Joe Biden visit Friday

If you want to see our always colorful Vice President who is never at a loss for words on Friday at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport you will need a ticket. They can be obtained at the Arlen Specter Scranton office today and tomorrow located at 520 Spruce St, 2nd floor in Biden's hometown of Scranton between 10AM and 5PM. The rally will be in one of the hangers just follow the signs and look for lots of law enforcement types. Doors open at 12:30PM and the program is scheduled to start at 2PM but they always run late. This is a BFD.

Update from Herself: For folks from Luzerne County and other areas who can't make it to Scranton there will be a ticket pickup for Friday's event in Wilkes-Barre as well:

DAY/DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 22nd
TIME: 12pm to 6pm
PLACE: BARNES & NOBLE ON PUBLIC SQUARE in WILKES-BARRE-- 7 S. Main St.



Specter's Democratic primary opponent was in Wilkes-Barre yesterday saying small businesses should have greater access to federal contracts decrying the influence of big business in the US Senate. Joe Sestak slammed Specter

CV: "I believe that the Democratic establishment in Washington, D.C., supported by the Democratic establishment in Harrisburg, got off track when it felt it had to make a political deal with Arlen Specter so he could try to keep his job because he couldn't win in the Republican primary," Sestak said.

Sestak finally dipped into his $5 Million warchest to go up on the the air with this bio ad




Specter had 2 positive ads running over the weekend but now is up with a spot that starts off calling Sestak Captain Queeg. If I didn't know better I would think that Capitol Ideas helped write the script. What about the strawberry's? Then he accuses him of being AWOL from Congress. Specter has switched to the Dems but this ad is out of the Karl Rove playbook. Attack your opponent's strength. Just like Bush tore down John Kerry's military service Specter is trying to do the same to Sestak.

119th event tonight

The League of Women Voters of the Wilkes-Barre Area is planning a public forum for its members and the general public to learn more about the Democratic candidates running for State Representative in the 119th District on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the King’s College McGowan School of Business

The candidates are

Bob Morgan

Gary Zingaretti

Gerald Mullery

Gort42 should have a report from a special correspondent later tonight. I had a chance to talk with Mullery over the weekend and will include it in the recap.

O'Connor Kickoff tonight

The Luzerne County GOP sent this heads up:


Campaign Kickoff

Terrence O’Connor

Republican Candidate for State Representative, 118th District

Monday, April 19, 7 p.m.

Dupont VFW, Main Street, Dupont

O'Conner is the only candidate for the nomination and will take on Democratic State Rep. Mike Carroll in the fall.

Here is list of what is important to him from the issues page on his website:

Issues

PROTECT OUR LIBERTIES
• Support state sovereignty under the 10th amendment.
• Fight unconstitutional federal takeovers of healthcare and industry.
• Support the Pa. Freedom of Healthcare Act (House Bill 2053 of 2009).

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
• Reduce the size of state government
• Lower taxes on individuals and businesses
• No toll booths on Route 80
• Lower property taxes

ENERGY
• Build nuclear power plants to meet growing energy needs and create jobs.
• Drill for natural gas to reduce dependence on foreign energy.
• Marcellus shale drilling creates jobs, economic growth and domestic energy.

PROTECT 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
• Repeal state sales tax on ammunition.
• Reclaim abandoned quarries by converting to public shooting ranges.

Senate candidates coming to town

Congressman Joe Sestak will be in Wilkes-Barre tomorrow for a seminar on how to get more pork.

Joe will join members of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre business community to describe how he will work to bring more federal funding to Northeast Pennsylvania as the state's next U.S. Senator. Joe's opponent, 30-year Senator Arlen Specter, has made his ability to obtain earmarks for Pennsylvania projects the hallmark of his campaign, but Specter has lost his seniority and actually brought back less funding to the Commonwealth than first-term Senator Bob Casey in Casey's first year.

In his District, Joe has demonstrated other ways to win federal resources. As one example, Joe will bring to the event businessman Ed Brill, founder of Brill Worldwide Investments (BWWI). Through Joe's Business Procurement Summit, Ed has helped Pennsylvania small businesses win more than $13 million in federal contracts.

The event is Monday, April 19th at 1:00pm at The Innovation Center at Wilkes:


The Innovation Center at Wilkes
7 S. Main Street
2nd Floor (above the Barnes & Noble Store)
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701



On Friday Vice President Joe Biden will be at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport for a rally to support the Pork King himself Senator Arlen Specter. I don't have all the details yet but I'm told many local Democratic officials will attend including Congressman Kanjorski


I hope to make this event because it's not everyday that the Vice-President of the United States comes to town. It's a Big Fucking Deal!

Yes Health Care Reform is a BFD. Just ask this guy who was rejected for health insurance because he has a pre -existing condition.

Geisinger TV rep can’t get a Geisinger policy

“Our decision to decline your application for insurance was based on the following reasons: STROKE,” the letter stated. “According to the non-group underwriting standards and guidelines, the above mentioned condition is disqualifying.”

Derk gets endorsements

Six Elected Officials Endorse Malcolm Derk for Congress


SELINSGROVE, PA – Today, Commissioner Malcolm Derk announced the endorsement of one State Representative and five former and current County Commissioners in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.

State Representative Adam Harris (R-82), Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz, Union County Commissioner Preston Boop, Tioga County Commissioners Erick Coolidge and Mark Hamilton, and former Montour County Commissioner Harold Hurst announced today that they have endorsed the candidacy of Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk for Congress.

With these endorsements, Malcolm Derk now has the support of nine State and County officials, including State Senator John Gordner, and Representatives Merle Philips and Russ Fairchild.

Three of these endorsees, Rep. Harris, Commissioner Boop, and Commissioner Kantz have worked closely with Derk throughout his tenure as Snyder County Commissioner and during his prior service as a member and President of the Freeburg Borough Council.

