The LuLac Edition #4,308, May 29th, 2020

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY 2020 PREVIEW

ELECTION DAY WARNING

BEWARE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL LIES

I never thought when I started this site, nor did I ever think when I began to get interested in politics that I would need to issue a warning about lies coming from our President regarding Election Day. Yet I feel the need to do so because President Trump has repeatedly made false claims about mail in voting.
Once more he is actually telling us what he would do if he were in charge of mail in voting. But let’s not give him the attention on this important matter. This is about you and your vote on Election Day.
1. If you voted by mail, your ballot has been most likely received or is in process.
2. If you have a ballot and missed the deadline to mail it in, you can walk it to the Election Bureaus at 20 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Floor 2 in Wilkes Barre or in Scranton at 123 Wyoming Avenue, Floor 2. .
3. Because of the no excuse ballots that became available to Pennsylvanians, the number requested, mailed and being processed has increased significantly. Luzerne County has more than 58,000 requests. Larger areas like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have over 250,000 each. (These are not current numbers so there might be more than we mentioned.)
4. On Election night, you may not get instantaneous results. You might even have to wait a few days or weeks to get a final tally. Do not believe that the delay is anything akin to the lies Mr. Trump has been telling about the process.
5. Remember 5 states, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Those states have elected both Republicans and Democrats. 
6. The Heritage Foundation reports 20 cases in which an election was overturned by Voter Fraud. The timeline here is 1992 through 2018. 20 cases in a country of 50 states, thousands of cities and municipalities  and literally billions of votes cast. If people do commit the crime, it is easily traceable and results in convictions. The President himself ordered an investigation to find 3 million votes in California that he claimed was fraud. His own commission found........wait for it, NOTHING.
7. If someone tells you that by doing a mail in ballot you are not as patriotic as those who wish to vote in person, or say your ballot will be fraudulent, thank them politely for their comment and pray their ignorance is not passed down to their children and grandchildren. Because this is the future and you are making history with this election.
Don’t let the blowhards and know nothings spoil that for you.

PRIMARY ELECTION PREVIEW

This year’s Presidential primary was moved from April to June due to the pandemic. Unlike other years, voting has been made easier with the addition of no excuse mail in ballots. At least 22 states allow their citizens to vote by mail, and five  of them even vote entirely by mail: Colorado, Utah, Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon. It is a form of voting that is very successfully increases participation and scandal free.
Now the president has talked about ballot harvesting and thousands of cases of voter fraud. But as usual he is delusional and wrong. The fact is the only ballot harvesting and fraud that has occurred has happened in a Republican Congressional race in North Carolina.
So we should put this little man in a corner and pretty much go about our business by casting a ballot by mail.

2020 PRIMARY SMALL BALLOT, ONE CONTESTED RACE ON EACH BALLOT

If you are a Democrat, the only contested race on the ballot is the one for Auditor General. In the 9th two Democrats are vying to take on Dan Meuser, the one term successor to Lou Bareletta. 
in the 8th there re six candidates running to face off against Matt Cartwright. Meanwhile, back to the Auditor General race, incumbent Eugene DePasquale is running for a Congressional seat in the 10th district. He will face off against Scott Perry who barely survived a race in 2018. Perry has the most Conservative and right wing record in the delegation. So the office for AG is wide open. Here’s a rundown of the candidates running.

AUDITOR GENERAL

DEMOCRATS

MICHAEL LAMB-ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Just one candidate is from Western Pennsylvania:and he is Michael Lamb, who has been the controller in the City of Pittsburgh since 2008.
Lamb sees many similarities between entering office in 2008 during the financial crisis and now. Statewide, he says there will need to be tough financial decisions made in light of the economic impact the coronavirus has had on the Pennsylvania economy, and he feels ready.

TRACIE FOUNTAIN — DAUPHIN COUNTY

Fountain has spent 29 years in the auditor general’s office
Believes her past experience is significant, that she can build on what’s been done in the office already and bring a new perspective from someone who hasn’t run the office, but is familiar with the ins and outs.
“Because state money will be tight, it will be imperative for the auditor general to increase his/her focus on the efficiency of operations of all state funded programs to determine whether such programs are operating efficiently, effectively and achieving intended program objectives and issue specific recommendations of needed corrections when it is found that they are not.”

NINA AHMAD — PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

Ahmad has run statewide before. She is a Molecular biologist and small business owner who used to serve as deputy mayor in Philadelphia and is an advocate for women and minority rights.
Her passion for public accountability at an early age after seeing corruption at a young age growing up in Bangladesh.

CHRISTINA HARTMAN — LANCASTER COUNTY

Hartman is a consultant for non-profit organizations where she manages multi-million dollar budgets. Endorsed by former Gov. Ed Rendell, her Policy Priorities are education, healthcare and criminal justice reform.
She said that the current health crisis will be important once a new AG is sworn in to ensure no one was ripped off in the crisis.

H. SCOTT CONKLIN — CENTRE COUNTY

He Is a current member of Pennsylvania House and feels his experience in house helps him understand the framework of how money gets allocated and should be spent.
Part of his platform includes protecting family farms, mission for advocacy, accountability and experience.
“When you’re looking at what the AG has to do, anyone that understands that position understands part of the job is being able to work and understand the system, both the legislative and executive system." Conklin ran statewide before.

ROSIE MARIE DAVIS — MONROE COUNTY

Davis is a CPA currently working for public and private entities Wants to cut fraud, improve senior care and improve school district accountability and performance.
She states she will definitely include a significant number of audit projects with a cost versus benefit objective which can produce significant tax savings to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania in my annual audit plan. Notes she has audited multiple Federal, State and local governmental agencies over the last 34 years and cites her expertise and familiarity of efficient and effective program operations is broad and vast

REPUBLICAN

TIMOTHY DEFOOR

Defoor is the controller of Dauphin County, On the Republican side. DeFoor touts his record in the Auditor General’s office by noting that he is the first African American elected to row office in Dauphin County history, he created Dauphin County’s first Audit Division, recovered and saved Dauphin County taxpayers over $1 million since taking office in January 2016, and changed how the county reports its finances from an Independent Audit to a more detailed and transparent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The release also mentions that he started Dauphin County Controllers’ Financial Literacy initiative with Harrisburg University.
DeFoor also points to his 25 years of professional auditing experience prior to being elected as County Controller.

