The Lu Lac Political Letter

The LuLac Edition #879, July 17th, 2009

2009-07-17T00:07:00.007-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: OUR 1964 LOGO, OUR HEALTH CARE REFORM LOGO AND SENATOR PRO TEM/LTN. GOVERNOR JOSEPH SCARNATI.

HEALTH CARE COUPLE BACK!

Harry and Louise are coming back to television screens across the country to talk about overhauling health care. This time, they've switched sides. TV ads featuring the fictional couple played a big role in derailing President Bill Clinton's effort to revamp the medical system in the 1990s. Back then, actors Louise Caire Clark and Harry Johnson played a middle-class couple worrying about the changes, and the ads were sponsored by the insurance industry, which was fighting Clinton's plan. Now, they will appear in a $4 million TV campaign supporting a reshaping of health care, sponsored by Families USA, which champions affordable health care for families, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Here's the ad:

BUDGET IMPASSE

The Pa. house proposed amendments to a budget bill, although Democrats and Republicans seem no closer to hammering out a deal. The floor action is expected to focus on a Republican alternative to a Democrat-sponsored budget bill. A third option passed the Republican-controlled state Senate more than two months ago. The chamber could have a vote on final passage as early as Friday. Republicans are holding firm against any broad-based tax increases, while Gov. Ed Rendell and the Democrats are arguing for a mixture of cuts and new or expanded taxes. On the budget impasse, consider this. The Legislature and the Governor have had since February 1st to make this budget happen. They essentially did nothing until the end of June. The budget crisis is now in its 17th day. Rank and file members get a $158.00 per diem for being in Harrisburg. In Luzerne County we paid $21,488 in per diem money to reps who are in town doing busy work. In Lackawanna County taxpayers paid $10,744 in per diem money. (I’ve excluded Senator Mellow and Representative Eachus because they are part of the Leadership). It’s nice to hear Kevin Murphy make a speech about the Scranton School for the Deaf and great to hear Eddie Day Pashinski read a speech on people with disabilities who need home care. But what they are doing there has nothing to do with solving the budget crisis. They don’t need to be there! By the way, that $158 per day is in addition to their $70,000 plus salaries. State workers have no pay, funding streams that provide good services to Pennsylvanians are most likely going to be cut. Those cuts will increase unemployment because let’s face it, it is someone’s job to read a library book to children, carry medicine to a home bound disabled person or do an intake form for a mentally challenged person. But the overpaid lawmakers keep going on and on. They continue to be a disgrace. Not one of them has said anything that is long term for their constituents. All they care about is the next election and the next paycheck.

JOE GOES WITH MEMO

Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati sent a formal memo to the 49 other senators asking them to declare if they have rental leases for district offices where such an arrangement exists. It didn’t take Sarnati more than a New York minute to go after this issue handed him on a silver platter by Bob Mellow. He said that information may be difficult to obtain otherwise because leases could be held by private firms whose corporate or investor structure is not fully apparent. The missive is in response to revelations earlier this week that Sen. Robert Mellow directed more than $200,000 in state-funded rental payments since 2001 for his office in Peckville, to a company co-owned by his then-wife Diane Mellow. Mr. Mellow obtained her 50 percent ownership stake following the couple's divorce in 2007. The building where the office is located was sold to Ibis Realty in September. Scarnati will introduce a resolution to rescind a current Senate rule that says if a senator or immediate family member has an equity interest in a district office, the Senate chief clerk will get an independent appraisal of the office rental cost. While Scarnati is a Republican, this is truly a bi partisan issue on the face of it. However you can bet that any candidate running on the GOP ticket will point to Mellow’s actions as a misstep that could certainly be exploited politically.

2012 ROUND UP

We’re just ust a thousand days until the first 2012 Presidential primary and a new Gallup poll shows Mitt Romney is leading the potential Republican field. But not by much. Former Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin is in striking distance. He gets the backing of 26% Republicans and GOP-leaning independents, followed by Sarah Palin at 21%, Mike Huckabee at 19%, Newt Gingrich at 14%, Tim Pawlenty at 3%, and Haley Barbour at 2%.Romney's political action committee reported raising $1.6 million in the first part of this year. On the other hand, Sarah Palin’s take was around $700,000. However 60% of the donations to SarahPAC came in the form of contributions less than $200. Experts say that is a high percentage and indicates a very big groundswell of support indicative of the type of contributions that came to both Barack Obama and Ron Paul respectively. And the race is on….

1964

At the Republican National Conventionin San Francisco, U.S. presidential nominee Barry Goldwater declares that "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice", and "moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue".

The convention was the first since CBS and NBC had expanded their nightly newscasts from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, and the first since the assassination and funeral of President John F. Kennedy redefined the bond between television and politics. In 1960, there were about as many journalists, both print and broadcast, as delegates. In 1964 broadcasters alone outnumbered delegates two to one. Paranoia permeated the convention on the part of the GOP right wing. Conservatives from the West, the South and the Midwest were convinced that the only way moderate "Wall Street Republicans" had been able to run away with the presidential nomination every four years was that "a few secret kingmakers in New York" conspired to steal it, as Illinois activist Phyllis Schlafly put it in a self-published book, A Choice Not an Echo, several hundred thousand copies of which were distributed in the summer of 1964. (Some convention delegates reported receiving more than 60 copies in the mail.) They weren't going to let it be stolen this time.

Bill Scranton, whose patrician family ran the Pennsylvania coal town that bore his name, seemed to comedian Dick Gregory like "the guy who runs to John Wayne for help." (Goldwater looked like a cowboy.) Scranton had entered the race as a last-minute act of noblesse oblige. "Today the nation—and indeed the world—waits to see if another proud political banner will falter, grow limp and collapse in the dust," he had said as he announced his candidacy just four weeks before the convention. "Lincoln would cry out in pain if we sold out our principles."According to a Harris Poll taken late that June, 62 percent of rank and file Republicans preferred Scranton to Goldwater, but the supposed Wall Street kingmakers were in dithering disarray. ("What in God's name has happened to the Republican Party!" muttered Henry Cabot Lodge —the party's 1960 vice presidential nominee—as he paged through the delegate list in his hotel room. "I hardly know any of these people!") The moderates' strategy was to put the Goldwaterites' perceived extremism on televised display, hoping delegates would flock to Scranton after being flooded by telegrams from outraged voters watching at home. That did not happen, Goldwater won the nomination with Barry Goldwater’s 883 to William Scranton’s 214. Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, Margaret Chase Smith, Congressman Walter Judd, Senator Hiram Fong and former Ambassador to Vietnam and Richard Nixon’s Veep in 1960 got less than 120 respectively. Congressman William Miller of New York was named Goldwater’s Vice President without opposition. The Pennsylvania delegation, disheartened but not sad took the loss in stride knowing full well Scranton’s effort was a political “Hail Mary”. Scranton entered the race because of his revulsion at Goldwater’s vote against the 1964 Civil rights act. Senator Hugh Scott, up for re-election in 1964 was upset by the prospect of a Goldwater nomination and wondered aloud on network TV whether he could carry Pennsylvania. Goldwater did not but in true ticket splitting form, Hugh Scott won a second term from Pennsylvania voters……meanwhile the ’64 Phillies came back from the All Star break in sole possession of first place. They do lose 3 out of 5 to the Reds facing the likes of Joey Jay, Joe Nuxhall and Billl McCool. Chris Short did increase his record to 8-5 during this series and rookie call up Costen Shockley did a passable job at first base……………….In Scranton the role of Mayor William Schmidt is debated by City Council. Councilman Jim Doherty defined the role of as a “strong mayor form of government” and said the chief executive should be like a President or CEO and the Council should act as legislators….Wilkes Barre officials were upset with a New York Times article that was headlined “Pennsylvania’s Scenic Susquehanna”. The article was datelined Wyalusing and city officials were miffed that there was no mention of Wilkes Barre anywhere in the piece…….and in LuLac land, the number 1 song this week was “Under the Boardwalk” by the Drifters.

The LuLac Edition #878, July 16th, 2009

2009-07-16T00:11:00.004-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: THE BLOG EDITOR WITH JOHN "TWIG" TWARDZIK AND PATRICK J. "PAT" FADDEN, GOP LOGO AND TWARDZIK ON END SHOT OF WBRE TV NEWSCAST.

NEPAtism CONTINUES?

The Wilkes Barre Area School Board hired the wife of School Board member James Fisher. He was absent and did not vote for her appointment. WBRE TV reports that Mrs. Fisher just received her qualifications for the job. Gee, I wonder how many people out there had their credentials long before Mrs. Fisher did? New board member says she’s (Mrs. Fisher) is a “good fit”. And maybe she is. But with the Wilkes Barre Area School Board under scrutiny and two indicted members this year alone, Height and Dunn, well this just looks bad. Except I guess to the friends of the Fishers. Two additional notes: the Hazleton Area School District has taken the hiring entirely out of the hands of the school board there. Others might want to try that. Looking at my records of the past, it’s ironic that Height and Dunn ran as a team for election. How ironic they seem to be exiting that way.

GIVING “THE OFFICE” PROPS

My friend John Twardzik comes up from Florida every summer. We had lost touch from our days at WRKC FM Radio at King’s College but through the miracle of the Internet, we connected again. Monday night, “Twig”, my friend Pat Fadden and myself went out to Abe’s on South Main then Senunas' on North Main Street. “Twig” had mentioned that he was going to go to Scranton to drop off a prop from Mrs. T’s Pierogies. (His family is associated with that company). I don’t think he realized what a media event it would be. Anyway, our friend was featured in the Times Leader as well as on WBRE TV news. From the Times Leader:
Dropped off by John Twardzik, a Mountain Top native who now resides in Tampa, Fla., the stuffed pierogi bearing a Mrs. T’s Pierogies logo was deemed the best of the bunch by Potis, who’s been doing this for show producers since the show’s inception a half-dozen years ago. “I guarantee this will get on the set. It would not be a prop; it will have permanent placement,” she said holding the stuffed pierogi that wore glasses and a ball cap with the letter “O” for Oliver Onion, the character’s name. Twardzik was visiting his father in Mountain Top when he read about the chamber event. He headed to Mrs. T’s in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, and grabbed a box of logo items. Though he doesn’t work for the company, it’s owned by relatives. It was his grandmother Mary Twardzik’s recipe that’s used for the pierogies, and she’s the Mrs. T. He said he’s keeping his fingers crossed the item ends up on the show, which he watches religiously. The reaction he got from Potis made him feel good about his decision.
“I think we hit the nail on the head,” Twardzik said.

GOP PICNIC

Renita Fennick, GOP Party Executive Director for OLuzerne County reports that all are invited to a "GOP Family Picnic" on Saturday, August 1 at 1:00pm.
Event: GOP Family Picnic featuring "Food, fun, music and lots of conservatives"
What: Barbecue
Host: CLUB GOP of Luzerne County
Start Time: Saturday, August 1 at 1:00pm
End Time: Saturday, August 1 at 6:00pm
Where: Harteis Farm

BLOG OF NOTE

Check out this blog regarding politics in the land of the Lac, known to others as Lackawanna County and Scranton.
http://thescrantonguardian.blogspot.com/.

The LuLac Edition #877, July 15th, 2009

2009-07-15T01:22:00.012-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: RUTH BIELSKI EHHRICH, STAN MUSIAL, AND SENATOR VINCE FUMO IN HAPPIER (LOVE THE COAT, BUT I'D LOSE THE HAT!) TIMES.

FUMO GETS A BREAK

Dawn Timminey, former WBRE TV co-anchor and now working for KYQ in Philadelphia reported Vince Fumo’s sentence with the words “gets a break”. And did he ever!!! The former State Senate powerhouse received only 55 months in jail after being found guilty of more than 130 counts of corruption. Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan says Vince Fumo's 55-month prison sentence sends a "disparate message" across the Commonwealth to those in public service who break the law. Meehan vowed to crack down on government corruption while he was chief federal prosecutor; Fumo was one of his targets. Fumo was sentenced yesterday in Philadelphia. The Judge told Fumo “that he was unlike other politicians charged with a crime”. The Judge said he was taking Fumo’s “good works” into consideration giving him less time than his co conspirators who testified against him. To be sure, Fumo had a wonderful career. He was eloquent and very persuasive. His defense of same sex marriage on the Senate floor before he left office was a spell binding, inspirational speech worthy of a modern day Daniel Webster. But Fumo was also known as a person who kept score on even the slightest criticism. His legacy is a bit dubious if you are not a fan of Casino gambling either. The sentencing of the powerful State Senator was closely watched in LuLac land mainly because of the expected rulings on hold against disgraced Judges Ciavarella and Conahan. Patrick Meehan, the chief prosecutor in the Fumo case, as indicated at the top of this story was disappointed.

WHY I LOVE BASEBALL!

Baseball put on a great show last night with the All Star Game. The opening ceremonies focused on the fans of St. Louis as well as the great history there. Until 1958, St. Louis was the western most city in the Majors. President Obama threw out the first pitch, resplendent in his White Sox jacket. His toss did reach the plate. Hall of Famer Stan Musial handed the ball to the Chief Executive.

