Gerlach launches bid for fourth term in Congress

The Times-Herald in Norristown has a story today on Rep. Jim Gerlach kicking off his bid for a fourth term in Congress.

The Chester County Republican has struggled to win and then to hold the seat in each of his first three runs, but Gerlach is a survivor.

His chances of winning a fourth term have greatly improved. The Democratic Party hasn't been able to find a viable candidate to run against Gerlach this year. Gerlach has also moved away from President Bush on several issues and is now considered a moderate who can appeal to Democrats and independents.

Gerlach's top priorities are the economy, border security, energy independence, improving transportation systems, preserving open space and other environmental issues.

"We have our work cut out for us," Gerlach told the newspaper.

Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District covers parts of Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.

Read the full story on The Times-Herald Web site.

Are Pennsylvania teachers in it for the money?

An interesting op-ed piece in today's Daily Local News in West Chester that examines what many perceive as greed among teachers' unions in Pennsylvania.

The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania is $54,027 for nine months of work.

In the article, "Teaching isn't a 'for profit' profession," Exton resident Philip Bartholomeo recaps the controversy surrounding a threatened walkout by Downingtown Area School District teachers in Chester County if they don't get what they want in current contract talks.

Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states that allow teachers to strike.

Mr. Bartholomeo raises some good points in his op-ed:

"If you doubled salaries tomorrow, it would not materially change any test scores; in fact, the way you posture it, I would expect the energy crisis to be solved by the next graduating class. These kids are getting a fine education with the resources at hand now. Tell me something: When the student population decreases, will you be willing to reduce expenditures, or, will you be spinning the need to have a 10-to-1 student/teacher ratio."

He also wants to know why there is no competition in the education field and why public education costs rise much higher than the rate of inflation:

"What you need to do is get creative because the tired old issue of funding education by continual tax increases will not work. There is something wrong with the bigger picture. Maybe education should be opened to competition. Why shouldn't the taxpayers be given their tax money to choose where they educate their children. Why is it that Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states that allows teachers to strike?"

Rep. Rick Taylor faces challenge from Montco assistant DA

Although the party has several state House seats to defend this year, Montgomery County Republicans have an opportunity to knock off a weak Democratic state lawmaker in Rep. Rick Taylor.

The Doylestown Intelligencer is reporting that Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Todd Stephens will run for the 151st House District seat held by Democrat Rick Taylor.

Not sure why a Bucks County newspaper is interested in Montgomery County, but that's another story.

Stephens, 36, of Horsham, told a gathering of supporters that he's the right man for the job: "I help people now, but I help them one person at a time," Stephens was quoted on the Intelligencer. "In Harrisburg, I can do more."

His law-and-order background would come in handy in Harrisburg, Stephens told his supporters.

"I've been enforcing the law for seven years. I certainly think I'm adequately prepared to help write them," the newspaper reported.

Rep. Taylor was in the right place at the right time in 2006 when he knocked off incumbent Republican Eugene McGill, who refused to drop out of the race despite the urging of Republican officials who thought McGill had too much baggage to run for re-election.

Taylor takes his marching orders from the party bosses in Harrisburg and has failed to deliver on his 2006 campaign promises.

Republicans are confident they can take back the 151st District seat, which covers Ambler and parts of Horsham, Montgomery Township, Lower Gwynedd, Upper Dublin and Abington.

Third newspaper backs elimination of property taxes

Following in the footsteps of The Mercury in Pottstown and The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, the Reading Eagle has called for the elimination of property taxes in Pennsylvania.

While the three newspapers differ on the best way to accomplish the goal, all three have run editorials recently saying the elimination of property taxes must be a priority for the state Legislature.

The Mercury supports House Bill 1275, which would eliminate property taxes in favor of an expanded sales tax.

The Patriot-News recommends a higher state income tax rate to replace property taxes.

The Reading Eagle supports a plan by state Sen. Michael O'Pake, D-Berks, to raise the state income taxes on a graduated basis starting with people who earn $100,000 or more.

The merits of each plan should be debated in the Legislature instead of the half-measures introduced by House Democrats (House Bill 1600 chief among them). The current plans would temporarily reduce property taxes while permanently raising other taxes. That is not property tax relief.

It's not what Pennsylvania homeowners want. Read the Reading Eagle editorial at the newspaper's Web site, www.readingeagle.com

Lawmakers cave to teachers' union on school strike ban

Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in teacher strikes and that trend is not about the change any time soon.

In other words, don't expect to see action on the Strike Free Education Act, which would ban teacher strikes in Pennsylvania. Across the country, 37 states have already banned teacher strikes.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that a strike ban in unlikely because the teachers' union is too powerful. (The union is also one of the biggest contributors to incumbent lawmakers.)

"We see a strike as a basic right to withhold work to achieve fair compensation. A strike ban would hand all the power to the school board," PSEA President James Testerman told the newspaper.

Does anybody care about the thousands of students who are incovenienced by strikes? How about the parents who have to leave their jobs and find day care for the kids?

The teachers don't lose anything. They get paid for the time they're on the picket line.

Read more about the effort to ban teacher strikes in Pennsylvania at http://www.stopteacherstrikes.org/

Also check out an interesting post at PAWatercooler about the strong-arm tactics the teachers' union uses to get its way over school boards and administrators. And that usually ends up sticking it to taxpayers where it hurts -- in the wallet.

"Teacher unions across the state hold the public hostage using laws that give their members an unfair advantage of the taxpayers footing their manifestly lavish compensation," according to PaWatercooler. "If this weren't government-sanctioned we would call it racketeering and would expect a grand jury to be investigating the cartel perpetrating it."

Another blogger, PA Pundit, weighs in on the fact that Pennsylvania is one of just 13 states that allow teachers to strike and offers some insights into how a Chester County school district was pressured by the threat of a teacher strike earlier this month.

"Parents are afraid to oppose the union in public because the union's members control the lives of their children 180 days a year, as well as grades and recommendations that determine their children's future," states PA Pundit. "Parents are also held hostage because they are on the hook for contingent daycare expenses in the event that teachers do choose to strike. The pressure to mollify the teachers is both one-sided and overwhelming."

Finally, don't forget that this is an election year for 203 members of the Pennsylvania House and 25 members of the Pennsylvania Senate. Your legislators can take tons of cash from the teachers' union to hide under their desks when the issue of banning teacher strikes comes up. But if you vote them out of office this April or November, the money from the teachers' union won't matter, will it?

Payjackers becoming a rare breed

The 2005 legislative payjacking appears to be the gift that keeps on giving.

Richard Fellinger reports that most of the Central Pennsylvania lawmakers who supported the 2005 pay raise will be gone after the 2008 election cycle.

With (state Sen. Terry) Punt's retirement, several central Pennsylvania counties will have no lawmakers who voted for the pay raise at the end of this year, Fellinger writes. Franklin, Adams, York and Lebanon counties will have none, according to Fellinger.

From Fellinger's article, here are some other payjackers who left or were asked to leave Harrisburg:

Senate Appropriations Chairman Gib Armstrong, R-Lancaster, who represents much of eastern York County and voted for the raise, announced last month that he will retire this year.

Those who lost their re-election bids after voting for the pay raise include Reps. Pat Fleagle, R-Waynesboro, and Stephen Maitland, R-Gettysburg. In Lebanon County, voters ousted Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill and Rep. Pete Zug.

Rep. Bruce Smith, R-Dillsburg, retired in 2006. Rep. Stephen Stetler, D-York, left office for a job as executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League.

Lebanon County activist Russ Diamond, founder of the anti-incumbent movement PACleanSweep, said the retirements and election defeats are a good start for shaking up the Legislature, but more needs to be done.

Read the full story in the Chambersburg Public Opinion.

