Posts in month: April, 2010

Conventional wisdom has said for some time that the race in the 22nd State Senatorial District is going to heat up.  Well, it has.

Campaigns have been throwing accusations back and forth.  Doherty sent out mailers going after Wansacz.  As per a Scranton Public Policy Examiner post a few days ago, Volpe came out swinging at a rally in Old Forge.

One of the fun things to do, when these things start happening, is to look at campaign finance reports, to see who gave money to this one and that one.  One of the memes making the rounds is that Chuck Volpe gave Cordaro/Munchak a lot of money.  I looked and found $17,500 to be exact and that doesn’t include Volpe employees who donated.

Amusingly, I saw that Volpe donated $2,500 to Doherty when he was running for governor (just a few months back).  I’m guessing he’s no longer a supporter!  He also donated heavily to Cordaro when he was in office.  I’m guessing he’s no longer a supporter of him, either!  (I find this amusing, fyi, but I do understand political donations are the nature of the beast.)

Munchak and Cordaro are, of course, the worst politicians Lackawanna County has proffered its citizens in some time.  The fact that Munchak is still serving is abhorrent to me.  As I’ve written, I can’t wait until they are both in jail for the next 300+ years.  Since this is an issue in the county, naturally people don’t want to be connected to them, particularly since companies engaged in bribery and have not yet been named.

This issue actually popped up in the comments section of NEPArtisan.  Somebody with the Volpe campaign immediately logged on to respond.  Here is an excerpt: Just for the record, I know that there are alot of questions about Chucks envolvement with the Munchak/Cordaro. In 2003 Chuck Volpe was a major contributor to Corcoran/Castillani, Total $5000.00. Did not contribute to Munchak/Cordaro in 2003.  I know there is alot of information out there that is severely tainted or just a flat out lie. Please feel free to ask any and all questions.

For all of my ear-to-the-groundness, I haven’t heard what’s severely tainted or flat out lied about just yet (I’m currently looking into the pavilion insurance issue, I’ll update when I round it out).  But since I did see the campaign contributions, I figured I would e-mail the Volpe campaign and here’s what I got in reply:

In regards to your question, there really isn’t much of an issue.  Chuck’s company has done Lackawanna County’s insurance since 2001, well before the Cordaro administration even started.  In fact, Excalibur’s history with the county goes back well before that.  Chuck’s father in the 1980’s created the workers comp program in Lackawanna county.  Chuck was brought in, as documented by the Times, in 2007 on an emergency basis to fix the worker’s comp program which had been abused by a personal friend of Bob Cordaro.  Let me also point out that Chuck was also a major contributor to Joe Corcoran and worked hard to defeat Cordaro/Munchak.

What our campaign has had a good laugh about, is the fact that Mayor Doherty brought in Chuck’s company in 2004 to handle most of the City of Scranton’s insurance.  In fact, you’ll enjoy this, this past March the Pennsylvania Insurance Department noticed that Excalibur had reduced worker’s comp costs for the City by 30%.

This is a pretty rough slam.  No, Volpe definitely is no longer a Doherty supporter!

While these are bits and pieces of some of the early forays, I’m sure there will be more.  I like to look into things before I post, though, so I’ll do my damnedest to avoid rumor and give you truth.  I have some juicy ones coming up soon (think Hagsmith)!

In today’s Times, a piece about local legislative positions had one interesting omission. Attempts to contact Kevin Murphy, the article said, weren’t successful. But according to a source close to Kevin Murphy’s camp, Borys didn’t actually bother contacting Murphy’s office for comment.

The Times has, since Murphy’s election, misrepresented, come out against, and basically disregarded mostly anything coming out of Murphy in terms of legislation, productivity, and perspective. It’s no surprise, then, that they take advantage of an opportunity to make him look bad once again. The Times contacted neither the Harrisburg nor Scranton offices of Murphy.

Nice.

In the Scranton Times today, a nice look at all of the candidates positions on various issues gives us some insight into the people vying to become our elected officials. The biggest one that stuck out was Ken Smith’s position on per diems. He’s against them!

But… he’s currently taking them.

