Area Lawmakers Honor State Champs From Spring-Ford Area High School
State
Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) and State Sen Andy Dinniman
(D-Chester) honored the Spring-Ford Area High School Girls' Basketball
team at the State Capitol in Harrisburg on Wednesday for the team's
60-45 win over Cumberland Valley in the 2013 PIAA Class AAAA state
championship on March 22.
Potential Corbett challenger Bruce Castor launches website
It's looking more likely that Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce
Castor will challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in the 2014
GOP primary.
Castor, who served two terms as Montgomery
County district attorney, and has flirted with statewide campaigns in
the past, has made no secret of his disappointment with Corbett's first
two years in office.
"Pennsylvania has yet to reach its pinnacle, and with your
help we'll get there," Castor writes on the site, which also has links to Castor's Facebook page and Twitter account.
Several
potential Democratic challengers to Corbett have also emerged, the most
notable of which is Philadelphia-area Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, a
pro-abortion, anti-gun liberal who has served in Congress for the past
10 years.
See you Friday at Montgomery County Community College
Tony Phyrillas, The Mercury's award-winning political columnist and blogger, will be the featured speaker at the Seventh Annual Healthy Lifestyles Expo Friday, April 20, at Montgomery County Community College, 101 College Drive, in Pottstown.
Phyrillas, pictured here with state Rep. Tom Quigley, R-Montgomery, will be taking part in a Q-and-A session from 11 a.m.-11.:45 a.m., followed immediately by a free lunch. (Get there early for a seat; last year, 570 lunches were served.)
The Expo, co-sponsored by Rep. Quigley, Montgomery County Community College, the TriCounty Community Network and The Mercury, runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Along with more than 80 participating vendors, other Expo highlights include free caricatures by Alan MacBain, The Mercury's award-winning editorial cartoonist; musical performances by the Pottstown Middle School Woodwinds Ensemble and Pottstown High School Show Choir; as well as five cash drawings for $100 each.
All programs, health screenings, demonstrations and entertainment are free to the public. Parking is also free.
NRC schedules meeting on Limerick nuclear plant safety
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled an open house regarding the agency’s annual assessment of safety performance for Exelon Nuclear’s Limerick Generating Station.
The open house is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, at the Limerick Township Municipal Building, 646 W. Ridge Pike, Limerick.
The public will have an opportunity to learn from NRC staff members about the plant’s safety performance during 2011 and the NRC’s oversight of the facility. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss plant-related topics on a one-on-one basis with NRC inspectors assigned to the plant and their NRC Region I supervisor.
From and NRC press release:
According to the NRC, the Limerick plant operated safely during 2011. Regarding Unit 1, all findings were of very low safety significance). Therefore, for the rest of 2012, Limerick Unit 1 will receive the very detailed inspection regime used by the NRC or plants that are operating well.
Limerick Unit 2, however, will receive additional oversight from the agency this year as a result of receiving a “white” (low-to-moderate safety significance) inspection finding involving inadequate procedures related to the operation of two main feedwater system valves.
“Our expectation is that Exelon will thoroughly address the issues that contributed to the ‘white’ inspection finding finalized for Limerick late last year. Ensuring that occurs will be a focus for the NRC in 2012,” NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said. “Looking back on 2011, our inspectors spent time checking on whether there were any immediate safety concerns at U.S. nuclear power plants following the March events at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in Japan. Those reviews indicated the plants remained safe for continued operation.”
An NRC team inspection is planned for the week of June 11 at the plant to review the company’s root cause and contributing cause evaluation for the problems; its assessment of potential similar issues; and its corrective actions to prevent a recurrence.
In 2011, the NRC devoted approximately 5,260 hours of inspection to the Limerick plant under its normal reviews.
Routine inspections are carried out by the two NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the agency’s Region I Office in King of Prussia.
