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Marcy Toepel won the endorsement of the MontcoGOP tonight to be their candidate for the vacancy in the 147th district, vacated when Bob Mensch became a State Senator.
The special election will take place on May 18th, along with the 2010 primaries.
Bill Shaw notes another victim of the Matthews Effect…
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Family first, of course, but hmm.…
McCall’s representatives did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Veteran state Rep. Richard Grucela, D-Northampton, who has also decided against a re-election bid, called the news “shocking.”
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I understand that people only plead guilty when the case against them is really really good.
Former state House staffer set to plead guilty
The former personnel director for Pennsylvania’s House Democrats is set to plead guilty in a wide-ranging probe involving legislative bonuses.
Earl Mosley will plead guilty Wednesday in Dauphin County Court along with six other defendants, according to Mr. Mosley’s attorney, Matthew Gover.
More–much more–to come!
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The PA Supreme Court made a decision today defending the Commonwealth Constitution. While it is not earthshattering, it is a nice, modest case study of a public servant doing the right thing even when it did not serve his short-term political interests.
Back in 2006, Phoenixville’s Borough Council tried to eliminate the compensation of its members. It was political grandstanding, as the Borough faced a multi-million dollar budgetary shortfall, and the total annual compensation of all of them was less than twenty grand. Kendrick Buckwalter, a councilman, realized 1) That this was unconstitutional, and 2) Would establish a precedent for Council to change compensation levels in the middle of their terms, theoretically permitting them to RAISE their pay as well.
Buckwalter sued, with the help of local attorney Richard Breuer. This is despite the fact that it would make it look like Ken was suing to keep his $200/month before facing reelection during the year of the Harrisburg pay raise debacle. Thankfully, he did end up winning reelection.
But pursuing the case made his reelection more difficult. Ken did it because it was the right thing to do, not because it made his life any easier. The Supreme Court in Kendrick Buckwalter v. Borough of Phoenixville has concurred that he was right all along.
A small victory, sure. But any victory defending the Constitution is one to be applauded, especially when someone puts their political position on the line to do it.
Coverage in the local paper here.
Congratulate Ken at his blog here.
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The Schroder campaign has its official kick-off event last night at the Ludwig’s Corner firehouse. By all estimates it was a great success.
There were, easily, two hundred people there. Perhaps even more. I would wager virtually all of them were actual voters in the sixth congressional district. This certainly appeared to exceed expectations. They had to roll out about three times the initial number of tables, and the hall was still standing room only.
Introducing Curt were a number of area luminaries. Not exactly household names– except perhaps for former Congressman Bob Walker– but people very well known to those who vote in GOP primaries: Berks Commissioner Christain Leinbach, former Chesco Commissioner Colin Hanna, former State Rep. Carol Rubley, and others.
And this is what indicates what the Schroder campaign can do that no other candidate for this office can pull off. Heck, you could probably count on one hand the number of politicians NATIONALLY that can pull this off:
For this office he has already lined up a range of endorsements that no other candidate can even come within the same universe of matching. At the same time, Schroder offers a message as a legitimate Republican outsider. Congressman Walker, while introducing him, lambasted current national GOP leadership And last night Rep. Schroder talked about introducing legislative reforms opposed by leaders in both parties, standing against recently indicted former GOP speaker Perzel, auditing the Fed, taking on the trial lawyer lobby, and supporting the rights of property-owners against gas line companies.
So Schroder has a very solid record as a man willing to make tough votes against his own party. This is why folks in both the Tea Party movement and those coming from the Ron Paul end of the party tend to support him. And yet, at the same time, he actually has a mainstream conservative legislative track record and is supported by office-holders all over the Republican party, if not, perhaps, by those leading the GOP committee.
The size and enthusiasm of the crowd last night confirmed that Schroder is able to thread this needle. Anyone who thinks the size of someone else’s wallet makes that person a front-runner simply isn’t paying attention to actual voters.
Oh, and for the record: He didn’t once mention primary opponent Steve Welch’s address, or the fact he was a registered Democrat last year. So our friend at www.pa2010.com may want to revise and extend his remarks that he expected Rep. Schroder to “make an issue” of these things.
Frankly, though, this is a GOP primary. Is the Schroder campaign supposed to pretend they aren’t running against a former Democrat?
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Totally, logically consistant, you know.
Because it’s for medicinal purposes.
The measure by Rep. Mark Cohen, D-202, Philadelphia, would provide for state licensing and inspection of “compassion” centers where marijuana can be used with a doctor’s recommendation by patients suffering from HIV, AIDS, cancer and other illnesses.
