 10 years at an annual salary of $165,000.

Having an elected official (a judge no less) under indictment is nothing new in Pennsylvania, which rivals Louisiana for political corruption.

After all, this is Pennsylvania, where state Sen. Vincent Fumo, D-Philadelphia, faces a 139-count federal indictment for conspiracy, fraud, obstruction of justice and filing false income tax

Fumo continues to wield enormous influence in the state Senate and plans to seek re-election in 2008, when his trial is expected to start.

This is Pennsylvania, where elected officials are routinely convicted of corruption. See Philadelphia, where "pay to play" is on the official city seal.

Now you know why judicial races are so important. If we can't trust the integrity of our judges, where does that leave us? To learn more about the November races for statewide judicial office, I recommend going to: http://www.democracyrisingpa.com/ and clicking on the "Justice On Trial" button.

Reading mayoral candidate hurt in fall

Keith R. Stamm, president of the Reading School Board, and the Republican candidate for mayor of Reading, is recovering from serious injuries sustained in work-related fall.

Stamm was admitted to the intensive care at Reading Hospital on Monday after a work-related accident, according to his hometown newspaper.

A hospital spokeswoman told the Reading Eagle on Monday that Stamm, who was injured Friday, was in listed in fair condition.

Details of the accident are sketchy, but Stamm, a real estate agent, fell from a "significant height" at an undisclosed location, the newspaper reported.

Stamm suffered two broken shoulders and several broken ribs, Reading School Superintendent Thomas D. Chapman Jr. told the newspaper.

Stamm, who blogs at http://keithstamm.blogspot.com/ hasn't posted anything on his site since August 7.

I don't know Keith Stamm personally, but I've read some of his blog postings and read many articles about his campaign for school board and mayor. He's a breath of fresh air in the stale atmosphere of one-party rule and cronyism in Reading.

The timing of the accident is bad because I'm sure Stamm will need lots of time to recover and that will limit his ability to campaign time as we approach the November election.

Stamm is offering the residents of Reading a qualified alternative to the current do-nothing mayor.

But politics will have to take a backseat to Stamm's health. My best wishes to Keith Stamm for a full and speedy recovery.

Conservative bloggers in Philadelphia

Found them. Not just one, not just two, but three conservative bloggers based in Philadelphia.

I received an e-mail last week from a Philadelphia resident who might be the last conservative holdout in the city. He asked for help in locating any conservative bloggers who write about the city.

I have good news for my conservative friend in Philly. He is not alone.

I would like to steer him to the following bloggers for alternative views from the 1,000 liberal bloggers (my estimate) based in the city.

Try visiting http://www.saysuncle.com/ and http://sharpshooters.blogspot.com/ and http://firstinengine.blogspot.com/

If anyone knows of any other bloggers in Philly who don't lean to the left, please let me know so I can help publicize them.

Republican official accused of intimidating Green Party candidate

Interesting story today in the Reading Eagle on allegations that a Berks County official went out of his way to prevent a Green Party candidate from getting on the ballot for the fall election.

Here's the link to the story about Berks County Clerk of the Courts James Troutman's attempt to "intimidate" Green Party candidate Jessica L. Ashman, who wants to run against Troutman: http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=54886

Troutman, a Republican, should not be involved in determining who is eligible to run for office, especially a potential challenger for the office Troutman now holds. This is the problem with the two-party monopoly in this state.

You can also make an argument for abolishing county row offices in Pennsylvania. These people should be professionals running specific departments, not politicians who are looking out for themselves.

To learn more about the struggle of third parties to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania, go to the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition Web site at www.paballotaccess.org

You can also check out my November 2006 posting, "Hidden Voices Must Be Heard" at http://tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com/2006/11/hidden-voices-must-be-heard.html

How safe are Pennsylvania bridges?

After initially claiming information about the condition of Pennsylvania bridges was a state secret, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has released safety ratings of 54 steel deck bridges located in the state.

PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler announced Tuesday that both the "sufficiency" and "condition" ratings for the 54 bridges similar in design to the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota have been posted at www.dot.state.pa.us

"This list represents the first step toward providing additional data about Pennsylvania's 25,000 state maintained bridges, " Biehler said in a statement. "In the coming weeks, we will add the data for the rest of our large bridge inventory."

