Friday, February 26, 2010

More proof Keith Olbermann is a putz



Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Toomey continues to lead both Specter, Sestak

It doesn't matter who the Democratic nominee will be for the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania, according to a new poll.

Pat Toomey holds a huge lead over Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter and far-left Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak, according to the Franklin & Marshall College Poll.

Pennsylvania voters want change ... and Toomey can deliver it.

From the latest F&M College Poll: Toomey leads Specter by 44 percent to 34 percent with 6 percent preferring another candidate and 16 percent undecided. Toomey leads Sestak 38 percent to 20 percent with 3 percent preferring someone else and 39 percent undecided.

Click on the link below to read Bruce Drake's analysis of the race at Poll Watch:

GOP's Toomey Keeps Big Lead Over Specter, Sestak in Pennsylvania -- Politics Daily

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

12th Congressional Dist. offers opportunity for change

Voters in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, held by the late John Murtha since 1974, can make a clean break with politics-as-usual when filling Murtha's unexpired term on May 18.

The Democrats are fielding a bunch of political retreads. Republicans are offering fresh faces.

From POLITICO:
Despite the decidedly anti-establishment national political mood, the Democratic special election field to succeed the late Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has a distinctly insider flavor to it, marked by a crop of prospective candidates who boast years of experience in Harrisburg and Washington.

Former Pennsylvania Treasurer Barbara Hafer touts her years as a statewide officeholder as her leading credential. Former Lt. Gov. Mark Singel, a close confidant to Gov. Ed Rendell, heads one of the state's most influential lobbying firms. And the latest entrant into the race is Murtha's longtime district director, Mark Critz, who's running to continue the late congressman's legacy of delivering much-needed federal funds to the district.

Even the candidates viewed as longer shots have held elective office within the nine-county district, including Cambria County Controller Ed Cernic Jr. and former Cambria County Controller Albert Penksa, who is considering a bid.

By contrast, the Republicans are running lesser-known candidates with outsider profiles. The 2008 GOP nominee, William Russell, crusaded against earmarks and runaway federal spending and continues to hammer home those themes in his second bid for the seat. And businessman Tim Burns, whom Washington Republicans favor, is a first-time candidate who notes on his campaign home page: "My name is Tim Burns, and I am NOT a politician. I don't claim to know how Washington works because I don't believe it does."
Read the full story at the link below:

Insider Democrats must walk fine line - Josh Kraushaar - POLITICO.com

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Slippery Slope



Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Pelosi, Obama Mislead on Abortion Funding in Health Care Bill

Pelosi, Obama Mislead on Abortion Funding in Health Care Bill

'The Real Cost of Obamacare'


If the Obama Administration is starting to feel like the movie, "Groundhog Day," you're not far off. After wasting an entire year pushing a government takeover of health care that the majority of Americans oppose, Barack Obama is still peddling the same snake oil.

From Investor's Business Daily:
Health Reform: The linchpin of ObamaCare 2.0 is that 31 million uninsured will be covered at little added cost. But in fact, White House estimates for low costs are based on little more than accounting tricks.

The president's plan "puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next 10 years — and about $1 trillion over the second decade — by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse," the White House says on its Web site.

Sound too good to be true? It is.

None of the numbers can be believed. The plan is a result of blatantly dishonest accounting for the real costs of the program, while grossly overstating its benefits. Americans should know the actual 10-year cost is closer to $2 trillion over 10 years, not the $950 billion claimed, when all the actual costs are toted up.

How can there be such a wide gap? Mainly because the president's plan doesn't provide benefits until the second half of the first decade. So it pretends that it will "only" cost $950 billion. But once the program kicks in, the full 10-year cost of benefits will be included — at a real current cost of $2 trillion or more.

Or, as columnist Charles Krauthammer, himself a trained physician, told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly: "It's a trick. The way the Democrats got under (the spending limit imposed by Obama) was by making 98% of the expenditures, the benefits that you and I would get under the bill, occur in the second half of the decade."
Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

PA Dems Flunk Taxpayer Report Card

Although more lawmakers joined the ranks of "Taxpayers' Friends" for their voting records in 2009, the vast legion of "Big Spenders" who opted to grow government remained overwhelmingly large, according to the National Taxpayers Union's 31st annual Rating of Congress.

The unique scorecard utilizes every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy – 333 House and 227 Senate votes taken last year.

Here's how Pennsylvania members of Congress did on the newest ranking issued by the National Taxpayers Union. (Can't help noticing all the "F" grades next to Democrats.)

U.S. Senate
Bob Casey Jr. - F
Arlen Specter - D

U.S. House
Jason Altmire - D
Bob Brady - F
Chris Carney - D
Kathy Dahlkemper - F
Charlie Dent - C+
Mike Doyle - F
Chakah Fattah - F
Jim Gerlach - C+
Tim Holden - F
Paul Kanjorski - F
Pat Murphy - F
Tim Murphy - C
John Murtha - DECEASED
Joe Pitts - B+
Todd Platts - C+
Alyson Schwartz - F
Joe Sestak - F
Bud Shuster - B
Glenn Thompson - B

Read more about the ratings at the link below:

Taxpayer Group's Nonpartisan Scorecard Finds More 'Taxpayers' Friends' but Many 'Big Spenders' in Congress

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Help a young mom who lost 2 kids to cancer

A young Montgomery County mom who has lost two of her children to cancer needs your help to create a place for families who have experienced grief like she has to find peace, comfort and resources. All you have to do is visit a Web site and vote for her project. This is legit. The full story is in today's edition of The Pottstown Mercury.

From reporter Brandie Kessler:
Erin Curtis is determined to transform the experience of losing two of her three children into hope and healing.

With the help of the Pepsi Refresh Project, which is awarding individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations with $1.3 million this month, Curtis would be able to create a place for families who have experienced grief like she has to find peace, comfort and resources.

Curtis, 29, explained the ordeal she and her partner, Jeff Megonigal went through when two of their children were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL.

Their daughter, Avery, died from the disease when she was 17 months old in November 2007. In August 2008, the couple became pregnant with twin boys, Calvin and Nolan.

However, when the boys were just 4 months old, Nolan was diagnosed with ALL, and in March 2009, he, too, died of the disease.

Despite having lost so much, Curtis is full of hope for her future, and the future of her 18 month old son, Calvin, who is healthy.