Between Haggerty and this guy, people must think hypocrisy is a necessary trait if you want to run in the 112th.

It isn’t.

Pat Toomey, who wants to represent Pennsylvania in the US Senate, is officially proud to be a hateful racist! Good for him. Who needs brown people anyway?

Toomey came out heavily in favor of a law recently passed in Arizona that allows police officers to question anybody suspected of being an illegal immigrant and demand that they prove they are American citizens. So, if I get a nice tan (I have Mediterranean heritage) and go to Arizona, but don’t have my driver’s license, I can be arrested. Forty percent of Arizonans are of Latin heritage. So… expect a lot of mistakes.

Most people don’t carry their birth certificates around with them. Arizona has just passed a law that legalizes racial profiling, discrimination, and bigotry.

PA Republiracist Pat Toomey loves racial profiling, discrimination, and bigotry, so he’s all for it, baby!

Toomey: Proudly Courting the KKK & Neo-Nazi constituencies of Pennsylvania!

The successful approval of the Cape Wind project off of Massachusetts’ coastline coupled with the environmental disaster in the Gulf where hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil are prepared to destroy our coastlines and kill off tons of marine life, America should remember that Earth Day was just a few days ago and that we have to preserve this little planet for more than just 1 out of every 365 days or so.

Instead of drilling off of our coasts, as Obama has recently approved (in emulation of ::shiver:: Sarah Palin), we should be approving wind farms. There is little-to-no environmental impact and the fact that wind will always blow means we’ll always have a source of power. It’s a no-brainer. Hopefully politicians gain the fortitude necessary to act.

We have some coastline on the Great Lakes. Could we build a Wind Farm on Lake Erie? I’m all for it.

Doherty and Evans are doing the impossible: Meeting! Yes, I said it and you heard it right, they are going to sit down and talk with each other!

I’m dumbfounded and have nothing more to say. I’m going to stare blankly at the walls for twenty minutes or so while I try to comprehend the magnitude of this moment.

Republicans have found a new way to embarrass Pennsylvania (and I thought Tom Corbett had that all wrapped up). There’s gonna be a good ole fashioned shoot-em-up! What’s being shot? Why… Obama’s policies!

That’s right, the Commonwealth Foundation, which is a group over highly-paid hacks who push Republican agendas while using big words to legitimize themselves, will be holding a FreePA fundraiser in which attendees can shoot, that’s right shoot Obama’s policies! Beer, cigars, and shooting is on the menu. It costs $65 bucks to shoot a bunch of stuff with Obama’s name all over it. Republicans are priceless.

Who is showing up? All the Republican candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor and one Democrat… Jack Wagner. He should be ashamed of himself and I’m telling you right now, I will not vote for this man for any office ever again.

In that most vicious of battlefields, the 112th Legislative District, we move from the Battle of the Ballfield to a new battle, similar in many ways to the Battle of Britain, is the Battle of the Airwaves.

Yesterday, John Keeler called Steve Corbett to talk about the incident in which Haggerty threatened to beat the shit out of him, if only he were twenty years younger.  Oh, and he yelled and cursed at a Little League.  This man is the walking embodiment of class.  We know this.

So, this morning, Kevin Haggerty, who lives in perpetual fear of Steve Corbett (whose lawn he defiled with an unwanted gargantuan campaign sign), called into Nancy & Webster.  Deep in the wildest throes of uncontrollable madness that normally only manifests itself in an Edgar Allen Poe short story, Haggerty appropriated Keeler’s story and claimed that Keeler had done all of the mean and nasty things that Keeler is claiming Haggerty did.   Keeler, Haggerty is claiming, lied.

Deny and counter with false accusations.

New Entry to the 112th Survival Guide:

4)  If you tell the truth about Haggerty in a public arena, he will become incensed.  Reactions vary and include ignoring accusatory public figures (Corbett and myself) and, more significantly, pretending he didn’t do anything wrong and calling everybody else involved liars.

In all likelihood, Haggerty, in deep desperation, has resorted to lying.  Haggerty is the type of beast that travels in a pack.  That pack has wisely advised him to say the opposite of what happened in order to cast doubt on the situation.  That requires that Haggerty have credibility.

