The LuLac Edition #2549, October 31st, 2013

BROMINSKI MAKES THE ASK
When Tip O’Neill was a young politician running for office in Boston, a lady in his neighborhood he knew all his life voted for his opponent. Stunned, he asked the woman how she could do that given the long relationship their families had. The woman said simply, “You never asked”.
Well current Council member Ed Brominski is asking and here’s his recent missive:
Dear Friends:
Probably for the last time I am going to ask you for your support for a few candidates for County Office.
I am somewhat remiss to do so as I have failed to meet some of your expectations of me over the last 22 months. I have not fulfilled my obligations to the electorate, in my eyes, because of a lack of cooperation by the rest of council to address our needs. Certainly, in my mind, I have tried to address pressing issues facing us like, economic growth, debt payment and checks and balances of the actions of both the executive and legislative branches of our government. It is a difficult chore when you are in the minority.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5th, you have a chance to help me realize success for your desires and concerns. I respectfully ask you to support for the election of the following candidates , who I am certain will be a more progressive than the reactionary incumbents they seek to depose.
The Candidates are:
Mike Giamber, Renee Taffera, Eileen Sorokas and Kick Heffron.
With you endorsement of these candidates, this floundering ship of County can be up righted and we can progress.
Sincerely, as always.....
Bromo

County Councilman Jim Bobeck. (Photo: Citizen's Voice).

BOBECK MAKES A PLEA

On Tuesday, November 5, 2013, I make a simply plea: Please, go vote....you entire government is based off informed citizens voting to shape their government and electing quality people. Everything is based on voting, and the reflection of your government (whether state, county, federal) is based upon the votes of its people.
The plug: Vote straight conscience! Some people want you to vote straight R or Straight D, or just vote for a clever ticket name. Instead, vote straight conscience. Vote on people as individuals. On the county Council level, there has been great effort over the past two years to turn the ship around. County government is like an aircraft carrier. It takes great effort and time to turn it, but once it does, it moves swift, straight, and true.
Four Council members, despite struggles at times, want to continue service: Haa, Kelleher, Houck, and Williams. Prior to council, they were never elected to anything, and their motives are but only for the betterment of the County, We may not always agree with the choices of elected officials, but when examining the big picture, they have provided leadership by not cowering to special interests and voting for things that are best in the "long term" for the County. Furthermore, for any ills faced by the Council, they will not sit there and point fingers at others, which is a terribly unfortunate thing for anyone to do. Instead, they dust themselves off and look forward to the next battle and finds ways to bridge the gaps with other members.
Resolution, Compromise, and Optimism are the components of any solid foundation, and Haas, Houck, Keller, and Williams will continue to build that new foundation with these ingredients.
On the fifth council spot, I have gotten to know many excellent candidates for this position, and regardless of the results on Tuesday, the council will have a new make-up. Whoever it is, I look forward to continuing a spirit of cooperation of them. Thank you for your time, and best wishes to the County going forward.
Jim Bobeck, Esq.

State Representative Kevin Haggerty. (Photo:  LuLac archives). 

HAGGERTY ON HEALTH CARE

State Representative Kevin Haggerty has weighed in on Health Care in the State. Here’s what he had to say about working families and their battle to stay healthy and afloat.
As a state lawmaker I find myself continually disheartened by the inequity among Pennsylvania families’ hard choices when it comes to health care, particularly at a time when there is so much doubt and turmoil in the market for benefits.
Yes, I am blessed with a family health benefit package for which I pay 1 percent of my salary, as are my 252 colleagues in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Meanwhile, providers are charging families no different than ours thousands of dollars a month for plans that pale in comparison.
And yes, we lawmakers are working hard to expand Medicaid to needy families and free up dollars for an expanded Pennsylvania marketplace to complement the federal Affordable Care Act.
But we can do more, and I pledge to do so by introducing a bill that calls for an increase in the premiums lawmakers pay for our health care. I’m compelled to do so, not only because it could generate savings in the middle-class health care markets, but because it’s the right thing to do for those of us who earn a living from tax dollars.
I will be seeking co-sponsorship from my colleagues in the near future. Please make sure your legislators are aware of this needed reform.

2013 WYOMING VALLEY PARADE COMMITTEE Karel Zubris, PR Chair, John Emil Sr., Mike Collins, LCDR Susan Allen (ret) US NAVY,US NAVY Albert Seeman, Art Stahl,CAPT Bob Ambrose, (ret) US NAVY, Charles Coleman, SSG Christopher Keen. 

