The LuLac Edition #918, Aug. 25th, 2009

SNAPPLE "REAL FACT" #725, only female mosquitoes bite.

PHOTO INDEX: CANDIDATES FOR LUZERNE COUNTY CONTROLLER WALTER GRIFFITH JUNIOR (REPUBLICAN) AND WIL TOOLE (INDEPENDENT).

HEATING UP

The race for Luzerne County Controller is starting to simmer. Walter Griffith made the rounds in Wilkes Barre, Plains and Pittston Friday night. Griffith also announced that he is holding a campaign meet and greet Sept 18th at 6 PM at the Ramada Hotel on Public Square. Cost is just 25.00 per person. RSVP at the Luzerne County GOP headquarters by phone 2084671 or Email:
luzernecountygop@gmail.com. Meanwhile Independent candidate Wil Toole has communicated some of his views on an issue regarding the way the County payroll is staggered. Toole says this can be a practical way to save money. Here's his letter:

I previously have tried to sound an alarm to Luzerne County taxpayers that the county commissioners are determined to make a very costly mistake in December. Simply put, the county pays employees every two weeks, which is 26 pays per year. When you use this method, every seven years the calendar forces an extra pay, so there are 27 pays – and not the 26 for which the budget is prepared. This 27th pay is scheduled for next year, but because the first pay of the year falls on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, the commissioners have moved that first pay of 2010 forward to Dec. 31, 2009. This might not sound like a problem, but consider that an employee earning a yearly salary of $26,000 is paid $1,000 every two weeks. Moving the extra pay into this calendar year will raise each employee an extra two week’s pay not in the budget. The employee shown in the example will end the year with a salary of $27,000. The total additional cost of this blunder is in excess of $2 million. This can be avoided. All the commissioners have to do is to revert to two pays per month (on the 1st and 15th days), and the annual salary would be divided equally by 24 pays and it will never exceed the budgeted salary. The pays for 2009 should not be changed. The commissioners have the remainder of this year to change the salary structure. They then restructure all salaries to be paid in 24 equal payments and the problem will be resolved forever. The first pay of 2010 will be issued payable on the first of the month and the employees can cash their checks on Saturday or Monday, or they can utilize the county’s direct deposit system. This is not rocket science; it is common-sense management. Call the county commissioners (825-1500) and tell them to do the right thing and avoid this needless expense.

Wil Toole

Independent candidate for Controller

YEAH PAUL!!

Congressman Kanjorski told it like it is today on WILK Radio when he told the radio hosts that he thought President Obama compromised too much on health care reform. He's right and I'm glad someone had the stones to say it. The GOP will never concede that health care reform needs a true overhaul because it is not in their basic nature. Here's a recap from the WILK website: 11th District Congressman Paul Kanjorski talked with WILK's Nancy Kman and Sue Henry Tuesday morning about healthcare reform. He also took email questions from listeners on the issue. Kanjorski says it's 'the burden of the President to sell, provide the information, the analysis and facts to the Congress of the United States and the American people" on healthcare reform." Kanjorski also says "I think the President may have compromised too much on this bill, in making deals with the drug companies, with the medical profession, with the hospital profession, with the insurance carriers, that he's taken all of the areas out of consideration that are necessary to get cost containment." Hear the entire program by accessing the WILK website. http://www.wilknetwork.com/.