So let’s examine Haggerty’s retort:

Haggerty said that Keeler was yelling, “Get out of my town!” at Haggerty.  Umm… Haggerty lives in Dunmore.  Keeler lives in South Side.  This took place in Dunmore, literally Haggerty’s town.  My guess is that, when he decided to take Keeler’s story as his own, he forgot that Keeler didn’t live in Dunmore.  Oops!

Haggerty told Steve Corbett he was done with the issue and wouldn’t speak about it any longer, then called into Nancy & Webster the next day.  Oops!

On Nancy & Webster, Haggerty claimed he didn’t know Keeler.  Then went on to point out they had lunch together.  Oops!

Haggerty also claimed he didn’t hear the interview because he had work, but during the show, Haggerty’s campaign spokeswoman, Maureen Madden, told Corbett she’d talked to him multiple times throughout the day.  That means that she admitted Haggerty was on campaign-related calls during work hours.  Oops!

Haggerty accused Keeler of making this all up so that he would get some press.  Well, Keeler didn’t go to the press with this.  The press went to him.  Oops!

Keeler said he would sign a sworn affidavit that what he’s claiming was true.  Haggerty has not.  Oops!

Haggerty said that Keeler changed his story three times.  I heard the story and then called Keeler, who confirmed everything I heard.  Then, the story published in the Times remained remarkably consistent.  Strange.  His story stayed the same each time…  Wait, Haggerty’s claim that Keeler changed his story is blatantly false!  Oops!

Haggerty said his presence at the Little League field was not political, but admitted he was surrounded by campaign volunteers.  Oops!

Haggerty also said that he had “grave concerns” about why Keeler was in the race.  Haggerty met Keeler for lunch one day and encouraged Keeler to run for this race.  Is this a crack in the Haggerty facade?  Has he finally admitted that he has grave concerns about himself?  Is this a roundabout, near-subconscious signal that Haggerty knows his descent into total madness is nearly complete?

Based on all of my interactions with and knowledge of Haggerty, I have a sneaking suspicion that he is lying in order to avoid letting the general populace of the dangerous, werewolf-like nature of his dark and corrupted mind.

The YDs in Luzerne County asked me to let everybody know about their upcoming meeting. Here’s the info:

Tuesday, May 4th
7pm
Rodano’s on the Square
Wilkes-Barre

We welcome and are actively seeking new members, our membership is open to registered Democrats between ages 18-35, but folks of any age are welcome to our meeting and always encouraged to attend our social events as our guests. In addition we will be having candidates and campaign representatives to speak at our next meeting, so anyone who would like to come and hear what they have to say is welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Many Thanks,
Mike Szustak, President
Thomas Shubilla, Vice President
Sabrina McLaughlin, Treasurer

State Representative Kevin Murphy’s proposal to split tax bills and allow taxpayers to pay in installments has passed the House. This will be great for Scranton residents. Check out the release:

HARRISBURG, April 27 – Scranton taxpayers would be allowed to make installment payments on fees assessed on delinquent city taxes and they would receive a separate city property tax bill from those issued for Lackawanna County and Scranton School District property taxes under legislation authored by Rep. Kevin Murphy and passed unanimously today by the state House of Representatives.

In 2007, Scranton City Council passed an ordinance that levied 25 additional penalties, interest and fees on top of city taxes that become delinquent. The ordinance also authorized liens on outstanding delinquent taxes, which could lead to sheriff’s sales on some homes.

“This ordinance has been devastating to residents who are unable to pay, in large quarterly payments or one lump sum, the original city taxes and their additional fines and fees, and these residents lose their homes. This type of billing puts a heavy burden on residents, especially those who are lower-income earners and those on fixed incomes, because it makes no exceptions for alternate payment options,” said Murphy, D-Lackawanna.

The current tax bill provides four quarterly payment coupons, but only includes city and school taxes, which leads to confusion among taxpayers, because many think that by paying their quarterly coupons, that they have met their tax obligations. However, this is not the case, because the county taxes are not included in the quarterly payments.

