The LuLac Edition #1723, August 18th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: THE OTHER CRANKY GUY WITH A CANE, CHILDREN IN POVERTY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, NANTICOKE AND OUR 1972 LOGO.

IMMIGRATION LIE

I can’t tell you the number of well meaning people I run into that tell me I should pursue a disability claim because of my leg and back problems. Usually these are people that haven’t seen me in a long while. The people I do know who are on disability have all told me the same thing, that the process is long, arduous and not always guaranteed. So it surprised me when many people I’ve spoken to through the years have told me that illegal immigrants get disability just like that. (They snap their fingers for emphasis). Given what I’ve seen personally, something just didn’t ring true. Then I realized this “illegal immigrants get instant disability” is just another big lie promulgated by the party of no, those national Republicans. Here is the question:
Q: Is Congress about to give Social Security to illegal immigrants?
A: Congress hasn’t voted on any measure to pay benefits to illegal immigrants, and has no plans for any such vote.
FROM FACT CHECK.ORG.
Versions of this whopper have been going around since 2006 and picked up after Democrats won increased House and Senate majorities last November. Since January 1, readers have forwarded to us more than 100 e-mails that claim Congress is about to vote or is voting right now or just voted last week to give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants. All are false.
We first saw this bogus claim bandied about as a Republican campaign theme during the 2006 midterm elections. As we explained then, no benefits can legally be paid to illegal immigrants and there was never a proposal to change that.
The false claims mischaracterize debate over immigration legislation in 2006. There was a failed attempt by Republicans to change current law in order to prevent immigrants who become citizens, or who are granted legal status, from getting credit toward future Social Security benefits for taxes they paid before becoming legal. Current law allows illegal immigrants to get such credit – but only when and if they become legal. Republicans offered an amendment to change this, but it failed, as did the immigration legislation to which it would have been attached.
But the bunk didn’t die with the bill. During the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney attacked eventual nominee Sen. John McCain on this same issue. We noted the falsehood again then. The rumor took on new life last fall when an independent group ran television ads saying Barack Obama’s domestic plan "gives illegals Social Security." As we pointed out at the time, the allegation was simply false.
We’ll just quickly note that illegal immigrants are broadly disqualified from collecting benefits from government programs, according to U.S. Code, with only limited exceptions. Those exceptions are:
Emergency medical care (which includes emergency labor and delivery)
Emergency disaster relief that is provided for the short term and is not a cash payment
Limited immunizations and testing, and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases
Certain community programs, such as soup kitchens or crisis counseling, as specified by the Attorney General
Limited housing or community development assistance to those already receiving it in 1996
These are the only circumstances under which illegal immigrants can lawfully receive government assistance. Notably absent from this list is any type of Social Security benefits. To repeat: Illegal immigrants cannot legally receive Social Security benefits, and Congress isn’t about to vote on legislation that would change that.
Of course, some immigrants who are here without legal permission do end up receiving Social Security and other benefits, through bureaucratic mistakes or through deliberate fraud. The Government Accountability Office has even called this a "serious problem," though the GAO also says that "the full extent of benefit fraud is unknown." This problem draws the ire of conservative commentators and is sometimes distorted in Internet or e-mail postings to imply falsely that such payments are government policy.
These e-mails and rumors about Social Security have bubbled up so often that we’ve included it in the frequently asked questions on our "Hot Topics" page.
So there it is, if any Republican big mouth tells you that illegal immigrants are getting social security, it is a lie. But like many campaign and even governmental tactics of these national Republicans, these are bald face lies designed to pit otherwise decent Americans against people who are trying to make a life for themselves in this country. This is a lie that is designed to kiss the asses of a narrow minded minority that is hellbent on destroying this country’s middle class and melting pot.

