Hey Governor Corbett. Hope you enjoyed firing Coach Paterno. You just lost my vote

Last week ESPN Magazine reported that Governor Tom Corbett played a greater role than he originally indicated in the firing of Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno. In fact according to ESPN the Magazine's report, Corbett seemed to be a major force pushing the Penn State Board of Trustees towards their eventual decision.
There is no doubt many Penn State fans believe that Paterno's firing was political motivated and unwarranted considering the facts laid out in the Attorney General's report. In fact, I firmly believe that Paterno did nothing wrong in his handling of a possible on campus sexual assault that was reported to him a day after the incident by a staff intern. Paterno even followed the University's own policies regarding staff reporting evidence of sexual assault on campus. This paragraph on Section 9: "General Reporting Information" in the Student Affairs', Protocol to Assist Victims of Relationship, Domestic and Sexual Violence pretty much explains Paterno's actions that now infamous Saturday.

The University encourages victims of relationship, domestic or sexual violence to report to law enforcement authorities. Whether or not to report to the police is a decision the victim needs to make, except in certain circumstances when reporting is required by the University. If staff are uncertain about whether they need to report an incident, they should consult with their supervisor and, if necessary, with the director of University Health Services.

Paterno himself admitted he did not know how to handle the matter. He was not an eyewitness. The incident occurred the day before. Paterno thoughtfully considered what actions he could take which were limited considering Sandusky was a retired coach and didn't fall under his authority. So Paterno's final decision to report the matter to his supervisor, Tim Curley the Athletic Director, and the head of the University Police, Mr. Shultz, seemed to follow the University's own protocol.

Now I know Mr. Corbett is a smart man. But maybe the members of Penn State's Board of Trustees and Governor Corbett's staff should have bothered reading the University's own policies before they gleefully fired the most beloved college football coach of all time over the phone.

Perhaps the most telling part of the ESPN the Magazine's reporting, the part that angers me the most, is the accounts of eye witnesses that say that Corbett was out drinking it up the same night celebrating his political victory. This seems kind of odd considering Corbett himself as Attorney General sat on the Sandusky investigation for more than two years while accepting a large sum of campaign money from members of The Second Mile's Board of Trustees, Sandusky's foundation.

The treatment of coach Paterno by Penn State's Board of Trustees and the media is a very divisive issue here in Central Pennsylvania. I am sure Governor Corbett will start feeling the political heat from this report very soon. Like I said in the title Governor Corbett, I hope you enjoyed your political victory when you convinced members of Penn State's board to fire coach Paterno. I'm just letting you know now that you just lost my vote and I'm sure the vote of many other die hard Penn State fans here in Pennsylvania.

Santorum's Last Stand

Guest column by G. Terry Madonna & Michael L. Young

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

The Pennsylvania primary scheduled for April 24th was to be Rick Santorum’s triumphal return - celebrating his resurgence in national politics after his crushing defeat just six years earlier for re-election to the senate.

It’s not turning out that way.

Instead Santorum is finding himself ensnarled in a nasty dog fight with Mitt Romney that is looking more and more like Santorum’s last stand. Out spent by Romney by margins sometimes approaching ten to one, trailing badly in pledged delegates, and lacking Romney’s powerful ground operation, Santorum cannot afford to lose his home state. Yet three polls now show the race to be competitive--Franklin & Marshall, Mercyhurst and Quinnipiac find that Santorum’s once daunting lead over Romney has been erased in less than a month.

Why? What has happened to the once promising campaign that promised to derail Romney’s presidential hopes and set up a classic conservative versus moderate battle within the GOP?

A close look at the last month of the campaign reveals the painful contours of the Santorum slide. Altogether five factors have converged to turn Pennsylvania into what could beSantorum’s last stand. They are:

• Santorum’s foray into social issues badly misfired hurting him among independents.

Santorum’s odyssey into reproductive health and related social issues, often delivered in a provocative manner has cost him supporters especially among independents and moderates. In Pennsylvania that means large stretches of the state, including Philadelphia, the vote rich Philly suburbs and the Lehigh Valley might well snub his candidacy. Worse perhaps, the animus engendered by Santorum’s frequently controversial remarks has tended to take his focus off jobs and the economy. Santorum, in a phrase has consistently gone off message in the last month and it is costing him.