She is also hopeful that she can fulfill her dream of creating a home to support other families who experience the loss of a child from terminal illness.
Read the full story below:

From mother's loss comes a dream of hope

Posted using ShareThis

Pennsylvania Ag Secretary Says Animal Disease Response Training Available for Farmers, Vets, First Responders

Pennsylvania Ag Secretary Says Animal Disease Response Training Available for Farmers, Vets, First Responders

Corbett unveils 12-point reform plan

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett has released a 12-point plan to reform state government.

"To create real economic growth in Pennsylvania and put hard-working Pennsylvanians back to work ... we must start from the foundation up and reform the government that guides our economy," Corbett writes at his Web site. "Our government needs to be held to a higher standard to restore taxpayers' trust and confidence and to bring about good government at all levels and in every branch."

Corbett said his campaign will emphasize the need for "an open, transparent, accountable and trustworthy government that finally puts Pennsylvania taxpayers first and gets the state back on track and moving in the right direction."

If elected, Corbett says he will introduce a comprehensive plan and begin the process of reforming Harrisburg and putting the "people" back in the "people's government."

During his first week in office, Corbett will issue executive orders to immediately implement far-reaching reforms that do not require legislative action and will work swiftly with the General Assembly on any reforms needing legislative approval, according to his Web site.

Here are the reforms Corbett is pushing:
1) Reducing the Size & Cost of Government
2) Transparency in State Government
3) Elimination of WAMS & Discretionary Funds
4) Elimination of State Government Paid Per Diems
5) Reducing the State Automotive Fleet
6) Biennial Budgeting
7) Zero-Based/Performance-Based Budgeting
8) Cap the General Assembly "Leadership Funds"
9) Sunset & Audit of State Boards & Commissions
10) Consolidation of Services
11) Health care contributions for Legislators
12) Ban Political Contributions and Gifts During Procurement Process
Corbett offers more details about the reform package at his Web site, www.tomcorbettforgovernor.com

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

New Sestak ad takes jabs at Obama, Specter

PA GOP: Rep. Lentz neglects job to campaign in D.C.

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Spokesman Mike Barley called on Democratic state Rep. Bryan Lentz (a 7th Congressional District candidate) to share with voters what campaign activities in Washington, D.C., were more important than addressing the budget challenges facing Pennsylvania.

From a PA GOP press release:
"The Rendell Administration's proposed budget contains a number of proposals that could potentially affect critical services in Rep. Bryan Lentz's district, particularly within the budget at the Department of Public Welfare," Barley said. "With important assistance for many local families on the line, Bryan Lentz chose to ignore his responsibilities as a full-time legislator in order to campaign for higher office.

"Bryan Lentz still has a responsibility to represent the people of Pennsylvania as a legislator, a duty he is ignoring to engage in campaign activities. Pennsylvania doesn't need another politician like Bryan Lentz in Washington, D.C."

Yesterday, State Representative Bryan Lentz skipped three hearings of the House Appropriations Committee where officials from the Department of Aging, Department of Public Welfare, and Department of Insurance testified about budget cuts and their impacts on state programs.

In Through The Out Door



Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Dems shun Evan Bayh for speaking the truth

Have you noticed how there's no room for dissension within the Democratic Party?

Look how quickly the Dems have turned on their once golden boy, Sen. Evan Bayh, because he has pointed a finger at his fellow Democrats for the gridlock in Washington, D.C.

The party has been hijacked by far-left extremists -- Obama, Pelosi, Reid, who are bent on destroying the party if they don't get their way. Moderates like Bayh have no place in today's Democratic Party.

And isn't it interesting that the liberal media is still trying to portray the Republican Party as divided when it's the Democrats who are dysfunctional?

From POLITICO:
Sen. Evan Bayh handed Republicans plenty of ammunition to use against Democrats when he announced his retirement last week — and some of his colleagues are none too happy about it.

In explaining his decision not to seek reelection, the Indiana Democrat has complained publicly about legislative gridlock, saying that Congress hasn't done enough to prop up the economy and hasn't created a single private-sector job in the past six months.

While many Senate Democrats share Bayh's frustration with Washington partisanship and stalling on major bills, some are angry that he's stepping all over their 2010 message: that the 111th Congress has been one of the most productive in a generation, that the stimulus stemmed the tide of job losses and that Republicans, not Democrats, deserve most of the blame for the paralysis afflicting Capitol Hill.

"I just have no idea what he's doing," said one Democratic senator, whose face turned red as he threw up his hands after being asked about Bayh.

"We get some of the blame; we moved a little too slowly on health care," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). "My only disappointment, and the only thing I'll say about Sen. Bayh, is that I think a more accurate portrayal by him was how Republicans have tried to block everything that we've done."

"It almost seems like he's siding with" Republicans, said one top Democratic aide.
Read the full story at the link below:

Evan Bayh's exit comments irk Democrats - Manu Raju - POLITICO.com

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

EPA Chief: 15 Years With No Global Warming Doesn't Mean There's No Global Warming



Are you gonna believe your own mind or just accept what all the smart people in the Obama Administration are telling you? Would Al Gore lie to you? Just accept that global warming is a fact ... and have some more Kool Aid.

From an article by Karen Schuberg at CNSNews.com:
Fifteen years with no statistically significant increase in global temperatures does not mean that the human race is not causing the climate to change, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told CNSNews.com on Tuesday.

Jackson reasserted her faith in manmade global warming in response to a question from CNSNews.com asking if she agreed with the recent statement by prominent climate scientist Phil Jones that there had been no statistically significant global warming since 1995.

Jackson also said "we need to move aggressively" to pass energy regulation legislation.

On Capitol Hill Tuesday, after a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, CNSNews.com asked Jackson if she agreed or disagreed with one of the world’s top climate-change scientists that there had been no statistically significant global warming for the past 15 years.

"Do you agree with Dr. Phil Jones, the former head of the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, that there has been no statistically significant global warming since 1995?" CNSNews.com specifically asked.

Jackson responded: "I believe all the new information we have doesn’t lead to any different conclusion than what we reached in the Endangerment Finding. And that is that climate is changing and that mankind is responsible in part for that change, and that we need to move aggressively."
Read the full story here.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Ron Paul Only Hope to Prevent U.S. Hyperinflation

Ron Paul Only Hope to Prevent U.S. Hyperinflation

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

GOP's Toomey Keeps Big Lead Over Specter, Sestak in Pennsylvania

Doesn't matter who the Democratic nominee will be. Pat Toomey holds a huge lead over Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter and far-left Congressman Joe Sestak, according to a new poll. Pennsylvania voters want change ... and Toomey can deliver it.