Pennsylvania ranks No. 1 in the nation in structurally deficient bridges.

Pennsylvania has nearly 6,000 crumbling bridges, according to the state. Basically, one of out every four bridges in the state is considered structurally deficient, meaning they are in need of some level of repair.

Approximately 800 bridges have weight or lane restrictions and 54 are closed, according to Biehler.

PennDOT's Web posting contains a glossary of terms used in bridge charts, a drawing of a steel truss bridge with components identified and the chart with individual bridge information, including the sufficiency rating and three condition ratings numbers, according to Biehler.

"Our bridge engineers use these numbers to manage our system and help us decide on prioritizing bridge needs," Biehler said. "The numbers should not be viewed as a measure of whether a bridge is safe or not. If a bridge is open, it is safe for travel."

That's probably what transportation officials in Minnesota said about their interstate bridge before it collapsed Aug. 1.

The truth is the Rendell administration has diverted money for road and bridge repairs to subsidize failing mass transit systems over the past five years. Bridges and roads don't vote. But the high-paid union workers who drive buses, trolleys and trains and the politically-connected officials who run the bloated mass transit systems do vote -- and contribute generously to politicians.

Keep your fingers crossed, or better yet, say a prayer, next time you cross a bridge in Pennsylvania.

I'm sure Biehler doesn't want to be known as the man who ran PennDOT when a bridge collapsed, but this is the same man in charge in February when thousands of motorists were stranded on Interstate 78 during an ice storm.

Biehler says his people are doing extra inspections of the 28 steel deck truss bridges PennDOT owns that are similar in design to the Interstate 35 bridge that collapsed in Minnesota. PennDOT has also asked the owners of the 26 other steel deck truss bridges in the state to inspect them right away.

All state-owned bridges are inspected every two years and more frequently if a bridge has serious deterioration, Biehler said.

And all the talk about raising the gas tax to provide more money for bridge and road repairs is a smoke-screen. There's plenty of money coming in from the state and national gas tax. The problem is that politicians use the money for pork projects instead of maintenance. Giving them more money to waste is not the answer.

In 2006, PennDOT spent $558 million on bridge projects. But the state poured nearly $1 billion to subsidize inefficient mass transit systems.

The much-ballyhooed plan to toll Interstate 80, which may not happen if two Pennsylvania congressmen have their way, would provide an additional $532 million per year over the next 10 years to repair roads and bridges, according to Biehler.

I'm not doubting Biehler's sincerity, but I know how government works. Politicians have a bad habit of diverting money from needed maintenance work to more high-profile projects that will help them get elected. I'm sure it's the same everywhere, including Minnesota.

Why Cyprus matters for the United States

A guest column today to commemorate the 33rd summer since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Despite repeated U.N. resolutions calling for Turkey to end its illegal occupation of Cyprus, Turkey continues to violate international law.

Cyprus: An Important Partner for U.S. Strategic Interests in the Region

Why is Cyprus an important and reliable partner for U.S. strategic interests in the region? The answer begins with location, location and location. Cyprus, an island in the Eastern Mediterranean, is 125 plus miles from Lebanon, 100 plus miles to Israel, 250 plus miles to Egypt and 40 miles to Turkey.

Cyprus is a stationary aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus has three airfields including the British RAF Akrotiri airfield in the so-called “British Sovereign Areas” which is Cyprus territory. The other two airfields are at Larnaca on the east side of Cyprus and at Paphos on the western end of the island.

The RAF Akrotiri airbase was used by the U.S. in 1991 in Operation Desert Storm against Iraq when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, and again in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and up to the present time.

Cyprus has two deep water harbors capable of accommodating the largest U.S. aircraft carriers and amphibious ships.

The listening posts in the Troodos Mountains are the finest in the entire region and cover not only the Middle East but also Russia. During the Cold War these listening posts provided needed information on the Soviet Union's nuclear activities and other military information and for verifying past or possible future Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) agreements. They remain most important today for U.S. interests. There are listening posts also in the British base areas.