8th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE GOP SIDE

Six Republican candidates are vying for the chance to knock off incumbent Congressman Matt Cartwright. Cartwright has been in office since 2013 and has withstood challenges from Laureen Cummings, Dr. David Moylan, , Matt Connolly and John Chrin. A Tea party advocate, a County official, a race car driver and a millionaire couldn’t topple Cartwright.
The GOP has been gunning for this seat feverishly since Donald Trump won in 2016. Their logic is that they think Trump’s strength in Luzerne Couny can help his Congressional down ballot running mate. It is true Cartwright’s margin of victory gets simmer every year but that’s expected with an incumbent. They have high hopes but one wonders how the party will united with 6 candidates running. Here’ a recap on these candidates.

A QUESTION FOR ALL CANDIDATES IN THE 8TH CONCERNING MAIL IN VOTING AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STAND AGAINST IT

We here at Lulac were wondering where the Congressional candidates in the 8th stood  regarding President Trump's reaction to mail in balloting. Trump is saying there will be widespread fraud yet this hasn't been the case. We posed this question to them.
As a candidate who is running for national office in the primary election, a majority of the vote you will receive will by mail ballot.
As a Republican, do you support and believe President’s Trump’s assertion that mail in ballots lead to massive fraud?
Please answer and respond back by May 28th.
Thank you.
David Yonki

Here are the answers we received in the order of reply:

MIKE CARMISSA

Hi David, thank you for reaching out. I believe the public is right to approach mail-in ballots with hesitation. Each state does it differently, so I will only speak about Pennsylvania... I believe PA has put in the necessary safe guards to protect the integrity of the process. For example, a voter can now track the status of their mail-in ballot. They can see when it’s been accepted, mailed out, and when it’s been received. In addition, if people are concerned about it being lost in the mail, it they can take the ballot directly to the county elections office.
Separately, as far as counting goes. The ballot will be scanned through the tabulator machines the same way a ballot is scanned in person.
Obviously the system is not 100% full proof, but we know through recent arrests that fraud has been detected and prosecuted, which is a good thing. In summary, overall I believe mail-in ballots are a good way to ensure more people have the accessibility to vote, especially with the everything going on right now.

Best,

Mike

HARRY HAAS

Democracy doesn’t come cheap, and maintaining our republic requires participation. I disagree with the mail-in provision of PA Act 77 because it makes our most vital institution super convenient at the expense of secure elections. It “solves” a non-existent problem, opens up elections to fraud, puts party affiliation over the caliber of the candidate, allows big money to manipulate elections, decreases community cohesion, and limits voter independence.

“solves” a non-existent problem
Elections are already free, accessible, and widely open to the voting public. After a voter’s first election in PA they do not even have to present a valid ID. For people with disabilities or work constraints we already have a solution: it is called absentee voting, and it has been available for decades. Voting is more accessible and convenient than taking out a library book. Liberals who talk about “voter suppression” are either uninformed or are manipulating this non-issue.

opens up elections to fraud
Enterprising individuals can now go to where concentrations of people live such as elderly high risers and subsidized apartment buildings, fill out the ballot application, and return when the mail-in ballot shows up. They can make sure to bring a book of stamps or drop them off by themselves. The practice is called “ballot harvesting,” and the best example comes from California. In 2018 that state passed AB1921, and it resulted in unprecedented waves of seats going to democrat candidates. Already in Luzerne County Pennsylvania votes are being dropped off at the Election Bureau by people other than the voter. This is against the PA law, and anyone who pays attention knew that it would devolve into this. Under the guise of making sure every voter got the right to vote, mail-in applications were sent in triplicate to every single voter on the rolls in Luzerne County at taxpayer expense. This is also against the law because the voter has to procure the application his or herself and may easily do so online. It’s no coincidence that the voter can select the box to receive mail in ballots for every election going forward...just in time for the 2020 Presidential Election. The President—and many Pennsylvanians—are rightfully skeptical.

party affiliation over the caliber of the candidate
Rather than allow a candidate to make the case to the voter, mail-in balloting encourages identity politics based on party. The data clearly shows that in many elections participation rate for registered voters reaches a high of 50%. Most often this is the case because of voter apathy. Many people don’t care to vote in many elections because they either don’t know any of the candidates, don’t like any of candidates, are not interested in the issues of a particular campaign, or a whole host of other reasons. Coercion by an operative will obviously make this rate increase. Most often, they will give “advice” on who to vote for.

allows big money to manipulate elections
The agents that harvest are often paid by the party or by the candidates to engage in such activities. So mail-in balloting further undermines what so many liberals argue against: big money in elections. Underfunded campaigns are less sophisticated and are therefore unable to compete against this financial onslaught.

decreases community cohesion
Community members who are civic-minded look forward to the two elections each year regardless of the offices at stake. We like seeing the voters come to the polling place talk about the issues of the day, swap stories about how the family and kids are doing, and remark about the weather. It’s the kind of encounter that happens very rarely...kind of like one you have at a wedding or a funeral. People at the polls remark how “we should get together sometime soon,” but rarely follow through on it just like they don’t after a viewing. The community benefits by seeing each other in late spring and the first week in November. Mail-in voting will inevitably make our society more convenient, yet like most changes in the Internet age, more distant.

limits voter independence
So lastly, and perhaps the most tragic outcome of mail-in balloting, is the loss of independence of the voter. Those of us who pay attention know that every voter in America has been targeted and has a political rating in hidden databases in high places. The way the consultants and big party machines motivate their base is to demonize the opponent and drill home hot button or controversial issues. All this noise cancels out the personality, beliefs, and temperament of individual candidates, and it robs the importance of how a voter judges them in advance of an upcoming election. And just look at the 2020 democrat primaries: many candidates had dropped out before the election day, thus invalidating thousands of mailed-in ballots. Many of those votes would have certainly gone to other candidates swayed the contests. Mail-in balloting promotes massive turnout of voters at the expense of conscientious voter turnout. There is a difference, and in fact, it has always made a difference in American elections.

