Month: September 2010

Shame on state Republicans and Democrats alike

[Re Pennsylvania Risks worst fiscal crisis]: This article, from the Republican leaning Tribune-Review, places part of the blame where it belongs, on the Rendell administration. But it fails to address the fact that the Republicans have controlled the Senate the entire time Rendell has been in office. No one forced them the Senate, under Juberlier […]

Democrats Urge Caucus to Confrton Shadowy Independent Groups

From the HUFFINGTON POST: Democrats may be launching a new offensive against the secretive independent expenditure groups that are springing up daily, with attendees at Wednesday’s House Democratic Caucus meeting encouraged to confront these organizations and shine a light on their practices. Last week, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), accompanied by journalists from The Huffington Post […]

Consolidation of muncipal services lowers taxes

It has often been said that government would be much more efficient if it were run like a business. What businessman in their right mind would tolerate 76 different divisions in an area the size of Lancaster County (60 municipalities plus 16 school districts)? This is the height of inefficiency. Imagine the millions of taxpayer […]

AIG reaches agreement for exit plan

From the FINANCIAL TIMES: … “We are very pleased that this agreement vastly simplifies current government support of AIG, sets forth a clear path for AIG to repay the FRBNY in full, and sets in motion the steps for the US Treasury to exit its ownership of AIG over time.”… Meanwhile, AIG, which has $49.1bn […]

NEW YORK TIMES / INTELL

Under the heading “The tea kettle movement”, Thomas Friedman writes:  “The issues that upset the tea kettle movement – debt and bloated government – are actually symptoms of our real problem, not causes.  They are symptoms of a country in a state of incremental decline and losing its competitive edge, because our politics has become […]

Checkbook politics

  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER:  Wealthy donors are influencing state and federal elections more than ever, while the prospects for reforming campaign-finance laws fade. Big-money donors are exploiting a landscape without limits in Pennsylvania. Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett and Democrat Dan Onorato are piling up unprecedented numbers of six-figure contributions. Corbett has received a dozen donations […]

Things looking grim for unemployed

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETETE:  With an estimated five applicants for every job, times are tough for Pennsylvania’s unemployed, and there’s no relief in sight, according to a report released Wednesday by the state Department of Labor and Industry. The report shows that by the end of the year, 157,500 Pennsylvanians will have been unemployed so long they […]

Pennsylvania risks ‘worst fiscal crisis’

From the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: State spending increased at nearly twice the rate of inflation since 2003 when Gov. Ed Rendell took office, and the state’s financial situation could worsen dramatically next year, Auditor General Jack Wagner said Wednesday. The state budget grew about 33 percent, from $21 billion to $28 billion, during Rendell’s tenure as the Consumer Price Index rose about 18 percent, Wagner said.

Is history about to repeat itself?

“When FDR ran for reelection in 1936, his Republican opponent, Alf Landon, called Social Security ‘a cruel hoax’ and a ‘fraud on the working man.’  The Republican National Committee convinced employers across the country to put fliers into pay envelopes warning their workers that, starting January 1, 19397, ‘New Deal law’ would take 1 percent […]

Architects, engineeers now pass the buck

The Watchdog is involved in a total renovation of a hotel as part of a conversion to another brand. For the first time in two decades, he is reviewing construction drawings.

Upon receipt of a detail from an architect, he contacted his construction consultant and asked why there was no indication on how pieces were to be affixed and installation take place.

Prescription Drug Discount Cards saved $500,000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Angie Eichelberger, Executive Assistant September 29, 2010 (717) 735-1589 – [email protected] Residents Saved Over $500,000 Using Free Lancaster County Prescription Drug Discount Cards Lancaster, PA (September 29, 2010) Lancaster County Commissioners Scott Martin, Dennis Stuckey and Craig Lehman announced today that residents of Lancaster County have saved over a half a […]

Lancaster initiative results in 364 small libraries in Afghanistan

Editor’s note:  Individuals can make differences through service, through ideas, and through donations.  Ideas can be made practical when backed up with contributions. NewsLanc is also such an idea. From CARE: Since January 2006 CARE has established 364 libraries in Primary Community Based schools in the provinces of Khost, Kabul, Paktia, Paktika, Ghazni, Kapisa, Parwan, […]