Thompson bows out, what now for conservatives?

The Washington Post is reporting that Fred Thompson has dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination for president.

Where does that leave conservatives?

Thompson was supposed to be the new Ronald Reagan, the man who could build a conservative coalition similar to what Reagan did.

Only one problem. Somebody forgot to tell Republican voters.

Thompson finished near the bottom of the pack in all the GOP contests so far.

So what's a Reagan conservative to do? There's not much to pick from.

Front-runner John McCain has a checkered past with the McCain-Feingold campaign donation restrictions and the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill and let's not forget that McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts.

Mitt Romney? Are you kidding me? This guy was elected governor in the Socialist Republic of Massachusetts.

Rudy Giuliani? Is he still running? It's hard to get excited about a candidate who draws 3 percent of the vote. And let's not talk about Giuliani's stand on abortion, gun control and same-sex marriage.

Mike Huckabee? Not unless he picks Chuck Norris as his vice presidential running mate.

Ron Paul? Wrong party.

As I said before, what's a conservative to do?

Will they let Gene Stilp in the state Capitol?

Gene Stilp, a citizen activist who has been a thorn in the side of Pennsylvania's political class for years, is interested in joining the Pennsylvania Legislature.

According to The Harrisburg Patriot-News, Stilp is circulating petitions to run against incumbent Republican state Rep. Sue Helm, who has represented the 104th House District since 2006.

Stilp made an unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in 2006. The rest of his time has been spent exposing politicians for ethical violations and excessive spending.

Stilp has received notoriety by bringing a giant inflatable pink pig to various rallies across the state.

He also served a "citizen indictment" against House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, who is embroiled in the "Bonusgate" scandal.

"Hopefully, I can serve the people of the 104th and represent them and what they want done at the Capitol," Stilp told the newspaper.

I bet at least 200 members of the Pennsylvania Legislature have a bulls-eye target in their office with Stilp's face in the middle. If he wins, will he be allowed in the Capitol? Think about all the publicity Stilp has generated on behalf of the reform movement over the past few years. Imagine the trouble Stilp can cause from inside Pennsylvania government.

Ex-Congressman Fitzpatrick wants state Legislature seat

It sucks to be Chris King, the freshman Democrat who represents the 142nd House district in the Pennsylvania Legislature.

King snuck into office in 2006 as part of the anti-pay raise, anti-incumbency movement. King defeated longtime Republican incumbent Matt Wright, who overstayed his welcome in Harrisburg.

But with little to show in his first term, King now faces one of the best known politicians in Bucks County.

The Doylestown Intelligencer is reporting that former U.S. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is planning to seek the Republican nomination to run against King.

Fitzpatrick narrowly lost his re-election bid for Congress in 2006 against Patrick Murphy as part of the Democratic Party tide that took control of Congress.

Fitzpatrick, a lawyer and former Bucks County commissioner, has the name recognition, the financial resources and the experience to make King a one-term legislator.

"I intend to change the way business is done in Harrisburg," Fitzpatrick told the newspaper. "We need to control the growth of spending in government, expand economic opportunities and restore honesty to the process. I will bring a unique perspective along with a proven record of accomplishment for the people I serve."

Read the full story at The Intelligencer Web site.

Gerlach kicks off re-election bid today

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, the Republican who represents the 6th Congressional District (parts of Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania) is announcing his bid for a fourth term today.

Gerlach has survived three close elections but was one of the few Republican Congressmen from Pennsylvania to win re-election in 2006 when Democrats took control of the House.

Gerlach is announcing his bid for a fourth term via conference call with the press today at 1 p.m.

Several big name Democrats have turned down the opportunity to challenge Gerlach, leaving 2 or 3 no-name candidates to battle it out in the April 22 primary for the chance to go against Gerlach in November.

The pundits think Gerlach is vulnerable, but he survived a challenge in 2006 from Ed Rendell protege Lois Murphy, who received tons of money from the national Democratic Party. (Murphy also lost to Gerlach in 2004).

Gerlach has moderated his voting record in the past year. Democrats won't be able to link Gerlach to the Bush administration this time around. So what do they have? Nothing.

Gerlach is popular with constituents and is a moderate Republican in a swing district. He should win re-election to a new term this year.

I waited four years for $120?

It's been nearly four years since Gov. Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania Legislature promised state taxpayers would hit the jackpot once casino gambling was approved.

The governor dangled the prospect of property tax cuts in front of reluctant legislators to get the votes he needed to bring 51,000 slot machines to the Keystone State.

Was it worth it? You be the judge. Go to the governor's Web site, http://www.governor.state.pa.us and click on the button that says "Property Tax Relief" to review a spread sheet that predicts how much residents in each of the state's 501 school districts can expect in property tax cuts.

For me, it's somewhere between $120 and $302, depending on how much the casinos take in this year. Let's play it safe and stay with the minimum number.

Four years after Rendell promised "historic property tax relief," I get back $120 on my school taxes! I'm paying $500 more in school taxes today than four years ago. I'm already in the hole and I still don't have my check from Rendell.

There was a lot of talk last week in the state Legislature about property tax relief when lawmakers returned to Harrisburg after a 30-day holiday break. The Legislature adjourned after four days and politicians started cranking out press releases about the wonderful job they did on property taxes.

What exactly did the Legislature do? The House voted unanimously to amend the state constitution to allow lawmakers to revisit the property tax issue down the road. That's it.

You can thank House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, for ending the tax relief debate before it began. Unable to get the votes he needed to push through some of the bogus tax relief bills the Democrats supported, DeWeese did what he always does — punt.

Before adjourning until Jan. 28, what monumental legislation was approved after those grueling 12 hours that the House was in session last week?

House members supported a constitutional amendment to permit elimination of homeowners' property taxes … somewhere down the road. The amendment would revise the state constitution to allow a 50 percent cut in property taxes for primary residences. Because of the uniformity clause in the state constitution, homeowners and businesses are treated equally so you can't cut property taxes for one and not the other.

The amendment would allow the Legislature to eliminate residential property taxes while keeping taxes in place for businesses and other commercial properties.

"It's a borderline joke is what it is," Rep. Will Gabig, R-Cumberland, told the Associated Press. "It will do nothing. It will not reduce property taxes by one dollar. It will not change the system at all."

Another bill that passed the House last week would provide tax breaks to low-income residents (something the Democrats wanted) while cutting the state's personal income tax by $1 billion (a move pushed by Republicans.) But none of this will happen unless the Senate and Gov. Rendell agree and that's not likely going to happen until Rendell unveils his 2008-09 budget in February.

DeWeese promised to take up property tax relief again on Jan. 28, but he's made many promises before. House Bill 1275, which would eliminate school property taxes for all Pennsylvania homeowners, may or may not be on the agenda when the House returns. That's up to DeWeese ... or your local legislator if you make sure they get the message that their job is on the line.

In case you were planning to spend that future property tax cut, keep in mind that the constitutional amendment needs to pass the Senate and then must be brought back for another round of approvals by the next Legislature in the 2009-10 session. Then it goes to voters for a referendum the following year.

In other words, homeowners counting on a significant property tax reform, or better yet, the elimination of school property taxes, will have to wait another three or four years. (Keep in mind that Rendell kept shuffling the deck on us for the past four years for a measly $120.)

The political class that populates Harrisburg did what it always does, put on a show for the voters back home but avoid making any decision. It's the same song-and-dance professional politicians have been giving taxpayers for decades.

All 203 members of the House and half the members of the state Senate are up for re-election this year. The primary election is April 22.

You can wait by your mailbox for that property tax cut check to arrive or you can go to the polls on April 22 and vote out every politician who thinks $120 is property tax relief.