It would provide patients with immunity from arrest if they have a registry identification card and have no more than six marijuana plants and one ounce of marijuana in their possession. The state would levy a sales tax on the sale of marijuana for medical use if the bill becomes law.
Mr. Cohen and supporters of the legislation argued it would ease the pain and suffering of sick people and provide a medical alternative to prescription drugs that have adverse side effects.
State Rep Mark Cohen, on his blog from June 2007.
I feel the issue here is not loyalty to the bad habits of smoking family members; true loyalty to smokers lies in efforts to encourage them to improve their health and stop smoking. Stopping smoking greatly improved the health of my father, my mother, my wife and scores of millions of other Americans.The issue is public health. Yes, here and there are smokers who lead long and healthy lives. But, on the whole, the more one smokes, the shorter one’s life will be, the more one will miss work, the more doctors bills and hospital bills one will incur, and the more costs employers and taxpayers will have to pay to subsidize these health care costs.
To reiterate… nicotine delivered via a filtered cigarette from a big corporation = bad. THC delivered via unfiltered bong or joint from your local friendly government = good.
For the record, I’m not against marijuana decriminalization. Unfortunately, we live in a nanny state, perpetuated by the likes of Mr Cohen, who believe that a person’s bad actions and poor decisions can be compensated by convivial taxpayers helped by do-gooding “public servants.”
Smoke cigarettes and get lung cancer? Fine. Don’t ask me to pay for your chemo.
Mess around in high school with your “true love”? Que Sera Sera. Don’t expect us to raise you and your kid.
Drink excessively and kill your liver? Fine. I’m not replacing it for you.
Kill someone while drunk? We’re not going to excuse you.
Get high and fry your brain? By all means. Drive a fork lift into a gasoline tanker? Go to jail.
So… I’m actually against it for now.
Oh, I know the cries will go up, that this is just helping the sick & etc… and I am absolutely sympathetic, but this is going to be abused… and we’re going to pay for it.
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Innocent until proven guilty, right?
The former Speaker of the House participated in the afternoon’s voting session despite Attorney General Tom Corbett charging him with 82 criminal counts last week in connection with alleged misuse of more than $10 million in taxpayer money. The charges against Perzel and 9 others connected to the House Republican Caucus were the second wave of Corbett’s public corruption investigation, known as “Bonusgate.”
Perzel has not publicly said whether he plans to retain his House seat. He has denied any wrongdoing and accused Corbett, who is running for governor, of playing politics with his investigation.
Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R-Lancaster) called Perzel’s presence “awkward.”
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The grand jury presentment Corbett released mentions Scott Migli, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, who will face Corbett in the 2010 Republican primary. The grand jury found that former House Speaker John Perzel, charged with theft and conspiracy, gave Migli a $100,000-a-year job in the fall of 2006 that produced “no meaningful legislative work” before he left in 2008.
“I did nothing wrong,” Migli said. “The Attorney General’s Office made it clear when they initially reached out to me that they were not after me.”
Gerlach’s campaign has attacked Corbett for months over his handling of the legislative investigation, saying Corbett should resign because it’s a conflict of interest to investigate state political leaders while seeking their support. Migli yesterday pointed to a meeting between Perzel and Corbett in October 2007, when Perzel tried to sell Corbett on a software package for his child predator unit.
Scott Migli was the executive director for the Pa GOP.
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Here’s your link for the streaming video.
Update: Perzel is the biggest name so far, former Rep Brett Feese.
Perzel is looking at 82 counts.
The other eight names are staffers.
Update: The picture:
Update: Charges are not for bonses, but a re-election campaign machine on taxpayer dollars.
Update: As expected, these indictments are painted as political opportunism by the indicted. Corbett did not respond.
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State Attorney General Tom Corbett, now running for governor, met with state Rep. John Perzel, of Philadelphia, at a Harrisburg hotel in October 2007.
Two months later, Brian Preski, Perzel’s former chief of staff, organized a campaign fundraiser for Corbett.
In state politics, nothing about either event would seem strange. A high-profile elected official is expected to meet with members of his political party while seeking the state’s highest office.
But Corbett’s office at the time was actively investigating Perzel and Preski and others in the state General Assembly in what is now a 21-month probe known as “Bonusgate.”
Corbett charged 12 Democratic legislators and staffers in July 2008 with theft, criminal conspiracy and conflict of interest. Indictments against Republicans could come as soon as today.