Murphy said H.B. 1942 would remedy this problem by providing installment payment options for fees imposed on delinquent city taxes and the taxes themselves.

Additionally, his legislation would require separate tax bills to be mailed in the same envelope: one for city real estate, county real estate and school district taxes. Currently, there is one bill for all three entities that comes from the Scranton Single Tax Office.

Okay, maybe it’s not an affair. It’s probably a marriage. But maybe it’s an open marriage? That’s immoral, though. Who knows what depths of depravity Republicans will explore?

One bit of Republican depravity that we can know about is their blatant, orgiastic celebration of Wall Street pillage and plunder of America. Republicans, for the second day in a row, have not just blocked financial reform, they’ve blocked TALKING about reform. That’s right, they don’t even want to talk about it. Wall Street is kind of embarassing, after all. We don’t want to bring it to light, let alone correct the behavior. Best to let them go about their business, right?

Well, with the routine failure of capitalism to protect anybody but the rich, this reform must happen. Democrats should keep proposing it and Republicans can keep on obstructing. It’ll help the Dems in the mid-terms.

So, GOP, keep on proclaiming your love.

In continuing with my series of interviews with state senate candidates in PA-22, I spoke with Jim Wansacz yesterday.

One of the particular aspects of this election that has begun to annoy me personally is the focus on per diems and, to a lesser extent, the reform of the Legislature. Sure, things need to change, but there are far more issues out there, and there are far more important issues out there. What about, you know, the economy? I opened up by expressing this sentiment to Wansacz, who agreed, and so I asked him what his personal legislative priorities are. He said he had four: Education, the Environment, Health Care, and Jobs.

On the issue of Jobs, Wansacz said that the state should fund job training programs for companies that move here and secure commitments from those companies to stay. If they do not, then they would be required to reimburse the state. He referenced RCA, which got $5 million dollars from the state and then picked up and moved to Mexico. A solid set of conditions and requirements would encourage businesses to stay and force them to pay if they try to take advantage.

On the issue of Education, Wansacz recently released a new ad called, quite creatively, “Education.” Beyond this, he had a proposal that I only wish applied to me: All students that go to college would get a $5,000 grant for each year they are in school provided they maintain a 3.0. I think that’s just plain awesome. I hope whoever wins this race implements this, honestly.
I followed up on this by asking about PSERS. My union endorsed Wansacz, who said he wouldn’t commit to anything until more studies came back from actuaries who understood the issue and its implications. I’ll be waiting to hear!

I’ve been unhappy about Wansacz’s proposal (Staback’s too) on the Wage Consolidation issue. He wants one municipality, one vote. He explained that since this is a county effort, each organization should have equal representation (much like the US Senate, where population doesn’t matter). He also said the issue shouldn’t be Scranton vs. LaPlume, but rather, in the interest of efficiency, we should collaborate and this change would make that easier. I understand his point, but I still respectfully disagree. I personally think that the Senate is obsolete and a bad example for getting things done.

I asked if there was anything Wansacz wanted to say in closing. He said this race is about our future and that he’s accomplished a lot in ten years in the Legislature and can accomplish far more as a State Senator. State Senators, he explained, have more power to improve education and make college affordable, to attract businesses, and to take on utilities and the PUC. The bottom line, he said, is that, as a State Senator, he can help our region grow.

A lot of people criticize Democrat Arlen Specter for all his years as Republican Arlen Specter. I got a copy of some remarks he’ll be delivering today on the anniversary of his switch. Enjoy:

As today completes one year since my return to the Democratic Party, I have a few observations on what we should do as Senators, not as Democrats or Republicans, to tend to the Nation’s business in these difficult days.

Partisanship ran high in 2005, with Republican threats to invoke the nuclear or constitutional option, which would, in effect, change the rule to allow 51 votes to cut off filibusters. The so-called “Gang of 14,” a group of centrists from both parties, structured a compromise which confirmed some judicial nominees, rejected others, and established a standard that filibusters should not be employed except for “extraordinary circumstances.” That spirit of compromise should be revisited today.

In the face of a threatened great Depression in February 2009, I refused to join the Republican obstructionism and played a key role in the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I am fully aware that my vote put my job on the line.