• The once vaunted Santorum surge is sagging badly.

From late January through February, Santorum rode a genuine momentum as powerful as any seen in a Republican primary in a generation. He won several important states including Mississippi and Alabama and had sizable early leads in key Electoral College swing states like Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. But he subsequently lost all these states and with it the air went out of much of the Santorum balloon. No Republican can win the presidency who doesn’t win a majority of these battleground states in the fall.

• Romney’s huge financial advantage is overwhelming

Romney has regularly out spent Santorum by margins of 7 to 1 and higher, sometimes much higher. In one state it was estimated the Romney edge was a stupendous 70 to 1. Just one of Romney’s Super PACs has spent almost 40 million dollars, according to theLos Angeles Times, most on negative ads. During the Wisconsin race, Santorum achieved a symbolic victory by holding Romney to a mere 4 to 1 spending edge. No candidate in the age of media politics can long withstand a barrage of this magnitude.

• Romney has yet seriously to campaign in Pennsylvania

Romney has now drawn within striking distance of Santorum in Pennsylvania without serious campaigning. His stunning financial advantage combined with a growing campaign operation in the state means his support will inevitably swell when he does begin to campaign, spending time and money in the state. In other mega states like Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, Santorum started with substantial leads only to see them wither away as the Romney campaign gathered steam. That’s likely to happen in Pennsylvania, too.

• Many, perhaps most Republicans, want the race to end

The GOP race has become nasty personal, filled with vitriol and – worst of all – helping no one but the Obama campaign. In just a few months Obama has gone from a long shot for re-election to holding national leads over both Romney (4%) and Santorum (8%). Together with an improving economy, Obama’s prospects to win reelection have improved markedly. At the same time all the Republican candidates, save Ron Paul have seen their negatives rise, always ominous in an election year. The lesson seems only too clear; the longer the GOP race continues the harder to beat Obama in the fall.

Santorum’s rise and fall carries with it enough paradox to launch a Russian novel or two. It’s hard to miss the irony that a campaign beginning in a defeat for reelection to the senate six years ago could end with another defeat six years later in the same state. Perhaps the supreme twist, though, is that Pennsylvania’s chronically late voting Republicans may finally get a primary that matters.Enigmatically however, they get it only by dumping the first Pennsylvanian to seriously run for president in almost half a century.

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Politically Uncorrected™ is published twice monthly, and previous columns can be viewed at http://politics.fandm.edu. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any institution or organization with which they are affiliated. This article may be used in whole or part only with appropriate attribution. Copyright © 2010 Terry Madonna and Michael Young.

Have A Blessed Easter Everyone

On this day we all celebrate the Resurrection of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Let us remember it was his spirit, death, and resurrection that has freed all mankind from the darkness of sin. His death and resurrection has brought us closer to God.

I believe Easter is the gift of HOPE. Easter is the gift of PEACE. Easter is the gift of LOVE. This is a time to rejoice. May God bless you at Easter and keep you all year through. May his light and grace always help to guide us on our way. And may his love bless you this Easter day.

Do politicians represent unions or taxpayers?

Guest Post by Lowman S. Henry

Conservative activists from across Pennsylvania gathered recently for the annual Pennsylvania Leadership Conference. From the podium and through the hallways a common theme emerged. There is a palpable sense of disappointment - and growing anger - over the slow pace of Gov. Tom Corbett and the Republican-controlled General Assembly toward enactment of the conservative agenda.

Activists are quick to credit the Governor and his legislative allies for last year’s state budget which held the line on both spending and taxes. Credit is also given for the fact this year’s proposed budget - and likely final budget - will follow suit. But those accomplishments are the only reason why conservative anger has not turned into outright hostility and rebellion.

Fueling disillusionment among the party’s base is the progress being made in other states. Conservatives have watched with envy as Indiana enacted a Right to Work law. Wisconsin - liberal Wisconsin - passed sweeping reforms that threw off the yoke of labor union repression that had bloated that state’s budget for decades. From Chris Christie’s war against the education establishment in New Jersey to policy victories in Virginia, Florida, Ohio and other states conservatives nationwide are enacting their agenda.

