The LuLac Edition #2359, February 14th, 2013

AND THE OBSTRUCTION BEGINS ANEW 

Republicans in the Senate said they will block the nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel to become Secretary of Defense. The GOP says they feel rushed and need more time. Senate Republicans who are holding up the vote indicated when the Senate reconvenes, they will then vote to confirm. This is the case of the Senate holding their breath for spite. Time to get your mommies, wives, mistresses or whoever takes care of you to bring out the big boy pants and get rid of the baby shorts. Only in America today would an opposition party hold up the nomination of an enlisted man who nearly got killed in Vietnam. Swiftboating did not end in the election of 2004!

Judicial Robes 

COURTROOM CONTROVERSY 

You can change the robes in the Luzerne County legal. System but you can’t change the elements of dramatic comic opera that plays itself out under the dome. The latest dust up comes in the trial of former Wilkes Barre Township Fire Chief Michael Yuknavich. Yuknavich is charged with improprieties when he ran the Wilkes Barre Township Fire Hall. Here’s a recap from the Times Leader’s: Edward Lewis: Going against advice from a colleague, Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick asked Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. to recues himself from presiding over the trial. Melnick said he received an anonymous phone call Tuesday night claiming Sklarosky and Yuknavich’s attorney, Barry Dyller, had dinner together about a month ago. Sklarosky immediately denied the request, telling Melnick the dinner was attended by 12 people and the Yuknavich case was not discussed. Details about the dinner and where it was held were not released. Melnick had confronted Dyller about the dinner prior to Sklarosky coming out of his chambers. 
There are some say that Sklarosky Jr should recuse himself. I think that might be doing too far because in his short time on the bench he has exhibited some Judicial prowess. But his reaction Melnick’s request seemed petulant. Plus his office’s refusal to provide an e mail address to WILK’s Steve Corbett seemed odd. When the good Judge was campaigning he never refused an opportunity to court (no pun intended here,) the media. (And a word to the anti WILK, Corbett posters, if you write and tell me he is not a media news person, your comments won’t see the light of day, so don’t waste your time!) 
One also can’t blame Melnick for throwing a Hail Mary and trying to use every advantage in prosecuting his case, Melnick has been doiing this a long time and no one should be surprised this was in his legal bag of tricks. 
If this is on anybody, it is on Barry Dyller. Dyller who has a reputation, real or imagined for taking on the cases of the downtrodden regarding employee rights and civil liberties (and he doesn’t take all of them believe me) should never have gone to that dinner with the Judges. Unless he just became Yuknanich’s lawyer, he had to know that one of the Judges at that dinner was going to get this case. As the husband of a Judge who was elected along with Sklarosky Junior because of a major Judicial Scandal, he should have recused himself from that dinner. If he did, Melnick would not have a issue. This is post Double C, Conahan and Ciavbarella. The problem with becoming a lawyer is that they make you pass the law boards but don’t give you a test on common sense. 

MURPHY GETS ARD 

Former State Representative Kevin Murphy got ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) instead of jail time for an assault on his wife and her friend last summer. I worked with Kevin Murphy. I thought he was full of Irish blarney but was a good guy in the cut throat world of media advertising and never saw him have a drink. Hitting anyone is serious when you are sober but when you are drunk (having dated my share of alcoholics) not only your judgment is impaired but so too are your passions. Murphy has done irreparable damage to an upwardly mobile political career and Lord knows how much to his family. I think this is the right decision. Murphy hurt people in one instant. And that was wrong. But I find it ironic that former Representative Ken Smith screwed his employees by not paying his taxes into their unemployment comp fund and gets rewarded with a $77,000 a year state job. Go figure. 

KANE SAYS NO

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane has said no to Governor Tom Corbett’s proposal to sell off the State Lottery to a British firm. Kane said saying parts of it contravene the state constitution and other parts are not authorized by state law. Kane said that she was doing her due diligence by upholding the checks and balances responsibilities of her office. The Corbett administration can challenge her stance but at post time there was no word from the Governor’s office. I agree with our local State Senator John Yudichak who said this was a misguided decision that would put a successful statewide program for seniors at risk. Yudichak was being too kind. It will be an unmitigated disaster. Congressman Matt Cartwright. 

OBAMA’S STATE OF THE UNION 

President Obama gave a wonderful speech the other night and outlined a list of things he wants to accomplish in his second term. I liked how the President said to Congress that he would be willing to sign bills if only the two chambers would agree. He signaled with Immigration and Gun Control that he would sign any bill. That is huge. After the speech, the President took his ideas on the road. I think he should have gone straight up to Capitol Hill Wednesday (if he doesn’t want them in the White House, no big deal) but he should go to them. If he gets his hands slapped, it’s not on him. It’s on Congress. Then go on the road and talk about your proposals. It is astounding to me that the Obama White House in governing does things so ass backward when their campaigns were right on the money.

17th District Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: Cartwright for Congress). 

