Merry @#$% Christmas: Senate sends Wolf last-minute budget
Gov. won’t say whether he’ll veto budget without pension reform, liquor fixes
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The State Senate sent Gov. Tom Wolf a most unwelcome gift — a $30.2 billion budget bill similar to one he vetoed earlier this year, after a compromise that would have included pension reform and changes to how liquor is sold collapsed, amid a bizarre series of events in...
Despite Chesco Reps revolt, budget talks stall
GOP House members leave for holiday, no clear path ahead
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
T’was the day before the day before Christmas,
When all through the (State) House,
Various angry politicians were heard to espouse:
“Ghost voting,” “vote to reconsider” “insurgent” and “Twitter fight”
As legislators sought to finally get a state budget right…
Local State Reps (clockwise...
Wolf: I’ll veto ‘stop-gap’ budget
Local ex-State Rep. says folks should look at changes in state government after deadlock
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Gov. Tom Wolf, seen here in a visit to Chester County earlier this year, said he would veto the so-called “stop-gap” budget the State House was considering Tuesday.
Although local state legislators had hoped that Gov. Tom Wolf would accept parts of an 11-month...
Chesco legislators split on pension, budget deal
Sources say stop-gap budget likely to be sent to Gov. Wolf Tuesday
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
“Frustration.” “Confusion.”
Those two words, which repeatedly came up when speaking with local legislators about the ongoing state budget standoff, seem to best describe where things stand in the current six-month state budget standoff.
The standoff looked to come to an end this past weekend,...
Letter: Wolf is fighting for middle class families
To The Editor,
Governor Wolf is fighting for middle-class families in Pennsylvania by reversing the damaging Republican cuts to education and human service providers. The governor’s budget invests in education, provides property tax relief, and fixes the budget deficit created by Republicans without using gimmicks or games. Standing firm in his commitment to these priorities, the governor has...
Chester County’s Blocker tabbed to head State Police
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf today nominated New London’s Tyree C. Blocker to be the next commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Blocker, 62, has 30 years of experience with the Pennsylvania State Police, starting as a trooper and rising to the rank of major before retiring in 2005. Long active in local law enforcement, he served as a member of a working group to help Coatesville...
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...
Hogan, area DAs push for PreK to cut crime
Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan speaks at a legislative breakfast Wednesday in support of expansion of funding for pre-kindergarten programs.
KING OF PRUSSIA — Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan and other southeast Pennsylvania prosecutors came out strong this week to support an initiative by Gov. Tom Wolf to fund pre-kindergarten programs as a long-term way to boost high...
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...