Here in Pennsylvania the conservative agenda is dead in the water. During the early months of the Corbett Administration we were told the budget came first, that other issues would be addressed after the budget was passed. The budget was passed nine months ago and the record of accomplishment since then is, well, dismal.

School choice was to be the crown jewel in this session’s legislative crown. But even a watered down version of school choice failed to pass the General Assembly. Ditto privatization of the state’s liquor stores. Efforts to protect the unborn via the Women’s Right to Know Act floundered and was pulled from the legislative agenda. Right to Work is mentioned in hushed tones and even a modest update to the state’s Prevailing Wage law remains bottled up in a House committee.

Pointing to policy victories in other states, conservatives are demanding to know why, with a Republican in the Governor’s Office and historic Republican majorities in the General Assembly more progress is not being made. Matthew Brouillette, President of the Commonwealth Foundation, has the answer. He correctly points out that the Republican/Democrat model does not apply in Pennsylvania. Rather the legislature is divided between the union party and the taxpayer party.

And the union party is winning. Last summer a number of contracts with state labor unions were up for renewal. Rather than take a stand to bring labor costs under control, the Corbett Administration simply caved into union demands. It bought labor peace, but that tranquility will come at a considerable price to taxpayers. In the state Senate, leadership has opposed liquor store privatization and other conservative initiatives. Simply put, the upper chamber has become a conservative policy graveyard. In the House, labor leaders recently lauded House Labor Committee Chairman Ron Miller (R-York) as “our man in Harrisburg.” Is it any wonder legislation aimed at curbing the excesses of organized labor is stuck in his committee?

Simply put while Republicans are the governing majority in Harrisburg conservatives and taxpayers remain in the minority. That is why the upcoming primary election is so important. It is no longer good enough to simply return Republicans to office because the alternative is worse. Primary elections are held for a reason. Primaries are where the battle for the heart and soul of the party is fought. Incumbent Republicans who take money from labor unions are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

With Pennsylvania’s primary election now just weeks away voters should take the time to find out whether their elected representative stands with the unions or with the taxpayers. If only a few incumbents lose because they sided with the special interests rather than the public interest, then the culture of state government will begin to change. And change must come soon. Because if it does not, that simmering conservative anger will boil over when the spotlight returns to state government in 2014.

Lowman S. Henry is chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute for Public Policy Research Inc. in Harrisburg and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His email address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org

Cowardice in PA

In early February, I wrote to my local township tax collector complaining about a 13% increase in local school taxes, an 80% increase in township debt service taxes, and a 17% increase in county RE taxes. I asked the tax collector (who obviously has no role in setting rates but is only responsible for collecting the revenue) to pass my concerns on to the township Commissioners and School Board just to see if I got any response. I copied my Ward Commissioner, my three County Commissioners, my State Representative, State Senator, and Gov. Corbett's office.

The responses, or lack of same, were predictable and included: an invitation extended by the Tax Collector to run for Republican Committee Person to represent my ward, no response from the Township Commissioners, School Board, County Commissioners or Governor's Office, an email from the Democrat commissioner representing my ward who quite naturally blamed the Republican dominated township commissioners who are and have been an "old boys club fiefdom" for over 20 years, much like the cross-filed school board members who are more interested in the business connections they develop and nurture while on the board, than on any real representation of the local citizenry. My Republican State Rep. didn't have the gumption to respond to me in writing, rather he had his secretary leave a message on my answering machine thanking me for the email and insisting that her boss remembered me from my previous political activism surrounding "fiscal responsibility" issues some 20 years ago. My Republican State Senator did have the courtesy to respond with a "cut and paste job" of paragraphs lifted from previous constituent newsletters highlighting legislation either introduced, co-sponsored, or voted for that merely nips around the edges of the spending problems and fiscal irresponsibility I see at all levels of government, i.e. "unfunded mandates" and antiquated laws that restrict the "free market" and prevent competition by the non politically connected private sector businesses that could serve the taxpayers at a significantly lower cost than municipal employees.