GOP's Toomey Keeps Big Lead Over Specter, Sestak in Pennsylvania -- Politics Daily

First Lady Judge Rendell Announces Governor's Arts Awards Honorees

First Lady Judge Rendell Announces Governor's Arts Awards Honorees

Is Joe Hoeffel trying to lose the election?



A hilarious new political ad released by the Joe Hoeffel for Governor campaign proclaims Joe stands for "old-fashioned values" such as abortion-on-demand, gun control, same-sex marriage, protectionism and special breaks for unions.

This guy couldn't get elected in Massachusetts let alone Pennsylvania.

The final howler is when Hoeffel describes himself as "fiscally responsible."

Before Hoeffel took control of Montgomery County government in 2008, the county was a model of efficiency that other Pennsylvania counties could emulate. Montco government was so well run that the commissioners were able to cut property taxes while increasing services.

Under Hoeffel, Montgomery County has turned into an economic basket-case, facing deficits, layoffs and cuts in services. Cronyism is rampant as Hoeffel has hired all sorts of political allies to well-paying county jobs that didn't exist before Hoeffel came into the picture.

Now Hoeffel wants to do the same for Pennsylvania? Good luck with that.

Actually Hoeffel may be too late. His pal, Ed Rendell, has already bankrupted the state.

Prediction: Hoeffel will finish a distant third or maybe even fourth in the four-man race for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania governor.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Collegeville woman competes for Mrs. Pennsylvania title

A Collegeville woman, Sherri Xanthopoulos Russo, is planning to compete in the Mrs. Pennsylvania Pageant in March. Her platform is spreading awareness about thyroid cancer in women. Xanthopoulos Russo was diagnosed with cancer in 2008.

From a story by Leann Pettit published in The Phoenix:
Thyroid cancer is something that is very close to Russo's heart, as she was diagnosed with the disease in November of 2008 during a routine gynecological exam.

Russo's doctor had recently begun doing neck checks of all patients as part of the regular examination. As Mrs. Pennsylvania International, Russo hopes to spread awareness of thyroid cancer in women and it is her intention to encourage all gynecologists to make the neck exam a regular part of the examination.

If Russo is crowned Mrs. Pennsylvania International, she will continue on to Chicago for the Mrs. International Pageant in July.

Russo says she has always had a desire to model, but never really got the chance.
Xanthopoulos Russo is looking for sponsors.

Read the full story at The Phoenix Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010

If you're looking for an objective look at spending in Pennsylvania, The Commonwealth Foundation is your best source of information.

The Commonwealth Foundation has released two new analyses of the Pennsylvania State Budget.
Pennsylvania State Budget Overview

* Think the state budget is only $29 billion? You might be surprised to learn that the total Pennsylvania operating budget is $66 billion, or $5,300 for every man, woman, and child.

* Think that the state government has a balanced budget, and therefore doesn't borrow like the federal government? Wrong! Pennsylvania state debt is $42 billion, an increase of 78% since Gov. Rendell took office. The state budget now includes over $1 billion on debt payments alone.
Get the Pennsylvania state budget overview here
Pennsylvania Spending by Department

* Have you heard that Gov. Rendell has slashed spending to the bone? In reality, he has increased the General Fund budget by 45%, or $9 billion, since taking office, more than double the rate of inflation.

* Think public schools and welfare are underfunded? Under Gov. Rendell, state spending on K-12 education increased 46%, and on Public Welfare by 68%
Get the facts on the state budget by department

For more on the Pennsylvania State Budget, visit CommonwealthFoundation.org/Budget

Video: 'How I Was Not Gored Into Submission'

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Senate Jobs Bill Does Not Require that Employers Hire American Workers

Senate Jobs Bill Does Not Require that Employers Hire American Workers

ATR: The Individual Mandate Excise Tax is a Tax

ATR: The Individual Mandate Excise Tax is a Tax

Airport scanners still in storage

Airport scanners still in storage - Kasie Hunt - POLITICO.com

Obama tops in ducking the press

So much for change. The most secretive and least accountable administration ever continues to break campaign promises ... and the lap dog liberal media just rolls over.

The Washington Times notes that Barack Obama has gone 215 consecutive days without a formal press conference.

From a Times' article by Joseph Curl:
President Obama, who pledged to establish the most open and transparent administration in history, on Monday surpasses his predecessor's record for avoiding a full-fledged question-and-answer session with White House reporters in a formal press conference.

President George W. Bush's longest stretch between prime-time, nationally televised press conferences was 214 days, from April 4 to Nov. 4, 2004. Mr. Obama tops that record on Monday, going 215 days - stretching back to July 22, according to records kept by CBS Radio's veteran reporter Mark Knoller.

The president has seemingly shunned formal, prime-time sessions since his last disastrous presser, when he said police in Cambridge, Mass., "acted stupidly" by arresting a Harvard professor who broke into a home that turned out to be his own. The off-the-cuff comment took over the news cycle for a week, overshadowing his push for health care reform, and culminated in a White House "Beer Summit," where the president hosted white police officer James Crowley and the black Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Groups Demand Sen. Harry Reid Apologize for Sexist Remarks

Groups Demand Sen. Harry Reid Apologize for Sexist Remarks

Caused by Global Warming



Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Pennsylvania Department of State Takes Disciplinary Actions Against 112 Licensed, Commissioned Professionals, Organizations

Pennsylvania Department of State Takes Disciplinary Actions Against 112 Licensed, Commissioned Professionals, Organizations

Columnist: 'Stimulus' Actually Raised Unemployment

Alan Reynolds, writing in Investor's Business Daily, makes a persuasive argument the Obama/Pelosi/Reid 'stimulus' bill was a complete bust, especially when it comes to creating jobs.

From his column:
The bill was launched last year amid grandiose promises of "shovel ready" make-work projects.

In reality, as the CBO explains, "five programs accounted for more than 80% of the outlays from ARRA in 2009: Medicaid, unemployment compensation, Social Security ... grants to state and local governments ... and student aid."