Abbreviated GrassrootsPA returns

Chris Lilik is back, although in a skinnier version than his normally beefy blog that reports on government and political issues across Pennsylvania.

After being "off the air" for several days due to server problems, Lilik has begun posting a "Temporary Skeleton Version" of GrassrootsPA.

The address is still the same, but many of the site's features are gone. But not to worry. Lilik promises to address his server issues and return better than ever.

Liberal media bias? You better believe it

From Media Research Center:

6th Poll in a Year Finds Public Recognizes Liberal Tilt to Media

For the sixth time in a year, a national survey has found many more Americans see a news media bias to the left than to the right, and the latest poll released earlier this month by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute, discovered "significantly declining percentages of Americans saying they believe all or most of media news reporting," with MSNBC (at a piddling four percent) and PBS (three percent) the least trusted for accurate reporting. Fox News, at 27 percent, was the most trusted, way ahead of second-best CNN at 14.6 percent. The Fairfield, Connecticut university's January 8 press release reported: "Just 19.6 percent of those surveyed could say they believe all or most news media reporting. This is down from 27.4 percent in 2003."

By a three-to-one margin "Americans see news media journalists and broadcasters (45.4 percent to 15.7 percent) as mostly or somewhat liberal over mostly or somewhat conservative," but for NPR and the New York Times recognition of a liberal tilt is closer to four-to-one.

That ratio for the New York Times matches a July poll by Rasmussen (see below).

[This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted early Monday morning on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

An excerpt from the January 8 press release about the survey, based on 800 interviews, conducted November 26 to December 5:

AMERICANS SLAM NEWS MEDIA ON BELIEVABILITY

A Sacred Heart University Poll found significantly declining percentages of Americans saying they believe all or most of media news reporting. In the current national poll, just 19.6% of those surveyed could say they believe all or most news media reporting. This is down from 27.4% in 2003. Just under one-quarter, 23.9%, in 2007 said they believe little or none of reporting while 55.3% suggested they believe some media news reporting.

....The perception is growing among Americans that the news media attempts to influence public opinion -- from 79.3% strongly or somewhat agreeing in 2003 to 87.6% in 2007.

And, 86.0% agreed (strongly or somewhat) that the news media attempts to influence public policies -- up from 76.7% in 2003....

By four-to-one margins, Americans surveyed see The New York Times (41.9% to 11.8%) and National Public Radio (40.3% to 11.2%) as mostly or somewhat liberal over mostly or somewhat conservative.

By a three-to-one margin, Americans see news media journalists and broadcasters (45.4% to 15.7%) as mostly or somewhat liberal over mostly or somewhat conservative.

And, by a two-to-one margin, Americans see CNN (44.9% to 18.4%) and MSNBC (38.8% to 15.8%) as mostly or somewhat liberal over mostly or somewhat conservative.

Just Fox News was seen as mostly and somewhat conservative (48.7%) over mostly or somewhat liberal (22.3%).

The most trusted national TV news organizations, for accurate reporting, in declining order included: Fox News (27.0%), CNN (14.6%), and NBC News (10.90%). These were followed by ABC News (7.0%), local news (6.9%), CBS News (6.8%) MSNBC (4.0%), PBS News (3.0%), CNBC (0.6%) and CBN (0.5%).

In 2003, CNN led Fox News on "trust most for accurate reporting" 23.8% to 14.6%.

Religious diversity in the United States

You've heard of blue states and red states.

How about a breakdown of the United States along religious lines?

I came across a link at Policy Blog to Carpe Diem, a fascinating blog by Mark J. Perry, an economics professor from Michigan. (You can get a better look at the map at either site or try clicking on this enlargement.)

The map breaks down U.S. counties based on religious affiliation. How about that sea of red across the Southern states? That's Baptist territory. (I couldn't help but notice there were no predominantly Greek Orthodox counties anywhere in the U.S.)

This map might give us some clues about who could win some of the crucial states in the 2008 presidential contest.

Lindsay Lohan leads nominations for Razzies

We know Lindsay Lohan is a bad actress, but she may have set a new low for a cinematic performance by screwing up both her roles in "I Know Who Killed Me."

Lohan's "performance" in the 2007 box office bomb was cited twice in the worst actress category by the folks who pick the Razzies each year.

The film received nine Golden Raspberry Awards® nominations to lead the pack as the worst film of 2007.

Our favorite leading lady plays two roles in the film, a small-town girl abducted by a psychopath and a stripper who's missing body parts.

"I Know Who Killed Me" is favored to win in the Worst Picture category. It also received nominations for Worst Screenplay, Worst Director and Worst Screen Couple (Lohan appearing opposite herself).

The 28th annual Razzie "winners" will be announced Feb. 23, the day before the Academy Awards are picked. Razzie winners get to go home a gold-spray-painted, $4.89 statuette.

Check out the full list of nominations for Razzies at http://www.razzies.com

Newspaper backs elimination of property taxes

I could be wrong but before this weekend, the only newspaper in the state that has been calling for the elimination of school property taxes in Pennsylvania has been The Mercury.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that The Harrisburg Patriot-News is also calling for the end of the property tax to fund the state's public schools.

In an editorial published Sunday, "Bold plan required to drop school property tax entirely," the newspaper makes the argument that the half-measures under consideration by the state Legislature won't get the job done.

"Be bold and keep it simple. The result will be a win for local taxpayers, a big win for the state's school children and, yes, a major win for our much-criticized senators and representatives," the newspaper states.

Elimination of school property taxes, which is what House Bill 1275 would accomplish, is the only way to go. The party that delivers property tax relief for Pennsylvania residents will control state government for years to come. So far, Democrats are standing in the way of eliminating property taxes.

Read the full editorial at the Patriot-News Web site.

Find out more about HB 1275 from the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition.

Freshman lawmakers earn failing grades

Brad Bumstead, the veteran state government reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, has an excellent column this week about the Pennsylvania Legislature's disappointing freshman class of 2006.

A total of 55 new lawmakers were swept into office in 2006 in the aftermath of the notorious 2005 payjacking, but the majority of the freshman "reformers" turned into doormats for Legislative leadership, especially the Democrats who checked their backbone at the door and fell in line with Majority Leader Bill DeWeese.

Read Bumstead's column -- 'F' for freshman lawmakers' -- at the Tribune-Review Web site. Bumstead singles out a handful of lawmakers who kept their promise to work for reform (Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Blair County, Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon County, Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette County and Eugene DePasquale, D-York County), but the rest of the freshmen have earned a trip to the back of the class.

Two dozen legislators dropping out so far

If you're keeping score, the list of Pennsylvania Legislators who are not seeking re-election in 2008 has grown to 24 (15 Republicans and 9 Democrats).

State Rep.Tom Petrone, D-Allegheny, and state Sen. Terry Punt, R-Adams, are the latest incumbents to announce they're not running for new terms.

Conventional wisdom has been that Republicans stood a good chance to regain control of the state House because of corruption scandals connected with Democratic House leadership, but the GOP has to defend more seats, so it's still a horse race.

Here is the most current list of Pennsylvania legislators who are not seeking re-election after 2008:

Senate

Democrats: Gerald J. LaValle, Beaver County; Connie Williams, Montgomery.

Republicans: Gib Armstrong, Lancaster; Roger A. Madigan, Bradford; Terry Punt, Adams

House of Representatives

Democrats: Lisa Bennington, Allegheny; Daylin Leach, Montgomery; Thomas C. Petrone, Allegheny; Sean Ramaley, Beaver; Thomas A. Tangretti, Westmoreland; Edward P. Wojnaroski, Cambria; Thomas F. Yewcic, Cambria.