Other Hall of Fame Cardinals attending were Lou Brock, Bruce Sutter, Ozzie Smith, Bob Gibson and Red Schoendienst. Both “Red” and “Stan the Man” were my dad’s favorite players so I grew up knowing all about them. Watching the All Star game this year in a vertical position was a real treat. One year ago today, I had my cancer surgery. The morphine wore off about 830PM and my hospital room mate (who was in for the same type surgery) woke up at 9:30PM. We both wound up watching the extra inning game until after 2AM. When one of the nurses came in to turn Tony’s TV off, he growled, “Leave it alone, it’s the (expletive deleted) All Star Game.” When she made a move for my part of the room, he said, “Leave his TV be too!”. She did and I dare say that at least in the 50 plus demographic that morning between 12:30AM and 2AM, Fox had a very good cume.
Definition: Cume Rating: The estimated number of different persons who watch at least once during a specified period. Cume rating is expressed as a percentage of the entire metro population.

DEFINING “DEFIANCE”

The Jewish Community Center of Wilkes Barre had an outstanding program on Tuesday night. Ruth Bielski Ehhrich of Florida gave a lecture regarding her family’s role in fighting back the Nazis in World War II. Their struggle was made into a film called “Defiance”. Ehhrich is the daughter of Tuvia Bielski, one of three brothers who formed a type of resistance/shelter for oppressed and attacked Jews more than a half century ago. Bielski-Ehhrich pointed out that she and her family go anywhere they are asked to tell the story of her family and their exploits. On the run and hiding in the deep forests of the then German occupied Poland and Belorussia (World War II), the three Bielski brothers find the impossible task of foraging for food and weapons for their survival. They live, not only with the fear of discovery, contending with neighboring Soviet partisans and knowing whom to trust but also take the responsibility of looking after a large mass of fleeing Polish Jews from the German war machine. Women, men, children, the elderly and the young alike are all hiding in makeshift homes in the dark, cold and unforgiving forests in the darkest times of German occupied Eastern Europe.
Film makers and critics have praised the film as one of the few in motion picture history that view Jewish people as fighting back with a vengeance against the Nazi atrocities instead of being portrayed as victims. The speaker was part of “The Summer Experience” program at the JCC. Here’s a trailer on the film.

The LuLac Edition #876, July 14th, 2009

2009-07-14T00:48:00.005-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: TWO CAST MEMBERS OF "MONTY PYTHON". WE HERE IN LULAC LAND ARE NOW AT THAT LEVEL OF POLITICAL ABSURDITY. THE BLOG EDITOR AND GOVERNOR ED IN LESS STRESSFUL TIMES.

LEVELS OF ABSURDITY

If one were to look at this political year in LuLac land, a conclusion could be made that there exists a comedy of many errors. With the problems concerning the Luzerne County Judiciary, the Probation and Sheriff’s office, the PNC Field fiasco as well as the Yankee “deal”, if you couldn’t laugh, you’d be crying. But the recent revelation about Senator Mellow’s rent on a building he owned has put us into another ring of comedy hell. Through 2009, we’ve gone from a skit on Saturday Night Live to Mad Magazine to low rent satire. We are fast approaching another comic level, that of Monty Python. Like a merry go round out of control, where the laughing and surreal comedic events stop, no one can say.

THE GOV CAMPAIGNS

Ed Rendell is now in full campaign mode. Videos are circulating around the state stating his case for a tax increase. The state budget impasse is creating problems on all levels.
GOVERNING: On the governmental level, state employees will be having payless paydays. That means morale will be lower than usual, customer service will be virtually nonexistent and services will be cut. Every facet of state life will be affected from police protection to the distribution of welfare benefits. On PCN last Wednesday, the Governor fielded calls from state employees who were not happy. See, my take on this is that if you are a state worker, you have to know that upon taking the job, your livelihood and career will depend on lawmakers passing a budget on time. While I can sympathize with the missed paychecks, I also refer you to my previous point. The Governor didn’t help matters the other day when he said a statue should be erected to him in the homes of the state employees because he’s making interest free loans available. The problem is that many workers are being denied credit because of dings on their financial records. Now that’s not the Governor’s fault but he’s taking the heat for it.
STRATEGY: Ed Rendell might be a lot of things but a budget strategist, he is not. The Governor is the face of state government and therefore state workers take out their frustration on him. The Governor and the State House seem to be outmaneuvered by a small group of House Republicans and the GOP dominated State Senate. What is happening now is that interest groups are afraid that the House will introduce a budget bill with all of the slashes in funding but no tax increase. This will effectively be a defeat for the Democratic party. It will have a double edged, fatal sword too. Onerous cuts will be made in state funding and no tax increase will be in place to provide a balanced budget. The Dems and the Governor lose all around.
LONG TERM: The Governor is quick to be gracious in his assessment of the problem. While most likely tempted to do so, he does not blame the lawmakers but Wall Street greed instead. Rendell is saying in his latest message to the state that a long term solution must be reached. If services are cut, and they will be, people will suffer. Services the average Pennsylvanian takes for granted will be harder to come by. If there is no new tax increase, I am certain we will pay for it down the line. One must ask the question whether Pennsylvania wants to solve the budget with a short term jingoistic approach that will not raises taxes today. Or will they leave the future of children, senior citizens, environmental activists and basic service users more a legacy of greater costs in the future? The decisions are tough ones and separate the politicos from the statesmen. I’m not crazy about paying more taxes. But the alternative is to do nothing and let problems fester and services dwindle to the point of atrophy. Yesterday the House took a gamble and amended Gov. Ed Rendell's budget to set the level of spending for 2009-10 at $27.8 billion. But it carves out funding for higher education and proposes finding a separate revenue source to fill that $1.3 million need. Among the ideas that Committee Chairman Dwight Evans proposed include an increase in the state's 3.07 personal income tax, an increase in the state's 6 percent sales tax, an expansion of the items subject to sales tax, video poker or some other revenue source yet to be determined. The Higher Education Fund would support the State System of Higher Education, community colleges, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency's grants to colleges and private colleges. It provides a $300 million increase in funding for schools, which is less than the $418 million that Rendell had proposed. It restores funding for the Scotland School, the Scranton School for the Deaf, hospitals, and libraries. It also requires freezing the state's business assets tax, tapping the Rainy Day Fund, among other revenue sources. In the meantime, Governor Ed is in campaign mode. Take a look at this:

The LuLac Edition #875, July 13th, 2009

2009-07-13T00:38:00.011-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: 13 QUESTIONS LOGO.

13 QUESTIONS

1. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE’S LOW ATTENDANCE AT THE SWB YANKEE GAMES?

I HEARD JOE THOMAS AND ROB NYEHARD TALKING ABOUT THIS ON SATURDAY ON THEIR SPORTS SHOW. FIRST OFF, I THINK THE TICKET PRICES PLAY A BIG ROLE. WHEN THE YANKS CAME, THE FIRST YEAR THE PRICES FOR A WALK UP WAS $9.00. THEN THE NEXT YEAR THEY WENT TO I THINK $11.00. YANKEE DIEHARDS I TALKED TO SAID, “HEY, IT’S THE YANKEES”. THIS YEAR TO SIT IN THE LOWER DECK, IT’S $14.00. SO YOU TAKE A FAMILY OF 4 AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT’S MORE THAN FIFTY BUCKS. THE BEAUTY OF THE BARONS WAS THAT IF YOU WERE AROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE ONE NIGHT AND AS A FAMILY DECIDED TO GO TO A GAME ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT, YOU COULD GET AWAY WITH PAYING UNDER $25.00 TO SEE THE GAME. IN THIS ECONOMY, FIFTY BUCKS IS FIFTY BUCKS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THERE ARE NO GIVEAWAYS TO GIVE TO THE WALK UP FAN. SURE WHEN THE BARONS GAVE AWAY STUFF LIKE BOBBLEHEADS YOU ALWAYS HAD THOSE COLLECTORS WHO TOOK AN ORPHANAGE WITH THEM TO GET THE ITEM AND RE-SELL IT. BUT PROMOTIONS, GIVEAWAYS LIKE UMBRELLAS AND COFFEE MUGS INCREASED THE GATE. AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO PROMOTE YOUR BRAND THAN GIVING “JOE FAN” AN ITEM THAT IS PRACTICAL AND PROMOTABLE. THIRDLY, I THINK THAT THE BARONS WERE “OUR” TEAM. A CONCEPTION OF TWO FORMER FRANCHISES OF OUR GRANDPARENTS, THE WILKES BARRE BARONS AND THE SCRANTON MINERS. I THINK IF THE METS, THE PIRATES OR THE ORIOLES MOVED HERE, THERE MIGHT BE THE SAME RESISTANCE FROM THOSE FANS WHO LOOK AT ANY OTHER TEAM OR ORGANIZATION LIKE THE YANKEES AS INTERLOPERS.

2. DO YOU BELIEVE SHERIFF MIKE SAVOKINAS’ CLAIM THAT HE IS BEING SET UP?

I DO BUT NOT BY PEOPLE HE THINKS. POLITICS IN THIS AREA WOULD MAKE THE WATERGATE CONSPIRATORS SEEM LIKE A BUNCH OF PUPPIES. THAT ELECTION WAS SO CLOSE THAT NOTHING WOULD SURPRISE ME. I GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR NOT HIDING LIKE OTHER ROW OFFICERS UNDER FIRE BUT IT’S BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE. AND TO ME, THAT CAN’T BE A COINCIDENCE.
3. FAVORITE RIGHT WING TALK SHOW HOST?

LAURA INGRAM.

4. ON THE BASEBALL, DO WE NEED A NEW STADIUM?

NO. AND I DON’T BUY THE ARGUMENT THAT THE MODEL IS AN OLD ONE. IT WOULD BE JUST OUR LUCK IN LULAC LAND THAT WE SPEND MILLIONS ON A NEW BALLPARK THEMED STADIUM AND A YEAR AFTER WE BUILD IT, THE COOKIE CUTTER, MULTI PURPOSE ONES COME BACK IN VOGUE. FIX IT. THE ROMAN COLOSSEUM IS STILL STANDING!!!

5. WHAT GROUP WILL GIVE PRESIDENT OBAMA THE MOST TROUBLE WITH HIS HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL?

MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY. I CAN SEE SOME SEGMENTS OF THE PARTY ALREADY WUSSING OUT. I AGREE WITH THE MANTRA, “GO BIG OR GO HOME.

6. AS A RECOVERING WOMANIZER, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE STEVE McNAIR INCIDENT? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM?

I'D CERTAINLY TELL HIM NOT TO STRAY, ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS AT HOME. BUT IF HE INSISTED, HERE'S MY THOUGHTS. FIRST OFF, I’D TELL HIM TO STAY WITHIN HIS OWN SOCIAL STRATA. I’M SORRY, A HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THE EMOTIONAL CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH A MARRIED MAN. ESPECIALLY A FOOTBALL STAR. I MEAN IF THEY BREAK UP, WHERE’S SHE GOING TO GO AFTER THAT? HE'S THE BEST SHE'LL EVER DO. AND THAT'S A DUBIOUS CLAIM. SECOND, NEVER PUT THE FAMILY IN SECOND PLACE ON A HOLIDAY. THIRD, DON’T CHEAT ON THE GIRL FRIEND WITH ANOTHER GIRL FRIEND. IT’S HARD ENOUGH KEEPING YOUR STORIES STRAIGHT WITH THE WIFE. FOURTH, NEVER FALL ASLEEP WITH ANYONE YOU’VE KNOWN FOR LESS THAN 18 MONTHS.

7. WHENEVER THERE’S A NEW REVELATION IN THE LUZERNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE YOU PUT THAT VIDEO UP OF YOU ON WYOU TV ADVISING TO HAVE EVERYBODY QUIT AT THE COURTHOUSE. WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING IT? IT’S GETTING BORING.

ME? BORING? OH, COME NOW! I PUT IT UP TO MAKE A POINT. EVERY OTHER DAY IT SEEMS WE HEAR OF ANOTHER SCAM AT THE COURTHOUSE. YESTERDAY IT WAS A GUY CUTTING HAIR. THERE IS ZERO CONFIDENCE LEFT UNDER THE DOME EXCEPT FOR A FEW. AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR THOSE LEADERS, REFORMING ANYTHING IS LIKE PUSHING A BOULDER UP A MOUNTAIN.

8. FAVORITE SUMMER TIME BAZARR FOOD?

POTATO PANCAKES. ST. AL'S WAS THE BEST. SO WAS ST. CASMIR'S IN HANOVER TWP. TOO BEFORE THEY STOPPED DOING A SUMMER OUTING. SOUR CREAM ON THEM OF COURSE.

9. IN YOUR 1964 SEGMENT, YOU REFERRED TO PHILLIES LEFT FIELDER JOHNNY CALLISON. WHAT WAS HE LIKE?

CALLISON WAS THE RIGHT FIELDER, WES COVINGTON WAS IN LEFT. I MET HIM TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 1984 AT THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILLIES ’64 SEASON. HE WAS VERY NICE, GAVE ME A NICE, BRIEF INTERVIEW TALKING ABOUT HIS ALL STAR GAME HEROICS. THE NEXT TIME I SAW HIM WAS AT A BOOK SIGNING (HIS) AND HE WAS GOING OFF ON HOW HE MISSED THE BIG MONEY OF BASEBALL FREE AGENCY. HE RETIRED IN 1973 A YEAR OR SO BEFORE PLAYERS STARTED GETTING THE BIG BUCKS AFTER THE ’75 SEASON. HE WAS PRETTY BITTER ABOUT IT BUT THEN AGAIN, I CAN’T FAULT HIM FOR THAT.

10. DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD SHAMELESSLY PROMOTE PEOPLE YOU LIKE AS WELL AS YOUR OWN BOOKS ON YOUR SITE?

YES. BY THE WAY, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BLOG SITE FROM DR. JOE?

http://www.fatthenfitnow.com/.

11. ANY WORD ON YOUR NEW NOVEL?

YES. I’M HAPPY TO SAY THAT IT HAS GONE THROUGH ANOTHER EDIT AND MIGHT BE READY BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THERE WERE WAY TOO MANY CHARACTERS, TOO MANY PAGES AND QUITE FRANKLY IT WAS A MESS. WE’RE STILL LOOKING FOR A WORKING TITLE TOO. THIS WAS MUCH HARDER TO PRODUCE THAN THE FIRST EFFORT “A RADIO STORY”. BUT WE’RE ALMOST FINISHED AND IN THE SHAMELESS PROMOTION STYLE THAT IS OUR WONT, WE’LL LET YOU KNOW.

12. YOUR 590 FOREVER BLOG SITE, HOW OFTEN DO YOU UPDATE THAT? IT’S A GREAT TRIBUTE TO WARM RADIO.

THANKS. I TRY TO UPDATE IT TWICE A WEEK. MY GOAL IS TO COME UP WITH 590 MIGHTY MEMORIES. WE’RE STILL IN THE 500s. AS A WARM FAN, EVEN NOW WITH WARM IN ITS CURRENT STATE, WRITING 590 FOREVER IS A LABOR OF LOVE.

13. HOW WOULD YOU GET BIN LADEN OUT OF HIS CAVE?

HAVEN’T RECEIVED THIS QUESTION IN A WHILE. I’D GET ME A BRILLIANT AUDIO/TV/BROADCAST ENGINEER, SOMEBODY LIKE WYLN TV’S BOB ADAMS. I’D ARRANGE TO HAVE BIG ASS SPEAKERS SURROUNDING WHERE HE IS AND A HUGE SCREEN THAT HE CAN’T AVOID. THEN I’D BLARE THIS VIDEO 24/7.

The LuLac Edition #874, July 11th, 2009

2009-07-11T00:08:00.008-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: ALL FEMALE FLIGHT CREW, SENATOR ROBERT MELLOW AND ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL COLUMNIST AND CAPITOL IDEAS BLOGGER JOHN MICEK.

MELLOW’S PICNIC

State Senator Robert Mellow had his annual summertime outing at Montage Mountain this past Wednesday. According to my sources, the crowd was pretty big. However there was a lack of legislative star power because of sessions going on in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. There were staff members from both Senator Casey’s and Specter’s office but the great men were otherwise occupied. However Auditor General Jack Wagner made an appearance as well as all of the candidates running for the statewide Judiciary. Local Judicial candidates for the Lac, Margie Moyle and Frankie Castellano were on hand as well as Evie Refalko McNulty. Senator Mellow did make an appearance later in the evening making the trek up from Harrisburg. You can bet that next year when the Governor’s race and a U.S. Senate re-election campaign is being run, you’ll see the stars at the event. Mellow is closing in on 40 years in the Senate having first won election in 1970 beating GOP incumbent Arthur Piasecki.

GRIFFITH VINDICATED

The opinion of the solicitor of the Home Rule Study Commission indicated Walter Griffith was right to ask for the commission to advertise according to the Sunshine Act. He made the recommendation and the commission voted to approve it. The solicitor's opinion was that he felt the commission was not an agency and wasn't required to follow the Sunshine Act. He felt that for the sake of open and transparent government it is better to follow the Sunshine Act and be safe. No one down the line can challenge the proceedings of the commission that would cost the people a significant amount of money in legal costs. Walter Griffith was saying exactly that! Some people on the commission said he was being "negative". In retrospect, he fought the good for the people of Luzerne County. No sabotage from this guy, only good intentions backed up by facts.

MICEK’S BLOG

Given the budget stalemate in Harrisburg, more information is better than less. To that end, I’m including a link to The Allentown Morning Call’s Harrisburg reporter John Micek's blog, "CAPITOL IDEAS". Micek came to my attention in the earlier part of this decade when I began watching PCN’s “Journalist’s Roundtable”. He is a frequent guest and his blog is essentially a blow by blow account of the inner workings of Harrisburg. With the budget crisis going on, "Capitol Ideas" is a must read. Here’s his link:
http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/.

BONUS AGAIN?

Congressman Paul Kanjorski, Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, expressed his disappointment about recent reports that American International Group (AIG) is seeking to pay $2.4 million in retention bonuses to top executives from the company. “The federal government has now provided AIG with about $180 billion in taxpayer support,” said Kanjorski. “Recent reports that AIG continues to seek to pay out retention bonuses to its employees are extremely disappointing, especially considering that too many families are struggling financially, as a result of the economic crisis to which AIG’s collapse contributed. I have convened hearings on AIG within the Financial Services Committee to examine the company and federal oversight of AIG. Effectively monitoring AIG remains one of my top priorities in the Committee and I anticipate that we will further address this issue at a future hearing. Additionally, at the beginning of the year, Congressman Spencer Bachus, a Republican and I requested that the Government Accountability Office continuously monitor the government’s rescue of AIG and its impact on the U.S. insurance market, as well as other issues like compensation.”

FROM THE NET

A friend sent this from the internet the other day and while I don’t usually pass these on, I thought this was pretty good. (See photo index).
While the C-5 was turning over its engines, a female crewman gave the G.I.s on board the usual information regarding seat belts, emergency exits, etc . Finally, she said, 'Now sit back and enjoy your trip while your captain, Judith Campbell, and crew take you safely to Afghanistan”. An old Master/Sgt. sitting in the eighth row thought to himself, 'Did I hear her right? Is the captain a woman? 'When the attendant came by he said 'Did I understand you right? Is the Captain a woman?' 'Yes,' said the attendant, 'In fact, this entire crew is female.' 'My God,' he said, 'I wish I had two double scotch and sodas. I don't know what to think with only women up there in the cockpit.' 'That's another thing, Sergeant,' said the crew member, 'We No Longer Call It The Cockpit.'

The LuLac Edition #873, July 10th, 2009

2009-07-10T00:06:00.006-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: OUR 1964 LOGO, WILK'S SUE HENRY, THIS BLOG EDITOR WITH THE LATE GREAT PHILLIE JOHNNY CALLISON ON THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1964 SEASON.

FOUL BALLS???

Two Pioneers football players were arrested by Wilkes-Barre Police early Thursday morning. The Times Leader reported that Jason Prince Acquaye, 23, of South Empire Street, Wilkes-Barre and Justin Denmar Parrish, 25, whose addressed is listed as the Ramada Inn on Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, were arrested in connection to a large disturbance at Luna Lounge, South Main Street, early Thursday. Police said they responded to the bar on the report that a man was waiving a gun. After officers arrived, police found 60 people running out of Luna. While police were talking to Parrish, he ran after a man and jumped on his back and began punching him. Police said Nicole Allen tried to break up the fight involving Parrish when Parrish punched her in the face. Allen fell back four to five feet, hit her head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious. She was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Plains Township, for head injuries. When you have athletes in a town with testosterone running high you’ll have this. But these guys crossed a line. They essentially attacked police officers who were trying to keep the peace and protect people. This was not your typical fight that ended with combatants shaking hands when it was over. This put people at risk. It’s nice to have a big time Arena team in the area, it’s nice to have them go undefeated. It’s not so nice to have thugs on the team. Here is a comment from a reader to the Times Leader that typifies the reaction of the people here:
i can almost gurantee that they are no not wilkes barre residents... thanks pioneer football league for having all the thugs on the team ... the franchise makes us all really proud, and by the way what a great role model for our children... we will never come back to the games....THANK YOU
And people, remember this rule from an old fart like myself; nothing good comes out of being in a bar after midnight.

THE STADIUM

It appears there is trouble in River City regarding the Yankees and the Stadium. The Scranton Times did a story on the fiasco and interviewed former County Commissioner Bob Cordaro. Cordaro said the grass was only a temporary fix because there were plans to build a new stadium. Too bad he never told anyone about those plans. Cordaro brought in the Yanks, plain and simple as a pre election ploy. He thought he’d be able to fix any misconceptions and concerns in a second term. The voters saw to it that he did not have that opportunity. Cordaro said today that the Stadium was the oldest one in the International League. Yeah, about 2 decades old. When it opened in 1989, every other stadium in the league was a dump. They were falling apart. Scranton Wilkes Barre’s field was something they aspired to be. The stadium does need repairs but they don’t need a new ball field. Sue Henry made the point that Fenway Park was built in 1912. It went through changes but didn’t need a new park. Neither do we. The Yankees will be gone by 2011 or sooner, gone to Newark. What we need to do now is repair what we have and try to get another team to root for. When the Yankees came, we scoffed at the Lehigh Valley stadium delay and that name The Iron Pigs. Guess who’s having the last laugh! And one more thing, someone should investigate that contract Cordaro negotiated and see if there are any other surprises he might have not mentioned.

HEALTH CARE UPDATE

House Democrats at work on health legislation are narrowing in on an income tax surcharge on the highest-paid wage earners to help pay the cost of subsidizing insurance for the 50 million who lack it. Pushing to complete a comprehensive health care bill by Friday and bring it up for committee votes next week, House Democrats abandoned earlier money-raising proposals, including a payroll tax. They planned to meet behind closed doors Thursday to fine-tune the details. The action in the House stood in contrast to the Senate, where Democrats edged away from their goal of passing health care legislation by early August amid heightening partisan controversy over tax increases and a proposed new government role in providing insurance to consumers. As discussed in the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, the surtax would apply to individuals with adjusted gross income of more than $200,000 and couples over $250,000, according to officials involved in the discussion. Most spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private. In addition, key lawmakers are expected to call for a tax or fee equal to a percentage of a worker's salary on employers who do not offer health benefits. The White House expressed its support Wednesday for the emerging House legislation, noting that the Congressional Budget Office had said planned changes to Medicare would save more than $500 billion over 10 years. A significant part of that money would come from the steep reduction in subsidies paid to insurance companies that offer private Medicare coverage.

HERE’S PAULIE!!!!!

Congressman Paul Kanjorski, chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, will appear on CNBC’s Squawk Box for two hours on Monday to co-host the program. He will discuss a variety of issues including regulatory reform of the financial services industry. Kanjorski will co-host the show from 6 a.m. to 8 am. (He has to get up as early as Kristi Capel!!) The lawmaker will discuss a variety of issues including regulatory reform of the financial services industry.

PATIENCE PLEASE!!!

It's not just state workers who aren't getting paid until leaders pass a budget. The hard times are trickling down to the private sector, where businesses that depend on the state for contracted work are being told to wait patiently, and not to expect any checks anytime soon. Gov. Ed Rendell sent a letter to about 5,000 vendors, asking for understanding during the legislative squabble. Businesses with relationships to the state have much choice but to comply. Larger companies can swallow the pill by relying on other profits, while smaller businesses are digging into reserves.

1964

U.S. military personnel announce that U.S. casualties in Vietnam have risen to 1,387, including 399 dead and 17 MIA……..Big time lobbying is happening prior to the 1964 Republican convention in San Francisco. Challenger William Scranton of Pennsylvania and other GOP moderates work very hard to paint Senator Barry Goldwater as a candidate who cannot win in November. They point to his vote against the civil right act of 1964 as proof………………State Police Commissioner William Purdy urged more than 100 regional police officers to set aside their own personal prejudices when dealing with criminals. The meeting was held at Genetti’s in Wilkes Barre and focused in on social responsibility of racial matters in the Commonwealth…….Forty five years ago the All Star Game was played before a crowd of 50,000 people at Shea Stadium. Phillies outfielder Johnny Callison was the star. The 1964 All-Star Game has been described as one of the most exciting ever as the National League came from behind to win in a dramatic ninth-inning rally. Red Sox ace Dick Radatz was on the mound and had already thrown two hitless innings. Willie Mays, in a tough at-bat, got the walk and then stole second. Orlando Cepeda followed with a soft looper to right field scoring Mays due to a bad Joe Pepitone throw to the plate. Two quick outs and a walk later, Johnny Callison hammered a fast ball into the right field stands scoring three runs, giving the Nationals their sixth win in seven games and finally evening up the series……..Joseph McGowan, the secretary of the Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted a tour of foreign businessmen to Scranton area industrial sites…….On local TV, on WDAU TV, every morning at 9:27AM you saw an advertisement for the U.S. Airforce. Here’s what it looked like:

and in LuLac Land and America the number 1 song was “Memphis” by Johnny Rivers.