In other words, what was labeled a "stimulus" bill was actually a stimulus to government transfer payments — cash and benefits that are primarily rewards for not working, or at least not working too hard.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 had extended federally funded unemployment benefits by 53 weeks, and another bill in November added 20 more — bringing the total up to 99 weeks in states with high unemployment.

As the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee minutes for January noted: "The several extensions of emergency unemployment insurance benefits appeared to have raised the measured unemployment rate, relative to levels recorded in past downturns, by encouraging some who have lost their jobs to remain in the labor force. ... Some estimates suggested it could account for 1 percentage point or more of the increase in the unemployment rate during this recession."
Read the full column at the link below:

Investors.com - The 'Stimulus' Actually Raised Unemployment

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Dave Maloney and Dave Molony running for PA House seats

I received this amusing press release from the David M. Maloney for Berks 130th Campaign attempting to clear up some potential confusion about a candidate with a similar name running in a separate Legislative district.

Both are Republicans but Dave Maloney is seeking the nomination for the 130th District in eastern Berks County while Dave Molony is seeking the 133rd State House seat in Lehigh County and Northampton counties.

Here's the release:
Just when you thought all politicians were the same; one difference between Pennsylvania State Representative candidates in the 130th and the 133rd Districts could be ... vowels.

Dave Maloney of Pike Township and Dave Molony of Catasaqua, are running for State Representative in two different districts here in Eastern Pennsylvania.

"I met Dave at the House Republican Campaign Committee meeting last month. It will probably be some confusion when we both get to Harrisburg, but I've got a lot more hair than Dave," said Dave Maloney, Boyertown High School alum and former Oley Valley School Board member who is the 130th District candidate.

"We don't really think that the people in Berks and in Lehigh Valley will get confused. But I will say that we do expect to get right to work when we get elected in November and are sworn into the House of Representatives in Harrisburg in January of 2011," said Dave Molony, running for the 133rd.

Dave Maloney said he see the economy and jobs as the issues at the top of the list of concerns for people. "I have never seen business this slow, people hurting so badly. Harrisburg has to knock down all the barriers to letting companies do business and hire for new jobs." He added that he "supports all efforts to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania and bring real accountability to public schools."

"Governor Rendell's budget increase is over two billion dollars. At the same time more people are buying less and paying less income taxes because they are laid off or working part time. How does the governor expect to spend more money when the state has less to spend and a set of huge increases coming down the road from pensions and other promises Rendell made? We need the determination to make hard choices and say no to expanding government programs and spending. It is not possible to tax people into prosperity," Maloney said.
In the photo above, that's Dave Maloney on the left, Dave Molony on the right.

For more on Maloney's bid to replace incumbent state Rep. David Kessler, check out this article or visit Maloney's campaign Web site.

Molony is seeking to replace incumbent Democratic state Rep. Joseph F. Brennan. For more information on Molony, check out this article or visit his campaign Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Monday, February 22, 2010

Gerlach blasts return of Obamacare

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (PA-6th District) issued the following statement Monday after the White House outlined its health care reform proposal that the American people have already rejected:
"After the House and Senate crafted legislation in secret last year, the American people demanded a second opinion on health care reform," Gerlach said. "But the White House proposal offers the same $1 trillion prescription that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have been trying unsuccessfully to get the American people to swallow.

"While I am pleased the President has proposed removing the sweetheart deal known as the 'Cornhusker Kickback' for Nebraska, it is disappointing that higher taxes and more invasive government remain the backbone of this plan," Gerlach added. "Workers would pay a new tax on employer-provided health insurance and payroll taxes would climb under the White House plan. The constituents in my district – along with most Americans -- have made it clear that approach is unacceptable."

The New York Times reported that under the White House plan, a family earning about $88,000 a year would pay as much as 9.5 percent of their income toward annual health insurance premiums, or about $8,380 annually. That does not include out-of-pocket costs, such as co-payments or deductibles, according to the paper. And The Morning Call of Allentown cited a statewide poll showing 60 percent of Pennsylvanians want to scrap the House and Senate proposals and consider alternatives. In addition, a majority do not support the government requiring every citizen to buy health insurance.
Gerlach is a co-sponsor of a bipartisan proposal – known as the Small Business Options Health (SHOP) Act – that would increase competition among insurers by allowing consumers to purchase policies across state lines and permitting small businesses to form statewide pools to buy coverage for their employees.

Gerlach also supports the House Republican Medical Rights and Reform Act, which includes provisions to end costly lawsuit abuse and allows doctors and patients to continuing making decisions about the best treatments.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

More lipstick, same pig

Public Input Hearing to Consider Permitting Table Games at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem Scheduled for March 11

Public Input Hearing to Consider Permitting Table Games at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem Scheduled for March 11

Governor Rendell Orders Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson of Scranton

Governor Rendell Orders Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson of Scranton

Governor Rendell Announces Nominations

Governor Rendell Announces Nominations

Columnist exposes 'Global Warming Industry'

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George F. Will examines the growing evidence that most of the "science" behind the theory of global warming is more fiction than science in his latest column.

Here's part of what Will writes:
Global warming alarmists, long cosseted by echoing media, manifest an interesting incongruity -- hysteria and name calling accompanying serene assertions about the "settled science" of climate change. Were it settled, we would be spared the hyperbole that amounts to Ring Lardner's "Shut up, he explained."

The global warming industry, like Alexander in the famous children's story, is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Actually, a bad three months, which began Nov. 19 with the publication of e-mails indicating attempts by scientists to massage data and suppress dissent in order to strengthen "evidence" of global warming.

But there already supposedly was a broad, deep and unassailable consensus. Strange.

Next came the failure of The World's Last -- We Really, Really Mean It -- Chance, aka the Copenhagen climate change summit. It was a nullity, and since then things have been getting worse for those trying to stampede the world into a spasm of prophylactic statism.

In 2007, before the economic downturn began enforcing seriousness and discouraging grandstanding, seven Western U.S. states (and four Canadian provinces) decided to fix the planet on their own. California's Arnold Schwarzenegger intoned, "We cannot wait for the United States government to get its act together on the environment." The 11 jurisdictions formed what is now called the Western Climate Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, starting in 2012.

Or not. Arizona's Gov. Jan Brewer recently suspended her state's participation in what has not yet begun. Some Utah legislators are reportedly considering a similar action. She worries, sensibly, that it would impose costs on businesses and consumers. She also ordered reconsideration of Arizona's strict vehicle emission rules, modeled on incorrigible California's, lest they raise the cost of new cars.