Among the areas of performance at Limerick to be inspected this year by NRC specialists are activities associated with radiological safety, the plant’s problem identification and resolution program, emergency preparedness and the facility’s implementation of a voluntary industry initiative to address potential degradation of underground piping.
Freshman state Rep. Warren Kampf, R-157th Dist., announced Monday he will seek a second two-year term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
"During my first year in office, I have answered the public's call to restore fiscal discipline to state government and have focused on making our state more competitive in the national marketplace," Kampf in a prepared statement. "I am proud of my efforts thus far, but know there is still much to be done. Restoring our economy by reversing the failed policies of over-spending and over-borrowing of the previous administration will take time."
Kampf said he is running again because "there is more work to be done both to fulfill his pledge to the people of the 157th District, as well as to keep Pennsylvania on a course toward economic recovery."
"I am continuing to develop comprehensive legislation to address the pension issue in our state by creating a defined contribution retirement plan, like those in the private sector have, for all new state hires and will introduce it early this year," Kampf said. "I will continue to work to ensure education funding remains a top priority in the budget, and push for further reforms to our state's tax structure to help lure new job creators to our state and encourage current businesses to expand and create more jobs."
During his first term, Kampf kept his pledge to lead by example on reform and fiscal discipline, refusing perks like a state-paid automobile and per diems, as well as not accepting the salary COLA for both 2011 and 2012, and not enrolling in the legislature’s defined benefit pension system.
"I ran for this office to try and make a difference for local residents and Pennsylvania, not to take part in the perks of office. I promised to turn my back on those perks in these difficult times and have kept that promise," Kampf said.
An attorney by profession, Kampf served for seven years as a Tredyffrin Township supervisor before his election to the state Legislature.
The 157th House District covers portions of Chester and Montgomery counties.
Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. has had to put up with a great deal of ignominy at the hands of fellow Commissioners Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel over the past four years.
Castor was the top vote-getter in the 2007 election and was expecting to play a major role in leading Montgomery County government. Instead, Matthews stabbed Castor (and county taxpayers) in the back by entering into a back-room, power-sharing deal with liberal Democrat Joe Hoeffel.
The Matthews-Hoeffel regime has nearly bankrupted what was once one of the most fiscally-sound counties in Pennsylvania.
The Montgomery County Republican Committee censured Matthews for his betrayal and told him not to bother running for another term because the party would not support him. The Democratic Party also had enough of Hoeffel and told the career politician he would not be endorsed for re-election in 2011.
On Tuesday came the bombshell news that Matthews is facing criminal charges for a variety of alleged improprieties during his tenure as a county commissioner.
From a story by reporter Jenny DeHuff of the Norristown Times Herald
Alleging that Matthews repeatedly lied to jurors "with impunity," District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman unsealed a 69-page grand jury report detailing charges of perjury and giving false statements during a press conference Tuesday morning.
The presentment was the culmination of an 18-month investigation into the inner workings of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. The allegations are extensive, from no-bid contracts with a Matthews-affiliated title insurance company to allegations surrounding his violations of the state's open meetings laws during repeated breakfast meetings at an East Norriton diner.
Ferman identified five areas outlined in the grand jury report, including the alleged use of campaign funds for personal expenses, the county's competitive (or non-competitive) bidding process, allegations of Sunshine Law violations by two of the county commissioners, matters of expenditures through the county's open space program, and a potential conflict of interest involving Matthews and a company called Certified Abstract, which had been given the county’s contract for title insurance.
So what does Bruce Castor, a former two-term county district attorney, think of all this?
DeHuff contacted the only commissioner who will be returning in January and this is what Castor had to say about Matthews, whom he described as a "very arrogant man" -
"Jim Matthews lied to the voters, to his supporters, to his contributors, to the party – those things don't surprise me, but when he lies to a grand jury, that is a crime. My experience is that perjury cases before a grand jury are almost always successful for prosecutors. I cannot recall a perjury charge in any court that I've ever worked in or around that did not result in a guilty verdict, because it's such a rarely used charge. A prosecutor only uses it when they're sure they're going to win."