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I felt that today was a good day to start writing again. This is because today is the day I say I’m done helping the Republican Party. This isn’t because I’m not a Republican, but because more to the point that I have No Idea what the Republican Party stands for anymore. I’m a conservative on a ship of moderates, which if you translate that to English means that they don’t stand really for anything except the next sound bite that will move that “Party” forward toward power again. The new song today is the same song from yesterday. This is truly one of the clearest moments in all of American History to clearly delineate the differences between Socialist principles and the Conservative values the Republican Party once stood for, what Ronald Reagan once spoke about and lived and breathed everyday proving to the world, Freedom of the Individual versus the Social Justice of the Collective. The chance to succeed or fail based on our own merits and hard work Vs. being just “too big” to fail and it’s our duty to “spread the wealth around”.
Never has there been a time to make such a clear distinction between two differing mindsets….and they fail to do so. And now I know why they have failed to do so: because the “Party mentality” of the Republicans OR the Democrats is not different at all. All they care about is power, and collecting more of it in their hands and not in ours…where it belongs.
Therefore, I now believe that I have no choice but to come to the conclusion of this: There really is no difference between the “Party” mentalities any longer. The Leadership of the Republican Party is not here to espouse my principles, which they “SAY” they believe. They don’t, and now I know it, and now I’m done helping the Party. The party is dead in my heart now.
I now have decided that I will only help individuals in the future. As soon as a Leader steps up to the plate and says “Here I am, with the bumps and hard edges and flaws and foibles of a real human being, and I believe in the Conservative principles of our Founding Fathers” I will be in there corner. This is why I believe that it was a stroke of Pure Genius that Sarah Palin left the Governor’s position in Alaska and tout the Conservative values to everyone that will listen to her. This allows her to get away from what is toxic in the Republican Party, which is the Republican Party, and maybe come back as a leader to show the way back to the principles and values that this great nation, the greatest nation ever, was founded on.
I didn’t join the military, serve my country and potentially risk my life if asked, to serve a “party” or an individual…but the Constitution of the United States of America. That is the oath all service members make. We made an oath to the Constitution. And it’s about time that I uphold that oath once again.
So, I hereby resign my position as a member of the Republican Committee here in Cumberland County, PA, effective immediately. I also re-pledge my oath to the US Constitution, like I did as a member of the US military. The next real candidate that upholds and believes those conservative values and principles espoused in the Constitution steps forward, I will be standing right behind them and helping them move our country back to sanity again, but the moment they forget the principles and values is the moment I leave them in the dust. You are either for our Constitution as the Founders created and intended it, or you’re not and that will determine whether my allegiance is with you OR I’m done with you. You choose.
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There is a campaign to run after all.
A legislative corruption investigation appears to be nearing an end, as a statewide grand jury this week is expected to wrap up deliberations about House Republicans.
About 10 current and former GOP legislators and staffers received the equivalent of “target letters,” with invitations to testify, according to legislative aides, a lawmaker and a lawyer familiar with the case. It’s part of a broader investigation of legislators suspected of using state resources for political purposes.
“These target letters are not sent out at an early stage. They are sent out at the very end of an investigation,” said Bruce Antkowiak, a former federal prosecutor who teaches criminal procedure at Duquesne University Law School. “By the time a case gets to this point, the grand jury has probably been presented with a mountain of evidence.”
Attorney General Tom Corbett in July 2008 charged 12 people with ties to the House Democratic Caucus with theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy, accusing them of using state resources for campaign purposes. Six defendants are cooperating with the prosecution.
This is long overdue.
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McGruff wonders who is next.
The media reports trying to second guess Tom Corbett’s investigation have all been unsubstantiated hype. AG Corbett has said and did give this investigation a high priority. But the public wants action. Its the old story about the young bull and the old bull on top of the hill. The young bull wants to hurry down the hill and have his way with but one. The old bull says take your time and we can have them all.
Today’s announcement on Philly.com reveals the culmination of countless overtime hours spent on this investigation.
Prosecutors have offered Rep. John M. Perzel of Philadelphia, the former speaker of the Pennsylvania House, a chance to testify before the so-called Bonusgate grand jury in what lawyers say is a sign that criminal charges may soon be filed against him.
Perzel’s former chief of staff, Brian Preski, and as many as 10 other current and former House Republican aides have received similar letters, according to lawyers with knowledge of the investigation.
Perzel, 59, could not be reached for comment yesterday. In the past he has said he did nothing improper with the state money that is at the center of the investigation.
The letters from prosecutors, received within the last two weeks, are the clearest indication yet that state Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, is contemplating criminal charges against members of his own party in the sweeping probe known as Bonusgate.
