Peter Paul and Hillary ... plus Ed Rendell

Another day, another fundraising scandal involving Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell and presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton.

And to think we still have 14 more months to go until the 2008 election.

Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. issued a press release late Friday with the humorous headline of "Fast Eddie robs Peter Paul to pay Hillary."

But there's nothing funny about another fund-raising scandal involving Mrs. Clinton and Gov. Rendell, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and a top fundraiser for the party.

What was it Nancy Pelosi said about "draining the swamp"? Maybe the swamp leads all the way up to Harrisburg.

Peter Paul alleges that Ed Rendell, then Chairman of the Democrat National Committee, told him to lie about his involvement with a 2000 Clinton for Senate fundraiser, according to a story published Friday in The Wall Street Journal.

"Apparently, when Sen. Clinton and Gov. Rendell need campaign donations, they dial up the list of America’s most wanted as their list of supporters," Gleason said. "Americans need to look long and hard at all of the recent stories involving Sen. Clinton and Gov. Rendell's relationship with shady donors, especially after they both took hundreds of thousands from felon Norman Hsu.

Clinton and Rendell should come clean about the latest scandal, Gleason said.

"I find the allegations that Gov. Rendell, then Chairman of the Democratic National Party, asked Peter Paul to lie about his involvement in the Hollywood fundraiser deplorable! Although deplorable, it is not that surprising, considering Gov. Rendell has been quick to lie to Pennsylvanians about numerous things, including his campaign promise to deliver lower taxes.

"If Gov. Rendell thinks that Norman Hsu was one of the 10 best people he ever met, where does Peter Paul rank? I believe that a person running for president or a governor of a state should be a good judge of character, and clearly Sen. Clinton and Gov. Rendell are not!"

According to Friday's Wall Street Journal, Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign held a fundraiser in Hollywood organized by Peter Paul.

Paul is suing both Bill and Hillary Clinton claiming that he was misled into spending over $1 million organizing a fundraiser for her campaign based on the promise that Bill Clinton would become his business associate after he left the White House.

To read the full story, "For Clinton, 2000 Fundraising Controversy Lingers," in The Wall Street Journal, click here.

When lawyers attack

One day after PACleanSweep announced a campaign to defeat all Pennsylvania judges facing retention votes on the Nov. 6 ballot, the state's lawyers have struck back.

Andrew F. Susko, president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, issued a statement Friday condemning the PACleanSweep effort, dubbed "Judicial CleanSweep."

Susko said the group's call to oust all Pennsylvania judges on the ballot was irresponsible and he asked voters to consider the "judges' experience, qualifications, or judicial record" before deciding to cast a "Yes" or "No" vote.

"Judges should not be ousted from office as a group just because some disgruntled advocacy group says so," Susko said. "This misguided effort to 'clean' house would make a mess of our courts and would threaten severe, lasting damage to our court system."

Pennsylvania judges face retention votes every 10 years.

PACleanSweep is urging voters to defeat all 67 judicial candidates up for retention in November. The group unveiled its campaign during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg Thursday morning and added a new Judicial CleanSweep section of its Web site at www.pacleansweep.com

Russ Diamond, chairman of PACleanSweep, said voters must hold judges accountable for their role in the July 2005 pay raise, which was approved by the Legislature, signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell and portions of which were upheld by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

"The twisted judicial pay raise decision by the Supreme Court and the fact that every single judge in the state has benefited from it is the first issue every Pennsylvanian needs to consider," Diamond said. "We'll be offering more valid reasons to vote 'no' over the next seven weeks, but this is one that grates on citizens more than most."

PACleanSweep, which was instrumental in the defeat of Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro in 2005 and removal of 55 incumbent legislators in 2006, intends to give voters 10 reason why they should vote "No" to retain all judges on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The state's lawyers, many of whom may want to be judges some day, don't see it that way. To read Susko's full statement, go to the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Web site at www.pabar.org

To read PACleanSweep's arguments to reject all judges, go to its Web site at www.PACleanSweep.com

Group urges 'clean sweep' of Pennsylvania judges

Having trouble deciding which Pennsylvania judicial candidates to retain in the Nov. 6 election?

The folks at PACleanSweep want to make it easier for you. Just vote 'No.' That's right. Vote 'No' for everyone on the ballot.

The non-partisan watchdog group that helped launch the citizen revolt against politicians after the July 2005 pay raise is targeting state judges for defeat this year.

PACleanSweep held a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg Thursday morning to launch its new campaign to defeat all 67 judicial candidates up for retention in November.

In addition to its "Just Say No" stance on judges, the group unveiled a new Judicial CleanSweep section of its Web site at www.pacleansweep.com

PACleanSweep has collected a list of all judges up for retention on its Web site with a link to county-by-county lists for use by voters across Pennsylvania.

The group is recruiting volunteers to work the polls on Election Day to help educate voters about the retentions and has released the first of its Top Ten Reasons to Vote NO on Nov. 6, entitled "The Judicial Swindle."

"The twisted judicial pay raise decision by the Supreme Court and the fact that every single judge in the state has benefited from it is the first issue every Pennsylvanian needs to consider," said Russ Diamond, PACleanSweep chairman. "We'll be offering more valid reasons to vote 'no' over the next seven weeks, but this is one that grates on citizens more than most."

Of the 67 judges seeking retention, 25 would not be able to serve out the entire term they seek due to Pennsylvania's mandatory judicial retirement age of 70, Diamond said. This number includes five of the seven statewide appellate court retention candidates. After a retirement, Gov. Ed Rendell appoints a successor until a new contested election can be held to fill that particular seat.

PACleanSweep is basing its retention campaign objectives on an online poll made available over the last month to Web site visitors and e-mail subscribers, Diamond said. The results of the poll are available at www.pacleansweep.com

"Reform-minded people have spoken and this organization is dedicated to doing the people's work," added Diamond. "Judges may decide the law, but the people decide who the judges are."

All Pennsylvanians - regardless of party affiliation - will have an opportunity to cast a vote on seven statewide judges from the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts on Nov. 6, Diamond said.

Another 53 Common Pleas Court judges will also be on the ballot for retention in various counties scattered across the state. All these judges are seeking new 10-year terms.

In Philadelphia, where voters can cast a vote on the seven statewide judges and 10 Common Pleas judges, voters will also determine whether six Municipal Court judges and one Traffic Court judge receive new six-year terms. The next-busiest retention election area will be York County, where voters will decide the fates of six Common Pleas judges.

2007 Retention Candidate List

What YOU Need to Do on November 6th

Top Ten Reasons to Vote 'No'

PACleanSweep Judicial Retention Poll Results

Pennsylvania's Judicial Retention System

The noose is tightening in bonus scandal

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting today that eight Pennsylvania legislative staffers employed by the House Democratic Office of Legislative Research received taxpayer-funded bonuses while doing campaign work for Democratic politicians seeking re-election n 2006.

The bonuses ranged from $5,000 to $15,000 apiece, according to the newspaper. They were part of $3.6 million on bonuses paid out to staffers by legislative leaders.

The work done on the taxpayer's dime may have made the difference in helping Democrats take majority control of the House for the first time in 12 years. But if the grand jury probe into the legality of the bonuses leads to indictments, that majority may be short-lived.

All 203 seats in the House are up for re-election in 2008 and Republicans will have a sure-fire campaign theme -- end Democratic Party corruption -- as they attempt to regain control of the House.

The Post-Gazette says the focus of the grand jury investigation is directed at House Democrats and the caucus' research office. Agents for Attorney General Tom Corbett raided the office and seized some of its records in August, according to the newspaper.

The Post-Gazette said 80 of the staffers who received the biggest 100 bonuses had worked for or contributed money to then-Minority Whip Michael Veon, who lost his re-election bid and has since opened a lobbying firm in Harrisburg.

