The LuLac Edition #3421, January 31st, 2017

CORN AND CHEESE AND

(Photo: babble.com)

IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI AND WISCONSIN

Just a few words on those trade restraints the new President wants to place on Mexico. Mexico actually imports corn from Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. Corn is a staple in Mexican diets and foods. Most of the cheese that Mexico uses comes from Wisconsin.
If Trump puts a tariff on these goods or a 20% charge, they’ll still get their cheese and corn.
But they’ll buy it from Argentina.
Not us.
And the farmers in Wisconsin Kansas, Iowa and Kansas will be hurt.
Again, this guy and for that matter even his voters in these states never think of the consequences.

PLEASE STICK TO ACTING????

Some local yokel penned a letter to the Times Leader last week saying that actors should stick to their trade and not offer political opinions. I guess he’s okay with Reagan, Eastwood and Scott Baio but not the current crop. Here’s the nonsense:
Dear Hollywood actors and actresses,
Remember what has gained you your millions and your fame. It is not by playing yourself, which is the first clue that you should shut your mouth when you’re doing your own scripting.
You have made your life by playing other people. Someone wrote your lines for you. A director told you how to emote in various scenes.
Others have dressed you, both for in front of and behind the camera. The fact that you are good at playing other people when someone has literally created that character for you, does not mean you are good at playing yourself.
Yet you all think that you are some kind of political, social and cultural savant.
We have enjoyed many of you playing others. We don’t enjoy, nor do we pay, for you to play yourself.
So please, please, stop with your nonsensical opinions on all matters. We really don’t care, and it’s never a performance we enjoy.
So please, please, stop with your nonsensical opinions...apparently advice not taken by the writer.

The LuLac Edition #3420, January 30th, 2017

THIS DIDN’T LAST LONG

Former President Barack Obama (Photo: AP)

Former President Barack Obama has come out with a public statement that encourages people to protest. Obama rejected the idea Monday that President Trump had based his immigration executive order on a policy adopted by his own administration, and endorsed the protests that have been taking place across the country in response to the new restrictions. I think it is hysterical that Trump who called everything Obama did a disaster now points a finger at him. There is a difference between Trump’s ill conceived and ill prepared edict and Obama’s temporary Iraq venture. That was based in part by a decision in 2011 by then-President Obama to ban the admission of Iraqis to the U.S. after evidence surfaced that two Iraqis seeking resettlement had been linked to terrorist activity in their home country. Former Obama administration officials have denied that there was ever a halt to the awarding of visas to Iraqis, though the processing of these applications slowed after they were subject to more intense scrutiny.
Today the former President’s Kevin Lewis offered this, “With regard to comparisons to President Obama’s foreign policy decisions, as we’ve heard before, the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.” Regarding the multiple protests, Lewis said that Obama “is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country. In his final official speech as president, he spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy – not just during an election but every day". (Portland Times, LuLac)

UNDER THE: WE WANT TO SEE THEM COMING DEPARTMENT!!!!

BARLETTA PRAISES PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ORDERS

TRUMP ORDERS: BUILD THE WALL, CRACK DOWN ON SANCTUARY CITIES

Congressman Lou Barletta praised two executive actions taken by President Donald J. Trump to enforce our borders and crack down on sanctuary cities that harbor illegal immigrants. The first paves the way for the long-promised border wall. The second addresses sanctuary cities by stripping federal grant money from such cities and by reinstituting the Secure Communities program ended by President Obama. Sanctuary cities are those jurisdictions which refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials or obey immigration law.
“Today is a good day for those of us who have long fought against illegal immigration,” Barletta said. “These are all important steps toward securing our borders and beginning to finally enforce our federal immigration laws. I have been fighting against illegal immigration since I was mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania more than a decade ago, and it is wonderful to finally have an ally in the White House. President Trump has been true to his word, taking decisive action on illegal immigration inside of his first week in office.”
Barletta expressed support for a wall, or physical barrier, along the border as a vital part of security in preventing illegal immigration.
“A physical barrier along the border is an important component of our national security infrastructure and I support it fully,” Barletta said. “A wall must be supplemented by high technology border enforcement and a rejuvenated Border Patrol, which I also strongly endorse. Our security needs do not stop there, however, as we know that nearly half of the people who are in this country illegally did not cross a traditional border. Instead, they arrived on a visa; the visa expired; and they never went home. I have once again introduced legislation that would make overstaying a visa a criminal offense for the first time. Additionally, we must institute a biometric entry and exit system so that we know who has entered and who remains within our country.”
Barletta also welcomed the president’s actions to corral sanctuary cities, an issue long championed by the congressman.
“One of the principal duties of the government is to protects its citizens, and the idea of sanctuary cities runs completely counter to that responsibility,” Barletta said. “Too many mayors and local governments think that they are above federal law and place their own ideology ahead of the safety of their residents. I commend President Trump for taking this action, as our local elected officials must know that there will be consequences for thumbing their noses at federal law.”
Barletta has authored legislation that would go even farther than the president’s executive orders. Barletta has introduced theMobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act, H.R. 83, which will stop all federal funds from flowing to states or localities which resist or ban enforcement of federal immigration laws, or flatly refuse to cooperate with immigration officials. The bill prohibits any federal funding for a minimum period of one year to any state or local government which has a policy or law that prevents them from assisting immigration authorities in enforcing federal immigration law. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) lists about 300 such localities in the United States. Barletta’s bill directs the attorney general to compile an annual list of such cities and issue a report on any particular state or locality upon request from a member of Congress. A state or local government would only regain federal funding eligibility after the attorney general certifies that its laws and policies are in compliance with federal immigration statutes. This is the third time he has introduced the legislation.
Barletta introduced the bill as his first piece of legislation as a freshman congressman in 2011 because of his personal experience with the danger of sanctuary cities while he was mayor of Hazleton. In 2006, a 29-year-old local father of three, Derek Kichline, was murdered by an illegal immigrant who had been released by law enforcement a number of times, including by the sanctuary city of New York. Additionally, Barletta was spurred to reintroduce the bill in 2015 following the San Francisco murder of 32-year-old Kate Steinle, whose accused killer was a seven-time felon who had been deported five times previously.
“I view the president’s executive action as just a starting point, however, as I will be pushing my own legislation that would remove all federal funding – not just certain grants – from sanctuary cities who refuse to obey the law,” Barletta said.

THEN HE DOUBLED DOWN ON IT!!!!

BARLETTA PROVIDES ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER ON REFUGEES

Congressman Lou Barletta commented further on President Trump’s executive order of Friday, January 27, 2017, which suspended the flawed U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and focused specifically on Syria and six other countries known to be hotbeds of terrorism. The executive order halted the entire refugee program for 120 days, while also barring the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely. Additionally, the order barred the admission of people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen for 90 days. In the meantime, the president ordered a review of the screening, or vetting, process until it can be determined that refugee applicants are indeed the individuals they claim to be. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that the order will not impact Legal Permanent Residents, or holders of green cards.
Barletta issued the following statement:
“In a sense, the reaction from some quarters to President Trump’s executive order is understandable, because people are not used to a president who intends to enforce the borders of the United States. It is the president’s job to protect the American people. And it is also important to recognize that citizens of foreign nations simply do not have the right to unfettered admission to the United States. What the president has done is to ensure that we have the time and capability to accurately determine the background of people seeking access to this country. There will be a tiny percentage of travelers who are affected, and of those, most will experience only minor inconveniences while the new policies are enacted. Each day, 325,000 people from other countries attempt to enter the United States. On the day the president’s order took effect, only 109 of those were denied entry.
“In no way can the order be construed as a ban on any particular religion. There are approximately 50 Muslim-majority countries in the world, and this order affects seven of them. These seven nations were identified as terrorist havens by none other than the Obama Administration, and it was this designation which President Trump used in selecting them.
Uh, not really Congressman. Read the first article in the blog. 
“Let’s remember that President Obama did the same thing when he suspended refugee applications from Iraq for six months in 2011. I somehow do not recall the same level of outrage at that time. It is now, as it was then, within the president’s authority to suspend or halt the admission of people from certain nations in the interest of American national security.
“Additionally, those who are complaining about the omission of certain nations from the restrictions seem to be contradicting their own arguments against President Trump’s actions. While they are in reality opposing his actions entirely, they are simultaneously claiming that he didn’t go far enough. This completely undermines their arguments in opposition to his order.
“Finally, I will add that I am very concerned about the reaction of Canada’s prime minister, who has declared that his country will accept any and all refugees who want to emigrate to that nation. While we are attempting to increase the security of our own borders, he is advocating the relaxing of his own nation’s defenses. This is a reminder that we should be concerned about the security of all of our borders: northern, southern, maritime, or at international airports.

The LuLac Edition #3419, January 28th, 2017

ARE THERE GROWN UPS IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

(Photo: Washington Post)

The first week of the Donald Trump Presidency is now in the books. For many Americans it has been just what they wanted from their candidate. They might not fully realize the ramifications of all those actions but you have to say no grass was growing under this President’s wing tips this week. Plus bringing in Vice President Mike Pence at every juncture it seems has at least told me that Trump will not be shutting out his Vice President any time soon nor will be threatened by him politically.
However the vexing thing for me is the appearance that the White House is being run like the campaign. On the fly, at the last minute, with truth being whatever they want it be and a certain tone deafness that is evident. 
Plus there seems to be no sense of history or frame of reference. It’s almost like American History began on January 20th, 2017 when Trump took office. For many Americans that’s just fine and dandy. A majority of young people have to clue as to who their political leaders were except for the occasional TV sound bite via Hollywood. Plus Civics has pretty much gone by the wayside in most schools.
I’m at a loss to explain how the Refugee ban was signed on holocaust remembrance day. I have heard that Jared Kushner is “so great and smart”, how the Hell did something like that get by an Orthodox Jew?

SPEAKING OF THE REFUGEE BAN….

(Photo: AP)

How about those instant protests that took place today at JFK Airport. Thousands were there because of that ban. While it was imposed, many were in flight and some detained. The demonstrations began early Saturday at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport where, hours earlier, two Iraqis were detained due to the Muslim ban, even though they both had U.S. visas. One of the detainees, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, a 53-year-old man who worked for the U.S. military during the Iraq War, was released on Saturday afternoon. See this broad brush sweeps up the people who were our allies during Iraq and who put their lives on the line but it seems the President never even considered that.
Protestors also gathered at Washington Dulles International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and San Francisco International Airport, where several people are also being detained. A demonstration at Los Angeles International Airport also happened.
Meanwhile Cab drivers in New York are furious. The 19,000 member organization came out against Trump’s ban saying "As an organization whose membership is largely Muslim, a workforce that's almost universally immigrant, and a working-class movement that is rooted in the defense of the oppressed, we say no to this inhumane and unconstitutional ban." That statement came from The New York Taxi Workers Alliance which along with other groups mobilized on Social Media.
As more and more react to the strongman tactics of this administration, look for Social Media to be a force.
Here’s what’s different about these protests. It is not about people who are being victimized the first few days out. These people on their way in are NOT terrorists but families who did everything by the book and looking to unite. Most Americans who are not dumb asses will understand that.

HOWEVER, THERE’S ALWAYS AN EXCEPTION

Pennsylvania Idiot Jerry Zimmer (Photo: CNN)

CNN Friday evening gave it’s weekend guy Michael Smerconish a prime time shot at 9PM reviewing Trump’s first week in office. His show was going to be a recap and his first segment featured focus group members that he interviewed in April of 2016 before the Presidential primary in Pennsylvania. He brought back three of them on Friday night. They were Jimmy Finn from Harrisburg and Jerry and Mary Lou Zimmer also from the Keystone State.
Mary Lou was the one in April who told America that she wanted to say “Merry Christmas” again. At first I thought she was flummoxed for an answer but then realized how stupid and insipid her comments were. No one ever stopped anyone from saying ANYTHING in America. At the time I thought this woman was scared but now realize she is just stupid.
Her husband Jerry was another matter. Smerconish asked the two how they’d grade Trump as President. Mary Lou said “An A”. Her husband said, “An A minus”. When Smerconish asked him why, he said that Hillary Clinton was still walking around and not in jail. Then he said that Bill Clinton was still (either “whoring or hoarding” not sure which because he spoke like an ignorant hillbilly) and stealing money from the Clinton Foundation. He has no proof of either but yet he vomited them on national television.
This was the most breathtaking exhibition of ignorance that I have seen in my "54 years of paying attention" to paraphrase the host. A few thoughts here,
1. These three supporters prove James Carville's theory of Pennsylvania, Philly and Pittsburgh and Alabama in the middle.
2. It is one thing to be ignorant, it is another thing to not want to do anything about it. But it is an entirely different animal to be thoroughly proud of it.
3. The woman was the same person who said in April Trump was going to let her say "Merry Christmas" again. Uh no one ever stopped her or anyone else from saying that! I am not a guy in a bubble, I am not someone who shuts out other's opinions if they have a valid argument or facts to base them on. These supporters are poor souls that were like the country rubes suckered by the city slicker. At first I was angry (the HRC crack by Jerry was bullyish, then I felt ashamed they breath the same air I do and then those feelings morphed into hoping and praying SNL saw it. No skit, no cast members, no set, just rerun this video tape and call it, "The Bad, The Ignorant and the Proud!"
I’m told by some that Jerry and Mary Lou Zimmer need to be heard and understood. Their vote for Trump had everything to do with sexism, meanness and ignorance which they displayed proudly on Friday night. I heard their foolishness but don’t need or care to understand Jerry who said that “I felt patriotic for the first time in eight years” when Trump took office. Evidently Jerry didn’t like the color of patriotism in his sorry ass Pennsylvania America before January 20th, 2017. And we're worried about immigrants! 

OTHER COMMENTS

I cannot believe how stupid those people are. No education or facts would change their minds. Sorry they are from Pennsylvania. So embarrassing!! I am a teacher/ professor and I want to sit them down and share some facts for hours on end. My middle school kids were much more knowledgeable. I can't get over it!!!
I find people who hated Obama....did so because they could never accept an African American as their President. (They will never admit this because they won't accept it). If they fully understood the state of the economy and the disastrous mess...Bush-Cheney (2 white men) left Obama on day one, they could realize the impressive job he did in his 2 terms. He was not purfect but he was careful, cautious and cerebral. Obama left Trump in much better shape than he inherited. Unfortunately these three are not capable or care enough to invest the time to research the truth. It's easier for them to fall for the tough talk and by into fake news. Sad for this country....but remember, only 27% of eligible voters chose the Atlantic City failure. They are in the minority.....it's the system and the election process that needs overhauled. Americans bigotry elected Trump. Now they are proud to be Americans....my guess is they were proud even when their President lied and invaded The wrong country....resulting in the death of 5,000 US troops, creating chaos in the Middle East. Cheney said it will be over in 30 days....they couldn't finish the job after 6 years and walked away. Electing competent, intelligent Presidents should be taken seriously. It appears a mentally challenged egomaniac who does not mean what he says or says what he means can easily fool this minority of voters. It's all about EDUCATION.....and not buying the degree either!
What the heck was the point of having these fact-denying, delusional Trump supporters on? We all know how the vast majority of Trump voters truly feel and we didn't need to see them, yet again on TV. All this show did was further promote and normalize the insane ignorance of a large portion of Americans. Thanks for continuing to give these "Christian Patriots" a platform to spread their hatred and willful ignorance. These irresponsible, frivolous programs and reporting are part of the problem in the U.S., and how we ended up with Trump in the WH.

The LuLac Edition #3418, January 27th, 2017

APOLLO ONE @ 50

Chaffee, White and Grissom. (Photo: NASA) 

Grisson, White and Chaffee (Photo: NASA) 

Friday January 27th, 1967. It was the end of the week and we were watching “Judd For the Defense” starring Carl Betz (he was the dad on The Donna Reed Show for eight years) on ABC. The week was ending and I was a rather rambunctiously obnoxious 7th grader. Weekends were respites for the nuns but not necessarily my parents.
As the program progress it was interrupted by a bulletin from ABC. The news was direct and stunning. Three Apollo Astronauts, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee had perished in a fire on the launch pad. The names of Grissom and White were etched into the consciousness of Americans who followed the exploits of the space pioneers. Grissom was the second American in space as well as the first commander of the very successful Gemini missions. White was the very first man to walk in space. Chaffee was the rookie.
The news was shocking because up until this day, America had a run of successful manned missions. Oh there were some near misses in space but it was nearly unthinkable that anything could happen on the earth in a controlled testing environment.  But it did.

The Apollo 1 mission was supposed to be the first of several crewed flights NASA conducted to prepare for its first moon landing. But the spacecraft never made it off the launchpad, and it was destroyed nearly a month before its planned launch date, Feb. 21, 1967.
On Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT), the three crewmembers entered the Apollo control module for a launch countdown simulation called a "plugs-out" test, which would determine whether the spacecraft was capable of operating on internal power. The Saturn IB rocket that would have launched the crew module into Earth's orbit was not involved in this routine and seemingly safe prelaunch test. Needless to say, the spacecraft flunked that test. Many people at NASA felt that it wasn't ready for such a test to begin with.
The crew spent the entire afternoon sitting inside the space capsule while debugging problems, including a foul odor emanating from the oxygen tank and a faulty communication system. "How are we going to get to the moon if we can't talk between two or three buildings?" Grissom shouted from inside the capsule.
Grissom was "very vocal about the shortcomings of the spacecraft," and the crew often complained to higher-ups that the spacecraft was not ready, former NASA astronaut Tom Jones told Space.com. When Grissom realized that raising his voice wasn't making much of a difference, he famously picked a lemon from his citrus tree at home and brought it to Cape Kennedy (now known as Cape Canaveral), where he hung it on the flight simulator as a symbol of his frustration.
As the crew went over their checklist inside the module, suddenly, the spacecraft's interior became engulfed in flames. Heat caused the air pressure inside the spacecraft to rise, making it impossible for the astronauts to open the hatch, which was designed to open inward. After about 30 seconds, the spacecraft ruptured. NASA's ground crew tried desperately to rescue the astronauts, but they died of asphyxiation before rescuers were able to get them out of the spacecraft.
That stray spark appeared to have originated in a bundle of wires. But that was only the beginning of a series of critical mistakes that led to the fire; far more concerning was the abundance of flammable materials inside the spacecraft. Arguably the biggest mistake they made was to fill the air with pure oxygen rather than a mix of oxygen and nitrogen like the air of Earth's atmosphere. Pure oxygen made the spacecraft extremely flammable. Top that off with combustible materials — including Velcro, nylon netting, foam pads and bundles of wiring — and you have "fuel for a 100 percent oxygen environment," NASA historian Roger Launius told Space.com.
Launius said that people at NASA knew about the major design flaws, particularly the unsafe flammable materials inside the spacecraft, for two years before the accident happened. "So why didn't they figure this out beforehand, before somebody died?" Launius said. "That's something that has never been adequately answered in my mind."  (Space.com)
An official "Day of Remembrance" will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31. NASA will hold an observance and wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia by the graves of Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee. Edward White is buried at West Point.
Fifty years ago to the day, the Apollo One tragedy’s lesson is still the same. Reaching for the stars and heavens is not for the faint of heart and spirit. The sacrifices made by the crew paved the way for a less hasty and safe exploration of space.
America 5 decades later remains in their debt.

The LuLac Edition #3417, January 26th, 2017

TRUMP STILL MOANING ABOUT THE ELECTION

(Photo: flickr)

Donald Trump still is talking about the election. Like all Presidential candidates who lost, Hillary Clinton has receded pretty much from public view after she conceded. You’d expect that. But what you wouldn’t expect is a candidate who WON bitching about the fact that there was voter fraud in the election. Not just here and there but Trump said that more than 3.4 million people voted illegally. He reiterated that the other night in front of Congressional leaders. It was a repetition of a widely unproven claim that millions of "illegal" votes cost him the popular vote in the presidential election just keep on coming.
If there was fraud, then where is the proof you say?
Oh well the President is launching an investigation into voter fraud across America. He tweeted it Wednesday morning. But wait as they say in the infomercials, there’s more.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Wednesday afternoon that the voting probe would "not just" be about the 2016 election.
"This about the integrity of our voting system," he said at the White House press briefing.
Now these defenders of Russia involved in hacking our election campaign now want to launch an investigation into the integrity of the voting?
Trump thinks Grandpa Jones who died in 2006 and is still on the voting rolls is more of a threat than his butt buddy Putin.
Meantime, election officials in Ohio and Pennsylvania have pretty much said this guy is full of canal water. But an investigation he shall have which will cost tax payer money in a wild goose chase.
The more Trump does this in his Presidency, have a few sane days in a row and then going off the rails will wear thin on rational people.
We had Presidents who were Intellectuals. We had Presidents who were crooks. We’ve had Presidents who were philanderers. We’ve had President who were dullards. Now we have a President who is clearly a clown.

TRUMP SCREWS FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS

Just minutes after saying he would help the middle class, Trump screwed new home buyers. Trump canceled a reduction in the Federal Housing Administration’s annual fee for most borrowers. The cut would have reduced the annual premium for someone borrowing $200,000 by $500 in the first year.
For first time borrowers, it is a popular program among first-time home buyers because it allows borrowers to make a down payment of as low as 3.5 percent with a credit score of 580, on a scale of 300 to 850. Housing industry groups lauded the change, saying it could increase home buying by offsetting recent rises in mortgage rates.
Yep, he’s making America great again but not for the suckers who voted for him.

REP. CARTWRIGHT AND REP. WELCH INTRODUCE BILL TO SAVE ENERGY WHILE IMPROVING SCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright and U.S. Representative Peter Welch re-introduced the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act (H.R. 627) with the support of education and environmental advocacy groups and 43 bipartisan cosponsors. First introduced in the 113th Congress, the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act unanimously passed the House in 2014 and 2016.
This legislation provides a coordinating structure to help schools better navigate available federal programs and financing options for energy efficiency improvements to their facilities.
“This bill promotes strategic and cost-saving investment while improving our schools and protecting the environment,”said Rep. Cartwright. “It lessens burdens on school administrators by establishing an efficient, one-stop shop for schools, providing administrators with better access to information and resources for implementing these upgrades.”
According to Energy Star, America’s schools spend $7.5 billion per year on energy costs, making energy an enormous part of schools’ operating budgets, second only to personnel costs.
In addition, many schools are in urgent need of improvements. One Department of Education survey found that 43 percent of schools indicated that the poor condition of their facilities interferes with the delivery of instruction. Many of the problems often involve the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Upgrading these systems enables schools to improve their learning environments, save on energy bills, and focus scarce funds on other priorities for our children.
Specifically, the Act would:
•Establish the Department of Energy (DOE) as the lead agency in coordinating a cross-departmental effort to help initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and retrofitting projects for schools.
•Require a review of existing federal programs and financing mechanisms; the formation of a streamlined process of communication and outreach to the States, local education agencies, and schools of these existing programs; and the development of a mechanism for governors, state energy programs, and local educational and energy officials to form a peer-to-peer network to support the initiation of the projects.
•Require DOE to provide technical assistance to help schools navigate the financing and development of these projects to better ensure success.
“By streamlining existing programs and cutting red tape, our bill will help save energy and cut energy bills for school systems around the country,” said Rep. Welch. “We have made undeniable progress on energy efficiency in a bipartisan way, and I’m pleased to work with Rep. Cartwright to get this common sense bill signed into law during this new Congress.”
“The savings from improved efficiency are very real. We’re talking about millions of dollars, and by creating a central clearinghouse for information, this bill would help busy school districts and principals put those savings into action educating children,” said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, an energy efficiency advocacy group.
This bill is endorsed by the Alliance to Save Energy; ASHRAE; Green Business Certification, Inc.; and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Several groups representing school administrators have provided their support to the bill’s re-introduction this Congress. These organizations include AASA, The School Superintendents Association; Association of Educational Service Agencies; Association of School Business Officials International; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium; National Rural Education Association; and Rebuild America’s Schools.

BARLETTA PRAISES PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ORDERS

OF COURSE HE DOES!!!!!

TRUMP ORDERS: BUILD THE WALL, CRACK DOWN ON SANCTUARY CITIES

Congressman Lou Barletta praised two executive actions taken by President Donald J. Trump to enforce our borders and crack down on sanctuary cities that harbor illegal immigrants. The first paves the way for the long-promised border wall. The second addresses sanctuary cities by stripping federal grant money from such cities and by reinstituting the Secure Communities program ended by President Obama. Sanctuary cities are those jurisdictions which refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials or obey immigration law.
“Today is a good day for those of us who have long fought against illegal immigration,” Barletta said. “These are all important steps toward securing our borders and beginning to finally enforce our federal immigration laws. I have been fighting against illegal immigration since I was mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania more than a decade ago, and it is wonderful to finally have an ally in the White House. President Trump has been true to his word, taking decisive action on illegal immigration inside of his first week in office.”
Barletta expressed support for a wall, or physical barrier, along the border as a vital part of security in preventing illegal immigration.
Maybe the good Congressman can get some money for the cash strapped city he used to run while they are still trying to pay off that lawsuit from his immigration stance. 

MEDIA MATTERS

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Dr. Jade Miller about children and dental issues.
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with recently retired WNEP meteorologist Tom Clark about his long career and his plans for the future.
​This Week in Harrisburg examines the Pennsylvania Corrections Department's plan to close 2 state prisons, and how their final decision played out, and one state legislator proposes to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
And an encore of Brian's December interview with Dr. Kara DeFelice from the LSU School of Medicine about Crohn's Disease and Colitis.
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.

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts Rusty Fender and David DeCosmo, and Director Mark Migilore welcome Janice Bevacqua to the program during the week of January 30th. Ms. Bevacqua will outline plans for this year's Clarks Summit Ice Festival. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is also available on Electric City Television's Youtube channel. The Comcast showings are during the Noon, 6pm, and Midnight hours each day throughout the week.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guest will be Scranton City Council President Joe Wechsler. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA Sports Radio-The Game 1400/1440 am 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. The show will run Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on WILK, and on KRZ, Froggy and Max 102 early Sunday morning.

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 he heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

Bobby's show is back again live this Sunday @6PM on The River.

1977

Our 1977 logo.

Roots begins its phenomenally successful run on ABC…….

The Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 hits Buffalo, New York…..in Pennsylvania Governor Shapp promises to work with the Legislators in the state as his term heads into the last two years…..in Luzerne County very few row offices are up and it promises to be a quiet primary….and 40 years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Leo Sayer.

The LuLac Edition #3416, January 25th, 2017

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our "Write On Wednesday" logo

This week’s “Write On Wednesday” comes from 17th District Congressman Matt Cartwright who gives his insight into the prison situation in the state as well as other economic ramifications.

IT’S TIME TO START BUDGETING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES, JOBS, AND GROWTH IN PENNSYLVANIA

by Congressman Matt Cartwright

The beginning of each new year usually brings a sense of optimism for a year better than the last, but, unfortunately for many Pennsylvanians, Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary John Wetzel announced troubling news in early January. The DOC plans to close two state prisons from a list of five under consideration.
Three of the five possibilities are in the northeastern part of the state. These proposed closures are projected to save the Commonwealth money, but, at the same time, the closures would significantly impact thousands of Pennsylvanians who work in the prison system as well as the economies of the surrounding communities. These prison closures are a symptom of a greater problem in the Commonwealth: the Republican-controlled state legislature will not work with Governor Wolf on any real solutions to our long-term state budget challenges.
The inability of the legislature to agree on and pass a responsible budget is mostly the result of a stubborn, short-sighted, and cut-mentality ideological agenda on the Republican side, especially in the Senate. Everyone should understand that Governor Wolf inherited a severely strained state budget with a multi-billion dollar deficit when he took office in 2015. The Corbett administration cut the taxes on larger corporations that were bringing in millions of dollars in vital revenue. Once accounting for over 30% of general funds available each year, corporate taxes today now represent only 17% of total Pennsylvania revenue.
When Republicans consistently side with corporate CEOs on taxes, middle-class Pennsylvanians feel the strain of cuts to vital programs, services, and institutions, like state correctional facilities. State house Republicans were also responsible for the stopgap budget proposal in 2015-16 that preserved current state tax rates but did not fully fund the fiscal year. It fell short, leaving the executive branch scrambling to account for an unfunded twelfth month.
Governor Wolf promised to raise enough state revenues to adequately fund education, social services, and prisons, and he set out to do it. However, he received pushback at every turn from an uncooperative state legislature. This forced the governor to resort to program and job cuts in a desperate attempt to balance the books.
As the governor has been preaching since day one of his administration, with budgeting, there are one-time, short-term fixes and there are sustainable solutions. The two are different. Republican representatives and senators will only raise revenue under extremely limited circumstances, yet they are willing to cut vital programs and institutions for the most vulnerable members of our communities. And even though their legislative use of budgeting gimmicks – such as interdepartmental transfers – and limited alternative revenue sources – such as increased tax rates on gaming – may have temporarily postponed fiscal disaster, this approach has only contributed to the growing budget deficit problem the Commonwealth faces today.
Moves to address a systemic inadequacy with only superficial fixes by past administrations and the Republican-controlled General Assembly are what have brought us to where we find ourselves today. Two state prisons are slated to be the tangible casualty of the lack of any responsible commitment to fix a broken system.
The economic negatives of this situation are very real. Thousands of people from my congressional district work at the three northeastern prisons proposed for closure. This is their livelihood, and many prison suppliers feel just as threatened. Our state legislature’s refusal to take the long view and work with the governor in a bipartisan way is going to have a significant impact on corrections workers, their families, and local businesses.
And closing two prisons will not put an end Pennsylvania’s ongoing fiscal crisis. The proposed closures themselves will not change short-sightedness and more pain to come on state budgeting. Only cooperation can change that, and it’s time we had some in Harrisburg.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Congressman Cartwright represents the 17th Congressional District, which includes all of Schuylkill County and portions of Carbon, Northampton, Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Monroe Counties. He is a member of the Committee on Appropriations – and the Commerce, Justice, Science and Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittees – in the House of Representatives.

The LuLac Edition #3415, January 24h, 2017

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Our “Maybe I’m Amazed” logo

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that Donald trump has interest in companies involved in the Keystone Pipeline. Wow, are we in for a ride!
MAYBE I’M AMAZED….. when snakes are born with two heads they fight each other for food.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that the new President who sent Press Secretary Sean Spicer out to the press complaining about crowd size actually made fun of Spicer’s suits. Trump wanted to know if Spicer owned a dark suit. Didn’t tell him to his face but leaked it. Coward
MAYBE I’M AMAZED …..that a city in Greece struggles to put in place a subway system because it keeps on digging up ruins.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that while Trump distracts the press with his antics, tweets and battle with the media, no one is watching what Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is doing to set an agenda against the middle class in America.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that a gallon of water weighs 8.3 pounds.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….at how the Trump administration has tried to denigrate the Women’s march across the world and the U.S. as complainers who didn’t vote. Some didn’t, they rue the day they didn’t and that’s why they showed up.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED ……that Jelly fish don’t have any brains. –
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that people are shocked the Green Bay Packers lost to Atlanta. I’m a Packer fan but this might turn out to be the Falcon’s year.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that the Dome in Atlanta was closing and new stadium was being built. The thing was only twenty five years old which is just short of the Falcon’s owner’s wife!
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that there are people who still tell me that Madonna is not that talented. Really?


MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that the new President’s son in law Jared Kushner did not want KellyAnne Conway in the administration. Good call. Her performance was utterly disgusting this weekend and if I were in charge of national media shows, she’d never get asked on again.

The LuLac Edition #3414, January 23rd, 2017

KELLY ANNE AND MY GIRL MADONNA

IN DEFENSE OF MADONNA

Madonna (Photo: Time)

Wow! Right wing Republicans, anti feminist women and Trump supporters are making a big deal over Madonna saying at the march that she wants to blow up the White House. Was it an incorrect remark? You bet. Did it draw attention away from the millions of women that marched world wide?
Unfortunately yes.
But here’s the thing. Madonna is being criticized for making that one snarky remark and Donald Trump can call Carly Fiorina homely, he can make vicious comments about Rosie O’Donnell and one of his beauty contestants and that’s fine.
I stand proudly by Madonna. By the way, these are the charitable organizations she has contributed to. Maybe Trump has given to these too but we’ll never know it because he hasn’t released his tax returns.
.Afghanistan Relief Organization
•American Foundation for AIDS Research
•Amnesty International
•BID 2 BEAT AIDS
•Bony Pony Ranch
•buildOn
•Charity Projects Entertainment Fund
•Children in Need
•Children of Peace
•CHIME FOR CHANGE
•Every Mother Counts
•Greenpeace
•Live Earth
•Make-A-Wish Foundation
•Millennium Promise
•Millennium Villages
•MusiCares
•Music Rising
•Partners in Health
•Raisa Gorbachev Foundation
•Raising Malawi
•Ray of Light Foundation
•Sentebale
•Small Steps Project
•Special Olympics
•Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
•Treatment Action Campaign
•UNICEF
•UN Millennium Project

KELLYANNE CONWAY’S ALTERNATIVE FACTS

It has become evident to me and the rest of the country that KellyAnne Conway can’t give anyone a straight answer. She talks in circles and it is annoying and dizzying to watch.
I have been told I am a bullshitter.
I have known a bullshitter or two.
But never, ever to this degree.
And juxtapose this with Madonna’s comments. I don’t agree with what Madonna said. But unlike Kelly Anne Conway, at least it was a declarative statement one could understand.

The LuLac Edition #3413, January 21st, 2017

WOMEN'S MARCH ON WASHINGTON ATTENDANCE DWARFS TRUMP INAUGURATION TURNOUT

 Marches in Washington, D.C. and Denver (Photos: Slate)

The New York Daily News reports that tens of thousands of women packed the streets of Washington for a massive Saturday rally against President Trump, with the turnout expected to double that of his inauguration.
The protesters came from across the nation to express their disgust with Trump’s election just one day after he took the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol.
“We have put this man in the office who is a terrible role model, teaching people that bullies are acceptable and women are property,” said protester Kelly Hansen, 32, who traveled down from Boston. (Source: NY Daily News)
Now there will be some Trump supporters who will say the following:
1. Give him a chance! It’s his first day!
2. The protestors are being PAID.
3. They are sore losers!
4. Women like Trump.
Uh no to all four. Trump forfeited that chance right after the election when he went on Twitter and acted like a petulant man child. He used the same language during this time period as he did during the campaign. “Sad”, “crooked”, “rigged”, “fake”.
In his address yesterday he really could not articulate what he was doing in specific terms or compound sentences for that matter.
As far as those proesters being paid in major U.S. cities anmd abroad, my question is this.
How?
How do you get the cash to every person with a sign?
Who is the bag man?
And if it overseas how do you get the money to them?
Sore losers? Uh no, Trump and his people are sore winners. These protestors are watching what he does.
Finally, there are many women who do like Trump. Many are featured on this blog site.
But from the numbers……there are more of the watchers then more of the admirers.

THE PRESIDENT'S DANCE MOVES

The First couple. (Photo: AOL News).

Those three Inaugural balls yesterday were really showcases for the way this country transitions itself in an orderly manner every four years. The balls were elegant and people were having a great time. Even though I pretty much disagree with the temperament and lack of governmental institutional knowledge this President has, I have to give him this.
1. He looks great in a tux.
2. And he dances like me. So for that aspect of his life, I can be counted as one of the inclusive. One media outlet (a real one) called it "a painful dance". Mrs. LuLac and I prefer to call those dances "just fine!"

MICHAK TO ANNOUNCE RUN FOR MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE

Attorney Gary Michak (Photo: Michak campaign)

Attorney Gary A. Michak will announce his campaign to seek Magisterial District Judge for District Court 11-3-09 at his campaign kickoff rally to be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at J&J Deli, Draft and Bottle Shop located at 3101 Memorial Highway in Dallas on Thursday, January 19th.
This is Michak’s first run for public office, but he has been serving the community as an attorney specializing in family law through his practice, Michak Law, Shavertown. He’s been voted the best Back Mountain Attorney for eight years running. He was also nationally ranked in karate and operated several karate schools locally.
Regarding the retirement of current Magisterial District Judge James Tupper, Michak said, “I have the utmost respect for Justice Tupper and would be honored to succeed him in the next term.”
Michak lives in the Back Mountain with his wife Courtney Burgess-Michak, owner of Valor Counseling, Shavertown, and their two children, Arianna and Thomas.
The public is invited to attend this free event to support Michak. Appetizers and complimentary non-alcoholic refreshments will be provided, and there will be a cash bar.
For more information on the campaign to elect Gary Michak for Magisterial District Judge please call Gary at (570) 255-5500; email GaryMichak@epix.net or log on to garymichak.com.

MEDIA MATTERS

WYLNTV-35’s GARY PERNA NAMED NEWS DIRECTOR

Gary Perna (Photo: WYLN TV 35)

The management of WYLN35-TV based in Hazleton, PA is pleased to announce Gary Perna has been named the station’s News Director, effective January 23, 2017.
Perna began working with WYLN35-TV October of 2012 as the night news reporter. During his tenure at the local news station, Perna became the producer of WYLN’s Late Edition News at 10PM and played a role in creating the station’s Evening Edition News at 5:30PM. Perna has also been the host and producer of “Topic A,” the station’s community-based talk show. Just recently, he co-created a new business show broadcasting on WYLN35 called “Getting Down to Business.” Perna has also moderated political debates and covered election night live on WYLN35, in addition to helping host the annual American Cancer Society Telethon broadcasted live on WYLN35. Finally, he has served a period of time in the station’s sales department, further building his relationships with numerous business owners and civic organizations in the community.
Perna is a 2010 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School and a 2012 graduate of Luzerne County Community College. In addition to his efforts over the years reporting on activity in our community for WYLN35, Perna is dedicated to supporting the community. He serves as Secretary of the Six County Firemen’s Association of PA, where he was president from 2013-2015. For the past 11 years, he’s been an active member of the McAdoo Fire Company and he has also been active over the years in the New England Fire Company, Tamaqua, Schuylkill Historical Fire Society and as a forest fire warden with DCNR Weiser State Forest District 18.
Perna has been recognized for his work in the community by State Senator David Argall with the 2010 Good Citizen of the Year Award; The William “Bill” Riccio Community Service Award presented by the McAdoo Fire Department and McAdoo Fire Company Ambulance Association; and recently by the McAdoo Fire Company with the Chief Bob Leshko Memorial Award for showing outstanding service and dedication to the fire company.
Perna is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Mahanoy City where he serves on the board of session and as the Chair of the Board of Deacons.
Perna and his wife Whitney have four dogs that they love more than anything in the world.
“I think my experience in both the news and sales field will lend well to this position. I’m excited to work with the best news and sales team in the area, and want to continue to serve OUR community.”—Gary Perna
WYLN35 owner, Pat Gans stated, “We are pleased to see Gary take on more and more responsibility over the years. We are impressed by his dedication to the community, the station and by his sincere passion for news. We are confident he will continue our important mission of sharing news with the community through the power of local television.”
WYLN35 is the only broadcast television station based in Hazleton, PA. The station is available on cable and broadcast, reaching approximately 1M HH+ in northeastern Pennsylvania. To learn more about the station, go to www.wylntv.com

The LuLac Edition #3412, January 20th, 2017

TRUMP’S “PEGGY LEE” INAUGURAL ADDRESS

(Photo: CNN)

Today Donald Trump gave his Inaugural address in Washington, D.C. I was hoping that the new President would reprise his election night/morning victory speech. That talk was full of inclusion and unity. Today’s was different in the sense that while his message was typical Trump, bombastic, to the point with short phrases not terribly nuanced, it was an address that sent many messages.
If you were a Trump supporter, this was brilliant.
It was nirvana.
Flawless.
Perfect.
If you were a foreign country or ally and heard “America First”, you wondered about the commitment to your country. Remember U.S bases are in those lands and those countries have to wonder if “America First” means “America goodbye”. Economies of those countries rely on the military for more than guns. There are reasons why foreign countries get foreign aid. As a deal maker, Trump should know this!
If you are a person on the margins cheering on your man, you have to wonder about his statement that America needs to get rich again. Some people in this new century have not aspired to be rich. Trump’s people are rich. They have done fine. They will always do fine. Rich to folks I know is being able to buy cereal on sale when it’s 2 for $5 at Wegmans.
If you are a person who is a policy wonk, you have to wonder where the money is going to come for all those things he wants to do.
If you are a member of Congress or a former President, you have to wonder just what you have done to make this country so bad. Plus if you are a member of the incoming House and Senate, you have to wonder about his rhetoric toward do nothing politicians. One of these days it might dawn on the GOP members of both the Senate and House that they won their districts and status very well without Trump. Senators like Toomey of our state, Portman of Ohio and Speaker Ryan of Wisconsin, represent three states Trump won by a hair. They might finally realize that Trump may need THEM more than they need him.
If you are a company like Walmart, you have to wonder where your leverage will be on all those cheap goods that people love to buy. “American made”, “America First” sounds real good but sad to say we are a “Me First” culture. I wonder what Trump’s biggest supporters will say when they find out their flat screens are no longer $275 bucks but $1500 American made. We have become so used to cheaper goods because of our trade agreements that I find it hard to believe that Trumpites realize you can’t have both.
If you are one of the 675,000 Pennsylvanians on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, you have to wonder why there was nary a word on health care which a few days ago was going to be for everybody according to Mr. Trump.
If you are an American like me, who loves our country you have to wonder about the words used. “Carnage” and “disarray”.
Those words are offensive to me because this nation has had smooth transition of power for over 240 years! No blood in the streets.
There are no food lines, no power outages and every convenience known to man. Plus there is no shortage of opportunity.
“Disarray?” That has come from a party that stopped any progress and got as its reward a person who speaks in generalities when it comes to policies. Trump’s words, basic and simple but passionate destroy any nuances whatsoever in complex problems. Carnage is an insult to the Presidents of the past sitting behind him. Radio’s Michael Smerconish said it best when he opined that indeed Trump wrote this address himself. For himself and those he already won over.
However for those who wonder what vision there is for immigration, for health care, for issues facing this country that need more than a pithy word salad to wrap them in, this address evoked the memory of that great Peggy Lee song.
“Is That All There Is?”

The LuLac Edition #3411, Jnuary 20th, 2017

TRUMP INAUGURAL PHOTOS

Triumphant Trump 

 Incoming and outgoing, certainly not any carnage or disarray here!

No fake news here! Pence, Trump and Baron. 
(Photos) CNN)

 Packed to the rafters. 

Lynette Villano and Sue Henry two of my favorite Republicans! 
(Photo: Sue Henry Facebook page)

OUR TAKE FROM WYOU TV TODAY!

BARLETTA STATEMENT ON THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

Congressman Barletta at the Capitol this morning. (Photo: Lou Barletta Facebook page)

Congressman Lou Barletta today issued the following statement regarding the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States:
“Today the world witnessed what is one of the finest attributes of the United States: the peaceful transfer of power from one chief executive to the next. I thank former President Barack Obama for his service and wish him and his family well on the next phase of their lives. And I welcome President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as they begin to travel their own path in blazing a new trail of American history.
“The Trump Administration comes into focus with many daunting issues before us as a nation. The new president enters office as the champion of those citizens who felt that their government had stopped listening to them and was more concerned with consolidating power than with solving any of our problems. He also enters at a time when worldwide terrorism is at a fever pitch and our borders and national security measures are as porous and precarious as they have ever been. Meanwhile, too many of our citizens feel that the American Dream is lost to them, and the promise of Ronald Reagan’s Shining City on a Hill has faded from view.
“To find answers to these monumental questions, President Trump will need the assistance of all Americans. He has offered a bold agenda of fighting terrorism and of protecting our homeland. He has promised to enforce our immigration laws and protect our national security and the American jobs that are threatened by open borders. And as he made clear in his inaugural address, he has pledged to place America first when making decisions on domestic and international policy. It will be up to Congress and the people we represent to do our parts to fulfill these promises.
“As an early supporter of the president’s, I was able to see the groundswell of support he was building from the very beginning. As one of his allies in the House of Representatives, I intend to use my open channel to the White House to pursue my own legislative goals, which include enforcing immigration laws, pursuing a robust transportation infrastructure investment program, reducing government interference in private enterprise, and helping businesses find trained workers. And we will repeal the failed Obamacare law and replace it piece by piece to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.
“There can be no question that the campaign that led us to today was bruising and among the most rancorous we have seen. As Americans, it is imperative that we put aside the differences we aired on the campaign trail and begin to pull together toward our shared goal of a stronger United States of America.”

The LuLac Edition #3410, January 20th, 2017

INAUGURATION DAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT PENCE

THE SCHEDULE

Friday, January 20

Church Service

Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church

When: 8:30 a.m.

Details: Trump and Pence, along with their families, Cabinet designees and friends, will attend the service on H Street.

White House Tea

Where: White House

When: 9:30 a.m.

Details: The Trump and Pence families will gather on the South Portico of the White House.

Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony

Where: West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building

When: Ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.; opening remarks at 11:30 a.m.; swearing in at noon by the Supreme Court chief justice, John Roberts Jr.

Details: The Trump and Pence families will join them, as will members of Congress, the Supreme Court, the diplomatic corps and other invited guests. A ticket is not required for general admission.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and America’s Got Talent alumna Jackie Evancho have accepted invitations to perform at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.

Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee Luncheon

Where: U.S. Capitol

When: 1 p.m.

Details: Trump, Pence and their wives will attend the luncheon.

Military Review

Where: East Front of the U.S. Capitol

When: 2:30 p.m.

Details: The couples will gather on the East Front of the building.

Inaugural Parade

Where: Starts at the steps of the Capitol Building and proceeds along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

When: 3 p.m.

Details: Trump, Pence and their families will be escorted down Pennsylvania Avenue, followed by parade participants. A ticket is required for special viewing areas.

Thirty-four local and six national groups will participate, according to Roll Call. Despite protests by some alumni, Talladega College is sending its marching band for the parade. (The historically black school is located in Alabama.) The New York-based Rockettes also are slated to perform.

Many streets will be closed along the parade route and around the National Mall. D.C. officials have created a website and Twitter account to help residents prepare for the event. Social media users can ask questions with the hashtag #Inaug2017.

THE BALLS

Inaugural Balls

Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center and National Building Museum

When: 7—11 p.m.

Details: At least three official inaugural balls are planned, and they will feature dancing, entertainment and appearances by Trump and his wife, Melania. The two main balls will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and the Salute to Our Armed Services Ball will be at the National Building Museum. At 7 p.m., Trump, Pence and their wives will attend the Liberty and Freedom Ball at the convention center. Later, they will attend the military ball.

There also will be several unofficial balls on this night. Landmarks and themes from New York, Trump’s hometown, will dominate the “Big Apple Ball,” the New York Daily News says. A ticket is required.

Saturday, January 21

National Prayer Service

Where: Washington National Cathedral

When: 10 a.m.

Details: This will be an interfaith prayer service for Trump, Pence and their families.

The LuLac Edition #3409, January 19th, 2017

OBAMA IN REVIEW

President Obama then

President Obama now.

Today is essentially the last day of the Barack Obama Presidency. The Obama record and legacy will be debated intensely in this partisan atmosphere. But I believe in the long run of history Obama will be known as a consequential President who overcame a great deal from a recalcitrant Congress.
On the plus side, The President passed Health Care Reform which is still being debated. His dare that he would support anything better has the possibility to flummox the GOP. 
His stimulus program is pretty much forgotten but it spured economic growth amid greatest recession since the Great Depression. Weeks after stimulus went into effect, unemployment claims began to subside. Twelve months later, the private sector began producing more jobs than it was losing,  Then there was Wall Street Reform: Signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010) to re-regulate the financial sector after its practices caused the Great Recession.
He created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (now headed by Richard Cordray) to crack down on abusive lending products and companies.
Ended the War in Iraq: and began Draw down of War in Afghanistan: Eliminated Osama bin laden. 
Turned Around U.S. Auto Industry,
Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: Ended 1990s-era restriction and formalized new policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military for the first time. Improved America’s Image Abroad: With new policies, diplomacy, and rhetoric, reversed a sharp decline in world opinion toward the U.S. (and the corresponding loss of “soft power”) during the Bush years. From 2008 to 2011, favorable opinion toward the United States rose in ten of fifteen countries surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, with an average increase of 26 percent.
This administration kicked Banks Out of Federal Student Loan Program, and expanded Pell Grant Spending. 
There were new fuel efficiency standards in 2011 that will nearly double the fuel economy for cars and trucks by 2025.
Increased Support for Veterans: With so many soldiers coming home from Iraq and Iran with serious physical and mental health problems, yet facing long waits for services, increased 2010 Department of Veterans Affairs budget by 16 percent and 2011 budget by 10 percent. Also signed new GI bill offering $78 billion in tuition assistance over a decade, and provided multiple tax credits to encourage businesses to hire veterans.
Created Conditions to Begin Closing Dirtiest Power Plants: New EPA restrictions on mercury and toxic pollution, issued in December 2011, likely to lead to the closing of between sixty-eight and 231 of the nation’s oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plants. Estimated cost to utilities: at least $11 billion by 2016. Estimated health benefits: $59 billion to $140 billion.
Passed Credit Card Reforms: Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (2009), which prohibits credit card companies from raising rates without advance notification, mandates a grace period on interest rate increases, and strictly limits overdraft and other fees.
Improved Food Safety System: In 2011, signed FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which boosts the Food and Drug Administration’s budget by $1.4 billion and expands its regulatory responsibilities to include increasing number of food inspections, issuing direct food recalls, and reviewing the current food safety practices of countries importing products into America.
Expanded Wilderness and Watershed Protection: Signed Omnibus Public Lands Management Act (2009), which designated more than 2 million acres as wilderness, created thousands of miles of recreational and historic trails, and protected more than 1,000 miles of rivers.
Cracked Down on Bad For-Profit Colleges: In effort to fight predatory practices of some for-profit colleges, Department of Education issued “gainful employment” regulations in 2011 cutting off commercially focused schools from federal student aid funding if more than 35 percent of former students aren’t paying off their loans and/or if the average former student spends more than 12 percent of his or her total earnings servicing student loans.
Improved School Nutrition: In coordination with Michelle Obama, signed Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010 mandating $4.5 billion spending boost and higher nutritional and health standards for school lunches. New rules based on the law, released in January, double the amount of fruits and vegetables and require only whole grains in food served to students.
Expanded Hate Crimes Protections: Signed Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009), which expands existing hate crime protections to include crimes based on a victim’s sexual orientation, gender, or disability, in addition to race, color, religion, or national origin.

(Wall Street Journal, Politico, Time, LuLac archives) 

That’s a lot. But the three big issues, guns, immigration and the economy were the ones that resonated with people in this country. If you look at the Obama checklist, on the surface it made sense and in the long run helped all Americans.
But 2016 was a year in which the three biggest issues he could not get accomplished were ones that were beaten into the ground by a frustrated, uninformed, and fearful America.
Guns, despite what the GOP attack machine told you never were never threatened under this President.
Immigration which in the past was championed by Ronald Reagan was sold as fear by both the perverted and child killing GOP Congress.
The economy which was saved by this President was successful despite the whining of people who felt left behind in this administration. Not to sound like a Republican, you’re behind, step it up and get ahead.
Or break even but for Christ sake shut up about poor you!
The score card on Obama for me is a B. It would been an A but in the first two years of his administration he decided to play patty cakes with the national GOP who was out to screw him from the beginning.
His failure is he should have squashed them like a bug when he had the chance in his first two years in office. 

TRUMP GETS TO WORK ON DAY ONE…MONDAY

So the new President Elect told a British newspaper that he is going to get to work on making America great again. But not on January 21st but on January 23rd. That’s a Monday and Trump needs the weekend.
Monday, Monday.

TRUMP’S POLL RATINGS

So now the Trump apologists are calling the polls saying that 44% of the American polled approve of Trump are FAKE polls. The big baby Huey said so himself. And his gullible followers are in lock step calling talk shows and saying the same thing.
You know what?
I think those polls are fake too.
Judging by most people I speak to, it’s way lower than 44%.

MEDIA MATTERS

KAREL Z GOES TO WASHINGTON

Karel Zubris (Photo: LinkedIn)

Our friend Karel Zubris is going to be at the Inauguration. Karel who was convinced that Hillary Clinton would win the office got her tickets through some connections. She has forged bi partisan relationships with politicos and media people and is staying with friends outside of DC.
We look forward to her reports on her travels.

LULAC ON PA LIVE

We'll be on Pa Live Friday afternoon with Dave Kuharchik and Brittany Sweeney talking about the big Inauguration Day.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Brian Fanelli from the advocacy group Action Together NEPA,
about their opposition to repealing the Affordable Care Act.
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Cordi Brown from the Blue Chip Farms Animal
Refuge about their "Adopt A Kennel" fundraiser.
Frankie speaks with Rosie and Rudi from Rev Theatre about their children's production of
"Macbeth", coming to United Neighborhood Centers.
And an encore of Brian's December interview with Dr. Joshua Newman, who discusses
wearable medical devices.
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.

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts Rusty Fender and David DeCosmo and Director Mark Migilore welcome Erica Rogler from the Wyoming County Cultural Center to the program during the week of January 23rd to talk about upcoming events for area residents. 

ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is broadcast during the Noon, 6pm, and Midnight hours throughout the week.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests are Angel and Eric Kropiewicki from the ARKcares Foundation.
Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA Sports Radio-The Game 1400/1440 am 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. The show will run Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on WILK, and on KRZ, Froggy and Max 102 early Sunday morning.

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 he
heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

Bobby's show returns live this Sunday @6PM on The River.

1977

Our 1977 logo

Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious Legionnaires' disease…..U.S. President Gerald Ford, on his final full day in office, pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino (aka "Tokyo Rose")..........Snow falls in Miami (despite its ordinarily tropical climate) for the only time in its history. Snowfall has occurred farther south in the United States only on the high mountains of the state of Hawaii.............Jimmy Carter is sworn in as President of the United States.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter pardons Vietnam War draft evaders….in Pennsylvania the news about the Vietnam War pardons is met with mixed emotions by peace activists and veterans….in Wilkes Barre more work continues on the redevelopment of Public Square and forty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Car Wash” - Rose Royce from the movie of the same name.