Monday, August 31, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
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Pro-Life Group Castigates Hillary for 'Terrorist' Comparison
So let me get this straight about pro-abortion Hillary Clinton's latest attempt at twisted liberal logic: If you believe in the sanctity of all human life, you're a terrorist? Susan B. Anthony List president on Hillary's latest idiotic comment: "Doubling down" on abortion will not win Clinton votes.
Pro-Life Group Castigates Hillary for 'Terrorist' Comparison
Pro-Life Group Castigates Hillary for 'Terrorist' Comparison
Is the college bubble next to burst?
American colleges and universities are pricing themselves out of business.
La Salle University lays off staff in wake of enrollment shortfall
La Salle University lays off staff in wake of enrollment shortfall
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
USA Today: Clinton emails show 'bad judgment bordering on recklessness'
No one has ever accused USA Today of being a conservative newspaper. That's what makes this editorial questioning Hillary Clinton's judgment so effective.
Paper: Clinton emails show 'bad judgment bordering on recklessness'
Paper: Clinton emails show 'bad judgment bordering on recklessness'
Monday, August 24, 2015
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
GUEST COLUMN: Gov. Wolf's Tax Numbers Don't Add Up
Gov. Tom Wolf recently visited Montgomery County to blast the budget
plan that he vetoed, along with the much-needed pension reform bill. His
main argument is that the budget passed by the Legislature doesn't add
up. He used the term "bad math."
The governor also continues to perpetrate the myth that a severance tax on the Marcellus Shale industry is holding up a budget deal and the revenue raised from such a tax would fund the bulk of his initiatives.
A closer look at the governor’s budget plan reveals that his math is not adding up.
He is using the severance tax to play a shell game, diverting attention from where the real revenue will come from to fund his budget; the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.
Let's look at the numbers.When the governor proposed his severance tax, he set an artificial price floor at $2.97 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for all gas produced in state, regardless of its actual sale price. This was advertised to bring in $1 billion in revenue. To the governor’s credit, he has removed that artificial price floor.
The only issues now are that his numbers don’t add up and the lion's share of that tax is not going to education.
The House Appropriations Committee analysis based on the current price of the natural gas concludes only $165.7 million will be generated from a severance tax, this after $225 million is deducted to cover the current impact fee, $55 million to pay the interest on a new borrowing program and the additional $10 million for the Department of Environmental Protection.
The governor therefore needs another tax to bring in the revenue he calls for in his ambitious increase in spending.
Another sleight-of-hand in the governor's budget is his property tax relief plan. This calls for an increase in the state income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.7 percent and an increase/expansion of the state sales tax from 6 to 6.6 percent.
Many residents in our area will recognize that conceptually this plan sounds like House Bill 76, which would eliminate the school property tax with a slightly higher increase in the income tax and sales tax.
The governor's plan only uses the increase in the income tax for modest property tax relief, while the increase/expansion of the sales tax all goes into the General Fund.
This is the tax the governor needs to fuel his aggressive spending. It is estimated that the increase and expansion of the sales tax would bring in $1.55 billion.
Again, to fund his massive spending plan the governor needs that increase and expansion of the sales tax to fund the major portions of his budget (education and welfare) while leaving nothing for property tax reduction.
One last area where the governor's math doesn't add up. The governor correctly points out that Pennsylvania’s credit rating has suffered from massive borrowing programs and unfunded pension liability.
That's what makes two of his proposals all the more perplexing. He wants to borrow $3 billion to pay down the unfunded liability in the state's pension plans (while ignoring calls to reform the plans for future employees) and he wants to borrow $165 million to fund alternative energy and jobs programs.
How is borrowing more than $3 billion going to help with Pennsylvania's poor credit rating?
We call on the governor to stop playing this political version of the old three-card monte game and level with the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. He needs to tell the taxpayers that he wants an increase and expansion of the sales tax so he can fund his ambitious plan.
We believe we need to be fiscally responsible with people's tax dollars.
We voted for a fiscally responsible budget and a reform plan for public pensions and the governor vetoed them; if he wants to compromise, controlling costs must be the first step, not raising taxes on middle-class families.
State Rep. Tom Quigley is a Republican who represents the 146th House District in parts of Montgomery County. He was first elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2004. State Rep. Warren Kampf is a Republican who represents the 157th House District in parts of Chester and Montgomery counties. He was first elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2010.
The governor also continues to perpetrate the myth that a severance tax on the Marcellus Shale industry is holding up a budget deal and the revenue raised from such a tax would fund the bulk of his initiatives.
A closer look at the governor’s budget plan reveals that his math is not adding up.
He is using the severance tax to play a shell game, diverting attention from where the real revenue will come from to fund his budget; the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.
Let's look at the numbers.When the governor proposed his severance tax, he set an artificial price floor at $2.97 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for all gas produced in state, regardless of its actual sale price. This was advertised to bring in $1 billion in revenue. To the governor’s credit, he has removed that artificial price floor.
The only issues now are that his numbers don’t add up and the lion's share of that tax is not going to education.
The House Appropriations Committee analysis based on the current price of the natural gas concludes only $165.7 million will be generated from a severance tax, this after $225 million is deducted to cover the current impact fee, $55 million to pay the interest on a new borrowing program and the additional $10 million for the Department of Environmental Protection.
The governor therefore needs another tax to bring in the revenue he calls for in his ambitious increase in spending.
Another sleight-of-hand in the governor's budget is his property tax relief plan. This calls for an increase in the state income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.7 percent and an increase/expansion of the state sales tax from 6 to 6.6 percent.