Mail-in voting greatly diminishes the independently-minded voter. The mail-in provision of PA Act 77 is another back door way of cheapening our democracy by moving us away from a republic and toward big government where a powerful few pull the strings. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Each campaign was sent this question via FB messaging.  There were three responses from Mr. Carmissa, Mr. Haas and Mr. Daniels. Mr. Daniels responded back with statements on some policy positions but didn't specifically address the question at hand. 

8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

JIM BOGNET-LUZERNE COUNTY

Bognet is from Hazleton and worked in the Trump administration. His campaign website is boiler plate attack on any Democrat or imagined slight of Trump. Check this out. His words, not mine.
The impeachment fraud is the biggest scam in American history. Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media have hated President Trump since his first day in office.
I was blessed to have a good job in President Trump’s administration, fighting to create jobs and rebuild America’s industrial heartland.
Then Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Ilhan Omar and the rest of the Democrats started their reckless and partisan crusade to remove President Trump from office based on nothing more than hearsay, hysterics, and hatred.
When I saw what the Democrats were trying to do to President Trump with impeachment, I decided I couldn’t stand by and watch what was happening without trying to do something about it. In America, when things you believe in are threatened, we have a duty to stand and fight.
That’s why I decided to return home to Hazleton to run for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. I will defend President Trump from a witch hunt that will happen again and again throughout his second term unless we send a message and win back the House of Representatives from the impeachers.
Ah, the Impeachers. Presidents don’t get impeached on a whim. I mean only 3 out of 45 were but his statement speaks for itself.
He’s running media ads and is making a presence. His strength are local ties and an organized effort. His weakness is 4 others guys are singing from the same I love Trump hymnal.

MIKEL CAMMISA-LUZERNE COUNTY

He was the guy who said fellow GOPer Teddy Daniels had bum petitions. He does have a take on the issues though. He’s running on like Pro Economy Healthcare Reform, end The Rain Tax, is very Pro 2nd Amendment, Securing America’s Border and fighting the Opioid Epidemic. He’s another former political staffer and says . As a former staffer on Capitol Hill, I’ve seen the shortcomings of government firsthand and it’s time someone from Northeast Pennsylvania not only represents our blue-collar values while in town but while in DC too. Join me as I fight to put NEPA FIRST!"
He believes small businesses are the heart of America, providing everyday citizens the opportunity to fulfill their american dream.
The candidate’s father owned a small print shop that has been in his family since 1912 and he himself managed a local restaurant.
Mike will fight to reduce the regulatory and tax burden on small businesses by simplifying small business tax filing – making it easier for everyday Americans to save more money so that they can own and operate their own businesses, invest in new technology, and increase employment.  Mike will advocate for a reasonable rise in the minimum wage. The federal minimum wage was established in 1938 at $0.25/hour. Since its inception it has been increased 23 times (an average of every 3 ½ years), but not since 2009, when it rose by $0.70. It is time for a moderate increase indexed at the rate of inflation on wages.
His strengths are his youth, energy and not rapid Trump stands. Weakness, he’s running in a crowded field.

TEDDY DANIELS-LACKWANNA COUNTY

Daniels bill himself as a pro Trump Combat veteran who won’t back down. He hasn’t been specific as to who or what he will back down from or for that matter who’s pushing him around.
A decorated combat veteran, retired police officer. And Business entrepreneur, Daniels has spent his career serving community and country. He’s tots himself as not a career politician, who won’t sell out your principles, and won’t back down.
Daniels has been most vocal about the recent pandemic and in a strange way that might help him given the recent state and culture of the GOP. Teddy has posted a video of himself firing off some rounds with his rifle at a shooting range while expressing his anger about perpetual COVID-19 closures.
His aim was to be a conduit for those who would hopefully be his constituents one day, to say what many of them are likely feeling and thinking. People are angry, people want to get back to work, people want their lives back, or at least to have a chance to try and salvage what’s left before it’s too late.
His video rant went viral, and as of today, it has almost 300,000 views, far more than when the story was initially covered the story. Well, Teddy must have realized these videos are a great way to communicate with his potential voter base. So he cranked out another. This time he called the Democrat Governor a “jackass”, continuing his no holds barred style of speaking directly to the people.
Daniels got a good rating from Numbers USA. On his site he said, I am proud to have the highest rating from NumbersUSA for my strong stance on immigration. We need to finish the wall, stop the flow of illegals, and secure our borders. We must put Americans and American workers first. This is how we are going to grow jobs and see wages increase in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Matt Cartwright (D) has an F-. He supports the right to keep and bear arms. I am an NRA member and have been endorsed by the National Association for Gun Rights. I will stand against any Red Flag Gun Confiscation.
Daniels strength is his passionate belief in his own opinions as well as a commanding presence. His weaknesses are he’s in a race with two other Luzerne County candidates and his somewhat bombastic style of politics that my not sit well with middle of the road Republicans.