Republicans: Bob Bastian, Somerset; Steven W. Cappelli, Lycoming: Arthur D. Hershey, Chester; George Kenney, Philadelphia; Fred McIlhattan, Clarion; Jerry L. Nailor, Cumberland; Carl Mantz, Berks/Lehigh; Steven R. Nickol, York: Ron Raymond, Delaware; Carole A. Rubley, Chester; Jess M. Stairs, Fayette/Westmoreland; David J. Steil, Bucks.

(Note: Leach, Ramaley and Cappelli are giving up their House seats to run for open Senate seats)

Tuesday, Jan. 22, is the first day incumbents and challengers can begin circulating nominating petitions to place their names on the April 22 primary election.

Candidates have three weeks to gather signatures — at least 500 are required for the Senate seats and 300 for the House seats — to qualify for the April 22 primary ballot.

During the last election cycle in 2006, the year after the Legislature voted itself, the governor and the state's judges a pay raise in the middle-of-the-night, 31 incumbents chose not to seek re-election. Another 24 were defeated at the polls, ushering in 55 new members of the Legislature.

Tony Phyrillas No. 1 on 'Influence Ranking'

It took me 10 months in 2007 to reach the coveted No. 1 spot of Pennsylvania's Most Influential Political blogs at www.blognetnews.com

I returned to the pinnacle three other times before the year was out.

The climb wasn't as hard in 2008. The new 'Influence Rankings' are out and TONY PHYRILLAS is No. 1 in Pennsylvania with just a few weeks into the new year.

Here's the TOP 20 list from www.blognetnews.com/Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Most Influential Political blogs
Rank ... Blog ... Prev Rank

1 TONY PHYRILLAS 4
2 Pawatercooler.com 8
3 Pennsyltucky Politics 10
4 POLICY BLOG 3
5 Keystone Politics 5
6 The Carbolic Smoke Ball 14
7 Lehigh Valley Ramblings 2
8 Suburban Guerrilla 6
9 Mark Rauterkus -
10 PSoTD 12
11 The Pennsylvania Progressive 1
12 Comments From Left Field -
13 PowerBlog! -
14 GrassrootsPA 7
15 The Lehigh Valley Political Blog 16
16 Is this Life? 19
17 West Chester Unplugged -
18 Fact-esque -
19 Booman Tribune 9
20 Capitol Ideas 13

Presidential Matchmaking

Having a difficult time making your mind up in the presidential race? Don't worry. Let a computer help you pick the next president.

People use computers to help them find a perfect mate, so what's so strange about allowing a computer to pick the president?

A popular new Web site called VoteHelp.org asks 28 questions about where you stand on various issues and with the click of a mouse, the site matches you up with the presidential candidate who comes closest to agreeing with you on those issues.

The people who created the site say VoteHelp.org is a completely independent entity, not tied to any candidates or political parties.

"Our goal is to help you learn more about the candidates via an easy-to-use filter," according to the site. "While it is impossible to create an easy-to-use interface that perfectly captures the nuances of every issue and every candidate's stance, we have made a great effort to present the issues and candidate’s views as clearly and accurately as possible."

The purpose of VoteHelp.org is to provide people with a clearer understanding of where the candidates stand on issues, according to the site.

As a lark, I decided to take the test. It took about 10 minutes, but if you're pressed for time, you can answer just the first 10 questions or go to the second tier and answer 10 more or you can complete all 28 questions. The Web site doesn't ask your party affiliation, so you may end up with a candidate from the other party as your closest match.

According to VoteHelp.org, the candidate who comes closest to sharing my views on the issues is Republican Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, and the winner of the Iowa caucuses. Huckabee and I match on 90.1 percent of the issues, according to the Web site.

Coming in a close second was Republican Fred Thompson, the former senator from Tennessee. I agree with Thompson 88.8 percent of the time, according to the Web site.

In third place was Arizona Sen. John McCain, another Republican. McCain, who won the New Hampshire primary, and I agree on the issues 87.6 percent of the time, the site says.

And here's a real shocker for me. VoteHelp.org says I agree 86 percent of the time with Republican Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. I had no intention of voting for Romney, a man who rivals John Kerry for the Flip-Flop Hall of Fame.

Rounding out the top five was Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City. Giuliani and I agree on 85.2 percent of the issues, according to VoteHelp.org.

It's interesting how close the top five were in terms of the percentage of agreement on the issues. That pretty much says that there's very little difference in the candidates, although I still don't like Romney. As for the other four, I would consider voting for any of them for president.

The No. 6 candidate on my list, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, was another surprise. I've seen Rep. Paul in several debates and wasn't impressed with his brand of libertarianism and isolationism. But the Web site says I agree with Ron Paul on the issues 76.3 percent of the time.

Another surprise was the No. 7 candidate, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, a Democrat. I never considered Biden a viable candidate (and he dropped out of the race after a dismal showing in Iowa.) But according to the Web site, I agree with Biden on 74.6 percent of the issues.

Coming in at No. 8 was Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a Democrat who won Iowa and finished a close second in New Hampshire. I agree with Sen. Obama 71.1 percent of the time, according to VoteHelp.org

At No. 9 is N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton. (Seems a bit high. Maybe I should take the test again.) For the record, I would never vote for Hillary Clinton even though the Web site says I agree with her on 70.4 percent of the issues. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the Clintons. Been there, done that. They had their eight years in the White House and left a mess behind. It's time to move on.

No. 10 on my list was John Edwards, the multi-millionaire trial lawyer who is running around pretending he’s on the side of working people. Edwards lives in a $16 million mansion and gets $400 haircuts. Despite the Web site's contention that I agree with Edwards on 69.3 percent of the issues, I'd never vote for Edwards for president.

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, came in at No. 12 on my list. The Web site says I agree with Richardson on 68.5 percent of the issues.

And dead last on my list is Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio congressman who has a smoking hot wife half his age and says he’s had an encounter with space aliens. I agree with Kucinich 57.9 percent of the time, according to VoteHelp.org.

House 'fails' to deliver property tax relief

House Democrats, under the leadership of Bill DeWeese, put out press releases proclaiming a major step forward in the 30-year-old quest to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania.

Lawmakers' noses started growing soon after they took credit for accomplishing something.

The editorial in today's edition of The Mercury puts the recent debate on property tax relief in the state House into perspective.

"Instead of wasting time to send a political message, legislators should stick with legislation that counts.

Instead of circling the edges of tax reform with measures that chip away at the question, they should tackle it head-on with commitment to change.

Instead of taking a recess after just four days back in Harrisburg, they should stick to their jobs.

Maybe then, they could get something meaningful accomplished."

Read the full editorial at www.pottsmerc.com

Berks GOP to hold 'presidential caucus'

The pundits say the presidential nominees will be picked long before Pennsylvania voters go to the polls on April 22.

If you can't wait to have a say on who the next Republican nominee for president will be, you can vote three months sooner, but it's just for fun.

The Berks County Republican Party has decided to hold its own unofficial "Presidential Caucus and Straw Poll" on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

All Berks County Republicans are invited to participate. For a $10 admission price, you will receive a full meal, beverages and a voting voucher.

By the end of the evening, Berks County may get a sense of who will get its support in the race for the White House.

The event runs from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Leesport Farmers Market on Routed 61.

Although Pennsylvania has a primary election, the county GOP plans to hold an Iowa-style caucus, where groups of voters gather in support of their favorite candidate.

Although the event is open to all Republicans in Berks, you must register in advance. For more information, call the Berks County Republican Committee at 610-374-1111.

Check out 'The Mommy Diaries' blog

If you have young kids, I think you'll enjoy reading a new blog by one of my colleagues, Diane Hoffman.

The Mommy Diaries was launched earlier this month and deals with the everyday struggle of raising kids while working full-time.