During both the 1991 and 2003 Gulf wars with Iraq, the Cyprus government authorized military overflights which were very important to U.S. efforts.

Cyprus lies adjacent to the commercial shipping lanes in the Eastern Mediterranean including energy shipments through the Suez Canal.

The U.S. Embassy in Cyprus has major responsibilities in the region, beyond representing the U.S. in Cyprus, because of the strategic location of Cyprus.

Cyprus is a major staging area for the region.

Cyprus is a major logistics hub for the region with a modern highway system connecting key cities and transportation nodes.

Cyprus' government and business leaders understanding of and close ties with the people and the governments in the Middle East and North Africa are of value for U.S. interests and could be of substantially more value.

Most important is the fact that the Greek Cypriots are a European people and strongly pro-West, pro-Europe and yes, pro-American. They may not agree on some of our policies- such as the double standard on the rule of law for Turkey and the appeasement of Turkey- but they are still pro-American.

Cyprus played a critical role in July 2006 in the evacuation of 15,000 Americans from Lebanon after the start of the Lebanon War of 2006. On July 12, 2006, Hezbollah paramilitary forces in Lebanon fired rockets and mortars at Israeli border villages. Another Hezbollah group crossed into Israel, killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others as hostages.

Israel responded swiftly and massively with airstrikes and artillery fire against targets throughout Lebanon which caused substantial damage to civilian infrastructures including Lebanon's key airport, the Rafic Hariri International Airport at Beirut. In effect Lebanon had been isolated from the rest of the world by the Israeli forces.

The U.S. Ambassador in Beirut requested the U.S. Defense Department's assistance in the evacuation of 15,000 American citizens. The government of Cyprus and the people of free Cyprus, under the leadership of President Tassos Papadopoulos, played an essential part in the evacuation of upwards of 40,000 tourists from Lebanon including 15,000 Americans.

U.S. Navy Commander Peter Stamatopoulos who commanded a key U.S. unit on Cyprus coordinating the evacuation for the U.S. Navy stated:

“We were very fortunate to have had the Republic of Cyprus open her arms to our country and citizens. A gargantuan effort was exerted by Cypriots in helping Americans entering Cyprus from Lebanon on their return home. This small island in the peak of the tourist season opened its seas, homes and hearts to nearly 15,000 U.S. citizens in need.” (Emphasis in original.)

Cyprus could play an even more helpful role for U.S. interests in spreading democracy and the rule of law in the region when Turkey’s 43,000 illegal military forces and 160,000 illegal settlers/colonists are removed from the island and the Turkish barbed wire fence across the face of Cyprus is removed and the country reunified.

Turkey's military is the main obstacle to reunification of Cyprus. The ruling AK party in Turkey won a substantial victory in the elections on July 22, 2007 over the military backed party and other parties. Now let us see whether AK will take steps to achieve a just and workable settlement of the Cyprus problem.

In its own interests the U.S. should apply adequate diplomatic, political and economic pressure on Turkey to get out of Cyprus and let the Greek and Turkish Cypriots negotiate a just and workable constitution.

Call and write to President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ask them to apply such pressure to the aggressor and occupier, Turkey, to get out of Cyprus in the interests of the U.S.

###

Gene Rossides is president of the American Hellenic Institute in Washington, D.C. For more information on the Cyprus issue or other Greek-American issues, visit the group's Web site at: http://www.ahiworld.org

Selling Philadelphia sounds good to them

Readers liked my idea of selling the City of Philadelphia to rid the state of most of its financial problems. Here's some recent reader comments:

Good Morning, Tony,
Congratulations on another home run!!! You just keep hitting them.
I doubt that there would be any bidders.
Donna

Hi, again. Your column is right on the money, sell phila is a great idea, even give it away. I have been saying for some time we should annex phila to camden, it would be a good fit. Chet

Tony, that was a great article !! You hit the nail on the head with that view. "Fast Eddie" should stick to talking about the SmeeEagles on comcast and the Philly pols should magically disappear. Then the State would be in the Top 3 places to live .... Jerry

Hi Tony,
Today's article had to be one of your best!!! We also call Rendell the Governor of Phila. We also call him the party planner with all the social things he creates, new stadiums, casinos. Guess nothing will be done about taxes ever. I have a cousin who's husband passed away 2 years ago (both on social security) she may have to sell her home of 45 years because she no longer has his extra money coming in. Sad, when these liars in both state and local govts. have everything handed to them. Have a good day. Keep up the good work.

