The LuLac Edition #2564, December 16th, 2013

MILK PRICES COULD SKYROCKET

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

MILK IN PERIL

If Congress fails to act on a major piece of legislation when they return in January 2014, the cost for milk and dairy products will go sky high. This will be another body blow to the working stuffs and the middle class whose income has actually decreased during the last three, count them three Presidential administrations.
State Representative Kevin Haggerty of the 112th shared his opinion on this:
Our elected representatives in Washington will be tasked to regulate the price of a basic part of many American’s diet, milk, when they return to session Jan. 7 as part of the Farm Bill.
A stop-gap was passed last week to keep the price of milk artificially depressed until the full bill can be passed, but I wonder how much longer we can trust Congress to regulate such a basic commodity, especially when it’s connected to contentious bills.
Because the average American family uses two gallons of it a week, I hope they negotiate the so-called dairy cliff better than they did the fiscal cliff and the shutdown. Those headlines dominated 2013, and we seem to be facing another one right out of the gate in 2014.
Jimmy Braddock, the depression-era ‘Cinderella Man’ of boxing fame, was heavily lauded for his fighting for food on the table, notably milk, and it seems we could use him again, some 80 years later.
Fourteen percent of Pennsylvanians live in poverty. To put it in further perspective, if milk jumps to $8 a gallon, Pennsylvania’s 855,000 minimum-wage earners wouldn’t be able to buy a gallon after an hour of work. As an elected state representative, I find that outrageous.
We might not have Braddock, but we the people have the power to fight, and I believe we need to bring that power down on Congress now. The time to demand compromise and negotiations is now, not in January when the machine turns back on in D.C. and certainly not after we fall off another cliff.
This cliff would directly hurt our children, families, farmers and grocers. The consequences of not following through with a comprehensive bill are dire. Join me in demanding that our elected lawmakers heed this cliff and not kick the can down the road, as the feds regularly do when faced with tough votes.

Renita Fennick and Jimmy O'Meara. (Photo: LuLac archives).

FENNICK TO RECEIVE AWARD

Our friend Jimmy O’Meara, a sensible Republican if there ever was one sent along this message regarding the 6th District in social later this mo. He announces that Renita Fennick will receive the Dolores Grabko Leadership Award.
The Luzerne County Sixth District Republican Committee will present the first Dolores Grabko Leadership Award to Renita Fennick on Saturday, December 28 at the annual Sixth District Christmas Social.
The decision to select Renita Fennick as the district’s first recipient of the award was an easy one, according to outgoing District Chair James O’Meara Sr.
“Renita has been such a force of nature for our Party over the years. In the Sixth District, Renita worked hard to help build our committee. She then did a remarkable job as the County GOP’s Executive Director, where her efforts helped contribute to major victories for our Republican candidates. She has worked on the staff of two Republican members of Congress. She is a member of State Committee. She is a passionate champion of Republican principles. And I’m just barely scratching the surface. It will be an honor to present the first Dolores Grabko Leadership Award to Renita.”
The award was created in memory of long-time GOP committee member Dolores Grabko, who passed away in an automobile accident earlier in the year.
“Dolores was a remarkable woman,” said O’Meara. He recalled a breakfast he attended in 2010 during his first campaign. Dolores was presiding. “I asked her ahead of time if I had to speak. She said no, just stand and wave when I call your name.”
To his surprise, she called him to the podium to talk about his campaign.
“When I said afterwards, ‘I thought I didn’t have to speak’ she looked me in the eye and said: ‘You’re a candidate now. Always be prepared to speak.’ I’ve heard similar stories from other folks. Dolores really taught us to stay on our toes.”
The covered dish Christmas Social is on Saturday, December 28from 1-4PM at 258 Wyoming Avenue, Kingston. More information is posted at the district website: www.6thdistrictrepublicans.com