The LuLac Edition #2648, May 3rd, 2014

ISSUES AND EGGS RECAP

This morning I had the opportunity to meet and greet some local members of the Republican party at the Dupont VFW Hall. It was the first annual Third District Issues and Eggs. The event was organized by our good friend Jim O’Meara Senior as well as Susan Zaykoski and Pat Marranca. Jim is the best import the GOP in that area could have. He was a tireless, indefatigable worker in the 6th, has translated that to the third and is a real joy to know.
The event was highlighted by a visit from 11th District Congressman Lou Barletta. The beauty of a Barletta presentation is that he takes you behind the walls of Congress. The Representative gave the audience an inside view regarding his work as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Barletta explained how his subcommittee has saved at least a billion dollars on using common sense to oversee Federal facilities. The Congressman also outlined his interactions concerning the Government Shutdown (which he was against) as well as his fight to have an organ transplant for a 10 year old girl from Montgomery County. Barletta told the crowd that his first term was better than the second because he felt he was making a difference.
Tiffany Cloud Olsen introduced the Media panel which included me, the Times Leader’s Bill O’Boyle and Ray Harker, from the Independent Gazette. Cloud Olson a local television host, columnist and author of Sleeping with Dog Tags. (Copies of her book were available for purchase and signing by the author. Cloud Olsen is donating half of the proceeds from book sales to The Rolling Angels for Armed Forces.)
Candidates running for Congress attending were Matt Connolly and Matt Dietz. Both agreed that the Affordable Care Act needed to be drastically changed or even repealed, said that under the Obama administration leadership is weak, that there has to be brought back a right to work requirement for welfare recipients and advised that even though they both acknowledged toppling incumbent Matt Cartwright was a tall order, they felt they could do it. Connolly brought up the fact that if people didn’t vote for party labels the voter might not fall in lock step with someone just because of a party label. Dietz said that most people need to work harder than ever before and that middle class Americans have taken a real hit under this administration.
There is only one race for State Representative on the GOP side being contested. That is in the 117th where incumbent Karen Boback faces a challenge from Dr. David Haire. Bobeck had to leave early because she was the Keynote Speaker for a Daughters of America event at Bloomsburg but before she did, the Representative spoke of the misconception that the Corbett administration and the GOP cut education. Boback said that education was increased artificially because of the Stimulus money that then Governor Ed Rendell (I love Ed but I think that was a real dumbass move myself) poured into the budget for Education when it should have been put into infrastructure.
Her primary opponent Davis Haire said that he felt spending should be looked at in Harrisburg noting that he will not take any perks. He had been critical of Boback in the campaign and she has been firing back with effective radio ads that explain her record. When he did bring up the perks he did not mention Boback by name. Haire also said that the state has to be smarter in spending only the money it can take in. He said as a businessman he has to provide his own funds to run his endeavor effectively. Government he said should do the same. Dr. Haire also advised he believes in the concept of the "citizen legislator." And that the government needs to institute term limits for state legislators
Aaron Kaufer who is running unopposed in the 120th said that the only Governor who cut education was Ed Rendell not Tom Corbett. He mentioned the fact that Education Funding and welfare spending was almost even in the state. Kaufman who is making a second run for this office said that pensions needed to be looked at critically. Kaufman was in full support of Liquor Store Privatization.
State Representative candidate in the 113th Marcel Lisi talked about the exit out of cities like his hometown Scranton of people who just can’t afford to live there anymore. Lisi in his campaign literature spoke of relatives having to sell their homes because of high taxes. LIsi is up against first termer Marty Flynn but he is impressive in his demeanor and presentation. Referring to the fact that he has to work two jobs to get by, you can see he instantly connected with the people in the room. Lisi was quick on his feet and definitely has a future in politics in the Lac and elsewhere.
Running in the 114th is Melanie Madeira who prior to her candidacy was Dr. David Madeira’s campaign manager, her husband, when he ran for Congress. Madeira had some cogent thoughts on Education saying that as an educator she saw the frustration of some of her co workers. Home schooling her children she commented that education needs to be student, result and value focused. Madeira also called for reducing the size and power of government, and easing the heavy burden of taxes unfairly levied on citizens.
All candidates for State Representative agreed that there was need for property tax reform in the state and that other funding mechanisms should be used to take the burden off the home owners.
The lone candidate for State Senator in the 22nd District, Joe Albert called his opponent first term Senator John Blake a creation of a convicted felon, referring to former Senator Bob Mellow. Albert said that Blake told his constituents not to expect much from his first term because he was new. Albert disagreed with that saying when you represent a district, you should have a plan, an idea what you want to accomplish.
Albert said he was for privatizing liquor stores saying that the stores are overloaded with employees and that competition would be good for the state. Albert said he would be for term limits and said that there has to be more cost cutting to get the government spending under control.
More than 100 people attended and at the end, those in attendance concluded that this year’s crop of candidates for office on the GOP side are polished, ready and poised to do battle articulating their beliefs. Bill O’Boyle and I agreed that too bad more of the local media, both electronic and press didn’t show up to cover this event.
On a personal note, I appreciate the invitation and was glad to attend.
Here are some photos of the event. 

Representative Barletta shows a cart indicating the growth of government spending. Barletta on compromise: My father used to say if you can't get a whole loaf of bread, try for a slice, you won't go to bed hungry. Barletta's chart had a real sobering effect on people in the audience.

 Aaron Kaufer has a word with one of the panelists Ray Harker. 

State representative candidates attending were Aaron Kaufer running in the 120th, Marcel Lisi in the 113th, and Karen Boback in the 117th. To Boback's right is GOP 17th Congressional candidate Matt Connolly.

17th District Congressional candidate Matthew Dietz, 22nd Senatorial District candidate Joe Albert, 114th District candidate Melaine Madeira, and Dr. Davis Haire, candidate in the GOP primary in the 117th. 

Representative Boback makes a point about the inflated Education funding from the Stimulus program under the Rendell administration. Candidate Matt Connolly is next to her. 

It was wonderful to see Attorney Bob Davison. Bob and I went to King's and we were both  Government Majors. We both had a great conversation about our former Government  professors.

I had the chance to speak with District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis. The DA told me about the workload her office faces.

It was great to catch up with my old boss from WARD Radio, Buz Boback. Buz was the Sales Manager at WARD Radio when the late Jim Ward ran it. We both concluded that those good old days of radio would never come back with the merged broadcasting companies that exist today but remembered the fun we all had with that staff at 1550 AM.