Recent postings include, "No such thing as a good night's sleep" and "It's OK to eat ice cream and butter"

I'm waiting for Diane to blog live when she gets up for those 3 a.m. feedings. She's one of the most calm and collected people I've ever worked with, but I wonder if that holds true in the middle of the night.

Did Matthews & Hoeffel violate Sunshine Law?

The Montgomery County Commissioners have changed the date of their next meeting so Democrat Joe Hoeffel can attend a meeting of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

Both meetings were scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 24. The commissioners are moving their meeting to Wednesday so Hoeffel can make his first meeting as the county's representative on the DVRPC.

When was the decision made to change the meeting and when was the decision made to nominate Hoeffel to the regional commission in place of Republican Jim Matthews?

The commissioners last met on Jan. 10 and neither decision was announced (or voted on) at that meeting.

Matthews and Hoeffel must have had a conversation after Jan. 10 to make the switch in meeting dates and appointments. There's no indication the other commissioner, Republican Bruce Castor, took part in the discussion.

There was no public meeting since Jan. 10, so that means Matthews and Hoeffel held a private meeting in violation of the state Sunshine Act.

Any time a majority of commissioners from the three-member board get together, they are subject to the state's Sunshine Act. The meeting has to be advertised in advance and any votes must be taken in a public setting.

How many more secret meetings can we expect under the Matthews-Hoeffel Regime?

Catch the wave: Go see 'Pirates' this weekend

If you missed "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" last weekend -- and judging from its paltry $4 million take at the box office, many of you did -- try to catch the movie this weekend only in theaters.

If you want wholesome, family entertainment, you have to be willing to support it. "Pirates" is the only G rated film in theaters right now.

The reviews have been pretty good and I'm sure it will be a big hit on DVD in a few months, but you have support the film in theaters if you want to see more family entertainment.

Find out if the movie is playing at a theater near you at www.bigidea.com

Another $300,000 out the window

A Lancaster TV channel is reporting that the state Legislature has spent $300,000 so far in legal fees as part of the ongoing "Bonusgate" investigation.

And nobody's been indicted yet. Wait until some current or former lawmakers are facing criminal charges. Imagine the cost Pennsylvania taxpayers will have to incur so their "lawmakers" can defend themselves for breaking the law.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General is looking into allegations that legislative staffers were doing campaign work for their bosses on taxpayers' time.

The focus of the investigation is House Democratic leadership under Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, who authorized millions in "bonus" money for workers, who may have been doing campaign work on your dime.

To investigate if his aides had broken the law, DeWeese has spent $300,000 for lawyers and investigators, according to WGAL Channel 8.

DeWeese has already fired seven of his aides, including his chief of staff, and the Democratic leader is claiming he didn't know that his aides were engaging in illegal activity. Hmmm. Does this remind you of Richard Nixon? I wonder if DeWeese has any tapes he forgot to destroy.

Pennsylvania loses $237M a year in tax dollars

From today's edition of The Mercury comes this editorial on more waste in Harrisburg:

THORNS to the state Legislature for neglecting to update tax laws that could save as much as $237 million a year in funds lost to inefficiency. According to a report in The Harrisburg Patriot-News, tax money is lost every year across Pennsylvania, due to an outdated local wage tax-collection system. An analysis by the nonprofit Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania showed that 11 cents is "lost" for every dollar collected in local wage taxes across Pennsylvania. Some employers don't collect the tax, some employees report less than they earn, some tax collectors never forward the money to other regional tax collectors, all of which result in lost money, the report stated. The Legislature is expected to update the 1965 local tax laws this year. It would have been nice if they hadn't waited 42 years.

The other sad part of this latest fiasco is that it took an outside group, the nonprofit Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania, to figure out that the state couldn't account for the money.

You can read the original story on The Patriot News Web site.

Slots windfall turns out to be $61 in tax relief

A Berks County newspaper is reporting today that the much-anticipated property tax relief from the casino slots will end up being somewhere from $61 to $163 for homeowners.

Is that all there is? this is the billion dollars in tax relief that Rendell promised?

This is why Gov. Ed Rendell brought 61,000 slot machines to Pennsylvania? So homeowners can get back $61? I don't know about you, but the only people who made out on the slot parlors are Rendell's rich friends.

What can you do with $61? Maybe the idea is to encourage homeowners to go into the casinos and lose the money on the nickel slots.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that my school district will raise property taxes more than $61 a year, so I won't even get the Rendell windfall.

Read the full story at the Reading Eagle Web site.

The only property tax relief Pennsylvania residents want is the ELIMINATION of school property taxes. That's what House Bill 1275 would do. Contact your state lawmaker today and tell them their job depends on their support of HB 1275.

Democrats pull the plug on tax relief debate

If you blinked, you may have missed it.

The hardest-working state legislature in the country debated property tax relief for a few hours this week and then decided to take another vacation.

The Pennsylvania House convened Monday for an hour after a 30-day holiday break. The House met again for an hour on Tuesday and then settled into marathon seven-hour session on Wednesday. On Thursday, the House convened for another three hours and then decided to take a vacation.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, the House adjourned until Jan. 28.

You can thank House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, for ending the tax relief debate before it began. Unable to get the votes he needed to push through some of the bogus tax relief bills the Democrats supported, DeWeese did what he always does — punt.

What monumental legislation was approved after those grueling 12 hours this week?

The House unanimously supported a constitutional amendment to permit elimination of homeowners' property taxes … somewhere down the road. The amendment would revise the state constitution to allow a 50 percent cut in property taxes for primary residences. The way the constitution is now written, homeowners and businesses are treated equally so you can't cut property taxes for one and not the other.

The amendment would allow the Legislature to eliminate residential property taxes while keeping taxes in place for businesses and other commercial properties.

This is pretty much all the most expensive state legislature in the country could accomplish despite the fact that most Pennsylvania residents keep telling their lawmakers that property tax relief is the most pressing issue facing the state.

Another bill that passed the House this week gives tax breaks to low-income residents (something the Democrats wanted) while cutting the state's personal income tax by one billion dollars (a move pushed by Republicans.) But none of this will happen unless the Senate and Gov. Rendell also agree.

DeWeese promised to take up property tax relief again on Jan. 28, but he's made many promises before. House Bill 1275, which would eliminate school property taxes for all Pennsylvania homeowners, may or may not be on the agenda when the House returns. That's up to DeWeese ... or your local legislator if you make sure they get the message that their job is on the line.

In case you were planning to spend that future property tax cut, keep in mind that the constitutional amendment needs to pass the Senate and then must be brought back for another round of approvals by the next Legislature in the 2009-10 session. Then it goes to voters for a referendum the following year.

In other words, many senior citizens banking on a property tax reduction, or better yet, the elimination of school property taxes, will have to wait another two or three years. (It's been nearly four years since Rendell signed the slots bill into law and nobody has seen a cent of that money yet.)

So this is the best that DeWeese and the Democrats who control the House could do this week — after 12 hours of debate on the House floor. Those 12 hours also represent how long the House has been in session for the month of January.

In other words, the House agreed to put off eliminating school property taxes until tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. It's the same runaround politicians have been giving taxpayers for decades.

"It's a borderline joke is what it is," Rep. Will Gabig, R-Cumberland, told the Associated Press. "It will do nothing. It will not reduce property taxes by one dollar. It will not change the system at all."

All 203 members of the House and half the members of the state Senate are up for re-election this year. The starting salary of a Pennsylvania lawmaker is $76,163.

The primary election, the first opportunity to get rid of some of these legislators, is April 22. Find out about running for office at the Department of State Web site.

The further adventures of Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel

Another day, another new development on the continuing saga of Montgomery County's political Odd Couple, Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel.