Regarding his endorsement, Representative Harris said, “I have known Malcolm for a long time. He has the values that we desperately need in Washington. He will stand strong against government bailouts, massive government takeover bills, and will represent the people, not special interests.”

“I have worked with Malcolm Derk everyday for two years and I am certain that he is the right person for this job,” said Joe Kantz. “He is the only person running who has balanced budgets, refused to raise taxes, and has had the courage to say no to corporate bailouts. While other candidates talk about being fiscally conservative, Malcolm has a proven record.” Kantz added, “Washington DC needs someone like Malcolm Derk. He is someone who favors smaller government and has conservative values.”

“As a commissioner, I am humbled to have the support of these six individuals,” Derk said. “Representative Harris and Commissioners Boop, Kantz, Coolidge, Hamilton, and Hurst represent the best in government leadership and I will work hard every day to represent the citizens of PA’s 10th district as well as these leaders have represented their constituents.”

CV bias?

My pal Paul Stebbins has been doing some research and sends along this guest post. PJ ran for the Republican nomination for State Rep in the 120th District in 2006.
He also sent this to the TL.

Recently I have seen letters supporting Congressman Chris Carney as "brave and courageous." I dare Rep. Carney to tell me that he did not have a one-on-one meeting with Nancy Pelosi, the most liberal democrat in Congress. He changed his vote and his courageous and brave stance doomed many of the unborn. However that is a whole other letter.


There is a reason I don't trust the Citizen's Voice and it is this. Among research I noticed on opensecrets.org that James Haggerty Sr. has donated three thousand dollars to the campaign of Chris Carney. Matthew Haggerty has donated 2500.00 and Daniel Haggerty has donated eight hundred dollars to Rep. Carney. This wouldn't be an issue except that two are publishers and one is the General Manager of Times-Shamrock which owns our local Citizens Voice and Scranton Times. How am I supposed to read their endorsements knowing that they have invested money in candidates. I also researched the editors and managing staff of your news paper and there were no donations to candidates. I guess this clearly shows why the Times Leader is the newspaper to trust when it comes down to endorsements.

In the end, predictions don't matter when you have a horse in the race. Citizens voice has turned out to be biased and now should be seen as flawed when they make their endorsements this fall when it comes to candidates they monetarily supported. So if the Citizens Voice doesn't print your letter that is against Chris Carney's vote then perhaps this has set the record straight.

Paul Stebbins
West Pittston

Here are my sources for your review
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/index.php?capcode=d7vcp&name=Haggerty&state=PA&zip=&employ=&cand=


Maybe he missed this LTE in yesterday's Voice


Reps. Carney and Kanjorski voted wrong on health care

Editor:

I find the editorial section describing the "courageous" actions of congress downright insulting. If anything, this vote demonstrated how Congress is more interested in special deals and listening to party leadership than in respecting the wishes of their constituency. Chris Carney's 10th district is 5 to 4 Republican, yet he voted for a wasteful bill because "Americans deserve the same health care as congress." Unfortunately, Mr. Carney fails to understand that Americans are not allowed to spend money recklessly like their congressional counterparts.

Paul Kanjorski is worse. He essentially voted for the end of Sallie Mae in his own district with the Federal takeover of student loans. In this economy, he didn't place the interests of his constituents first.

I intend to vote against Carney in the upcoming election.

Robert Kirby

Harding

Reilly busted

28 and counting

Feds: Reilly took $1,500 in bribes from constructon contrator

The bribery charges filed against Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Robert Reilly today relate to his alleged acceptance of $1,500 in kickbacks from contractor Barton Weidlich for work Weidlich performed in the Clerk of Courts office and another county building, according to an affidavit...


Weidlich said he also paid Reilly kickbacks for work that was performed in a building the county was using for storage located behind Antonio’s Pizza on River Street. All tolled, Weidlich said he paid kickbacks to Reilly five to seven times totaling $1,500.

Mitchell smacks Barletta

I got this earlier today.


Statement by Ed Mitchell, spokesman, Pennsylvanians for Kanjorski

Like he does when discussing Hazleton city finances, Mayor Lou Barletta cooked the books all week on how much money his congressional campaign raised this quarter. In press releases, Barletta said he took in about $300,000 since he began his race. He actually took in $286,013. He says he has $202,000 cash on hand, but when you subtract the $136,000 debt he has, the amount is actually closer to $67,000 cash on hand.

Barletta fails to inspire people. People don’t donate to him like other Republican candidates for congress in the state. He’s a spin meister. He’s actually spinning his wheels.

And despite telling potential donors that he was raising money to pay off his debt to himself, Barletta has paid nothing back yet. He misled donors to get them to encourage him to run and he might pay himself off at any moment thus further weakening his cash situation.

Another sorry fundraising quarter for Barletta who’s lost twice now to Congressman Kanjorski and looks to be on his way to “Strike Three and You’re Out.”


I love red meat in politics and this is it. What is interesting is that the Kanjo camp is ignorring primary opponent Corey O'Brien.

I'll be reading the FEC campaign finance over the weekend and will give you a report .

So much to blog about

So little time.

Sometimes there is not much to write about and then there is too much. I hope to cover some of these topics in the coming days but will not get to them all. Guest posts are always welcome.

The FEC reports for the 1st quarter from our Congressional candidates are online.