Here's some specifics from the Post-Gazette article by staff writer Tracie Mauriello:

Legislative staffers commonly use vacation days, compensatory time and unpaid leave to work on campaigns. They are sometimes compensated for that work with campaign funds, but it is illegal for them to receive taxpayer funds for political work.

All together, House Democrats handed out $1.9 million in bonuses last year, four times as much as in 2005, a non-election year, and $700,000 more than the other three legislative caucuses combined. It was a crucial election year for House Democrats, who saw the opportunity to gain majority status for the first time in 12 years.

William Sloane, the chief counsel to the House Democrats, who received a $4,945 bonus, drove 2,584 miles doing work for the House Democratic Campaign Committee during the year. He spent two days in Beaver County campaigning for Veon and made 10 postelection trips to Chester County.

(It was a recount in a Chester County House district that gave the Democrats the 102-101 majority they needed to take over the House after the Nov. 2006 election.)

Jennifer Brubaker, director of the research office, received a bonus of $17,750. Although she was not reimbursed for any campaign expenses, she contributed $500 apiece to House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese and the House Democratic Campaign Committee and $250 to Veon.

Belt-tightening at PHEAA

The Pennsylvania agency responsible for providing student loans is going on a diet.

It could be spin, but the honchos at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency are saying that they're tightening their belts because of anticipated federal government cutbacks, not because of the growing backlash over outlandish executive bonuses or lavish spending on trips to luxury resorts.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported Wednesday that PHEAA Executive Director Richard Willey has issued a memo to his 2,600 employees saying the agency has to find another $19 million of "unanticipated cuts" to meet its nearly $200 million in public service commitments and avoid layoffs. Is it really possible there are 2,600 essential employees at this agency?

PHEAA, the state's official poster child of wasteful spending, has come under fire from Gov. Ed Rendell and members of the state Legislature for its huge bonuses to executives and nearly $900,000 in junket spending. The agency also spent $400,000 in legal fees attempting to prevent several news agencies from obtaining information about the spending.

The PHEAA board, which consists primarily of members of the state Legislature, recently approved $570,000 in bonuses to Willey and his four executive vice presidents. PHEAA executives are among the highest paid "public servants" in Pennsylvania, with Willey earning more than the governor.

PHEAA apologists say the agency is funded primarily through investments, but there is that matter of $500 million a year in taxpayer dollars that PHEAA gets from the state treasury.

There is pending legislation to tighten the reins on PHEAA and change the makeup of its board, which wins the Rip Van Winkle Award for sleeping through one of the worst fiscal scandals in modern Pennsylvania history.

While PHEAA executives are living large, Pennsylvania residents are struggling to pay the skyrocketing cost of a college education. Pennsylvania is the 5th most expensive state to attend college, according to a recent survey.

PHEAA executives will have to say goodbye to those $150 cigars and the foot massages at swanky spas. Times are tough all over.

Pennsylvania Pay Raise claims another victim

Two years, two months and four days after the Pennsylvania Legislature gave itself, the governor and the state's judges a middle-of-the-night pay raise, the chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced his retirement.

Don't think for one second the two incidents are not related.

Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy said Tuesday he is stepping down at the end of the year "for personal reasons," two years before he would have faced voters in a retention election.

I wrote two years ago that Cappy would "retire" before he would have to face the voters again, but I didn't think he'd drop out this soon.

If Pennsylvania voters vote "No" on Nov. 6 to retain Judge Thomas Saylor to the Supreme Court, 4 of the 7 members of the state's highest court will have been replaced in the two years since the pay raise.

Voter anger over the 2 a.m. pay raise vote is the gift that keeps on giving.

Cappy was one of the architects of the pay raise debacle along with Gov. Ed Rendell, then-Speaker of the House John Perzel, Senate Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer and Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill.

Jubelirer and Brightbill were kicked out of office by Republican voters in the May 2006 primary. Perzel, a Republican, was ousted as Speaker in January 2007 by a new Democratic majority and a small band of Republicans. Another political bigshot, Mike Veon, the No. 2 Democrat in the House during the pay raise vote, was also voted out of office in 2006. House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese barely survived re-election in 2006.

Pennsylvania voters, angry about the pay raise and the failure in Harrisburg to deliver property tax relief, replaced 55 state lawmakers in 2006. Almost all of the ousted incumbents voted for the pay raise.

The only high-profile payjacker to survive is Gov. Ed Rendell, who signed the pay raise into law in 2005, but has apologized for the move.

The Cappy retirement and the upcoming retention vote for Saylor will be among the topics of discussion at a press conference scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the state Capitol by watchdog groups that have been leading the fight to reform Harrisburg since the July 7, 2005, pay raise vote.

"Fairly or unfairly, the Pay Raise of 2005 will define Ralph Cappy's tenure on the Supreme Court," said Tim Potts, co-founder of DemocracyRisingPA. "At a time when Pennsylvania needed a chief justice who was straightforward with citizens and believed in using the democratic process to debate the important issue of how much to pay those who serve citizens from the bench, Cappy did not rise to the occasion. Today the entire judiciary suffers, and will suffer, because of it."

Cappy's retirement means that Ronald Castille, the most senior member of the court, moves up to chief justice, and Gov. Rendell gets to appoint a new justice to fill the remainder of Cappy's term, which expires in 2009.

Castille, who does not face a retention election until 2013, is the author of the 2006 decision allowing judges to keep the pay raise that lawmakers had repealed in 2005.

Potts, a longtime observer of the Harrisburg scene, is happy to see Cappy leave.

"Cappy's resignation comes years too late," Potts said. "Under Cappy's reign, critical sections of Article III of our Constitution (which sets forth the procedure the General Assembly must use when enacting laws) have become virtually meaningless. Rather than upholding the Constitution to protect citizens from abuses by the legislative and executive branches, Cappy embraced the back-room deal that allowed the midnight enactment of the gambling law, the midnight enactment of the pay raise and the lame-duck enactment of unlimited free alcohol for slots players, among other insults to the rights of citizens under our system of government.

To read more about the sad state of affairs in the Pennslvania judicial system, check out the Justice On Trial section of the DemocracyRisingPA Web site.


(Photo credit: Matt Rourke/The Associated Press)

How the Clintons failed to prevent 9/11

Bill Clinton is on the road promoting his latest book, the oddly titled, "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World." We already know how Bill Clinton changed the world. The former president might as well be on a campaign tour. Bill Clinton doesn't need to sell books. He needs to get Hillary Clinton elected president.

The Clintons are itching to get back to the White House. Just as Hillary hitched her political wagons to her philandering husband in 1992, it's payback time. It's Hillary's turn.

Bill Clinton has said in interviews that his wife, once she is sworn in as president, will have the benefit of having the "first gentleman" by her side for advice. In other words, it's going to be another co-presidency, just as the first Clinton administration was from 1993-2001.

On the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, let's pause to think about what another Clinton presidency would mean for our national security. We don't have to look too far back. The road to 9/11 is well documented. Bill Clinton's indifference and incompetence as president set the stage for the devastating attack on U.S. soil.

The murder of 3,000 Americans six years ago was the culmination of an eight-year campaign against the United States by Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Attack after attack went unanswered by Bill Clinton until they escalated to the horrific events of 9/11. While the assault by Muslim fanatics came nine months into George W. Bush’s presidency, it was planned, rehearsed, financed and set into motion while Bill and Hillary Clinton occupied the White House.

The attacks of 9/11 were successful because our enemies sensed weakness in Clinton (and by extension, the United States). They were successful because Clinton was more interested in chasing a young intern around the Oval Office than protecting the United States. They were successful because Clinton failed to control illegal immigration, allowing terrorists to enter. Clinton defanged the CIA and FBI during his tenure in office. The attacks succeeded because the U.S. military rusted under an oblivious Democrat who put his faith in the United Nations to protect Americans.