Hi Tony,
I just read your article, Hmmmmmmmmmmm great idea. And then glanced at the cartoon right next to it, "Major Credit Cards Only" and couldn't stop laughing. It almost seemed as though that was the fitting conclusion to your article, as we don't want to take credit (of any kind) for the sale of Philly.
PJ

Any conservatives left in Philadelphia?

Found him. The one conservative left in Philadelphia has been identified.

Actually, I got an e-mail the other day from a Philadelphia resident who wanted to know if I knew of any conservative bloggers who concentrated on Philadelphia. Good luck with that one. The Phillies have a better chance of winning the World Series.

I can list 20 liberal bloggers from Philly off the top of my head, but I can't think of one conservative. Anybody come across one?

My conservative friend in Philadelphia (and I) would appreciate it.

And this guy has a great sense of humor, too:

"I am a resident of the City of BrotherlyLove, and I have a few conservative friends (we meet in secret locations after midnight), but whenever I turn to the internet, most of the material there is so far left it's in danger of floating into space. Either that or it's the Philadelphia Newspaper bloggers whoact like regular guy, Joe Sixpack-types, but are anything but," according to the writer.

Paying off your share of government

Cost of Government Day - n. the date of the calendar year, counting from January 1, on which the average American has earned enough in cumulative gross income to pay for his or her share of government spending (total federal, state, and local) plus the cost of regulation.

-- Americans For Tax Reform Web site

Working hard this summer? Keep at it for a few more days. The government needs to take more of your paycheck.

The Cost of Government Day arrived on July 11 this year. That's two more days than you had to work in 2006 to pay off your debts to government at local, county, state and national levels.

It's not tax hikes that pushed the day back this year. The Democrats in Congress haven't been able to pass their planned tax hikes yet. And Pennsylvania politicians are boasting they approved a $27.2 billion general fund budget without tax increases. (That doesn't include toll hikes on roads or other government fees, not to mention government borrowing, which is a hidden tax).

The reason you have to work two days more this year to pay your share of government is the high levels of spending by the federal government, according to Americans For Tax Reform (ATR), which recently released its annual Cost of Government Day report.

You can read the full report at http://www.atr.org/national/cogd/index.html

"Right now, taxpayers are under attack from Congress," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans For Tax Reform. "With tax increases on everything from cigarettes to private equity on the table, this year's Cost of Government Day must spur politicians into action to protect taxpayers and the economic growth achieved under President Bush's tax cuts."

Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases.

With Congress in control of the Democrats and the prospect of a Democratic president next year, hold on to your wallets. Remember the recession Jimmy Carter led us into? How about the Clinton/Gore recession after the last Democratic administration?

A couple of other notes for Pennsylvania residents from Americans For Tax Reform.

The average Pennsylvania taxpayer had to work 189 days, or until July 8, 2007, to pay off his or her share of government spending this year, according to ATR.

Also, taxes in Pennsylvania have increased by a cumulative $1,030,600,000 from Fiscal Year 2002 to FY 2009.

Remember that next time Gov. Ed Rendell does one of his song-and-dance routines about cutting taxes. Taxes have risen every year Rendell has been in office.

The photogenic mayor of Reading

Some of you thought I was exaggerating about the publicity-seeking mayor of Reading in a recent post about his opponent, Keith Stamm.

I picked up a copy of the Reading Eagle over the weekend and saw an article about a deli owner in business at the same location for 40 or 50 years in business (I forgot the exact number). The story was a typical feature about a well-known community member. Nothing unusual here.

What struck me as odd was the photo that accompanied the article. The only customer in the deli at the time the photo was taken was none other than Mayor Tom McMahon.

What are the odds that the mayor of Reading would be buying a pack of gum at the very instant that a newspaper photographer was there to take a photo of the retiring store owner?

I think the odds of getting struck by lightning are better.