BACHMANN’S BLUNDERS

So Michele Bachmann who speaks to her crowds yesterday like we are pre schoolers learning the alphabets wished the late Elvis Presley a happy birthday. The King of course passed away on the day “Michele my Belle” wished him well. (Presley was born on January 8th, the day before Richard Nixon who was born on the 9th). On the surface this is a small thing but think about this, if she and her staff can’t get this bit of trivia right, information that is readily available to anyone on line, imagine what they are missing with the big things! And Bachmann also said that she wanted Americans to help her take the country back. Again my question, from who? When I was a kid I handed out flyers for Genevieve Blatt and Grace Sloan when they ran for state wide office. I’ve voted for more women in the last two elections than I did for men. I supported Hillary Clinton for President. I operate on the assumption that most women are smarter than men. But Michele Bachmann is a total embarrassment and for the sake of the Republican party should be repudiated as a silly little woman with absolutely no intellectual depth.

WELLS FARGO PIGS

Once again those job creating financial wizards who the Republicans say have tied hands because of regulations by the Obama administration have found a way to screw their customers. Wells Fargo has a test plan in 6 states to see if this little item will fly. The bank wants to charge a $3 fee on every transaction a customer makes on their bank debit card. The bank wants to charge $3 every time you use the card. Now that is going to help stimulate the economy isn’t it? The bastards are doing this because they can’t charge businesses anymore. So they go after their own customers. Mobsters used to have more ethics and scruples than these guys. Here’s some advice: pull all your money out of a bank and find a credit union. Don’t let these pigs cheat you out of your own money. And by the way, just where does the money go? Certainly not for high salaries of the tellers pulling down $10.50 an hour!

RECESSION AND KIDS

Some amazing statistics on children and the recession. A national study on child well-being was published on Wednesday, finding that 14.7 million children were poor in 2009 across the United States. The number represents 20 percent of the nation, and represents a 2.5 million increase from 2000. Who held office for the majority of the time in this country? The Republicans. Who gave insane tax breaks to the rich while the middle class was screwed over and over again? The Republicans. I’m disappointed in the fact that Obama has no governmental gonads but for any Republican to lay this on his doorstep is an outright abuse of the truth.
The research by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that poverty rose in 38 U.S. states. The increase was caused by the recession, hitting children in Nevada which showed the highest number of children whose parents are unemployed or underemployed. According to the Associated Press, the study finds that 13 percent of all Silver State babies, toddlers and teenagers have been kicked out of their homes because of an unpaid mortgage. The annual survey monitored by policy makers across the nation concludes that children from low-income families are more likely to be raised in unstable environments and switch schools than their wealthier peers, said the AP. As a result, they are less likely to be gainfully employed as adults.
Economically disadvantaged children can also result in reduced economic output, higher health expenditures and increase criminal justice costs for society.
The GOP blathers about how the deficit is going to affect their grandchildren. IT WON’T. They’re RICH! When are these liars going to admit the truth, that their policies have made life miserable for the middle class. They should stop worrying about their fictional grand children and start worrying about today’s generation of young people who are getting nailed. Not by anything Obama did to the economy, but what the Republicans did in the first part of this century.

TOWN HALL COWARDS

So where are all the Town Hall Meetings during the Congressional recess? Remember when Chris Carney and Paul Kanjorski used to have them? Now our local wonders, Barletta, Marino and Casey are saying that because of the Arizona situation earlier this year where Gabriel Giffords was shot, for security reasons they will not be doing them. WHAT AN INSULT! An insult to Congresswoman Giffords, (who’s dilemma is being used as a political prop by these guys) and an insult to your own constituents. By saying something like this, the good people of Northeastern Pennsylvania are being compared to a mass murdering psychopath!! Next time you go to the polls to vote for these people, remember who they compared you to. A nut case that didn’t even have a clue as to what the national debate was all about.