The path to 9/11 was clearly delineated for anyone willing to pay attention. It was Bill Clinton's job to connect the dots and respond accordingly to protect American lives. He failed.

On Feb. 26, 1993 — 36 days into Bill Clinton's presidency — a bomb was detonated under the World Trade Center, killing six people and wounding 1,042 more. Clinton considered the plot to bring down one of the nation's most recognizable buildings as a law enforcement matter instead of the opening round of a global war to wipe out the Western civilization.

On Oct. 3, 1993, 19 Americans died and 84 were wounded in an ill-planned mission to capture the warlord Mohammed Aidid in Somalia. The bodies of American servicemen were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. The failed mission was the basis of the best-selling book, "Black Hawk Down," later made into a movie. Instead of sending adequate troops to hunt down Aidid after the murder of U.S. soldiers, Clinton cut and run from Somalia. This sent a message to terrorists all over the world that the U.S. didn’t have the stomach to fight. Somalia remains a terrorist haven to this day.

On June 25, 1996, 19 Air Force personnel were killed and 300 Americans and others were wounded when terrorists drove a truck full of explosives into the Khobar Towers, a military housing complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

The Taliban came to power during the Clinton administration, capturing Kabul in September 1996. The Taliban gave Osama bin Laden sanctuary and assistance in planning his attacks on the U.S. Afghanistan became a terrorist haven under Bill Clinton's watch.

Bombs destroyed the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya on Aug. 7, 1998, killing 257 people, including 12 Americans, and injuring 5,000 others. Clinton was given evidence that Osama bin Laden was behind the bombings. Clinton knew bin Laden vowed to bring the war home to America. His response? Clinton ordered cruise missile strikes against empty terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and blew up an aspirin factory in Africa. Bin Laden would live to fight another day.

On Oct. 12, 2000, the USS Cole was attacked in the port of Aden in Yemen. Terrorists drove a speedboat full of explosives into the side of the ship, killing 17 sailors and wounding 39 more.

The Clinton record of fighting terrorism is abysmal. The warning signs were there all along. Bill and Hillary Clinton chose to ignore them. As a result, thousands of Americans died. That's something to think about as Bill Clinton's co-president, Hillary, vows to "bring back the Clinton years."

Are you willing to risk your life under another Clinton presidency?

(AP Photo/Kevin Sanders)

Pennsylvania commemorates Patriot Day on Sept. 11

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell has issued a proclamation designating Tuesday, Sept. 11, as Patriot Day.

The governor has ordered flags at state facilities to be flown at half-staff in memory of the thousands of Americans who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"In memory of all those whose lives were so tragically lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and in special recognition of courageous men and women everywhere who selflessly risk their own lives to save others and protect our liberty, I do hereby proclaim Sept. 11, 2007, Patriot Day in Pennsylvania," the proclamation states. "I encourage all citizens to observe this day with a moment of silence, remembrance ceremony, or expression of gratitude and patriotism and to make a personal pledge to honor and cherish the freedom, equality, and peace that defines America."

Congress has designated Sept. 11 of each year as Patriot Day in remembrance of those whose lives were lost and in honor of the heroes who were found, according to the governor's office.

In addition to ordering state flags to be flown at half-staff, Rendell has directed U.S. flags at state facilities to be flown at half-staff in accordance with the Presidential proclamation.

Rendell is scheduled to participate in a remembrance service at the Flight 93 crash site temporary memorial in Somerset County in Western Pennsylvania on Sept. 11. The governor will speak and lay a wreath at the 9:45 a.m. service on Skyline Road in Stoneycreek Township.

Here is the text of Gov. Rendell's proclamation

WHEREAS, The terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, changed America forever. Thousands of innocent lives were lost in these terrible events, but in no way was this tragic day a defeat for our country; and

WHEREAS, instead of sparking chaos, divisiveness, or the collapse of our spirit, September 11, 2001, strengthened our resolve and our commitment to liberty, equality, and justice. These qualities have distinguished America for centuries and have allowed us to rise above hatred, tyranny, and terror; and

WHEREAS, September 11, 2001, was a day on which heroes were born. Out of the destruction flowed generosity, hope, and unity and everyday people demonstrated extraordinary bravery and compassion. From the unwavering loyalty of our firefighters, police, medical emergency personnel, first-responders, and individuals who put the safety of their co-workers and friends above their own, the people of America gained a new appreciation of what it means to be a hero and a patriot; and

WHEREAS, on December 18, 2001, Congress and President George W. Bush approved Public Law 107-89 designating September 11th of each year as Patriot Day in remembrance of those whose lives were lost and in honor of the heroes who were found; and

WHEREAS, this Patriot Day, let us gather as a commonwealth and a nation to offer our gratitude to the firemen, policemen, and emergency personnel who continue to serve our communities with pride and to the brave men and women of our nation's military who have accepted the tremendous responsibility of defending the future of our country and others around the world.

THEREFORE, In memory of the heroes whose lives were so tragically lost on September 11, 2001, and in special recognition of courageous men and women everywhere who selflessly risk their own lives to save others and protect our liberty, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2007, PATRIOT DAY in Pennsylvania. I encourage all citizens to observe this day with a moment of silence, remembrance ceremony, or expression of gratitude and patriotism and to make a personal pledge to honor and cherish the freedom, equality, and peace that defines America.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this twenty-eighth day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-first.

EDWARD G. RENDELL

One-two punch against Ed Rendell

It appears I'm not the only political commentator in Pennsylvania who sees through Ed Rendell.

I came across two excellent columns about Gov. Ed Rendell over the weekend.

Both were published by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, one of the few newspapers in Pennsylvania who isn't a charter member of the Edward G. Rendell Fan Club.

When the governor does something wrong, and it happens more often than you think, count on the Tribune-Review to take Rendell to the woodshed.

Eric Heyl's column is titled "If only Ed and Arlen understood the law." The jab at Specter is a bonus.

Brad Bumstead's column is "Rendell's atrocious call."

Both deal with Rendell's reluctance to campaign return money he received from fugitive California financier Norman Hsu. Even Hillary Clinton, the most ethically-challenged person to ever seek the presidency, knew enough to return Hsu's tainted money as soon as the scandal broke. But not Ed Rendell.

The newspaper recounts Rendell's missteps in the Hsu affair in a Sunday editorial titled "Rendell's scandal."

And the topping on the cake is the Randy Bish cartoon featured above. For more terrific editorial cartoons by Bish, go to the cartoons section of the Tribune-Review Web site.

Makeovers for BlogNetNews.com and PoliticsPA.com

Two of my favorite aggregators have redesigned their home pages.

What's an aggregator you say? Beats me. I just like the sound of the word.

An aggregator is a Web site the collects information and links to other blogs and Web sites and helps you navigate through the vastness of the World Wide Web.

I think there's something like 60 million blogs on the Internet and the number grows every day. Finding the type of blogs or other Web sites you're interested in is like finding that proverbial needle in a haystack.

This has led to the creation of aggregator sites which attempt to steer readers to the types of sites they are interested in reading.

Since we're talking politics, BlogNetNews is one of the best national sites. The firm also has separate sites for 35 of the 50 states, so if you're interested in reading what the leading bloggers in Pennsylvania are writing, you go http://www.blognetnews.com/Pennsylvania

PoliticsPa.com concentrates exclusively on Pennsylvania politics. It bills itself as "Pennsylvania's Political Community" and has been operating since 2001. The biggest complaint for regular users of PoliticsPA was the cluttered look of its home page, which consisted of endless lists. The new design is much cleaner and easier to navigate.

BlogNetNews bills itself as "The blogosphere's frong page" and claims to be "a generation ahead" of other aggregators.