All good things in their time, I suppose, but the closer the gubernatorial elections come, the more politically motivated it will look for Corbett.
I’m not defending any potential Republican crooks, but imagine taking down members of his own party. How would that look? a) Super dooper awesometacular or b) like he was waiting for the right moment.
A is good for the voters and potential ones, B looks like something defense attorneys wet their wingtips over.
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Checking the Balance looks at the legislature’s summer and concludes:
In all likelihood, this 101-day-impasse will cost many incumbents their jobs. I’m sure the lawmakers realize this and are thinking of ways to save their seats. Well, this would be a good start.
Putting a “no budget, no pay” into play would be an excellent way (perhaps, the only way) for lawmakers to show Pennsylvanians they realize their mistake and our committed to preventing future impasses from occurring.
Unfortunately, history says this won’t get done and we’ll likely have another impasse next year.
This is true…. but will election year incumbents dare to dilly-dally? I suspect they’ll get something through that “makes tough decisions” and taxpayers will suffer.
… and we wont find out until after the election.
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Regarding the Tax Payer Protection pledge Republican Senator Joan Orie broke in passing our hundred day delayed budget…
Patrick Gleason from Americans for Tax Reform…
[Senator Daylin] Leach opines that “it makes as much sense for a state legislator to pledge never to raise a tax as it does for a family breadwinner to pledge never to seek additional income.”
Let’s ignore the fact that this analogy doesn’t really work unless you believe that the proper role of government is to be the provider or “breadwinner” for all. Maybe Leach does. However, sticking with Leach’s family budget theme, let’s consider a better analogy for the state budget process. Here we have the equivalent of a family spending as much as it wants, with no regard for their income, savings, or the job stability of the bread winner(s). Once means have been exhausted the family, rather than stop spending, they proceed to burglarize area businesses and steal from neighbors to cover the bills. That’s how Leach and his buddies do budgeting in Harrisburg.
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Twelve weeks overdue? Maybe thirteen?
Jason High (Sen Eichelberger staffer) on Facebook:
Jason High Stuck in Harrisburg hoping to get a budget done. News tonight is that the House D’s don’t have the votes to get the deal done. If that’s true…we’re back to square one.
Way to go Dems.
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Big victory for Republican Bob Mensch in the 24th Senate District.
With a 100% of the districts reporting, Mensch takes 66.2% of the votes, to Scheuring’s 30.3%.
His victory is at least 10 points better, than the prior two elections which included the incumbent Rob Wonderling.
Maybe it was Mensch getting his voters out in big(ger) numbers or the voters first opportunity to show displeasure with Democrats, or as Nate Benefield emails, Mensch’s anti-tax positions … either way – the Democrats need to be concerned going into this fall’s local elections or next year’s gubernatorial or federal elections.
Senator-Elect Mensch will have to wait for the election’s results to be certified before he’s sworn into his office.
As to the replacement for his state house seat… the special election would need to be called by the Speaker of the House (Democrat Keith McCall). Given the balance of power in the House and the 147th’s strong Republican lean, don’t look for the election to be anytime soon.
Quite possibly even in the spring.
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The Commonwealth Foundation’s Matt Broulliette looks at Babette Josephs, ACORN and the State House.
Nice work on getting on BigGovernment.com, Matt. It’s the most important site of the Obama administration opposition media.
Unrelated: IRS sniffing around ACORN
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On the day the US House votes against continued ACORN funding, the PA House does exactly the opposite. The entire Democrat caucus voted against a motion introduced by State Rep Steven Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware Counties).
Why?
Well… because they are Democrats of course.
But there’s more to the story.
There’s another bill introduced months ago by again by Barrar that’s being held up in a committee.
to investigate the activities of the controversial Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now — ACORN — is stalled in the powerful State Government Committee.
The chairman, State Representative Babette Josephs, a Philadelphia Democrat, is a member of ACORN.
Are the two connected? No, not at all. Not at all.
In a related topic, the New York Post has a basic history of ACORN. In addition to the hooker advice, the tax cheating and the border smuggling, they pretty much look like a shake down operation.
Oh yeah, the voter fraud. Of course.
*In 1998 an ACORN employee was arrested for falsifying voter registration forms in Arkansas. The next year, authorities in Philadelphia confiscated hundreds of registration forms because one ACORN employee wrote them all. This was the first of many voter registration frauds that ACORN would be accused of in subsequent years.
I wonder if State Rep Josephs know anything about that.
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Nathan Benefield looks at the new $28 billion budget.
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