The LuLac Edition #3820, June 28th, 2018

SUE HENRY GETS GOP NOD

This announcement came this morning from Luzerne County GOP Chair Ron Ferrance.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF LUZERNE COUNTY VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO APPOINT SUE HENRY AS REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN PA 121ST

Republican party Leaders and Volunteers surround Greg Wolovich, Sue Henry and Chairman Ron Ferrance at a Monday night endorsement meeting. (Photo: Luzerne County GOP)

The Republican Party of Luzerne County voted unanimously to appoint Sue Henry as their Nominee for State Representative in recently vacated PA 121st District.
Upon receiving the appointment Sue Henry stated, "I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the Luzerne County GOP during this election. They have incredible enthusiasm and a tremendous ground game. I look forward to meeting as many constituents as I can as I travel the district and asking for their support. With them, a change in the 121st District is very possible."
Luzerne County GOP Chairman Ron Ferrance added, “All of Luzerne County, not just the Republican Party, is fortunate to have such a strong and hard-working candidate stepping up to represent us. Sue embodies the values of the residents of the 121st District. Mr. Pashinski is not in touch with what is near and dear to us in Wyoming Valley. He’s more suited to represent an area like Philadelphia. Come November, we’ll have someone who will champion what we believe in in Harrisburg.”
Ron Ferrance
Chairman
Luzerne County Republican Party
PO Box 2503
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-2503
570-814-8357
https://www.facebook.com/Luzerne-County-Republican-Party-212161432143880/
A few things about the endorsement. It now gives Sue Henry the ability to really hit the ground running in an attempt to unseat Pashinski. Many had questioned why a mechanism was not in place when she announced. The fact is Greg Wolovich had to resign with the state. But I understand there were numerous strategy discussion after that blockbuster surprise announcement.
For Henry, she has a legitimate shot if the Republican party in the 121st doesn’t let her down.
For the County party it is still another demonstration of just how they have an ability to “think out of the box”. 
According to reports of those in attendance, the only sour note was Chairman Ferrance's pique about not being informed of the Wolovich-Henry announcement before hand. Well in my view, this was something that had it leaked, would lose the potency of surprise. Plus Ferrance should understand that Henry needs support from just more than the Republicans in the 121st District. The WB  city District as well as the 118th are the worst performing ones in his party in terms of elect-ability. Tony Brooks broke through in '15 and proved it could be done. But that by no means is a sure thing for the GOP. 
As for the Democrats, reports are that the Pashinski group was shell shocked at first but recovering to get the usual  suspects in line to preserve the seat. 
Regarding Greg Wolovich, this is the guy who made it happen. Without his decision, there is no Sue Henry candidacy. By recognizing that he was underfunded and has years to give service to the party his act of political selflessness  is going to be one for the ages. Plus I firmly believe Wolovich made the decision for the District and not the party. 
Look for a huge battle starting very soon after the 4th.

WB PROPERTY TAX PAYERS GET SHAFT

The Times Leader reported that The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board approved a final budget for the 2018-19 school year with the maximum tax hike allowed by state law without voter approval, increasing property taxes from 17.4434 mills to 18.0364 mills, or 3.4 percent. A mill is a one dollar tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.
Total spending for the new budget is set at just over $121.7 million. Business Manager Tom Telesz said it was higher than the 2017-18 budget by less than $1 million.
Despite the tax increase, only one of six people from the audience who spoke addressed the budget. Sam Troy, a frequent critic of district spending, suggested the budget vote be delayed because two members — Ned Evans and John Quinn — were absent. The district is required by state law to pass a final budget by June 30.
This is an issue that GOP challenger Sue Henry will beat Eddie Day Pashinski over the head with. There is even talk of some Democrats trying to figure out how to change his mind on his stance on Property Tax relief. Plus local tax payer Advocate Charles Urban is gearing up for his big September meeting on this very issue.Wilkes Barre's Board raising taxes will be Exhibit A in the fall.

DEMS ROCK THE COUNTY

Meanwhile Sunday night the Democrats of Luzerne County “rocked” it. They had a good representation of party elders and enthusiastic new people for the Sunday night ash at The River Street Grille. The election of a new Chairman John Pekoroski taking the helm and you can bet the Dems will be waging a strong fight. 

Matt Cartwright talks things over with 11th Congressional District candidate Denny Wolfe. 

Local Democratic and Union powerhouse Tom Bindus made the scene. 

(Photos: Ben Hoon Facebook) 

CARTWRIGHT DENOUNCES SUPREME COURT DECISION ON JANUS v AFSCME

Calls decision a “major blow” to working families in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

The United States Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision released today, ruled against unions in Janus v AFSCME and ignored 41 years of legal precedent upholding the right of unions to collect “fair share fees” for the services they are legally required to provide to workers, such as negotiating for decent pay and fair workplaces.
"This 5-4 decision is another direct attack on union rights, on working families, and will have a profound impact on the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania, where union rights are a time-honored tradition. I continue to stand with our union members, and will not stop in my efforts to protect and maintain collective bargaining rights,” Cartwright said.
“Furthermore, I plan on responding to this decision with legislation in the United States House of Representatives this week,” added Cartwright.