Achieving civility and cooperation for the common good in 2010, as occurred in 2005 with respect to judicial nominations, will require independence and risk-taking by Senators. Senators must be willing to cross the aisle and work with their colleagues even at the peril of the disfavor of their political party. The problems of the country are too severe, too many Americans are out of work, too many Americans are fighting and dying in foreign lands, for members of this body to be unwilling to risk their seats for the public good. The stakes for America require we all do our level best and permit the public to judge us accordingly.

At the moment, there is a pressing need for Republicans to join with us in reforming Wall Street to prevent the kind of financial crisis that cost this country 8 million jobs. Both sides agree that legislation is necessary. On a motion to proceed to the bill, there is no realistic contention that “extraordinary circumstances” justify a filibuster. Once the bill is being debated, there will be opportunity for amendments. Forty-one Republican senators will have the opportunity to filibuster whatever proposed legislation evolves before final passage occurs. “Extraordinary circumstances” now call for Republicans to join Democrats in passing legislation to prevent another economic crisis.

Far different than the Battle of the Bulge, but no less historically significant is the Battle of the Ballfield, which took place in Dunmore, at the Little League field, in the Year of Our Lord 2010 between the forces of Kevin Haggerty (he, the general taking the lead) and John Keeler and his wife (fearing the overwhelming odds against them). The story has gotten big.

There are very few species in the Animal Kingdom known to eat their young, but we can add one to the rolls, recently discovered (today, to be exact): The Scranton Times. In the wild, Kevin Haggerty unleashed is a beast terrible to behold, so terrible, in fact, that his family allowed the newspaper to print an account of the Battle of the Ballfield. A new Genus of Black Sheep, maybe. I haven’t gotten close enough to investigate personally, as this wild animal, one that no mere Scrantonian could ever cage, might try to beat the shit out of me, its signature predatory move. When threatened on all sides, from sign locations to other candidates moving in on its territory, this creature will lash out in violent and terrible ways.

Caution is advised.

Therefore, we offer these suggestions to those who may encounter this new menace:

1) If you are one of the unfortunate souls to find a Haggerty sign in your yard even though you didn’t ask, be wary. He’s marking his territory. It’s advised that you simply throw the sign out, rather than call the campaign. He may yell and argue and deny and blame you.

2) If you see Haggerty campaigning in your neighborhood, lock all your doors, particularly if you are friendly with one of his opponents. He may threaten to beat the shit out of you, particularly if you are within five to ten years of his age. People 45 and older will merely get threatened with violence.

3) In the unfortunate event that Haggerty does confront you, play dead. This is the only way to survive in this Safari known as the 112th Legislative District.

This concludes the NEPArtisan Survival Guide.

Yesterday, I sat down with Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty to talk about his candidacy in the State Senate race in the 22nd. I opened up by asking him what his top priority was (I’m sick of talking about per diems, honestly – there are bigger problems in this state).

His focus? Jobs. He pointed to his record of creating thousands of jobs in the city over his tenure as Mayor. Critics of the Mayor often say that we’ve lost just as many, so I pointed that out and he responded that Scranton has been ranked the Best City in PA, Top 10 in Real Estate and said, “The truth is, it’s better than it was before I got into office, even my harshest critics will agree.”

Doherty highlighted one problem with the Legislature that gets in the way of important issues like job creation: the Legislature is too focused on itself and not focused on the state. I can buy that, given all the endless corruption cases and rhetoric about per diems. Seriously, there are much bigger fish to fry out there.

Given that I teach, I asked about the PSERS problem and the imminent tax increases that will come if the state doesn’t act on the coming pension crisis. The Mayor offered an idea I hadn’t heard yet: float a bond to close the gap. That may be less painful in the short term, and long term, for that matter, as it’ll spread the debt out over time. I’m open to ideas. I don’t want to kill pensioners or taxpayers. I’m both.