Many residents in our area will recognize that conceptually this plan sounds like House Bill 76, which would eliminate the school property tax with a slightly higher increase in the income tax and sales tax.
The governor's plan only uses the increase in the income tax for modest property tax relief, while the increase/expansion of the sales tax all goes into the General Fund.
This is the tax the governor needs to fuel his aggressive spending. It is estimated that the increase and expansion of the sales tax would bring in $1.55 billion.
Again, to fund his massive spending plan the governor needs that increase and expansion of the sales tax to fund the major portions of his budget (education and welfare) while leaving nothing for property tax reduction.
One last area where the governor's math doesn't add up. The governor correctly points out that Pennsylvania’s credit rating has suffered from massive borrowing programs and unfunded pension liability.
That's what makes two of his proposals all the more perplexing. He wants to borrow $3 billion to pay down the unfunded liability in the state's pension plans (while ignoring calls to reform the plans for future employees) and he wants to borrow $165 million to fund alternative energy and jobs programs.
How is borrowing more than $3 billion going to help with Pennsylvania's poor credit rating?
We call on the governor to stop playing this political version of the old three-card monte game and level with the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. He needs to tell the taxpayers that he wants an increase and expansion of the sales tax so he can fund his ambitious plan.
We believe we need to be fiscally responsible with people's tax dollars.
We voted for a fiscally responsible budget and a reform plan for public pensions and the governor vetoed them; if he wants to compromise, controlling costs must be the first step, not raising taxes on middle-class families.
State Rep. Tom Quigley is a Republican who represents the 146th House District in parts of Montgomery County. He was first elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2004. State Rep. Warren Kampf is a Republican who represents the 157th House District in parts of Chester and Montgomery counties. He was first elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2010.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Monday, August 17, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
PA Goes From 'Lean D' to 'Toss-Up' in 2016 Presidential Race
Considering Pennsylvania hasn't voted for a Republican presidential candidate since George H.W. Bush, this is a big deal.
PA Goes From 'Lean D' to 'Toss-Up' in 2016 Presidential Race
PA Goes From 'Lean D' to 'Toss-Up' in 2016 Presidential Race
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
More Pennsylvania Newspapers Call for Kathleen Kane's Resignation
In addition to the 8 newspapers I cited in a previous post, several more Pennsylvania newspapers are calling for the resignation of indicted Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, the first woman and the first Democrat ever elected to the post in state history.
The calls to step down include the very liberal Harrisburg Patriot News: For the Good of the Commonwealth, Kathleen Kane Must Resign
Because honoring her oath to protect uphold the law demands no less. She cannot be a defender of the law and also hold herself above it by remaining in office.Norristown Times Herald: Pennsylvania Attorney General Kane Should Resign
She must resign.
But for the sake of her office, and for the sake of the commonwealth, she should heed Gov. Tom Wolf’s call for her to resign. It just doesn’t look good that the state’s chief law enforcement officer is doing her job while facing criminal charges herself.Easton Express-Times: Kathleen Kane Case Troubling on Many Levels
In the meantime, Kane must relinquish her office. There's simply no way she can maintain public confidence in her abilities and professionalism until this is resolved.Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice: Kathleen Kane Should Resign
"Kane, regardless of whether she is criminally liable, has forfeited her credibility. She should resign to focus on her own defense and to put the Office of Attorney General on a steadier, more professional course."Sunbury Daily Item: Kane's Troubles Too Much To Overcome
As Wolf said, Kane is entitled to her day in court. However, she must understand continuing as the state’s top prosecutor with this dark cloud looming over her and the office creates an unlikely scenario in which Kane must balance appropriately serving those who elected her while defending herself against criminal charges. In that context, the only move for Kane and taxpayers is for Kane to walk away.
Saturday, August 08, 2015
D.A. releases Kathleen Kane booking mug shot
Pennsylvania newspapers demand Kathleen Kane's resignation
Regardless of political leanings, liberal and conservative newspapers
throughout Pennsylvania are calling for the immediate resignation of
embattled Democratic Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who
was indicted this week on five felony charges.
Here's a sampling of recent newspaper editorials:
The Philadelphia Inquirer : If Kane Won't Quit, Impeach Her
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Kane Charges: Step Aside, Madam AG
Lancaster Newspapers: If Kathleen Kane Wants To 'Clean Up Harrisburg,' She Should Resign Now
Reading Eagle: Kathleen Kane Must Resign
Scranton Times-Tribune: Kane Should Resign For Sake Of Office
Bucks County Courier Times: Kane Should Step Down
York Daily Record: Attorney General Kathleen Kane Should Resign
Philadelphia Daily News: Off to Court? Quit Office
Here's a sampling of recent newspaper editorials:
The Philadelphia Inquirer : If Kane Won't Quit, Impeach Her
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Kane Charges: Step Aside, Madam AG
Lancaster Newspapers: If Kathleen Kane Wants To 'Clean Up Harrisburg,' She Should Resign Now
Reading Eagle: Kathleen Kane Must Resign
Scranton Times-Tribune: Kane Should Resign For Sake Of Office
Bucks County Courier Times: Kane Should Step Down
York Daily Record: Attorney General Kathleen Kane Should Resign
Philadelphia Daily News: Off to Court? Quit Office
Friday, August 07, 2015
Thursday, August 06, 2015
Wednesday, August 05, 2015
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Monday, August 03, 2015
Sunday, August 02, 2015
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