One man stands between the people and medical marijuana
Our dysfunctional legislature hits new highs for foolishness
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Greetings from one of the last Internet outposts not hacked by the Chinese (we don’t rate) or calling from (allegedly) Microsoft Technical Support to assist you with your computer issues once you give us your password, credit card number and home address information.
In comparison, the recent shenanigans...
Op/Ed: Restore state tax exemption for active-duty military
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” ~ President George Washington
By Tim Gwinn, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Guard Associations
Tim Gwinn
For 47 years from 1965 to 2012, a grateful Pennsylvania...
New Years’ resolutions — for others
A few ‘helpful’ suggestions for a better 2015
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
With another year slipping away – and 2014 seems to have gone by in a blur — it is time to take a bit of time to make those New Year’s resolutions.
Now, obviously, I could make mine, but they’d take up more than just one column to complete and they’d be boring like needing to play golf more often (and...
Corbett signs Ross senior care respite bill
State Rep. Chris Ross (R-158), left, and State Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-26) with Gov. Tom Corbett following the governor’s signing of a bill to license facilities for senior citizen respite care. Ross sponsored the bill and Hennessey is the chair of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee.
HARRISBURG — At a Capitol bill signing ceremony last week, Gov. Tom Corbett signed legislation...
Pileggi out as Senate Majority Leader
GOP Senate votes him out in favor of Corman
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Sen. Dominic Pileggi
Chester County will no longer have representation in the leadership of either party’s leadership in the state legislature, after a shakeup Wednesday deposed Sen. Dominic Pileggi from his post as Majority Leader of the state Senate.
Pileggi (R-9), who represents a large portion of the eastern part of...
Walker withdraws from 158th race; Ross to replace?
Cuyler Walker
Updated 7:35 a.m., 9/23/14. Adds comment from Chester County Democrats
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Cuyler Walker suddenly announced his withdrawal from the race for the 158th State Representative race, Monday afternoon — and it could lead to a familiar face appearing on the November ballot, nine-term State Representative Chris Ross.
Walker, a Republican,...
Op/Ed: Rendell (and Wolf) shouldn’t escape pension blame
By Kelly Lewis
Kelly Lewis
I have read about 5% of the noise surrounding the upcoming Governor’s race in Pennsylvania. As a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I’m always amazed at what issues become amplified, minimized, and often buried. Less than 1% of the voters will read this little note, but as a son of teachers, and a friend to many current and retired teachers,...
Poll numbers don’t always tell the whole story
Also: is it time to fire legislators too busy ‘on vacation’ to do their jobs?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Ah, the sweet smell of late summer. Fruits ripening, corn growing, backyard grills fired up, maybe even a whiff of chlorine from the pool all in the air.
Also floating in the air: polling data, much of which might leave folks scratching their heads a bit.
You may have seen this...
Letter: GOP protests costing tax dollars
To The Editor,
As we move into this election season, it’s interesting to me to see what fear and panic produces as Gov. Tom Corbett, sinks to 20% below his opponent, Tom Wolf in the polls. Could it be that the polls are right? Could it be that the Republican legislators from Chester County, all of whom supported Governor Corbett’s failed policies, are worried about losing as well?
Traditionally,...
Forget the fact-finding; its time to go to court