The LuLac Edition #872, July 9th, 2009

2009-07-09T00:53:00.005-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: OUR HEALTH CARE REFORM LOGO.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

Did you know that Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Americans with Employer-Based Coverage Rise to More Than $3,700 per Year? That's why this report you are about to read is so important.
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a new report – Hidden Costs of Health Care: Why Americans are Paying More but Getting Less. The report documents the rising cost of deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses that are making it more difficult for families with insurance to receive the health care they need, and is available at www.HealthReform.gov. “It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or not: when Americans go to the hospital or the doctor’s office, they are paying more and getting less,” said Sebelius. “Every year, co-pays, deductibles and other expenses are taking a bigger bite out of the family budget and the American people are demanding reform.”
The report notes: A person with employer-based coverage paid an average of $1,522 on health care (not including premiums) in 2006, compared with $1,260 in 2001. When including the added burden of higher premiums, out-of-pocket costs rose even more sharply, with a 30 percent increase from an average of $2,827 in 2001 to $3,744 in 2006. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. For preferred provider organization (PPO) plans purchased through an employer, the average family deductible increased 30 percent in just two years, from $1,034 to $1,344. This effect is more pronounced for small firms, where PPO deductibles increased from $1,439 to $2,367 — a rise of 64 percent.
In 2004, only one in five people with health insurance through an employer had a co-payment of more than $25, but by 2008 the number jumped to one in three. “Millions of Americans don’t have insurance, and millions more are still struggling to afford the care they need,” added Sebelius. “We need to pass health reform this year to give these families the relief they need.”The report is one of a series of reports on the health care status quo that are available online at http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/index.html.

CODE 'EM

The Wilkes-Barre Area School board unanimously approved a new dress code requiring solid colors. The new code bans cargo pants, baggy pants, extra wide pants, sweat pants, wind pants, jeans and excessively tight pants. Skirts and shirts must be a solid color and shirts must have collars. Skirts must be knee or ankle length. All shirts must be buttoned just below the neck, school district logos and manufacturer logos no larger than two inches square are allowed. Crew neck sweatshirts and sweaters may be worn but must be solid color and cannot be ripped or torn, and must be sized to fit. Shorts are permitted from April 1 through Oct. 31 and must be solid color and no shorter than two inches above the knee. Cargo shorts are banned. Belts must be solid color and no chain link belts are allowed. Buckles must be no larger than two inches square. Backless shoes, clogs, open-toed shoes and heels over three inches are prohibited. The code bans Henley shirts, spandex pants, hats, caps, headbands, bandannas, the display of undergarments, chains, dog collars, spike bracelets, unnatural hair coloring, denim, camouflage in any clothing, coats and hoods during the school day, all-black outfits, fishnet stockings and plug earrings. It is refreshing to see some educational entity finally imposing a dress code. When I’m on my way to work or meetings in the morning, it is not uncommon to see teenage girls going to Coughlin looking as if they were coming back from an all night class in Pole Dancing 101. A dress code is a standard set. I’m sure there will be people talking about individuality but let’s can that. We, as a society have become slobs. That slovenly is masked by the word “casual”. Maybe by having kids dress for school, they might even try it for church or even on dates. There’s nothing so sad as seeing a well put together girl with a nice outfit on sitting across a table in a restaurant from a guy wearing a wife beater, dirty jeans with 10 pound key chains on them and a ball cap sitting on his head backwards. Maybe a dress code will give these kids a chance at making a good impression on a job interview.

DIFFERENT RULES

How about this? Attorneys employed by the Luzerne County Courthouse are getting full time health care while working part time. The Human Resources Director said it’s always been like that. Well, so was polio but something was done about that! "I said a long time ago, 'Why do we pay the benefits for part-time attorneys?'" Director of Budget and Finance Tom Pribula said. Well cuz, the reason we do that in Luzerne County is because there are two separate sets of rules for people. An attorney making $40,000 a year might be considered part time but yet gets health care benefits. You mean he or she can’t afford to pay the benefit on that salary which is more than a row officer makes? One Attorney, a former Judicial candidate actually admits he gets $1,000 bucks extra because he’s covered on his wife’s plan! Sweet! In the meantime, a county resident goes to work for one of those high paying jobs the Chamber of Commerce brings in here, they get $8.50 an hour but are only offered 31 hours so as to not qualify for health care. A disgrace.
Pribula said the county's payroll system needs to be adjusted because payroll records show part-time lawyers are working 32 hours every week. The records should show that those attorneys are paid a weekly salary that isn't based on hours worked, Folks, I hate to do this to you again, but we need to clean out the Courthouse of lawyers, workers, union lackeys....everybody! Keep the management team in place (although poor Doug Pape will be wandering around like a zombie saying, "We never did it this way before"!!!) put everybody else on unempliyment for 60 days....well here, let me tell you....

The LuLac Edition #871, July 8th, 2009

2009-07-08T00:06:00.004-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: MAYOR JAMES HAGGERTY OF KINGSTON AND GOVERNOR ED RENDELL.

ED PLAYS HARDBALL

As many as 800 Pennsylvania state employees may have to be laid off because of Republican lawmakers' demands for spending cuts and labor unions' refusal to accept less drastic measures, Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday. While there are meetings between the Governor's staff and legislative leaders, this bit of news does not bode well for any breakthrough any time soon. he unions are livid at Rendell regarding this latest statement but having unions angry at him is nothing new for this Governor. Things are bound to get interesting in this latest budget battle.

ANSWERS TONIGHT

If anyone is interested in getting answers on the budget impasse, my suggestion is to tune in to PCN Tonight. What was originally rumored to be a debate between Governor Rendell and Senate Pro Tem and Ltn. Governor Joe Scarnati will be two seperate programs tonight on PCN. As part of PCN’s extensive coverage on the PA budget, the statewide network will dedicate tomorrow evening’s programming to the subject. Beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, PCN will air a block of special “On the Issues” programs featuring key lawmakers involved in the budget process. Following these one-on-one interviews, Lieutenant Governor/ PA Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Joe Scarnati and Governor Ed Rendell will take viewers’ calls during two separate LIVE PCN Call-In Program specials set to air starting at 6:00 p.m.
Each hour-long Call-In program will give viewers an opportunity to talk directly to the featured guest by dialing toll-free at 1-877-PA6-5001.
The schedule, including replay times, for this special PA budget programming block is as follows:
Wednesday, July 8:
5:00 p.m. – On the Issues: Rep. Mario Civera (R) – House Minority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m. – On the Issues: Rep. Dwight Evans (D) House Majority Appropriations Chair

Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – On the Issues: Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R) – Senate Majority Floor Leader

Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m. – On the Issues: Sen. Jay Costa (D) Senate Minority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
6:00 p.m. (LIVE) – PCN Call-In program: Sen. Joe Scarnati, Lieutenant Governor/ PA Senate Pro Tempore
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00 p.m; Thursday, July 9 at 12:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m. (LIVE) – PCN Call-In program: Governor Ed Rendell
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 10:00 p.m; Thursday, July 9 at 1:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Throughout the budget process, PCN will air gavel-to-gavel coverage from the floor of the PA House and Senate during this extended legislative session. The statewide network also offers featured videos on its PCN Anytime Streaming page at pcntv.com. A PA Budget 2009 Resources tab has also been added to the network’s streaming page to give users special features including links for the latest budget news as well as special PA Budget program video selections.
For updated information about special budget programming and other programming information, visit the daily schedule at pcntv.com.

HAGGERTY ILL

Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty, 43, underwent emergency bypass surgery at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Tuesday. Haggerty was transported to the hospital Tuesday morning after suffering from chest pains. Haggerty is also chair of the Luzerne County Home Rule Government Study Commission. We wish him well in this health challenge.

BAKER'S BILL

Legislation aimed at preventing further cases of corruption in county juvenile courts has been unanimously approved by the state Senate according to Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20), who sponsored the measure. "With so many kids adversely affected, with such casual denial of fundamental constitutional protections, the Luzerne County situation cannot just be written off as a horrible aberration," Baker said. "We cannot run the risk that greed, intimidation, callous disregard of ethics and oaths, and criminal audacity combine to allow this to happen again." Baker's measure would establish an 11-member Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, appointed by the Chief Justice, General Assembly and Governor, to conduct a thorough review of juvenile justice procedures, practices, rules and regulations and pursue remedies and reforms. The goal, she said, is to ensure that children and families who enter the juvenile justice system are granted fundamental constitutional protections and that judges are monitored to make sure their decisions are ethical and correct. Baker said the commission is the result of strong cooperation among all three branches of state government and will not interfere with or duplicate the work of investigators and the criminal justice system. Rather, it is charged with finding forward-looking remedies for the wrongs, and restoring public confidence that there is justice throughout the juvenile justice system. "To the extent that laws must be changed, rules revised, proceedings opened up, data more carefully scrutinized, this commission will put together that case. Legislators will then decide on changes in law. The courts will decide on rules changes," Baker said. "By virtue of how this commission was conceived and how it will be constituted, we can trust that the end result will be reliable, responsible, and right – a better-protected, better-run system of juvenile justice."

SO LONG MICHAEL

Michael Jackson had a memorial service that lasted a few hours. It was televised on all 4 major networks as well as all the cable and entertainment channels. When Mr. E. Presley died in 1977, there was coverage on the Nightly News and a half hour special on the night he died in the 11:30 to midnight time slot. His funeral was not covered. When Mister F.Sinatra died in 1998, there were numerous hour long specials on TV but his funeral was not covered. I make the point because I’m getting quite tired of hearing Rev. Al “Tawana Brawley” Sharpton telling anyone who would listen that Michael Jackson was not getting any “respect” from the media. American media does not even cover Presidential Inaugurations or Political conventions gavel to gavel anymore. All they do is showcase democracy at its finest. Certainly I feel bad for Mr. Jackson’s family and children (his daughter’s final farewell was very touching) but there seems to be something lacking in today’s media in terms of what and who they cover as major news. I think they call it perspective.

The LuLac Edition #870, July 7th, 2009

2009-07-07T00:07:00.005-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: LOGO OF THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

D’s and R’s

People sometimes wonder if there are any real differences between the Democratic Party and the GOP. To me, there are and all you have to do is look for them. In 2008 Barack Obama talked about the housing crisis and how it would impact on the family that purchased it as a way of improving their life. John McCain also talked about the housing problem but said he was worried about all those people who invested in rental properties as a secondary source of income. See, Obama, the Democrat was worrying about the single home owner while McCain fretted about the people flipping properties. This past week, Jack Smiles from a local newspaper wrote this in his column about President Obama’s economic policies.
In Democrats stimulus package -- you know the one where we save the world by studying why hogs stink -- there is a tuition tax credit. If I’m reading this right the credit will be up to $2,000. Now that’s a tax credit, so you can knock up to two grand right off your tax bill if you a paying college tuition for a dependent. This is perfect timing for me as my daughter is starting at Penn State in September.
So I’ll greedily take the credit, but I do wonder, what about people who don’t have kids in college. Aren’t they subsidizing my daughter’s tuition since they aren’t getting the cut? Wouldn’t it be right to take all the tuition tax credit money and “spread it around”, to use Obama’s own phrase, to all taxpayers?
I like Jack a lot, think he is an excellent writer and even tried to respond on their website in the “Comments” section. But after 3 tries on Sunday, all I got was a blank, white screen. So, I’ll respond here. I don’t think anyone needs to worry about taking the $2,000 college tax credit and thinking you’re being greedy. It’s there because it will be used for the long term greater good. Jack’s daughter goes to college, gets the credit and when she graduates, contributes to society. I don’t have a child that can use that college credit and I don’t mind subsidizing people who can use it. My tax dollars for that college credit are the dues I pay as a citizen to improve this country. I’m fully confident that Jack’s daughter with that college credit will fulfill her goals and make a contribution to society long after Jack and I are gone. Democrats take the long view. Republicans take the shorter one. And after 8 years of no plan, the people voted overwhelming for something, anything, except the dank stench of doing nothing in answer to our future. And that my friends is just one of the differences between a D and an R.

The LuLac Edition #869, July 6th, 2009

2009-07-06T13:48:00.005-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: STATE CAPITOL BUILDING AND ROBERT McNAMERA WITH PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, CIRCA 1962.

BUDGET WORK RESUMES

Pennsylvania state government enters its first full week without a general fund budget in place. Budget talks resume today. The Harrisburg Patriot reports that staffers for the four legislative caucuses were in and out of the Capitol on Sunday, checking numbers, reviewing some Department of Public Welfare issues and generally preparing for a long week. But any major moves toward resolution of a budget gap well in excess of $1 billion awaited the return of legislative leaders from the July 4 break. The impasse between Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and the Legislature has spilled into the new fiscal year, leaving the state with a sharply diminished ability to spend money, sign contracts and pay bills. Six other states Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Ohio, are working with delayed budgets and big deficits. In Pennsylvania, negotiators have not dealt with a $3.3 billion deficit left over from the just-ended fiscal year and they still disagree over how to solve an essentially identical problem in the coming year.
The fact that a budget is late is not a new thing in Harrisburg it's the seventh straight year for that, the product of a liberal, hard-charging Democratic governor trying to win over a Senate GOP majority dominated by conservatives. Rendell is proposing more than $2 billion in new taxes much of it from a 16-percent income tax increase saying his solution is less painful than cutting crucial programs and forcing counties and school districts to increase property taxes. He is also fighting for a big increase for public schools, saying that is the best way to guarantee a vibrant economic future in an aging state. This year's budget impasse is different from any in recent memory. The recession-wrought deficit is heftier and the partisan trenches seem deeper making it hard to envision a compromise. But they will eventually. They have to," said Barbara Hafer, a financial consultant who served eight years each as Pennsylvania's independently elected state treasurer and state auditor general. "This is a national and a world crisis. Look at the states around us. ... We aren't worse off than anybody else."

