The LuLac Edition #4, 780, August 4th, 2022

 

PUNY  PAT VOTES NO FOR BURN BILL

The Senate voted Tuesday night to pass a long-sought bipartisan legislation to expand health care benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during their military service, sending the bill to President Joe Biden to sign into law. The final vote was 86-11.

Pat Toomey VOTED NO!

Toomey, rallied fellow Republicans to hold up the legislation in exchange for amendment votes, specifically an amendment that would change an accounting provision. Toomey had previously said he wanted an amendment vote with a 50-vote threshold.

Tuesday’s final vote followed votes on three amendments with a 60-vote threshold. Toomey’s amendment, which would have made a change to a budget component of the legislation, failed as expected, in a vote of 47-48.

It is ironic that out of all the things Toomey could have vociferously opposed, it was the veterans he so championed during his pathetic career that he picked on. Talk about picking the wrong hill to die on! 

 

RED KANSAS SPEAKS LOUD AND CLEAR

The rock ribbed state of Kansas, home of Alf Landon and Bob Dole sent a resounding message to those people who thought Roe vs. Wade’s defeat would be on going. Not so fast my friends!

ABC News projects that voters on Tuesday rejected an amendment to the state constitution that would have specified "Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion."

It was the first popular vote on abortion rights in nearly 50 years -- and the first since the demise of Roe v. Wade. In reversing Roe in June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion should be left to individual states.

A "yes" vote to approve the Kansas amendment would have effectively overridden a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling and would have cleared the way for GOP super-majorities in the Kansas legislature to enact more stringent abortion restrictions.

The NO voted prevailed by 60%. If you don’t think this is going to have an impact on the mid terms, think again.  Thinking people who hear that you need more restrictions on an already restricted procedure will come out in droves and have their say.(ABC News, LuLac)

 

PROOF POSITIVE THAT THE GOP IS WRONG

SENATOR. JOHNSON SUGGESTS ENDING MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY AS MANDATORY SPENDING PROGRAMS

Sen. Ron Johnson  has suggested that Social Security and Medicare be eliminated as federal entitlement programs, and that they should instead become programs approved by Congress on an annual basis as discretionary spending. In an interview that aired Tuesday on “The Regular Joe Show” podcast, Johnson, who is seeking a third term in the Senate, lamented that the Social Security and Medicare programs automatically grant benefits to those who meet the qualifications — that is, to those who had been paying into the system over their working life.

Johnson suggested that Social Security and Medicare be transformed into programs whose budgets are appropriated by Congress on an annual basis. He pointed out that budgets for the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are approved as discretionary spending.

Johnson’s comments prompted criticism from the White House and from Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), who said Democrats would fight any attempt by Republicans to “pull the rug out from under our seniors.”

 

1ST CAPITOL RIOTER TO STAND TRIAL GETS 7 YEARS, THE LONGEST SENTENCE FOR A JAN. 6 DEFENDANT SO FAR

A federal judge on Monday sentenced the first Capitol rioter convicted at trial to 87 months, or just over seven years in prison -- the longest term of incarceration thus far for a defendant in the Justice Department's criminal investigation of the Jan. 6 assault on Congres

Guy Wesley Reffitt, 49, of Wylie, Texas, was convicted by a federal jury in March of five felony counts, including obstruction of justice as well as entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm.

Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice had asked that Reffitt be sentenced to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors had also -- for the first time -- asked a federal district court judge to apply a terrorism enhancement, which would effectively define under law that a rioter's actions amounted to domestic terrorism.

FOX NEWS HOST TAKEN ABACK WHEN JOE MANCHIN ASKS IF SHE FEARS HIS BILL WILL 'HELP OUR COUNTRY'

Fox News host Harris Faulkner was taken aback on Tuesday when Joe Manchin turned the tables on her and asked if she feared that his big bill focused on health care, energy, and deficit reduction would be good policy.

During an interview on Fox News, Faulkner grilled Manchin about his proposed bill, which would implement a minimum 15 percent tax on large corporations, open up new opportunities for oil and gas extraction, invest in green energy resources, allow Medicare to negotiate for a limited number of prescription drug prices, and lock in stronger subsidies for Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

At one point, Manchin questioned Faulkner about why she seemed so opposed to what he described as a moderate deal that didn't exclusively rely on green energy sources and that didn't raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000 a year.