"We're not interested in reprinting your posts and we don't have an ideological ax to grind," according to its site "We are going to use your feeds and the feeds of top bloggers from your online community to create new content and information that will organize this slice of the Internet making it work better for bloggers and their readers."

BlogNetNews also offers these features:

1. The day's top news based solely on what news stories Pennsylvania bloggers are linking to -- no matter what mainstream news source they're in.
2. A micro search engine that will only search the Pennsylvania blogosphere.
3. A quick guide to the hottest blog comment sections in Pennsylvania.
4. A quick index of the day's most active Pennsylvania blogs.
5. A guide to the blog posts most link to by other Pennsylvania bloggers.

It's worth bookmarking both sites and checking them daily if you're interested in staying on top of the political scene in Pennsylvania.

GOP looks safe in Montgomery County

An internal poll done for the Republican candidates in the much-watched race for Montgomery County Commissioner shows the GOP slate of Bruce Castor and Jim Matthews should be able to keep Republican control of this crucial Southeastern Pennsylvania county for four more years.

Castor, the current Montgomery County District Attorney, is on top with 55 percent support, according to the poll. Democrat Joe Hoeffel is second with 51 percent. Jim Matthews comes in third with 40 percent. Incumbent Democrat Ruth Damsker brings up the rear with 34 percent.

If the trend holds until Election Day, Castor and Matthews would keep a Republican majority on the board, with Hoeffel as the minority commissioner.

Castor is the best known political figure in Montgomery County and is well respected as a tough prosecutor. He will be the top vote-getter on Nov. 6. Hoefell, a former county commissioner and former area Congressman, has lots of name recognition, too, because he's always running for something. His ultra liberal politics will attract support from the eastern half of the county.

It's no secret that Gov. Ed Rendell is working hard to capture one of the traditional Republican SE Pennsylvania counties for the Democrats. The key is control of county government. Rendell wants a base where he can operate to swing SE Pennsylvania for the Democrats in the 2008 presidential race.

With the Montgomery County commissioners' race looking safe for the GOP, expect Rendell to concentrate on Chester County and Bucks County in the final weeks of the campaign.

Looking over the latest poll numbers, Matthews, who ran for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania on the Lynn Swann ticket in 2006, has gained 6 points on Damsker in the past month. The last poll showed Matthews and Damsker dead even.

Damkser has lost ground with some wacky behavior and oddball comments. She brought up the "R" word (reassessment) in a county that is doing very well financially. Property taxes are a big issue in Montgomery County and a countywide reassessment would be a de facto tax increase for many residents.

Damsker also has had several widely publicized spats with Commissioners' Chairman Tom Ellis and even broke into tears are a recent commissioners' meeting. There's no crying in politics!

The current GOP-led board managed to cut property taxes in 2007 and Castor/Matthews have promised another property tax cut in 2008 if they're elected.

The poll by Neil Newhouse also asked potential voters to rank the candidates via favorable and unfavorable traits.

Here are the results:

Castor -- Fav. 68% Unfav 9%
Hoeffel -- Fav. 57% Unfav 24%
Matthews -- Fav. 34% Unfav. 6%
Damsker -- Fav. 25% Unfav. 9%

And for laughs, the poll also asked views on other politicians:

Specter -- Fav. 68% Unfav. 28%
Rendell -- Fav. 70% Unfav. 27%
Giuliani -- Fav. 64% Unfav. 29%
H. Clinton -- Fav. 51% Unfav. 46%
Bush -- Fav. 34% Unfav. 65%

(Note the difference between Giuliani's and Clinton's numbers in Montgomery County. If Republicans have any hope of winning Pennsylvania in 2008, Giuliani has to be the party nominee.)

Campaign signs already?

The Nov. 6 election is more than 10 weeks ago but candidates have already started planting campaign signs along highways in Berks County.

The first candidate out of the gate was Republican Christ Ganas, who is running for re-election to the Exeter Township Board of Supervisors. I must have passed 20 Ganas signs on my way to work.

He was quickly followed by John T. Adams, a Democrat running for Berks County District Attorney.

There are two schools of thought about political signs. The early bird avoids the clutter when all the other candidates start putting up signs. On the other hand, people tend to ignore the signs they've passed dozens of times.

Ganas may be in trouble. There's a lot of unhappy people in Exeter these days. Ganas is backing construction of a huge shopping center where the Route 422 bypass meets Business Route 422. It is the most congested area in Eastern Berks County and there's a lot of resident opposition to the shopping center. Ganas and the rest of the supervisors are behind it all the way. That could cost him votes. Ganas also led the effort to purchase the Reading Country Club to keep it out of the hands of developers. But the township now finds itself the owner of a golf course and banquet facility that is not making money.

The other early-bird, Adams, may be doing the right thing with putting up signs early. He was a write-in candidate in the May primary and is facing Republican incumbent Mark Baldwin, who has served as Berks County District Attorney for the past 16 years. Adams has an uphill battle for name recognition and campaign cash. He could use all the publicity he can get.

On the other hand, Baldwin has alienated the law enforcement community in Berks and is not exactly a dynamic campaigner. This race will be a lot closer than people think.

Influential Conservative Bloggers?

I've been remiss this week in not acknowledging the latest Influence Rankings at BlogNetNews.com because a conservative blog has reached No. 1. Hats off to Chris Lilik at GrassrootsPA. I could be wrong, but I think this is the first time a conservative site has reached the top spot.

It's common knowledge liberals dominate the newspaper industry (and news magazines) and broadcast television (with the exception of cable news, where Fox News is king of the hill).

Conservatives rule talk radio. That leaves the Internet as the only battlefield for winning the hearts and minds of Americans.

Liberal blogs that participate in the BlogNetNews rankings outnumber conservative sites by at least 4-1, but I count five conservative sites on this week's Top 20, including TONY PHYRILLAS at No. 4.

Here's this week's list of Top 20 Pennsylvania's Most Influential Political blogs posted at http://www.blognetnews.com/

1 GrassrootsPA
2 The Carbolic Smoke Ball
3 Suburban Guerrilla
4 TONY PHYRILLAS
5 The Pennsylvania Progressive
6 Comments From Left Field
7 Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events
8 PSoTD
9 Save The GOP
10 PowerBlog!
11 Pawatercooler.com
12 Capitol Ideas
13 http://blognetnews.com/pennsylvania/feed.php?channel=70
14 :::Philebrity...media, culture, music and more:::
15 POLICY BLOG
16 Lehigh Valley Ramblings
17 2 Political Junkies
18 The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat
19 Westmoreland GOP Blog
20 Attytood

Rendell returns money from fugitive 'friend' but blames scandal on 'media feeding frenzy'

Gov. Ed Rendell, one of several high-profile Democrats who accepted campaign donations from a California fugitive, has finally agreed to give the money back. Sorta. Rendell announced today that the "media feeding frenzy" surrounding Norman Hsu has prompted him to donate $40,0000 of Hsu’s dirty money to charity.

Better late than never, Ed. Regardless of the so-called "media frenzy" over Hsu's copious donations to Democrats, giving the money away was the right thing to do. Rendell doesn't always do the right thing, especially when it comes to campaign funds.

Even Hillary Clinton, who has been involved in one financial scandal after another, agreed to sever her ties with Hsu and give back $23,000 last week.

Rendell initially refused, but got hammered by Pennsylvania newspapers and bloggers. Even the official Ed Rendell Party Organ, The Philadelphia Inquirer, published a front page article about Rendell keeping the dirty money.

The governor's people issued the following statement today:

After learning that Norman Hsu failed to appear in a California court on 15-year-old fraud allegations, Gov. Rendell today said that he is disappointed in Hsu's actions and that he will donate Hsu's campaign contributions to charity.