The problem as I see it is relatively straightforward. In PA we have only one political party: the Big Government party (government of, by and for the political class). it is constituted of liberal Democrats primarily from the cities of Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh and increasingly of the nearby suburbs where former city residents have fled the very problems like crime and joblessness created and exacerbated by the big government policies of high taxes and even higher spending. Sadly, these same folks can't connect two adjacent dots, and have brought their ill-informed urban political views with them. The big city politicos have only one goal: fleece the remainder of the state's taxpayers for every dollar they can to feather the nest of local supporters: buying their votes with the dollars of others. The remainder of the state is dominated by "Republicans In Name Only." Their goal is simply to get reelected and retain their majorities in the House and Senate so as to retain control of Committee Chairmanships and control the purse-strings. Once again, it is the extension of charity with other people's money. Both the Left and Right wings of this predatory bird are happy to accept campaign contributions from teachers unions, municipal workers unions, trade unions, and the legal community from which most of them were spawned. Local trade unions benefit due to antiquated laws requiring that only union contractors be used on all State, Municipal, and School District construction jobs. Lawyers, who are in constant search of new classes of "victims" benefit when laws restricting medical malpractice, or other classes of Tort are not reformed via a "loser pays," or damage cap legislation. Lawyers, who are an inextricable part of the political class, along with many Judges, are professional redistributionists in search of "social justice," not "blind justice."

Part two of the problem in PA is the utter unwillingness of the members of the political class to exhibit any real courage of convictions in support of taxpayer issues that would truly reform "business as usual" which is only beneficial to the interest groups previously mentioned. The professional politicians have made entire careers out of pandering to the connected contributors be they big labor, or big business. This , naturally, is to the detriment of the middle-class private sector worker who pays the bills that buys the slop in the public trough from which the gluttons feast.

Pennsylvania has a disease. One of its symptoms was highlighted in the June 2011 American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) "Rich States, Poor States" report that ranked PA 46th in economic performance, 43rd in economic competitiveness, and 41st in outmigration.

Some simple, yet courageous reforms could turn the Commonwealth around rapidly. Pass legislation at least as broad as that in Wisconsin or Indiana: free teachers to decide for themselves whether or not to join a union. Insist, on a personal contributions by all municipal, state, and school district employees towards their health care and pension funds that are comparable to expected contributions by employees in the private sector. It is high time that public sector employees were introduced to the real world where employees earn less than their employers (in this case - the taxpayers). Repeal Act 195 of 1970 which granted the right of Public School teachers to strike. A teachers' strike is the legislatively sanctioned extortion of taxpayers in a particular school district. Public support of HB 1369 and HB 2092 together called the "Strike Free Education Act" would help add PA to the list of thirty seven other states who ban teacher strikes. Since there are more teacher strikes in PA than in any other of the remaining thirteen states that permit them, there is no reason that an informed public shouldn't support these bills.

Another common sense reform would be to repeal the antiquated "Prevailing Wage" Act of 1961. This Act insists on only union contractors and "prevailing wages" on all publicly funded construction projects above a ridiculously low non-inflation adjusted figure of $18,500. This figure was only recently increased from the original $10,000 level first set into the act in 1961. This was of course a time when you could buy a new house for $10,000. How many new gymnasiums, or Olympic sized Public High school swimming pools can you build for $18,500? This arcane law which even in its amended form touted by my State Senator, adds at minimum an 11% premium to each and every public sector construction project, and thus to the debt service and tax rates of the affected community. Additionally, according to Michigan's Mackinac Center, when measuring the value added for each construction dollar, construction workers in market wage states are 6.3% more productive than in prevailing wage states. Having worked on both types of construction sites over the years, and as the son of a lifelong teamster, and former teamster myself, I can attest to the ratio of shovel holders to actual laborers laboring.

