Chesco Dems back Sestak, Parrish, Balchunis and Hartman
The county’s Democratic Party made key endorsements in the U.S. Senate race as well in three local congressional races at its annual party convention, Wednesday night, backing Joe Sestak for Senate and Michael Parrish in the 6th District, Mary Ellen Balchunis in the 7th District and Christina Hartman in the 16th District.
Additionally, the committee endorsed Josh Shapiro for Attorney General...
Wolf calls GOP budget ‘garbage;’ line-item vetoes much of it
But some funds will flow to local schools and social services as dispute continues
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Updated, 3:40 p.m.: adds GOP House leadership comments.
While school districts and social service agencies in Chester County can finally look forward to seeing some state funds finally come their way after a six-month state budget standoff, Gov. Tom Wolf signaled Tuesday clearly...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
Lewis named secretary of House Urban Affairs Committee
State Rep. Harry Lewis Jr. (R-74).
HARRISBURG – Rep. Harry Lewis Jr. (R-74) has been appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve as secretary of the House Urban Affairs Committee.
The House Urban Affairs Committees is one of four House standing committees that Lewis is serving on during this 2015-16 legislative session.
“As a long-time resident of the Coatesville area, I have a strong...
New Years’ resolutions — for others
A few ‘helpful’ suggestions for a better 2015
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
With another year slipping away – and 2014 seems to have gone by in a blur — it is time to take a bit of time to make those New Year’s resolutions.
Now, obviously, I could make mine, but they’d take up more than just one column to complete and they’d be boring like needing to play golf more often...