Where does W-B councilman Tony Thomas actually live

The PA DEP shut down Cabot Oil and Gas

Moon Lake I'm thinking of joining the Sierra Club


More corruption in Luzerne County that spills over into Lackawanna County ensarling a PA 22nd Senate District candidate

The Luzerne County Commssioners can't even to agree to buy a time clock without intrigue

The decision by Luzerne Borough to drop police coverage by Swoyersville stinks to high heaven


The Luzerne County Government Study Commission is hell bent on putting something on the ballot by November

Yuddy and Leighton will debate

This guy is a big disappointment

10th CD Republicans

At this point in the 2008 race for the Republican nomination for Congress in the PA 10th District between Chris Hackett and Dan Meuser was a slugfest. Both candidates were running TV ads ripping into the other using information that I'm proud to say was first reported on Gort42 in many cases. This time around it's down right tame, even dull. That probably is due to the fact the candidates this time are not millionaires willing to pump a chunk of their fortunes into the campaign.

The conventional wisdom is that a freshman congressman is most vulnerable in the next election. But the national trend combined with the primary bloodbath that left many Meuser supporters resentful saw Congressman Chris Carney reelected by a big margin (56%-44%).

This year the Republicans have convinced themselves that Health Care Reform is so unpopular with people that think like them and live in the same echo chamber that he is a goner. I think the economy will be a bigger issue in the fall as it always is in any federal election.

All 3 GOP hopefuls oppose HCR and rail against deficits yet propose even more tax cuts. I call them the Tax Cut Triplets.

Malcolm Derk will not be on the air anytime soon. He is the first to file a FEC report showing that he only raised $18,000 in the first quarter with just $11,000 cash on hand. A few days ago his campaign sent out a press release that said he will be touring all 14 counties in the district. That sounds nice but it didn't bother to tell us where he will be and when.

Dave Madeira has the best website of the 3 with a full calendar of events plus all his press releases. and much more. He is planning a really neat event on 235th ANNIVERSARY OF PAUL REVERE'S FAMOUS RIDE . He will be riding a motorcycle across the district and tells us where to find him.

The ride will start at 12:30 p.m. in Shamokin and make stops in Muncy, Dushore and Tunkhannock before ending in Honesdale at 5:30 p.m. The 165-mile ride will go through Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Lycoming, Sullivan, Wyoming, Lackawanna and Wayne counties.

I hope he wears a helmet or at least a tri corn hat. This is kind of like teabaggers meet the Hell's Angels.

Tom Marino made a typo on his financial dislosure report. Louis DeNaples paid him a quarter of million dollars not $25,000. He defends writing a reference for DeNaples when he was applying for a slots license saying



"Mr. DeNaples has been a friend of mine for a long time," Marino said. "He's been very good to this state. He's created thousands and thousands of jobs, and I'm not throwing Mr. DeNaples under the bus for vote."

DeNaples was later indicted for lying on his application but the charges were dismissed. Marino also claims he started the investigation into the Juvie Brothers corruption scandal in Luzerne County when he was the US Attorney.

Conservative website REDSTATE is not a fan of Marino.


Meet Tom Marino, who will certainly be in the DCCC’s crosshairs if he wins the GOP primary in Pennsylvania’s 10th to go up against Rep. Chris Carney (proud member of the Stupak Sellout crowd instrumental in voting ObamaCare into law last week). Marino, a former US Attorney, has his own shady dealings which will make for good campaign fodder in the general.

During Marino’s tenure as US Attorney, local businessman Louis DeNaples was under investigation by the US Attorney’s Office for his ties to William D’Elia, head of the Bufalino crime family. It seems DeNaples lied about his relationship with D’Elia to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board when applying for a licence for the Mount Airy Casino. Listed as a personal reference on that same application was none other than US Attorney Tom Marino, the very man running the office investigating DeNaples’ organized crime ties.

The Department of Justice got wind of the conflict of interest and ordered Marino off the investigation, and shortly after the media broke the story he resigned his post… and went to work for Louis DeNaples. (The charges were eventually dropped when DeNaples agreed to place the casino project in the name of a family member.)

The reality is just as bad as–if not worse than–the optics of this scandal. Do we really want someone like Marino representing the GOP in what will be a battleground district this fall? Rep. Carney, the Pelosi-enabling, abortion-funding “Blue Dog” Democrat from a conservative district in northeastern Pennsylvania will have a hay day with Marino’s record. I’ve spoken with people in the district who feel uneasy about Marino and will likely just stay at home rather than having to choose between him and Carney.

One of the keys to a Republican resurgence is not only ensuring we have credibly conservative candidates running for office, but also candidates with a personal and professional record we can be proud of and defend. Tom Marino doesn’t fit the bill.

What's up in the 11th CD

Mayor Lou Barletta defended the honor of Hazleton before the students of Temple University last week. Today he is touting his fundraising prowess claiming to have raised $300,000 this cycle. The FEC reports are not online yet so we have to wait to see where the money came from and how much cash he has on hand or if he incurred any more debt. Yesterday another one one of the increasingly frequent raids by federal agents swarmed the offices of a firm involved in one his pet projects. He denies any knowledge of wrongdoing.


Dredge-site firms eyed


“I surely don’t want to speculate on what’s happening. … We need to wait and see if there was any wrongdoing. … I hope the reclamation of the minelands will continue and that the amphitheater project also will continue,” Barletta said.

Congressman Paul Kanjorski has been busy defending his vote for Health Care reform to just about every group that will listen to him. He also came up with one of his big ideas like Wall Street West


Kanjorski: W-B could host energy institute

I think this idea has merit in the long run but the potential damage that gas drilling can do to the area can't wait to be addressed. The gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale will happen no matter how much me and other bloggers rail against it. The challenge is to get the federal and state governments to put in tough regulations to protect the water supply.

Corey O'Brien is making hay out of the rift between Kanjo and neighboring Congressman Chris Carney over the Appropriation Committee seat that came open when Jack Murtha died. The long and short of it is Carney thinks that Kanjorski screwed him over when Kanjo voted for Patrick Murphy instead of him to replace Murtha on the committee.

