The LuLac Edition #18-May 31rst, 2006

NEWS OF THE DAY..................Lynn Swann made a stop with former Governor Tom Ridge at the Airport yesterday. It was part of a multi city tour where Swann met and greeted voters in a controlled setting. Swann's travels took him to Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Wilkes Barre/Scranton and then winding up in Erie. Swann also was accompanied by his running mate, Jim Matthews. The candidate touched upon issues like property tax reform. Swann's plan is a type of California based "Proposition 13" plan which would give property tax relief to homeowners in the form of rebates. 75% of the general fund budget would be used to make the short term cuts. The long term sloices would come in the form of a proposed Constitutional amendment should he defeat Ed Rendell in the fall. Campaign officials gave no word on when Swann's broadcast media would begin.

The Luzerne County Commissioners are talking reassessment. At the bi monthly meeting at the Courthouse, the commissioners sparred on whether to proceed with the project this year or wait until next year. The proposed cost of the project is $725,000.00. There are some homeowners paying less than they should, others paying more. The issue always has been a political third rail that not many office holders want to deal with. The last time there was a property reassessment inh the county was during the terms of Bill Goss, Jim Post (Depublican majority) and Ed Wideman (Democratic minority) from 1963 to 1967. The political fallout from that reasessment was so strong that Goss ran for County Treeasuer, vacating the Commissioners candidate's seat, Post teamed up with Ethel Price to run as the Republican team against minority commissioner Wideman and former state reprsentative Frank Crossin. Wideman and Crossin were elected in the 1967 race, Price was elected the Minority Commissioner and Post came in dead last. Goss was also defeated as Treasuer losing to Bill Curwood. Politicos agree how all three commissioners handle this reassessment situation will make all the difference in the world regarding their election chances in 2007. In the meantime, there will be more debate on this issue in the weeks to come.

Joe Chacke, Republican candidate in the 120th Republican race wrote a nice letter to the editor in the Citizen's Voice. Chacke thanked his supporters (he got 1500 voters) and really was quite cohesive in his comments as President of the Forty Fort Borough Council. Chacke campaigned hard (harder than the guy he beat) and had his signs all over the district. In a classy moved he lent his support to the GOP candidate, State Committeeman John Cordara who faces off against Phillis Mundy (Democrat) in the fall. Chacke seems to have a bright political future and the way he handled adversity in his defeat, plus his articulation of his role in government gives him high marks.

CLINTON PRAISES BENSTEN AT MEMORIAL
Former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen had a "massive, positive impact" during his two years as treasury secretary in one of the country's most economically challenging times, former President Clinton told mourners Tuesday. Clinton, accompanied by his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, spoke at a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, held after a private graveside service for Bentsen's family.
Bentsen, who represented Texas in Congress for 28 years and was Clinton's first treasury secretary, died at his Houston home May 23 at age 85. He had been under a doctor's care and in a wheelchair since suffering two strokes in 1998.
Bentsen, the running mate of former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election, was "one of the very few candidates for the vice presidency in the history of the republic who lost and came out better than he went in," Clinton said, drawing laughs from the crowd of about 1,200 mourners.
As Clinton's first treasury secretary, in 1993-94, Bentsen was instrumental in developing the country's economic plan and in winning passage of a plan to expand trade relations with Mexico, Clinton said. "It's still a controversial issue, but I ask you to think how much more complex and difficult this immigration debate would be today" if that plan had not been approved, Clinton said.
Bentsen also is credited with helping pass a program providing billions to help Russia's economy as it teetered on financial collapse and could have "started the Cold War all over again," Clinton said. The aid to Russia "was opposed by 76 percent of the American people, but Lloyd knew it was right, and we got it through," Clinton said.
Attending the service were former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, former Secretary of State James Baker, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, former House Speaker Jim Wright, Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn of Texas, and former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros.
During the 1988 vice presidential debate, Bentsen famously put down vice presidential rival Dan Quayle after Quayle commented that he had as much experience in Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency. "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy," Bentsen said. "I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
Among the more than 60 honorary pallbearers were Clinton; Dukakis; former President Bush; former Secretaries of State Baker, Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger; former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan; Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady; former Texas Gov. Ann Richards; and Southwest Airlines Chairman Herb Kelleher.

BENSTEN KNEW IT WAS COMING.....Much has been made of the 1988 debate comment made by then Vice Presidential candidate Lloyd Bensteon regarding Dan Quayle equating his own experience with that of the late President Kennedy. (Kennedy had 6 years in the House, 8 in the Senate, Quayle had 4 in the House and 10 in the Senate). While the devastating line was delivered with perfect timing, Bensten was ready for the Quayle comment because the GOP candidate was making that same remark on the campaign trail. The Democrats who were helping Bensten with the debate prep keyed in on thre remark and when Quayle made the comment, Bensten made Vice Presidential debate history.

UPCOMING.........AL GORE'S MOVIE AND HIS FUTURE.