The LuLac Edition #99, Nov 22, 2006

STATE SENATE GOP

SHUN PICCOLA

The Republican Senate in the state of Pennsylvania shunned its third in line and current Majority Whip Jeff Piccola. Piccola was a candidate for Governor earlier last year but dropped out when it was evident Lynn Swann would get more support. Sources say that Piccola was done in by the outgoing defeated Majority Leaders, Robert Jubilier and Chip Brightbill. If anyone saw PCN and the farewell to the retiring Senators, then you saw both Jubilier and Brightbill crying in their beer about how much they are going to miss serving the public. Yeah, like voting for pay raises in the middle of the night while the rest of working Pennsylvanians have to get by on poverty level salaries. Anyway, here's a recap of what the GOP did.
Senate Republicans yesterday chose two relative newcomers to fill their top leadership posts that had been held by veteran members ousted by angry voters in the primary.
After a closely contested race within the Republican caucus, Sen. Joseph B. Scarnati III, a two-term lawmaker from rural Jefferson County, was selected as president pro tempore and Rep. Dominic F. Pileggi of Delaware County as majority leader.
They defeated two more conservative senators, one of whom was the third-ranking Republican who left before the meeting concluded.
In a news conference, Scarnati, 44, a former restaurant owner, and Pileggi, 48, a lawyer and former mayor of Chester, pledged to advance "Republican principles" of fiscal conservatism and to institute reforms in the legislature.
The two replace outgoing President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, 69, of Blair County, who spent 32 years in the Senate, 12 of them in the top leadership post, and Majority Leader David Brightbill, 64, of Lebanon, who was elected in 1982.
The two lost in May because of their roles in helping orchestrate the controversial legislative pay raise.
Scarnati and Pileggi supported the pay raise but Scarnati said they "listened to voters" and repealed the measure.
Senate Republicans yesterday chose two relative newcomers to fill their top leadership posts that had been held by veteran members ousted by angry voters in the primary.
After a closely contested race within the Republican caucus, Sen. Joseph B. Scarnati III, a two-term lawmaker from rural Jefferson County, was selected as president pro tempore and Rep. Dominic F. Pileggi of Delaware County as majority leader.
They defeated two more conservative senators, one of whom was the third-ranking Republican who left before the meeting concluded.
In a news conference, Scarnati, 44, a former restaurant owner, and Pileggi, 48, a lawyer and former mayor of Chester, pledged to advance "Republican principles" of fiscal conservatism and to institute reforms in the legislature.
The two replace outgoing President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, 69, of Blair County, who spent 32 years in the Senate, 12 of them in the top leadership post, and Majority Leader David Brightbill, 64, of Lebanon, who was elected in 1982.
The two lost in May because of their roles in helping orchestrate the controversial legislative pay raise.
Scarnati and Pileggi supported the pay raise but Scarnati said they "listened to voters" and repealed the measure.
These two have been in the State Senate less than eight years.
Here's Senator Piccola's record of achievement.