"Harris, are you afraid we’re going to do something good that’ll help our country?" Manchin asked her.

 

CARTWRIGHT NUMBER ONE IN PENNSYLVANIA, TOP TEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR SECURING LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING

CONGRESSMAN BRINGING HOME $52.68 MILLION TO NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Matt Cartwright once again ranks Number One in Pennsylvania and is now amongst the Top Ten in the country for securing Community Project Funding dollars for his district. The Northeastern Pennsylvania lawmaker and chair of the House Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee landed $52.68 million in the House’s fiscal 2023 appropriations bills – more than 86 percent of his initial funding request for $61 million and among the highest success rates of the members of Congress who received significant funding.

Last year, Congressman Cartwright brought home a total of $19.6 million in funding for all 10 of his requested Community Projects, the highest amount by a Pennsylvania congressman. In a repeat of last year, 100 percent of the Community Project requests he submitted this year for 2023, which numbered 15, received funding in the House-drafted bills.

“Bringing our fair share of federal investments back to this area is the main reason I ran for Congress,” Cartwright said. “Despite increased competition for this year’s funding pool, there’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to financial resources for local projects aimed at driving economic growth, creating jobs, fighting crime, and much-needed public works and other construction projects.”

The increased competition for federal Community Project Funding dollars is the result of far more requests for FY2023 than last year, when Congressional-directed spending was revived for the first time in a decade. More Members made funding requests this time around, and, at the same time, congressional leaders expanded the number of projects Members could request from 10 to 15, leading to caps on certain funding grants in some appropriations bills.

For the Eighth District, local funding highlights include the expansion of medical and mental health services for women, children, families and the elderly; infrastructure upgrades in the form of water treatment, flood protection and paving projects; and multiple funding projects in support of law enforcement, police and emergency responders.

For a full list of projects and funding amounts, please see below:

  

Lackawanna County

The University of Scranton: Construction of a research facility for academic science, health science and cyber security, $16.62 million

This project will establish a center for workforce development and applied research in health, science and cyber security at the University of Scranton. The facility will serve as a nexus for campus-wide outreach, research and service by engaging academic departments and programs from all three of the University’s colleges and schools. The center would enhance current and support new outreach efforts in health, STEM and cybersecurity, with a special emphasis on engaging K-12 students.

Marywood University: Nursing and health programs enhancement, $2.6 million

This project will extend Marywood University’s Healthcare Workforce Expansion Initiative. Through student and faculty support, this program will address healthcare staffing shortage in Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially those communities who treat the medically underserved. In partnership with Lackawanna County Career Technology Center and regional health services systems, including Geisinger, this project will help fill the gap in advanced practice professionals in the region, as well as collaboratively transform the healthcare workforce to meet the growing needs of the region’s population.

City of Scranton and Scranton Police Department: Law enforcement training programs and technology upgrades, $3.5 million.

This project will help improve the Scranton Police Department’s community policing efforts by purchasing new body cameras, mobile video recorders and tasers. The new equipment and technology will allow the Scranton Police Department to manage the use of force reporting, direct supervisor audits of specific incident types and add virtual reality and other training modules for officers.

Archbald Borough: A multi-jurisdictional, Fire and Police Emergency Operations Center, $2.965,800 million

This project is for building a new, multi-jurisdictional Fire and Police Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Archbald Borough that will be multifaceted and centrally located within the community. The EOC will serve as a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management functions. It will also ensure the continuous operation of all borough emergency medical services, fire services and regional police departments.

Mayfield Borough: Flood protection project for homes and businesses, $2,327,734 million

This project for Mayfield Borough will improve flood protection for homes and businesses. The project involves stabilizing Mayfield’s levee in areas where it is deficient. The levee is approximately 1.68 miles long and protects close to 53% of the town’s residents. The upgrade will add to the levee so that it meets FEMA’s requirement of 3-feet above base flood elevation and will protect the town’s population in the event of a flood disaster.

Friendship House: Rehabilitation and fit-out of facilities in downtown Scranton to provide health care services for underserved populations, $1.5 million. 

The new location for Friendship House will yield 21,795 square-feet to provide Whole Person Care. In addition to mental health outpatient and medication management services, the mental health services Friendship House will provide at this new location will include Blended Case Management, Family Based Mental Health, Peer Support Services and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services.

Luzerne County

City of Pittston: New performing arts center for the downtown district with additional commercial and living space, $3 million

This project is for the City of Pittston for 80,000 square-feet of new construction to establish a theater that would be used to feature performing arts, a drop-down screen for motion pictures and event space for community groups in the downtown district. Project plans also include 5,000 square feet of commercial space, joint office space for the city’s Housing and Redevelopment authorities, and a satellite campus for a regional college. This project will have significant economic impacts on city, county, school district, state and federal taxes and will promote the arts, foster educational opportunities and provide additional affordable housing opportunities through the city’s Project Share program as well as space for the non-profit Food Bank Market.

Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office:  The creation of a county-wide emergency first responder unit, $2.5 million

This project for the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office supports a collaborative effort to create a county-wide unit of first responders from multiple jurisdictions to respond to emergency situations, handle complex investigations, and assist smaller departments with major cases. The Emergency Services Unit (ESU) will include major case investigators, cell phone analyzers and a crisis intervention team to respond to incidents involving individuals with mental health issues and emergency responders trained in responding to high-risk incidents including those involving barricaded gunmen and active shooters. The ESU will be designed to protect the public from violent incidents and to investigate and prosecute criminal offenders.

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority: Stream runoff mitigation and infrastructure upgrades, $3,452,972 million

This project for the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority supports infrastructure initiatives that will improve watershed quality in our region's streams and the Susquehanna River by reducing key pollutants (sediment and nutrients). This project also provides infrastructure upgrades to improve the quality of wastewater that discharges into the Susquehanna River, as well as reliable wastewater services for approximately 172,000 residents within 36 municipal service areas.

Maternal and Family Health Services, Luzerne County: Expanding health services for low-income, at-risk women, children and families, $2.15 million

This project for Maternal and Family Health Services will improve social services already being offered and will specifically increase and enhance services offered to at-risk and low-income women, children and families in the Scranton area.  Services include but are not limited to behavioral health/mental health services, substance/opioid use disorder care management, nutrition and food security services and visiting nurse and family planning services.

 

Wayne, Monroe and Pike Counties

Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport Authority, Monroe County: New construction of a T-hangar building, $3 million

This project will increase economic opportunities for the Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport by constructing a new T-hangar building to house an additional 12 aircraft. Currently, the airport’s largest hangars are filled with smaller aircraft which could be stored in the proposed T-hangar building, thus freeing up space for larger turbine and other regional aircraft and allowing more aircraft to be based at the airport, which means higher revenue for the airport from more rentals and more fuel charges.

Milford Borough, Pike County: Storm pipe replacement, $3,452,972 million

Most of the existing stormwater pipes in Milford Borough are constructed of galvanized steel and have deteriorated over time and need to be replaced. This request for community project funding will improve stormwater management for Milford Borough by replacing 11,241 linear feet of failing galvanized stormwater pipe and making targeted re-routing improvements. This project is part of a larger initiative of improving the commercial district in Milford Borough and expanding water and sewer treatment plant to thereby allowing restaurants, hotels, offices and manufacturing facilities the ability to expand. Additionally, the county government is housed along this corridor and this upgrade will provide a foundation for continued and expanded governmental services, including legal and court functions.

Lackawaxen Township: Paving and resurfacing project for State Route 590, $2.4 million

This project is for 9.1 miles of State Route 590, from the Wayne County line to Towpath Road, which averages 2,646 vehicles a day with drivers on their way to Woodloch Resort, a tourist haven for east coast vacationers, and large living communities including Tinkwig, Lake Forest and Masthope Rapids. Existing road conditions include severe cracking, potholes, depressions and rutting that can – and has - caused damage to vehicles. The proposed project will provide a smoother and safer riding surface while decreasing the cost of ongoing roadway maintenance.

 Multi-County Projects

Additional Community Project Funding that will benefit the 8th Congressional District includes $2.2 million for a multi-county United Way program for education and support services for at-risk children and their families, including Pre-K tuition. This project includes the United Ways of Pocono Mountains, Wayne County, Lackawanna, Wyoming Valley and the Greater Hazleton Region.

Another is $1 million for NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and its Adult Living Support Group to expand the Aging in Place program in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties to assist older and disabled homeowners in need of critical safety modifications to allow them to live safely and with dignity in their own homes. This funding will also help address the significant wait list of homeowners (over 300) already identified as in need of these crucial services across the three-county region.

 

CASEY ADVANCES $8 MILLION FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA PROJECTS IN FY23 SPENDING BILLS

FEDERAL FUNDING WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOOD PROTECTION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Senator Bob Casey  is announcing the inclusion of community project funding for 10 projects around Northeastern Pennsylvania in the Senate Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Appropriations bills. Senator Casey advocated for each of the projects to be included in the appropriations subcommittee bills. FY2022 marked the first time in a decade that Congress sent federal dollars directly to community projects across the Nation.

“I am proud to advance this vital funding for projects that will invest in economic development, flood protection and sustainability. Communities across Northeastern Pennsylvania will benefit from these investments, from economic growth to cleaner water,” said Senator Casey. “As the Senate advances these spending bills, I will fight to ensure the federal government invests in our Commonwealth.”

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee released the 12 subcommittee bills today. The bills will have to be passed in the Senate and then will enter a period of review with appropriations bills from the House of Representatives. Once both the Senate and House agree to legislative text, they will be sent to the President for his signature and enactment into law.

Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company $777,000    

 The Lackawanna County United Entrepreneurship Project will establish a regional entrepreneurial enterprise in northeastern Pennsylvania. Resources will include multiple specialized spaces to help grow startups in the region including laboratory, innovation, and incubation space. The funding will also assist with building reconfigurations and upgrades to various components of the facilities.           Lackawanna

United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania   $1,000,000     

      This funding will support the renovation of a former bank building in South Scranton to transform it into a vibrant Business Support and Welcoming Center. This space will serve as a hub for workforce development programming, business networking, co-working space for telecommuters, a venue for the expansion of a year-round farmers market and a central entry point for new immigrants and refugees.                 

Lackawanna

Special Olympics Pennsylvania   $500,000              

 This project will support health and sport clinics, expand opportunities for athletes to return to in-person activities and address health disparities experienced by both children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  Lackawanna

Borough of West Pittston             $1,500,000            

This funding will go to the Borough of West Pittston to use on a levee project that will provide flood protection to over 900 homes and businesses.      Luzerne

Luzerne County Transportation Authority             $625,000              

 This project will fund the purchase and installation of rooftop mounted solar panels and supporting solar power equipment for the Luzerne County Transportation Authority's new transit facility in Kingston.  Luzerne

Mikayla’s Voice $250,000               

This funding is for Mikayla’s Voice and will be used to scale up a program and support additional children and youth with and without disabilities to be taught the concepts of Social Emotional Learning across an additional 16 schools.     Monroe

Ashland Area Municipal Authority            $416,000             

 This project will replace a vulnerable waterline prone to leaks and breaks that runs beneath a critical roadway that serves as an access point to local public schools. It will also prevent water loss and lower the currently significant costs of frequent repairs.               

Schuylkill

Regional Engagement Center     $1,000,000            

This project will help build an intergenerational community life center in Selinsgrove, PA in rural Snyder County. This facility will bring together residents of all ages, offering services to improve quality of life, create economic opportunities, boost physical health and create a stronger sense of community.                 

Snyder

The Miller Center for Recreation and Wellness   $1,680,000           

 This project will construct a new child care center in Lewisburg, addressing the desperate and growing demand for access to high quality, affordable child care in the region.              

Wyoming County             $325,000               

This project will prevent contamination of local waterways by separating stormwater currently collected from the Wyoming County Correctional Facility and the Tunkhannock Borough streets an
d redirecting it to a separate stormwater collection system.

 

GOV. WOLF ISSUES STATEMENT ON PA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDING MAIL-IN VOTING

Governor Tom Wolf (Photo: LuLac archives)

Gov. Tom Wolf today issued the following statement on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of Act 77 of 2019, the state’s no-excuse mail-in voting law.

“Today’s court ruling definitively asserts that mail-in voting is a legal and constitutional method for Pennsylvania voters. By upholding the law, which the General Assembly approved in 2019 in a bipartisan manner, this ruling assures that mail-in voting remains in place and Pennsylvanians will be able to cast their ballot legally in person or by mail without any disruption or confusion.

“Voting is a fundamental right — a right that we should ensure is accessible for all voters. Mail-in voting is a safe, secure and legal option for Pennsylvania voters to exercise that right. I will continue to advocate for voting reforms that remove barriers and increase access to voting.”

 

MEDIA MATTERS 

VIN SCULLY 

We all grew up listening to him. Trying to emulate him on the sandlots. He was  the soundtrack of baseball  in America. 

When he retired after 67 years with the Dodgers of the East and West coast, we knew we'd never see or hear his again. Scully died this week at the age of 94. But his voice will never be silenced. His body of work will last well into this century. Or as long as baseball exists.  

WHERE’S THE PORK BOB?

The Midday Mussolini Bon Cordaro was back to his slimy lying self this week when he took the side of the GOP by teling LIES about the Burn Bill that his impotent GOP voted against. Now this is the guy who supposedly venerates local men and women who served on his show. But in this case Cordaro like any two faced Republican shows his disregard for veterans by saying that pork was in the bill that Puny Pat Toomey derailed. Cordaro said that the Democrats put PORK in the bill which is why it had to be questioned by the GOP. What a  liar. Baby Bobbie resorted to calling the Dems The Lunatic Left (accusation is confession Bobbie the blubberer) and couldn’t name the pork in the bill.

The fact is the bill is the same bill that the Senate passed. The only difference is the bill would not have a sunset after 10 years. Veterans are dying right and left, first responders are getting diagnosed every day with cancer from the burn pits. But the GOP and its lying, hypocrites ilk like Cordaro think they can put a time line on medical misery.

So next time you hear Cordaro wax poetic about local veterans who gave their lives for this country, know that he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about current veterans.

It’s all about the show folks, nothing more.

 

WALN TV 

 BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

 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. 

 

BOBBY V'S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP 

 

 

1975

Our 1975 logo.

The Helsinki Accords, recognized Europe's national borders and respect for human rights, were signed by the leaders of 35 nations in Finland, including the 15 member states of NATO and the 7 Warsaw Pact nations. Among other things, the agreement conceded the legality of the Soviet Union's annexation of the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, but also provided the first mechanism for holding the Communist nations to commitments toward human rights, and was later cited by Václav Havel as a key to the success of liberating Eastern Europe in 1989……..

The skull of "KNM ER 3733", a woman of the species Homo ergaster, was discovered by Bernard Ngeneo, 1,750,000 years after her death, at the Koobi Fora Ridge near Lake Turkana in Kenya. By August 9, the nearly intact skull had been carefully unearthed…..The highest temperatures ever recorded in Massachusetts (107 °F at New Bedford) and Rhode Island (104 °F at Providence)  took place during a heat wave in northeast United States……..

Billy Martin had his first game as manager of baseball's New York Yankees for owner George Steinbrenner being hired and fired in several times between 1975 and 1988. In his outing, he guided the Yankees to a 5–3 win over the Cleveland Indians…..U.S. President Ford signed into law a U.S. Senate resolution posthumously restoring the American citizenship of Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee, restoring his American citizenship. Lee had died in 1870, but had signed an oath of allegiance in 1865 as part of being granted amnesty. "Although more than a century late," President Ford said, "I am delighted to sign this resolution and to complete the full restoration of General Lee's citizenship…One day before it was to expire, the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965 was extended for another ten years. The Act of 1975 had passed the U.S. House of Representatives 341-70 on June 4, 1975, and the U.S. Senate 77-12 on July 24….Alger Hiss was sworn back in as an attorney, 23 years after having been disbarred in 1952 for perjury, after denying that he had given U.S. State Department documents, nicknamed the "Pumpkin Papers", to Communist spy Whittaker Chambers….and this week in 1975 the number one song in LuLac land and America was “One of These Nights” by The Eagles.