BIG NEWS IN THE ‘KOKE

The City of Nanticoke has voted to put Home Rule on the ballot in the fall. Nanticoke City Council did that on Tuesday night. The Home Rule Changes increases the number of Council members from 4 to 5 and gives the Mayor more power under a strong mayor form of government that will allow he or she to fire or hire. A change in the status of the city manager makes it mandatory for that person to live in the city. Overall tax increases are limited to 8% and term limits are established so that no one can serve as Mayor or Council member for more than 3 terms. Other news out of Nanticoke, the three losers who pistol whipped Mayor John Doherty are now behind bars. The Mayor was assaulted in front of his home in June. These creeps went on a crime spree after taking their lazy asses via cab to the city in search of trouble. Take these bums and throw away the key.

GOP STAFFERS TO PLEA

Three ex-aides to former state House Speaker John Perzel are expected to plead guilty this week in exchange for their cooperation in prosecuting other Republican defendants in a corruption probe, the state Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday.
The expected pleas will come less than three weeks before jury selection is slated to begin in Dauphin County court in the consolidated trial of the Republican defendants. They include Perzel, of Philadelphia, and another former high-ranking state representative, Brett Feese of Lycoming County, who also had served as chief counsel for the House GOP caucus.
Scheduled to enter pleas Wednesday are Samuel “Buzz” Stokes, 68, a Philadelphia man who is a former employee of the state House of Representatives and Perzel’s brother-in-law, and Don McClintock, 43, a former Perzel campaign aide, the attorney general’s office said.
Paul Towhey, 40, of Blue Bell, one of two former Perzel chiefs of staff charged in the case, is scheduled to enter a plea Friday before the same judge.
Each of the three was originally charged with at least two dozen counts of conflict of interest, theft and conspiracy.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT


MEDIA MATTERS

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

This week Shadoe Steele presents Saturday Night Live at the Oldies on WILK AM & FM. Shadoe’s guest this week is Percy Sledge. Tune in from 7pm to midnight with ABC News on the top of the hour.


ECTV

ECTV Live will welcome Stan Zygmunt from the University of Scranton as its guest for the week of August 22nd. Hosts Judge Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will be talking with Zygmunt about the incoming class of Freshmen students and the school's efforts to make sure they'll be good neighbors in the Electric City! ECTV Live is carried on Comcast Ch19 at Noon and Midnight throughout the week.

STORM POLITICS

Tiffany Cloud’s guest this week on “Storm Politics” is Stefanie Salavantis the Republican candidate in Luzerne County for District Attorney. Storm Politics can be seen on WYLN TV 35 at these times: Thurs 9:30PM, Sat 5PM, Sun 11AM, Mon 9PM, Tues 4:30P on WYLN TV 35.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Weekend on Sunday Magazine: An encore of Brian Hughes interview with Brian Moran from the Association of Private School Colleges and Universities about the negative impact of the Department of Education's "Gainful Employment Regulation" will have on students pursuing higher education. And an encore of Brian's interview with actress and Scranton native Melanie Smith about her career, and what she's up to now. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5:30am on JR 93.7 & 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X,
6:30am on Magic 93, and 9:30am on WARM 590 AM

1972

The McGovern campaign finally comes up with a nominee for Vice President after the Thomas Eagleton debacle. After a week in which six prominent Democrats publicly refused the vice presidential nomination, Sargent Shriver, brother-in-law to John, Robert and Ted Kennedy, former Ambassador to France and former Director of the Peace Corps, finally accepted. He was officially nominated by a special session of the Democratic National Committee. By this time, McGovern's poll ratings had plunged from 41 to 24 percent. The 6 tuyrning down the nod from McGovern were Senators Ted Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Edmund Muskie, Henry Jackson, John Glenn and former Governot Terry Sanford…………….in Pennsylvania Treasurer Grace Sloan reports that receipts are coming in at a robust pace despite the earlier floding caused by Hurricane Agnes and in Luzerne County Frank Carlucci, the man appointed y Richard Nixon to be the flood czar begins to streamline channels of communication ands government. A consolodation of humsan services is undertaken and put under one umbrella to avoid duplication and cost over runs……….and in LuLac Land the number 1 song in America was “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” by the Hollies.