The LuLac Edition #1427, Jan. 6th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: LACKAWANNA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHO AND O'BRIEN, THE DOME AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN HARRISBURG, OUR 1972 LOGO, WILKES BARRE COUNCIL MEMBERS KATHY KANE AND RICK CRONAURER.

HEALTH CARE REPEAL?

Those nasty little gnats who are taking over the Congress want to repeal health care. Want to defund it on of all days Rush Limbaugh’s birthday. That speaks volumes. This President better not cave on this. Actually it’s his own fault. More than 75% of the American people thought a single payer system was a good thing but the gutless Professor caved in to the drug companies and gave the party of no the advantage. The GOP can take something that 60% of the American people want and get the 40% opposed to it so worked up that in the end they win over about 15% of the undecided. Final score: NO: 55%, YES: 45%. This new Congress is going to have to try and solve some problems. Maybe taking apart the health care bill and voting on it item by item might make sense. This way the naysayers will have stopped the argument about reading the bill and those things that are essential to the middle class will be kept. The problem I have with the Health Care debate is this, there are still callers to talk radio who say we are adding more people to the insurance rolls and because of that it will cost more money. FACT: THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING A PREMIUM TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAMS. Health is not free, has never been free and in the future will never be free. You pay a share. It makes sense that the more people paying a share, the more workable capital you have to provide medical care. If the 112th Congress does anything, let’s hope it gets that farcical argument off the table. Here's one of the Democrats in Congress who will try to make the arguement against defunding health care.


WASHO/O’BRIEN '11

The team of Corey O’Brien and Mike Washo will be going for a second term. O’Brien who ran for Congress last year against Paul Kanjorski has been named the new Chair of the Board of Commissioners. How O’Brien’s run last year will impact on this race will not be known unless an opponent comes out to challenge Washo and O’Brien. A.J. Munchak has decided not to run to concentrate on his legal fight. It will be interesting to see how the Republican party in Lackawanna County approaches this election. The GOP might want to bring up the fact that both Washo and O’Brien were early supporters of President Obama. What traction that will get in Throop is anyone’s guess. The last time the GOP won a County Commissioners race with two bonafide Republicans was 1971 when Robert Pettinato and Bob Luger (See 1972) unseated Patrick Mellody and Edward Zipay.

A NEW PA. GOP DAY

The Pennsylvania General Assembly began its new legislative session this week by swearing in new and returning members. Twenty-one freshmen Republicans and eight new Democrats were sworn in to the House. Republican Sam Smith was elected speaker. The Senate swore in 25 members, including Democratic freshmen John Yudichak representing the 14th and John Blake representing the 22nd. Joe Scarnati, a Republican and serving out a term as Lt. Governor notched a third term as president pro tempore.
Neither Smith nor Scarnati was opposed. Republican Gov.-elect Tom Corbett will be inaugurated Jan. 18. After that event the GOP will have total control over the governmental operations in the Commonwealth.

AIMING HIGH

Wilkes Barre City Council has always been the launching pad for ambitious politicians. Four of the last five Mayors served on Council, (McLaughlin, Namey McGroartey and Leighton), Kevin Blaum and Bob Reilly went on to higher elected posts in the state and Frank Trinisewski became County Commissioner. Bernie Mengrinhausen went to the City Controller’s office after time on Council. Recently seated as Council Chairperson, Kathy Kane has indicated she will make a run for Mengrinhausen’s seat because of his impending retirement. So far there doesn’t seem to be any one talking about a primary fight. Kane has demonstrated her loyalty to the city and will most likely have an easy path to election.
Another intriguing possibility is the District Justice seat held by Judge Bill Amesbury. That seat has not been filled by Governor Ed. One term Councilman Rick Cronauer has indicated he is interested in the job. So much so that he has taken the required Magistrate Courses.
He recently completed a four-week school at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg to become certified as a magisterial district judge.
The District 11-1-01 magisterial district seat in Wilkes-Barre has been held by the late Michael Collins and Amesbury who were Attorneys. The magisterial seat has been vacant since January.
Cronauer, represents District A, which includes most of South Wilkes-Barre, Barney Farms and Goose Island. That area usually votes as a block and has carried Tom Leighton and Bill Amesbury respectively to huge vote totals. Cronaurer ran very well in that District in 2007 and can repeat that performance. He has not indicated he will run but he “friended” me on FaceBook. I met the guy once at the LuLac candidate’s forum at Genetti’s in 2007. Unless I made a delayed reaction good first impression, he’s running.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT


SWB YANKEES

Like their mothership, the Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees are being penny wise and pound foolish. The franchise that pays millions to aging pitchers decided to cut costs. They did it to some front office personnel. One of them was Mike Cummings who was a 21 year veteran of the Red Barons and Yankees. Cummings was very responsive to the media, event coordinators and fans. Plus he knew the area and the people. The SWB Yankees just let two decades of experience walk out the door. Nice move. My interactions with Cummings were few and far between over the years and just by phone. But he was a gem. The Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees remind me of school on a Saturday: NO CLASS!