Last week, BP America, ConocoPhillips and Caterpillar, three early members of the 31-member U.S. Climate Action Partnership, said: Oh, never mind. They withdrew from USCAP. It is a coalition of corporations and global warming alarm groups that was formed in 2007 when carbon rationing legislation seemed inevitable and collaboration with the rationers seemed prudent.

Said a spokesman for Conoco: "We need to spend time addressing the issues that impact our shareholders and consumers." What a concept.
Read the full column, "Blinded by science," here.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Ron Paul: CPAC win 'significant'

Ron Paul: CPAC win 'significant' - Andy Barr - POLITICO.com

'Shutter Island' tops weekend box office

Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, topped the box office this weekend with an estimated $40.2 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com

The thriler knocked last week's top film, "Valentine's Day," to No. 2 while a little film called "Avatar" continues to add to its record-breaking run, finishing the weekend at No. 3, with another $16.1 million, bringing its total domestic gross to $687.8 million.

Yes, it appears that "Avatar" will become the only film to earn $700 million in domestic receipts.
WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, FEBRUARY 19-21, 2010

Rank. Movie Title (Distributor)
Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Shutter Island (Paramount)
$40.2 million | 2,991 | $40.2 million | 1

2. Valentine's Day (Warner Bros.)
$17.2 million | 3,665 | $87.4 million | 2

3. Avatar (Fox)
$16.1 million | 2,581 | $687.8 million | 10

4. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Fox)
$15.3 million | 3,396 | $58.8 million | 2

5. The Wolfman (Universal)
$9.8 million | 3,223 | $50.3 million | 2
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

How corrupt is Pennsylvania government?

If you haven't been paying attention to the Bonusgate trial of former House Democratic leader Mike Veon, you should.

Columnist Brad Bumsted says the testimony about the elaborate criminal enterprise allegedly set up by Veon and others inside the Capitol is appalling.

"Every Pennsylvania taxpayer should be furious," Bumsted writes.

Bumsted has written extensively on Bonusgate and this week's column focuses on testimony by Scott Brubaker, a former state House aide.

From Bumsted's column:
The secrecy was "exactly why we did it. You could get a bonus, and you didn't have to disclose it," said Brubaker. House Rule 14 didn't require that bonuses be publicly disclosed, he said.

"We would not report something we didn't have to report," Brubaker testified.

Right. Of course, you never tell the taxpayers how their money actually is being spent.

That statement by Brubaker accurately summarizes why Pennsylvania state government is regressive, insular and, to a certain extent, corrupt.

We have a Right to Know Law that will enable people to get some records never available before -- if you ask the right questions. Outside of the basics, the Legislature isn't covered on certain documents (such as e-mails).

And here was this ex-House staffer, who might be going to prison, talking about how they conspired to keep taxpayers in the dark about spending $1.4 million.

Meanwhile, the three-year compensation total for the Brubaker household, salaries and bonuses, courtesy of taxpayers, was $692,243.

What's galling is the hubris of Scott Brubaker, Mike Manzo, the former Democratic Caucus chief of staff, and Veon's former chief of staff, Jeffrey Foreman, who told the jury about ways they tried to keep information away from the public.

When the bonuses were revealed in January 2007, the House Democrat PR machine, day after day, insisted there were no bonuses for campaign work. Yet seven former staffers, including the Brubakers, Manzo and Foreman, have now pleaded guilty to participating in that scheme.

The real crime, however, was deceiving the taxpayers.
Read the full column at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Islam envoy retreats on terror talk - Josh Gerstein

Islam envoy retreats on terror talk - Josh Gerstein - POLITICO.com

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Congressional Dump



Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Newspaper: Cut size of Legislature to save money

Gov. Ed Rendell claims there is no place left to cut in the 2010-11 General Budget, which increases state spending by more than $1 billion.

But the Delaware County Daily Times had no problem finding ways to save taxpayers some money. Start by cutting the size of the Pennsylvania Legislature, the most expensive in the nation.

From a recent editorial:
More than “looking at reducing the size of the Legislature,” cutting the number of lawmakers and their support staffs should be the first order of business.

None of the following facts are news. Pennsylvania has 253 legislators — more than any of the largest states in the nation, including California and New York. The one state with more elected officials, New Hampshire, doesn’t really count since its 424 legislators earn $200 for a two-year term with no per diems.

Each of California’s 120 legislators earn more than Pennsylvania’s, but California’s salary total is still less than this state’s. On top of salary, our legislators’ benefits include per diem fees, health care, car rental, and, perhaps the most important perk about to hit Pennsylvania taxpayers in their pocketbooks — pensions.

Districts across Pennsylvania face massive increases in contributions to public school employees’ pension plans, starting this year.

In 2001, lawmakers wanted to hike their pensions by 50 percent. You read that correctly — 50 percent. In order to help that deal fly, legislators made a pact with school unions and boosted their employees’ pensions by 25 percent.

Now taxpayers are left holding the bag. Workers who lost jobs or pensions or watched employer-matched 401(k)s drop in half, Social Security recipients who will see no monetary increase for two years, employees still working but with pay cuts and health-care cost hikes — all will be responsible to refill the pension coffers of those already supported by taxpayer dollars.
Read the full editorial, "Cutting size of Legislature a smart move," at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Pennsylvania's Safe Haven Program Offers Confidential Option to Protect Newborns, Prevent Abandonment

Pennsylvania's Safe Haven Program Offers Confidential Option to Protect Newborns, Prevent Abandonment

Governor Rendell Proclaims FFA Week, 'Teach Ag' Day

Governor Rendell Proclaims FFA Week, 'Teach Ag' Day

Justice Department and FBI Announce Formal Conclusion of Investigation into 2001 Anthrax Attacks

Justice Department and FBI Announce Formal Conclusion of Investigation into 2001 Anthrax Attacks

PEMA Urges Residents to Clear Storm Drains, Prepare Now For Possible Flooding

PEMA Urges Residents to Clear Storm Drains, Prepare Now For Possible Flooding

Obama Kiss of Death



Barack Obama campaigned for Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia governor's race ... and Deeds lost.

Barack Obama campaigned for Democrat Jon Corzine in the New Jersey governor's race ... and Corzine lost his bid for re-election.

Barack Obama campaigned for Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race ... and Coakley lost to underdog Scott Brown.

