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...
GOP says Wolf’s tax math doesn’t add up
And they may have a point, when it comes to sales tax hike
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
WEST CHESTER — Five of the county’s state legislative delegation pushed back on Gov. Tom Wolf’s sales tax increase proposal Friday — arguing that it would cost Chester County taxpayers an additional $177 million a year in taxes.
State Representatives Dan Truitt (R-156), Becky Corbin (R-155), Tim...
Op/Ed: The Affordable Care Act works
By Joe Sestak
Joe Sestak
I’m reminded that it was five years ago last month that Congress voted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, promising to control costs and offer better coverage to more Americans.
Back then, many argued that the ACA would be a massive failure with disastrous consequences for our state and bankrupt our nation. They claimed that the law was too...
Letter: Toomey is blocking job creation
To the editor:
Our state has a proud history as a center of manufacturing. Of course the economy evolves, but we have also sustained self-inflicted damage. US taxpayers have been paying to encourage corporations to outsource their production and even to move their headquarters abroad. What sense does that make (except to the corporations, of course)?
I recall a few years ago, IBM fired a...
Wolf’s budget proposal brings out the silly from both sides
And…York area senator trash talks our senators, again
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
It was a bit frosty in Harrisburg this week — and I don’t just mean the “my gosh will this awful winter ever end” kind of frosty, but a less than warm reception to Gov. Tom Wolf’s first budget proposal and, because it is the time for giving (at least to political columnists), more Republican...
Op/Ed: Keep child predators out of Pa.’s classrooms
Backs federal legislation to enforce background checks, sharing of data across states
By Thomas P. Hogan, Chester County District Attorney
Thomas P. HoganLast year, news broke that the Coatesville Area School District had hired multiple convicted felons and entrusted the safety and care of children to such criminals. For example, Victor Ford’s convictions for multiple state and federal felonies...
Is Wolf angling to make a deal with GOP legislators?
With his base secured, a deal on liquor privatization, pensions could be in play
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Depending on who is reading the tea leaves, Gov. Tom Wolf is either drawing a line in the sand — and guaranteeing four years of abject gridlock, or he’s securing the base with the idea that he’s going to have to make deals in the coming weeks and months that won’t be popular...
Op/Ed: A tale of two high schools
Growing gap between urban, suburban schools is unconscionable
By Sen. Andrew E. Dinniman, State Senator, 19th District
Sen. Andrew E. Dinniman
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
It’s almost like Charles Dickens was describing public education in Pennsylvania.
Today, the disparity between the academic services, technology and basic resources available to students in inner...
A better day than you might think for Coatesville
In beleaguered school district, kids, community are finally coming first
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
If you watched the TV news yesterday, or read some of the local media, yesterday was a terrible day for the Coatesville area community.
But I’m here to say this: I don’t agree.
When we watched Richard Como — the former superintendent of schools, disgraced in just about every way possible...
Op/Ed: Chester County benefits from China partnership
By Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioner
and
Michael Grigalonis, COO of Chester County Economic Development Council
Recently, political and business leaders from Chester County visited China seeking to improve business and investment relationships. From left, David Liu, General Manager of CTDI’s China Operations, Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell, Mike Grigalonis, Chief Operating...