LOU’S OFFICE

Lou Barletta has an office he has sought for nearly a decade. Congressman Barletta is ensconced in a House office once occupied by President Richard Nixon. Nixon was elected in 1946 and served two terms (just like Rick Santorum) until being elected to the Senate in 1950. Nixon went on to become Dwight Eisenhower’s Vice President. The new Congressman gave his family and visiting dignitaries including his successor Joe Yannuzzi the grand tour.

URBAN’S SWITCH?

I’m still trying to understand Steve Urban's switch to the Democrats. Where politically could he go? Always known as a survivor you’d think he’s hang on to the GOP label and try to get a state job with the new GOP Governor. His son is running for County Council and if Urban runs, how can he run against his son and would not two Urbans on the ballot defeat the purpose of both candidacies? Mayor of Wilkes Barre? Tom Leighton has some detractors but not that many to topple him from that perch. Watching Urban’s movements in the next few months will be fascinating.

203 TIMES

Republicans have filibustered 203 times since Democrats won the majority in 2007 – twice as often as in the four previous years. It’s one thing for Republicans to oppose bills they fundamentally disagree with. It’s quite another for Republicans to block bills they’re on record as supporting – just to prevent President Obama’s success and try to poke Democrats in the eye.


COPS TO CHOOSE

The Citizens Opposed to Political Oppression (gotta love the name!) are set to make their endorsements for County Council and Judges on January 13th. Candidates have been making the trek to meet the members. The group plans to endorse both Republicans and Democrats. COPS has a decent electoral track record, the only place where the Charter YES effort failed was in their Hazleton districts. Plus both Bill Amesbury and Tina Gartley got huge majorities out f that area in the 2009 Judicial primary and General.

MEDIA MATTERS

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Shadoe Steele this week features the very best of music from the 60s through the 80s with ABC News at the top of the hour. His show airs on WILK AM and FM. Shadoe is re-running his last interview with the late Gerry Rafferty via satellite from Glasgow Scotland, quality so good it sounds as if we were in the same room. Saturday 8 - 9 P EST, music of Stealers Wheel and his solo work - from November 2008.




SUNDAY MAGAZINE

Listen to Brian Hughes comprehensive radio magazine on WARM this Sunday morning at 9;30AM on WARM, the mighty 590. Coming up this weekend on Sunday magazine This week in Harrisburg takes a look at swearing in day for the new state legislature, with remarks from new state senators John Blake and John Yudichak, and new representative Tara Roohill, along with the new state house leaders, Mike Turzai and Frank Dermody. Brian Hughes interviews Dr. Roger Clemens, (not the baseball player) about the new USDA dietary guidelines, and the changes we need to make in our diet. and an encore of Brian's interview with anti gas drilling activist Sandra Serhan of Harveys Lake, about the pitfalls of hydrolic fracturing, and an upcoming anti drilling rally in Harrisburg on Jan 18th, the day Tom Corbett is sworn in as Pennsylvania's governor. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5:30am on JR 93.7, 6am on 97bht & 97.9x, 6;30am on magic 93, and 9;30am on 590 warm am.

AGNES

There is a remarkable effort happening to produce a film on the 1972 Agnes Disaster. And since our feature year this time around is 1972, I thought it appropriate you should see this. I have not had the opportunity to embed this video but I’m leaving the FaceBook link so you can join the effort in helping to make this film a reality. The footage of the network news is especially stunning. Visit Agnes Anniversary Flood Project on FaceBook.

1972

Kurt Waldheim becomes Secretary General of the United Nations...The first scientific hand-held calculator (HP-35) is introduced (price $395).....President Richard Nixon orders the development of a space shuttle program.......In Philadelphia Frank Rizzo takes office as the new Mayor of Philadelphia vowing to clean up the streets and protect the neighborhoods……in Lackawanna County the Courthouse is under Republican control for the first time in over 20 years. Former State Representative Charles Luger and Robert Pettinato take office as County Commissioners……in Luzerne County Frank Crossin, Edmund Wideman (Democrats) and Republican Ethel Price are sworn in for their second terms. Despite party disharmony, Crossin and Wideman work together and return as a type of neo majority although both men will build coalitions with Price thrpoughout the remainder of this term….Attorney Patrick Toole becomes the County’s new District Attorney. Toole beat incumbent Blythe Evans in the 1971 election. For the next 16 years the Democratic party will control the DA’s office in Luzerne County and 39 years ago the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green.