Meuser at the Grotto

Tens of people came out to hear former PA Revenue Secretary and unsuccessful 2008 PA 10th CD Republican candidate give his pitch for electing him to the 11th CD seat being vacated by Lou Barletta.

Luzerne County GOP Chair Ron Ferrance did the intro saying we need someone in Congress that will support the President. Other notables in attendance were State Rep. Karen Boback, Bear Creek Village Mayor Walter Mitchell, the next DJ in the back mountain Brian Tupper, Old Forge School Director Frank Scavo and Luzerne County candidate Marc Dixon.

Meuser tied himself firmly to Trump and Barletta.

Meuser said he was a conservative problem solver who wants to get behind the President's Make America Great Again (MAGA)  agenda. Tax reform, repeal Obamacare, strong military, border security, term limits and drain the swamp (DTS) , etc. He said he was urged by Barletta to run for Congress if Lou ran for Senate. The way he explained it was almost like a Quid pro quo. 

I was surprised by how much he discussed the nuts and bolts of the campaign. Everything from yard signs to money. Meuser said he was outworking the other candidates and claimed the support of 8 GOP county chairs. He said he will need $750,000 to win the primary.

He took some shots at Democrats saying the Republicans are the party of the red, white and blue who's favorite holiday is the 4th of July while the Dems celebrate April 15th. Senator Casey has gone extreme left and brought up Nancy Pelosi. 

At the end someone asked him about combating the lies that politicians tell. Meuser said he would give them a pass the first time but would lose his support if they did it again. Then he went on about draining the swamp and MAGA.

Maybe he should read this fake news article:

Trump's Lies



 Updated July 21: The president is still lying, so we've added to this list, and provided links to the facts in each case.

                                                  

TWO DEBATE DATES SET FOR PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22

OLD FORGE PENNSYLVANIA. Two October dates are set for debates between Democrat candidate John Blake and Republican candidate Frank Scavo. Both are in contention for the State Senate seat of Robert Mellow, District 22.

The first debate, sponsored by the League of Women voters of Lackawanna County, will be held on Tuesday, October 12Th at 7:00 pm in the Pearn Auditorium (2ND floor) in the University of Scranton's Brennan Hall on Madison avenue. This will be a taped interview and air on ECTV.

The second debate, sponsored by WVIA, TV 44, is Tuesday, October 26Th at 7:00 PM. The debate will be held at the WVIA TV 44 studios and air live the same night. Seating is available for this live debate and can be reserved by calling the candidates or WV IA prior to the debate date.


"I applaud the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna county and WVIA TV for offering their forums for this critical election. I also believe the two debates will show the sharp distinction between the Harrisburg insider mindset versus that of the non governmental, private sector conservative approach to government. With recent defeats of the establishment candidates, the outlook for change here in Northeast Pennsylvania is at a peak, and the best it has ever been" stated candidate Scavo.



Frank Scavo
State Senate candidate, District 22

PA Budget reaction and preaction

Legislature passes $28 billion budget bill


State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D-120): “The most serious defect in this budget for me is the 9 percent cut to (DEP) at a time we need all hands on deck to deal with our environmental challenges. Since the votes were not there for that revenue increase, we were forced into making these painful cuts.”

NEPAartisan: The DEP is going to see its funding cut by 9%. That’s at a time when Marcellus Shale drilling is rapidly poisoning and destroying our environment. I’m sure Drillers are loving this particular “cost-saving” measure. See, “cost-saving” is another amorphous word (as per yesterday’s essay) as this will only incur epic costs in the long run. Without DEP inspectors going to drill rigs, we may not find out about spills and environmental harm. As a matter of fact, even at the funding levels we have now, we’re missing spills and environmental harm. Now it’ll be easier for drillers to abuse Pennsylvania’s land in their unmitigated pursuit of profit. Thanks, Legislature, for helping them on their way.

McGruff: The budget doesn't eliminate the per diem abuse by our legislators. Send em packin.

State Senate candidate Frank Scavo (PA-22): "With the $28 billion dollar Pennsylvania State budget for 2010 now headed Governor Rendell's desk for signing, Pennsylvania once again approves the practice of deficit spending and driving up state debt. The continued ignorance of the $4 billion dollar pension crisis and it's deliberate absence is both a travesty and an expensive broken promise that will cause punishing property tax rates for working families and seniors. It also leaves teachers and state workers with an unfunded pension liability again. We are continuing to amass debt just like the federal government and ignore critical reforms of the pension, unemployment and prison systems. This new budget also keeps Pennsylvania with the highest corporate tax rates in the nation, which creates no opportunity for job growth again. "

State Rep candidate Tarah Toohill (PA-116th): "It is irresponsible for our legislature to count on a new tax in order to pass the budget. We need to stimulate the economy and create
jobs. Passing a budget based upon the severance tax means the state will spend the money before it even hits the bank, the same as it did
when it approved slots, casinos and table games.

"The Hazleton area has not seen property tax relief from table games and there are no guarantees that the Hazleton area would see any
benefit from the severance tax. This tax will be directed to bailout bankrupt state programs and pay down years of overspending, leaving
empty handed the municipalities and townships whose roads, creeks and ways of life are being altered by the drilling boom.

"This tax and spend mentality signifies how Representative Eachus and Governor Rendell have misguided the state of Pennsylvania into debt
and economic downturn. Forcing our state budget to rely upon a tax that is not yet in existence is the equivalent of putting the
2010-2011 budget on a credit card -- it only perpetuates the problem and leaves an unsavory legacy of debt and decaying infrastructure for
our children, grandchildren and generations beyond.

"No matter whether you are opposed to the developing Marcellus Shale industry or in support of it, passing a budget based upon a new tax is
an unwise double-edged sword. With a tax, the state immediately becomes beholden to the drilling industry and could lead to the
sacrifice of regulation and environmental protection. With a tax, the industry might be less inclined to do business in our state and could
eventually take money out of the consumer's and taxpayer's pocket.

"This new tax proposal is another example of legislators seeing dollars and spending dollars in the blink of an eye, before the
taxpayers ever see them.

"Our people demand real leadership not quick fixes that tack momentary budget solutions to lady luck or the end of a
natural gas pipeline. Our people deserve better."

State Rep candidate Bill Goldsworthy (PA-120): – “It’s time for Democrats in Harrisburg, like Gov. Ed Rendell and Rep. Phyllis Mundy, to face the fact that Pennsylvania can no longer afford their out-of-control government spending sprees,” Goldsworthy said. “At a time when countless Pennsylvania families are struggling to make ends meet, Rendell and Mundy think that we need to spend more, increase government and raise taxes.”
“We need to lower taxes, cut spending and reduce borrowing,” Goldsworthy said. “We need fiscal responsibility in Harrisburg. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
“People all across Pennsylvania are being forced to live within their means. It’s time the state government did the same,” Goldsworthy said.

Goldsworthy said the Democrats’ “tax-and-spend culture” has failed the state and is the cause of Pennsylvania’s high unemployment rate.
He said he is prepared to brubg the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility to Harrisburg and to help the voters take back Pennsylvania.
“The constituents of the 120th District deserve better,” he said.

Feds visit Bob Mellow

Update: FBI, IRS investigating Sen. Mellow

The FBI and Internal Revenue Service are investigating state Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow for unspecified illegal activity, FBI spokesman Frank Burton Jr. said today.

The agencies were executing search warrants at Mellow's home in Archbald and at his legislative office in Peckville, said Burton, an FBI spokesman in Philadelphia


Republican candidate Frank Scavo just sent this press release:

State Senatorial Candidate Frank Scavo issued the following statement after the federal raid of the interests of State Senator Bob Mellow (D-22):


“The raid on both Senator Bob Mellow’s home and office is yet another black eye for Northeastern Pennsylvania . Once again, a negative light is cast upon our area. Obviously, this investigation has to run its course and I have the full faith and confidence in our law enforcement professionals to see that this is done properly and without bias.

“However, John Blake was hand-picked by Senator Mellow himself to replace him in the Senate. I think the voters of the 22nd District demand and deserve to know the extent of Mr. Blake’s relationship with Senator Mellow and whether or not Mr. Blake still proudly accepts Mr. Mellow’s endorsement.”

Issues & Eggs

Renita sent along this reminder from the Luzerne County GOP




Issues & Eggs

Republican Candidates Forum at Genetti's in Downtown Wilkes-Barre

Friday, April 9, 8:15 a.m.

Doors open at 7:30 a.m., Breakfast 7:45 a.m.


Featuring:

Jim Cawley, endorsed candidate for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor

Congressional Candidates Lou Barletta, David Madeira, Tom Marino & Malcolm Derk

State Senatorial Candidates Steve Urban who is also running for Lt. Gov. & Frank Scavo

State Representative Candidates Rick Arnold, Bill Goldsworthy, Terrence O’Connor, James O’Meara & Tarah Toohil

I'm a nightshift guy so I don't do mornings. I hope that the next candidates forum will be at a more reasonable hour. How about a dinner event with the name Kielbasa and Korruption.

Jim Wansacz

The PA 22nd Senate district is mostly in Lackawanna County with a slice of Monroe and just 3 Luzerne County towns-Avoca, Dupont and Duryea. With so many state legislature races in Luzerne County I have to draw the line somewhere so I won't be putting in a lot of time covering this one. Fellow blogger NEPArtisan has been following the twist and turns since Bob Mellow announced his retirement who will have to scrape by on a $300K a year pension. It must be nice to write the laws governing your own retirement.

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Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty dropped his bid to be Governor

and now wants to be the State Senator from this district seems to be the frontrunner. Former Lackawanna Commissioner Joe Corcoran got the Democratic Party endorsement for whatever that is worth and 2 others are in the race.

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Which brings me to 114th District State Rep Jim Wansascz who wants to be a State Senator. He is getting beat up over the per diem thing but is open to changing rules about them as he explained to the Scranton Public Policy Examiner. I met Jim today and thanked him for including me on his press list. He requested that I publish his press releases and I'm happy to oblige. The one question I forgot to ask was "Do you think you can beat Frank Scavo in the fall"?

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Jim doesn't have a campaign website up yet but he is on Facebook. His state rep site is http://www.pahouse.com/Wansacz/

WANSACZ FIRST TO FILE FOR 22nd SENATORIAL DISTRICT

On Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010, Representative Jim Wansacz filed in excess of 2,000 signatures for the 22nd Senatorial District. Wansacz was the first candidate to file and plans on submitting supplementary signatures before the March 9th deadline.

“I am encouraged by the outpouring of support I have had since announcing my intention to run for the Pennsylvania State Senate,” Wansacz said. “This is a testament to the dedication of my volunteers who have made a tremendous effort to obtain these signatures in the face of the weather we’ve recently experienced.”

While several candidates having announced their intentions of running for the seat, only Wansacz has submitted the requisite signatures for inclusion on the Democratic ballot this May 19th. State law requires the filing of 500 signatures of qualified electors within the party and District of the seat.

“This is the beginning of a long campaign, one we intend on focusing on what matters most to the people of the 22nd District,” said Wansacz. “I look forward to discussing the issues that affect our every day lives; job creation, property taxes, education and preserving our environment.”

Turning the Cornerstone

“It was just like the Three Stooges meet anthracite,” said Penn State fuel sciences professor Harold Schobert


A story in the Sunday Citizens Voice rehashed the whole Cornerstone Technologies controversy of U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski earmarking $11 million in federal funds to support a company that was run by by his nephews and daughter that is now bankrupt. I covered it before the the last election but it didn't seem to matter to the voters. He was reelected with 72% of the vote. But it won't go away.

I got a press advisory tonight from a group called The Public Accountability Project, an affiliate of The Peace & Prosperity Project (lots of projects) saying they are having a:

Press conference on June 8th,2007 at 10:30am at 350 Second Street, Plains, PA 18705 (the former site of Cornerstone Technologies LLC), to call for a Congressional investigation into Congressman Paul Kanjorski's "shady dealings with Cornerstone Technologies LLC."

Who is this group?

From their website: The Peace and Prosperity Project is a non-partisan, not-for-profit nationwide organization that works with think tanks, grassroots organizations and issue advocacy groups across America. While President Reagan's principles: Peace through strength and Prosperity through free market economics live on today, many of the policy decisions and communication strategies that create this environment do not.

I guess Saint Ronny doesn't like Kanjo according to them. I wonder what Nancy thinks of groups like this throwing his name around. With my schedule I can't make the event but we'll see if the local papers cover it.

Update: This group consists of 7 outraged Republicans led by Old Forge School Board president Frank Scavo according to the CV. Scavo was also one of the speakers at the immigration rally in Hazleton and is planning another June 15 in Scranton that the Klan is planning to attend. Maybe Frank is planning to take on Kanjorski if Saint Lou gives it a pass.