I got this release from the O'Brien camp:


The fallout from Paul Kanjorski’s betrayal of Northeastern Pennsylvania continues – today, Politico reported that Kanjorski is to blame for igniting “open warfare” on Congressman Carney. According to a chief of staff to a member of the Pennsylvania delegation “The person to blame for this … is Kanjorski.”

Paul Kanjorski voted against Chris Carney for a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and in doing so, cost our region hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite Congressman Carney’s requests for an explanation, Kanjorski has failed to provide a reason for his betrayal and instead continues to hide behind secret ballots and lame excuses.

Pennsylvania Dems feud over seat

My advice to Kanjo and Carney is to stop it. It doesn't help you or you constituents.

This one is rich.

Kanjo's pollster actually called Corey O'Brien.

via Mark

The first rule of polling is “make sure the pollster doesn’t call your opponent’s house.” To that rule I would add “…especially when the campaign manager is sitting next to the phone.”

But last week, Team Kanjo broke this rule, and in doing so, revealed just how low he will sink in his desperate attempt to keep his seat. Not only did the poll seek to find ways of tearing down Corey O’Brien, it also tested just how angry voters are with Paul Kanjorski.

The set of questions written by Kanjorski’s own team says it all. The pollster asked “if any of the following would be a reason not to vote for someone”:

1. Paul Kanjorski is a professional politician.

2. Paul Kanjorski has voted for pay raise after pay raise after pay raise, while we struggle with unemployment and stagnant job creation.

3. Eleven Democrats, including Paul Kanjorski, voted against the stimulus package. Now Paul Kanjorski is trying to take credit for its success.

4. Paul Kanjorski was the architect of the bailout and defends the bailout. (Campaign manager’s note to pollster -- you should also ask whether taking campaign contributions from bailed out banks only two weeks after the multi-billion dollar bailout would be a reason “not to vote for someone”).

5. Paul Kanjorski was named by a journalist as a corrupt Member of Congress because he funneled $10 million to his daughter and son-in-law’s company, Cornerstone.Team Kanjo: In case the answer wasn’t clear from your poll, please stay tuned for May 18th.

Stop Twisting the Truth

Perhaps a telling omen of what Kanjorski’s smear machine will look like, the pollster also made a series of misleading, negative attacks on Corey O’Brien:

The fact that Corey and his wife have debt was twisted into “a lack of fiscal discipline,” even though the debt is from student loans for law school, Corey’s wife’s small business, and child care expenses.

Corey’s career as a community banking attorney became “representing Wall Street” (those are your donors, Congressman).


There is another candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination. Brian Kelly thinks that the world should be made safe to drink tea and talks to the ghost of Dan Flood.

Courthouse timeclocks

Luzerne County catches up with technology invented in the 19th Century. The stories of no show jobs and county employees putting in less than a full days work have been told for as long as I can remember. It now looks like those days may be ending.



County selects firm to put in time clocks for employees


Commissioners chose Chelmsford, Mass.-based Kronos Inc., a work force management software provider, to install and maintain Biometric readers that will require employees to press their fingers or palms on a special pad to clock in and out.

I can't say that I'm crazy about this biometric thing because it reminds me of General Jack Ripper going over the edge because his precious bodily fluids were violated. It comes across as another invasion of privacy like all the video cameras watching your every move in Wilkes-Barre and other cities.

But the trade off is ending this stuff as recounted by Mike McGlynn:


One of the reforms adopted recently is requiring county employees to show up at the courthouse on payday to pick up their checks. Many county workers considered this a brazen affront to their integrity, or, lack thereof. As one story goes, a veteran no-show county employee from up Pittston way was furious when his neighbor, of similar employ, told him they now would have to be at the courthouse in person to be paid. The angry man became even angrier when he went to the courthouse the next payday and was told his name did not appear on the county payroll. Muttering dark oaths against his political patrons, he returned home empty-handed. Subsequently, he learned he was to have reported to the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre -- not the courthouse in Scranton.

Phillies keep winning

The Philadelpia Phillies are off to the best start in April since 1993 and I can dig it. Ray Halladay is everything that has been advertised and the offense is hitting the cover off the ball.

It may not last because this is baseball but I will enjoy the good times.

I-80 tolls

Congressman Paul Kanjorski applauded the rejection of tolling I-80 as did Conressman Chris Carney. The state of Pennsylvania will now have to scramble to find a way to plug a $470 million gap in the budget to maintain our roads and bridges. Kanjo was joined in opposition to tolling the road by just about every other elected official in the area except State Rep and Senate candidate John Yudichak who had the balls to vote for the plan.


Gov. Rendell said Without alternate revenue sources, Pennsylvania will not have money to pave 300 miles of highway annually and repair 100 structurally deficient bridges each year.

The alternative is A 2006 PennDOT study that had recommended higher gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees, but legislators were reluctant to do that, and came up with Act 44 as a substitute.

So we have 3 choices here folks.



1. Put tolls on I-80 like many other states. Which has already been shot down.



2. Raise the gas tax. Since the Republicans control the state senate you can probably rule that out because their be all and end all is lower taxes.



3. Wait for some disaster to happen like a bridge collapsing killing a lot of people then the state government will go into panic pass mode like what happened in Minnesota a few years ago.

More Luzerne County corruption

I have to tip my hat to reporters and editors of the Times-Leader and Citizens Voice for keeping us informed of the the latest outrages. I know I can't keep up on it all.


Today we learn that

TL: Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Robert Reilly rejected a plea agreement offered by federal authorities to charges related to the ongoing corruption probe, a source knowledgeable with the investigation said.

I have to say good for him. It's about time that one of these cases actually goes to trial so we can learn who is paying the bribes not just who accepting them. He will probably cave before trial.

The Little Red Wagon company of Wayne, PA is the center of the latest questionable contracting practices or lack of in the county.