On Friday, Barack Obama campaigned for embattled Senate Leader Harry Reid, who is trying to win re-election in his native Nevada. Good luck with that.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Video: The Mount Vernon Statement Unveiled

Poll: Only 28% Say U.S. Headed In Right Direction

If Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats don't make a mid-term course correction soon, they'll end up at the bottom of a steep canyon.

The latest "Right Direction or Wrong Track" survey by Rasmussen Reports finds just 28% of Americans say the U.S. is heading in the right direction.

From Rasmussen Reports:
Just 28% of U.S. voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This marks the lowest level of voter confidence in the nation’s current course since one year ago and appears to signal the end of a slight burst of confidence at the first of this year.

The majority of voters (65%) believe the nation is heading down the wrong track, a figure that's held roughly steady since mid-November.

At the start of 2010, voters were slightly more optimistic, with 32% saying the country was heading in the right direction. Past polling shows that voters are typically more optimistic at the start of a new year.

Leading up to Barack Obama's inauguration a year ago, the number of voters who felt the country was heading in the right direction remained below 20%. The week of his inauguration, voter confidence rose to 27% and then steadily increased, peaking at 40% in early May 2009. Since then, confidence in the direction of the country has steadily declined.
Read more poll results at Rasmussen Reports.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Talking Politics with Tony Phyrillas

Kicking Rendell When He's Down

You know Ed Rendell is a lame duck when his hometown newspaper, the same newspaper that has sugar-coated so many of Rendell's faults in the past, is doing critical stories on the gov.

From The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Battered by deep cuts last year, groups that offer services to the disabled, the elderly, and children are wincing at what they see in Gov. Rendell's latest proposed budget.

Rendell, delivering his eighth and final budget address on Tuesday, announced plans to trim some areas that touch the most vulnerable, such as literacy programs and disability payments for people living below the poverty line.

Small though they may be, the proposed reductions - along with the budget's reliance on hundreds of millions in federal recovery funds not yet approved by Congress - strike fear in the hearts of agencies that deliver food, health care, job training, transportation, addiction counseling, and child care to Pennsylvania's neediest.

"Rendell has always avoided hitting the poorest in the state," said Jonathan Stein, chief legal counsel for Philadelphia-based Community Legal Services. "This is contrary to his efforts over the last seven years."

Rendell's $29 billion spending plan contains nips and tucks across the board for most agencies, and no restoration of funding for some departments that took substantial hits last year, such as the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
. Read the full story, "Fears that Rendell's budget shortchanges needy," at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

The real reason Evan Bayh quit

The Wall Street Journal offers some insight into the real reason Sen. Evan Bayh has turned his back on Barack Obama and the far-left Congressional leadership that hijacked the Democratic Party.

From the WSJ:
The political retirement of Evan Bayh, at age 54, is being portrayed by various sages as a result of too much partisanship, or the Senate's dysfunction, or even the systemic breakdown of American governance. Most of this is rationalization. The real story, of which Mr. Bayh's frustration is merely the latest sign, is the failure once again of liberal governance.

For the fourth time since the 1960s, American voters in 2008 gave Democrats overwhelming control of both Congress and the White House. Republicans haven't had such large majorities since the 1920s. Yet once again, Democratic leaders have tried to govern the country from the left, only to find that their policies have hit a wall of practical and popular resistance.

Democrats failed in the latter half of the 1960s, as the twin burdens of the Great Society and Vietnam ended the Kennedy boom and split their party. They failed again after Watergate, as Congress dragged Jimmy Carter to the left and liberals had no answer for stagflation. They failed a third time in the first two Bill Clinton years, as tax increases and HillaryCare led to the Gingrich Congress before Mr. Clinton salvaged his Presidency by tacking to the center.

A fourth crackup is already well underway and is even more remarkable considering how Democrats were set up for success. Inheriting a recession amid GOP failures, Democrats had the chance to restore economic confidence and fix the financial system with modest reforms that would let them take credit for the inevitable recovery. Yet only 13 months later, Democrats are down in the polls, their agenda is stymied by Democratic opposition, and their House and Senate majorities are in peril as moderates like Mr. Bayh flee the scene of this political accident.
Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Dismal Poll is Layoff Notice for Members of Congress

Dismal Poll is Layoff Notice for Members of Congress

The Demino Effect



Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pat Meehan: Are You Better Off Today?

Pat Meehan, a Republican seeking Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District seat, posted this commentary at his blog on the one-year anniversary of Barack Obama signing the so-called "stimulus" bill into law:
Today marks the one year anniversary of enactment of the federal stimulus bill, which Democrats promised would help reverse rising unemployment rates. Are you and your family better off today than you were a year ago?

According to the latest information from the Department of Labor, unemployment has only increased locally. As of December 2009, in Delaware County, unemployment has risen to 7.9 percent – a 39 percent increase in 12 months. Chester County has seen unemployment rise 32 percent over levels from a year ago while Montgomery County has seen unemployment rolls grow by 31 percent.

Where are the jobs we were promised as a result of the $1 trillion stimulus bill? With 30 to 40 percent more people unemployed this year compared to last, it is clear that the stimulus bill is not having the desired impact.

Instead we have witnessed what I call crony capitalism. Favored pet industries of legislators, questionable government programs, and numerous wasteful projects have been the beneficiary of the stimulus funding.

In December CBS News reported on various examples of some $7 billion in wasteful stimulus projects. Included in the report was stimulus money to fund a new martini bar, stimulus dollars to study rat sex on hard drugs, and taxpayer dollars funding a $9 million footbridge in Massachusetts that benefits a private developer, among many other projects. Is this realty the best use of taxpayer dollars? And how is this helping local small businesses that are struggling to make payroll or workers locally looking for jobs?

This type of waste and abuse is clearly not the best use of taxpayer dollars. We need to do more to stimulate consumer spending and encourage new business creation.

You can read more about my specific job creation ideas here.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Beer Drinkers' Bill of Rights Unveiled

"We Had Beer Before We Had Independence" is the rallying cry behind a new campaign to bring beer six-pack sales to Pennsylvania convenience and grocery stores.

Members of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association and the Pennsylvania Convenience Store Council today joined state Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) as he unveiled legislation that would make sweeping and historic changes to the state's beer laws.

Sign the petition or find out more about the campaign at http://www.sixpacktogo.org/

Did Obama 'save' your job?