"Though Norman is my friend, and remains so, his failure to appear casts a new light on his assertions regarding the original case," Gov. Rendell said. "As a result, I will follow other elected officials and donate the money he contributed to me to charity.

"It was never about the money," the governor said. "It's about standing up for one of the principles of our judicial system -- that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

"The media feeding frenzy around Norman is likely to continue, but I intend to focus now on the tremendous amount of work we have to complete in Harrisburg this fall for the people of Pennsylvania."

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has an excellent editorial today about The Hsu Affair and Gov. Rendell's poor judgment in friends.

Time for Democrats to put up or shut up on property taxes

The dog-and-pony show that House Democrats have been putting on throughout the state on House Bill 1600 has been met with unanimous disdain by Pennsylvania taxpayers.

Homeowners don't want another Act 1 charade where you pay a higher sales or income tax in return for a reduction on property taxes. Homeowners want the elimination of property taxes.

David Baldinger, coordinator of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations, has written a letter to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and his No. 2, Keith McCall, asking them to publicly back the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007, formerly known as the Commonwealth Caucus Plan.

Democrats can't have it both ways. They either support elimination of property taxes or they take the blame for failing to deliver on the No. 1 promise their candidates made in the 2006 election. Don't think for one minute that voters won't remember next year that property tax reform stalled at the hands of Democrats who control the House.

Here's the letter Baldinger sent:

Dear Representatives DeWeese and McCall,

This morning on the Feedback show on WEEU, Reading , Representatives Thomas Caltagirone, Sam Rohrer, and David Kessler were guests to discuss property taxes.

Representatives Caltagirone and Rohrer both were adamant about school property tax elimination while Representative Kessler insisted that HB 1600 was preferable and another "first step." The result was as definitive as it was predictable: Without exaggeration, fully one hundred percent of the callers supported elimination while many disparaged both HB 1600 and Representative Kessler’s support of this measure.

The results of the House Finance Committee hearings on HB 1600 last week in Berks and Bucks Counties were similar. Both hearings had a large turnout of voters and witnesses who favor elimination, with very few, if any, supporters for HB 1600.

As a spokesperson for the twenty-one member groups of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations (PCTA), I am respectfully requesting on behalf of the PCTA that you issue a co-sponsorship memorandum for the bipartisan School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 as soon as possible so that the bill may be introduced in a timely fashion for the beginning of the September session of the House of Representatives.

The PCTA and our more than 15,000 members fully support the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 and, further, will also fully support any House member who will help to advance this legislation.

In recent newspaper articles and in e-mail releases by the House Democratic Caucus you both, as leaders, have indicated your support for school property tax elimination. Please continue to maintain this support and to do all that is possible to aid the passage of this bill for the benefit of all Pennsylvania homeowners and schoolchildren.

The courtesy of a reply would be appreciated.

Very truly yours,

David Baldinger
Administrator, Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition
Member, Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations
225 New Castle Drive
Reading, PA 19607

http://www.ptcc.us/

So much for that Democratic majority

It's not looking good for House Democrats and their razor-thin majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

It's becoming evident that a major reason Democrats were able to recapture the majority in the House after 12 years of GOP control was because they cheated.

A grand jury is investigating whether tax dollars were used to pay legislative staffers who did campaign work for House Democrats. That's against the law. The growing scandal has been dubbed "Bonusgate" by bloggers and newspapers and could bring down the current House leadership.

While the grand jury's work is secret, information is filtering out about the investigation. We know for sure that investigators raided the offices to top House Democrats in Harrisburg last week looking for a paper trail that would tie Democratic leaders to wrongdoing.

Today's edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story by Tracie Mauriello saying there is evidence showing "Campaign work tied to House bonuses." That would prove Democrats broke the law.

"All together, Democrats handed out $1.9 million in bonuses last year, four times as much as they did in 2005, a non-election year," Mauriello writes.

She also names names of Democratic staffers who received large payments in the form of bonuses despite taking most of the year away from their normal jobs to work on campaigns.

The Post-Gazette also has more background on "Bonusgate" on its Web site.

Keep in mind that the Post-Gazette is the liberal newspaper in Pittsburgh so it's going to be hard for Democrats to weasel out of this one.

Indictments of current or former Democratic House leaders would not only place the current 102-101 majority in jeopardy, but would hand Republicans a terrific campaign issue for 2008 (Democrats are corrupt) when the GOP tries to retake the House.

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it

More bad news about Pennsylvania bridges.

We already know that 1 in 4 state-owned bridges in Pennsylvania is structurally deficient, but state officials now say that 1 in 3 locally owned bridges are also considered structurally deficient. I don't know about you, but I don't like those odds. Cross a bridge in Pennsylvania should not be a life or death decision.

In the wake of the Minnesota bridge disaster, which killed a dozen people and injured hundreds, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation finally released information on the condition of the state-owned bridges last month. The news was not good. Turns out that 6,000 of the state's 25,000 bridges are considered structurally deficient.

"Structurally deficient" is the same phrase used to describe the Minnesota bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River.

Now the other shoe drops.

PennDOT has released information about locally owned bridges in Pennsylvania. About 30 percent of 6,400 locally owned bridges are considered structurally deficient.

PennDOT officials said it would cost $11 billion to repair or replace the 6,000 state-owned bridges that are structurally deficient. There's no estimate on the cost of fixing the 2,000 locally owned bridges.

Makes you wonder if Gov. Ed Rendell will change his tune about funneling more than $1 billion a year to subsidize the corrupt and inefficient mass transit systems in the state while allowing the state's bridges to collapse.

I doubt it. Like I said before (How Safe Are Pennsylvania Bridges?), bridges don't vote. But tens of thousands of unionized transit workers vote and usually vote for big spending liberal Democrats like Ed Rendell. So if you want the state to start dealing with the serious problem of deteriorating highways and bridges, you better get on your legislator's case.

The list of locally bridges in need of repairs is available at the department's Web site, http://www.dot.state.pa.us/

(Cartoon by Randy Bish of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Over-taxation without representation

After finishing the 2006-07 fiscal year with a $650 million surplus, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania continues to take in more than it needs to operate.

Politicians call it a surplus or a rainy day fund or a cushion, but what we're dealing with here is over-taxation. Government is taking in too much money, more money than it projected it would need to stay in operation and more money than its number-crunchers anticipated.

The August numbers released by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue show that Pennsylvania collected $1.7 billion for its General Fund, which was $6.5 million more than anticipated.

The state took in $1.8 billion in July, the first month of the new fiscal year. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $3.5 billion, which is $17.4 million above estimate.

Here's a suggestion. Give the money back. Today. Not a year from now. Not when it has accumulated to $500 million or more. Now.

You remember what happened to the $650 million the state had left over after the last fiscal year, don't you? The politicians spent it. It's gone. As in we'll never see a dime of it despite umpteenth promises by Gov. Ed Rendell and the Legislature that they're going to cut property taxes.

Here's some other highlights from the Department of Revenue's monthly report:

Sales tax receipts totaled $693.7 million for August, which was $11.4 million above estimate. Sales tax collections, year-to-date, total $1.5 billion, which is $11.5 million above estimate, or 0.8 percent, more than anticipated.

Personal Income Tax (PIT) revenue in August was $651.4 million, which was $16.9 million below estimate. This brings year-to-date PIT collections to $1.3 billion, which is $16.8 million, or 1.3 percent, below estimate.

August corporation tax revenue of $62.3 million was $2.6 million below estimate. Year-to-date corporation tax collections total $160.2 million, which is $0.9 million, or 0.6 percent, below estimate.

Other General Fund revenue figures for the month included $73 million in inheritance tax, which was $8.3 million above estimate, bringing the year-to- date total to $151.7 million, which is $8.3 million above estimate.