Both of these simple but politically courageous positions are long overdue in a state that is mostly stagnant. They are "free market" and "free people" solutions. Personally, I would go one step further and add PA to the 23 other states that are "Right to Work" states. In states like Virginia and Texas the economies are booming and unemployment is at half the National and PA rates. Also, the cost of living is typically lower in free market states. In fact, according to a 2011 report by the National Institute for Labor Relations: "Cost of Living-Adjusted Compensation per Private Sector Employee (2010)" was $56,575 in Free Market States vs. $55,420 in Forced Unionism States." And, due to the earlier date of "Tax Freedom Day" in free market states, the "Cost of Living-Adjusted Per Capita Disposable Personal Income (2010)" was $35,643 in Free Market States vs. only $33,762 in "Closed Shop" States. Lastly, the "Growth in Real Manufacturing GDP between 2000-2010" was 18.6% in Free Market States vs. only 8.3% in Forced Unionism States. Therfore, if more higher paying manufacturing jobs is what we need across America, then National "Right to Work" is the way to grow them.

Sadly, pending the outcome of the immanent recall election of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a true taxpayer advocate and friend of free markets and the private sector taxpayer, I see little hope of real reform in Harrisburg, our counties, or our townships. Perhaps if Walkers efforts to create sustainable budgets and institute common sense reforms is vindicated by the voters despite the millions of out of state big labor dollars flowing across Wisconsin's borders to preserve labor's grip on power, the political class in PA from the Governor's mansion on down will begin to see that reform is possible and the regular folks will stand up for politicians courageous enough to do the rational thing for once.

I remain skeptical however in view of the manner in which the Big Government RINO party bosses selected its endorsed US Senate candidate: not from the bottom up, but from the top down. It was just another example of political class elitism.

But America is still the land of dreamers, innovators, doers, and inventors. From this land where the "pursuit of happiness" is enshrined in our founding documents, a concept unique in all the world, I am hopeful that there are still enough patriots left willing to do the heavy and unpopular work, take the personal and professional risks necessary to save not only our Commonwealth, but also our Country from the diseases of complacency and dependency.

Rick Geist vs John McGinnis: Perception Becomes Reality In The PA 79th Legislative District Race

Home of Robert K. Kutz, Jr., President of the Blair-Bedford Central Labor Council a chapter of the National AFL-CIO a pro union organization.

I have been following closely the Pennsylvania 79th legislative district republican primary race between long time State Representative Rick Geist and challenger John McGinnis, which just happens to be right in my neck of the woods here in Altoona. This has been a heated race thus far between a local Tea Party upstart, John McGinnis, and one of Harrisburg's most powerful state lawmakers, Rick Geist, who is currently serving out his 17th consecutive two-year term in the state legislature.

Lately here in the 79th legislative district I have noticed a lot of Rick Geist yard signs popping up everywhere. Which isn't uncommon considering the primary election is April 24th. But on my way home from work today, this particular house caught my attention. The picture above is the home of Robert K. Kutz Jr. the current President of the Blair-Bedford Central Labor Council a local pro union organization.

I know Bob Kutz from volunteering at various community service events throughout the years and I have nothing against him personally, but I just couldn't help notice that he has a re-elect Rick Geist sign infront of his house.

It's Union YES for Geist!

This just struck me as quite odd. I guess the world of politics has a way of making strange bedfellows. A local union leader supporting a self proclaimed conservative for re-election? Mmm. Something just doesn't add up here folks.

The general perception in conservatives circles is that Representative Rick Geist has been secretly pro union during his long stint in Harrisburg. Something that raises red flags with conservative voters like myself. Infact, many local union leaders including Mr. Kutz himself will tell you openly that Rick Geist has been a friend of local union organizations over the years.

Now this is troubling, if you are a conservative who desperately believes that Pennsylvania needs pass Right-to-Work legislation and scrap the current Prevailing Wage laws that only benefit big union labor.

Currently state agencies, local governments, and local school districts continue to struggle to keep their operating budgets in the black during difficult economic times while providing essential services. Add the additional costs of Prevailing Wage law projects and you get the picture. Pennsylvania taxpayers are simply at their breaking point and can no longer afford to pay double the cost for public works projects.

In this race Geist has been silent on his support for Right-To-Work legislation and to my knowledge has never made a public statement on the matter either way something his challenger John McGinnis quickly points out every chance he gets.