I'm just amazed at how often McMahon appears in the newspaper and how it's always in favorable situations. Does he have mole inside the newsroom who tips him off when a photographer is on an assignment?

A building collapsed in Reading last week. It was the second time this year that a large structure toppled because of deteriorating condition of many buildings in the city. I didn't see a photo of the mayor standing next to the rubble.

I don't remember any photos of the mayor at the scene of one of the city's many shootings.

The Reading Eagle took a photo of a huge pile of trash recently to illustrate how various parts of Reading have been turned into make-shift garbage dumps. No signs of the mayor in that photo, either.

I just find it odd that the Democratic mayor shows up for PR photos on a regular basis but is never portrayed in a negative light by the newspaper. Has McMahon really done a good job over the past four years or has he been able to fool a lot of people?

We'll find out in November. In addition to Republican Keith Stamm (http://keithstamm.blogspot.com), who is the current president of the Reading School Board, the incumbent mayor is facing a former mayor running as an independent, another independent candidate and a Green Party member.

All those opponents may split the vote and McMahon could skate back into office for another four years. After all, Mayor Tom is so photogenic.

Taxes could be downfall for Berks Democrats

With three months to go until the November election, it's looking more like a GOP sweep in Berks County.

After four years in the wilderness, Republicans are poised to regain majority control of the Berks County Board of Commissioners and it appears Recorder of Deeds candidate John Fielding will keep the only contested row office in GOP hands.

The commissioners' race took a dramatic turn last month when incumbent Democrat Judy Schwank dropped a bombshell and announced she was dropping out of the race. Schwank, the top vote-getter in the May primary, decided not to run for a third term. Instead she accepted a job as president and CEO of the advocacy group, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania.

Without Schwank, a proven vote-getter and fund-raiser, at the top of the ticket, Democrats are left to fight for the lone minority seat on the three-member board.

Expect incumbent Republican Mark Scott and GOP newcomer Christian Leinbach to finish 1-2 in the voting in November.

Incumbent Democratic Commissioner Tom Gajewski will have to battle Schwank's replacement on the ballot, Kevin S. Barnhardt, for the third spot on the board. And don't be surprised if Barnhardt, who has Scwank's endorsement and financial support, knocks Gajewski off the board.

Even before Schwank's departure, the Democratic majority of Schwank and Gajewski had to defend the 34 percent property tax increase they passed during their current term. Berks County residents are mad as hell about the lack of progress on the property tax issue and they were looking to punish incumbents who supported tax hikes.

The GOP candidates simply have to remind voters that Gajewski helped pass a 34 percent property tax hike.

It also helps that Scott and Leinbach have promised no new taxes if they're elected. Who are Berks voters going to support. Somebody who says they won't raise taxes or a Democrat who voted for a 34 percent tax hike?

Keith Stamm called it right

Keith Stamm is president of the Reading School Board. He is also the Republican candidate for mayor of Reading.

The current mayor loves to have his picture taken with other politicians and cuts a lot of ribbons, but Tom McMahon hasn't done much in the past four years to deal with serious problems facing the city, including crime, trash piling up on city streets and deteriorating infrastructure.

Stamm, who blogs at http://keithstamm.blogspot.com/, is not afraid to tackle serious fiscal issues and speaks his mind. That would be refreshing in Reading, where the Democratic Party has a monopoly on power. That could also explain why the city is so poorly run.

The reason I wanted to mention Keith Stamm today is that he and another Republican (William Cinfici) on the Reading School Board voted against a plan to give school administrators a 10 percent pay raise this summer. The School Board apparently had $500,000 sitting around and felt compelled to spend it. Not on school supplies or teachers or building upkeep, mind you, but on boosting the salaries of administrators.

Stamm warned his fellow board members that this was not the right time to throw more money at administrators. He predicted that such a move would come back to haunt the district because other employees would expect the same 10 percent pay raise.

Stamm was right.

Less than a month after the Democrats on the Reading School Board handed out the 10 percent pay hikes to administrators, the union representing the district's janitors said it, too, expects 10 percent pay increases. Teamsters Local 429 officials told district negotiators that the 160 janitors deserve 10 percent pay raises, too.