Realty transfer tax revenue was $53.1 million for August, bringing the total to $107 million for the year, which is $13.2 million more than anticipated.

Other General Fund revenue including the cigarette, malt beverage and liquor tax totaled $119.6 million for the month, $6.9 million below estimate, bringing the year-to-date total to $243.8 million, which is $2.2 million above estimate.

In addition to the General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $182.8 million for the month, $17.4 million below estimate. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund total $375.7 million, which is $17.4 million, or 4.4 percent, below estimate.

The Gaming Fund received $88.6 million in unrestricted revenues for August. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund total $222.9 million. Gaming Fund receipts include taxes, fees and interest. Of the total for the month, $37.9 million was collected in state taxes for property tax relief, bringing the year-to-date total to $71.9 million.

Other gaming-related revenues collected for August included $4.5 million for the local share assessment, for a total of $8.9 million for the year; $5.6 million for the Economic Development and Tourism Fund, for a year-to-date total of $10.6 million; and $13.4 million for the Race Horse Development Fund, bringing the total for the year to $25.4 million.

I'm not sure what all the gaming mumbo-jumbo means. All I know is that Ed Rendell signed the casino gambling bill into law in July 2005. Here we are 26 months later and not a penny from slots revenue has returned to Pennsylvania residents in the form of promised property tax relief.

Government should not be in the business of making a profit on the backs of taxpayers. It's time for Pennsylvania residents to stage a modern day Boston Tea Party. How about a Philadelphia Tea Party? We can start by tossing Ed Rendell into the Delaware River.

(Cartoon by Vicki Rhodier)

My favorite columnist

My favorite Pennsylvania columnist is Brad Bumstead of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Bumstead covers state government for the paper and writes a column every Sunday. He's done a lot of great reporting over the past two years about Harrisburg, but saves his best jabs for his weekly column.

Check out his latest on the PHEAA mess, Pigging out at PHEAA

And while you're at the Tribune-Review site, take time to read Bumstead's other columns about the sad state of Pennsylvania government.

Some real Bumstead gems in recent months include:

Rendell's world: Spending and debt

Bogus reform prevails

Closed doors & capitulation

Who has the 'mandate' to govern?

A salute to American workers

Like so many holidays, Labor Day is losing its significance.

For many, it's the unofficial end of summer, one last long weekend at the shore or at the campground.

Few communities do much to observe Labor Day. There are occasional parades and ceremonies by unions, but for the most part, few people take the time to think about what Labor Day means and why we celebrate it.

The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing a “Labor Day” on one day or another, and a bill to establish a federal holiday was passed by Congress in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward — designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.

Here are some statistics available at the U.S. Census Bureau Web site about America's work force.

There are 151 million who work for a living out of a total U.S. population of 300 million. The working population consists of 81.2 million men and 69.8 million women above the age of 16.

About 82 percent of workers 18 to 64 are covered by health insurance.

Only 77 percent of workers in private industry receive a paid vacation as one of their employment benefits. In addition, 77 percent of workers receive paid holidays, 14 percent have access to employer assisted child care and 11 percent have access to long-term care insurance.

The median salary for full-time male workers in 2006 was $40,798, but just $31,223 for female workers.

The number of workers who hold down more than one job is 7.5 million. These so-called moonlighters make up just 5 percent of the working population. Of those moonlighters, 3.9 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job. About 294,000 workers work two full-time jobs. When do they sleep?

The number of self-employed workers in the U.S. is 10.5 million. The number of people who work from home is 5 million.

It seems a lot of people work for the government these days. The number of state government employees has reached 5.1 million. The number of civilian employees at the federal government has reached 2.7 million. The Census Bureau doesn’t keep track of how many people work for local or state governments.

Besides wages, there is a growing gap between men and women in the type of jobs they hold.

The number of women in educational, health and social service industries is 20.4 million. Manufacturing is the top category for men, with 11.4 million.

What percentage of workers 16 and older work more than 40 hours? The answer is 28 percent. Eight percent of workers reported working 60 or more hours per week.

Americans are changing employers more than ever, spending an average of four years at each job. About 10 percent of those employed have been with their current employer for 20 or more years.

About 5 percent of workers say they work the evening shift (any time between 2 p.m. and midnight) and another 3 percent work the night shift (any time between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.).

The number of unionized workers continues to decline. Just 15.5 million American workers belong to a labor union.

The most popular job in the U.S.? Teaching. About 6.8 million Americans are teachers.

The amount of time the average American spends commuting to work? More than 100 hours, which exceeds the typical two weeks vacation time taken by U.S. workers over the course of a year.

So enjoy some time off on this Labor Day. You've earned it.

Senator: PHEAA bonus scandal worse than initially reported

State Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr., R-30th Dist., said he has seen a letter from Gov. Ed Rendell to the chairman, vice chairman and board members of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency in which Rendell listed "startling new information about the depth of the problems swirling around PHEAA."

The $570,000 bonus figure for top PHEAA executives initially released included just the agency's management team. The new total includes bonus money paid to all staff in 2007 and has soared to $2.5 million, according to Eichelberger.

PHEAA is the Pennsylvania agency responsible for providing student loans to college students. While most of the agency's funding comes from investments, Pennsylvania taxpayers contribute $500 million a year to PHEAA.

"The patronage laden work force reaches a total of 2,574 employees," Eichelberger noted. "Defenders of PHEAA cite the good work of the agency and the management in particular to justify these bonuses, but a closer look reveals that when comparing the same nine-month period from last year to this, operating expenses have grown 70 percent faster than operating revenues, operating income is down and the agency's net assets are $11.5 million lower."

Eichelberger is outraged by the growing scandal, saying, "This mess is unfortunately what I have found all too often in Harrisburg. The legislature and many state agencies are bloated bureaucracies that have no regard whatsoever for the hard working people who pay their salaries. This is an embarrassment for Pennsylvania and I will do everything in my power to stop this abuse immediately."

PHEAA fought for two years to prevent release of expense records that showed the agency wasted nearly $900,000 on trips to resorts and spas and lavish gifts for its executives, board members and their spouses.

The bonuses to top executives have also been widely criticized. PHEAA's top executive, Richard E. Willey, received $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.

The lack of oversight by members of the Legislature who make up the PHEAA board is scandalous. For a national perspective on the PHEAA mess, read Richard Vedder's article, "Ripping Off Taxpayers, Pennsylvania Style" at the Center for College Affordability and Productivity blog.

The following is a list of PHEAA board members, primarily incumbent state lawmakers: Rep. William F. Adolph Jr.; Sen. Sean Logan; Rep. Ronald I. Buxton; Sen. Jake Corman; J. Doyle Corman; Rep. Craig A. Dally; Sen. Jane M. Earll; Sen. Vincent J. Fumo; Sen. Vincent J. Hughes; Rep. Sandra J. Major; Rep. Jennifer L. Mann; Rep. Joseph F. Markosek; Sen. Michael A. O'Pake; Roy Reinard; Sen. James J. Rhoades; Rep. James R. Roebuck Jr.; A. William Schenck III; Rep. Jess M. Stairs; Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson; and Rendell Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak.

Many of the career politicians listed above will seek re-election in 2008, as if you needed any more reasons to vote them out.

A major overhaul of the scandal-ridden agency is long overdue. It should start with all the top executives and should include replacement of all 20 board members. The foxes have been guarding the chicken coop long enough.

Additional oversight, including bills introduced by state Sen. John Rafferty and state Sen. Jane C. Orie, to require independent audits and a new way of appointing the PHEAA board, should be a priority when the Legislature returns in session.

(Cartoon by Randy Bish/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Hillary returns dirty money; Rendell, Sestak keeping their cut

Here's the latest on the growing scandal involving the fugitive from California who is a big-time Democratic Party fundraiser.