County commissioners initially approved payment of $107,000 to LRW. They later voted to extend the contract, but the new terms did not detail what work would be done, set a timeframe or cap for payments. The extension also was never signed by the county.

The original contract was signed in 2005 since then LRW has been paid almost a million dollars for advice on how to put papers in boxes. No change orders or extensions were ever approved by the Commissioners.


Controller Walter Griffith has stopped paying their invoices.


Prothonotary Carolee claims credit for blowing the whistle

Medico: I called feds


Medico Olenginski loudly expressed her concerns about the payments at a Jan. 27 records improvement committee meeting – the first public committee meeting in years.

However, fellow committee members Reilly, Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla and acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri voted to continue paying LRW, also known as Little Red Wagon, to complete more work. Deputy Treasurer Dominick DePolo, representing Treasurer Michael Morreale, also voted in favor of continuing.


LRW has a website that has client testomnials including this one from Bob Reilly:


"After a lengthy search, I finally found a professional company who understands County government and provides the unique records management services we needed. LRW was able to help many of our offices free up valuable office and storage space and develop easy to follow guidelines for maintaining departmental retention schedules. The Records Improvement Committee and County Departments are extremely pleased with the work they have done. I can depend on LRW to get any job done."

— Robert Reilly, Luzerne County Clerk of Courts

You Tube weekend

The sad news that a groomer was killed by a startled elephant at the Shrine Circus in the Kingston Armory reminded me of an episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

I won't get into the argument about using wild animals for entertainment as it has been done for centuries.

I'm sure I will get beat up for posting this but I think it's an example of life imitating art. Chuckles the Clown met his untimely demise when an elephant sat on him resulting in many obvious jokes by the cast that Mary didn't think was funny until the day of the funeral when she lost it.

Sparks fly in PA Senate 14th race

As I have said before I'm neutral in this race because it promises to be the most entertaining of the primary season and I like both of these gentleman.

Up until now it was pretty bland affair with both candidates touting their bonefides but that changed on Wednesday when all hell broke loose.



Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton put out a press release attacking his rival for the Democratic Senate nomination 119th State Represantive John Yudichak because Yuddy voted for the bill that would allow tolling of I-80.

WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, candidate for state senate in the"It looks like an implosion of Mayor Leighton's campaign," 14th District Democratic primary, today applauded a decision by federal highway officials to ban the tolling of traffic on the I-80 interstate in Pennsylvania.

He further called on his opponent, state Rep. John Yudichak, to reverse his previous position supporting tolls and not try to overturn the decision.

“There may be attempts to appeal this federal decision or pass additional legislation to allow tolling. There have been some suggestions of that publicly. I hope Yudichak will see the wisdom of reversing his previous position and follow the wishes of many hard-working people and college students in Northeastern Pennsylvania who use I-80 everyday as part of their daily commerce.


On July 17, 2007, Yudichak voted for Act 44, which converted interstate
80 into a toll road. The bill passed, 124-79 and was signed by the Governor. [HB 1590, Concurrence w/ Senate, 124-79, 7/17/07].


The response was fast and furious


"This is obviously a diversionary tactic so they do not have to discuss the serious issue that was raised today," Yudichak said. "That's obviously the big news today in federal court, and he has to address those issues."

He was referring to the revelation that Bill Brace admitted to taking money from yet another unnamed contractor in exchange for help getting business in the city of Wilkes-Barre.

Yuddy told SPPE
"Brace admitted to accepting kickbacks for his efforts to secure Wilkes-Barre City contracts for an unnamed company," Yudichak continued. "The pay-to-play politics scheme occurred under Leighton's watch as Mayor of Wilkes-Barre. Mayor Leighton needs to open the books on city contracts and address the issue of pay to play politics in the City. Mayor Leighton's desperate press release attack today smells like a classic diversionary tactic."


Leighton called Yudichak a liar


"John Yudichak is a career Harrisburg insider who wants to continue his career as an insider politician in Harrisburg," Leighton said. "He'll stoop to any low level to do so. Even lie." ..."

Then Yuddy took a shot at Ed Mitchell

"The mayor has to stand on his own two feet," Yudichak said. "Don't stand behind political consultants, don't hide behind political cronies and hacks. Stand before the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania."

Yuddy wants a debate with Leighton but not just one of those bland candidates forums without a back and forth between candidates. I game for that.

Yudichak will officially open his new Wilkes-Barre Township campaign office, located at the corner of Route 309 and Coal Street, this Saturday, April 10th. The grand opening will begin at 11:00 am, followed by a festive reception for his many supporters and volunteers to follow. The event is open to the public.

I'm told that you will not have to pay a toll at the door.

2010 Challengers' Townhall tomorrow

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Educational Conference Center at Luzerne County Community College



2010 Challengers' Townhall (It's Not About Party)

Here is your change to meet some candidates up-close. This event will include speeches from each, with the opportunity for audience questions. See below for a list of guest speakers.

WHERE:
Educational Conference Center
Luzerne County Community College
1333 S. Prospect St, Nanticoke (Enter at Community Drive)


WHO:

Sam Rohrer - Candidate for Governor

Peg Luksik - Candidate for U.S. Senate

Lou Barletta - Candidate for U.S. Congress

Jake Towne - Candidate for U.S. Congress

Tim Mullen - Candidate for State Rep

Betsy Summers - Candidate for State Senate

Brian Bergman - Candidate for State Rep

and many more . . . . .



Find out more at:
http://www.nepaliberty.com/townhall.html

Greens will meet

Carl Romanelli sent this along.

Greens change date of regular meeting, announce regional meeting April 10, 2010



The Green Party of Luzerne County has announced that its regular monthly meeting for April will be scheduled for April 10, at 11:00 AM, at Barnes and Noble, South Main St., Wilkes-Barre; due to the Easter holiday weekend. The meetings of the party are normally held the first Saturday of each month.



The April meeting will also be a regional meeting for Northeastern PA Green chapters, in order to plan activities for the upcoming Earth Day celebration. Greens from Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Susquehanna, and Lackawanna counties are expected to participate. Details of events for Earth Day will be publicized after the meeting, though this year’s focus is on Marcellus Shale issues in Pennsylvania.



Additionally, Green Party Nomination Papers will be available for signing and circulating. The Pennsylvania Green Party has nominated Pittsburgh area resident and physician assistant, Mel Packer for US Senate in 2010. Jay Sweeney of Wyoming County will be on hand at the meeting. Sweeney is seeking the office of State Representative in the 111th District.



The Green Party is an independent political party dedicated to principles of ecology, justice, peace, and diversity. The Luzerne County party has been in existence since 2000 and has met monthly ever since. Meetings are free of charge and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Jay Sweeney is taking on Wyoming County Republican State Representative Sandra Major again and Mel Packer is just trying to get on the statewide ballot.

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.

119th update

119th Democratic State Rep candidate Gerald Mullery has a shindig tonight in Naticoke details here. He has also signed onto Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge.



Bear Creek Township supervisor Gary Zingaretti is the first Democratic candidate on the air with this TV ad:





Bob Morgan has a website up.


The lone Republican in the race Rick Arnold has an interview posted on the Luzerne County GOP YouTube channel.



The League of Women Voters of the Wilkes-Barre Area is planning a public forum for its members and the general public to learn more about the Democratic candidates running for State Representative in the 119th District.

The forum will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Kings College in the Burke Auditorium of the McGowen School of Business.

The Sharp Dressed Man sings

SCRANTON - Former Luzerne County official Bill Brace helped federal prosecutors with an investigation of county Clerk of Courts Robert F. Reilly, a government attorney told a federal judge at Brace's sentencing Wednesday.


Brace was sentenced to only 3 months in prison for accepting a$1500 suit from an unnamed contractor because he ratted out used car salesman and Big Ugly's investor Reilly in addition to former Commissioner Greg Skrepnak and former Jury Commissioner Jerry Bonner. Apparently there is no honor among thieves when your own ass is on the line. The feds are also questioning Reilly's involvement with LRW Solutions group that Controller Walter Griffith has stopped paying because of concerns about the company's contract with Luzerne County.

If that isn't enough Judge Munley dropped this bomb


Brace's criminal conduct went beyond the suit and his position in county government...
Munley, summarizing a confidential pre-sentence report, said Brace accepted $800 per month from another company over a two-year span after he led the firm's officials to believe he could secure them business with the City of Wilkes-Barre, his employer for 31 years before he joined Reilly's office in 2001.

More about that later.

Luzerne County Home Rule

A guest post.


Luzerne County Home Rule


Gort has been writing about the Luzerne County Government Study Commission (GSC) since it was created by a referendum last November. I've been advocating for the separation of executive and legislative responsibilities in the new charter in the comments here, on Facebook, to my fellow LCCC students, to anyone who will listen at blogger meetups and elsewhere around the intertubes.


Everyone I have conversed with is in agreement that we need an executive, who would be elected at large and charged with vetoing or approving new policy that has been passed by the legislative body. Despite this consensus, the commission is "hell bent" on another idea that would be a slap in the face to all who believe in checks and balances.


Our current three-Commissioner-system is a consolidation of power because they are both the legislative and executive branches. If two or more of them agree they can do just about anything that does not violate Pennsylvania's law. Most of this system was set up by Harrisburg over 175 years ago and does not reflect the best thinking of our time, or even their time.


Counties, school boards and other local governments with similar consolidations of power also have persistent problems with corruption. The only way to alter this course is a fundamental change in our system, not a quick fix personal change. I am all about throwing out the bums but if we fail to strike at the root of the problem we will continue to fill our most important government positions with a disproportionate amount of bums.


Charmaine H. Maynard informed "Separation of Powers for LC", a new Facebook Page, that the commission is going with an appointed manager. This would be similar to how a school board picks their own executive, instead of voters, who is then a rubber stamp for the board or quickly out of a job. Insignia would not have been able to swindle 7 figures from our school districts if they had execs who would not be updating the resume if they decided to grow a spine. The immediate past President of LCCC asserts this as well in his allegations against their board. Conahan and Chiveralla would not have been able to privatize our juvenile detention system. That would take authorization from at least the executive.


Another way the commission is being used to consolidate power is to limit what the voters can accomplish with a referendum. According to this well written letter to the editor, voters will not be able to approve or deny expenditures for capital projects which is another common sense way we could have stopped the crooked judges and other problems. It is a means to increase the power of the people both directly by allowing them more direct control over their county and by increasing the opportunities for more of the electorate to become educated and involved.


No one system is perfect but the one we've been rocking fails in theory and practice and needs to be replaced, not augmented. As Gort has written, the 2003 charter, though I disagree with much of it, accomplished the very basic goal of some real checks and balances. If they wanted to help the people then their work was already done.


They will listen to popular demand so come out to the meetings held every Wednesday evening at the Stettler Learning Center at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston at 7 PM because they have a time for citizen comments. You could also leave a comment on the GSC Website, email them, Facebook them or join the Separation of Powers page here.


Thanks
Austin Smith Ford

Yuddy get's a big labor endorsement

119th State Rep John Yudichak picked up a plum endorsement from the Northeast PA Building and Construction Trades Council.



The Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council is made up of 16 Regional Council and more than 115 local unions from 15 International Building Trades Unions.

