Happy New Year! Surf’s up, baby!
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Happy 2018! Who’s got their surfboards ready?
Because, yeah, it is becoming increasingly likely that our friends in the Republican Party might not just be facing a wave, but rather a tsunami.
But before you rush out and scream “that dirty so-and-so Trump” (as apparently so many West Wing staffers seem to do daily, per Michael Wolff’s controversial new book),...
Letter: A troubled and troubling tax reform bill
To the Editor,
I don’t know how we have found ourselves in a situation where the President of the United States who is promoting the most quickly thrown together and noxious tax reform policy in U.S. history without our citizen input, can, himself, never have publicly revealed his own taxes so that we can judge just how partially or impartially this bill is geared to the Greater Good vs....
Moore, Trump put local Republicans at severe risk
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
As we head into the 2018 election season, we see that the two major political parties find themselves at crossroads, with one party seemingly finding its roots after years of wandering and pandering and another so lost, to as be unrecognizable from just a few years ago.
For Democrats, heading into 2018 with a wind at their back — and locally, the biggest series...
Letter: Congress must act on ‘Dreamers’ before year’s end
To The Editor,
This week, Congress voted on an important issue that will have serious implications for all Americans: tax reform. Headlines on the pros and cons of the GOP tax plan abounded, and the issue was top of mind for many of us across the nation.
Yet the same cannot be said for the hundreds of thousands of DREAMers whose lives and futures are still on the line after President Trump ended...
Costello, Meehan back measure to help students with loan problems
WASHINGTON, D.C, — U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6), Patrick Meehan (R-7), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Seth Moulton (D-MA) have introduced the SIMPLE Act, legislation to reduce administrative burdens on struggling student loan borrowers.
The legislation allows vulnerable borrowers to automatically enroll in affordable income-driven loan repayment plans, and it removes burdensome paperwork requirements...
Don’t forget there are important races in 2017, too
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Tanned, rested and ready — amazing what the blue waters of the Caribbean and lots of odd beverages with paper umbrellas will do for the soul — and ready to jump into the burning dumpster fire that is politics, 2017.
While Republicans in the U.S. Senate debates various health bills that will likely cost them both their Senate majority and the U.S. House —...
Costello continues fight against human trafficking
Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-06), a member of the Human Trafficking Caucus, spoke on the U.S. House of Representatives Floor Wednesday in support of bipartisan legislation to fight human trafficking.
“Combatting human trafficking is critical to ensuring our constituents have safe and healthy communities,” Costello said. “It is important to advocate for resources for those fighting human trafficking...
Unintended consequences and Newton’s Third Law
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
While Democrats wept over special election results this week, U.S. Senate Republicans — in secret — put together their version of the health care reform, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which apart from some minor details, appears to be a lot like the house health care plan, the American Health Care Act: it cuts benefits for the poor, could lead to big...
Costello pushes DeVos on Title IX issues
U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6)
WASHINGTON — Friday, on the 45th anniversary of Title IX, Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos urging her to maintain Title IX guidance in K-12 schools that protects young people from sexual assault and harassment. The letter, signed by 52 Members of Congress, also urges Secretary...
Time for Costello to show just a hint of courage
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Sometime later this afternoon, U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6) will hold a town hall meeting.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that he’s holding it in Historic Courtroom 1, limiting it to 100 people, it was announced Thursday and filled up within minutes — and no one can record the video. Some sort of modern-day Stasi will be at the door, demanding “papers,...
