Carney and Hackett respond to FEC v. Davis

The Supreme Court ruled in FEC v. Davis that the "millionaire's amendment" of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law was unconstitutional saying it violated free-speech protections.

In my last post on this subject I asked both Chris Carney and Chris Hackett to comment on the decision.

From Congressman Carney:

"I come from a background with a strong sense of service. It has carried me through the Navy and it compelled me to run for Congress. For me, being a Member of Congress is about doing what is right, working hard and being accountable. This race has never been about who is personally wealthy and who is not, but about who understands how hard it can be to afford health care, take care of an aging parent, and find a good-paying job in tough times like these."

Spokesman Mark Harris for the Hackett camp:

"Most of the recent laws passed by Congress under the guise of "campaign finance reform" are really aimed at restricting free speech in the cause of incumbent protection. Washington politicians certainly don't like when ordinary citizens are permitted to criticize their actions. The Supreme Court's decision was the right one, consistent with the bedrock First Amendment principle of political free speech. As for our campaign, Chris has made no decisions yet about the extent of personal funds we'll use, and that option is very much on the table. The Court ruling will have no bearing on our decision in this regard."

YouTube weekend

George Carlin RIP

When I was in high school the Vice-Principle was a guy named Al Sallit. Whenever I saw him in the hallway I would ask him "how's the weather, Mr. Sallit?" He never got the joke.

I've been using this routine ever since I first heard it.

Tonight's forecast is dark, turning to widely scattered light...and if you look at our weather map you'll see that we don't have one.


George Carlin 'The Hippy Dippy Weatherman'






George Carlin at the Tonight Show (1966)





JediMaster has his favorite Carlin routine explaining religion.

Dan Meuser

I got an email yesterday from Dan Meuser inviting me to have lunch with John McCain when he visits Wilkes-Barre on July 23rd. It didn't say where or what time but said seating was limited to 200 people for the low price of $250. I hope to get a press pass to the event.

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The mouthpiece for the NRCC, Ken Spain, was on a local radio show yesterday spouting the usual half truths and distortions about Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney that went unchallenged by the host.

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He also praised Dan Meuser for running a good campaign then said something about the 10th CD race that was news to me . I'm paraphrasing;

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The day after the primary Dan Meuser reached out to Chris Hackett and offered him his support.

As far as I know Dan Meuser has not endorsed Hackett. Did I miss something? What can you tell me Eric, Mark, David, Kar, Zen, Bob, Scott, RW, Sassy, Chris and Dan.

10th Pennsyvania CD update

I haven't written much about this race since the primary which has put this blog's unofficial title of the "de-facto McLaughlin Group" for the 10th District in danger.
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Today's big news that affects this race is a Supreme Court decision that hasn't got much attention because of the court ruling on guns that both Chris Carney and Chris Hackett support.
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The Supreme Court yesterday ruled in FEC v. Davis that the "millionaire's amendment" of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law was unconstitutional saying it violated free-speech protections.
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The Millionaires' Amendment is a provision of the McCain–Feingold Act that is designed to level the playing field when someone is able to spend large amounts of their own money in a federal election. If someone drops $350,000 of spare change into their own house campaign the contribution limits are tripled for the opponent and the national and state party's may make unlimited coordinated expenditures on behalf of the candidate.
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This is good news for Chris Hackett. In the primary Hackett spent $930,000 of his own money to beat Dan Meuser who spent twice that much from his piggy bank.
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I've asked both campaigns to comment on this decision of the Supreme Court and will post the responses without comment when I get them.

Bonds, Luzerne County bonds

Bond issue nets county $72.3 M

County closes on $87M+ bond deal

I know that you have to borrow money to pay for things you can't pay for today (house, car, appliances) but will be able to pay off in a reasonable period of time and government has to do the same thing. The trick is not to get in over your head and don't borrow for things you want instead of what you need. That's why I have a problem with this latest bond issue. The last time I checked Luzerne County was on the hook for over $300 million in principle and interest payments over the next 20 years. Remember that a bond is only a loan against future taxes. The list of projects in the TL doesn't have many details on what the money will spent on and the Luzerne County Commissioners in the past have had a bad habit of borrowing money for one purpose and spending it on another. Shall I remind you of one thing that is in the news:

In 2003 $9 million was borrowed to build a new for a new county-owned juvenile detention facility. It was never built because the Bond Brothers (Skrep and Vondy) decided to sign a 20 year $58 million lease with a private company, PA Child Care, that was owned by a business partner of a couple of local judges. Instead of returning the money or holding on to it to deal with a future emergency that eventually came they spent it on other projects.

Good news Penn State fans

And the whole Big Ten.

Via I’ve Made a Huge Tiny Mistake

Comcast, Big Ten reach pay-TV deal

The nation’s biggest cable company and the Big Ten Network reached a deal today that will put the new college sports channel in millions of Comcast Corp. homes in Pennsylvania and other states.

The Big Ten Network will launch on the Comcast network on Aug. 15, in time for the Penn State football season.

Last year 3 PSU games were on The Big Ten Network forcing me to abandon the comfort of my recliner to seek out a watering hole with a dish package that carried them. As luck would have it the one place that I've found that had the games was Big Ugly's in Wilkes-Barre which is owned by Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak's dad. I didn't run into Skrep on those Saturday's because he was probably home watching Michigan on ABC.

Now the question is will I need a box to tune them in?

McCain coming to Wilkes-Barre

CV: McCain, R-Ariz., will host a question-and-answer luncheon and fundraiser in the Wilkes-Barre area on July 23, former 10th Congressional District Republican candidate Dan Meuser said. Meuser, who lost the GOP primary to Chris Hackett, will serve as general chairman of that event.“I was told he wants to be able to meet with as many people in the area as possible,” Meuser said. “Right now all I know for sure is I’m going to be the general chairman of one event in Wilkes-Barre, and that they want to host another event somewhere else either before or after the lunch.”The events’ times and locations have not been set, Meuser said.

The Yonk has two good questions: how much will it cost and what kind of seat will Chris Hackett get?

According to last 2 polls from Rasmussen and Quinnipiac Obama is up in Pennsylvania by 4 to 12 points so we can expect both candidates to visit us many times before November. For a rundown on all the state by state polls check out my new favorite electoral college tracking site FiveThirty Eight. The cross tabs from the Q poll shows Obama leading in NEPA 46-42%.

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In other Presidential news Hillary and Barry have kissed and made up and will campaign together in Unity, NH. From the newspaper in Barre,VT: The location, announced Monday, was chosen not only for the symbolism of its name, but because each candidate received exactly 107 votes there in the Jan. 8 primary.

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BTW Barre, VT is named after Isaac Barre just as Wilkes-Barre is and they pronounce it berry. I know, I've been there.

I'm Gort Hussein Sidney Fortytwo and I approved this message

I'm getting a real tickle over the feigned outrage of my friends on the right who are blasting Barrack Obama's decision to forgo public financing in the General Election. These are the same people who hate public financing of elections and have a special touch of venom for the McCain–Feingold Act. Never mind that McCain took public financing in the primaries then opted out which is a questionable legal decision.

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I think a president must adjust to circumstances and do whatever it takes to win. With 1.5 million donors averaging $90 it's hard to argue that this isn't a publicly financed campaign.

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Ann Althouse puts it best:

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It's fine with me. I don't like the campaign finance scheme. And I like a practical politician who adjusts to changing circumstances. It's good news that he's not an ideologue. I don't think he's going to lose the people who fell in love with him as a vision of idealism. I think he's going to gain moderate people like me who want an effective, sensible leader.

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It will take a lot of money to run in all fifty states that the Obama campaign plans to do. He is running ads in traditional Republican states like North Dakota and Indiana. Ive even seen polling numbers that show him down by only 4 in Alaska and competitive in Texas. I just linked to an AP story, I hope I don't get sued.

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Then there is the internet smears. He's a muslim that won't say the pledge and took the oath of office on a Koran, etc. The latest one cherrypicks passages of his books that is refuted here.

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Christopher Beam at Slate came up with a brilliant counter to the bullshit.:

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Rather than restate untruths about Obama, the campaign would do better to start some rumors of its own.

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There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American's duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.

Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.

Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.

A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.

Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.

Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

There's only one artist on Barack Obama's iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.

Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

Barack Obama's new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH

Barack Obama's skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.

Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.

Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME.

YouTube weekend

Colbert and the Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster

YouTube weekend

California dreaming.

Melissa Etheridge - Like The Way I Do

YouTube weekend

California dreaming

Best wishes to my happy friends.


Mr. Sulu get's married

George Takei of "Star Trek" plunked down $70 for the first same-sex marriage license issued in this gay mecca yesterday and turned to the crowd, beaming.

"Congratulations to all of us, and may equality live long and prosper," the actor said, borrowing a phrase from the days he played the Enterprise's Mr. Sulu.

"This means so much in terms of civil rights," said the 71-year-old Japanese-American who, as a child, was forced into a World War II internment camp.

"America really can change," he said.

I bet he's dancing.

Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancing

Sleep well

Top to bottom, left to right: Senior Judge Michael T. Conahan, Pennsylvania Child Care owners Robert Powell and Greg Zapalla, Luzerne County President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella , Prothonotary Jill A. Moran, Commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid.

Feds raid Courthouse annex

Send lawyers, guns and money The shit has hit the fan-Warren Zevon

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WILKES-BARRE – The Federal Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant on the Luzerne County Juvenile Probation Department on Thursday morning, seizing financial records related to placement of juveniles at the PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care centers formerly owned by attorney Robert Powell.

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Agents search county juvenile probation offices

Powell's business partners are Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael Conahan who have been sending kids to the place since Conahan decided that the old facility on River Street wasn't up to snuff.

"Lawyers, Guns and Money" by Warren Zevon

Barletta's 1st ad

Don't look for it on TV. Lou Barletta doesn't have a whole lot of money relative to Congressman Paul Kanjorski's campaign ($185K to $2M) so he answers with a YouTube ad.


Esperé hasta el final del discurso para darle la única razón por la que estoy corriendo para el Congreso.



Lou Barletta: "El cambio está en camino!"

Kanjo's 1st TV ad

Kanjorski launches TV effort

In the first major thrust of what is expected to be a hard-fought contest, U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski’s re-election campaign is scheduled to begin airing commercials today on the four local major network television affiliates. 'Mr. Kanjorski bought a week’s worth of air time on WNEP, WBRE, WYOU and WOLF — totaling $36,015 and 127 commercials — according to records at the stations.


Paul Kanjorski - "Home"

Pennsylvania 11th CD poll

According to a Harrisburg Republican outfit that I've never heard of Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta has a lead over incumbent Democratic Congressman Paul Kanjorski 47%-42% with 11% for other (Kurt Shotko ?). Danny points out the small sample of 400 likely voters with a margin of error of 4.9% which makes it a statistical tie. Without the methodology and cross tabs it's hard to decide if this is a valid picture of the race. It's not uncommon for a campaign to put out favorable poll numbers in a race whatever the source. Barletta's campaign claims that the DCCC also has done some polling but they won't release the results and Kanjo's campaign manager, Ed Mitchell, is mum.

Capitol Ideas reports that Paul Kanjorski has bought a mess of television time in his re-election battle with El Alcalde de Hazleton, Lou Barletta starting today.

Health Care Rally on Public Square

PR: This notice is posted to advise of the June 19, day of protest against the health insurance companies. Pennsylvania seems to be the state with the most activity for the rallies. There are events scheduled for Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Lancaster.
In Pennsylvania we are using the day to promote the PA Single Payer legislation, HR 1660 and SB 300. If passed this legislation would create a single payer system in Pennsylvania and put Blue Cross, and all health insurance companies, out of business.

In Wilkes-Barre we are having a rally and a press conference, and we are marching to our local Blue Cross office to protest. We have strong support from the PA Association of Staff Nurses, Wyoming Valley Labor Council, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, and the Luzerne County Green Party. This is a profound opportunity for Pennsylvania to fix health care properly.

The W-B event will take place at noon on the 19th on Public Square.

More info at NEPA Organizing Center

The Pennsylvania Progressive has the details of rallies that are scheduled all over the state:

Health Care Rallies June 19th

100 years in Iraq

Not Alex

Reassessment in Luzerne County

We got our notices and I just about fell over. The taxes on our home are estimated to triple and our rental properties will double. I've known for a long time that we have been paying less than we should since the value formula dates back to 1965 but that's a little hard to take.

The market values they assigned to our properties are in line with the appraisals I had done a few years ago when I was was doing one of my wrap around financing deals so I don't think I have good grounds to appeal. I did find a one mistake in that one side of the the double block we own was valued higher than the other by a few thousand dollars and they are mirror images. I may ask for an informal review but they may just say I'm right and raise the value of the lesser side.

The thing I don't understand is how they translated the values into taxes since the notice doesn't break down township, county and school taxes. Are they using the same millage? According to this story in the TL: County officials said millage rates must drop dramatically when the new assessed values take effect next year. That goes for school districts, the county and municipalities.
For example, the county millage, currently at 94.9 mills, is expected to drop to about 5 mills after the reassessment. A mill is $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property. That means someone with a home worth $150,000 after reassessment would pay $750 in county taxes at 5 mills.

When I did some quick math that makes a big difference and shows we may not get whacked as bad as the notice says. I haven't decided what to do about this, if anything.

The Yonk responded to my blogger call to swarm about this subject which I wasn't able to do yesterday as did Mark.

Earlier some of our local scribes sounded off on this subject:

Zen-Why hasn't anybody asked the question?

NEPALibWatch-Welcome to Luzerne County, bend over please.

Politics in Northeast Pennsylvania -Reassessment Botched?


A common theme of my fellow bloggers is that we just don't trust anything that the county does. We're willing to pay our fair share but will everyone else?

YouTube weekend

Waterboys • The Whole of the Moon • 1985 Concert