The local unions come from the following Internationals:

•International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers
•International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers
•International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers
•International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
•International Brotherhood of Teamsters
•International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
•International Union of Elevator Constructors
•International Union of Operating Engineers
•International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
•Laborers International Union of North America
•Operative Plasterers and Cement Mason's International Union
•Sheet Metal Workers International Association
•United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
•United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
•United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers


This is a big deal in a Democratic primary. Many endorsements, especially from sitting or past office holders, are good for a press release then forgotten the next day but the ones that count come from unions or organizations that can bundle money. On the Republican side the Club for Growth can steer some money to a candidate if they are pure enough and sign on to their agenda. In a Democratic primary union endorsements are coveted because they can provide boots on the ground and spend independent money communicating with their members.


Yudichak Receives Unanimous Endorsement of NEPA Building and Construction Trades Council


John Yudichak, Democratic State Senate candidate in the 14th Senatorial District, received the unanimous endorsement of the Northeast PA Building and Construction Trades Council. The announcement was made April 1st by Mike Rozitski, Business Manager for the Trades Council.
“John Yudichak has an outstanding voting record on labor issues,” said Rozitski. “He has always been very union-oriented and a true friend of labor. Our endorsement of John was unanimous and extremely enthusiastic.”

The Northeast PA Building and Construction Trades Council represents 15 different construction industry unions and approximately 15,000 union members. This coveted endorsement for Yudichak follows last week’s unanimous endorsement by the Fraternal Order of Police, Wyoming Valley Lodge No. 36. More major endorsements of Yudichak will be announced in the coming days.

“I am honored to have received the unanimous endorsement of the Building and Construction Trades Council,” said Yudichak. “My father was a union miner and my mother was a lifelong AFSCME member. At an early age, they instilled in me an appreciation for the American labor movement and the principles of fair wages and working standards that unions hold dear. I have always stood with the labor movement and I always will.”

During his past 12 years as State Representative, Yudichak was instrumental in creating many good paying jobs for Building Trades members in northeastern PA, including the currently-under-construction Culinary Institute at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, which is being built with a 90% union workforce.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton will probably not get the nod from the firefighters union.

Vacation this week

Happy Easter everyone.


I don't know if I will posting less or more because I some time on my hands. Mrs. G has a long 'honey do' list for me and the weather is supposed to be great. I plan on doing some dog training in addition to getting my outside work done.

The only place we will be visiting is Porchville and will be watching Baseball! Our long national nightmare (5 months) is over and the national pastime will resume this evening. Although I agree with Dana who said "My biggest pet peeve is that baseball has ended the tradition of the first game on opening day being the first Cincinnati Reds game. That, to me, is sacrilege."

Well said my friend. Part of the reason I like College Football and Major League Baseball is the history and traditions. But every year they do something else to screw it up.

This might be the year that I get my dream World Series.

Go Phillies and Red Sox!


Update: The Red Sox win 9-7

The Reddddddddd Soxxxxxxxxx win!

Bite me John Sterling.

Tidbits

I've always posted about things that are not political but I thought were interesting or just personal on Gort42. Now I find that I put that sort of thing on my Facebook page . I have it set up that whatever I put on the blog will automatically post on Facebook so should I continue to bore you about my everyday pet peeves and pictures of my pets?

Another Monkey predicted a few months ago that Facebook and Twitter will kill blogging. Ed Mitchell sent me this link a few weeks ago arguing the same point.

I think blogs will be around for awhile and even grow in the political sphere of influence but they may decline as a version of an online diary because other than your friends very few people are interested in what you had for breakfast.

So I will share some of my pet peeves .

Cell phones. I don't have one and I don't understand why people are glued to the things especially when they are driving a car. What the hell can be that important? You are slaves to those machines.

TV audio. Whenever the show you are watching goes to commercial the ad is a lot louder than the program.

Flashing lights. The radio towers on Penobscot Mountain now have a strobe light that I think is dangerous to people with epilepsy and blinding to many others.

Talking elevators. I can look at the buttons and figure out what floor I am on and don't need to be told to watch my step.

Change. I was in the F&B business for a long time and I always taught my people was not to put the customer on the spot. A server should never ask "do you need change" after you plopped down your cash on the check. The proper response is I will be right back with your change .

Plastic. Whenever you buy some sort of electronic product it comes in a well built plastic package that you need a chain saw to open.

Enough bitching. Pictures of the Pets are in order.

Quincy keeps an eye on Ptolemy who keeps an eye on Quincy.

Santorum 2012

I've been told that I somehow hurt the feelings of the Mean Old Man as if such a thing is possible. To cheer him up here is an update on former Senator Rick Santorum's (R-VA) quest for the presidency.

Like all pretenders to the throne Santorum has a PAC that "is committed to helping candidates and causes who share Sen. Santorum's commitment to conservative principles." The problem is that the PAC raises a lot of money but not much of it actually is used to support candidates.

PG: In the second half of 2009, according to federal filings, the PAC raised $710,000. Of that total, $557,000 was spent on direct mail and related expenditures -- building a nationwide base of donors and supporters for Mr. Santorum. Just $38,500 was donated to candidates or causes.

He is not the only prospective Republican Presidential candidate that has a PAC that tells people it's purpose is to support like minded candidates but actually sends very little money to them.

Mitt Romney raised $3.57 million in 2009 for his PAC but gave about $70,000 to candidates and causes.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee raised $824,000 through his Huck PAC last year and the the PAC spent $40,000 on giving to candidates and causes.

Sarah Palin pulled in $2.13 million last year spent about $57,000 on candidates and causes.

Rick was in Iowa again and told an overflow crowd of 30 people at a diner that ‘It’s gut-check time’ to oppose the reduction of nuclear weapons and accused the President of supporting "leftist dictators" in Latin America. He dropped by Lincoln, Nebraska to sing the praises of the Tea Party movement and said today's partisan polarization and the abusive or violent rhetoric sometimes directed at President Barack Obama is no worse than what President George W. Bush endured. He also wants to repeal Health Care Reform and backs Israel's interests.

Longtime Santorum fan GrassrootsPA points out this story from Politics Daily

Why We Should Take Rick Santorum's Presidential Ambitions Seriously

Nonetheless, his most damaging misstep involved the fact that, though the Pennsylvania senator resided in Leesburg, Va., he used taxpayer money from the Penn Hills School District to cover online school tuition for his children.



But Rick Santorum is now essentially a man without a state.

In 2004, he endorsed Sen. Arlen Specter during a tough primary challenge from Rep. Patrick Toomey. (Many believe Santorum's team was involved in whisper campaigns suggesting to conservative voters that Toomey was not solidly pro-life.) There are several possible reasons for the endorsement, including pressure from the Bush administration or that Santorum simply believed only Specter was strong enough to hold the Pennsylvania seat for Republicans. But some observers think Santorum resented the possibility of having to compete with another young conservative senator in his home state. Regardless, Santorum's backing helped Specter fend off Toomey's tough challenge. That was six years ago, and it has haunted Santorum ever since, serving as a lone, but serious, asterisk on his otherwise impressive conservative resume, especially given Specter's eventual switch to the Democratic Party.


On a side note congrats to Chris for having one of the best April Fools gags of the day.

Carney vs. Kanjo

The lost seat on Appropriations Committee is still sticking in the craw of Congressman Chris Carney according to Borys.

The PA delegation voted to recommend Philly area House member Patrick Murphy take the place of the late Jack Murtha. The vote was 6-4-1 with Erie Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper voting for herself. Kanjo won't say he who he voted for because it was a secret ballot and Borys asks If he voted for Mr. Carney, wouldn't he just say that?

Murphy has a relationship with Kanjo dating back to his days at Kings College and his brother JJ works for Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton.

Kanjo and Carney are tight lipped about this tiff sort of

The two congressmen refuse to say much about their spat, but their silence and veiled swipes at each other are raising eyebrows over Kanjorski's role in the recommendation and whether Northeastern Pennsylvania lost a chance at a larger share of federal funding.

Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, refuses to disclose his vote, saying it is "confidential."

"And unfortunately, the people that are talking about it obviously have interests," he said Tuesday after a public meeting at the South Side Senior Citizens Center. "And I think they've made major political errors in breaching confidential relationships."
He did not name "the people."

Carney told Norton

“I'm not going to comment on the internal workings of the delegation," Carney said to the Examiner. "What I will say is that I had counted on the support of my colleagues in maintaining geographical balance from the state on the Appropriations Committee. I will continue to do everything I can to fight to ensure projects throughout northeast and central Pennsylvania get their deserved share of federal funds. And I will always put our region ahead of politics when making these critical decisions."



The Pocono Record reports that Carney won the pork race this year pulling in $20.6 million in earmarks to Kanjorski's $17 million.

Kanjo's primary opponent, Corey O'Brien, pounced


Paul Kanjorski has still failed to provide a reason for why he voted against his neighboring Congressman, Chris Carney, who was seeking a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee. That important vote wasn’t just against Chris Carney, it was against our entire region and the millions of federal dollars that could have been used here to create jobs, build infrastructure, and secure our region’s future for decades to come. So much for Kanjorski’s “seniority” as dean of the Pennsylvania delegation.

A look at the records of former Congressmen on the Appropriations Committee demonstrates just how much we may have lost:

- Congressman Dan Flood used his seniority on the House Appropriations Committee to steer I-80 and I-81 through his congressional district and ensured that Scranton and Wilkes-Barre would be connected to other major centers of commerce such as Philadelphia and New York City.

- During Joe McDade’s tenure on the same committee, he fought for the Tobyhanna Army Depot, established the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, and created the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton.

- As chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Defense, Jack Murtha controlled billions of dollars in federal defense spending.

In 2010, Paul Kanjorski’s 26 years of “seniority” resulted in fewer federal earmark dollars for our district than 2-term Congressman Chris Carney was able to secure for his district. While Carney has been working hard for his district, Kanjorski has demonstrated that he is more interested in raising money from his friends on Wall Street (over $4,000,000 and counting). And while our opponent likes to take credit for “reforming” Wall Street, he conveniently forgets to take credit for the 14 years he spent as the highest ranking Democrat overseeing the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression and allowing Wall Street’s payout of billions in bonuses.

Paul Kanjorski can talk about his “seniority,” but clearly it isn’t the kind of “seniority” our region needs or wants.

The Hook strikes again

Our own version of Batman is in the news again. Some poor guy parked in the Penn Plaza parking lot then walked across South Main St. in Wilkes-Barre to grab his lunch returning 15 minutes later to find that his car was gone. He thought is was stolen but he was just another "customer" of City Wide Towing. His lunch ended up costing him 152 bucks.

.

City Wide is owned by Bob Kadluboski who was once described by Citizens Voice Columnist Mike McGlynn as the closest thing Wilkes-Barre has to a terrorist. Councilman Bill Barrett is looking to stop predatory towing.

.

Kadluboski has always been a colorful character.

He has rammed his tow truck into suspected criminals and apprehended a fleeing felon at gunpoint showing his commitment to fighting crime. When his dogs escaped from his compound and mauled someone he defended them proving he is an animal rights advocate. When you have to deal with him after he towed your car a you get a lesson in customer service. He placed an ad before the 2006 election without disclosing who paid for it, and the paper that published it let him do it, affirming his commitment the first amendment. The ad was a clear violation of election law. Pennsylvania election code requires political ads to clearly identify the people or groups who pay for them. Haven't heard a thing about it since.


For all the effort W-B has made to bring people into the city it just takes an incident like this to setback years of progress.