Hillary Clinton is returning $40,000 linked to Norman Hsu and trying to spin her way out of this mess by saying she gets so much money from so many people, it's hard to keep track of it. I can sympathise with Hillary. It's hard to account for that $52 million. Some of it may come from shady characters pardoned by her husband. That's just the Clinton way. Read more about Hill's Problem of Outsourcing Campaign Fundraising at The Hillary Project Web site.

Then there's the matter of campaign contributions from Mr. Hsu to Gov. Edward G. Rendell and U.S. Congressman Joe Sestak, a freshman from Delaware County. We're still waiting to see if these two will return the tainted money.

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. has called on Rendell to give back any contributions received from Hsu. Rendell got an estimated $40,000 in donations from Hsu. "Gov. Ed Rendell should not be using illegal money to help get Democrats elected," Gleason said. "The governor continues to hold on tight to the tainted money although Hsu pleaded no contest to the charge of grand theft. I believe that to be a clear admission of guilt."

Read Gleason's full statement at the Pennsylvania GOP's Web site.

John Micek of The Morning Call in Allentown has an update on Rendell's refusal (so far) to give the money back. Check out his blog at Capitol Ideas.

Evan Rendell's official house newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, is concerned about the governor's latest ethical lapse, running a story on its front page today saying Rendell will keep the suspect donations. Rendell should fit right in with a Clinton administration in 2008.

It's fascinating all the left-wing bloggers ignoring the growing Hillary Clinton scandal, choosing instead to focus on a Republican senator caught playing footsie under a men's room stall. Now that's a scandal, not how the nation's likely next president is financing her campaign with dirty money.

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Where does Hillary Clinton get her money?

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I will NOT be voting for Hillary Clinton for president in 2008. I don't care who else is running, I will vote for "anybody but Hillary."

If you still can't figure out why Hillary is not getting my vote, spend some time at The Hillary Project Web site, which had been reporting for years on news about the Clintons that the mainstream media is afraid to touch. Unlike so many Democrats, I do not suffer from amnesia about the Clinton years, a time of massive corruption, cronyism and law-breaking in the White House and appeasement of our enemies abroad.

If you're still not sure about whether Hillary Clinton is fit to become our next president, check out this editorial in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about where Hillary Clinton is getting some of her campaign money to finance her run for the White House.

The editorial points out that Mrs. Clinton received $45,000 donations from six different members of one family. The father of the San Fransisco family reported annual income of $49,000. Makes you wonder how the miracle of donating $200,000 to the Clinton campaign occurred, doesn't it.

This is a must read. Do Democrats really want this unscrupulous woman representing their party? If you think the Bush administration has had ethical lapses, wait until the Clintons get back in the White House.

The original connection between Clinton's campaign funds and a fugitive named Norman Hsu appeared in The Los Angeles Times. The connection between Hsu and the generous California family of modest means was reported in The Wall Street Journal.

And it's not just Hillary Clinton who took campaign contributions from questionable sources. None other than Edward G. Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania, has been implicated in the growing scandal.

The Morning Call in Allentown reported today that Rendell has no intention of returning a $40,000 donation from Norman Hsu.

Reporter John Micek quotes Rendell as saying Norman Hsu "gave me that money legally. He hasn't been convicted of anything … We'll see what the court system does. If the court sustains it, we'll give it back."

(AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Bonusgate heats up

The Associated Press is reporting today that state investigators raided the offices of top Democratic Legislative leaders as part of the ongoing grand jury investigation of how millions of dollars in tax dollars were given to legislative staffers in the form of bonuses. If the investigation leads to indictments of top Democratic leaders in the House, it could tip the balance of power in Harrisburg. Stay tuned.

The original story about the raids came from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Here's the AP's version:

Paper: House Democratic offices searched in probe of bonuses

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State investigators looking into whether legislative employees were improperly used for campaign purposes searched the House Democratic Office of Legislative Research last week and seized records, a newspaper reported Thursday.

The Aug. 23 search was part of a probe into the activities of former state Rep. Michael Veon, D-Beaver, and whether public funds were spent on campaigns while Veon was the second-ranking House Democrat, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The paper, citing unnamed sources, said Veon and other Democratic activists, state workers and ex-lawmakers are being investigated by a grand jury.

State prosecutors have said the probe focuses on nearly $4 million that legislative staffers in both parties received in 2005 and 2006. House Democrats, who reclaimed control of the chamber in the 2006 election, awarded $2.4 million in bonuses, most of it handed out in the election year.

Kevin Harley, a spokesman for the attorney general, declined to comment on the search. He said his agency is investigating House and Senate legislative staff work by both parties, including the House Democratic research department.

"We are conducting an investigation into bonuses paid to legislative staff members, to determine whether the bonuses were paid for campaign work or for legitimate legislative business," Harley said Thursday.

Veon, the former Democratic whip who opened a lobbying firm after losing re-election last year, did not immediately respond to an e-mail and phone message left by The Associated Press at his Harrisburg office on Thursday.

He said in February his caucus' employees' bonuses were granted in "a very proper and legal way" and were not related to campaign work.

An aide to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, referred a request for comment to caucus lawyers, who did not immediately respond Thursday.

House Republicans have said they followed a written policy in awarding bonuses and that none were given out for campaign activities. Senate Republicans, under new leadership, announced Jan. 31 they were halting the bonuses, and the other three caucuses followed suit shortly afterward.

The job responsibilities for legislative employees often include boosting lawmakers' public images or analyzing politically sensitive issues — work that has obvious value to a campaign — but Harley said it is illegal to campaign on state time, or use public equipment to do so.

In February 2006, state Rep. Jeff Habay, R-Allegheny, resigned after being sentenced to six to 12 months in jail for having aides perform campaign work on state time.

Berks FOP endorses Rowley for judge; snubs longtime D.A.

There are a few conspicuous absences from the list of endorsements for the November election issued by the Fraternal Order of Police Berks Lodge No. 71.

The biggest snub goes to Berks County District Attorney Mark C. Baldwin, a Republican who has been the top law enforcement officer in the county for the past 16 years.

The FOP is supporting his Democratic challenger John T. Adams, who worked for Baldwin from 1992-94 as an assistant district attorney.

The FOP is also backing attorney Tim Rowley for the one open seat on the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. Rowley, a Republican, won the Democratic nomination in May by 857 votes, but fell short of winning the Republican nomination by 182 votes. The winner was fellow Republican attorney Ron Stanko, a former Berks County Republican Party chairman.

Because judicial candidates can cross-file in both primaries, a Rowley-Stanko rematch will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The FOP is also recommending retention of Berks County Judge Jeffrey Schmehl.

But the big surprise is the FOP's rebuke of Baldwin. Incumbents usually get the support of the FOP because law officers have had a chance to work with them and build relationships. But the FOP is throwing its weight behind Adams, a little-known challenger who won the write-in nomination in May's Democratic primary.

"The collective opinion of the police officers that are members of our lodge is that a change is needed in the Office of District Attorney of Berks County and John T. Adams is the most qualified person to serve in that position," according to Joseph M. Brown, Lodge No. 71 president.

Baldwin was expecting to coast to easy re-election this year, especially when Democrats couldn't find a candidate to challenge the 16-year incumbent. With the GOP nomination a lock, Baldwin ran newspaper ads asking Democrats to write in his name so he could avoid a contest in the fall.

That didn't happen. Adams received enough write-in votes for the Democratic nomination. Political insiders tell me that disgruntled Republicans were among those supporting the write-in effort against Baldwin.

Baldwin, who has the lowest public profile of any district attorney in Southeastern Pennsylvania and doesn't like to deal with the media, has burned some bridges during his four terms in office.

Apparently, those bridges include the law enforcement community.

