Toomey talks economy, odds of federal shutdown during Chesco visit

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) gets a tour of the facility from Lord’s Pantry Executive Director Jan Leaf, Monday in Downingtown. U.S. Senator said he thinks shutdown is doubtful; seeks new policies to get economy moving By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times DOWNINGTOWN — U.S Sen. Pat Toomey spent much of Monday morning in Chester County, visiting a local food bank and attending a Veterans’ Administration...

Saving the Post Office

Handcuffed by Congress, Postal Service faces a murky future By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times I’ve always been a fan of the post office. I enjoy getting the mail out of the letterbox attached to my house six days a week; I like knowing that a mail carrier is walking around my neighborhood and going to people’s doors without asking for subscriptions or conversions. I enjoy taking...

Op/Ed: Time to boost accountability and transparency for Congress

By Ryan Costello, Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello The gridlock and partisan rancor in Congress is taking its toll on the public’s perception of Congress, and rightfully so.  According to a recent Gallup poll, only 14 percent of Americans think Congress is doing a good job.  That puts the public’s approval of the job Congress is doing at one of its lowest points in history. As a...

County conventions leave May questions

Few primary battles were settled at either county convention By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times There was a little high drama at the two county party conventions, and in many ways the status quo was largely maintained. There were just a handful of endorsement battles at the meetings — and maybe only one vote there changes the landscape for May. We’ll  get to the Democratic endorsements, which...

County GOP endorses most of slate for 2014

Corbett, 167th battle highlights of largely quiet convention By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times County Commissioner Ryan Costello thanks Chetser County Republicans after being endorsed as the party’s candidate for the 6th Congressional District, Wednesday, during the committee’s annual convention. WEST GOSHEN — Although most of Wednesday night’s endorsement votes during the Chester...

Gerlach won’t run in 2014

Seven-term Congressman cites family needs By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach. U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-6) announced Monday that he would not seek a seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The moves as a bit of a surprise — just two years after redistricting made the Sixth a more Republican-friendly district and will suddenly open the field to a number of local...