EARL GRANVILLE-LACKAWANNA COUNTY

Granville is a Pennsylvania Army National Guard veteran who lost his leg while serving in Afghanistan. He now says he wants to give back to the people who helped him heal by representing their interests in Congress.
"I want to give back to the people here and continue to serve them, just like they served me," he told Fox News. "It's just so important for me to understand what these people need here. I want to be a good voice and representative for them.
The former staff sergeant was on the final day of a five-day mission in the Paktia province, on his way to help build a school, when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded, wounding him and destroying his vehicle. Granville said he only remembered "seeing black" before realizing his feet had been turned "completely backward" and were "full of blood."
Granville's left leg was quickly amputated; he had to endure months of surgeries, rehab and recovery to save his right leg. He said he doesn't think much about the injury anymore and is thankful just to be alive.
"What I would like to show the people here is, you don't need a uniform to serve," the Pennsylvania native said. "You need to get out there and find that purpose in your life... I think we as a society need to understand that."
In outlining his preliminary policy goals, Granville, who served nine years in the National Guard, highlighted his inroads with the local community and said all he wanted to do was carry out the will of the people.
My priorities are clear. Help advance the current agenda of putting America First. Protect our borders, while welcoming only those that follow our laws. Make sure every veteran receives the benefits they have been promised. Support our local police and firemen. And keep Iran from ever becoming a nuclear threat.
Granville believes in term limits and says he has no intention of becoming one of the many career politicians who seem to care much more about their next election, then the next generation. And I will work hard to bring term limits to Washington.
Granville’s strength is his own personal story and the way he articulates it. People who have met him like him and think he will represent the district well. His weaknesses are some strategic blind spots as a campaigner showing an eagerness that attacks political opponents first without thinking. Referring to Liberals as Lib-tards did nothing to help what was a decent image as a candidate.

HARRY HAAS-LUZERNE COUNTY

I’ve know Harry for years and even though we are on two different sides of the aisle on issues, I still like him. As of last encounter, he still likes me too. Haas says he want to take back the district. My question is from whom, and from what? The last time a Republican won the district in the Lu was 40 years ago when Jim Nelligan beat Ray Musto.
Harry Haas’ Northeast Pennsylvania roots run deep. He was raised in Luzerne County and grew up in the Back Mountain.
Harry graduated from Dallas High School in 1993, earned an undergraduate degree in History and his master’s degree in Secondary Social Studies and Special Education from George Washington University.
Harry is a history teacher at Dallas Middle School. He and his wife, Kristin, live in Kingston with their daughter Kensie, son Harrison and dog Buster.
Harry has served as a County Councilman in Luzerne County since the inception of Luzerne County’s Home Rule Government in 2011. During his time on County Council, Harry has worked hard, but his greatest accomplishment has been slicing the county debt by over $145 million. During his Council tenure Harry got beat up by fellow Republicans in the County for raising necessary taxes but despite that, he won every re-election fight he was in.
Harry says he is running for Congress because he shares the values of Northeast Pennsylvania taxpayers and he believes he can make a difference.
Harry is a strong supporter of pro-growth policies that encourage job growth and fiscal responsibility. He is pro-life and strongly supports the 2nd Amendment.
He says the federal government should partner with state and local governments rather than dictate mandates such as the “rain tax” and national public-school directives like the “common core” curriculum and underfunded special education. He supports efforts to relieve local governments and taxpayers of these costly mandates.
Social Security and Medicare are benefits earned by senior citizens during their lifetimes. Haas says he’ll keep the promises made to seniors and preserve Medicare and Social Security for future generation.
On the borders, he says, “The crisis at the border was created by weak laws, loopholes and liberal court decisions. In Congress, I will fight to secure our borders first, strengthen our border security and plug loopholes to keep the American people safe.”
Haas is running to be a Congressman for the 8th and not necessarily a Trump-ite like a few of the others. He also has promoted the mail in ballot on his website.
Haas to me would be the most formidable candidate against Cartwright because he presents himself as a reasonable alternative if you don’t care for the way Democratic Congressman votes for the district. His strengths are his track record electorally and policy wise. He has a great personality and not a bomb thrower. His weakness is running in a district with four candidates from the same county. 

MIKE MARSICANO-LUZERNE COUNTY

He’s back for another run in Congress. It seems to be all about hating Democrats and not about what he’d do. His website is littered with Governor Wolf Needs to Go, China, no friend of the U.S. uh duh!!!, The Democrats are Clueless about Immigration, The Left Wants Revenge (against who or what I ask) Pelosi’s Impeachment scam and finally an issue that resonates locally The Rain Tax.
On health care he sees healthcare and healthcare costs as one of his top policy priorities. The candidate also sees healthcare as an opportunity to work across the aisle with Democrats on bipartisan legislation, as the cost of healthcare is affecting people all across the United States. Working towards common solutions will also serve to help heal the toxic partisan divide currently present in The United States.
The former Mayor supports “The Lower Healthcare Costs Act”, which is a bipartisan piece of legislation currently being debated in Congress. This bill would prevent hospitals from engaging in anti-competitive practices, surprise medical billing, and tackle several other public health issues, including the Opioid Crisis.
He promises to also write and support legislation that works to lower the healthcare costs of our region’s workers, especially those who work in the coal industry. He intends to join the Congressional Coal Caucus in order to promote this legislation for not just our region’s coal miners, but coal miners across The United States.
Addressing what he believes are the challenges with Obamacare, and is committed to closing the "donut hole." He supports efforts to redesign Medicare Part D while protecting beneficiaries, restricting the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and lowering out-of-pocket costs.
Mike knows that every cent counts, especially for our American workers. That's why he plans on supporting legislation that caps out of pocket costs.
Marsicano recognizes the fact that our state’s infrastructure is in rough shape. A quick drive down I-81 will prove to anyone just how rough a shape our infrastructure is in. In the rural parts of our districts, some of the roads are in really bad shape.
He touts his experience as an elected official. In 1990, he was elected to serve on the Hazleton City Council. Then in 1995, he was elected Mayor of the City of Hazleton, where he significantly increased our city's police department and held the record of ZERO felonies being committed during my entire tenure.
Marsicano states, “Since my time in elected office, I have had numerous business interests, including Marsicano Greenhouses, MLI: a licensed private investigating company, as well as MGS, an excavating heavy haul business. I have had the great fortune of personal and financial success, which now allows me to offer myself as a candidate for a seat in the United States Congress”.
I am seeking this office not because I seek political power, personal wealth or prestige, but because I believe that we can still preserve and pass on the ideals that have made our country great.
His strengths are name recognition as well as a well thought out record of Conservative beliefs. He is a known quantity in comparison to the political newcomers in the race. His weakness is the crowded field from his own county and city for that matter. Also his embracement of everything pro-Trump and anti Democrat may not help him if he secures the nomination in the General election.

