Scott Wagner in Luzerne County

GOP Governor nominee Scott Wagner had a rally at the Woodlands Wenesday night and had a nice turnout. State Senator Lisa Baker was the MC and she kept the program rolling along limiting the under card to brief statements. Many people think she should run for Governor.

The state rep candidates warmed up the room. Sue Henry started off with her usual good humor saying :“It’s really good to be behind the microphone again.”.  I'm sure she is happy that the Red Sox are running away with the AL East. She then made her case for property tax reform.

I want to thank Sue for being so generous to me when she was on WILK, she always gave me a good time slot, :07 after the hour and entertaining us on WRKC 88.5 FM. My favorite conversation  was when we decided to nominate David Yonki for Jury Commissioner . I have always cast a write-in vote for the Yonk in every election since.

Justin Behrens and Frank Scavo also joined the bandwagon on taxes. John Chrin (R-NJ)  said something about socialism.

The red meat was thrown out by Pennsylvania  GOP Chair Valetino  DeGiorgio. He mentioned Maxine Waters and Nancy Peolsi which got of few boos in the audience.  He repeated the ALLEGATION that immigrants get welfare. And Socialism! He forgot George Soros.

Scott Wagner started his speech talking about his humble upbringing and some flashes of humor admitting he didn't have the best smile and can sometimes be abrasive. He talked about touring areas hit by the recent flooding recent and accused Tom Wolf of using it as a photo op. He backed teachers in his education plan but panned union bosses. Wagner wants to sell the liquor stores to fund education. He also made fun of Wolf's "honky jeep." He denied wanting to tax retirement income claiming his opponent is using 7 seconds of a long speech out of context.

 He talked about his plan to combat Pennsylvania's opioid epidemic. Emphasizing treatment, education  and surprisingly suing pharmaceutical companies. Then he attack Wolf for vetoing a bill he sponsored claiming he did it because he has taken money from the PAC Fairness PA saying Governor Wolf is just as bad as the drug dealers. He also said "If you want a guy who enables those who makes money killing our kids, taking contributions of $1.2 million please reelect Tom Wolf. Because I'm not your guy."

He then said he could get things done because he has relationships with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and told us what a great guy John Yudichak is. 

Wagner unveils 'first real plan' to tackle opioid epidemic

Jerry Kairnes for Congress

 

 

 

My name is Jerry Kairnes; I'm 48 years old and I live in Cogan Station. I'm a father, and I earn a living as a building materials salesman. I'm running for Congress because I want our kids and grandkids to have the same shot at the American Dream that you and I had.

It's Time For All Americans To Put Country Over Party

I'm launching, for a second time, an Independent campaign in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional district, challenging both four-term incumbent Tom Marino and the district's two announced major party primary challengers.

I am motivated to run because of the complete absence of leadership demonstrated during the government shutdown by all three of the candidates running for Congress in our district. Not one asserted that we should not negotiate policy under the threat of government shutdown, or use policy as a concession to reopen the government. We must never allow functioning government to become just another bargaining chip at the negotiation table. Now is the time for all Americans to put country over party!

A Call To Action

Our common sense campaign is a call to action to those in the district who seek to fix our nation’s broken politics and restore the American dream for future generations. I seek to unite our neighbors around the principles of fiscal and environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and equality under the law. We need leadership who will put country over party, follow the facts, and pledge to work together to solve problems.

It’s as if our house is on fire and two fire companies have shown up, but instead of putting out the blaze, they are content to argue with each other until our house is in ashes. We only get one Republic; if we burn it down, there is no empty Republic across the street to move into.

It's not a political choice to grab the hoses and start to put out the fire, it is a necessity.

The government shutdown turned me into a firefighter. Join me; our Republic needs you!

Our District Needs Centrist Leadership

I announced our first bid for Congress in 2016 when no candidate filed papers to challenge Tom Marino, but withdrew when a Democrat achieved ballot access via a write-in campaign, effectively removing the path to victory for our independent challenge. That Democratic candidate got 89,923 votes to Tom Marino's 211,282. A Centrist Independent most certainly has no worse a chance of winning than any Democrat.

A Problem Solver Platform

Our problem-solver platform is unchanged from 2016: if elected, I won’t be going it alone. I’ll work tirelessly towards the goals of a balanced federal budget, to secure the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds, for American energy independence, and job creation. Send me to Washington! I’m ready to join dozens of other members of Congress who’ve pledged to put labels aside to advance solutions to our nation's biggest challenges.”

Here are the specifics:

• A balanced federal budget by the year 2030
• Secure Social Security and Medicare for another 75 years.
• 25 Million new jobs over the next ten years.
• American energy independence by the year 2024

You’ll Never Question Whether My Vote Is For Sale

Our campaign will only accept campaign contributions from individuals - real people - and never from Political Action Committees, special interests, lobbyists or unions. Additionally, Big Dollars from far away place should not fund campaigns in our district that is why I will cap campaign contributions at $250 from anyone who does not have a vote in the 10th District election.

Transparent Representation with No Strings Attached

I pledge to be an automatic “No” vote on any bill that has not been made available for three days of public review. Other folks have made that promise and broken it; I mean it! To prove it, we can start calling it the “Kairnes Rule” beginning today!

If elected, I will only accept a salary equivalent to the median wage of families in the 10th District - $52,199 - and return the balance of the Representative's salary of $174,000 back to the U.S. Treasury. If elected, I’ll make what you make, and I won’t get a raise unless you do.

A People's Campaign For The People's Seat

To earn access to the ballot our campaign must turn in 4,226 valid signatures from Pennsylvania 10th district voters by August 1st in order to get on the November ballot as an Independent candidate.

We can't earn a place on the ballot without your help and we won't win without you. We're just getting started! Send us as email at  team@jerrykairnes.com to learn what you can do!

A Campaign of Necessity

I believe we all share a responsibility to participate in our own governance in whatever way we are best able. I'm a building materials salesman; I was not expecting to launch another campaign for the people's seat but necessity demands it. I'm simply unwilling to expect of others what I am not willing to do myself.

The objective is simple: make sure our kids and grandkids still have a shot at the American dream. We can’t just sit back and do nothing while the politicians tell us that our problems are just too big, that we are too divided a nation to work together to find solutions, and that future generations of Americans will just have to figure it out for themselves

Judy Herschel for Congress

Judy Herschell had a rally  tonight that attracted an overflow crowd and did not mince her words.

 She said that healthcare is a basic human right and blasted the profit driven health care system and endorsed Medicare for All.She said she would not sell out to Pharmaceutical companies. Unions are essential and teaching is a noble profession.

She also addressed the mechanics  of the race. She needs a bunch of money and many volunteers. It will be hard to beat Tom Marino.

Marino the Drug Czar

Lou Barletta and Tom Marino

This report in the WaPo is shocking but not surprising. PA 10th CD Congressman Tom Marino (R) took $150,000+ from pharmaceutical companies then wrote a law to get the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) off their backs.

For years, some drug distributors were fined for repeatedly ignoring warnings from the DEA to shut down suspicious sales of hundreds of millions of pills, while they racked up billions of dollars in sales.
The new law makes it virtually impossible for the DEA to freeze suspicious narcotic shipments from the companies

 This tells you every thing you need to know about Marino. He called the cops when reporters wanted to interview him. Marino declined repeated requests for comment. Marino’s staff called the U.S. Capitol Police when The Post and “60 Minutes” tried to interview the congressman at his office on Sept. 12. 

This is nothing new. He has helped drug dealers in the past.

 
 By Michael R. Sisak / Staff Writer

A prominent central Pennsylvania car dealer once described as a “friend” by former U.S. Attorney Tom Marino has racked up an extensive rap sheet since leaning on Marino to have a cocaine dealing conviction cleared from his record more than a decade ago, court documents obtained by The Citizens’ Voice show.

Jay W. Kilheeney, an admitted drug addict and alcoholic, has been busted three times since Marino clumsily and unsuccessfully interceded in the drug case, in June 1998, and has been accused in protection from abuse petitions of leading a violent, vagabond home life.


His lies about his relationship with Louis DeNaples and permission letter from the DOJ.

Marino changes story

 Tom Marino, Republican candidate for Congress, has changed his story six months after he told a Wilkes-Barre talk radio reporter that he had gotten permission from his superiors in the U.S. Department of Justice before lending his name as a reference for a convicted felon who was seeking a casino license...He also denied that he had ever claimed that he received, or could provide, written authorization from the Justice Department allowing him to give a personal reference to former casino operator Louis DeNaples.

 Even the Bush Administration thought he was incompetent 

 

Marino almost got fired before he quit

 Marino's effectiveness questioned

A senior Justice Department official recommended firing Marino in September 2006, saying he "perceived that Marino was not leading his office," according to the report, which has taken on fresh relevance as the Republican challenges Democratic incumbent Chris Carney in the 10th Congressional District.

D. Kyle Sampson, the chief of staff to then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, subsequently placed Marino's name on a list of U.S. Attorneys he said the department, "should consider pushing out," based on "problems" he learned about in summer 2006, according to the report.
You can read the report at this link.

The only thing that saved his tail was the Justice Department didn't want to piss off Senator Arlen Specter. 

And he is such a charmer with the voters