Letter: Supports anti-human trafficking bill
To The Editor:
Human trafficking doesn’t happen only “somewhere else.”
“You don’t mean here, right?” I hear that question more than 100 hundred times per year in conversations about human trafficking, modern slavery and sex trafficking in southeastern Pennsylvania—especially in the beautiful, well-off suburbs and countryside surrounding Philadelphia.
My answer is always the same. “Yes,...
Ross announces plans to retire after 2014
Nine-term State Rep. won’t seek reelection; Walker eyed as GOP candidate
State Rep. Chris Ross (R-158) announced Tuesday that he wouldn’t seek a 10th term in the statehouse.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — State Rep. Chris Ross (R-158) announced Tuesday that he would not seek a 10th term in the state House of Representatives.
Ross, currently a township resident, has...
And…right back into campaign season
No rest for the weary, as Election 2014 kicks into high gear, already
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Now that we’ve gotten that pesky election out of the way, it’s time for the campaign to get started.
Think I’m kidding?
Then why is Gov. Tom Corbett in the county today, kicking off his 2014 campaign? And why has the jostling for state legislative and congressional seats already begun?
Traditionally,...
Is there hope for a pension fix in the legislature?
New proposal could form framework for at least a partial fix
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Is it possible that a small glimmer of hope toward finding a real, workable solution to public pension mess is inching forward in the state legislature?
As you’re probably aware, spiking contributions to state worker and teachers’ pension funds have hamstrung the state and local school districts,...
Council of Goverments shows a path ahead
13 towns working together offer chance for smart, more efficient government
UPDATED (Sun 9 a.m.): adds comment on Saturday night legislative action
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
CALN — It was a sight to behold. Elected officials from various parties, municipalities and even the County Commissioners, sitting down for a sometimes freewheeling and open discussion about how best to work together.
It...
Letter: Getting rid of Jury Commissioners hurts justice
To The Editor,
The old adage states you don’t fix something that isn’t broke. The Pennsylvania Legislature has violated this wise advice by taking unconstitutional action that threatens the integrity of the Commonwealth’s judicial system.
Since 1868 the elected representatives of the office of Jury Commissioner have made sure that the jury selection process in Pennsylvania has been fair and that...
In Harrisburg, seven big days ahead
Corbett’s legacy and whether your state legislator will have a lot of explaining to do
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
By all accounts, it’s going to be a busy week in Harrisburg — as the state legislature has just a week to get a lot of work done.
Of course, the question is what will get done? And how much Republican-on-Republican political violence will be involved?
Going into this year’s...
Kudos for teacher pact, budget, but pension bill is a lemon
Common sense prevails in UCF budget, teacher pact, not so much with pension scheme
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
With so much going on in Unionville this week, one almost doesn’t know where to start.
Okay, almost.
The tentative deal announced Monday by the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Association happened with very little fuss, very little noise...
Supreme Court upholds redistricting plan
New state house, state Senate districts for many — new district, the 74th in Coatesville area
The new State House districts for Chester County, including the new 74th District, centered around Coatesville.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court has upheld a new legislative redistricting plan, Wednesday, meaning the proposed district changes — including many in Chester...
Column: My take on the area legislative races
Is competency more important that ideology? I think so.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
We had some internal discussions about doing our first endorsements as a publication this year, something I decided was probably not the right thing to do in 2010 or 2011. And while we were split — at the end we still decided that the negatives outweighed the positives.
It is a position we will revisit in 2013,...