VETERAN’S PARADE COMING UP

The 68th Annual Wyoming Valley Veteran's Day Parade will take place on November 10th, 2013 in Kingston, PA. The parade with step off approximately at 2 p.m. which which will feature all branches of the military, host of floats, schools, and organizations. This is the largest Veteran's parade in NEPA and we invite all to participate in this event. For more information regarding the parade please contact the Kingston Armory, 109 Field Artillery at 570 288-6641. This year's parade theme is Saluting Our Veteran's and their Families.

Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: LuLac archives).

MATT SAYS BUY BONDS

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright introduced the bipartisan Save Access to a Valuable Investment Needed to Generate Savings (SAVINGS) Act with the support of 25 colleagues. The SAVINGS Act would prohibit Treasury from discontinuing the Tax-Time Savings Bond Program for five years unless the Department implements a universally accessible non-electronic alternative.
At present, the only means of purchasing paper bonds is through the U.S. Treasury’s Tax-Time Savings Bond Program which allows individuals to use a portion of their federal tax refund to purchase savings bonds. Treasury has committed to maintaining the Tax-Time Savings Bond Program through the 2014 tax season only.
“Savings bonds represent a powerful and patriotic savings vehicle for millions of American families,” said Cartwright. “Treasury’s decision would severely restrict access to savings bonds for many low-income families. Every family deserves access to an affordable savings vehicle and an opportunity to attain financial security.”
The termination of the Tax-Time Savings Bond Program would restrict the purchase of savings bonds to online purchase only, which would cut off savings bond access to the approximately 20 percent of Americans who lack internet access, and the more than 10 million Americans who do not have a bank account.
"We're delighted that Congress, through Congressman Cartwright's leadership, shares the Administration’s goal to help millions of Americans save money at tax time,” said Tim Flacke, Executive Director of the D2D Fund.

MEDIA MATTERS 

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will devote their program tothe status and needs of area veterans during the week of November 4th. ECTVLive is broadcast of Comcast Ch19 and can be seen each day at Noon andMidnight. The public affairs program has aired more than 185 weekly shows sinceits debut on the area's Public Access station, Electric City Television.

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION 

Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at 7 pm on WILK FM 103.1

BUDDY RUMCHEK!!!!!

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

WBRE TV PA LIVE

LuLac will be on PA Live tomorrow afternoon talking about the upcoming election on Tuesday. PA Live is hosted by Dave Kuharchik and Brittany Sweeney.

 

Brian Hughes (left) with your blog editor. Next time I'll wear my Packer shirt!!! (Photo: Gort 42)

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

LuLac will be on Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes this Sunday talking about the big races on Election Day.
This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with political blogger David Yonki of the LuLac Political Letter about the top local races ahead of Tuesday's election.
Brian speaks with Jessica Engle from Home Instead Senior Care about their "Be a Santa to a Senior" community service project.
And Brian speaks with Dr. Annabelle Volgman from Rush University about the "facts and fibs" about atrial fibrulation.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93 and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.

WYLN TV 35 ELECTION NIGHT

On Election Night, LuLac will be joining WYLN TV 35's Don Pachance, Hazleton Councilwoman Jean Mope and Storm Politics Tiffany Cloud for in depth coverage on the Hazleton outlet. The station can be seen on Service Electric Channel 7.

WILK ELECTION DAY!

LuLac will be on the Webster and Nancy program on WILK Election Day morning from 7am to 8am. Our main topic will be the key races on Election Day.

BOB HARPER RETURNS!!!

Hear that catchy ad for Scranton Mayoral candidate Bill Courtright against Jim Mulligan? It is funny and brilliant. You have to hear it. Harper is one of the best political ad men in the county!
Our 1976 logo. 

1976

Jimmy Carter defeats incumbent Gerald Ford, becoming the first candidate from the Deep South to win since the Civil War. In a close Electoral College Election Carter bests Ford by a narrow margin. Carter had 297 votes to Ford's 240 and won the election by about three percentage points......Many felt that Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon was the deciding factor. I always felt that had Ford not bowed to the Conservative wing of the Republican party and kept Bob Nelson Rockefeller as his Vice President, he could have carried New York.....

in Pennsylvania John Heinz romped over Bill Green...in Wilkes Barre and Scranton,  the 11th Dan Flood and his 10th district counterpart Joe McDade went on to huge victories returning to Congress.....and thirty seven years ago the number one song in LuLac land was "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot.