The LuLac Edition #3619, October 19th, 2017

TRUMP SHUNS THE BULLY PULPIT---

HE IS THE BULLY!

The President put his bulliness on full display the other day in an impromptu set of appearances that give us a look into his soul. First his assertion that President Obama never called his own Chief of Staff John Kelly’s family after his son was killed. The fact of the matter is White House visitor records show Kelly attended a breakfast Obama hosted for Gold Star families six months after his son died. A person familiar with the breakfast, speaking on condition of anonymity because the event was private, said the Kelly family sat at Michelle Obama's table.
He has disparaged the Military and Veterans since taking office. Remember when he called the Military a disaster?
The great news he is being called on it.Then he back down and does his Ralph Cramden hamana hmanana thing.
Then there was his reaction to John McCain’s speech the other night when the Arizona Senator was awarded the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia. McCain referenced Trump’s buddy Steve Bannon and by non verbal inclusion the President, McCain said, "To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain 'the last best hope of earth' for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history."
Trump responded this way.
"Yeah well, I hear it. People have to be careful because at some point, I fight back. I'm being nice. I'm being very, very nice. But at some point I fight back, and it won't be pretty."
Big man Donnie Trump. He actually threatens an 81 year old war hero, a member of his party and a brain cancer victim.
Despite all that, my money is on McCain kicking his sorry un-Presidential ass.

MARINO BOWS OUT

Congressman Tom Marino (LuLac archives)

10th Congressional District Congressman Tom Marino bowed out as President Trump’s Drug Czar. See, a drug czar isn’t supposed to take money from a Pharmaceutical company to increase opioids and decrease regulations. As soon as I saw a Tweet from West Virginia Senator Joe Mancin asking for Marino to leave, I knew it was going to be tough.
Both Tom Marino and Lou Barletta were out in front for Donald Trump. It seems like anyone who has been touched by the President gets soiled. This time Marino was exposed. While Lou Baletta has never had any questionable dealings, ever, one has to wonder if he will get an electoral defeat not by his own reputation but by his association with Trump. 
 Our friend Gort 42 has a very good take on this. Here’s his link:http://gort42.blogspot.com/

LT. GOVERNOR CANDIDATE ARYANNA BERRINGER ON THE MOVE

Aryanna Berringer (Photo: Lancasteronline.com)

I had the opportunity to meet an exciting young candidate running for Lt. Governor at Blog fest this year. Aryanna Berringer has been out early making her case. She’s an Iraq War Veteran. Her job is running the on profit American Nutritional Security which advocates for fresh and local food served in schools. She three children ages 12 years, 10 years, and 20 months. In Iraq she served in combat and in training was even involved in a dangerous situation during which a grenade launcher she was holding failed to discharge the live grenade. Some say she might be a long shot but she has the energy and the will. Plus the 2018 field will be very crowded and with that dynamic you just never know. We wish her luck.

PTCC LAUNCHES CLARION CALL

If you are sick and tired of paying Property Taxes, supporting school district as its only funders, take a look at what our friend Charles Urban from The Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition wrote. This solution will end the burden of home owners in this region. Check it out and tell your Legislators you want relief.

Property Owners: Luzerne, Lackawanna , Wyoming, Monroe, Columbia, Carbon, Wayne Counties

It's time to end Property Taxes to fund our schools. Your school property taxes will continue to increase if you don't take action.
You can, because, We The People are the Government, and this is the solution. House Bill/ Senate Bill 76 the Property Tax Independence Act, will abolish school property taxes. School districts would be allowed however to keep a small portion of school property taxes, until the debt is paid off.

SOLUTION:

* Raise the state income tax to 4.95 percent.
*Expand the sales tax to apply to more items and services.
*Expand the sales tax to 7 percent.
* Put the money from the tax increase into a fund separate from the state budget.
*School district's would be paid the same amount they currently receive in property tax from this fund with further increases tied to inflation or average wage increase.
*All school districts to hold a referendum on temporary increase with the voters approval.
* HB/SB 76 would eliminate school property taxes forever.
*Once the mortgage is paid off you will own your home and not renting from the government.
* To learn more about HB/SB 76 go to http://ww.ptcc.us for complete details.
Homeowners we have one hurdle to cross. This shows how some of your legislators work. Voters on November 7 you will be asked to vote on HB 1285, a Constitutional Amendment for whether the state legislature should allow school districts, counties and municipalities to completely replace property tax. This amendment that would increase the current
Homestead exemption from 50% to 100%. Moreover to do the legislators would need to jump through many hoops on a long road ahead.
While the Constitutional Amendment is not he answer it is part of the conservation. We should vote YES on this amendment on November 7. However, if this amendment is defeated legislators who oppose true property tax elimination through HB/SB 76 will claim that the people voted against elimination. .I think it is wise to vote YES and then we can really pound them asking where is the funding?
HB/SB 76 is where the funding is and the only solution is to support Senate Bill 76 Please continue to contact your local Representative and Senator to support 76
Charles Urban Pres. Luzerne County Property Owners Member of 87 PTCC groups in Pa. This letter was approved by the PTCC.

CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES OVER $5 MILLION IN CDBG GRANTS TO WILKES-BARRE AND LUZERNE COUNTY

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $1,393,671 to the city of Wilkes-Barre and $3,784,927 to Luzerne County by way of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The CDBG program provides annual grants to states and local units of government to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
“These grants will help Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County address a wide range of unique community development needs,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I will continue to do all I can to bring vital federal funds to Northeastern Pennsylvania.”
HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; and build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination.

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guest with Jim Riley will be ME. Jim and I will be talking about local elections in both The Lac, The Lu and an overall view of politics. We also take a deep dive on President Trump.
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 hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender welcome Deborah Conway, Superintendent of the Steamtown National Historical site to the program the week of October 23rd. The popular Railroad Museum is now open to the public free of charge and will offer some special Halloween activities this year. 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.

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

Three members of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die in a charter plane crash outside Gillsburg, Mississippi, 3 days after the release of their fifth studio album Street Survivors......

The European Patent Institute is founded.....Lt. Governor Ernest Kline says he is a go for 1978 and the Governor's race....in Wilkes Barre City discussions begin about what will happen to the Paramount Theater on the Square regarding the redevelopment of the city and forty years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was "Nobody Does It Better" by Carly Simon.