JEFF BARTOS: “LETS GO DEBATE IT AND LET THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA DECIDE”

RIPS WOLF-FETTERMAN TICKET FOR DUCKING DEBATES

2018 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, Jeff Bartos, in an interview this week with WAEB’s Bobby Gunther Walsh criticized John Fetterman and Tom Wolf for not wanting to debate the Wagner-Bartos ticket in front of the people of Pennsylvania.Gunther Walsh used to be at WILK in the 80s and has transitioned into talk radio. Bartos has become the point man for the unrealistic attempts to get Tom Wolf to debate. Remember, it was Wolf who never gave a significant interview during the 2014 campaign. Does the Wagner campaign think they'll shake Wolf with this debate stunt? But it was good radio. Here's the info on it.

TRANSCRIPT

JEFF BARTOS: “Well, and by the way that’s a great point because my Democrat counterpart, John Fetterman -
BOBBY GUNTHER WALSH: “Oh, my gosh, that guy is an extremist.”
BARTOS: “He is an extremist. I have met him once, and look, he is a very affable guy, he’s a very bright man. We have a fundamental disagreement about philosophy. I am a free market capitalist, and he is an unapologetic Democratic socialist, he is a Bernie Sanders guy. Scott and I have challenged Governor Wolf and John Fetterman to 67 debates. We figured we would do town halls in each of the 67 counties, the governor and John Fetterman rejected that. We then, Scott immediately accepted 12 invitations that were put out by various groups around the commonwealth to debate the Governor. The Governor said no, I am too busy with the budget. By the way he did nothing with the budget, but he was too busy with the budget. He had enough time to film a commercial with John Fetterman, the two of them went shopping for a tie. So he had time to film a commercial, but he didn’t have time to respond to the debate challenge or the debate invitations. And I have spoken to John Fetterman, I said look we’ll do it respectfully, let’s go out and show the people of Pennsylvania the difference between free market capitalism and the job growth and innovation that comes from unlocking people's potential and Democratic socialism, you know John that’s your philosophy, you have been up there on a stage with Bernie Sanders, lets go debate it and let the people of Pennsylvania decide. Bobby, they won’t stand on the stage with us.”
WALSH: “So I saw that where Scott Wagner accepted, I thought it was 16 debates. So it is not with the Governor, he just accepted them from organizations and you mean the Governor has accepted zero?”
BARTOS: “So far the governor has accepted zero, he has been “too busy.” Look, Scott and I are going, we are going to do town halls in every county, we are going to go to the 12 debates and if we have to debate an empty chair, we will debate an empty chair, but at the end of the day we have the right solutions to all of the problems that are facing Pennsylvania, because they are simple. Unlock the potential of people and get government out of the way.”
Bartos’ debate challenge to the Wolf-Fetterman ticket comes on the heels of a York Daily Record editorial last week pointing out how it should be incumbent on the Governor to debate, and to debate in York County in particular.
“And we have to believe that ultimately Gov. Wolf will agree to debate Sen. Wagner. The governor is a proponent of transparency, and what could be more transparent than defending your record in public and making a case for another term?.... But this year, no offense to Harrisburg, a strong case can be made that the midstate debate should be held in York. It’s basically the same media market. It’s a short drive down I-83 for the state government pols. It might be good for the York County economy – for one evening, at least. And York, in case you haven’t noticed, is the center of the Pennsylvania political universe right now, with two candidates for governor, one candidate for lieutenant governor, a sitting state auditor general, and several influential members of the Legislature. Yeah, this pretty much has to happen. What do you say, Gov. Wolf? (York Daily Record, 6/21/18)
Wagner and Bartos originally challenged the Wolf-Fetterman ticket to 67 town hall oriented debates, but the Democrat’s declined.
Last week Wagner accepted 12 debate invitations from third parties. The Governor has not yet agreed to any debates.

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

Happy Jack, Emily and your blog editor. 

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

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

Detailed plans for a massive rally against substance abuse and addition will be unveiled on ECTV Live during the week of July 2nd. Hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender welcome Martin Henehan, founder of the "Forever Sami Organization" to the program to discuss the rally and the battle against the area drug abuse problem.

 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!

1960

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Cuba nationalized the Texaco oil refinery in Santiago de Cuba, after the corporation refused to process Soviet petroleum. The seizure of Esso of Cuba and Shell Oil refineries followed two days later.......The first weather satellite, TIROS, was shut down by NASA after 78 days, 1,302 orbits, and almost 23,000 weather photos...

At 12:01 a.m. (0101 GMT), the Belgian Congo was proclaimed independent by Belgium's King Baudouin. The new Congolese Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, then delivered an angry speech about colonial rule. Two days later, the first rioting began, followed by an army mutiny and civil war….in Pennsylvania Senator Joseph Clark says he will support John Kennedy for the Democratic nomination…in Wilkes Barre plans are finalized for a Fourth pf July event and fifty years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke.