The LuLac Edition #4,836, November 3rd, 2022

FETTERMAN COMES TO TOWN

Northeastern Pennsylvania is in the political spotlight Thursday night as both major party candidates in the hotly-contested race for U.S. Senate are rallying their respective bases.

And democrat John Fetterman made a stop in Luzerne County.  The campaign stop at Genetti Hotel and Conference Center marked the first time local supporters got to see John Fetterman in person since his much-scrutinized debate performance. Nearly six months after his life-threatening stroke, he’s trying to put to rest concerns about his ability to serve in the senate if elected. Less than a week before election day, John Fetterman sat down with fellow Democrat Senator Bob Casey in front of a crowd of roughly 100 people. The event was billed as a discussion on making the economy work for the working people of Luzerne County. It also served as a way to demonstrate Fetterman’s post-stroke abilities to participate in that discussion.

From all accounts, Fetterman acquitted himself well and impressed the group with his passion for the issues that working class Democrats hjold dear. (Pa Livw LuLac)

 

FERN TAKES THE FIGHT TO THE 120^TH

Your blog editor, Colleen Logan, Fern and 9th Congressional District candidate Amanda Waldman. (Photo: Leard campaign)

Fern Leard is running a tough battle to unseat Representative Aaron Kaufer. A formable task. The candidate is a pro-choice, pro-worker, pro-public school, and pro-environment advocate and it is no longer enough to fight from the outside. She will work to open the locked doors that keep us from quality healthcare, and continue to fight for the educational and environmental setting our children deserve to thrive in. But nothing will change if our legislators continue to work against each other instead of for the people who elected them. Pennsylvania has what it takes to bring back the respect and ability to compromise needed for our government to work for us, but it cannot be done alone. I am asking you to support my campaign because only together, can we move forward to the quality of life we deserve.

FERN LEARD ON THE ISSUES

HEALTH CARE

Accessible, affordable, and appropriate healthcare is a fundamental right, and Fern Leard has been advocating for fair coverage for a decade. Her sons were born with a rare disease, and the lack of insurance coverage for a main component of their care gave her the resolve to take up this fight. She knows the system, and the roadblocks, and she would be honored to advocate for Pennsylvanians to have accessible, improved, quality healthcare.

There are a number of ways we can improve care without increasing cost. For example, approving preventative care can cost less than treating the medical problems we are working to prevent, and save the patient from experiencing the issues that come with those medical complications. Another issue she has encountered is the requirement of insurance companies to complete several tests before coverage will be approved for the one your doctor wants you to have. Why waste so many resources on tests you don’t need while delaying the results your doctor wants you to see?

In addition to better, more affordable physical care, we need lower prescription drug prices, better coverage for our mental health, prevention and recovery programs for those who battle substance use disorder, as well as support services for their families.

We need to create a path that allows all households to have access to healthcare without the risk of going bankrupt when they need it.

REPRODUCTUCTIVE RIGHTS

Personal healthcare decisions do not belong between you and your state legislature. For decades, the government was removed from pregnancy decisions and the Supreme Court allowing the states to make those decisions has brought us more government – not less.

Fern Leard supports the full range of reproductive healthcare for all people, and opposes any effort to restrict or ban access to safe and legal procedures. She is deeply concerned about the harmful impact of this legislation, and will work diligently to ensure the personal liberty of Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania’s Republican led legislature wasted no time pushing SB106 through the general assembly in the middle of the night on July, 8th 2022, 13 days after the Dobbs decision. That bill is designed to amend our constitution with the intention of opening the door to a complete ban on abortion, contraception, and other facets of women’s healthcare in our Commonwealth. PA Republicans are actively working to make it possible to pass laws that violate our body autonomy and reproductive freedom by eliminating our access to safe, legal abortion.

SB 106 is a constitutional amendment that cannot be vetoed by the Governor, and serves as another example of PA Republicans ignoring the will of the people. Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate changed SB 106, adding the abortion amendment just hours before they voted for it, and one day before the Pennsylvania House voted for it – both votes took place in the middle of the night. The public had little to no opportunity to voice their opinions to their legislators. The majority of Pennsylvanians support reproductive rights with more than half of the voters in the Commonwealth believing abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances; four out of five believe this care should be legal in at least some situations.

Furthermore, SB 106 includes other amendments designed to change eligibility requirements to vote. Pennsylvania Republicans are working to mandate voter ID which was struck down as unconstitutional in 2014 and has been proven to disproportionately impact people of color and people living in poverty by creating obstacles to exercise their right to vote. It is no coincidence that Pennsylvania Republicans are working to silence the voices of Pennsylvanians because they know that voters are a crucial factor in the determination of whether or not abortion remains legal and safe in Pennsylvania; they can’t push through their agenda without suppressing the vote.

SB 106 falsely implies that taxpayers are footing the bill for elective abortions in Pennsylvania and that is simply untrue. The truth is that the procedure is only publicly funded when a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest and pregnancies that become life-threatening. Many agree that we should not further traumatize victims of a horrific criminal act and that we shouldn’t allow anyone experiencing a life-threatening medical complication to die when doctors have the ability to save them. The wording in SB 106 is designed to intentionally fool you into believing that our taxes are paying for an elective procedure; don’t fall for it.

I will fight to keep the reproductive rights of Pennsylvanians intact.

 

WHY WE NEED CARTWRIGHT

 $274, 632, 485 DOLLARS!

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

This is not a lottery amount or an Irish sweepstakes number .

This is the total amount of money that Congressman Matt Cartwright brought to our district. Even though in every campaign his seat has been targeted by the GOP and he has been savagely attacked with outright lies, he has worked across the aisle once the campaign is over.

No one will be a better representative for ALL the people.

So proud to support him again this year.

Don’t let his opponent take away his ability as a Chair of an Appropriations committee away from you and me. This opposing party will do nothing but do what they prove to do best:

take away things from hard working people. Stick with your fighter!

 

WHY WE SHOULD THANK GOD FOR BIDEN

OR YOU WON’T GET THIS IF YOU VOTE RED ON  TUESDAY  

Your blog editor and our President (Photo: Bill Vinsko)

President Biden has had the most challenging years of a first term Presidency that I can remember in my lifetime.  He came in office succeeding a man child who refused to believe he lost the election in 2020 by the same margin that he won it in 2016. Essentially all of the norms associated with a normal Presidency were torn asunder and needed to be repaired ASAP. Then our democracy was under assault by a group of wrongheaded hateful so called Americans that now deny they tried to overthrow the country. So Joe Biden had an extraordinary amount thrown at him. From the lies being told about his election to the Pandemic to the anti vaccine proponents it has not been an easy road. Americans are a fickle people with short memories. Here’s  a gentle reminder as to why Americans should be grateful to have Joe Biden as their President.

1.            We have a President that every day comes out to the nation and addresses the problem or issue at hand. He does so with facts and no bluster.

2.            We have a President who doesn’t blame others for his failures.

3.            We have a President who is not prone to name calling and belittling other people.

4.            We have a President who relies on his staff to do the right thing. At this stage in the Trump Presidency, Diaper Don blew through staff like condoms at a Stormy Daniels rendezvous.

5.            We have a President who when faced with a problem doesn’t use the terms “disaster”, “It’ll be beautiful” or some nonsense like “”like you’ve never seen before”.

6.            We have a President who doesn’t hire their vapid kids.

7.            We have a President who has changed more in America in his first year than two entire GOP administrations in this century did.

8.            We have a President who is not afraid to admit a mistake.

9.            We have a President who has so far kept his promises. To those comatose Americans who say he hasn’t, I say, “read a newspaper!”

10.          We have a President who values family and their basic needs.

11.          We  have a President who might be older, flawed a bit and not that exciting……but at least he is NORMAL.

12.          We have a President who will go down I  history as someone who cleaned up a mess and with the grace of God, saved America.  

 

REP. CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES $2.26 MILLION FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac achieves)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright  announced that $2.26 million in federal funds have been awarded to 12 local fire departments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighter Grant program.

Lackawanna County will receive $576,000; Luzerne County will receive $681,000; Wayne County, $741,000; and Monroe County, $262,000. The money will go toward purchasing new equipment and protective gear, including exhaust extraction systems to prevent firefighter exposure to diesel and soot toxification; new pump engines; training and other resources.

“We’re lucky to have such capable and dedicated first responders who are always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty,” said Rep. Cartwright, who is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee, where he oversees more than $70 billion in annual federal spending.  “Our firefighters deserve the equipment and training they need to do their jobs effectively. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating to support firefighter, police and all first responders to provide them what they need when it comes to protecting our community.”

The full equipment list for awards includes:

Lackawanna County:

The City of Scranton – $65,000 for training from a fire instructor and officer

Meredith Hose Company, Childs – $35,000 to purchase turnout gear

Eagle Hose Company Number One, Dickson City – $476,000 to purchase a pumper/engine

Luzerne County:

Plains Township – $46,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus compressor and fill system

 Jenkins Township Board of Supervisors – $49,000 to install source-capture diesel exhaust extraction system

Kunkle Fire Company, Dallas - $95,000 to install source-capture diesel exhaust extraction system

Glen Lyon-Alden Volunteer Hose Company, Nanticoke – $65,000 to install source-capture diesel exhaust extraction system

Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department – $159,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses

Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1 – $82,000 to purchase mobile and portable radios

Avoca Fire Department – $117,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses

Hughestown Hose Company No. 1 – $66,000 to install source-capture exhaust extraction system

Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company – $83,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses

Wayne County:

Hose Company No. 1, Honesdale – $705,000 to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs), vehicle extraction equipment and mobile and portable radios

 Texas No. 4 Fire Company, Honesdale – $35,000 to purchase turnout gear

Public safety has been a common theme for Rep. Cartwright when it comes to his federal funding efforts. Additional money he helped secure specific to regional police, firefighter and emergency response services include the following Community Project Funding grants:

THE LU AND THE LAC 

Fiscal Year 2022

$2.1 million for the City of Wilkes-Barre’s Community Policing Technology and Equipment Initiative

$2 million for the Lackawanna County Gun and Gang Reduction and Intelligence Project

Fiscal Year 2023

$3.5 million for City of Scranton and Scranton Police Department

$3 million for Archbald Borough’s combined Fire and Police Emergency Operations Center

$2.5 million for the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office

 

CASEY ANNOUNCES $34 MILLION FOR CLEAN SCHOOL BUSES FROM INFRASTRUCTURE LAW

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that 11 school districts in Pennsylvania are receiving a total of $34,610,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grants will help school districts purchase 89 clean school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities.

“Clean school buses ensure our children are breathing cleaner air, which will set them up with a brighter and healthier future,” said Senator Casey. “Thanks to the infrastructure law, school districts across Pennsylvania will be able to protect students’ health and save money, while helping to reduce greenhouse emissions. This is a commonsense solution that benefits our children, our schools, and the environment.”

LuLac area School District Name                Total Number of Buses Requested          Total Rebate Amount Awarded

Avella Area         7              $2,765,000.00

Greater Nanticoke Area                15           $5,925,000.00

Scranton              25           $9,875,000.00

The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and cause them to miss school, particularly in communities of color and tribal communities. Phasing out these diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The program will also save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing older, heavily polluting buses with brand new clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools.

These awards represent the first nearly $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA is also designing the next rounds of program funding to launch in the coming months, which will include an ambitious grant competition. Through future rounds of funding, EPA will make available another $1 billion for clean school buses in Fiscal Year 2023. EPA encourages school districts not selected in the first round of rebates – and those that did not apply this funding cycle – to participate in future rounds.

 

GOV. WOLF: STATE INSURANCE EXCHANGE PENNIE OPENS TOMORROW FOR 2023 HEALTH CARE COVERAGE

Governor Tom Wolf (Photo: LuLac archives)

Governor Tom Wolf is reminding Pennsylvanians of the 2023 Open Enrollment Period that begins tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1, through Pennie, the commonwealth’s official online health insurance marketplace. Pennsylvanians can apply, compare plans, and enroll in high-quality health coverage all in one place. This annual Open Enrollment Period is an opportunity for Pennsylvanians to take advantage of substantial savings on 2023 coverage.

“Obtaining affordable, quality health care has never been easier in Pennsylvania thanks to Pennie’s one-stop shop design,” Gov. Wolf said. “Through the online state-based system, Pennsylvanians have instant access to a variety of resources to help them understand how to apply, shop, and enroll in health coverage. They also have access to people who can help them through the process right in their own community. My administration is extremely proud to have signed legislation introducing Pennie in July 2019, with the goal of improving access for Pennsylvanians to secure the care they deserve, ultimately giving more people the opportunity to live healthier lives.”

Pennie’s Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1 to January 15, 2023, with December 15 marking the deadline to select coverage that will begin New Year’s Day. For those enrolling between December 16 and January 15, coverage will begin February 1, 2023.

New this Open Enrollment, a recent change in federal policy has improved the affordability of health insurance for family members with insurance through a spouse or parent’s work. In 2023, Pennsylvanians asked to pay more than 9.2% of their household income for a family plan through a family member’s job can now come to Pennie to receive premium savings to reduce their cost of coverage. Some families have been locked out of receiving Affordable Care Act subsidies, even if the cost of a family plan was far more than 9.2% of their income. Pennsylvanians previously impacted by this issue can come back to Pennie to apply or update their application to enroll and receive the savings their family deserve.

Nine out of 10 Pennie customers qualify for financial savings, meaning most are eligible for subsidized monthly premiums on their health insurance. Currently, nearly 40% of Pennie customers pay less than $75 a month. Amidst rising inflation, Pennie helps keep insurance costs down, and Open Enrollment is the opportunity for Pennsylvanians to protect their health and wallets by getting the coverage and care they need.

All Pennsylvanians who are interested in affordable premiums on high-quality coverage should visit pennie.com today. Pennie’s Plan Comparison Tool can provide a quick quote in advance of the application process. With just three simple questions, customers can see filtered plan options as well as the estimated amount of savings for which they qualify.

Pennsylvanians should visit pennie.com before January 15 and enroll in one of the high-quality options available in their area. Pennsylvanians interested in shopping for and purchasing health coverage through Pennie can visit pennie.com 24/7 or call Pennie Customer Service at 1-844-844-8040, which is open 8 am – 7 pm Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 8 am – 1 pm during Open Enrollment.

Gov. Wolf has served for two terms as a leader consistently at work for the people of Pennsylvania. Learn more about how his Priorities for Pennsylvania have fueled the commonwealth’s comeback, leaving Pennsylvania in a much better place than when he arrived.

MEDIA MATTERS 

 

WALN TV 

 

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week Jim Riley welcomes ME as his guest this Sunday Morning. The topic: Mid term elections. 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’S V’S OO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP

1975

Our 1975 logo.

U.S. President Gerald Ford testified in a videotaped deposition for the trial of Lynette Fromme, who had tried to shoot him in September. The tape was not released to the press nor made available to the public…. An arsonist set fire on one of England's most popular tourist attractions, the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. The 22-year old assailant hurled a firebomb through the window of the music room of the structure, designed by architect John Nash and constructed as a seaside resort for George IV. Firefighters put out the blaze before it could spread to the rest of the building, known for its combination of various Asian architectural styles, but damage was estimated to be at least £100,000 ($210,000 USD)…….Pier Paolo Pasolini, 53, Italian film director, was murdered by a 17-year-old boy following a violent argument. Giuseppe Pelosi, who said that Pasolini had made sexual advances toward him, struck Pasolini's skull several times with a piece of wood. Pelosi then took Pasolini's car and used it to run over the film director's body. Pelosi, whose claim of self-defense was rejected, was sentenced to prison for the murder….. In what was dubbed the "Halloween Massacre", despite being three days after Halloween, U.S. President Gerald Ford fired CIA Director William E. Colby and Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger. Replacing Colby was the U.S. representative in Beijing, future U.S. President George H. W. Bush, while Chief of Staff Donald Rumsfeld replaced Schlesinger.[6]"after much thought I have decided I do not wish my name to enter into your consideration for the upcoming Republican nomination." Rockefeller said that he would serve the remainder of the term to which Spiro Agnew had been elected in 1972; after Agnew's resignation, Ford, and then Rockefeller, had become the only persons to ever be appointed as U.S. Vice-President……General Khaled Mosharraf led a coup d'état against the government of Bangladesh, arrested Army Chief of Staff Ziaur Rahman, and named himself the new Chief. Mosharraf was killed four days later by Ziaur's supporters in a countercoup……..Good Morning America telecast its first episode, with David Hartman and Nancy Dussault as co-hosts as the ABC network's morning news show. Hartman and Dussault replaced the ten-month-old failed program, AM America, and its team of Bill Beutel and Stephanie Edwards. On the same morning, the television game show The Price Is Right expanded from half an hour to an unprecedented hour-long format, on CBS. And this week in 1975 the number one song in LuLac land and America was “They Just Can't Stop It (The Games People Play)”  by The Spinners