And wait until the School Board has to negotiate a new deal with the teachers. How much do you want to be that the teachers won't settle for the traditional 3 percent or 4 percent pay hike they've been getting, but will demand 10 percent pay raises.

"It (the pay raises) was done at the wrong time," Stamm told the local newspaper. "To think that you were going to negotiate with the Teamsters and with the teachers union after this and think they won't want more than 2 or 3 percent (raises), it's just not going to happen."

Reading needs someone like Keith Stamm as mayor. It's a troubled city that is spinning its wheels under Democratic leadership.

It's an uphill battle for Stamm to become the next mayor of Reading. Registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans in the city. I think one Republican has been elected mayor in Reading in the past 30 years, but Stamm still sounds like he could do more for the city than the current status quo mayor. Stamm is a forward-thinker.

People have seen where the Democrats have taken Reading. Deeper in a hole. Electing Stamm as mayor would be a first step in getting Reading out of the hole.

Giuliani beats Clinton in 2008

My recent unscientific poll of who will be the 2008 Republican nominee for president came out about what I expected.

Rudy Giuliani received 34 percent of the vote, while Fred Thompson received 32 percent. Mitt Romney received a paltry 13 percent of the vote. And 18 percent of those casting a preference think someone else will be the GOP nominee.

I think Giuliani will end up with the Republican nomination because he's the most electable Republican candidate. Republicans and moderate Democrats (the few that are left) have seen what it's like to turn the country over to far left zealots since Democrats took control of Congress.

The Democrats had their 100 days to make a difference and blew it by doing the opposite of what they promised.

They've squandered the goodwill of the electorate by doing everything that got the Republicans kicked out of office (partisan witch hunts, pork spending, ethical lapses, etc.)

In other words, there's no difference between Democrats and Republicans in Washington, D.C., except for the fact that Republicans are willing to defend this country from the Islamic fascists who declared war on us, while Democrats think appeasement is the way go to.

In the end, the GOP base will decided that anybody but Hillary is acceptable.

Thompson, while a favorite of the conservative wing, would have trouble appealing to independent voters and Democrats who can't stomach another Clinton in the White House. And that is the key to the 2008 election. After 20 years of choosing between Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton, voters are looking for a fresh start.

Hillary will win the Democratic nomination and will most likely pick Barack Obama as her running-mate. Two liberals running the ticket will limit their ability to attract moderates.

Giuliani can beat Clinton in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, which doesn't leave much left for Clinton, who will end up winning the John Kerry states and not much more.

And I think Giuliani will ask Thompson to be his running-mate, bringing geographic balance to the ticket and offering some consolation to the Republican right.
It will be another close election, but Hillary has too many negatives to win and there isn't anyone else in the Democratic Party that can win, either.

Check back in 15 months to see if I'm right.

Property Tax Monkey

The folks behind the S.T.O.P. plan to eliminate property taxes are asking everyone on their contact list to help spread the word about efforts to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania. And I love the "Property Tax Monkey" cartoon that came with the e-mail. There are competing efforts (the Plan for Pennsylvania's Future, formerly known as the Commonwealth Caucus plan, and also known as the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 and the S.T.O.P. plan) to deal with property taxes. I don't care which plan is passed as long as something is done to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers have been giving us lip service on the property tax issue for 30 years and Gov. Rendell has been playing a shell game with Pennsylvania homeowners for the past 5 years. Here's the information from S.T.O.P.

For thirty years the homeowners and taxpayers of Pennsylvania as well as the governors of both parties, the legislators, school boards, county and municipal officials have had the property tax monkey on their backs. Thousands of hours of discussion and debate, millions of taxpayers dollars have been expended trying to find a solution to the property tax nightmare.

Our current governor and current legislators have the opportunity to once and for all solve this problem and make Pennsylvania the most attractive state in the nation to own a home and establish a residence.