Geist's lack of position would naturally lead conservative voters to believe that he does have some sympathy for unions and the prevailing wage. Add in the fact that local union leaders are putting up yard signs to help him get re-elected we have to assume that the perception has become the reality Mr. Geist.

For more information on John McGinnis's candidacy please visit www.mcginnis2012.com.

From the Management: Blog Update

For the past week and a half, I've been redesigning PennPatriot Blog. I do this from time to time to keep things fresh. Please stop back when we are no longer under construction.

Sincerely,

Randy Potter
Editor/Webmaster
PennPatriot Blog

Does Anyone In Washington Really Want to Reduce the Deficit?

Guest Column By Richard A. Viguerie

The annual Capital Hill insider ritual of declaring the President’s budget “dead on arrival” -- while the other Party does nothing to rein-in spending -- has begun.

So, to cut straight to the chase, neither Democrats nor establishment Republican leaders really want to reduce the federal deficit. Otherwise, they would actually vote for -- and pass -- reductions in spending.

While Obama’s budget is a thinly disguised election year sham that will add another $1 trillion to the deficit this year (while claiming $4 trillion in phony deficit reduction over the next ten years), Republicans are little better.

Despite the good intentions of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, the actions of House Republican leaders speak louder than their words. And their actions show there will be no deficit reduction this year.

From the recently announced "deal" to back-off their position to require spending cuts to offset the ill-advised payroll tax cut, to their annual charade over the Medicare “doc fix,” to their knee-jerk opposition to any reductions Pentagon spending -- Republican leaders have already shown they will not make the tough choices, or take the tough election year votes, necessary to reduce spending.

As Wall Street investment guru Porter Stansberry wrote recently, "This year's $3.6 trillion federal budget is 20% larger than the entire 2008 budget. And while our government has grown at a record pace, our economy hasn't. It has hardly grown at all. [emphasis added] Thus, this will be the fourth year in a row we set a record for deficit spending. Never before in peacetime has our government borrowed this much money. And now, it's borrowing record amounts every year."

The thinking that has allowed this situation to continue shows Capital Hill Republican leaders -- particularly in the House -- learned nothing from the Tea Party rebellion that brought them back to majority status in the 2010. They are still operating with the Bush/Hastert/Frist spending mentality, and that spell will never be broken until new leaders, untainted by those old ways of doing things, are elected.

Richard A. Viguerie is the Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com. ConservativeHQ.com is the online news source for conservatives and Tea Partiers committed to bringing small-government constitutional conservatives to power.

Five Years of Corruption Trials…and Counting

Guest Column by Tim Potts

This month marks the five-year anniversary of the series of scandals that has made PA’s General Assembly the most criminally prosecuted legislature in America during those five years.

Last week, Rep. Bill DeWeese, Greene, became the first sitting lawmaker to be convicted. Also last week, former Rep. Brett Feese, Lycoming, was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in jail for his part in the Computer Scandal, uncovered as prosecutors investigated the Bonus Scandal. So far, 21 lawmakers and staff have been convicted of a variety of crimes involving the theft of taxpayer money for personal and partisan political purposes.

The response by lawmakers has been virtually nothing. The overwhelming majority of lawmakers and their leaders are content to remain pro-choice on corruption.

Here’s a brief history of the scandals as compiled by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Bonusgate: How the statewide public corruption case unfolded, Feb. 12. Here’s a list of the scandal defendants and their disposition, also from the Post-Gazette. And here’s an AP story: Lessons of PA corruption probe may be short-lived, Centre Daily Times, Feb. 12.

But wait! There’s more!

Former Rep. Mike Veon, Beaver, already in jail for previous convictions, begins trial today on another set of charges that he illegally used taxpayer funds to benefit himself personally and politically. In prison for bonus scandal, former House whip Veon faces new trial, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Feb. 13.

Still pending are trials of former Rep. Steve Stetler, York, also a Bonus Scandal defendant, and Sen. Jane Orie, Allegheny, and her sister Janine Orie, who also are accused of using taxpayer money for personal and political gain.

As if that weren’t enough, PA Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin is a target of an investigation by an Allegheny County grand jury. Former Sen. Raphael Musto, Luzerne, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2010: Grand jury indicts Sen. Raphael Musto for allegedly accepting kickbacks, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Nov. 23, 2010. Former Sen. Bob Mellow, Lackawanna, is under federal investigation for allegedly violating several federal laws: Mellow spends big on lawyers, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Feb. 10, 2012.
We repeat: The response by lawmakers has been virtually nothing. The overwhelming majority of lawmakers and their leaders are content to remain pro-choice on corruption.

PA voters know what to do as documented in DR’s 2012 Public Integrity Poll. So does the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader in this editorial: State convention our best hope, Feb. 12, the latest among virtually every newspaper in PA.

Returning to DeWeese, his sentencing is scheduled for April 24. Ironically, that’s primary election day, and DeWeese will be on the ballot.

Whether April 24 will actually be primary election day is yet another question. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC) still has the option to re-draw the legislative map for this year after the PA Supreme Court ruled their proposed plan is unconstitutional.

However, if the LRC does re-draw the map for this year, it will require the legislature to push primary election day back, perhaps into June or July, unless it wants to hold the Congressional primary on April 24 and a second primary for the General Assembly later. The estimated cost of the extra primary is $20 million to $25 million.

Under any circumstances, the LRC will have to adopt a new plan to be used in the 2014 elections.
Did we mention that 72% of PA voters want to change how legislative districts are drawn, while only 15% oppose a change?

The General Assembly’s strategy of deny (“Problems? What problems?”), delay (“We’ll deal with them soon.”), and distract (“But first we have to deal with this other huge problem over here.”) is working like a charm.

Get ready for a major push to get the referendum for a Constitution convention on the ballot in November.

Rick Geist's campaign goes negative early, calls challenger a "radical" in today's letter requesting support

Well the primary season is heating up here in the Pennsylvania 79th Legistlative District republican primary race. And Representative Rick Geist's campaign isn't wasting any time going after challenger John McGinnis.

A letter that I received in the mail today written by Geist's Campaign Chairman, Patrick Fanelli, calls McGinnis a "Radical". The letter goes on to suggest that Representative Geist has been "targeted" by an unnamed Harrisburg-based political organization.

(A funny passage from the letter) A Harrisburg-based political organization has targeted the 79th Legislative District seat and Rick's consistent conservative voting record by recruiting a radical candidate to oppose him in the upcoming Primary Election on April 24, 2012

Really?

The letter goes on to suggest that the 79th District is also going to be invaded by aliens like in the October 30, 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. O.K. I'm just kidding. But the letter has that kind of frightening tone to it. So be afraid. Be very afraid 79th district voters of the unnamed Harrisurg-based boogie men out to snatch the 79th legislative district. Oh and support Rick Geist's campaign.

The most interesting part of the letter is the assertion that Representative Geist has always adhered to three tenents of the Tea Party movement: 1. Lower Taxes, 2. Smaller Government, and 3. Return to the Constitution.

No he did not just pull the Tea Party card. I'm confused here.

How can a state legislator claim to be an advocate for a return to the "Constitution" when he voted for an unconstitutional pay raise and took the unconstitutional unvouchered expenses? Maybe the letter was referring to our U.S. Constitution instead of the Constitution that actually governs the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Geist's claims of being a staunch advocate for lower taxes and smaller government are not reflected in his record either according to the Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania . On their website post dated March 3rd 2011 , "CAP to Rep. Geist: Lead, Follow, or Retire", Geist was quoted saying that Governor Corbett's 2011 budget proposal to eliminate WAM's (Walking Around Money for state lawmakers) was "unrealistic". Geist even refused to sign the group's "No WAMs" Pledge. This is something a think a true Tea Party advocate would support don't you think?

Furthermore, Geist also voted for Ed Rendell's 2005-6 state budget that raised the state personal income tax by 15 percent and increased state spending 6.1 percent. In fact Geist voted in favor of the 2008-2009 budget that also increased state spending during the Rendell years.

All of this just doesn't add up. If Geist is a true Tea Party supporter than I'm the Easter Bunny!

Pennsylvania Manufactures' Association Is Happy With Corbett's Budget Proposal

(HARRISBURG) Governor Tom Corbett's FY 2012-2013 budget continues the difficult but necessary work of imposing fiscal discipline on state government and positioning the commonwealth for economic recovery, said Frederick W. Anton III, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association.

"Tom Corbett is a man of his word," Anton said. "When he pledged to make state government live within its means, just like Pennsylvania households and businesses do, he meant it. The governor's budget plan holds the line on spending, protects Pennsylvania's overburdened taxpayers, and makes additional improvements to our economic competitiveness. After too many years of borrow-and-spend profligacy, Tom Corbett's pro-growth agenda of fiscal responsibility is directing Pennsylvania toward a more prosperous future for the entire commonwealth."

Governor Corbett's FY 2012-2013 General Fund budget proposes to limit spending to the 2011-2012 level of roughly $27.15 Billion. Although slow economic growth has yielded approximately $500 Million less in state tax collections than expected, Corbett is holding fast to his pledge to oppose tax increases and instead will bring the budget into balance with additional spending reductions.

"Fiscal discipline is the first and most important step toward returning Pennsylvania to stronger economic growth and a better competitive position relative to other states," said PMA Executive Director David N. Taylor. "For too long, Pennsylvania has missed out on new jobs, capital investment, and economic growth due to chronic overspending in Harrisburg, high business taxes, lawsuit abuse, and regulatory overkill. Governor Corbett recognizes these challenges and is tackling them head-on, which is the hallmark of a true leader. On behalf of Pennsylvania's manufacturing sector, we thank Governor Corbett for being true to his principles and doing the difficult work of right-sizing state government."

The FY 2012-2013 General Fund budget also continues state government's commitment to phase out the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, a business assets tax that employers pay regardless of their profitability. Combined with the highest-in-the-nation 9.99 percent Corporate Net Income Tax, Pennsylvania is one of the only states in America to impose both a business income tax AND a business assets tax. Under the original phase-out plan put forward by Governor Tom Ridge, state government would have stopped collecting the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax on January 1, 2009. Under the current phase-out plan, the CSFT rate fell to 1.89 mills on January 1, 2012 and will further drop to 0.89 mills on January 1, 2013, with the CSFT reaching zero on January 1, 2014.

"Ever since the crippling 1991 tax hike, Pennsylvania's employers have struggled under some of the highest business taxes in the nation. Ending the uncompetitive Capital Stock and Franchise Tax after five years of delay will at long last send a signal to employers and investors that Pennsylvania is serious about becoming job-friendly," Taylor said.

Founded in 1909 by Bucks County industrialist Joseph Grundy, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association is a Harrisburg-based statewide trade organization representing the manufacturing sector in Pennsylvania's public policy process. Manufacturing is the largest sector of Pennsylvania's economy, adding $75 Billion of value annually, generating 13 percent of Gross Domestic Product, directly employing 575,000 Pennsylvanians, and sustaining millions of additional Pennsylvania jobs through far-reaching supply chains and distribution networks. To learn more about the association and its work, visit www.pamanufacturers.org

Update: Rick Geist's challenger John McGinnis' Campaign Announcement for the 79th Legistlative District

Here is John McGinnis' official campaign announcement last night. His energetic speech focused on changing the cycle of corruption Harrisburg. McGinnis highlighted Rep. Geist's record of voting for the 2005 Pay Raise Scandal, his votes to increase his pension, and Geist's over usage of the ever popular per diem.

McGinnis says his campaign will be based around three R’s: Reform, Reality and Renaissance. “We’re maxed out as taxpayers in Pennsylvania,” McGinnis said. “As the government has grown at 5.3% in the 33 years since Rick Geist was first elected to office, we’ve had an economy that’s been stagnant and population growth that has been stagnant – that just doesn’t work.”

McGinnis says he won’t take a public pension, per-diems or a pay raise – and he says he’ll limit his time in office.“Just as the constitution says, you get a salary and you get mileage -- and that’s what I will take,” said McGinnis. “I will abide by the constitution of Pennsylvania.”