MAC DIES

Robert McNamara, the cerebral secretary of defense who was vilified for prosecuting the Vietnam War, then devoted himself to helping the world's poorest nations. McNamara died at 5:30 a.m. at his home, his wife, Diana, told The Associated Press. She said he had been in failing health for some time. His death was first reported Monday by the Washington Post. For all his healing efforts, McNamara was fundamentally associated with the Vietnam War, "McNamara's war," the country's most disastrous foreign venture, the only American war to end in abject withdrawal rather than victory. Known as a policymaker with a fixation for statistical analysis, McNamara was recruited to run the Pentagon by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 from the presidency of the Ford Motor Co. He stayed seven years, longer than anyone since the job's creation in 1947. His association with Vietnam became intensely personal. Even his son, as a Stanford University student, protested against the war while his father was running it. At Harvard, McNamara once had to flee a student mob through underground utility tunnels. The great tragedy of McNamera was that even as he believed the war was unwinnable, he put on a public face of confidence that said otherwise. He continued to express public confidence that the application of enough American firepower would cause the Communists to make peace. In that period, the number of U.S. casualties dead, missing and wounded went from 7,466 to over 100,000. McNamara’s death is another benchmark in the divisive war that to this day haunts many Americans. Even as time goes on, the wounds of Vietnam are barely subsided and bubble to the surface when a reminder, like an overdue bill, comes due. The death of a high official like McNamera is one of those triggers that brings back the emotions of the Vietnam War. McNamera was 93.

The LuLac Edition #868, July 4th, 2009

2009-07-04T00:03:00.013-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: REPRESENTATION OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS.

"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin.

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security". The Declaration.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Declaration.

The LuLac Edition #867, July 3rd, 2009

2009-07-03T21:40:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: SARAH PALIN.

PALIN POUNCES

Sarah Palin held a news conference today in Alaska. Once more she has shown that she is no one’s fool. Palin announced that not only will she not run for Governor in 2010 but will also resign her office. Her reasoning is for the greater betterment of her home state Alaska. She said she did not want to be a lame duck Governor picking up a paycheck but instead wanted her Ltn. Governor to put his own stamp on their administration. Palin alluded to ethics charges that were all discharged but added how much they cost the state to adjudicate. Palin said she’s doing it for the people.
Right off the news coverage was predictable. The CBS Evening News pulled out the Katie Couric interviews from the fall campaign. NBC had people on (some GOP strategists) who said Palin was not making a good move because she would be perceived as a quitter. And as we all know, no one loves a quitter, let alone wants them to run for President. CNN’s Candy Crowley said the story is incomplete and hinted there might be more to it. On the surface, taking conventional political wisdom, this is a bad move. But politics changed forever in 2008 when a little known Illinois politician with a half dozen years experience stormed his party and the nation becoming the 44th President. The old rules were shattered by Barack Obama in the Democratic Party. As a party on the rebound, the Republicans have a power vacuum. They also have a rock star gap. Right now the GOP field consists of losers Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is regarded as a part of the past. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush might have played a part in the immediate future of the party but his brother’s disastrous tenure has made his ascendancy problematic at best. So Palin, dumb as a fox knows what she is doing. Here’s why:
1. Palin has a built in right wing constituency that can elevate her to folk hero status. At rallies, she outshone John McCain. It was telling that Palin was not allowed to speak when the duo lost last fall. More telling was that she wanted to talk.
2. Rush Limbaugh who has defended Palin at every turn like a school boy defends his sweetheart will be a big help. You can bet that Limbaugh will be singing her praises as the savior of the Republican Party.
3. While Mark Sanford is lingering, holding on to power in disgrace and confusion, Sarah Palin departs the job “for the people”. She doesn’t need power to make her whole as a woman, wife, mom, leader or party member. She’s leaving it all behind for “the folks” setting on a solitary path without big government of any kind to shield her.
4. Palin does though have an advantage by not being in office. She can accept big money from friendly corporations, build a huge bank account that will provide financial security for her family and be free to dabble in issues of her choice. Richard Nixon did so between 1962 and 1967, Ronald Reagan the same after losing to Gerald Ford in 1976. Being a member of the loyal opposition, unfettered by responsibilities gives her the opportunity to travel the country like Nixon and Reagan did. They met power brokers but also met the County Chairman who sent the delegates to the conventions. These little guys, unseen by the media (who focus on Bertha and Clyde in snowy Iowa getting their opinion as it were the word of God) make a candidate viable in the brutal primary process.
5. Even though she loves Alaska, it is far, far away. Palin can be in the lower 48 and make impromptu appearances like she did at Yankee Stadium with former Mayor Guiliani. Plus, all the better if a comic defames her family because then she can hold a news conference and get more notoriety.
6. Right now Palin has two advantages if she decided to run for President. For better or worse, she’s a known quantity and her gender gives the battered GOP a claim that they can be inclusive.
7. While Barack Obama became the anti-Bush, Palin can be the anti-Obama. Let’s face it, this President is moving fast and restructuring this country. I think it’s great but there are many Americans who are nervous and think he’s moving too fast. Those people would be a natural constituency for Palin. Add to that her conservative base, and you have a formidable coalition. And if some of the policies of Obama fail, then the implications for a Palin run are off the charts.
8. Much has been said of her news conference today. That it was disjointed and rambling. I saw the whole replay of it and while elements of that are true, here’s something else about it. She did it on a Friday afternoon of a 3 day weekend. (Part of me thinks she did it to get the “liberal” commentators off their asses in the Hamptons to come in to work and cover it). NBC’s “Meet the Press” will be preempted this Sunday because of tennis. She took no questions. Palin controlled the message. Her detractors will say quitter, her fans might see a bandwagon. But she is letting the speculation fly at the start of this 4th of July weekend. At every fireworks display, every ceremony honoring America, every cookout, someone will bring her name up. This “wear her life on her sleeve” person now has become to an extent, a woman of mystery. That in and of itself is a PR coup. She led every nightly newscast, every radio cast from 4pm until 10pm. Dumb as a fox.
9. Palin’s stepping down in a strange way can make her more attractive as a candidate. She can reluctantly acquiesce to the will of the people, picking up the burden like Cincinnatus and doing it for her country. “I thought I left this…..but if duty calls……….” Politically priceless!
Sarah Palin is running for President. She might not know how or in what manner but I bet you she knows why. There’s a serious gap in leadership in the Republican Party. No one seems to want to do or saying anything but say “no”. This afternoon, Palin boldly made a move. It was not the type of move a conventional politician would have chosen. As a matter of fact it is vaguely reminiscent of an action taken by a long shot who became President against all expectations. If you asked Governor Palin if she thought this action today would lead to a showdown with that long shot, Mr. Obama in 2012, she’d most likely say, “Now that would be a hoot!” Yes it will.

The LuLac Edition #866, July 3rd, 2009

2009-07-03T00:00:00.009-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: OUR 1964 LOGO, VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN AND OUR FOREWORKS SAFETY LOGO.

BOMBSHELLS

Mark Ciavarella said he agreed to testify at a hearing regarding whether a defamation verdict he entered in favor of Thomas Joseph should be overturned because he wanted to set the record straight saying he did nothing wrong in the procedure. The former judge is awaiting sentencing on charges he and former judge Michael Conahan accepted more than $2.6 million in kickbacks from attorney Robert Powell and local developer Robert Mericle in exchange for rulings that benefitted two juvenile centers Powell once co-owned. Unlike Conahan and William Sharkey as well as William D’Elia, the former jurist did not take the fifth. A large part of the testimony focused on refuting allegations that have been lodged against him in the corruption scandal. He adamantly denied that he accepted “bribes” or “kickbacks” from Powell or Mericle. Ciavarella called Powell as an “outright liar” regarding allegations that he (the Judge) extorted him. In a very curious and telling twist, a transcript of testimony of Ann Burns, deputy commissioner of civil trials for the county was read by the Shamrock attorneys. Burns was the person who placed a handwritten note in a court database denoting that the case had been assigned to Ciavarella from an order of Conahan and Sharkey. The assignment was made even though former Judge Ann Lokuta was the person assigned to hear non-jury trials that month. According to the Times Leader, in the statement, Burns acknowledged that the assignment was “out of the ordinary,” and that she wrote the note because she “wanted to be protected myself.” Testimony resumes next week.

BUDGET IMPASSE

Gov. Ed Rendell said at a news conference that he doesn't expect a budget agreement for possibly two more weeks. He met with legislative leaders on Monday and Wednesday going over each line of the budget. He called the session productive and the spirit of the discussion "cooperative," but acknowledged miles separate the budget proposals. "I don't expect to get it done this week or even possibly next week, but I expect we can get this done," he said. Many state employees are hoping it gets done by July 17 so they can avoid having the budget impasse and the state's limited authority to spend money without an enacted budget, begin to impact their paychecks.

BIDEN IN IRAQ

Vice President Biden has arrived in Iraq to visit U.S. troops and to meet with Iraqi leaders, including President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ayad al-Samarrai. The Vice President will reiterate the United States’ commitment to fully implement the Security Agreement and the Strategic Framework Agreement and to carry out President Obama’s plan to draw down U.S. forces. He will discuss with Iraq’s leaders the importance of achieving the political progress that is necessary to ensure the nation’s long-term stability. This is Vice President Biden’s second trip to Iraq this year and his first as Vice President.

KA-BOOM!!!!!

Even in a scorched economy, there's still some money to burn. Operators of the more than twenty fireworks tents in parking lots throughout LuLac land think patriotism, tradition and a strong need to party on a Saturday night will translate into more than a few dollars of profit and more smoldering in America's pockets this Fourth of July. But if you are going to start blowing up your backyard, be cautious. Here is a safety video so you can return to work and/or school on Monday July 6th with limbs and body parts intact:

2 HOT ON THE 4TH

A few of our favorite patriots talk about their plans for the 4th:

1964

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, abolishing racial segregation in the United States……Statewide, the Pennsylvania State Senate appropriated $500,000 for the research of acid mine and drainage problems. The bill passed 48 to 1 and was moved on to the House……Noteworthy budget news, back in 1964 the state of Pennsylvania was prohibited by law not to incur more than 1 million dollars in debt in any given budget year...Before big crowds over the July 4th weekend, the Phillies sweep the san Francisco Giants with pitchers Ray Culp, Jim Bunning and Dennis Bennett besting Giants hurlers Ron Herbel, Gaylord Perry and Juan Marichal. Each game was under 2 hours and 55 minutes and on Sunday’s game, nearly 39,000 people attended…..Professor Leroy Bugbee, professor of history at Wyoming Seminary gives an address “This Was The Battle of Wyoming” at the Monument site on the fourth of July. The event started at 10AM with Program Chairman Attorney Keene Mitchell introducing the educator…..Meanwhile across the street, Vice Chair of the Wyoming Historical Society Attorney Harry B. Schooley announces that the Sweatland Homestead would be open for tours right after the monument ceremony…. And 45 years ago this week, the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying”. The group, Gerry and the Pacemakers were from Liverpool, the same town as the Beatles and were managed by the Fab 4’s guru, Brian Epstein. The song hit number 6 in England but in the British Invasion crazed America, it hit number 1.

The LuLac Edition #865, July 2nd, 2009

2009-07-02T00:43:00.010-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: STAR WITNESS NOW, ASPIRING CANDIDATE TWENTY NINE YEARS AGO, BOB KULICK AND OUR "MAYBE I'M AMAZED" LOGO.

KULICK’S SONG

Nearly 30 years ago, Bob Kulick was a hot prospect in the Democratic party. A former Staff member of Congressman Dan Flood, Kulick ran for State Representative in the seat vacated by Ray Musto when the former ran for Congress. Kulick was defeated in that 1980 election but remained a type of politico without portfolio in the Democratic party. Through the years there has been controversy but he always seemed to survive it. Certainly friends in the Democratic party never deserted him attending his annual Christmas soirees at his Bear Creek home. Kulick was regarded as a “player” of some sort. Much to the chagrin of some people, he still carries that reputation today. Except that now he is not shy about his associations. Robert Kulick testified for nearly two hours about meetings he held with former Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Conahan at a hearing over allegations that Conahan engaged in case fixing in a defamation verdict against The Citizens' Voice. Kulick testified that he and crime boss William D'Elia held numerous meetings with Conahan. He said that D'Elia claimed Conahan had assured him that the outcome of the defamation case would be postiive for the plaintiff. Kulick claimed he had met several times with Conahan to ask him to intervene in several court cases involving friends of Kulick. Kulick testified that several of his meetings with Conahan, often took place at Perkins restaurant in Wilkes-Barre. It was learned that the confabs were photographered by an undercover police officer. Meanwhile D’Elia invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify about the allegations that he conspired with two former Luzerne County judges to fix a $3.5 million defamation verdict against The Citizens’ Voice in a story written by reported Ed Lewis. Conahan and former county court administrator William T. Sharkey Sr. also took the fifth. A Luzerne County security guard says she was the conduit of some sort of information between D’Elia and the Judges. Patricia Benzi said she met D’Elia and Conahan through her friendship with businessman Robert Kulick. Benzi said she would meet D’Elia in the employee parking lot of the Luzerne County Courthouse to obtain the 8 1/2-by-11 envelopes. She never questioned what was inside. The paper's attorneys claim Conahan helped rig the defamation verdict in a suit filed by Mountain Top businessman Tom Joseph. It is alleged Conahan intervened with Sharkey to assign the case to Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., another former judge who is Conahan's co-defendant in a bribery case involving the Juvenile Detention Center.

POWELL PLEAS

Robert Powell pleaded guilty to charges of accessory after the fact and misprision of a felony Wednesday in federal court in Scranton. The charges stem from a plea agreement filed in June where Powell acknowledged he knew that former Luzerne County judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella were committing crimes, but he failed to report those activities, as required by law, to federal authorities. The Hazleton attorney will be sentenced later in the year.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Maybe I'm Amazed that it has been one week since Michael Jackson’s death and he hasn’t been buried yet. Even more amazing is that there seems to be no concrete plans to inter him. Even in death, chaos followed the gloved one.
Maybe I’m Amazed that in this workforce today, basic, simple gestures of kindness and professionalism become the subject of a radio ad. A local hospital and call center have a thing called “Movers and Shakers” where they salute an employee for volunteering at a charity event and then working their shift right after it. Or having someone sleep in a hospital room because the roads were bad during a snow storm. I mean c’mon, do you have to salute this type of stuff? Call them heroes? I mean that kind of devalues the word hero doesn’t it? At one place I worked, they nominated a woman for an award because she took over a class for another woman because the scheduled trainer that day called in sick. Gave her a gift certificate, picture on the company website and who knows maybe mowed her lawn. ALL SHE DID WAS TAKE OVER A CLASS BECAUSE SOMEONE, ONE OF HER FELLOW DEPARTMENT WORKERS CALLED OUT SICK! She did what she was supposed to do as a co worker and professional. These are not “movers and shakers”, they haven’t created a cancer vaccine, cured a disease or did CPR on anyone. They just did the mundane things people are supposed to do for each other. Jeez!
Maybe I’m Amazed that Governor Mark Sanford has not yet shut up about his affair. Take it from me, when the main person in your life, ie his wife, forgives you, takes you back and doesn’t come after you in the middle of the night with cutlery, thank your lucky stars, shut your mouth and don’t say another word about it to anyone. You got a major break, take it and try to blend in. I equate Sanford’s recent babbling to a guy walking into an undertaker’s convention wearing a lime green suit!
Maybe I’m Amazed that poor little Chaz Passeri is annoyed because he is being denied alcohol rehabilitation. This is the same kid who drove drunk and was arrested. Then when he was out on bail, alcohol was again found in his car. So he was remanded to jail again. Little baby boy is saying the reason that this is happening is because of his last name, implying I guess that the courts in Lackawanna County have it in for Italians. Then his mommy says he is the NEPA equivalent to Britney Spears! Momma protects and enables little baby boy, we understand this demented parental logic but why insult poor Britney?
Maybe I’m Amazed that pit bulls are allowed to run free in Luzerne County. And that these dogs are weapons used by drug dealers to scare off fellow associates and maim police when they try to make a bust.
Maybe I’m Amazed that when a man’s 11 year old dog was eaten and chewed up by two wild roaming pit bulls on the new River common, no statement came from the Mayor’s office. Nothing. If it were a child attacked and maimed, I’m sure the Mayor would have…….what the hell am I talking about……..... he wouldn’t have. Silly me.

UPDATE 07/02/09 3:48PM

This afternoon Mayor Tom Leighton issued a statement through a release on the pit bull attack on a dog this past Monday. We thank Leighton for the statement and the concern. Here’s what he said,
“The unfortunate incident that occurred on Monday, June 29, involving the mauling of a pet dog by vicious, off-the-leash dogs has undoubtedly distressed residents in the City of Wilkes-Barre and visitors to the River Common,” Leighton said. “Wild, uncontrollable dogs create unsafe environments and threaten those around them, including passersby, members of law enforcement and other animals. I have listened to the public’s concerns and would like to assure everyone that the City of Wilkes-Barre and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department are doing everything we can – within the confines of Pennsylvania State law - to prevent and respond to dangerous dog attacks,” Leighton said.
Maybe I’m Amazed that with the obvious need for health care reform in this country, the scare tactics are again coming out from the vested interests who have gouged people with premiums for years.
Maybe I’m Amazed that there is $50,000 missing from the Luzerne County Probation Office. The money was earmarked from DUI fines and no one can find it. I’m not surprised at the ineptness because it is an office under the auspices of Luzerne County government in Luzerne County. Folks, sorry to do this to you again but I’m going to keep on adding it every time something like this happens or until it sinks in:

The LuLac Edition #864, July 1st, 2009

2009-07-01T00:12:00.007-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: DEPUTY SHERIFF BARNEY FIFE LOOKING PERPLEXED AND PERHAPS WONDERING IF HE CAN GET A JOB APPLCATION FOR THE LUZERNE COUNTY LAW SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE COVER OF A BOOK BY JOE "TIP" THOMAS CALLED "THE TARNISHED BADGE".

THE TARNISHED BADGE

First off, I feel sorry for Sheriff Mike Savokinas. Yeah, that’s right, I do. I’ve had my share of jobs where when you go on vacation, you really don’t. You think of the people you left behind who might screw up, you think of something you didn’t get to that could turn into a disaster and you also dread a phone call from the office. So even though you are physically removed from your job, mentally you’re back behind the desk. This week Savokinas got a call from the media on the latest mishap in his tenure in the Sheriff’s office. The Citizen’s Voice reported that there were at least two occasions where drugs were found in a Sheriff’s vehicle. Savokinas said there have been two separate incidents where drugs were found in sheriff's department vehicles. Savokinas said he discovered "a small packet" of what appeared to be cocaine on the floor on the front driver's side of his unmarked, Ford Crown Victoria, sometime in April. In the other case, packets of heroin and hypodermic needles were found in a prisoner transport vehicle, he said. Savokinas said he and two deputies found the packet of cocaine after stopping for coffee at a convenience store. They had been transporting prisoners to and from Central Magisterial Court in Wilkes-Barre, he said.
This is just another item in a list of tumultuous Courthouse happenings and still another red mark on the rookie Sheriff’s record. Savokinas doesn’t shy away from reporter’s questions, I’ll give him that but some of his answers don’t add up. The latest incident leaves many questions unanswered like:

1. When prisoners are transported for hearings, aren’t they already cavity searched? I had a friend in the slammer and they took everything, even the underwear.

2. When they stopped for “coffee”, wouldn’t it be better if one of them went into the store instead two? Leaving a county vehicle unattended is careless.

3. Why did Savokinas say the Wilkes Barre Police Department and his own District Attorney had no on file from him on the incident?

4. Why didn’t Savokinas coordinate with other departments on this incident? He took great pains to make sure his deputies took photos of the drugs to cover himself because he said it didn’t look good.

5. Why was the car in question parked for several days in Duryea by a Savokinas crony’s house before the incident happened?

6. Why oh why did Savokinas talk without gathering all of his information? Many, many people were unhappy with Lackawanna County DA Andy Jarbola’s presentation on The Brenda Williams death investigation but no one can say he wasn’t prepared. The latest flap is just another in a long line of problems since Savokinas took office after a close election with 2 term incumbent Barry Stankus.
1. TRAIN-GATE-When Savokinas first took office, it took reporters dogged questions before the Sheriff admitted that he was still working for the railroad, in effect double dipping. A furor erupted and the Sheriff took a leave from the choo choo job.
2. HEROIN-GATE-Savokinas admitted to WILK talk show host that he had 7 bags of the drug stashed in his office for safe keeping. The chain of evidence implications in this admission are breath taking.
3. TIME CARD-GATE-Savokinas has been widely criticized for letting his office procedures go amuck when it came to keeping track of his people’s vacation and personal time.
4. GUARNIERI-GATE-The Sheriff’s top deputy was not in the office for a few weeks and there was no record of vacation time. Guarnieri who was interviewed by WBRE’s Joe Holden was not happy with the line of questioning and lunged at the reporter’s microphone.
All of these things add up to some problems for the Sheriff. First off, every story shows that he is not running the ship correctly. Second, because the perception is one of problems, that impacts on the morale and loyalty of his staff. Third, If his staff is in turmoil, that can cause political problems ensuring the Sheriff of just one term in office or in the worst case scenario, resignation in his current term.
If I were the Sheriff, I’d be concerned that one of my deputies went to other people under the dome with this latest issue. I’d want to know who I pissed off and why. And if I wanted to stay in office or have a political career, I’d find out.
Savokinas, in his dealing with the media has said that anything is “possible”. It is “possible” he was being set up, and it was “possible” the cocaine dropped from a prisoner’s shoe. At the 1968 GOP convention, then Illinois Senator Charles Percy was asked if he was going to be nominated for President. His reply was, “possible but not probable”. Savokinas has to learn, for his own political survival that anything that might be possible is not necessarily probable.

REPLAY!!!!

The latest fiasco coming out of the Sheriff’s office screams the word “reform”. The County Courthouse needs fixing. The Home Rule Charter, hopefully will do that in due time. But right now, (sorry to be redundant) shut everything down:

ANIMALS DO BREED

A horrible story out of Scranton, the Times Tribune reported that, Darak Williams, 26, waived formal arraignment before Judge Michael Barrasse on first- and third-degree murder charges in the slaying of Kavannah Salvador. She died Feb. 21, 2008, shortly after she was taken to Community Medical Center by Mr. Williams and her mother, Kashema Reddish. After they dropped off the baby, the two fled to Buffalo where they were caught a year later. Mr. Williams said he’s innocent and that he “respects” life. I guess he respected it so much that must be the reason why he ran. As for mom, she’s charged with third degree murder. Taxpayer funded public defenders will try to justify “Mr. Mom’s” and “The Muthuh of the Year’s” crimes. Prison is no fun for two individuals in their 20s but come to think of it, a cold, hard, stone grave is no picnic either for an innocent, dead 3 year old who was beaten to death by somebody. With these two animals, the kid never had a chance.

FRANKEN A SENATOR

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the state's long-running Senate race, paving the way for a resolution in the seven-month fight over the seat. The high court rejected a legal challenge from Republican Norm Coleman, whose options for regaining the Senate seat are dwindling. Justices said Franken is entitled to the election certificate he needs to assume office. With Franken and the usual backing of two independents, Democrats will have a big enough majority to overcome Republican filibusters. Franken will make history by becoming the first comedian ever elected to the Senate . Many became comics after getting there but Franken is the first who actually had the job as a vocation before coming to D.C.

The LuLac Edition #863, June 30th, 2009

2009-06-30T08:21:00.005-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: NIGHT VIEW OF STATE CAPITOL.

BOXES AND BULLIES

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the committee preparing for hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor needs time to review 300 boxes of records that recently turned up in connection with her work for a legal advocacy group. Like where did they records come from and who gave them to the GOP? McConnell said the Senate Judiciary Committee needs to examine the materials from the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Hearings are scheduled to begin July 13 on President Barack Obama's nomination of Sotomayor, a federal appeals court judge. The Dems have the majority, Obama’s nominee will win but not before being scarred a bit by a GOP looking to find an issue. The GOP, outnumbered on this one, faced with a nominee with pretty good credentials as well as a political double play (gender and ethnicity) can only hope to play the role of a school yard bully whose bark is bigger than his bite.

GOP FAMILY VALUES

A potential White House contender in 2012 staked a claim to rehabilitating the Republican Party in the wake of extramarital affairs by two leading Republicans that have damaged the GOP's family-values image. Gov. Tim Pawlenty, of Minnesota said the obvious, "It certainly hurts the brand." Pawlenty viewed as a running mate to John McCain in 2008 volunteered his servies to spruce up the GOP image. "I think I can make a contribution, in a positive way, for trying to rebuild this party. “ The problem with the GOP scandals is this, while there are many Dem scandals they can look to in the past, right now we have a virtual modern day Ward Cleaver/Cliff Huxstable in the White House with an intelligent wife who grows veggies in the garden and two adorable well behaved kids. Tough to paint President Obama as one of those “Hollywood loving, depraved Democrats with no morals or family values”. That is their problem. There is just no comparative data that can compute.

NO BUDGET YET

Pennsylvania's state government will most likely begin a seventh straight fiscal year without a spending plan in place. The Democratic governor and Republican legislators are about $2 billion apart on proposals to balance the state's recession-wracked budget.
Rendell says he's prepared to go as long as it takes to get an acceptable agreement. Rendell’s strategy has been to tell anyone who would listen that he will make tremendous cuts in the budget. Those interest groups being affected have taken to the airwaves broadcasting that something has to be done. Rendell knows he’s more popular than the Legislature and will use that to drive a wedge. Unlike other years though, Rendell is not blaming anyone in state government but rather "those SOBs on Wall Street." That's encouraging. Still, this 7th straight year of no budget on time does not inspire confidence in all branches of state government.

The LuLac Edition #862, June 29th, 2009

2009-06-29T00:15:00.002-04:00
PHOTO INDEX: OUR VIDEO LOGO.

CHURCH NEWS

Well another parish that was over 100 years old closed yesterday. St. Mark's in Inkerman closed its doors. However in Wilkes Barre at St. Nick's, members of the Hispanic community joined that parish and called St. Nicholas their own. The new members increase St. Nick's family roster to about 1300. Meantime one year ago today, the church I grew up in, St. John the Baptist Church on William Street in Pittston closed its doors. The church is still standing, not sold, essentially rotting. Wasn't there supposed to be a memory wall installed in the basement of St. John the Evangelist and a handy dandy video tribute with memories tape recorded by parishioners of the Baptist and St. Casmir's? Oh well, it doesn't matter. By next year, it'll be a Wendy's. Here's the video:

The LuLac Edition #861, June 28th, 2009

2009-06-28T00:51:00.008-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: MARIA SHARAPOVA ON THE COVER OF THIS WEEK'S "ESPN THE MAGAZINE", MY GIRL GETTING SOME P.T. FOR HER AILING SHOULDER AND FORMER WBRE AND WNEP TV NEWS DIRECTOR AND FELLOW ON LINE PUNDIT PAUL STUEBER.

MEDIA MATTERS

Every time I watch some rookie newscaster or even an anchor with a few years in the business not tell me the gist of the story they are reporting, not give me the point and leave a dangling piece of information in the ether, I think of Paul Stueber the former news director of WBRE TV and WNEP TV. As a veteran newsman, Stueber made sure people reported the entire story, start to finish. That doesn’t happen anymore. It occured last night on WBRE. They tell us a Wilkes Barre woman became Miss Pennsylvania but no one found a picture of her anywhere to complete the story! Paul has a media related blog called “Tying My Shoes” which has some great information in it. Here’s his link:
http://tyingmyshoes.blogspot.com/2009_06_27_archive.html
What was intriguing to me was part of what he said about WYOU TV. As you know I was a frequent guest on their Interactive News. In April, Nexstar Broadcasting said the production of the newscast cost too much money. Yet, according to Mr. Stueber, they were the only TV station that had an increase in revenue over the previous year.
Top-rated WNEP-TV, the local ABC affiliate, raked in an estimated $27 million last year, which accounted for 48.2 percent of the total local revenue, down from 50.1 percent in 2007. WBRE-TV, the local NBC affiliate, had an estimated $11.5 million, or 20.5 percent, of the advertising revenue, down slightly from 20.6 percent in '07. WYOU-TV (CBS) earned an estimated $9.4 million, or 16.8 percent, up from 15.5 percent in 2007. So even though they made more money the previous year, they dumped their commitment to news. Just pointing that out.

THE PREZ AND PUBLIC PLAN

On Tuesday at his news conference, President Obama said a public plan would be “an important tool to discipline insurance companies.” He said he supports a public plan “that's not profit-driven, that can keep down administrative costs, and that provides you good, quality care for a reasonable price.” He added that if a public plan “is able to reduce administrative costs significantly, then you know what, I'd like the insurance companies to take note and say, hey, ‘if the public plan can do that, why can't we?’” John Holohan, the director of the Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute, a non-partisan Washington think tank, said “having a competitor to private plans, under a fair set of market rules, will provide more choice and place substantial cost containment pressure on the health care system.” But opponents of a public plan say it will undermine private sector insurance, eventually leaving nothing but taxpayer-provided and government-run insurance. Stuart Butler, a health care analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said at a forum sponsored by the Alliance for Health Reform that it would require “a staggering leap of faith to assume that the Congress and the United States government will somehow operate like a sort of benign umpire in the system, when it actually is also a team owner.” Under the proposal introduced by House Democrats last week, the plan would get some unspecified amount of start-up money from the federal government. But the intention of public plan proponents is it would become self-sustaining that is, financed by the premiums paid by the people who enroll in it. But Holohan that “the public plan is probably going to get sicker than average people” signing up for it. “There are an awful lot of people who have had health problems and have had bad experiences with insurance companies. And they will probably gravitate toward the public plan”. And my question to the esteemed gentleman is this: can you blame them????????????

MY GUILTY PLEASURE

Every late June before the Fourth of July, I wonder how my girl Maria Sharapova will do at Wimbledon. Sometimes the answer comes late in the final rounds, this year, alas it came early. Maria’s Wimbledon campaign came to an early end in round two after losing a thriller to Gisela Dulko.The Russian former champion was far from her best and the Argentinian took advantage, winning the first set 6-2.Dulko took a 3-0 lead in the second but Sharapova fought valiantly and won six games in a row to take the set 6-3, but Dulko refused to wilt and claimed the third set 6-4 on her fifth match point.Maria Sharapova's passion for Wimbledon has not been diminished by making an early exit for a second straight year.The former champion suffered a 6-2 3-6 6-4 defeat in a thrilling clash against Argentinian Gisela Dulko. She said: "Being here is a wonderful accomplishment. I'm not lying about it. I had the pleasure of playing on Centre Court again. I didn't play on it last year. I enjoy every single minute." Now that's class and true love of sports and competition. Here are a few moments with Maria; the first is a wonderful ESPN commercial that every guy will get and the next is Maria losing her cool at a line judge:

She'll do better at the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows. Count on it!
The "Prez and Public Plan" story NBC/CBS News sources.

The LuLac Edition #860, June 27th, 2009

2009-06-27T00:04:00.006-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: LUZERNE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARYANNE PETRILLA, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND CONGRESSMAN PAUL KANJORSKI. (TOP) CONGRESSMAN PAUL KANJORSKI, VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND LUZERNE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARYANNE PETRILLA.

HANGIN' WITH THE FOLKS!

Throughout their political career Paul Kanjorski and Maryanne Petrilla have attended more than their fair share of church festivals, backyard barbeques and picnics. But this week, both attended a picnic on the lawn of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. President Obama who is fond of talking to, for and about "the folks" hosted the event. The picnic is an annual White House event and was hosted by both the President and his Veep. Naturally the two local politicos talked about the event. I mean who wouldn't?
“It was an honor to be invited to the White House and I was thrilled that Commissioner Petrilla was able to join,” said Congressman Kanjorski. “It was an eventful evening as we had the opportunity to talk with President Obama, Vice President Biden, and many others in a more casual setting. We also had the pleasure of seeing one of our Pennsylvania Senators, Senator Casey.”
“I was proud to represent Luzerne County to President Obama and his family,” said Commissioner Petrilla. “I greatly appreciated that Congressman Kanjorski gave me the opportunity to discuss the issues that matter in Northeastern Pennsylvania with so many members of the executive and legislative branches of government. And I look forward to making the most of those contacts as I continue to work on behalf Luzerne County’s families.”

A GOOD LAW!!!

A New Law Requires Major Health Insurers to Allow Eligible Children through the Age 29 to Remain Covered Under Their Parents’ Policy. As we all know in today’s tough economic climate, increasingly more young adults face difficulties finding work after leaving school, which means they also face the prospect of losing health insurance coverage. To address this issue, Pennsylvania recently enacted legislation to require major insurers to allow dependent, uninsured adult children through the age 29 to remain on their parents’ policy. The law, Act 4 of 2009, covers new insurance contracts and renewals after December 7, 2009. A young adult eligible for this coverage would have to meet the following requirements:
1. Have insured parents;
2. Not be married;
3. Have no dependants;
4. Be a PA resident or be enrolled full-time at an institution of higher education.
5. Not be covered by another health-care policy.
Parents would also have to pay their children’s premiums, and the coverage would depend on the employers’ willingness to offer the benefit to parents. For more information on how to apply for this coverage, parents should contact their employers or health insurers. If you are not eligible for health-care coverage under Act 4, other options are available to you, as well. If your parents have coverage through a large group plan, COBRA may provide temporary continuation coverage for you. Federal law requires that employees and their families covered under group health plans be offered the opportunity for temporary coverage where the plan would otherwise end. This coverage generally lasts around 18 months and requires premium payments on your part. In addition, you can also contact insurance companies to obtain an individual policy or, if you’re a college graduate, you can try calling your alma mater to see if you can continue the school’s health plan after graduation. Some schools offer coverage up to 12 months after graduation, which could also be renewable for up to two years. Right now there are many uninsured young people in this state simply because they can't afford health care premiums of roughly $500.00 a month on their own. This is a great move to get those people covered.

WALTER’S DILEMMA

Walter Griffith, Junior has a dilemma. He actually is going to have to force himself from not going to a public meeting. In this case a meeting at an entity where he is a duly elected official. Griffith told me, “I will not attend any meetings regarding the Home Rule Study Commission until they comply with the Sunshine Act. I will not be a party to any illegal meetings that are not advertised.” Apparently the committee feels they don’t have to follow the Sunshine Laws. Okay, maybe technically they don’t, but let’s talk public perception here. We have a County Government in crisis with only four high profile competent public officials trying to hold it together. (Petrilla, Urban, Muroski and Carroll). In order to change county government, a study commission is elected. So the first thing this commission does is say they don’t have to have public meetings in the open and then limit audience participation time. To an already disgusted general public, this sends the wrong message. Now the GSC has been advised by Mr. Haggerty that they will not follow the Sunshine Law until they are advised by a solicitor. Here’s a plan that maybe makes too much sense, why not err on the side of caution and hold open meetings until you hire a solicitor? I hope Walter Griffith changes his mind and shows up. They say that democracy can be a messy business but you shouldn’t go out of your way to make it messier than necessary. Unless the whole point of this committee is to devalue itself from the get go and lose any credibility of the very angry citizens in this county, there should be open meetings without any reservations. Case closed.

FACEBOOK

This blog/site has been accused of being too personality oriented. I don’t think that’s true because I don’t share my every thought about just anything and put it out there. Our subjects are local, state, and national political affairs with a concentration on Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. (Thus the name LuLac!) We also deal with pop culture events and of course weigh in on opinions regarding such things. We offer other blogs on our Profile page but if you want more stuff, check out my facebook page. Google David Yonki facebook and it should come up. Sorry, no twitter, I’m too wordy, verbose and do have a life.

The LuLac Edition #859, June 26th, 2009

2009-06-26T00:24:00.007-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: OUR 1964 LOGO, NEWLY MINTED WILKES BARRE AREA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CHRISTINE KATSOCK, THE LATE FARRAH FAWCET AND MICHAEL JACKSON.

KATSOCK IN

The Wilkes Barre Area School Board named Christine Katsock as a board member to replace Jim Height. Katsock who has been in the arena for a decade finally reaped a huge double victory on both party nominations in the primary. Her appointment was the most logical choice because of her electoral success plus her obvious commitment to public service. I reached Katsock at her home and she said this when I asked her reaction to the appointment. "I am absolutely thrilled. First off I want to thank the voters for making me the top vote getter in the last election. In the same breath I want to thank the Wilkes Barre Area School Board for voting me to this position unanimously”.

ICONS GONE

FARRAH

Two major American icons died on the same day. Yesterday morning Farrah Fawcett passed away after a long battle with cancer. Fawcet was the all American girl whose bathing suit poster graced the rooms of many an American boy in the 1970s. It is a little known fact that Fawcett was only on the hit series “Charlie’s Angels” for just the first season. Her body of work came in drama later on. One of her signature roles was that of an abused and beaten woman based on a true story called “The Burning Bed”. Fawcett may best be remembered though for her fight against cancer. The documentary on NBC chronicled the disease that killed her. Fawcett had a career with memorable moments. There were ups and downs and certainly some bumps along the way. But she never ran away from a fight. Every person who has cancer reaches a defining moment of reality that hits you over the head with the ravages of the disease and/or treatment. The one I had was minor to the Farrah Fawcett moment when she took her turban off to reveal the ravages against that gorgeous head of hair that made every woman envious and every man’s head turn. The video I saw showed me a lot of spirit, courage and fight. She made all of us aware of her obvious physical beauty with that poster from the 70s. We gained a glimpse into the inner beauty of her spirit and soul in the way in which she faced her death. God speed Farrah!
A video from that iconic first year of "Charlie's Angels".

MICHAEL

I first became aware of little Michael Jackson when I went to visit relatives in Windsor Ontario when I was in high school. A radio fan, I toured the studios of that giant radio station CKLW, The Big 8. This was the summer of 1969 and the station staff was abuzz with a free concert in Detroit featuring a little known group called The Jackson 5. By the start of the year, their first single, “I Want You Back” hit number 1. It was followed by three other number 1 hits that year. There were numerous appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show with the front man being the youngest Jackson, Michael. Jackson is one of the few members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to be inducted twice, once as part of a group, the other as an individual. While he was a member of the group he began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums have become some of the world's best-selling records. Joe Middleton of Laflin and a former Pittston resident was a road manager and merchandising coordinator for the Jackson summer tour of 1973 and 1974. “He was a great talent with incredible stage presence and energy. The only thing was the kid had no life. When he was on the road he had tutors with him so he got an education but the father had the whole family under his thumb. He was the cash cow of his family and really did not have a normal childhood. When I saw him, he was very quiet. But once he got on that stage, that arena became his wheelhouse. He’ll be remembered as one of the top performers in that musical genre” said Middleton. Quincy Jones was also credited with securing Michael Jackson's place in pop music history. "It was Quincy Jones that took Jackson to the next level in terms of creativity and musical energy that he wasn't going to get at the assembly line music menatality at Motown Records" concluded Middleton. In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and Thriller—credited for transforming the music video into an art form and a promotional tool. It also made Jackson an enduring figure in the pop music and entertainment world. When I was a staff member of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, I had a brush with the fame and frenzy generated by Michael Jackson. During the 1984 United Way campaign, local businessman Ron Simms came across maybe 50 tickets to the Jackson Family Reunion Tour in Philadelphia. Mr. Simms donated all of them and the organization sold them about $50.00 above face value. Word had got out that the show was sold out and when we opened the doors at 9 East Market Street, there was a line all the way to the Genetti Hotel Parking Lot. Needless to say we were sold out in a half hour. It was a good day for the United Way thanks to Mr. Simms………and of course to the ultimate talent of the Jacksons. Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearance and behavior, generated significant controversy, damaging his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer experienced health concerns from the early 1990s until his death, as well as conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. Here's one of the great songs of the 70s that made Michael Jackson and his brothers a household name.

