The LuLac Edition #3142, February 11th, 2016

THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT

NEXT STEPS

Where do the Presidential candidates go from New Hampshire? Well two have exited. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former CEO Carly Fiorina suspended their campaign. Both were victims of the circumstances. Christie was on the rise but Marco Rubio ran negative ads about him and the Jersey bridge gate. To me Christie did a favor exposing Rubio as an empty suit. Christie still might have a shot at Vice President because he can take a punch and stand on his feet. Plus the GOP can get Jersey in its Electoral column despite Christie’s failing job performance in the state.
Fiorina was very accomplished and strong in debates. She was impressive but her campaign was like a see saw. One week she was up, one week down.

SOUTH CAROLINA

On the GOP side Trump is ahead. But look for Jeb Bush to make a strong run at second trying to bypass Ted Cruz and John Kasich. The scary part about South Carolina is well its people. The voters.
Trump will get his block of enthusiasts but the battle will be between Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush. Cruz votes in the Senate could not help him but if you look at the focus groups of some of these voters you see backing Cruz all you hear is “Constitution”, “Christian” and “The Bible”. Bush will bring in his brother George W., and focus in on security. Look for the Jeb campaign to try and replicate the Bush 43 playbook from 2000 where George W. saved his campaign by trouncing John McCain.

THE DEMOCRATS

Both Sanders and Clinton are tied even essentially in delegates. Each are racing money. Both are trying to kiss Al Sharpton’s ass. If I were the Clinton campaign I’d do a Sister Souljah (corrected)  moment and tell The Reverend to shove it. Plus if blacks are swayed by Sharpton and not by the accomplishments of the Democratic party and the Clinton’s, then maybe they should see how much progress they get with a guy who will lose 49 states. Throughout his Congressional campaign Bernie Sanders never raised his voice about racial or income equality.
Look for Clinton to pick up steam in Nevada and South Carolina. Nevada is a caucus state on Feb. 20th, and the Democratic primary on the 27th of February. Then on March 1st, look at this:

Tuesday, March 1:

Alabama

Alaska Republican caucuses

American Samoa Democratic caucuses

Arkansas

Colorado caucuses (both parties, no preference vote for Republicans)

Democrats Abroad party-run primary

Georgia

Massachusetts

Minnesota caucuses (both parties)

North Dakota Republican caucuses

Oklahoma

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Wyoming Republican caucuses

BARLETTA HAILS SENATE PASSAGE OF CUSTOMS BILL PROTECTING STEEL, JOBS

GUARDS AGAINST FOREIGN DUMPING OF CHEAP PRODUCTS INTO U.S. MARKETS

Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photo: Lulac archives).

Congressman Lou Barletta, hailed the Senate passage of legislation that strengthens enforcement of U.S. customs and trade laws and protects American employers and workers from unfair practices by companies in other nations. The conference report on the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (H.R. 644), which is the result of negotiations between the House and Senate, had already passed the House in December of last year and incorporates requirements Barletta insisted upon to protect American jobs from countries which illegally dump cheap products into markets like steel manufacturing. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk.
The provisions of the ENFORCE Act included in the legislation prevent countries from circumventing trade laws byshipping a product through another country and switching the label. For example, when China dumps steel into America, American steel companies spend time and money building a case against the Chinese dumping. If they win that case, the steel companies deserve to have the Chinese penalized for the dumping. The ENFORCE Act makes sure that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) actually investigates the American companies’ case. The ENFORCE Act gives CBP a strict deadline to review the case. American companies can pursue a case in U.S. Trade Court if the company believes CBP is rubberstamping the decisions without fairly reviewing the details.

GOP PA AG RACE

Scranton’s Joe Peters is going around the state getting names on his petition to contend in the race in the Republican primary. Peters is being met with some pretty good reaction.
Meanwhile the endorsed GOP candidate, State Senator John Rafferty announced that as attorney general he would implement an ethics code for employees based on United States Department of Justice guidelines.
Rafferty said the public’s confidence in the attorney general’s office and the courts has been shaken by corruption and in particular, an email scandal where prosecutors, agents and judges exchanged pornographic and inappropriate emails.
“There is no place in government, especially in the attorney general’s office, for that type of behavior," said Rafferty. “It won’t be tolerated when I am attorney general.
As far as my opinion goes, if people are STUPID enough to check out porn on the job in a state computer, they should get their asses fired on the spot. ”

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TOM WOLF’S BUDGET

This week as predicted Governor Tom Wolf have his second budget address. Like the candidate himself, it was an unconventional situation. As we mentioned earlier this week, this is the first time in the modern era that a new budget was presented when the old one sat waiting for action.
Here are two views, first from The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. In a statement PBPC director Marc Stier:
“Pennsylvania is at a crossroads. We face a stark choice between two different paths. The first embraces the common sense approach, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, that has long guided our state. It enhances education for our kids, and their future employers. It accepts the responsibility to take care of the disabled, ill and aged who, through no fault of their own, need our help. And it asks Pennsylvanians, and especially natural gas drillers, banks, financial corporations, and the wealthy, to pay a bit more to attain these goals.
Rather than asking corporations and wealthy to pay more, the second path would give us devastating budget cuts that abandon Pennsylvania’s historic commitment to providing educational opportunity and protecting the vulnerable. This path would sabotage future economic growth and the lives of our children based on a shriveled and misguided idea of what Pennsylvanians desire and can afford from their state government. Our state government tried the extreme path of radical budget cuts in 2011. And the voters of Pennsylvania rejected it. We cannot go down that path again.
Governor Wolf has rightly chosen the first path. But his proposed investments in education and proposals for new revenues are too modest. He does not ask enough of the corporations and the wealthy. With more revenue, collected in a fairer way, Pennsylvania could more boldly take the first path that works for all of us."
Meanwhile Megan Sweeney, she of the State GOP presented a timeline of Wolf’s vetoes and called him out on the Education issue.
June 2015: Wolf Blocks All Funding For Schools
In June 2015, Wolf plunges our schools into an unnecessary crisis by completely vetoing the budget passed by the State Senate and State House. (Angela Couloumbis and Madison Russ, “Wolf vetoes entire GOP budget, says ‘math doesn’t work’,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/2/2015)
• Wolf’s veto zeroed-out funding for 274 out of 401 of the line-item appropriations in the Republican budget that were funded at the same or higher levels than his proposal. (“Putting an End to the ‘Raise Your Taxes’ Campaign,” Office of Representative Michael Regan, 8/17/2015)
September 2015: Wolf Vetoes Emergency Funding For Schools
September 2015: In late September, Tom Wolf vetoed an effort by Republican lawmakers to provide emergency funding for school districts and non-profit organizations. (Christian Alexandersen, “Surprising no one, Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed GOP-crafted stopgap budget,” Harrisburg Patriot-News, 9/29/2015)
• When Wolf was asked about his plans after vetoing a stopgap budget, Wolf responded “I want a fight.” (Tweet by Pete Muntean, 9/29/15)
December 2015: Wolf Single-Handedly Cuts $3 Billion From Education
December 2015, Tom Wolf single-handedly cut $3 billion from schools. (Nathan Benefield, “State budget hostages finally freed?,” Bucks County Courier Times, 1/8/2016)
• In December 2015, GOP lawmakers sent a budget to Wolf’s desk containing $5.6 billion in new funds for our schools. Wolf slashed $3.1 billion from the bill. (“Letter from the Governor to the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Office of the Governor, 12/29/2015)
Wolf’s Vetoes Have Cost Schools $50 Million…In Loan Interests
Wolf’s original budget veto in June has caused schools to pay over $50 million in interest payments instead of sending that money to the classroom. (Terrie Morgan-Besecker, “State budget impasse cost school districts up to $50 million to date,” Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, 2/2/2016)
Two sides duking it out through e mails, the media and with Legislators. In the final analysis, the Legislature has to work it out with the Governor.

MEDIA MATTERS

ECTV

ECTV hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender will welcome Nancy Post to the program the week of February 15th to outline the free services provided to people of Lackawanna County by the Voluntary Action Center. 

The program is Directed by Mark Migliore and is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is broadcast several times daily throughout the week!

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Dr. Cass Ingram about natural cures for Winter colds & the flu, and the 20th anniversary of his book "The Cure is in the Cupboard".
This Week in Harrisburg examines Wednesday's failed Senate vote to remove Pa. Attorney General Kathleen Kane from office. 3 state senators weigh in on how they voted.
And an encore of Brian's interview with Ron Davis from R.J. Financial Services in Wilkes Barre about their 3rd annual "Bowl For A Cause' event, coming up Sunday Feb 28th at Chacko's Lanes in Wilkes Barre.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93-7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X and Sports radio 590, WARM & 6:25am on Magic 93.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

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.

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

The Doo-Wop Sock Hop can be heard every Sunday night from 6P to 9P on “105 The River (104.9 FM) Host is the incomparable Bobby V. www.105theriver.net
www.doowopsockhop.net

1971

Our 1971 logo.

The 28th Golden Globe Awards ceremony is held. George C. Scott and Ali MacGraw win the Best Actor and Actress Awards respectively……After the crew have completed a second extravehicular activity, Apollo 14's lunar module successfully lifts off from the Moon's surface and is reunited with the command module piloted by Stuart Roosa…..President Richard Nixon installs a secret taping system in the White House. It is on this system that the Watergate tapes are recorded……Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau is accused of mouthing obscenities at Opposition MPs in the House of Commons……Alan Passaro, of the Hells Angels, who were acquitted of the stabbing death of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Speedway in 1969, files a lawsuit against The Rolling Stones for invasion of privacy because the documentary film Gimme Shelter showed the stabbing……in Philadelphia Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo holds petition rallies all across the city……in Luzerne County Frank Castellino of Pittston gears up for another run at the Recorder of Deeds office. Castelino was elected in 1967 with the Democratic sweep….and forty six years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Stoney End”, a Laura Nyro tune from Barbra Streisand.