DEMOCRAT

MATT CARTWRIGHT-LACKAWANNA COUNTY

Running unopposed but has been running a very active campaign since 2019.

9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Denny Wollf put up a great fight against Dan Meuser in 2018. Two Democrats who lost to Wolff in the 2018 primary, Laura Quick of Palmyra, Lebanon County, and Dr. Gary S. Wegman, of Reading, Berks County, are squaring off in this year’s primary for the chance to run against Meuser

DEMOCRATS

LAURA QUICK

Laura Quick is a UPS package car driver who lives in Palmyra, Lebanon County. She grew up in the Lebanon County area and was a student in the Palmyra school district all throughout her primary and secondary years. In seventh grade she became involved in athletics and eventually many afterschool programs and clubs. In her junior and senior years she volunteered at Genesis in Hershey, PA. Laura graduated from Palmyra Area High School in 1984. She continued her education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) where she started her international travels with a freshman spring break trip to Switzerland. In 1986 Laura participated in a study abroad program in England, studying at Wroxton College and Mansfield College, Oxford University. Her senior year she became president of the IUP Equestrian Team and finished her studies with an internship in Washington, DC with the United States Information Agency (USIA). After the internship in December of 1988, Laura graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in Economics and a minor in Foreign Languages.
Laura used her degree to work with an international exchange organization, Youth for Understanding (YFU) in the Washington DC area. In addition to her paid work in the YFU South East regional office she would participate in weekend student orientations and volunteer workshops and would eventually become a lead facilitator in cross-cultural education. Outside of work Laura volunteered with a program in Rock Creek Park using horses and horseback riding to help “at risk” youths in the DC schools. In 1991 Laura moved to France where she taught English and learned to speak fluent French. She continued her work in international exchange as a volunteer for Youth for Understanding, France and organized and led orientations for all foreign exchange students in France.
An issue that she has articulated well is the Restoring of the American Middle class
It is no coincidence that the middle class prospered in the 1950s and 60s when union membership was strong. But business leaders took advantage of a few organized labor scandals and have over the decades eroded the public’s confidence and trust in unions. We now find ourselves with stagnating wages and a decreasing amount of full-time jobs while business executives earn tens of millions of dollars per year. People who have worked hard for decades are losing their pensions when their mismanaged company goes out of business but the executives jump safely away with their golden parachutes.
Let’s take the popular movements of Occupy Wall Street and Raise the Minimum Wage, combine them with the negotiating and organizing experience of the unions and create a new Progressive Labor Movement. I will work on legislation that is pro-worker and helps American families gain access to a livable wage as well as paid sick/family leave.

DR. GARY WEGMAN

Gary has dedicated his life to serving his community: as a dentist, as a farmer, and as a father and husband. He was raised on a working family farm in the Oley Valley where he learned to live the values of hard work, fair play, and equality. Gary is running for Congress because the people of Pennsylvania need someone to serve their needs. Gary is willing to take the tough stances necessary to move our country forward and elevate our region and our communities. Gary will bring real solutions to the halls of Congress on behalf of all of the constituents in Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District. As one of the few medical professionals running for Congress, Gary knows our healthcare system inside and out. Throughout his 36 years as a dentist, Gary has watched as career politicians have broken our healthcare system. Gary has seen too many patients who lack sufficient insurance coverage. Too many people in our region have had to make tough choices between rent or medicine, between paying for groceries or seeing a doctor. Too much of our money goes to insurance company and pharmaceutical industry profits. Gary will pass HR3, a bill that will allow the government to negotiate with the pharmaceutical industry to determine a fair price for medications, and reach across the aisle to find solutions to lower the cost of healthcare.
As a small business owner, Gary has balanced budgets, made payroll, and created jobs in our region – at his medical practice and on his farm. On the minimum wage he says Our current minimum wage is not a living wage and needs to be raised; a one-size-fits-all minimum wage is not the solution. I support raising the minimum wage to at least $12/hour and tying it to the cost of living so that it will keep pace with future inflation and be appropriate for different geographic locations.
On immigration In the near future, we will not have enough workers to support a retired baby boomer generation. Farms who can’t find field hands and hospitals that can’t find doctors know the need for an increase in both skilled and unskilled labor. Not only do we need to admit additional legal workers into the United States to fill these labor shortages, but we should provide a path to citizenship for all people already working and paying taxes to support our economy.
Strengths of both candidates are they are truly qualified to step into the role of Congress person on day one. Their backgrounds are well rounded and give them the opportunity to garner wide range support among the democrats and perhaps some Independents in the district. The challenge though will be to overcome this district with Republican majorities to prevail in the fall against Mr. Meuser.

REPUBLICAN

DAN MEUSER

Running unopposed, was first elected in 2018 succeeding Lou Barletta.

DELEGATES

This year I have attended more signing parties for delegates than ever before, The enthusiasm and energy was incredible. With the Coronavirus outbreak, there will still be delegates but we're not sure about how the conventions will shake out. That stated, here are the candidates.

DEMOCRATS

Democratic National Convention Delegate

8th Congressional District

Pledged to Joe Biden — John J. Corcoran, Scranton; James P. Connors, Scranton; Robin Sampson, Cherry Ridge Twp.; Rosemary Boland, Scranton
Pledged to Bernie Sanders — Alexander Lotorto, Scranton; Gema T. Rosato, Dunmore; Rodrigo Gereda, Kingston; Allison Petryk, Dunmore; Mark Shaffer, Wilkes-Barre; Jessica Fratzola, Glenburn
Pledged to Elizabeth Warren — Jennifer Partyka, Glenburn Twp.
Pledged to Amy Klobuchar — Lisa Napersky, Fairview Twp.
Pledged to Tom Steyer — Calvin Polachek, Kingston Twp
Pledged to Mike Bloomberg — Benjamin Hoon, Plains Twp.
Pledged to Pete Buttigieg — Paul McNally, Scranton
Alternate delegate — 8th District
David I. Fallk, Clarks Summit, Biden pledge
Stephen McGough, Plains Twp., Sanders pledge

9th Congressional District

Pledged to Sanders — James R. Safford, Lebanon County; Phila S. Back, Berks County; Catherine Mahon, Schuylkill County
Pledged to Buttigieg — Shawn Raup-Konsavage, Berks County; Carolyn Kupinsky, Schuylkill County; William Kupinsky, Schuylkill County
Pledged to Biden — Vincent Demelfi, Bloomsburg; Liz Bettinger, Pottsville; Leanne Burchik, Schuylkill County
Pledged to Warren — Anthony John McKenney, Columbia County
Pledged to Klobuchar — Beatrice Brown, Lebanon County

REPUBLICANS

Republican National Convention Delegates

8th Congressional District — John W. Wells, Pike County; Annmarie Tyler, Glenburn Twp.; Josephine Ferro, Middle Smithfield Twp.; Doleres Strish, Wilkes-Barre, Twp.; Paul Defabo, Wilkes-Barre; Dominic J. Mastri III, Moscow; Douglas J. Miller Jr., Wayne County; Lynette Villano, West Pittston; James Paul Hutchison, Wayne County.
9th Congressional District — Rochelle Marie Pasquariello, East Penn Twp.; Donna Lea Merritt, Berks County; John K. Reber Sr., Berks County; Ellen T. Rullavage, Berks County; Carolyn Bonkoski, Schuylkill County; George Halcovage Jr., Pottsville; Steven Wolfe, Lebanon County; Janine Penman, Bloomsburg; Andrew Shector, Berwick; David J. McElwee, Columbia County.
Republican National Convention Alternate Delegate
8th Congressional District — Thomas C. Whitehead, Tunkhannock Twp.; Dominic J. Mastri III, Moscow; James Paul Hutchison, Bethany; Mary A. Noldy, Dunmore
9th Congressional District — Donna Lea Merritt, Berks County; John S. Cusatis, Berks County; Eugene Z. Bonkoski, Schuylkill County; Janine Penman, Bloomsburg; Steven Michael Wolfe, Lebanon County. 

(PHOTOS: LuLac archives, candidate campaigns). 

(NARRATIVES: LuLac, Candidate Campaigns, League of Women Voters, Lackawanna, Luzerne County Election Bureaus, Citizens' Voice). 

The LuLac Edition #4,307, May 29th, 2020

 JFK @ 103

Photo of Kennedy from Philadelphia Inquirer on the weekend of his death, Congressman Matt Cartwright and your blog editor at Kennedy statue dedication in Pittston and JFK in Nanticoke during the 1960 campaign. That photo courtesy of edd Rainari.  

John Kennedy was born on this day in Brookine, Massachusetts. Both the Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys were wealthy and prominent Irish Catholic Boston families. Kennedy's paternal grandfather, P.J. Kennedy, was a wealthy banker and liquor trader, and his maternal grandfather, John E. Fitzgerald, nicknamed "Honey Fitz," was a skilled politician who served as a congressman and as the mayor of Boston. Kennedy's mother, Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald, was a Boston debutante, and his father, Joseph Kennedy Sr., was a successful banker who made a fortune on the stock market after World War I.

John F. Kennedy served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate before becoming the 35th president in 1961. As president, Kennedy faced a number of foreign crises, especially in Cuba and Berlin, but managed to secure such achievements as the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and the Alliance for Progress.
His Presidency had potential but all of his agenda was completed by his successor Lyndon Johnson.

WOULD KENNEDY LIKE HIS PARTY TODAY?

You have some Republicans today saying that John Kennedy would be ashamed of his Democratic party. They use as examples Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders (not a Democrat by the way) as people Kennedy would not agree with. Two things here:
First, this is like comparing athletes in different eras. Could Babe Ruth be the greatest in this era? Kennedy was a cold warrior at the time when there was a cold war.On Foreign policy he was aggressive but how he would have dealt with 911 is only speculation. Would he have agreed with the more Progressive wing of today's party? HELL NO but he didn't agree with the left wing of his party in the 50s and 60s. He was pragmatic and had to be goaded into action on Civil Rights.
Second, Kennedy had compassion for the poor, the disenfranchised and the people who needed a hand up. But his failing was not enough time and focus on getting re-elected to give him more of an opportunity to build a legacy.
All that said, even if Kennedy turned into a Ronald Reagan conservative, there's no way he'd be able to reconcile what the GOP of today has become. Kennedy had standards, respect for government institutions and the rule of law.
JFK was a veteran of WWII and fought for those basics. To think he'd prefer the current Republican part over even the most fringe elements of his own party of today is sheer lunacy and wishful thinking on the party of those who tell you otherwise.

The LuLac Edition #4,306, May 28th, 2020

THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE OF US IN THE LAND OF TRUMP!

The late Lori Klausutis and her final resting place. (Photos: AP)

When one steps into the public arena, whether it be an elected official, a community volunteer or a lowly blogger, you expect to get your share of criticism and slings and arrows from the public. The attacks are usually anonymous and personal. Up until the Trump Presidency, political attacks were based on policy and personality. It got personal but it always had an element of truth.
We now live in time where we are led by a person who has no boundaries or decency. Insults and attacks are now based on lies. Not just untruths but wild theories that have no basis in fact and truth. When called out, there is no retreat by the President but rather a reiteration of the lie.
Now no one is safe in America from Mr. Trump. Even someone at rest (or so her family thought) in her grave for 19 years. In 2001, Lori Klausutis, an aide who worked in then Congressman Joe Scarborough's Florida office died.
Klausutis, who had an undiagnosed heart condition, fell and hit her head at work in 2001 and was found dead the following morning. Scarborough was in Washington at the time, and the medical examiner ruled her death an accident.
Trump who has a hard on for Scarborough has been tweeting about a murder conspiracy. There is no proof to that at all except in the demented and syphilitic mind of Donald Trump.
Timothy Klausutis, Lori's husband, recently penned a letter to Twitter asking the social media platform to take the president's tweets down, accusing Trump of taking the memory of his deceased wife and "pervert(ing) it for perceived political gain."
The president dismissed the letter when asked about it on Tuesday, saying he read it but that he believed Klausutis's family wanted to "get to the bottom" of her death.
Again, this lying sack of humanity turned it around on the family.
"It's a very suspicious thing, and I hope that somebody gets to the bottom of it. It would be a very good thing. As you know, there is no statute of limitations”. What evil there must be in the heart of this man child. Never mind the fact that this is happening when 100,000 people have died with this virus.
The Wall Street Journal has called him out calling it a “Presidential smear”.
Imagine for one minute if your loved one was in their grave and years after their death, their memory is soiled not by an enemy, neighbor or someone they knew in their life time but a complete stranger. Multiply that when that stranger is the President of the United States! 
Lori Klausttis and her surviving husband Timothy are caught in the crossfire of madness, meanness and mania that borders on a serious personality disorder. Germany, a Republic was changed forever in the 1930s by the same type of repetitive lies.
When a dead woman’s memory is used as political collateral and there is “no there….there”, thinking people must ask these question.
Can it happen to me? My loved ones? The answer is yes.
And that is the danger Donald Trump presents to all of us.
His vocal minority of fans will defend him hiding under the cloak of free speech and “what abouts”
Most of us though are thinking two things.
1. How low will he sink next to satiate his sick mind? 
2. There but for the grace of God goes any family in America he can use for his own selfish psychosis. .

CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES OVER $7 MILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING FOR LUZERNE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

Congressmen Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright the release of $7,760,096 to the Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) from the Federal Transit Administration through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provides $25 billion to transit agencies to help navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
This grant will help pay for administrative, operating and preventative maintenance costs related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funds are available to cover expenses such as personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitizers, extra cleaning supplies, disinfectant wipes, work-at-home computer equipment, computer software for remote meetings and signage for employees and passengers.
“In northeastern Pennsylvania, many residents rely on public transit to meet their everyday needs, and they need to know our transportation systems are taking the necessary steps to make their travel as low-risk as possible,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “This funding will help LCTA continue to comply with health and sanitation requirements and ensure the safety of passengers and employees as they provide essential services to our region.”

MEUSER ASKS SECRETARY MNUCHIN TO ISSUE CLARIFYING REGULATIONS ON HOW STATES CAN DISTRIBUTE CARES ACT FUNDS

Congressman Dan Meuser (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, asking for clarifying regulations to prevent governors from weaponizing federally provided funds allocated to states from the CARES Act:
“Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf recently referenced withholding federal CARES funding as part of a threat aimed at counties that do not follow his coronavirus-related closure orders. Such a threat is not in accordance with the legislative intent of the CARES Act. Funds were appropriated by Congress for the purpose of supporting states, counties, and communities as they work to address the coronavirus crisis. I have written a letter to the Department of Treasury requesting that they clearly and indisputably clarify that these funds are to be used to address the needs of our communities, not for leverage purposes by governors."

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This program is on hiatus due to the Coronavirus but when it returns 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 PREVIEW

June is Dairy Month. But this June sees area Dairy Farmers trying to deal with troubles that came with the virus pandemic! PREVIEW host David DeCosmo discusses those troubles with Agriculture Broadcaster Dave Williams on the June 1-7 editionof the program/
PREVIEW is seen 3 times daily on Comcast channel 19 and on the electric city television YouTube page.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:20 and 8:20 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1980

Our 1980 logo.

Haiti's President, Jean-Claude Duvalier married Michèle Bennett Pasquet in a wedding that cost the nation three million U.S. dollars. The extravagance of the couple's wedding did not lack local critics, though The Christian Science Monitor reported that the event was "happily received by a majority Haitians."….

Ted DeVita, 17, nicknamed the "Bubble Boy" because he spent the final years of his life in a protective environment in order to protect him from his lack of immunity to disease. DeVita had developed aplastic anemia in 1972 and resided at a sterile isolation room at the National Institutes of Health facility in Bethesda, Maryland, though he was sometimes allowed to make short excursions from the hospital in a protective space suit that he eventually outgrew. The frequent blood transfusions that had protected him DeVita had gradually caused him heart trouble from a buildup of iron in his blood….. For the first time, women graduated as officers from the three major United States service academies, with 61 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, 55 from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and 97 from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado… The top ranking female cadets were Andrea Hollen, 8th in her class of 870 at West Point; Kathleen Conley, 8th from the Air Force Academy class of 887; and Elizabeth Belzer, 30th in the Annapolis class of 938. Jean M. Butler was first in her class at the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut….. The Nixon White House tapes, tape-recordings made at the Oval Office during the administration of U.S. President Richard M. Nixon, were made available for the general public to listen to at the U.S. National Archives. On the first day, the National Archives played 31 historic recordings, 30 of which had been listened to by the Watergate grand jury in 1974….....American civil rights leader Vernon Jordan, the president of the National Urban League, was shot and critically injured by a sniper as he stepped out of his car in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jordan had addressed 450 people at a dinner for the Urban League at the Marriott Inn the night before, and was at the hotel parking lot at 2:05 in the morning. The assassination attempt, made from a car that had stopped on an exit ramp on Interstate Highway 69 in sight of the hotel, was later charged to Joseph Paul Franklin… he U.S. Federal Communication Commission voted to limit the protection for the nation's 25 clear-channel stations to a 750-mile (1,207 km) radius around the transmitter. Stations on those AM radio frequencies outside the area of protection were no longer required to sign off or power down after sundown….

Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff in more than 175 years to visit France, arriving at Orly Airport near Paris, where he was greeted by France's Prime Minister Raymond Barre. The Pope and his retinue then flew by helicopter to a meeting with President Valery Giscard d'Estaing. The last papal visit had been by Pius VII, who had presided at the December 2, 1804, Coronation of Napoleon I….and forty years ago the number one song in LuLacland and America was “Don't Fall In Love With a Dreamer” by Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes.

The LuLac Edition #4,305, May 27th, 2020

HUBERT HUMPHREY @ 109 

Hubert Humphrey and your blog editor at the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Dinner. (Photo: LuLac archives)

Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. was born on this day, May 27, 1911 and served as the 38th vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969. He twice served in the United States Senate, representing Minnesota from 1949 to 1964 and 1971 to 1978. He was the Democratic Party's nominee in the 1968 presidential election, losing to Republican nominee Richard Nixon.
Humphrey served three terms in the Senate from 1949 to 1964. He was the Senate Majority Whip from 1961 to 1964. During his tenure, he was the lead author of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, introduced the first initiative to create the Peace Corps, sponsored the clause of the McCarran Act that threatened concentration camps for "subversives", proposed making Communist Party membership a felony, and chaired the Select Committee on Disarmament. He unsuccessfully sought his party's presidential nomination in 1952 and 1960. After Lyndon B. Johnson acceded to the presidency, he chose Humphrey as his running mate, and the Democratic ticket was elected in the landslide 1964 election.
In March 1968, Johnson made his surprise announcement that he would not seek reelection, and Humphrey launched his campaign for the presidency. Loyal to the Johnson administration's policies on the Vietnam War, he saw opposition from many within his own party and avoided the primaries to focus on winning the delegates of non-primary states at the Democratic Convention. His delegate strategy succeeded in clinching the nomination, and he chose Senator Edmund Muskie as his running mate. In the general election, he nearly matched Nixon's tally in the popular vote but lost the electoral vote by a wide margin. After the defeat, he returned to the Senate until his death in 1978.
Here is one of HHH’s best speeches under great pressure.

The LuLac Edition #4,304, May 27th, 2020

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo.

This one is hot off the presses from yesterday’s Times Shamrock Editorial board. The whiff of scandal in the Trump administration has now gone to the State Department. Think about THIS! When is the last time there was ever a scandal in the state department. No wonder we are the joke of the world. The editorial is correct, Pompeo who has Presidential ambitions must be held accountable. I’ll go one step further. He must be STOPPED!

POMPEO MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

As evidence mounted in 2018 that Saudi Arabia was using American weaponry to slaughter thousands of Yemeni civilians, Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the ranking minority member of the Foreign Relations Committee, put a hold on further arms sales to the kingdom.
His decision had bipartisan support, which increased substantially in October 2018, when U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by a Saudi assassination team in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Several U.S. weapons manufacturers, for whom Saudi Arabia is a major customer, pressured the Trump administration to resume sales. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a letter to Congress on May 24, 2019, saying that he was invoking an emergency under the Arms Control Export Act and resuming the sales. On June 22, a bipartisan group of senators introduced 22 different resolutions opposing Pompeo’s decision.
Recently, at Pompeo’s request, President Donald Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, who had been investigating Pompeo’s emergency declaration. Pompeo initially claimed that he was unaware of any investigation but then said he had answered questions Linick had raised in the inquiry.
The Arms Export Control Act provides broad discretion for the administration regarding arms sales, because such sales could be necessary for national security. But it also requires the administration to provide detailed explanations when it invokes the act to foster those sales over congressional objections.
Congress should ensure that Pompeo is held accountable for the “emergency” that was under investigation by the fired inspector general.

The LuLac Edition #4,303, May 26th, 2020

MAYBE I'M AMAZED

Our "Maybe I'm Amazed" logo.

MAYBE I'M AMAZED.....at the income disparity between the people who take care of our elderly in nursing homes (an average of $13.00 bucks an hour) and Veterinarian's Assistant ($17.00 dollars an hour).  We take better care of our pets than we do our older loved ones.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…………..that reindeer chase after its prey at a speed of 25 miles per hour.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that Trump went to play golf on the weekend this country nearly hit 100,000 dead during this crisis. No mask, no empathy. Typical behavior of a boor. For all I care, during non crisis days , he can play golf until hs heart explodes. But I think Americans see no sacrifice whatsoever from this person populating the White House.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…………but not, that stepping out every day for a walk can help you sleep better.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……..that even Fox News polls are now saying Trump is behind against Joe Biden. Trump and his followers are now even calling Fox Fake News. This proves the idiocy of their argument. If Fox is fake, then who is real?
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that a bolt of lightning can reach temperatures of up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit which is five times hotter than the sun.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that there is even an argument being made by the Player’s Association that Major League baseball maybe won’t resume. If baseball wants to permanently kill itself, this is the way to do it.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that it is possible to lead cow upstairs but not downstairs.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that on Memorial Day weekend old Diaper Don has gone after a veteran who is running for Congress here in Pennsylvania. Connor Lamb who is running in the 17th was called a “fraud” by the old draft dodger himself. See Trump loves veterans only if they are up his butt and not Democrats.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..the nothingness of a black hole generates a sound in the key of b flat.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that this hasn’t garnered a response from the President. Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier on Monday called out President Donald Trump’s plan to pack the upcoming Republican National Convention with up to 50,000 people, during the coronavirus pandemic, as “not smart.”
Trump had earlier in the day threatened to move the convention in August from Charlotte, North Carolina, if the state’s Democratic governor did not allow “full attendance.” “If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site,” tweeted Trump.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that the jaguar the largest cat in the western hemisphere once lived all over the southern United States.