1964

The Vatican condemns the female combined oral contraceptive pill………The National GOP gears up for a convention fight between Pennsylvania Governor Bill Scranton and Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. Though Goldwater is favored, the moderates in the GOP are lining up en masse to support Mr. Scranton. Meanwhile Goldwater tells reporters he is thinking about running mates as the convention nears…………..Statewide, Luzerne County Commissioner James Post was named to the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Republican State committee………………After pitching a perfect game on Father's Day, Jim Bunning gives up 11 hits in a game with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Phils win 6-5 with Ed Roebuck getting the win in relief............The Young Democrats of Lackawanna County completed their annual membership drive. The group met at the Hotel Casey and announced that they had 4200 members. Ralph Brunari was the chairman and the highest enroller was Marlene Sewack…..and 45 years ago today, the number 1 song in LuLac land was “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys. The flip side was “Help Me Rhonda”.

The LuLac Edition #858, June 25th, 2009

2009-06-25T09:35:00.005-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: A SAMPLE TIME CARD AND PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.

ONCE MORE!!

I don't mean to be redundant here but I must reiterate once more my concern as a citizen and taxpayer with the time card situation at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Two items from today's newspapers:
Former deputy chief clerk Bill Brace was among the employees who had accrued significant vacation and sick time. He was paid a total of $11,388.56 for 250.25 hours of unused vacation, plus an additional $3,000 for unused sick time, according to county payroll records. Times Leader.
Former Luzerne County juvenile probation official Sandra M. Brulo was suspended without pay after her arrest in February, yet the county still paid her almost $12,000 in March for unused sick, personal and vacation time. Citizen's Voice.
We can't say for sure how Brace and Brulo kept their time cards. That is past but it is illustrative of the huge payments people got on the way out the door. And there seemed to be no distinction between a guy like Brace who left to take on still another government job or Brulo who left under an indictment from the feds. The County row offices have not been acting like managers, they have not been on top of this issue. I mean can you really believe that no worker never took a vacation at the Courthouse or a day off? I mean how do you explain some of the empty offices on a Friday afternoon after 3PM? Where are these people? Radical changes need to be made:
1. Get rid of the unions. This is very tough for me to say because my dad was a union man all of his life on the Railroad. And God knows I'm in favor of "Card Check" because of the abuses employers have heaped upon workers in the late 90s and this new century. But the county employee unions have proven, just like the row officers that they are okay with this willy nilly policy of time card keeping. Ronald Reagan broke the union of the air traffic controllers for less reason than this.
2. Put every county employee on unemployment compensation for 60 days. Terminate every position. Have them reapply for their jobs. This will seperate the workers from the connected flunkys.
3. Put in a time clock. Kronos is a good company. That will insure that the time accrued will be accurate.
4. Keep the row officers because for better or worse they are duly elected. Keep the senior management staff. Have a volunteer committee of former Governor Richard Thornburgh, and former Ltn. Governor Mark Singel who will oversee the operation.
5. Once the county is back on a sound footing with a management system in place that is uniform in every office, and employees have been rehired, then unionize again.
This is an extreme action but it is needed. This is not just one "cowboy" row office going off on their own, this is an incestuous, systematic system of negative forces that have brought us to this brink. Whether it be neglect, laziness, entitlement, theft of services or chicanery....whatever the reason, it has to stop.

HYPER TECHNICAL

I heard Luzerne County Study Commission Chair Jim Haggerty rail against fellow Commission member Walter Griffith on the radio today. Haggerty used the term "Hyper technical" about 10 times. He said more than a few times that the Study Commission was doing the work of the people, he talked about how the committee last night worked an hour and a half doing the business of the people. When Sue Henry asked Chairman Haggerty if he wanted to share with the audience what the study commission was doing, Haggerty reiterated that the commission was doing the work of the people and studying the government of Luzerne County. I don't mean to be "hyper technical" here but some specifics from the Chair would have been nice.

The LuLac Edition #857, June 24th, 2009

2009-06-24T15:41:00.006-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: A PROMOTIONAL PHOTO FROM AN ARGENTINA TRAVEL BROCHURE AND THE LATE PITTSTON MAYOR ROBERT LOFTUS SENIOR, CIRCA 2007.

CHAIRMAN BOB

Robert Loftus died Monday. Loftus is the last in a long line of political lions in the Democratic party that is passing from the political scene. Loftus was first elected Mayor in 1961 touting his experience as a businessman as well as a World War II veteran. His two decade long tenure saw virtually little tax increases in Pittston. Loftus also departmentalized the city with separate areas of responsibilities centered on streets, parks and recreation and community development. As Mayor of a third class small city with a declining business base, Loftus did the best he could in making certain the city was safe as well as making incremental steps in redevelopment. Through his terms, the downtown business district was chipped away by changing times in retail and industrial commerce. Loftus was known as a Mayor who communicated with his residents even if you did not always agree with his opinions. After suffering a heart attack in mid life, Loftus was fond of walking through Pittston City and through the borough of West Pittston with long time friend Nick Mauriello. The Mayor was doing cardio rehab before it become a mainstay in health care.
Loftus started a successful insurance business and also served on the Board of Directors and became Vice President of the First National Bank of Pittston. He served as Chairman of the Workmen’s Insurance Fund of PA for several years. He was also very active in the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Greater Pittston. In that role, Loftus was almost always on the dais at the old Mayfair Supper Club rubbing elbows with political all stars like Hubert Humphrey, Henry Jackson and Warren Magnunsen.
Loftus was also best known for his involvement at the leadership levels of the local Democratic party. As one who was elected in 1961 before the emergence of the Democratic party in the county, Loftus was a proponent of adhering to the strict party line. No ticket splitting for this guy! After the death of Dr. John Dorris after Christmas in 1967, Loftus was named County Democatic Chair as a compromise candidate. Even under Dr. Dorris, the party was split between the Slattery wing (the late Mayor Frank Slattery) and the Martin L. Murray camp. When Slattery lost a bid in the Democratic Judicial primary of 1967, many observers thought the rift would be healed. But upon taking office as Commissioners in 1967, the Crossin-Wideman team split almost immediately with Wideman teaming up with GOP minority commissioner Ethel Price to deny Crossin the chairmanship. The party was then split into two camps, the Crossin-Courthouse crowd and the Murray-committeeman group. Loftus was named chair because he could negotiate with both teams. Loftus felt if you were a Democrat, you ran as one. Through subsequent terms of 1971 and 1975, he made sure the dueling commissioners Crossin and Wideman ran as a team every time. County Democrats eradicated all Republicans, save for the mandated positions of Jury Commissioner and Minority Commissioner out from under the dome. He did not tolerate any Democrat going off the reservation. When Tom Lehman opposed Frank O’Connell (then a state Representative) for the 20th District State Senate seat, Loftus kept an eagle eye on the race. Knowing that O’Connell had many friend in the Democratic party, Loftus did not want any of his leaders or committeemen to openly support the GOP candidate. “We don’t want people getting independent on us” he would say with a glare that telegraphed that he meant business. Loftus, being the fiscal conservative was tight with a buck too when it came to party affairs. If the race looked like a loser, Loftus would not support it with county Democratic money or foot soldiers. Loftus retired as Mayor and was succeeded by Councilman Thomas Walsh. As party chair, he was replaced by longtime Treasurer and sidekick, Controller Joseph Tirpak. Loftus is part of a fast dying breed of “The Greatest Generation” who took their talents and guile into the world of politics. While many on the political scene today know nothing of the man, he was instrumental in building and maintain the dominance, for better or worse, of the County Democratic party.

WANDERING GOVERNOR

South Carolina Mark Sanford ‘fessed up as to his whereabouts on Father’s Day weekend. Remember gang, when in doubt, know it’s always a woman. Seems the Guv has been having a fling with a woman in Argentina. Two practical tips here from “Womanizing 101”. 1. Never mess with your family’s holidays, Jeez, especially Father’s Day, I mean that’s just poor form. 2. Locate a gal preferably in your own country. A 30 mile radius of your house is even better.

TIME SHEETS

Man oh man, any type of Home Rule is starting to look better. This recent fiasco with the county time sheets and row officers partially vindicates Sheriff Mike Savokinas when he was trying to explain his deputy sheriff’s vacation schedule. But it indicts all of the other row offices and the current form of county government as irreparably broken and in need of a major overhaul.

The LuLac Edition #856, June 23rd, 2009

2009-06-23T21:01:00.006-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: KOZ ZONE LOGO AND HAPPY
GRADUATING STUDENT.

JUST BE”KOZ”

People are getting sick and tired of these KOZ zones. Scranton city council denied a few of the extensions to area businesses. These guys wanted another 10 years of tax forgiveness to develop new business and create high paying jobs. Two questions, just how much time do you need to develop a business and where are the high paying jobs? We, as taxpayers sometimes rail against the people on food stamps, welfare and other assistance as milking the system. But the KOZ zones, which started out with good intentions has turned into a welfare program for the so called entrepreneur. It’s welfare money for the rich and connected. There should be a time limit on all KOZ properties. If they can’t turn them into a viable business in the allotted time period, they forfeit it. Plain and simple. You bet they’ll start a business. Funny, Henry Ford and in Pennsylvania Milton Shapp didn’t need KOZ zones to start up a thriving business and succeed. Man up guys, lose the government crutches.

THE TIPPING POINT?

Tom Marino, tipstaff to Judge Michael Toole testified before a federal grand jury today. He made no comments after the session. This appearance is part of the ongoing probe into corruption at the Luzerne County Courthouse.

GIVING CREDIT

Using the old adage giving credit where credit is due the State Senate Education Committee approved legislation to further ease the transferring of college credits across community colleges, state universities and the state-related schools: Penn State, Pitt, and Temple universities. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Dinniman, a Democrat from Chester, is aimed at saving students who transfer to a public-funded school the expense of having to retake courses. The proposal would require the 14 state universities to accept 60 credits that a transferring student earned in foundation courses earned at community colleges, and admit them as college juniors. Currently, the law requires those universities to accept 30 transferred credits.

The LuLac Edition #855, June 22nd, 2009

2009-06-22T21:32:00.008-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND GOP LOGO.

SMOKIN'

President Obama cited his own long struggle to quit the cigarettes he got hooked on as a teenager as he signed the strongest-ever U.S. anti-smoking bill Monday and praised it for providing critically needed protections for kids. The bill marks the latest legislative victory for Obama's first five months. Among his other successes: a $787 billion economic stimulus bill, legislation to expand a state program providing children's health insurance and a bill making it easier for workers to sue for pay discrimination. The president has frequently spoken, in the White House and on the campaign trail, of his own struggles to quit smoking. He brought it up during Monday's ceremony while criticizing the tobacco industry for marketing its products to young people. Obama said almost 90 percent of people who smoke began at age 18 or younger, snared in a dangerous and hard-to-kick habit. When Obama was on the campaign trail, he spoke about his smoking concerns with Ellen DeGeneris:

When I was in grade school, one of the most popular show I watched as a kid was a cartoon called "The Flintstones". It was a knock off of "The Honeymooners" but I didn't realize it at the time. Here's an ad from that show, which was aired in prime time.

My father was a smoker. He was a two pack a day guy and his brand was Raleigh's. You'd get a coupon on the back of the pack you could redeem. I watched him smoke, loved the smell but felt it was just too much damn work to be a smoker. You had to open the pack, then reach into another pocket to get a lighter or a match. If it was a match, then you had to strike the match while keeping the cigarette in your mouth. Then after getting the fire going from the match, you had to light the cigarette, then take the cigarette out of your mouth, blow the match out, put it in an ashtray and then start puffing. Too much work for me which is why I never started. My father stopped cold turkey in 1968. This move by the President is a good thing for our health and well being as well as our future generations.

GARDEN PARTY

The Luzerne County Republican Party is hosting its first Summer Lawn Party, an outdoor fundraiser on Thursday, July 23, 6-8 p.m. at the Westmoreland Club, South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. Guest speakers are State Sen. Lisa Baker and Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta. County candidates will be featured: Attorney Richard Hughes for Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, Walter L. Griffith Jr. for Controller, Carolee Medico Olenginski for Prothonotary, Gina Nevenglosky for Register of Wills, Frank Semanski for Jury Commissioner. Donation is $150 per person; $250 per couple.

JON AND KATE

Mrs. LuLac has watched this show once in a while. I was not aware of it but tonight she told me the family that is featured on TLC is from Wernersville, Pa. So that kind of makes this a pop culture item. Anyway, the couple, Jon and Kate are getting a divorce. As I was working on my computer, I heard Jon say, "I have to do what's best for me and for my kids". Kind of a slip that it came out "what's best for me" and then "and for my kids". Hey Dork boy, here's a thought, why don't you suck it up, do what's best for your kids and stay in the freaking marriage! Maybe they can rename the show, "Big Wuss and Kate: plus 8".