The LuLac Edition #2345, January 31st, 2013

Governor Tom Corbett. (Photo: ABC News) 

CORBETT’S LIQUOR PLANS 

Governor Tom Corbett wants to sell the liquor stores. There are many who think this is a good idea. I do not. The State Liquor Stores have reinvented themselves in the last few years offering better qualities of wines and liquors. For the most part, the workers there are knowledgeable, cordial and helpful. Things are running smoothly. But Corbett and his cadre of anti government brethren want to privatize the stores. That is a bad idea for the following reasons: 1. State control will increase more crime. Go to New Jersey and check out some of the neighborhoods and their liquor emporiums. You want that in your neighborhood? You think out of town crime is bad now, just wait. 
2. Workers being paid a decent wage (which is incentive enough to keep yourself on the straight and narrow these days) will be replaced by 9 buck an hour clerks who won’t give a rat’s ass if you’re 17 year old is getting a bottle. How will it be policed? 
3. Finally, a onetime sale is not going to solve the problem. The State will be killing an annual Cash Cow that will yield a onetime payment to increase funding for education. Huh? No one will say it but education is the financial black hole in Pennsylvania. It is a money pit. 
The first Governor I followed in earnest was Raymond Shafer. Ever since he served, nine Governor have talked about giving more money to education. For the kids. I mean where is the improvement? Education for our children will improve if parents get involved with their children’s education At the kitchen . It won’t happen by throwing money at it. Plus I want to see where the money made up from the loss of annual revenue is going to come from when the State Stores are dismantled. Bad idea. 

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT 

LOTTERY SALE? 

Again with Tom Corbett. One of his staff must have found out that the Governor doesn’t need the permission of the Legislature to cut a deal to sell the Pa. Lottery. Bad idea again. The Pa. Lottery is one of the best run in the country and is the only one that gives its profits to Pennsylvania Senior. And they want to export it to an overseas company that has been very sketchy on details on how they’ll run it but certainly keeping their ears perks to give themselves bonuses when the sale goes through. And why the rush for a KENO game? I mean isn’t that going to be direct competition for the Casinos built a few years back? Corbett and Company have to learn that just because the government runs it, it isn’t all bad.

Lou Barletta and Matt Cartwright on swearing in day in Washington. Both presented different views on the President's Immigration Plan.  (Photo: Getty Images.com) 

IMMIGRATION-TWO VIEWS 

On the President’s immigration bill, here’s what Matt Cartwright told the Times Leader: “Everybody knows that there are around 12 million undocumented aliens in the country,” Cartwright said. “I’d like to make taxpayers of these people and attempt to collect back taxes from them.” Cartwright said if only 5 million of the estimated 11 million undocumented aliens entered the workforce, it could mean a quarter of a trillion dollars in tax dollars collected. Cartwright assumes the best in the American Experience. He makes sense because when people have jobs, they pay taxes. Not every illegal is a gang member. 
On the other hand, the One Note Johnny of the Pennsylvania delegation, Lou Barletta said the proposal – to provide amnesty for more than 11 million illegal immigrants – would be disastrous for the country’s already struggling economy and massive entitlement debt. “As new citizens, millions will be on the path to eligibility for public benefits,” Barletta said. Barletta’s view is typically cynical and expects the worst in his fellow man. Barletta thinks every illegal is going to shoot someone in the head on a street corner and be a gang banger looking to rob and roll anyone else. Look to the dire straits Hazleton is in. Barletta passed an anti immigration ordinance that most likely scared decent, hard working people from settling there. Why come to a city when you are told you’re not wanted. The remaining residents of Hazleton have to pay burdensome taxes because one of the factors was Barletta’s actions against a growing population that he mistook for takers, not givers. It is astounding that he is doing the same thing on the national level. 

CONSOLIDATION 

There was a story in the Citizen’s Voice about a four year old girl who was having a SEIZURE. An ambulance was called but there was some type of political bullshit going on between Nanticoke and the Hanover Area Ambulance crews. So they brought a unit from Berwick to take the child to the hospital who was unconscious. Hanover officials said that she got to the hospital in forty minutes and that Berwick could get to Hanover faster than the Nanticoke Ambulance. Huh? This screams for consolidation of these little fiefdoms who can’t communicate. I don’t think 40 minutes to a hospital is anything to brag about. And people are bitching about guns killing people 

MEDIA MATTERS 

THE PARTY ZONE 

 Catch the new extended 70s, 80s, 90s oldies show "The PartyZone" with Shadoe Steele beginning this Saturday from 6 - midnight on 50,000 watt powerhouse WAVT-FM - T-102. 

ECTV 

ECTV Live hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will welcome Barry Kaplan to their program during the week of February 4th. Kaplan, owner of Everything Natural in Clarks Summit is the Chairman of the Community's annual Festival Of Ice, The event, which is open free of charge to the public, features ice sculptures and musical entertainment throughout the borough. Kaplan will outline plans for this year's Festival on the program which is broadcast every day on Comcast ch19 at Noon, 6pm, and Midnight. 

SUNDAY MAGAZINE 

This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Sue O'Day, President of the Abington Heights Civic League about their "Mardi Gras Night" fundraiser, coming up Friday, Feb 8th at 6pm at the Glen Oaks Country Club in Clarks Summit. Brian speaks with behavioral expert Michael Cartwright about the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, and what can be done about it. And an encore of Brian's interview with Dr. David Palmiter, who discusses the tragic school shooting in Connecticut, and what we can learn from it. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on Great Country 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93, and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM. 

PCN

PCN SET FOR LIVE ANNUAL BUDGET ADDRESS COVERAGE 

On Tuesday, February 5, Governor Tom Corbett will deliver his third state budget address before a joint session of the PA House and Senate. The address is the first step in the Commonwealth’s annual fiscal process. The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will devote the day’s programming to extensive LIVE budget address coverage. The February 5 budget address coverage on PCN is as follows: • LIVE coverage begins at 11:00 a.m. with former state representative, Kathy Manderino of Intercommunity Action and former Chief of Staff to Governor Dick Thornburgh, Rick Stafford of Carnegie Mellon University joining host Larry Kaspar in the PCN studio. • LIVE coverage of the Governor’s Budget Address before a joint session of the House and Senate. • LIVE coverage from the state Capitol will continue with budget reaction from legislators. • At 7:00 p.m., viewers will get a chance to share their thoughts or ask questions concerning the state budget by dialing toll-free 1-877-PA6-5001 during the hour-long LIVE PCN Call-In program. In the coming weeks, PCN will provide extensive coverage of the 2013-2014 fiscal year state budget proceedings. Check the schedule at www.pcntv.com for upcoming programming details.

Our 1976 logo. 

1976 

The 1976 Winter Olympics begin in Innsbruck, Austria....... In Guatemala and Honduras an earthquake kills more than 22,000. Nearly 2,000 students become involved in a racially charged riot at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida; 30 students are injured in the 4-hour fray. Pennsylvania’s Governor Milton Shapp starts a concerted effort to win the March 8th Florida primary. Shapp criss crossed the state and was targeting senior voters in his attempt to gain a foothold in the crowded Democratic race for President…in Wilkes Barre the newly installed City Council, Joe Williams, Robert Brader, Bob Prawdzik, Bob Reilly, Lee Namey, Kevin Blaum and minority Republican Frank Trinicewski pledge to work with the Lisman administration in developing the downtown. But Counci;l said they wanted input as well as a say I how community development money will be used in finishing the new Public Square……and 37 years ago this week the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was “ISing A Song" by Earth, Wind and Fire".