Baldwin has been locked in a feud with the City of Reading and its police department over money confiscated in a big drug bust. The city was expecting to reap the bulk of the benefits from the $1 million in seized money, but Baldwin decided to set up the District Attorney's Anti-Drug Fund and allow any police department in the county to apply for the money. Baldwin has been widely criticized by the Reading Eagle for his actions and is facing a possible lawsuit by the city, which wants to keep the $1 million.

In addition to D.A. and county judge races, the FOP also endorsed county commissioner candidates because the commissioners control the purse-strings. (There's even talk of forming a countywide police force in Berks, so you better believe the FOP wants a say in who makes that final determination.)

The FOP is recommending the election of Republican incumbent Mark C. Scott and GOP candidate Christian Leinbach for Berks County commissioner.

The odd man out is incumbent Democratic Commissioner Tom Gajewski, who was passed over for endorsement by the FOP in favor of Democratic newcomer Kevin S. Barnhardt.

Voters will elect three commissioners in November, with the top two vote-getters from one party forming majority control and the top vote-getter from the other party getting the third seat.

And in an unusual move, the FOP endorsed the Democratic candidate for Berks County Recorder of Deeds. Since the recorder of deeds spends all day shuffling paper around, one might wonder what the position has to do with law enforcement. The answer is absolutely nothing.

This appears to be a snub of the Republican candidate, John Fielding, who has worked in the public defenders' office in Berks for a number of years. I guess defending bad guys didn't sit well with the FOP, which is backing Democrat Fred Sheeler for recorder of deeds.

Lodge No. 71 of the Fraternal Order of Police represents police officers from all municipalities in Berks County except the City of Reading and the Pennsylvania State Police. Lodge No. 71 also includes members of the Berks County Sheriff's Office and the United States Department of Homeland Security stationed in Berks.

Rally Against Illegal Immigration in Harrisburg Sept. 1

This is the first I'm hearing about this, but there's a big rally planned this weekend in Harrisburg to protest illegal immigration. Could this be the unofficial kickoff of the Lou Barletta for President campaign? Here's the e-mail making the rounds:

HARRISBURG PA RALLY AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

Harrisburg, PA

Save America, Save Hazleton! Support immigration reform! Support Mayor Barletta

12:00PM Capitol Building

These are some of the people organizaing the rally and planning to participate:

Congressman Paul C. Broun, MD, Georgia
http://broun.house.gov/

Frank Jorge, LAIR, AVIMM (Latino Americans for Immigration Reform), (Antelope Valley Minutemen) http://www.latinoamericans.org/

Rev. Jessie Peterson, BOND (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny) http://www.bondinfo.org/

Joey Vento, Geno's Steaks http://www.genosteaks.com/

Robert Goldsborough, President of Americans for Immigration Control http://www.immigrationcontrol.com/

EmCee John Clark, Americans for Immigration Control http://www.immigrationcontrol.com/

Frank Scavo, Voice of the People http://www.voiceofthepeopleusa.com/

Paul Topete, lead singer from Poker Face http://www.pokerface.com/html

Daniel Smeriglio, Voice of the People http://www.voiceofthepeopleusa.com/

Andrew Woodring, Voice of the People http://www.voiceofthepeopleusa.com/

Peter Gadiel, 9/11 Families for a Secure America http://www.911fsa.org/

Hagen Smith, Constitution Party http://www.constitutionparty.com/

Susan Smith, Nebraskans Advisory Group http://www.nebraskansadvisorygroup.com/index.htm

Mariann Davies, You Don't Speak for Me http://www.dontspeakforme.org/

Michael Cutler http://www.911fsa.org/info/bio_cutler.html

Dan Amato, Digger's Realm http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/

Music by Poker Face http://www.pokerface.com/html/pf_gigs.html

HARRISBURG RALLY IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING!!!!!!!!!

We are looking to run buses from the Nanticoke area as well as the Hazleton area. The seats will be first come first served. We need to know immediately so arrangements can be made. If you are interested or have any questions about travel for our Sept. 1st rally in Harrisburg at the Capitol building.

Please contact: Greg Griffin - 570 239 6244 or Renee Butts - 570 239 5342

Seats will go fast, so call now!!! We need to make this the biggest event our Capitol has ever seen. We can't do it without your support!

Source: http://www.voiceofthepeopleusa.com/bustrip.html

Mayoral candidate 'lucky' to be alive

In his first interview since being critically injured in a 20-foot fall onto concrete, Reading School Board President Keith R. Stamm told his hometown newspaper he was "really lucky" to have survived the work-related accident.

Speaking to reporter David Mekeel of the Reading Eagle from Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Stamm, who is also running for mayor of Reading, said he doesn't remember much about the accident.

The 51-year-old Stamm broke both shoulder blades, his collar bone and several ribs as well as puncturing a lung when he plunged at least 20 feet onto concrete on Aug. 17, according to the newspaper.

Stamm spent the next five days in the intensive care unit at Reading Hospital before being moved into a rehabilitation wing, Stamm told Mekeel.

Stamm told the newspaper he expects to be released from the hospital this week, but is facing months of rehabilitation. He has been unable to walk since the accident, Stamm told the newspaper.

The fall took while Stamm was on a maintenance call for Fluidics, a Philadelphia company where Stamm has been working at since January, the newspaper said. Stamm told the newspaper that was working on the heating and cooling system at the Meridian Building when he fell while closing a hatch on the building roof.

Stamm is attempting to unseat incumbent Democratic Mayor Tom McMahon, who barely won his party’s nomination in a crowded primary field in May.

McMahon, master of the photo opportunity but a mayor of little substance, doesn't have to show for his past four years as mayor of Reading, which is experiencing a variety of problems, including violent crime, trash dumping and deteriorating infrastructure.

Stamm told the Reading Eagle that he participated in a Reading School Board meeting via telephone last week and plans to continue campaigning for mayor when his is physically able.

The timing of the accident couldn't be worse for Stamm, who was offering Reading residents a credible alternative to McMahon.

Stamm has been blogging at Keith Stamm, School Director since January 2005, but hasn’t posted any new entries since the week before the accident.

30,000 visitors to Tony Phyrillas

Another milestone as we wind down summer.

My site counter has recorded 30,000 unique visitors to this blog so far this year. (Closing in on 40,000 page views, whatever that means).

Gotta run. I'm speaking to the Spring-Ford Rotary Club today at noon. I'll be back later today with some fresh postings.

Thanks for visiting.

Poverty decline makes John Edwards even more irrelevant

The Census Bureau released its annual assessment of poverty levels in the United States and guess what? Poverty is on the decline.

The Bureau reported Tuesday that 36.5 million Americans, or 12.3 percent — were living in poverty in 2006 (the most recent numbers available). That's a drop from the 12.6 percent rate recorded in 2005.

Of course, it's George W. Bush's fault. Oh, wait. This is good news. I was just thinking about the the liberal media was going to say about the poverty statistics. The left-wing media's knee-jerk reaction to blame Bush for everything, but in this case, the president deserves the credit, which is probably why you won't read or hear much about the declining poverty numbers in the mainstream media.

Check your local newspaper Wednesday to see where the "Poverty Rate Declines" story is placed. For the past six years, the poverty rate was front page news because the the numbers rose slightly each year. How much you wanna bet that newspapers will bury the story about the drop in poverty in Wednesday's editions?

Pity "poor" John Edwards. The millionaire trial lawyer's entire campaign for president is based on the fact that he plans to eliminate poverty. He is going to bridge the gap between the "two Americas." How can we forget that John Edwards went on his Magical Poverty Tour this summer to bring attention to the plight of poor Americans.

What's the point of Edwards' staying in the race if poverty is in decline? Is another attack on Ann Coulter coming in the next few days to revive the sinking Edwards' campaign?

You can read the full poverty report at the Census Bureau's Web site.

(Photo credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)