Grand Jury: Montco Commissioner Jim Matthews lied under oath
Nothing has gone right for Republican Jim Matthews since he turned his back on voters and made a power-sharing deal with Democrat Joe Hoeffel four years ago.
Matthews' back-room deal led to deficit spending at the hands of Hoeffel, censure for Matthews from the county Republican Committee, which eventually forced Matthews from the GOP ticket.
The Matthews-Hoeffel deal also caused the defeat of the Republican majority on the commissioners' board for the first time in 140 years.
And you thought finding a parking spot was difficult now? Just wait until the new owners a 140,000-square-foot expansion of what already is the largest shopping mall on the East Coast.
The idea is to connect the The Plaza and The Court with new retail and restaurant space.
And did I mention there's a casino being built nearby?
It appears the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County commissioner are getting desperate.
I saw a Josh Shapiro-Leslie Richards ad on TV last night where the Democrats said that the Republican ticket of Bruce Castor and Leslie Brown would make it more difficult for women to have abortions.
Talk about coming out of left field. Since when is abortion an issue in a county commissioner race? Typical Democratic scare tactics.
I'm surprised Shapiro-Richards didn't try to tell people Castor and Brown were going to cut Social Security benefits for the elderly or continue the war in Afghanistan.
Why property taxes should be eliminated in Pennsylvania
Here's a perfect example of why property taxes should not be used to fund public schools in Pennsylvania. A corporation appeals its tax assessment and wins, forcing a school district to give back $6.5 million.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montgomery) that would impose harsher penalties for retail theft on repeat offenders who have completed an Accelerated Rehabilitation Program (ARD).
House Bill 1603 was introduced at the request of the Limerick Police Department, which has been dealing with a dramatic rise in retail thefts since the Philadelphia Premium Outlets opened in the township. Many of the people arrested for shoplifting are repeat offenders.
How bad is the problem? Reporter Brandie Kessler will have the following story in Wednesday's edition of The Mercury:
LIMERICK — Three men arrested for retail theft from the Philadelphia Premium Outlets over the weekend have extensive criminal histories and between them have prior arrests for rape, robbery and murder, with one of them being a registered sex offender, according to police.
That's just the latest of dozens of articles published in The Mercury about thefts from Philadelphia Premium Outlets.
From a press release issued by Quigley:
"The ARD program cannot be used as a shield for repeat offenders," said Quigley. "It is a very worthy program that helps people who genuinely made a one-time mistake, but the Legislature must close the loophole that is allowing repeat wrongdoers to be charged with multiple first offenses."
Quigley's legislation is in reaction to the case of Commonwealth v. Graeff, in which the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that because the definition of second offense in the retail theft statute did not include participation in ARD, a subsequent offense must be considered another first offense.
House Bill 1603 would correct this multiple first offense loophole, allowing prosecutors to charge defendants who participated in ARD but continue to break Pennsylvania’s retail theft law with a second-degree misdemeanor.
"This is an important bill that closes a loophole in the law which allows second-time retail theft offenders to receive a more lenient sentence reserved for first-time offenders. I would like to thank Representative Quigley for the expeditious manner in which he addressed this issue after it was brought to his attention by Limerick Township police detectives," said Limerick Township Chief of Police William J. Albany.
"House Bill 1603 is consistent with the manner in which our laws handle multiple DUI offenders who have completed ARD," said Quigley. "Enacting this measure will send the message that Pennsylvania will not tolerate continued and unabashed retail theft. Its cost to our businesses and society is too high."
The legislation, which was approved by a vote of 178-20, will now go before the Senate for its consideration.
Newspaper: Route 422 tolling plan doomed, so why keep pushing it?
There is no public or political support for tolling Route 422 in Southeastern Pennsylvania, so why do a handful of Big Government Democrats keep beating a dead horse?
America's Best Haunted Attractions Are Both In Pennsylvania
Just in time for Halloween, Hauntdworld.com has released its 2011 list of the Top 13 Best Haunted Attractions in the United States.
And topping the list? A pair of haunted attractions in suburban Philadelphia: The Bates Motel and Pennhurst Asylum, both operated by the same company.
Here's what Hauntdworld.com has to say about the best haunts in the U.S.:
1. Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride and Pennhurst Asylum Haunted Attraction in Philadelphia, PA Pennsylvania: The Bates Motel Haunted House & Hayride is a unique haunted attraction for several reasons: The Haunted Hayride is located deep in a 200-year-old forest full of overgrown trees creating the ultimate dark trail even during a full moon. This puts customers on edge even before ever entering the first hayride scene. Combined with a digital custom soundtrack, pyrotechnics and continuous scares throughout the ride, this hayride attraction is sure to create the ultimate haunting experience of your life! To read a more detailed article about this attraction, visit their website at www.TheBatesMotel.com. Additionally, The Pennhurst Asylum is one of the scariest haunted attraction sites in the world, mostly due to the setting of this haunt. It's located in a 100-year-old, abandoned mental institute. The building itself will instill real fear and true horror in anyone. The Asylum has been investigated by professional ghost hunters and featured on Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters several times. This attraction is truly haunted. To read a more detailed article about this real haunted house visit their website at www.PennhurstAsylum.com. Bates Motel and Pennhurst Asylum are owned and operated by the same company and are within a short drive of each other. These have to be number one on our list for locations to get scared this Halloween.
To review all 13 haunted attractions, visit Hauntworld.com
Dinniman: Why all the secrecy on Route 422 toll plan?
Pennsylvania State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th Dist., has some concerns about a proposal to toll Route 422 in SE Pennsylvania:
From an op-ed published in The Pottstown Mercury:
Pennsylvanians have a right to an honest, open debate on the issue. Unfortunately, such honesty and openness is questioned when the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission refuses to share information and then gives two conflicting answers as to why. Whether one is for or against the tolling proposal — and I am opposed to it — access to information is crucial to any public-policy debate.
Josh Shapiro: Such An Easy Question, Why Can't I Get An Answer?
Watching this video of Democrat Josh Shapiro dodge a simple question about taxes and spending doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County Commissioner. And is Shapiro's running mate allowed to speak?
An event designed to recognize first responders in Berks and Montgomery counties has been rescheduled because so many first responders are busy helping with flood conditions in the region.
HonorFest 2011 was scheduled to take place today at First Energy Stadium in Reading, but with so many police, firefighters and ambulance crews assisting victims of this week's flooding, the organizers decided to move the event to Saturday, Oct. 1.
Rep. Quigley to Host Town Hall-Style Conference Call
State Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montgomery) will host a town hall meeting via telephone for residents of Pennsylvania's 146th House District at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19.
From a Quigley press release:
"I am hosting this town hall-style conference call to give everyone I represent the opportunity to find out what is going on in Harrisburg and our community and also ask questions without having to leave their home. In light of the recently passed state budget, I am interested to hear what people have to say."
At approximately 7 p.m. on July 19, automated calls will be placed to residents of the 146th District inviting them to participate in the hour-long call.
At any point during the phone call, people will be given the chance to ask questions by pressing *3, and he will try to get to everyone's inquires during the allotted hour.
Tony Phyrillas is the editor and content manager of The Mercury, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning daily newspaper in Pottstown, Pa. Phyrillas has won national and state awards for political commentary, including first place for column writing in 2010 by the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors. Phyrillas has been featured on National Public Radio and The New York Times and is a frequent commentator on radio and television programs. He co-hosted 'Talking Politics with Tony Phyrillas & Mike Pincus' on WPAZ 1370 AM from 2008 to 2009.
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