The LuLac Edition #2631, April 6th, 2014

McNULTY MAKES HER CHOICE

Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Evie Refalko McNulty and candidate for Governor Tom Wolf.  (Photo: LuLac archives).

Evie Rafalko McNulty, Lackawanna County’s Recorder of Deeds, backed Tom Wolf for governor today. McNulty pointed to Wolf’s ‘salt of the earth’ personality and said that she believes Wolf can restore the public’s trust in Harrisburg.
“Tom Wolf is not running for governor just to climb a ladder, he is running to lift people up from the bottom rungs – his concerns are my concerns,” said McNulty.“I have had a chance to get to know Tom over the last several months and he truly has a salt of the earth personality that endears him to the people in Northeast Pennsylvania and I believe all Pennsylvanians. Tom is genuine and sincere, and his campaign has helped restore my faith in what our state government can do – he cares about people like me and my family.”
“Local leaders like Evie are the people who hold the fabric of our communities together,” Wolf said. “Evie is a great leader and I look forward to working with people like her to give Pennsylvania a fresh start and to start rebuilding our middle class and creating a modern economy in the northeastern part of the state and the entire Commonwealth.”
Evie Rafalko McNulty is the County Recorder of Deeds of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, which comprises the City of Scranton. She has been re-elected to office for 5 consecutive terms. McNulty is the former President and current Secretary to the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds of Association. McNulty is also a founding member of Society of Irish Women, among many other community boards and committees, and she is an elected member of the Democratic National Committee. McNulty currently resides in Scranton with her husband former Scranton Mayor James Barrett McNulty.

BROMINSKI AND THE BANK

County Council member Edd Brominski. (Photo: LuLac archives).

Last week we had a little fun with the notion of a Luzerne County Bank but there is precedent for it. Many local communities are going that route to finance their governmental projects. Vermont has been trying to get a measure passed to have local banks set up. In a report on NPR’s KZYX, Senate Bill 204 was discussed. It would grant the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) a banking license and would further direct 10 percent of the Treasurer’s bank deposits to VEDA for investment in Vermont.. Earlier this month, AP reported in "Over a Dozen Towns Support Public Bank Idea" that "The majority of communities asked to support the creation of a public bank in Vermont have approved the measure at town meetings.
"Supporters argue that instead of keeping its money in large global banking institutions, the state could save money, create jobs and eventually generate revenue by creating a state bank.
"The proposal would turn the Vermont Economic Development Authority, a nonprofit agency that makes loans, into a bank. A bill pending in the Legislature would put 10 percent of the state's funds into it."
John Nichols in The Nation reports in "Vermont Votes for Public Banking" that "the votes were overwhelming. Vermont is not the only state where public banking proposals are in play. But the town meeting endorsements are likely to provide a boost for a legislative proposal to provide the VEDA with the powers of a bank."
Robb Mandelbaum, in the New York Times writes that "public banking advocates point most hopefully to efforts in Vermont" to emulate the model of the Bank of North Dakota, which "funnel[s] deposits from state agencies back into the state’s economy through a variety of loan and other development programs."
A couple of things here. Vermont is more liberal and proactive than Pennsylvania. Have an idea you want to die? Send it to the Pennsylvania State Legislature. But there is talk about this because of lack of trust in global banking centers that have supplanted the Franklin First Federals and Susquehanna Savings and Loan Associations. County Council member Edd Brominski is not just pulling this out of his hat. That’s why I referenced these media outlets. Right now the Luzerne County financial house needs to be put in order…but somewhere down the line, there should be a discussion.
Sources: Mike Krauss Director, the Public Banking InstituteChair, the Pennsylvania Project,
KZYX FM, New York Times.

MEDIA MATTERS

THE BIG DEBATE

DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE TO AIR LIVE ON PCN

On Wednesday, April 9 beginning at 7:00 p.m., PCN will air LIVE coverage of a Democratic gubernatorial candidates debate from the Harrisburg campus of Widener University School of Law.
PCN is partnering with the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents’ Association (PLCA) and the Widener University School of Law, Law and Government Institute for the debate. Democratic gubernatorial candidates Katie McGinty, Allyson Schwartz and Tom Wolf will take questions from a panel of PLCA representatives. PCN President/CEO, Brian Lockman, will moderate the event.
The debate is open to the public. It will take place in room A180 of the Law School Administration Building on Widener University’s Harrisburg campus. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The Harrisburg campus of Widener University School of Law is located at 3737 Vartan Way in Harrisburg.
Viewers will get a chance to share their thoughts or ask questions following the conclusion of the event by dialing toll-free 1-877-PA6-5001 during a special LIVE PCN Call-In program at 8:30 p.m. Mark Singel of The Winter Group and Robert Jubelirer of Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell & Hippel LLP, will be the featured guests.
PCN reports that Rob McCord will not attend because of a scheduling conflict. That may change and we’ll keep you posted.

BUDD BROWN

Long time radio newsman Budd Brown is set to retire from his current position at WILK this month. Brown has been a broadcast veteran and to a certain extent pioneer. In the mid 70s, WBRE decided to hop aboard the NBC Radio Network’s endeavor to have a 24 hour news channel. The Baltimore family at that time owned the 1340AM frequency as well as the 98.5FM spot on the dial. It was pretty revolutionary because the only all news stations were in New York and Philadelphia at the time. Brown co-anchored the Morning program with Patty Delano and then went out and did news stories in the field returning to anchor the noon newscasts. The late Guy Randall was the afternoon anchor.The late Bill Graham (who Sam Donaldson said looked like the TV character Ted Baxter) also did the Morning and Afternoon News duties too).
Brown later transitioned over to  WKRZ when Sinclair Broadcasting bought WBRE FM and AM. Later WILK was added to the mix when it was acquired by the ‘KRZ group.
Brown was professional, ethical and not devoid of humor as witnessed by his catchy phrases and sometimes all to often fiction meets real news puns in the 12 O’Clock Newscast. I’m sure the station will be doing some sort of tribute this week. Tune in, it will be entertaining. We wish Budd a healthy and long lived retirement.

BOOK SIGNING THIS SATURDAY 

We'll be part of a book signing event this Saturday April 12th @ 2Pm at Barnes and Noble at the Arena Hub Plaza. All three of my books will be available and I'll be signing at 2PM.