Some really stupid things in history
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
The other day I watched the movie “Titanic” for the second time. It seemed a lot longer than before, and much less plausible. What seems totally implausible is that any ship was thought unsinkable, that the captain agreed to increase speed in the known presence of icebergs, that the lookout binoculars were left behind in England, that the flotation...
Ryan Costello’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Donald J. Trump, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are trying really, really hard to make sure U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello doesn’t get re-elected in 2018 — although it may be his own history that ultimately proves his undoing.
Oh, sure, the President and the Speaker of the House — as fellow Republicans — will swear until the cows come home that they back the two-term...
Op/Ed.: Protecting children’s health care
By U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, Sixth District, Pennsylvania
U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6)
For two decades, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has offered vital services to families across the country, including right here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In fact, Pennsylvania launched statewide CHIP in 1992 and it has been recognized as the model for federal CHIP, which launched five years...
I always stand….for the U.S. Constitution
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The other night, as I have done countless hundreds of times, I stood with my hand over my heart during the playing of the National Anthem on the sideline of a local high school football game.
None of the players on either team chose to kneel — but honestly, I wouldn’t have had a big issue with it if they had. Last time, I checked, this is America, a country...
Maybe I’m paranoid, but it seems like local Congress members are out to get me
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
By nature, I’m not really a paranoid guy, but it is starting to look like U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, U.S. Reps. Ryan Costello (R-6), Pat Meehan (R-7) and Lloyd Smucker (R-16) have it out personally for me and my family.
Okay maybe not personally — I’ve had cordial, even friendly relationships with some of them, and certainly interesting and insightful interviews...
Trump tax plan is a much-needed relief
To The Editor,
I live within my means. I have a small family with 2 kids, a wonderful husband, and a lovely house. I am employed by a non-profit in Coatesville, PA, a city that I have grown to love. My family rarely goes on vacation, but instead we enjoy each other’s company and make do with the things that we have been blessed with.
GOP putting the ‘mean’ in meaningless legislative efforts
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Fall, that time of year when a young man’s fancy turns to…a budget crisis, political dysfunction, a renewed health care mess and, oh, yeah, off-year elections.
So, let’s see, the state still lacks a revenue plan to pay for a spending plan it passed some months ago, so now some bills aren’t being paid. The state House Republicans have come up with a wacky...
Letter: Faults GOP officials for failing to call out racist groups
To The Editor,
The silence has been deafening.
We are now at the events of Charlottesville + 1 month. I am represented by 4 Republicans – Representative Barrar and Senator Killion at the state level, and Congressman Smucker and Senator Toomey at the federal level.
I get regular e-mail newsletters from all. Only one, Senator Toomey, has spoken out about Charlottesville. It took him 11 days...
Op/Ed: Good news on standardized testing?
By Jeff Hellrung, Member, Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education
Gov. Tom Wolf joined Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, advocates, and educators last month to announce a significant reduction in standardized testing for elementary students. One test section will be eliminated in both Math and ELA PSSA tests amounting to a 93 minute total time reduction. Also, approximately 22 minutes will be...
How is Tropical Storm Harvey like Donald Trump?
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
Tropical Storm Harvey and Donald Trump both were foreseeable disasters that have caused a lot of damage and suffering.
Republicans knew Trump would be trouble. His campaign was accompanied, but not at all impeded, by a whole litany of negative comments about him by his fellow primary candidates, former candidates and presidents, and other Republican leaders....