The Obama Ministry of Propaganda is working overtime today, the one-year anniversary of failed "stimulus" bill, to convince Americans that their jobs were "saved" by massive government spending.

Ed Rendell, loyal Obama minion that he is, claims that 84,000 jobs in Pennsylvania were "saved" by the Obama debt package. Why stop at 84,000? Why not 840,000? It's just a number Democrats pluck from thin air.

Unemployment remains at a 30-year high in the United States with more than 17 million Americans looking for work. That's the Obama legacy.

For more propaganda, follow the link below:

Recovery Act Has Saved Jobs in Pennsylvania

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Dems' blues: States reverting to red

Dems' blues: States reverting to red - Jonathan Martin and Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

PennDOT: Record Low Number of PA Highway Deaths in 2009

The number of fatalities on Pennsylvania highways in 2009 dropped to 1,256, the lowest number since recordkeeping began in 1928, PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., said.

The previous low was 1,328 in 1944; in 2008 the commonwealth saw 1,468 traffic fatalities.

From a press release issued by PennDOT:
"I'm extremely pleased that the partnership among PennDOT, law enforcement and other safety partners is playing a role in reducing the number of lives lost on Pennsylvania’s roadways,” Biehler said. “While we’ve made progress, we continue to work on further reducing that number; we want every single driver to get home safely."

According to PennDOT’s preliminary numbers, significant decreases were noted in unrestrained, alcohol-related and aggressive driving fatalities. Unrestrained fatalities decreased from 567 in 2008 to 451 in 2009. Alcohol-related fatalities dropped from 531 in 2008 to 442 last year. Deaths attributed to aggressive driving dropped to 130, down from 141 in 2008.

PennDOT distributed $11 million in federal funding last year for aggressive - and impaired-driving enforcement. With the funding, 396 police departments conducted aggressive driving enforcement efforts statewide. Additionally, more than 600 police departments conducted 3,000 impaired-driving enforcement operations.

In addition to providing funding for safety education and enforcement, PennDOT invests approximately $10 million annually to fund low-cost safety engineering improvements. Low-cost safety improvements include initiatives such as centerline rumble strip installation, improved traffic signalization, signage improvements and utility pole relocation.

Overall, nearly 12,000 low-cost improvements have been made statewide since 2000. A study of the 1,167 miles of center-line rumble strips installed from 2000-04 showed a 35 to 50 percent crash reduction at the strip locations while shoulder rumble strips resulted in a 20 to 30 percent reduction.

"Unfortunately, many of the fatalities we see every year could be prevented if people would follow some simple rules: always wear seat belts, never drink and drive and obey the speed limit," Biehler said. "Those are the points we try to make in our education efforts."

Despite the record low number of highway deaths recorded last year, fatalities in crashes involving drivers ages 65 and older increased to 276 from 259 in 2008.

To help curtail highway deaths in this age group, PennDOT offers information on approved Mature Driver Improvement courses offered statewide, a brochure on talking with mature drivers and other safety tips at its highway safety information source at www.DriveSafePA.org
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Republican Gore running in 130th House District

Another potential challenger for Democratic state Rep. David Kessler, who ran on a reform platform but ended up a doormat for Gov. Ed Rendell and the House Democratic leadership. Check out the background of Tammy Gore at the link below.

Republican Gore running in 130th Legislative District

Game Commission Issues Comments on Legislative Resources Audit

Game Commission Issues Comments on Legislative Resources Audit

Governor Rendell Announces Nominations, Appointments

Governor Rendell Announces Nominations, Appointments

Obama On Ice



Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Sen. Rafferty calls for reform of PA beer sales laws

At a rally Tuesday at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, state Sen. John Rafferty (R-44) joined consumers, grocery and convenience store owners and others who say it is time for Pennsylvania to join 46 other states in reforming its beer sales laws.

Rafferty has introduced legislation that would provide consumers with greater convenience in purchasing beer and at the same time strengthen enforcement of beer sales laws.

From a release issued by Rafferty's office:
"It's time for Pennsylvania to move from an antiquated and unsafe system to one that is modern, safer and customer-friendly," Rafferty said. "Consumers should not be forced to purchases cases or kegs of beer if they desire a lesser amount. This proposal has overwhelming public support, and it will also help to crack down on underage beer sales through tougher enforcement."

Rafferty's bill would allow consumers to purchases six-packs in grocery and conveniences stores as well as at distributors. It would also require 100 percent "carding" for all beer sales with electronic age verification machines to ensure that minors are not purchasing alcohol illegally.

Rafferty's legislation would also provide for strengthened enforcement efforts and age compliance checks – to be funded through a $25,000 license conversion fee and annual fees of $2,500 which will generate millions of dollars annually.

More than four years ago, as chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, Rafferty conducted statewide hearings on underage drinking which focused on how minors obtained alcohol.

Rafferty said that 100 percent carding for all beer sales works. Since Market Café Restaurants at Wegmans began selling beer in May 2008, there have been more than 760,000 transactions with no violations. All sales are subject to the company's 100 percent carding policy.

"Selling beer, including Pennsylvania-produced microbrews, in stores gives consumers greater choices, and the protections in this bill will actually help to stop sales to minors," Rafferty said. "This is a slow transition from an unsafe antiquated system to a new modern system used in 46 other states – and one that Pennsylvania consumers are demanding."
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

BP America, Conoco Phillips, and Caterpillar Drop Out of the U. S. Climate Action Partnership

BP America, Conoco Phillips, and Caterpillar Drop Out of the U. S. Climate Action Partnership | CEI

Five ways to lose the Senate majority

Five ways to lose the Senate majority - David Catanese - POLITICO.com

'Fed up with government? Get 300 signatures and get on ballot for change'

Can you do a better job than your current state legislator or representative in Congress? Well, here's your chance. Starting today, you can circulate nominating petitions to get on the May primary ballot.

From an editorial in today's edition of The Pottstown Mercury:
Fed up with government?

Tired of state lawmakers failing to enact property tax reform or fix the problems ailing Pennsylvania?

Concerned that public servants are corrupted by petty politics?

Have some ideas on how to fix things?

Here's your chance.

Today begins this year's election cycle. This is the first day to begin circulating petitions to get on the primary ballot in the spring on the way to taking office next January.

It just takes some money for a filing fee and some time to collect names on a nominating petition.

Of course there's more to gaining or holding public office, but the point is that the opportunity is available to just about anyone, so there is no real excuse to spend another year as a backseat legislator.