Biography
State SenatorJeffrey E. Piccola15th Senatorial DistrictDauphin & York Counties
Education
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola was born and raised in Susquehanna Township and graduated from the public school system
Graduated from Gettysburg College
Graduated from George Washington University Law School
Professional Experience
Served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force
Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1977-1995) for the 104th Legislative District (Dauphin County)
Won a Special Election (November 1995) for the 15th Senatorial District (re-elected in 1996, 2000 and 2004)
Serves as Majority Whip, the third ranking member of the Senate Republican Leadership Team
Vice Chair: Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee
Member: Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Education, Judiciary, Urban Affairs & Housing, and Labor & Industry Committees
Ensuring Public Safety and Judicial Reform
Champion of efforts to pass meaningful lawsuit abuse reform including successful passage of joint and several liability reform (June 2002 "Fair Share Act")
Supporter of efforts to reduce high medical malpractice costs, eliminate frivolous lawsuits, and set reasonable caps on non-economic damages
Outspoken House Judiciary Committee Chair who lead numerous judicial and crime issues, including the successful 1995 Special Session on Crime
1994 Republican leader of the House team that successfully impeached then Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen
Sponsor of "Jen and Dave's Law" that established a statewide information system to protect children in custody situations
Sponsor of legislation that allows professional counselors and marriage and family therapists to be licensed for the first time in Pennsylvania and affording consumers the resources they need to choose quality care
Former Senate Aging and Youth Committee Chair who strengthened laws to prevent elder abuse
Activist honored for his legislative work by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Pennsylvania Optometric Association, the American School Counselors Association, the Pennsylvania Mental Health Counselors Association, Common Cause of PA, and B'Nai B'Rith Salem Lodge
Author of the "Property Rights Protection Act," historic legislation designed to provide greater protection to owners of private property from governmental authorities who abuse the use of eminent domain powers
Fostering Business & Economic Development
Fighter to keep government spending, taxes, and red tape under control
Sponsor of legislation changing ownership of Harrisburg International and Capital City Airports from state to local control, enhancing economic development, improving services, and a state-of-the-art terminal (opened in 2004)
Supporter of quality of life projects: Wildwood Lake Sanctuary, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Penn State Cancer Center, National Civil War Museum, Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, and the Giant Center in Hershey
Supporter of highway and bridge improvements, including the much needed Dauphin Narrows bypass, reconstructed Paxtang Parkway, Interstate 283 ramps, and Hershey Park Drive Extension
Advocate for facilities providing indigent care including the Capital Region Health System at Hamilton Health Center, Inc., Pinnacle Health System, and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Sponsor of natural gas deregulation legislation to provide customer choice to families and small businesses
Recipient of the 2006 Catalyst Award and 2003 Government Leader of the Year, Harrisburg Regional Chamber
Improving Public Education
Advocate for charter schools, professional development for teachers, tenure and sabbatical reform
Author who secured passage of the "Education Empowerment Act," landmark legislation for poorly performing school districts in the state, including the Harrisburg City School District, which was to be placed under control of the Mayor of Harrisburg
Advocate for the creation of the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Leader in creating the South Central Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Program, Inc., a scholarship organization that provides tuition assistance to needy families in the region
Champion of Act 157 of 2002, requiring schools to display the American flag in classrooms and to offer either the Pledge of Allegiance or the playing of the National Anthem before the start of each school day
Sponsor of annual student government seminar for high school students and Good Citizenship Awards for elementary and junior high school students
Spearheading Urban Revitalization
Leader in securing passage of the first laws in decades to fight "slumlords" in Pennsylvania's cities (honored by the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities for this effort)
Sponsor of major legislation giving municipalities and citizens greater say over decisions on landfills
Vital player in ensuring that the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which assists the housing needs of low to middle income families in Dauphin County, remained in the city of Harrisburg
Reaching Out to the Community
Convener of Citizens Advisory Committees for veterans, sportsmen, business owners, and farmers
Host of monthly town meetings throughout the 15th Senatorial District
Author of regular newsletters for constituents, local government officials, EMS/firefighters, and senior citizens (in addition to weekly newspaper columns)
Host of a monthly cable show on state issues
Host of a website that provides up-to-date information about key legislation, constituent services, and news from the Capitol – address is: piccola.org
Personal
Member and past president of Susquehanna Township Lions Club
Member of the American Legion
Member of Robert Burns Lodge 464 F&AM and Trustee of the Harrisburg Consistory; Piccola is a 33rd degree Mason
Elder at Progress Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Advisory Board of the Keystone Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Serves on numerous other boards
Partner in the Harrisburg law firm of Boswell, Tintner, Piccola and Alford (and member of the Pennsylvania and Dauphin County Bar Associations)
Piccola lives in Susquehanna Township with his wife, Denise and they are the parents of two grown children, Jason and Jenny
So it seems like the Senate GOP learned nothing from the voters in the primary and fall elections. They reject someone like Jeff Piccola with years of experience in favor of two right wing cronies of Jubilier and Brightbill who most likely will be calling the shots from the sidelines. Well at least Jubilier and Brightbill won't get per diems anymore! Geez, I hope not. That's something we're going to have to watch.

ANOTHER WINNER!!!!!

General Assembly Speaker of the House John Perzel's behavior at the Pa. Press Club the otherday reminded me of a petulant three year old. Responding to questions from Philadelphia Daily News reporter John Baer on the pay raise and posting legislators expenses on the internet, Perzel was downright nasty, arrogant and childish. And this is the guy who is the Speaker of the House in Pennsylvania. He is a selfish little man who will never fill the shoes of past Speakers like K. Leroy Irvis and Matthew Ryan. We're going to have to watch this pathetic little freak!

LEMMOND FETED!

Meanwhile, amidst all of the silliness Perzel had to offer and the crocadile tears of Jubilier and Brightbill had to offer, plus the nonsensical meanderings of Democratic Leader Robert Mellow, at least there was a touch of class when long time Senator Charles Lemmond stepped down. Lemmond was feted with a video tribute and recieved a standing ovation from his peers. Included in the video tribute was Lisa Baker, Senator Elect in the 20th District.

20TH DISTRICT SENATORS (WHEN 20TH WAS RE-ORGANIZED IN MID 60S REDISTRICTING.)

1966 to 1978 T. NEWELL WOOD.

1978 to 1985 FRANK J. OCONNELL

1985 to 2006 CHARLES LEMMOND

KENNEDY COMMENT

Pete Cassidy sends this comment on the 43rd anniversary of the JFK murder. 43 years!!! Holy Shit! It damn sure was the beginning of change wasnt it. What a time to have been 15 with all that happenned, and happenned so fast in the next 6 years ahead of ya. Hell I was in Vietnam in '69. Long way from Brookside High in '63! Jack, Malcom, Martin and Bobby- Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang and 58,000 in an unnecessary war caused by a flawed "Dominoe Theory" and a tremendous arrogance and lack of real leadership. Oops! Aint that where we are at right now?!