The LuLac Edition #3609, October 5th, 2017

SECRETARY OF STATE TILLERSON CALLS TRUMP A MORON

There are reports that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that President Trump was a moron. There were three sources so President’s Trump’s claim that it was fake news was well itself, fake.
This reminds me of that  line in the great play and movie, 1776 by Pennsylvania’s own John Dickinson who said, “The king is a tyrant whether we say so or not. We might as well say so.”
I guess if the Secretary of State says so, we might as well say so.

GOP TAX PLAN A DISASTER FOR MIDDLE CLASS

This proposed Republican tax cut is way different than the Bush tax cut in 2001. First Bush made sure everybody got a tax break at every income level. These tax cuts were supposed to create jobs. The theory being that when big business did well, then there would be a trickle down effect to the rest of the working class. It didn’t happen. Economic growth and income has been flat the first two decades of this century.
The current Republican tax plan is built around a goal of cutting corporate taxes, but can the GOP afford to make this permanent?
Business leaders and conservative economists say a permanent reduction in the corporate tax rate, as opposed to a temporary, 10-year cut, is the best way to spur robust investment and job creation as well as generate the kind of economic growth Republicans say will pay for the tax plan.
However the non partisan Tax Policy Center reports that says the corporate tax cuts will cost nearly $7 trillion over the next two decades — $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years and another $4.1 trillion from 2028 through 2037. Now by that time, I'm going to be on the left side of the 30 MPH sign on Middle Road in a crypt so I won't give a shit. But all these Trump ites who say "My grand children will have to pay the debt, my sainted little grand babies will have this burden", all of a sudden you hear not a peep from them about this plan.  But when the debt raised under President Obama to get us out of the recession, they were crying like little babies. The hit would be somewhat offset by revenue raised from individual taxpayers over that same period — $470 billion over the next 10 years and an additional $1.4 trillion the next decade. But the entire package is expected to cost an estimated $5.6 trillion over the next 20 years — an amount that economists say would be hard to offset through economic growth alone.
You can't make a promise on creating jobs again when you just know that the upper echelon of industry will spread these tax cuts out, not for development of new jobs but self enrichment.
Plus now there are less regulatory standards which will give industry more incentive to cut corners, decrease wages for employees and enhance profits.
The ability to pay for the tax cuts matters because of Senate rules requiring legislation that adds to the federal deficit after a decade to expire. If Republicans can’t show that a long-term tax cut will be deficit-neutral, they will have to scale back the size of the corporate tax cuts, make them temporary or find another way to pay for them.
The plan now calls for a corporate rate of 20 percent, down from 35 percent; a 25 percent “pass through” tax rate on small businesses; and the elimination of the alternative minimum tax and estate tax, among other business measures. For individuals, it would double the standard deduction; increase the child tax credit; and establish three tax brackets — 12 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent — with the option of adding a fourth, higher tax bracket for the wealthiest Americans. However, the plan would also do away with some valuable tax breaks, such as the state and local tax deduction.
So this will hurt those who itemize. Bottom line here is if you make between $25,000 and $250,000, you’re screwed long term. You might get temporary relief but will pay in the end. 
If you buy the line that this will create jobs, buyer beware. This is the same wolf in sheep's clothing the REPUBLICAN party has been selling for years. (Source: Business Insider, LuLac) 

REP. CARTWRIGHT INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE OUR FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives) 

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced a resolution to honor fallen members of the Armed Forces. This bipartisan resolution seeks to amend the House Rules to require a reading of the names of members of the Armed Forces who died in the previous month as a result of combat operations.
“For the many in the world to live free we must rely upon the sacrifices of the few in our Armed Services. The heroism of our service members must not be forgotten,” said Rep. Cartwright. “This resolution would pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives and the families of our fallen service members.”
This resolution has been endorsed by the following organizations: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Association of U.S. Navy (AUSN), AMVETS, Military Officers Association of America, National Association of American Veterans, and The Retired Enlisted Association.

BEDNAR ANNOUNCES HOT LINE

Controller Michelle Bednar (Photo: LuLac archives)

Luzerne County Controller Michelle Bednar announced a Hot Line that would give citizens the opportunity to send in ideas and suggestions. This is just part of the outreach Bednar is making as she seeks her second term.Here's a statement she released:
I’d like to share to all the readers this letter about a great resource available in the Luzerne County Controller’s Office.
In 2014, my staff and I set up a hotline — CESIL - “Citizens and Employee Suggestion and Idea Line” — so that any Luzerne County employee or resident can have a voice.
CESIL allows citizens the opportunity to offer their ideas, suggestions, comments, concerns, report fraud, or any other feedback under the safety of anonymity. Statistics show that nearly half of all workplace fraud is uncovered due to anonymous tips.
At least five of my office’s large audits originated from a CESIL tip. Also, other areas which did not warrant an audit, but did demand attention, were investigated and action was taken due to A CESIL tip.
CESIL submissions may be emailed to the office at CESIL@luzernecounty.org or call (570) 830-5154. Please note that purposely no person will answer the phone in order to ensure the caller’s anonymity. The caller is asked to leave a message, which we generally hear with the hour if it is received during work hours. Both email and hotline phone are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD BOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests will be Sylvia Orner and Jarod Herman discussing this year's Scranton Reads campaign. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400-The Game, NEPA's Fox .Sports Radio and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.

ECTV LIVE

ECTV Live Director Mark Migilore joins me as I welcome Craig Lukatch from the LACWAC Sanctaury to the program during the week of October 9th to unveil plans for the environmental organization's annual "Lake to Lake" Run, Walk, and Dog Walk!
ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired during the Noon, 6pm and Midnight hours each day of the week. Following Monday's Live program the show will become available on Electric City Television's YouTube channel which can be viewed on your computer.

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!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!!!!

1977

Our 1977 logo

The Soviet Union adopts its third Constitution after a prolonged campaign by Brezhnev Supporters to have it passed before the Supreme Soviet dissolves for the end of the parliamentary session…..Pelé plays his final professional football game as a member of the New York Cosmos……

statewide there are rumors afoot that there might be an investigation into Governor Shapp’s Attorney General Robert Kane…in Scranton as the days dwindle in the race to succeed Mayor Peters, the campaign with Rev. Vernon Searfoss, James McNulty and Eugene Hickey intensifies and forty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Strawberry Letter #23” by The Brothers Johnson.