In Pennsylvania, every one of the 203 seats in the state House of Representatives is up for grabs, as are 25 of the 50 state Senate seats.

Voters in Pennsylvania will also be electing a U.S. senator and congressmen in every district in the state.

The signature requirements and filing fees vary, depending on the office being sought. Information on the requirements are available on the Department of State Web site, www.dos.state.pa.us
Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Gerlach: Time for Welch to bow out

With a new poll in hand showing incumbent Congressman Jim Gerlach holding a commanding lead over GOP primary challenger Steve Welch, the Gerlach campaign is urging Welch to drop out of the race.

A poll released by the Gerlach for Congress campaign shows a 61-point lead over Welch, with the four-term Republican Congressman leading in a head-to-head match up by a 71% to 6% margin.

With Gerlach securing party support and holding a monetary advantage, the only purpose Welch can serve by staying in the race is to help a potential Democratic opponent in the fall, the Gerlach camp argues.

From the Gerlach for Congress campaign:
"Republican voters in southeast Pennsylvania know Jim very well and they have already reached the conclusion that he is doing a good job in Congress and should be returned to Washington for another term," said Chris Wilson, the campaign's pollster. "With solid numbers like these, Jim is a virtual lock to win the Republican primary. Any primary challenge to Jim Gerlach at this point would only serve Nancy Pelosi and Democrats in Washington."

Among the data, Wilson Research Strategies found that Gerlach's Republican support is strongest among the most conservative voters, making it nearly impossible to challenge him "from the right." Additionally, Republican primary voters who disapprove of Congress (87%) do not blame Jim Gerlach for the problems in Washington, since 86% of those voters approve of Gerlach's job performance in Congress. Therefore, this is not an anti-incumbent electorate.

"Even among those voters who have heard of Steve Welch, Gerlach is leading 67-15%," added Wilson.

Since Jim Gerlach's decision to seek re-election January 8th, a number of national publications have written that Pennsylvania's 6th District seat is now more likely to stay in Republican hands, with one commentator stating that Gerlach "saved that seat for Republicans ... I think they would have lost it otherwise." Still, Democrats are ecstatic after learning of Welch's decision to challenge Gerlach in the primary. The National Journal said it forces Republicans into a "potentially costly, and damaging, primary" that could be "damaging to the GOP hopes of holding the seat." Pa2010.com wrote the news of his primary challenge was "a lift for Democrats."

Despite having to start virtually from scratch after winding down his federal campaign account last year in anticipation of a campaign for Governor, Gerlach announced at the end of January that he had secured more than half a million dollars in financial commitments in just three weeks for his primary election campaign, a number that has grown each day.
For more on the poll, click here.

For more on Gerlach, visit his campaign Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Would you give 74 cents or $74 to keep Rendell from raising taxes on 74 items?

You gotta hand it to the folks at the Commonwealth Foundation for the cleverness of their latest appeal for donations.

"I ask that you let Gov. Rendell know what you think of his plan for 74 new taxes by sending a contribution of $0.74 to $74 to his biggest adversary - the Commonwealth Foundation," writes Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO of the independent, non-profit research and educational institute that develops and advances public policies based on the nation's founding principles of limited government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility.

From Brouillette's appeal:
Harrisburg just doesn't get it. Governor Rendell is pushing for 74 new taxes to feed his endless appetite for your money. No, that's not a typographical error: 74 new taxes!

Here are just some of the 74 items Rendell now wants to place a 4% Sales Tax upon: basic television, candy and gum, caskets and burial vaults, coal, firewood, bank fees, non-prescription drugs, water and sewage supplies, school buses, and laundry and dry-cleaning services. The list goes on and on.

With a straight face, Governor Rendell claims his state budget proposal includes no broad-based tax increases. In fact, however, Rendell's plan contains even more than 74 new taxes!

Rendell also wants to "adjust" the corporate tax code, extracting more money from small businesses. Job creators will respond by laying off workers and passing their heavier tax burden onto consumers through raising the price of goods and services.

It's as if Governor Rendell is trying to destroy job growth in our Commonwealth and prevent people from making ends meet.

Governor Rendell's 74 new taxes will result in a net tax increase on all Pennsylvanians of $530 million next year and $900 million every year thereafter. With PA in the throes of recession, hard-working Pennsylvanians certainly can't afford to feed Harrisburg's spending addiction!
If you want to contribute to the Commonwealth Foundation, here's how to do it online.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Fishermen's Jobs Don't Count?

Fishermen's Jobs Don't Count?

Congress Is Looting Federal Worker, Military Retirement Funds

Congress Is Looting Federal Worker, Military Retirement Funds, Says William Fruth, Founder of 10 Amendments for Freedom

Rotary Clubs Light Up the World to End Polio

Rotary Clubs Light Up the World to End Polio

PA GOP Endorsed Candidates: Toomey, Corbett, Cawley

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania has voted to endorse Pat Toomey for United States Senate, Tom Corbett for Pennsylvania Governor and Jim Cawley for Lieutenant Governor.

From a PA GOP release:
"At such a critical juncture in the history of our Commonwealth and our country, it's important that our Party puts forth highly qualified candidates who will promote and implement the Republican principles of limited government and personal responsibility within our government," Gleason said. "We are excited to have found these highly qualified candidates in United States Senate candidate Pat Toomey, gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett and lieutenant governor candidate Jim Cawley."

"As a former small business owner, Pat Toomey has an innate understanding of the problems facing our nation's financial system. During his time in Congress and later in the private sector, Pat Toomey became a champion of the type of common-sense, free-market solutions that will create jobs, grow our economy and protect our freedoms. Pat Toomey is exactly the type of strong independent voice that we need in Washington today.

"Attorney General Tom Corbett's name has become synonymous with government reform in Pennsylvania. Tom has spent a lifetime fighting to protect the citizens of this Commonwealth from public corruption and criminal predators, and I am excited to support his bid to take that watchdog mentality to the Governor's mansion.

"Jim Cawley, Bucks County Commissioner, has established a solid record as an innovator who has worked to save taxpayers millions of dollars. Jim's experience will add a great deal to our Party's ticket this year."

"With a strong and energized grassroots network, we are excited to get to work electing Tom Corbett for Governor, Jim Cawley for Lieutenant Governor, and Pat Toomey for the United States Senate."
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS