The LuLac Edition #4,651, December 23rd, 2021

 

 

LULAC YEAR END EDITIONS COMING UP

As is our tradition, the LuLac Political Letter will have is year end editions starting on the 27^th with our “Moving On” listing df those notable people who passed away, our top International, National, Statewide and Local stories. 

 

 COWARD, MILITARY MAN TURNED SEDITIOUS THUG SAYS NO TO TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT INSURRECTION

 

+++sy Perry. (Photo: AP)

Representative Scott Perry who sadly represents a Congressional district in tis stat has wimped out on even talking to the House Committee that is investigating the January 6^th takeover of the government. The ex soldier who is supposed to be a patriot decline a request to be interviewed by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol by Trump supporters.

TThe select committee sent a letter on Monday to Perry, a fifth-term conservative Republican from northern York County, asking for him to meet with its investigators and voluntarily turn over his communications during the buildup to the riot.

In a statement issued Tuesday morning, Perry said no, and questioned the very validity of the committee’s work:

“I stand with immense respect for our Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the Americans I represent who know that this entity is illegitimate, and not duly constituted under the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. I decline this entity’s request and will continue to fight the failures of the radical Left who desperately seek distraction from their abject failures of crushing inflation, a humiliating surrender in Afghanistan, and the horrendous crisis they created and refuse to address at our southern border.”

What a bullshit statement. Radical left, blaming inflation on the Dems, and bringing up the border. This man is a +++sy who can’t answer his own colleagues and goes on  a rant of right wing shit that is an insult to thinking people everywhere. Congressman Coward should be subpoenaed quickly to show what a fake he really is. 

 

RUSH WANNA BEE SHOWN UP

The midday talk show host on WILK couldn’t stand the heat when an Addision called him out on immigration. The loudmouth know it all was saying shit about immigration, spouting the fact that hundreds of millions of immigrants are storming America and not being vaccinated and vetted. How the fuck does he know? Does he think they’re converging on his beloved Dunmore? Addision shows him up and the bully then hangs up on him when he can’t hold up to the argument.

Then a guy calls up bitching about the fact that immigrants are worth nothing (this slob sitting on his ass at home in  his mom’s basement I bet) then says he’s offended when they speak another language. He then claims that they can’t work because they don’t understand our language. Poor baby. Hey little man with a big mouth…there are a lot of immigrants working here that make more money than you will because they have a second language. . Plus what right do you have to be offended when they are speaking in their native tongue? Are you jealous you don’t know a second  language?

Oh wait, you do know a second language. Primary: Poor English, Second: dumb ass.

 

WARREN CALLS OUT SUPERMARKET CHAINS 

Senator Warren (Photo: CBS News) 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused three major grocery store chains of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to exponentially raise prices for American consumers, even as the companies rake in record profits.

Warren, a former Democratic presidential candidate, suggested in separate letters to the chief executives at Publix, Kroger and Albertsons that

"Your company, and the other major grocers who reaped the benefits of a turbulent 2020, appear to be passing costs on to consumers to preserve your pandemic gains, and even taking advantage of inflation to add greater burdens," Warren wrote. companies had used their massive profits earned in 2020 to reward executives with bonuses and make additional stock buybacks, all while jacking up the price of food.

Americans are grappling with the hottest inflation in nearly four decades, with consumer prices in November soaring 6.8% from the year-ago period. Prices for food were no exception: In November, they jumped 0.5% from the previous month and 6.8% from the previous year. The increases were most pronounced for different meats, with staggering year-over-year increases for beef and veal (20.9%), bacon (21%), pork chops (12.7%), fish (8%) and chicken (9.2%). Egg prices climbed 8% compared to last year, while coffee was up 7.5% and cereal was up 5.7%.

"Your companies had a choice: they could have retained lower prices for consumers and properly protected and compensated their workers, or granted massive payouts to top executives and investors," Warren wrote. "It is disappointing that you chose not to put your customers and workers first." Kroger, for instance, recorded a profit of $2.6 billion in 2020, a 5.6% increase from the previous year. Albertsons reported $1.89 billion in net income for 2020, an increase from $612.1 million, and Publix reported a 60% growth in profit for the third quarter of 2020, Warren wrote.

The wel fed fools in Florida think Publix is the end and be all of grocery stores. They’ll be the first to complain about a product being priced too high to the manufacturer but don’t realize they are getting snookered by their “favorite store”.

 

KELLOGG'S STRIKE ENDS AFTER WORKERS APPROVE NEW CONTRACT

In what will be a very Merry Christmas, Kellogg's employees who have been on strike since early October have voted to ratify a tentative labor contract at the company's four U.S. cereal plants.

The contract covers approximately 1,400 workers represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union at plants in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Kellogg said Tuesday that the new contract provides immediate, across the board wage increases and enhanced benefits for all. It also provides an accelerated, defined path to top-tier wages, a major sticking point for workers, and benefits for transitional employees.

"We are pleased that we have reached an agreement that brings our cereal employees back to work," CEO Steve Cahillane said in a statement. The workers have been on strike since October 5 at plants in Battle Creek, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee. The plant locations make all of the company's well-known brands of cereal, including Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies.

They will return to work on Monday, Kellogg said, after the holiday. The BCTGM International Union said the contract is a win for workers. "This agreement makes gains and does not include any concessions," union President Anthony Shelton said in a prepared statement.

The power of unions is returning for three reasons:

1.       Corporate bosses have learned that not all the money is for them. They don’t run the machinery.

2.       Corporate bosses know that hiring replacements will cost money in training.

3.       After years of getting paid lower wages, workers who are the backbone of any company finally get their due.

 

REP. CARTWRIGHT STATEMENT ON ADDRESSING NATIONAL DEBT

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) made this statement after voting to avoid defaulting on the national debt:

“If there is one thing that we can count on in this country, it’s that the United States will pay its bills. Democrats and Republicans have come together nearly 80 times since 1960 to address the national debt limit, no matter who was in the White House. Today, we voted to meet our obligations to Social Security recipients and veterans, along with millions of Americans with retirement savings. By protecting the full faith and credit of the United States, we secure the US dollar as the preeminent currency in the world and allow America to continue to lead the world’s economies on the path to recovery from COVID-19.”

 

SENATOR CASEY WORKED WITH GOVERNOR WOLF TO MAKE THIS CHANGE

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded Governor Wolf’s announcement to provide relief for student loan borrowers in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF program allows public servants’ loans to be forgiven after ten years of service, including teachers, nurses, first responders and servicemembers. However, current state law requires Pennsylvania residents to pay income taxes on their loan forgiveness. Senator Casey worked with Governor Wolf to update guidance for the state’s tax code to ensure borrowers aren’t penalized for their public service.

“Those who devote themselves to public service—our teachers, nurses, first responders, servicemembers and more—put their communities ahead of themselves,” said Senator Bob Casey. “They deserve the loan forgiveness they were promised and I applaud Governor Wolf for making this change and ensuring Pennsylvanians feel the benefits of this program. I will keep working to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so more public servants are receiving the benefits they deserve.”

Senator Casey has also advocated for other changes to improve the PSLF program. In May 2021, he joined 50 of his colleagues in sending a letter to Education Secretary Cardona calling on the Department of Education to strengthen the PSLF program and ensure public servants receive the forgiveness that they have earned. The Department of Education enacted some of these reforms in October 2021 through a temporary waiver using emergency authority.

Those reforms make this tax relief even more critical. Since the Department of Education announced its waiver expanding eligibility to PSLF for a limited time, more than 1,400 Pennsylvanians have received more than $96.5 million in forgiveness under PSLF. At an average amount of more than $65,000 in forgiveness, Governor Wolf’s updated guidance will save Pennsylvania borrowers thousands of dollars.

 

25 STATES WILL RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE NEXT YEAR, GOV. WOLF URGES REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS TO ACT FOR PENNSYLVANIA WORKERS

Governor Tom Wolf (Photo: LuLac archives)

Workers in 25 states will see their paychecks grow when minimum wage increases go into effect in 2022, but Pennsylvania is not one of them because the Republican-led General Assembly has refused for over a decade to raise the commonwealth’s embarrassingly low $7.25-per-hour minimum wage.

“Pennsylvania’s food service, retail and social services workers have deserved a minimum wage hike for many years, but today the need is even more urgent. Millions of Pennsylvanians – many of them the frontline workers we called heroes in the early days of the pandemic – are struggling to support their families on hourly wages under $15,” Governor ​Tom Wolf said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the global economy, and we see that reflected in a very reasonable reluctance of workers to take low-wage jobs in the midst of rising inflation.

“Parents with young children literally cannot afford to work these jobs if the cost of child care eclipses their paycheck. I’m urging the General Assembly to pass legislation that increases Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $12 an hour and creates a pathway to $15.”

There are proposed bills waiting in both the House and the Senate for action. Sen. Tina Tartaglione’s S.B. 12 and Rep. Patty Kim’s H.B. 345 would both increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $12 with a pathway to $15, then implement annual increases tied to the consumer price index.

The bills also eliminate the tipped wage by installing one fair wage for all workers and would create the opportunity for local municipalities to implement their own minimum wages higher than the statewide rate.

“The Pennsylvania legislature last increased the minimum wage in 2006 when they passed my legislation, Senate Bill 1090,” said Sen. Christine Tartaglione. “Since then our legislature has failed to raise the minimum wage and provide a livable wage to our lowest earners. This inaction is not just a failure in policy, but a failure in humanity and decency. Pennsylvanians deserve a living wage. We need to join the 25 states that will raise their minimum wage in 2022 and provide a livable wage to our commonwealth.”

According to a new report from the National Employment Law Project, 21 states have minimum-wage increases set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. Four more states have increases slated for later in the year. Each of Pennsylvania’s six neighboring states already have minimum wages higher than $7.25 an hour, and several of them are among the 25 states with planned increases for 2022. On Jan. 1, 2022, Pennsylvania will be surrounded by states with the following minimum wages: Delaware ($10.50); Maryland ($12.20); New Jersey ($13); New York ($13.20); Ohio ($8.80); and West Virginia ($8.75).

PA AFL-CIO officers, President Rick Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder added, “As 2021 passes into 2022, it is unconscionable that Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is still $7.25. Since the start of the pandemic, essential workers have been called heroes, even those who receive the lowest pay. Instead of treating those workers like zeroes, it’s time our legislators finally put meaning behind their words. It’s time to raise the minimum wage.’”  Pennsylvanians strongly support raising the minimum wage. A Franklin & Marshall College poll released in March found 67 percent of registered Pennsylvania voters support raising the minimum wage to $12.

Modernizing the outdated minimum wage would benefit workers over age 20, as well as women, people of color and workers in rural communities. Seventy-five percent of the workers who would earn more are age 20 or older and nearly 40 percent work full-time. Six in ten workers getting a pay boost are women, and the highest percentage of workers getting a raise with a $15 minimum wage are in 29 rural counties.

 

MEDIA MATTERS 

 

WALN TV 

 

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM 

  This week's offering is Part One of the year, 2021 in review.  You'll hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30 am on 105 The River.

1987

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Steve Largent sets all-time NFL record for career catches when he catches his 752nd pass…..

USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR…..In Arkansas R Gene Simmons kills 2, later bodies of 14 of his relatives are found at his home near Dover Ark……Ballon d'Or: Milan's Dutch midfielder Ruud Gullit wins best football player in Europe award ahead of Paulo Futre (Porto/Atlético Madrid) and Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueño…….Australia hang on for draw v New Zealand at MCG, 1 wkt left 17 runs short and the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Faith” by George Michael.