Matthews, aka King James the First, has handed more power to Democrat Hoeffel. (The move came a day after Matthews was bounced off the Montgomery County Republican Party Executive Committee as punishment for sharing power with Hoeffel.)

Matthews, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, is giving up his seat on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to Hoeffel, the lone Democrat on the three-member county board.

Hoeffel's backup on the regional planning commission is the new county Deputy Chief Operating Officer James W. Maza, a Democrat hired by Hoeffel with the support of Matthews.

Reporter Margaret Gibbons has the full story in today's edition of The Times Herald.

Higher park fees a hidden tax on Pennsylvania residents

The state of Pennsylvania spends $70 billion a year. Its general fund budget alone tops $27 billion. What are they spending the money on?

Our roads and bridges are in terrible shape. Our public schools are underfunded. The governor forgot to include any money in last year's budget to clean up hazardous waste sites. We need more police officers. Pennsylvania consistently ranks in the bottom on most state-by-state comparisons of economic vitality and quality-of-life.

State spending has increased by $6 billion since Gov. Ed Rendell took office in 2003. Rendell has also borrowed another $2 billion to fund various programs.

The one area that gets little attention is the fees the state charges, from registering your vehicle to obtaining hunting and fishing licenses to using state parks. They've all gone up since Rendell took office. These are hidden tax increases on Pennsylvania residents.

Here's the latest way Rendell is emptying the pockets of the state's beleaguered taxpayers:

HARRISBURG (AP) — It's costing more to camp and play at Pennsylvania’s state parks.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources increased most fees by about 10 percent at the start of the year.

Camping fees increased by a flat rate. Fees for camping increased from $10 per night for a rustic campsite to $13 a night and from $371 to $408 for a modern cabin that sleeps eight for a week.

Rates are also increasing for boating and picnic pavilions. Officials say Pennsylvania is among the few states that don’t charge a park entrance fee. Pennsylvania has 117 parks.

Officials say the increase is to help pay for maintenance and operation.

High school senior launches political career

If elections were won with enthusiasm alone, Scott Thomas has a brilliant career in politics ahead of him.

Thomas, a senior at Pottsville Area High School in Schuylkill County, is planning to run for the Republican State Committee in Pennsylvania.

I bet most high school seniors couldn't name one of the candidates running for president let alone tell you what a state committee does.

Did I mention that Thomas isn't old enough to vote yet?

Although he doesn't turn 18 until Jan. 25, Thomas has built an impressive political resume so far. He serves as chairman of the Pennsylvania Teenage Republicans, and was the founder and chairperson of the Pottsville (now Schuylkill County) Teenage Republicans.

He has helped candidates for Republican office in local, state and federal campaigns.

"I have very much enjoyed my time and experiences in the political arena," Thomas stated in a press release. "I now feel that I can bring my energy and enthusiasm for politics to the state party. I have enjoyed getting young people involved in the process, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with candidates that share the Republican vision of good government."

After high school, Thomas plans to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College in the fall. He is considering a career in education or politics.

"I am asking all the Republican voters of Schuylkill County to give me the opportunity to serve them on the State Committee. I need your support and encouragement, and I especially need your vote on April 22nd. I will be honored to serve, and I will do all I can to make you proud of me as your committee member."

Thomas is serious about the upcoming campaign, already setting up a campaign committee and has received coverage in his hometown newspaper.

For more information, check out Thomas' Web site, Scott Thomas for Republican State Committee, at http://scottforgop.blogspot.com/

Where do I sign up?

I don't know how this blog escaped my attention until today, but I highly recommend a visit to The Pittsburgh Men's Blogging Society, which made its debut earlier this month.

"This site is a home, a sanctuary, a fair haven from the fair maidens, for all male bloggers of the Burghosphere. No membership dues. No secret handshakes. No unnecessary guilt. Just our own little Y-chromosome corner of the web," according to its home page.

It's an entertaining and good-natured site that I plan to visit often. The blog features a dozen contributors so there's bound to be something good on there most of the time.

I've only been to Pittsburgh once, but if the women look anything like this young lady, I might be making the trip west more often. I remain an Eagles fan, but those Steelers are looking mighty good.

Patrick Murphy looks like a one-term Congressman

The Marines may come to the rescue of the Republican Party in 2008.

In 2006, the Democratic Party successfully gutted the Republican Congressional delegation in Pennsylvania running the same campaign in several districts. The theme was linking all incumbent Republicans to George W. Bush. In two cases, the Democrats found liberals with military backgrounds to unseat incumbent Republicans.

The GOP is fighting back in 2008 and using the same strategy against Democrats, at least when it comes to finding candidates with a military background. In the 7th Congressional District, a decorated Marine and Gulf War veteran, Wendell C. Williams, will challenge Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak.

In another suburban Philadelphia district, the 8th District, the father of a Marine killed in Iraq will attempt to unseat Rep. Patrick Murphy, the only Iraq war veteran in Congress.

Murphy barely defeated incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick in 2006 and like most of the freshman Democrats elected to Congress, has made a negligible difference for the folks back home. Murphy has failed to deliver on almost all of his campaign promises.

Enter Thomas Manion, a Republican who recently retired as a colonel in the Marine Reserves.

Manion will make Murphy's "cut-and-run" strategy on Iraq a key issue in the campaign.

"I've learned that if you want to make something happen, you've got to get out on the playing field," Manion told the Associated Press.

Murphy, who is 34 but looks like he's 24, served as a military lawyer in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Manion, 53, is a pharmaceutical executive so he not only brings military experience, but a background in the business world.

While he would like to see the war in Iraq end and U.S. troops return home, that can't happen until the job is finished, Manion told the wire service.

"My son was about this country, so I'm sure he'd be very proud that I'm stepping forward and stepping on the field, as he was, to try to make a difference for our country," Manion said.

Murphy was a lawyer before he was elected to Congress, as if we need more lawyers in Congress.

That's Thomas Manion, right, listening to a question from members of the news media after making the announcement in Doylestown Pa., he will run for the Pennsylvania House seat. Manion, a Republican who recently retired as a colonel in the Marine Reserves, is unhappy with positions Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., has taken against the war. (AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek)

GrassrootsPA needs financial help to return

One of the most influential political blogs in Pennsylvania has ceased operation (temporarily I hope) because of server problems. GrassrootsPA.com, the most widely-read conservative blog in the state, has been out of commission for almost a week. It returned briefly on Tuesday but is down again today.

Owner/Editor Chris Lilik has posted a message on the site explaining that growing readership has outpaced the Web site's ability to handle the volume of traffic.

Lilik is considering investing in his own Web server instead of using another company to host the site. For GrassrootsPA to return, it will take a substantial financial commitment.

Like most bloggers, Chris has a day job (lawyer) and posts at the site in his spare time. Very little happens in the world of Pennsylvania politics without GrassrootsPA knowing about it and directing readers to the source information.

(I'd like to personally thank Chris for the thousands of readers he has sent my way over the past couple of years.)

If you can help with a donation, contact Lilik at grassrootspa@gmail.com

Here's the note posted by Lilik at the site:

Dear GrassrootsPA readers,

It appears this site's growing community of daily readers has outgrown my current hosting plan.
WordPress is a rather resource intensive content management system, and major hosting changes are necessary.
Unfortunately, the next 'step up' is a virtual or dedicated $$$erver...
If you enjoy reading this site, which is updated several times a day 365 days a year (web hosting server permitted) I would certainly appreciate any financial assistance you may be able to offer...
While I am less than thrilled with the extremely limited options before me, I am sincerely honored to have had your readership.
Like eating or sleeping, updating this, my PERSONAL website, has been a burdensome blessing, and an important part of my daily routine.
I will do my best to keep you informed with the latest breaking news while server options are explored.

Thank you for your patience...

Sincerely,
Chris Lilik
Editor
GrassrootsPA.com

Gulf War vet to challenge Rep. Sestak in Pennsylvania's 7th District

Freshman Congressman Joe Sestak, D-7th District, one of the most disappointing members of the new Democratic majority that was swept into office in 2006, may be a one-term congressman.

The Daily Local News in West Chester reports that Sestak will face a challenge from a former assistant U.S. Attorney who served in the Persian Gulf.

Wendell C. Williams, 43, was nominated by the Delaware County Republican Committee to run against Sestak in November. The 7th District is mostly in Delaware County, but also stretches into neighboring Chester and Montgomery counties.

Williams is a former Marine and decorated combat veteran who served in the 1991 Gulf War.

The suburban Philadelphia district was owned by Rep. Curt Weldon for decades until ethics problems sank Weldon's political career. The 2006 contest was more Weldon losing the seat than Sestak winning it.

With a strong Republican in the race, voters have a viable alternative to Sestak, who has failed to deliver on most of his campaign promises and has been singled out by taxpayer groups as one of the worst members in Congress when it comes to pork spending.

Sestak has also been in the news for his abrasive behavior toward his own staff.

Rendell selling his 'snake oil' again

Excellent editorial in today's edition of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about Gov. Ed Rendell's ongoing efforts to force Pennsylvania businesses to pick up the cost of insuring everyone in the state.

Not much has changed since the plan was DOA in the spring. Rendell still wants to tax small businesses into the poorhouse to provide basic health coverage for 800,000 to 1 million uninsured Pennsylvanians.

The editorial points out that government-sponsored health insurance would eventually lead to more Pennsylvania workers losing insurance through their employers.

The Commonwealth Foundation predicts that by 2012, the Rendell plan won't significantly reduce the number of uninsured from what it is today, according to the Tribune-Review. In fact, the uninsured could be more numerous because, in part, as many as 500,000 people could be "crowded out" of the private insurance market by the allure of the state's cheaper, subsidized program, the newspaper states.

"As usual, Dr. Ed has it backward; don't swallow his elixir," the newspaper says. "Instead of expanding government's role, he should be working to lower health care costs by offering tax credits for health savings accounts or changing the law to allow Pennsylvanians to buy lower-cost insurance from out-of-state providers."

Read, "Rendell's snake oil: The wrong Rx" at the newspaper's Web site.

A little payback for Jim Matthews

Montgomery County Commissioners' Chairman James R. Matthews has been ousted from the county's Republican Party Executive Committee as punishment for what some GOP officials have termed "his deal with the devil."

That bit of news comes from Margaret Gibbons, who has covered Montgomery County politics for decades.

The party's 50-member Executive Committee tossed out Matthews by a voice vote after Party Chairman Ken Davis failed to remove Matthews, a close ally of Davis.

Davis put the matter to a vote. Gibbons says the vote was not even close, with most voting to oust Matthews, according to one source who attended the closed session.

That shows you how out of touch Davis is with the rest of the rest of the party leadership. Davis will soon be ousted as party chairman and his close ally, Bob Asher, may be in trouble with GOP bigwigs who are embarrassed to have a GOP National Committeeman making deals with Democrats.

The once-dominant Republican Party in Montgomery County has been on a death march since Ken Davis and Bob Asher took over control of the party.

Many Republicans, including some who had considered themselves Matthews supporters, are irate with the unprecedented power-sharing deal he forged with newly elected Democratic Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, according to Gibbons.

Read Gibbons' full story at The Times Herald Web site.

Navigating the property tax maze

Pennsylvania lawmakers are stumbling over each other this week to deal with the property tax issue that many legislators and Gov. Ed Rendell claimed was solved in June 2006 when Rendell signed Act 1 into law.

There's a lot of bills floating around and it's easy to get confused.

In fact, confusion is the rule in Harrisburg as lawmakers who ignored property tax relief for years pretend they're the taxpayers' best friend.

Here are key differences between the major plans being offered by House Democrats and House Republicans.

The main plan supported by Democrats, House Bill 1600, would REDUCE property taxes for some Pennsylvania homeowners temporarily in exchange for a permanent hike in the state sales tax and income tax. The bill does not restrict school districts from raising property taxes. (In other words, you might as well turn over the deed to your home to your local school district today.)

The main Republican plan is House Bill 1275. It would ELIMINATE school property taxes in exchange for an expanded sales tax on clothing, some food items and professional services. It would ELIMINATE property taxes for ALL Pennsylvania homeowners. Separately, House Republicans are also pushing for a REDUCTION in the state income tax.

If you want a temporary lowering of property taxes for some, but want to pay more in sales tax and income tax, HB 1600, sponsored by Rep. David Levdansky, the chairman of the House Finance Committee, is for you.

If you want to STOP PAYING SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES in return for an expanded sales tax, HB 1275, sponsored by Rep. Sam Rohrer, is for you.

Here's some comments on the competing plans from the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition:

HB 1600: This is the worthless Levdansky/Scavello bill that will raise the sales tax and state income tax to finance a rebate of approximately an average $414. If you don't remember the details, the explanation is here: http://mysite.verizon.net/drbsr/PTCCWeb/HB1600.htm

HB 1489: This is the DeWeese bill that is also known as "HB 1600 Lite." It does not raise the state income tax like HB 1600 but raises the sales tax by 0.5% to finance a small homestead rebate of approximately an average $205. Otherwise the provisions are identical to HB 1600. Reportedly, the governor told the democratic caucus last week that this is the only bill he wants to see approved by the House.

Both of these bills are dangerous pieces of legislation that work on the same principle as the Act 1 tax shift referendum that was so soundly rejected by the voters last May. They permanently raise taxes for a small, temporary rebate that will quickly be eaten away by relentlessly rising property taxes. They do nothing to control costs, address equity for underfunded schools or to solve the education finance crisis. They are WORTHLESS SCAMS that are meant to deceive us unto believing that the politicians have given us property tax "relief" and can be jammed down our throats without any chance for us to reject them. They are simply a PERMANENT TAX INCREASE and must be rejected.

HB 93: This one has slipped under the radar but will still be an issue. The bill provides for the implementation of special tax provisions FOR FIRST-CLASS CITIES ONLY that allow for the refund or forgiveness of property tax liability for certain low-income, disabled, or senior citizens. This is simply more pandering for votes and will take money from property tax relief for other areas of the state.

THE BILL WE SUPPORT, HB 1275, THE SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX ELIMINATION ACT, IS STONEWALLED AND IS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE REPORTED OUT OF COMMITTEE!

Call or e-mail your representative NOW to DEMAND that they support HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, and that they REJECT HB 1600 and HB 1489. Tell them that your vote for them in 2008 will depend on their support of HB 1275.

Ignore any mealy-mouthed excuses that they may offer. Contact information for your representative is available here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm

Activist says freshman lawmakers earn an 'F' on reform promises

Good story in the Herald-Standard by reporter Kori Walter, who asked reformer Gene Stilp to grade the 55 freshman lawmakers who took office in 2007 promising to usher a new era of reform in Harrisburg.

Stilp doesn't mince words in reviewing the freshman lawmakers' job performance so far:

"I would give the majority of the (freshman) class an 'F,' Stilp told the newspaper.

Read the full story, "Activist critical of new lawmakers," at the Herald-Standard Web site.

Stilp, who heads Taxpayers and Ratepayers United, also blasted freshman lawmakers for falling into line behind Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and for accepting perks such as taxpayer-paid vehicles, automatic COLAs and up to $150 per day expense accounts, according to the article.

"They walked in and took as much of the loot as they could," Stilp said of the freshman lawmakers.

Walter found a dense lawmaker who had the gall to say the Legislature had done a good job in 2007.

"We're a 'B' if not an 'A,'" said Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Township. "You are dealing with an institution that's been running the same way for a couple of hundred years. You are not going to change it in a year."

Sounds like Mahoney could spend the next 100 years in Harrisburg and still not have a clue.

Voters should take a close look at the 55 freshman in 2008 and get rid of the ones who failed to deliver on their promises to help clean up Harrisburg.

'Blame Rendell for high property taxes'

I came across this letter in the Pocono Record. I like what Mr. Russo has to say.

Blame Rendell for high property taxes

Editor, the Record:

Thanks a lot. Gov. Ed Rendell promised property tax relief and then put his hand in my pocket and stole it, for a $200 million dollar arena in Pittsburgh and now relief for Philadelphia taxpayers.

He collected $750 million from the casinos. Now what is he going to do with the remaining $550 million I want to know? What gives him the right to use that money for anything he wants?

How about the state senators and representatives in Harrisburg, both Democrats and Republicans? Why are they letting him get away with this? I think it stinks and is time for the people to wake up.

Also some talking heads on television say there is no quick fix for adjustable rate mortgages. How about getting rid of the property tax? Problem solved, and think of all the money people will have to spend. Wow, and it might even help the economy in Pennsylvania, too.

MICHAEL RUSSO
East Stroudsburg

A billion here, a billion there

Our good friend, William McIntyre of Camp Hill, Pa., is back on his letter-writing crusade for better government after taking a break for the holidays (just like the Pennsylvania Legislature). Here is his latest:

To: Friends of Responsible Government
Gov. Edward Rendell will soon be giving his 2008 State of the State Address to our legislators and us, the residents of Pennsylvania. In his address, he will propose many programs costing us dollars, many dollars; billions of dollars.
Politicians are very comfortable using the term billions when speaking of the cost of their pet programs. You see – it’s not their money they spend – IT’S OURS! Have you ever really thought what a billion is? A friend of mine did and provided me with the following example.
"The next time you hear a politician use the word ‘billion’ in a casual manner, think about whether you want the ‘politicians’ spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend; but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases:
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our (federal) government is spending it."
The description continues although it addresses our federal government’s spending; not the state. "While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let’s take a look at New Orleans. It’s amazing what you can learn with some simple division. Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans. Interesting number – what does it mean?
A. If you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516, 528.
B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066.012."
Washington, D.C….HELLO!!!...Are all your calculators broken???"
In Gov. Rendell’s last budget of $27.3 billion; it was $1.2 billion higher than the previous year’s budget. What will the budget of 2008-2009 bring? I’m frightened to learn!

An OLD letter writer,
Bill McIntyre

Written hundreds - on my way to a billion (if needed for true and lasting PA government reform)
CC: Executive, Legislative & Judicial Branches of PA Government

Matthews kicked off GOP executive committee

I don't have a lot of details yet, but Montgomery County Commissioners' Chairman Jim Matthews (aka King James I) has been kicked off the Montgomery County GOP executive committee as a result of his power-sharing deal with Democrat Joe Hoeffel.

This should be just the beginning of the retribution against Matthews and his co-conspirators, Montgomery County GOP Chairman Ken Davis and Bob Asher, the Republican national committeeman from Montgomery County.

A public censure from the Montgomery County Republican Committee is in order for the trio, who have become pariahs within the party. While party officials can't force Matthews, Davis and Asher to change their party registration, GOP officials should make it clear that turncoats are not welcome at party functions.

Davis is done as county party chairman, not only for failing to prevent Matthews from making the Hoeffel deal, but for the party's loss of five county row offices to Democrats.

What's another word for DeWeese?

What's another word for DeWeese? How about corrupt, incompetent, ineffective?

Those are the words Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. is using to describe House Majority Leader William H. DeWeese in a press release issued Tuesday.

DeWeese's ineptitude in leading the House will erase the Democrats 1-vote majority and usher in Republican control after the 2008 elections, according to Gleason.

(I guess Gleason forgot to mention that DeWeese's fall could be also compared to Republican Speaker John Perzel's incompetence throughout 2005 and 2006, which lead to the Democrats taking over majority control of the House after 12 years of GOP dominance.)

Here's the GOP release, also posted at the party's Web site:

PA GOP: HOUSE DEMOCRATS' FAILURES WILL HELP USHER IN A NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY THIS NOVEMBER

Corrupt, Incompetent, and Ineffective are just a few words that sum up the Democrats first year back in control of the State House

HARRISBURG — Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Robert A. Gleason, Jr. was not surprised by the lack of guidance and leadership House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese displayed last year. Chairman Gleason believes Mr. DeWeese's inability to handle the most important issues facing the state will usher in a new Republican majority next year.

"Pennsylvania House Democrats are back in Harrisburg this week to begin the second year of their political campaign reminding Pennsylvanians why they need Republican leadership in the State House," Gleason said. "Just one year ago, House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese depicted his caucus as the agents of reform and change in Harrisburg. However, they have proven to be much more talk than action on reform, making the cloud of impropriety that has formed over the State Capitol murkier during Democrat control.

"The Democrat majority in the House has failed to deliver on two of the Commonwealth's most pressing issues, property tax relief and government reform initiatives. In 2006, Pennsylvanians far and wide demanded that the state government pass real property tax reform and government reforms. After one year in control of the House, Democrats have continually failed to deliver on either of these two issues.

"The property tax relief plan that House Democrats introduced today is more of the same. Instead of looking to cut fat out of the budget, Democrats continue to focus on plans that create, increase, and shift existing taxes. Despite the laughable notion that he is a 'reformer', House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese drug his feet on getting a vote on open records legislation, too late to get it to the Governor's desk by the end of the year. This bill would have served as the first step towards increasing government transparency, allowing the public to better see how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.

"Thankfully our strong Republican leadership in the state Senate and House has been able to hold off Gov. Rendell and the Democrat Legislature's tax and spend agenda. While Democrats in Harrisburg continue to seek ways to fund programs like taxpayer-funded socialized health care, Republicans are seeking ways to cut the personal income tax. The differences are clear. Democrats continue to seek ways to raise your taxes, while Republicans are working to enact real changes that will allow you to keep more of your hard-earned money where it belongs – your bank account!"

Reform is not a Rendell priority

A coalition of citizen reform groups held a press conference Monday at the state Capitol urging Pennsylvania elected officials to make reforming state government a priority.

Specifically, the group wants Gov. Ed Rendell to call for a special session of the Pennsylvania Legislature to consider a reform agenda of "integrity issues" such as campaign finance limits, reducing the size of the Legislature, imposing term limits for legislators, banning lobbyists from taking lawmakers to dinner and giving them gifts, and ending lame-duck sessions.

You know, all the things legislators promised to tackle in 2007, the "year of reform" but didn't get around to.

The governor apparently isn't interested in reform, either. Read "Rendell sees no need for session on reform" in the Herald-Standard. His priorities are pork-filled energy projects, more corporate welfare and socialized medicine paid by the state's struggling small businesses.

Also check out this editorial, "Time for real reform" in the Centre Daily Times.

The individuals and groups who asked Rendell to call the Special Session on Public Integrity are:

Dennis Baylor, Pennsylvania Accountability Project
Matthew Brouillette, Commonwealth Foundation
Russ Diamond, PA Clean Sweep
Eric Epstein, Rock the Capital
Andrea Mulrine, League of Women Voters of PA
Barry Kauffman, Common Cause PA
Chris Lilik, Young Conservatives of PA
Tim Potts, Democracy Rising PA
Richard Schirato, PA Citizens for Legislator Accountability
Gene Stilp, Taxpayers and Ratepayers United
Rev. Sandra Strauss, PA Council of Churches