The LuLac Edition #2999, July 23rd, 2015

WHY WALKER AND KASICH REALLY MATTER

WALKER

Governor Scott Walker. (Photo: The Federalist)

Right now there is a great deal of coverage for Donald Trump in the GOP sweepstakes for the 2016 nomination. As a matter of fact Trump seems to be taking the air out of the entire process. But as Trump races to get saturated news coverage like the proverbial hare scurrying to get ahead of the pack, two Midwest Governors might be the ones who will get to the finish line intact tortoise wise.
Scott Walker officially announced his candidacy a few weeks ago and it is notable that he was the very first one to denounce Trump after his remarks regarding Senator John McCain. Walker is the type of Republican a GOP party could have nominated ten to fifteen years ago.
Walker was born in Colorado, and was raised in Iowa and Wisconsin. From the time he was a young man, he was involved in GOP politics in Wisconsin. Even though Wisconsin has been a blue state, it has had a string of Republican governors. Walker came to the office after serving as Milwaukee County Executive.
A good friend of mine who also was my boss described Walker as a person who could very well be a contender in a crowded race. Walker has a remarkable record of winning three elections in four years. My old boss said that the recall election gave Wisconsin voters the opportunity to make a change. They didn’t because many felt Walker was just sticking by his actions. If Walker can translate those actions, it will resonate with the county. A Walker candidacy can also penetrate the Electoral College map that the Democrats have held in 2008 and 2012. Walker can conceivably take Colorado, Iowa and Wisconsin in a General. It is still early but that fact cannot have been lost on GOP gurus now plotting a national race.

 KASICH

Ohio Governor John Kasich (Photo: Dayton Daily News)

This poor guy announced on the day Donald Trump was releasing John McCain’s friend Lindsay Graham’s phone number to the public. But Kasich bears watching too.
A two term Governor of Ohio, Kasich has brought good economic numbers to the Buckeye State as well as a personality that to me is the most authentic and sane in the GOP field. He is not afraid to disagree with a position but can be a gentleman about it. He also can slowly stick a dagger in rhetorically when the need arises. But Kasich brings Legislative experience (he served in the House for 18 years) and was responsible for Budget legislation. During that time, Bill Clinton got himself a budget surplus and Kasich was a part of that. In 2010 he defeated a Democratic incumbent for Governor and won in a landslide in ’14. 
Kasich brings a sense of reasonable debate to the race and also a centrist position on a number of issues. With people like Ted Cruz and Trump setting their hair on fire over immigration, Kasich’s experience as well as temperament might serve him well. Plus having been born and raised in Pennsylvania and then matriculated to Ohio State is a plus. Kasich can make electoral inroads into the two big political hotbeds and industrial states that have been known as swing states. The more Kasich speaks, the more voters are likely to accept him as a viable candidate. But they need to listen and he needs to tell his story.
Bottom line here is that Walker and Kasich as potential nominees can do four things:
1. Break into electoral vote areas by virtue of being both a native and a leader in those places.
2. Provide a fresh face to a Hillary Clinton contest. Even though Kasich has served in that time period, he is not a Bush. To most people he will seem new.
3. With the proper backing and money, both can be seen as the anti Obama, anti Democratic agenda candidate without sounding unreasonable and scaring away centrists.
4. Right now they are laying in the weeds, not making mistakes and not joining the fray of the silly season that always precedes a national campaign.That's a smart move.
These two candidates may prove that the race might belong to a tortoise heading steady toward a goal while others are scattering bombs in their wake. Bob and weave, weave and bob and the next thing you know, there might be a finish line.

MARY ISENHOUR WOLF’S PICK

New Wolf Chief of Staff, Mary Isenmhour. (Photo: PennLive)

With Katie McGinty poised to make a run for the United States Senate, Governor Tom Wolf named Mary Isenhour to be his new Chief of Staff. Isenhour was a key aid to Governor Wolf in his bid for Governor. Prior to that she was a Partner with Isenhour Rooney Strategies, LLC, a Strategic Partner in Mack Sumner and was the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and Pennsylvania State Director of the Hillary Clinton for President effort.
I had the opportunity to meet her on the Wolf campaign trail with Cassandra Coleman and can only say this. She is a solid pick to lead the Executive team in Harrisburg.
Next week, we’ll look at McGinty’s run.

WALMART HOURS IN WILKES BARRE

Once more Wilkes Barre has done it again. In a few days the Wilkes Barre Wal-Mart will close at midnight and reopen at 6:00 am I'm not a Wal-Mart shopper but think a 24 hour store is a good thing for an area the size of Wilkes Barre. But once more the scumbags and the slobs ruin it for all. My sources inside the store tell me that there was a lot of theft going on and the company decided to shut it down instead of putting up with people stealing items, college students racing handicapped shopping carts and marital disputes happening in the
cereal aisle between midnight and 6am.

AM I BEING TOO HARD YOU SAY?

Nope just look at this photo. It is a street that was closed by the City of Wilkes Barre. It was an access road that connected North Washington to North Main Street under the Cross Valley. The City closed it because people were using it as their personal toilet. You’d see couches, commodes, all kind of crap. Mrs. LuLac says that she believes it was landlords who were dumping their garbage on the road and she couldn’t possibly think area residents would do such a thing. I don’t. I think the garbage was dumped by lazy slobs who won’t do the right thing. Mrs. Lulac was always a better person than I though.

BARLETTA BACKS COAL ASH LEGISLATION, PROTECTS ENVIRONMENT & JOBS

Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photo: LuLac archives).

Congressman Lou Barletta supported the passage of legislation which ensures that coal ash is disposed of and recycled in a way that preserves the environment and protects jobs as a result. Barletta cosponsored and voted for H.R. 1734, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015, which clarifies uncertainties in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules and makes certain that coal ash can be continued to be used in products like concrete and drywall. Coal ash is a byproduct of coal combustion and has consistently been classified by the EPA as non-hazardous material.
“Our region of Pennsylvania was built on the coal industry, and the resulting coal ash has always presented an environmental challenge and an opportunity for job creation,” Barletta said. “By providing certainty in the regulation of coal ash, we are being both stewards of the environment and protectors of economic development. Pennsylvanians have been dealing with this issue for decades, and we know better how to manage it than federal government bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.”

REPS. CARTWRIGHT AND LANCE INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE GOVERNMENT PREPAREDNESS FOR EXTREME WEATHER INCIDENTS

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives).

With flood concerns every time it rains a lot in LuLac land and the memories of the devastation from the Jersey weather events of 2012, our local Congressman Matt Cartwright joined forces with a fellow Representative.
U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-17) and Leonard Lance (NJ-7) introduced the bipartisan Preparedness and Risk management for Extreme weather Patterns Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness (PREPARE) Act, a commonsense bill that will enhance the federal government’s ability to plan and prepare for the risks associated with extreme weather incidents. The legislation was first introduced during the 113th Congress.
“Major flooding is a very real concern in my district, as multiple waterways - including the Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Schuylkill Rivers - threaten cities like Scranton and Wilkes-Barre,” Rep. Cartwright said. “However, severe weather is not limited to my region. To confront this issue nationwide, my zero-cost bill requires the federal government to better coordinate their efforts and form comprehensive plans to address the threat posed by extreme weather events.”
“Coordination and preparedness are critical in a natural disaster to protect life and property. This legislation will ensure government agencies are sharing information properly and outlining best practices so lessons learned responding to a disaster in one part of the country can be put to use responding to others across the Nation. I thank Congressman Cartwright for leading on this issue that is very important for our Nation and especially our neighboring states,” added Rep. Lance.
There have been 42 extreme weather events in the last four years that have each inflicted at least $1 billion in damage, totaling $227 billion in economic losses across 44 states, and have taken a total of 1,286 lives. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), recognized these risks, and added severe weather threats to its 2013 and 2015 High Risk Lists, which outline the most pressing fiscal exposures faced by the federal government. While federal coordination efforts have been improving over the past two years since the PREPARE Act was first introduced, we still have a long way to go to adequately prepare for the threats posed by extreme weather events.
The PREPARE Act authorizes an interagency council whose purpose is to provide recommendations on the best means of planning and preparing for extreme weather incidents. The bill also strengthens each individual agency’s resiliency efforts. Finally, the bill would provide state and local stakeholders with the best information available and best practices to help them formulate emergency preparation plans tailored to their local needs.
A broad group of business and environmental organizations have endorsed the legislation including: R Street, American Sustainable Business Council, Niskanen Center, Coalition to Reduce Spending, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Reinsurance Association of America, National Wildlife Federation, CERES, National Housing Conference, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Parks Conservation Association, The Nature Conservancy, Evangelical Environmental Network, League of Conservation Voters, American Meteorological Society, Sierra Club, PennFuture, Defenders of Wildlife, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Green Building Council, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, American Rivers, Environmental Defense Fund, Small Business Majority, Marstel-Day, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Alaska Wilderness League, International Code Council, American Bird Conservancy, National Farmers Union, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Leased Housing Association, UPS, Natural Hazard Mitigation Association, Friends Committee on National Legislation, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, The Weather Coalition, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Lehigh Valley Chapter, American Camp Association, American Geophysical Union, Emerald Cities Collaborative, Nestle Waters North America, The American Institute of Architects, CH2M Hill, Unilever
The legislation is co-sponsored by the following Representatives: Blumenauer, Capuano, Connolly, Farenthold, Fitzpatrick, Garamendi, Hastings, Honda, Huffman, Kind, Lance, Lowenthal, Norton, Peters, Pingree, Polis, Quigley, Van Hollen

MEDIA MATTERS

CHRISTMAS IN JULY ON WALN TV SUNDAY NIGHT

It's WALN's Christmas in July on Sunday Night Alive with Happy Jack and Party Channel Santa Girl Layla, this Sunday at 9 PM and brought to you by Bryan Baumgartner of Baumgartner Evergreen Tree Farm! You can tune in on Channel 137 on Service Electric HD TV.

ECTV

ECTV Live host David DeCosmo and his co-host Rusty Fender will welcome Donna Grey from the Lackawanna Penn State Extension Service to the program during the week of July 27th. Donna will discuss 4H programs in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. ECTV Live can be seen on Channel 19 (61 in some areas) and airs three times daily throughout the week.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Peter Sidari, who discusses the Dr. Jenn Hope Memorial Ride, coming up on August 9th in Pittston.
Brian speaks with Laure Stacik about how certain paper products can impact persons with Celiac Disease.
And Brian speaks with independent Presidential candidate Scott Smith about his revolutionary idea to replace the current federal income tax system with financial settlement taxes.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X and Sports Radio 590, WARM, and 6:25am on Magic 93.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

The upcoming Scranton Jazz Festival will be featured Sunday morning. Bob Schlesinger talks with Jim Riley at 6 am on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Game Sports Radio Network 1340/1400/1440 am and 100.7 and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River

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 noon 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!”

KAREL ON THE STREET

Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

CORBETT’S SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME

Every Wednesday at 5PM, Steve Corbett shines the light on a Public official with his “Somebody’s Watching Me” segment. Corbett picks an alleged public servant to eye ball and observe. Batten down the lawn furniture in the driveway and that e mail machine. There is nowhere to hide when “Somebody’s Watching”. Wednesdays at 5 on WILK’s Corbett program.

1965

Our 1965 logo.

The Washington Senators Frank Howard ties record with 7 strikeouts in DH…….The Beatles' "VI" album goes #1 & stays #1 for 6 weeks….36th All Star Baseball Game: NL wins 6-5 at Metropolitan Stadium.

  The  All star MVP was Juan Marichal  of the SF Giants..................

….. Shooting begins on Star Trek 2nd pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before".....NY Yankee pitcher Mel Stottlemyre hits an inside-the-park grand slam…Edward Heath succeeds Alec Douglas-Hume as leader of Brit Cons party……Beatles "Help" is released in UK…..

In Pennsylvania sports, the Phillies Dick Stuart homers in a major league record 23rd different ballpark......

in Pennsylvania politics State Representative Martin Mullen pushed very hard for state aid to parochial schools. A staunch Roman Catholic Mullen makes this his signature issue during the 1965 budget hearings…in local school district candidates are preparing for the very last school board election before the state mandated jointures and fifty years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “What's New Pussycat?” by Tom Jones.