ONLY ONE PLAN IS THE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO HOMEOWNER PROPERTY TAXES IN PENNSYLVANIA. ONLY ONE PLAN WILL MEAN THE GOVERNORS AND LEGISLATORS WILL NEVER AGAIN NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND CAN FOCUS THEIR TIME AND ENERGIES ON OTHER ISSUES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ONLY ONE PLAN COMPLETELY AND PERMANENTLY ABOLISHES ALL PROPERTY TAXES ON ALL PRIMARY RESIDENCES (HOMESTEADS AND FARMSTEADS) IN PENNSYLVANIA. The STOP PRIMARY RESIDENCE PROTECTION PLAN.

SENATORS: Please speak with Senator Sean Logan or Senator Jane Orie about SB 717-718.

REPRESENTATIVES: Please speak with Rep. Keith McCall or Rep. Marc Gergely about the soon to be introduced STOP legislation in the House.

HOMEOWNERS: Want the property tax monkey off your back once and for all? No more phony, incorrect property assessments; no more assessment hearings; no more school, county or municipal property taxes to pay. No more sheriff sales and stolen equity for so called 'delinquent property taxes.' No more property tax escrow payments as part of a mortgage. For the first time in history you will truly own your own home...not merely rent it from the school board, and county and municipal officials. Ask your State Senator and Representative to support the STOP LEGISLATION TO ABOLISH ALL PROPERTY TAXES ON PRIMARY RESIDENCES.

Note: The STOP plan was found to be fiscally sound and viable in a study conducted by the Legislative Budget & Finance Committee. Data from the PA Revenue Department concurs with the LBFC findings. Please share this article with everyone you can!

Learn more at www.grandoldusa.com or www.spedunkie.com (hit on STOP page).

Rendell agenda comes undone

First the wheels come off Gov. Rendell's mass transit subsidy plan when two Pennsylvania Congressmen vowed to block the governor's efforts to make Interstate 80 a toll road.

Now, the union representing 5,500 faculty at Pennsylvania's state-owned universities changed its mind on a tentative contract agreement.

What's going on here?

Rendell’s "done deal" on mass transit funding turned out to be a dead end, forcing the governor to revisit his plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Now the faculty at 14 state-owned universities doesn't like the deal the Rendell administration negotiated with its union last month.

The seven-member executive council of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties is telling its membership to reject the four-year pact, which included a $1,750 cash bonus, followed by raises of 3 percent in the second and third years and 4 percent in the fourth year.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, but we're talking about college professors here. Most of them live in a fantasy land with ivory towers. The average Pennsylvania worker, who will end up paying for the sweetheart deal, would give anything for this kind of pay increase and job security.

The union says Rendell reneged on promises made to its negotiators. Rendell lie? You're kidding.

A Rendell spokesman said the governor's office was not aware of the situation, according to The Associated Press.

Somebody better find the governor at his summer home and "make him aware." This sounds a lot like the Valentine's Day storm that stranded thousands of motorists, but somebody forgot to mention it to the governor until the next day.

Time is a factor. Classes at the 14 universities begin in a couple of weeks.

And as long as we're talking about do-overs, can we negotiate a new state budget?

246 dead in 213 days

Philadelphia has recorded 246 homicides as of August 1, the 213th day of 2007. There are 152 days left in the year. At this pace, expect the city to eclipse its 2006 murder total of 406 by year's end.

More than 2,000 Philadelphia residents have been shot so far this year.

The city's police commissioner is counting the days until his retirement. Mayor John Street, in the final months of his second term, can best be described as incompetent. Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell is indifferent. He's more concerned these days with subsidizing unionized mass transit workers than the people dying on the streets of the state's largest city.

The two dozen members of the Philadelphia delegation in the state Legislature had threatened to hold up the new state budget if they didn't get gun control measures passed, but then decided to go on vacation until mid-September.

In other words, don't look for any help from politicians.

Gun control isn't the answer. The armed thugs who roam the streets of Philadelphia with impunity aren't buying their weapons from legitimate gun dealers.

Michael Nutter, the likely winner of November's mayoral race, had campaigned on a program to stop suspicious people on the streets and search them, but the far left went bananas and Nutter stopped talking about his plan to clean up the streets.

Rudy Giuliani managed to clean up New York City using similar tactics. What's wrong with trying something new in Philadelphia? Something has to be done to stop the blood from flowing on the streets of Philadelphia.