CARTWRIGHT REACTS TO SOTU 

17th District Congressman Matt Cartwright had the following thoughts on the President’s State of the Union Address. President Obama presented a vision to the American people of a stronger Union, a foundation for prosperity, and a thriving middle class. Working together, we will adopt a bold agenda for our economic growth - founded on good-paying manufacturing jobs, greater access to education, critical investment in our nation’s infrastructure and a future of clean energy. Despite signs of progress in our economy, too many Americans are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. Sustaining a secure and prosperous middle class is the defining challenge of our time. To rebuild the middle class, we must make America a magnet for good-paying manufacturing jobs, provide access to the skills needed for all Americans to compete in today’s global economy and make sure that hard work produces a good standard of living and long-term financial security. Education is the greatest investment we can make in our country and is key to rebuilding our middle class. It’s critical that we provide greater access to early childhood education and that we open doors to collegiate opportunities for all Americans. Education is the crown jewel of our nation’s economic infrastructure. We cannot sacrifice our children’s future. Immediate investment must also be made in improving our nation’s crumbling transportation infrastructure. There is no such thing as a Republican bridge or a Democratic bridge: only the bridge we all travel over together. Investing in our infrastructure, allowing us to compete with countries across the world and providing jobs today, is imperative and is something we can and should all agree on. But, we need to invest in the technologies and economic strategies of the future. Clean energy creates jobs that you can’t ship overseas, and in turn boosts the economy. We must continue toward becoming fully energy independent and we need to lower energy costs to keep more money in the pockets of middle class families. Every step along the way, we must demand fiscal discipline - examining all unnecessary spending, but an indiscriminate across-the-board cut is the wrong approach. We can't just cut our way to prosperity or a strong middle class. Both sides need to work together with President Obama to provide a plan for a stable financial future. With his powerful words tonight, the President demanded that we fulfill our promise to fight for the interests of America's families, rebuild the keystones of progress, and restore opportunity to every American. Working together, we can realize a vision of growth, security and economic success for all Americans.

11th District Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photo: Politico.com)

BARLETTA’S REACTION 

Congressman Lou Barletta issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s State of the Union address: “I had hoped that we would hear more from the president regarding job creation, but unfortunately what we heard was more platitudes about government spending. This is precisely the recipe that led us into this fiscal mess in the first place. “The president likes to talk about a ‘balanced approach,’ but says nothing at all about a balanced budget. In fact, the president has consistently missed the deadline for submitting his own spending plan. “The sequestration that we now face, which will require dramatic cuts to defense spending, is the brainchild of the president. For him to now pretend it’s someone else’s fault is simply untrue. “Private employers know better how to create jobs, not government. Real people in the real world know better how to spend their hard-earned money. That’s how we grow the economy. “Additionally, I had hoped to hear some earnest talk about reform of the broken immigration system, but we didn’t hear that either. “We simply cannot sustain porous borders at the same time we are talking about amnesty for the millions who are already here contrary to our laws.”  With with all of that State of the Union talk, Lou talks about immigration? Not a surprise.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT 

 

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. ... and on line at www.t102radio.com 

ECTV 

Representatives from Marywood University will join ECTV hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo during the week of February 18th to talk about a free public concert which will be presented in the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts on February 23rd. The first alf will showcase the co-winners of the 2012 Marywood University Concerto Competition! ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast Ch19 and is presented at Noon and Midnight throughout the week with additional showings at 6pm on selected days. 

PCN 

PCN TO BEGIN APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET HEARINGS COVERAGE 

The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will provide LIVE and taped coverage of the state House and Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings starting Tuesday, February 19. This will be the first week of hearings that make up the Commonwealth’s annual fiscal process. Throughout the weeks ahead, PCN will continue to offer both LIVE and taped coverage of the 2013-2014 budget process. Viewers are urged to check www.pcntv.com for airtimes of any taped hearings. Streaming of the hearings will also be made available on the PCN Plus streaming page at http://pcntv.com/pcn-plus/ on the network’s website at www.pcntv.com. Hearings run February 19th through 21st. The Appropriations Committee budget hearings will continue throughout the next weeks. The hearings are set to conclude on Thursday, March 7. 

SUNDAY MAGAZINE 

This Week on Sunday Magazine Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Nik Mickleson about Bowl For Kids Sake, coming up Saturday March 23rd at Stanton Lanes in Wilkes Barre, which benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Pa. 
Brian Hughes speaks with Dr. Melina Jampolis about heart health. February is National Heart Health Month. This Week in Harrisburg examines school emergency plans in Pennsylvania, keeping the state 9-1-1 call system solvent, and legislation to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania. 
And Brian speaks with Dr. Michael Cooney about age related muscular degeneration. Sunday Magazine, Sunday mornings 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.

HENRY ON STORM POLITICS

You can catch an encore performance of Sue Henry on WYLN TV's "Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud. The show airs Thursday at 9:30PM, Saturday at 5PM, Sunday at 11AM,  Monday at 9PM and Tuesday at 4:30PM.

Our 1976 logo. 

1976 

The 1976 Constitution of Cuba is adopted by national referendum……..The Democratic Presidential candidates converge on New Hampshire to gain advantage in the crowded Presidential race. On the other side, President Ford is pitted against former California Governor Ronald Reagan in their first real test………….Outgoing U.S. Senator Hugh Scott says that while he likes Ronald Reagan, an intra party challenge never helped anyone and indicated he will back President Ford….and in Wilkes Barre Mayor Walter Lisman says the revitalization of Wilkes Barre continues on track after the Flood of ’72. The Traffic Committee designates the Square as one way traffic………..and 37 years ago the number one song in America and LuLac land was a slowed down version of Neil Sedaka’s 1962 hit, “Breaking Up Is Hard To do'