The Mayor has had a contentious relationship with the police and fire unions in Scranton, so I brought this issue up as well, as he will inevitably be dealing now with the Pennsylvania State Police. In his tenure, he built the city’s first Police headquarters, invested in training and equipment all of which has led to a very low murder rate. Wilkes-Barre had 10 last year to Scranton’s 1. He attributed this to the excellent work of the police force and saturation patrols which, he said, discourage criminals from even coming here.

He’s also in favor of taxing municipalities which use the PSP as their police force. This will help fund a new class of Troopers (which hasn’t happened in years – they are currently understaffed) and it’ll encourage regionalization.

On social issues, he said he’s grown more liberal over time. He’s pro-choice and believes that gay marriage is an issue of equality and should be legal.
With the State Democratic Party having endorsed Single Payer Health Care as a platform issue, I brought it up. The Mayor said Health Care is a right, but acknowledged Single Payer would be hard to implement. What we can do, he said, is improve nutrition in schools and possibly teach nutrition in health classes.

In Marcellus Shale, he described just how… ugly drilling looks. Five eighty-foot tall drills next to a huge water fracking farm, plus truck traffic and water re-routing really destroys the land. Not to mention the whole chemicals in the ground thing. Doherty said a severance tax should be used to create a reserve fund for long term damage and to fix immediate damage done to roads and property. The science is there to protect the environment, he said, it’s just that regulation isn’t what it needs to be.

Doherty closed by saying he’s the right candidate for the job because of two things: he’s running on his record of turning around the city, and, secondly, he’s got passion. From the Med School, to Nay Aug, to low crime rates, the city is better.

All in all the meeting was pretty solid! That’s my report, enjoy! The rest of the candidates will trickle in!

Republicans hated health care. Why? Well, those poor people deserve to be poor and if they can’t find work it’s their own fault for being uneducated and if they’re uneducated it’s their own fault for being poor and living in an area where education is poor and if they’re living in an area where education is poor it’s their own fault for not moving out to a better area, like the suburbs where everybody is rich and white.

Republicans, now, hate financial reform. Why? Well, those rich people and those banks deserve total laissez faire capitalism because the free market will take care of everything due to [insert vague assurances about capitalism here] and the unfettered market is good for business which is good for people and we all love people now, don’t we? Oh, and if there are problems business will beg the government to bail them out and the government will humbly, with full Republican support, oblige.

The equation, really, is this: (X – Y) + Z = The Republican Party, whereas X = Hatred for America, Y = the Wealthy, and Z = the poor and ignorant who vote for Republicans despite the Republican Party routinely voting to make their lives worse.

How do I know this?

Yesterday, the Republican Party voted, in lockstep, against OPENING DEBATE on financial and regulatory reform. With their 40 vote majority, they defeated a chance to rein in Wall Street. The vote was 57-41. Yup. Majority doesn’t rule in America. Forty Republican Wall Street lapdogs do.
What would a GOP utopia look like?

Harrisburg — The state’s two largest newspapers endorsed Sen. Arlen Specter for re-election today.

In their endorsement editorial today The Post-Gazette called Specter the stronger Democratic candidate in the fall and praised him for “his knowledge of the state’s needs, his ability to command respect on Capitol Hill” and said “his voice for the brand of civil discourse that is too rare in America today have few rivals.”

In endorsing Specter The Inquirer said “when you look at the sum of his career and what it has meant to Pennsylvania, you have to conclude he’s a good choice for Democrats.”

The Inquirer called Specter “a highly influential lawmaker and appropriator on behalf of Pennsylvanians. He is also one of those rare congressmen who contribute both on the national and international stages. His expertise on the Middle East, federal law enforcement, the judiciary, and health-care research has provided presidents of both parties with valuable counsel.”

The Inquirer concluded: “But Specter is a senator for the ages. He is still a vital player and a worthy choice for Democrats.”

And the Post-Gazette summed up the Democratic Primary this way: “While Joe Sestak tries to portray himself as the genuine article, Arlen Specter is the real deal — with a demonstrated record of service for Pennsylvania. He’d be the stronger candidate for Democrats in the fall, and he has the Post-Gazette endorsement.”

I’ve been going back and forth with Steve Albert over at Not Cease From Exploration regarding the issue of State Stores.

Scroll down to see the original post.  As for this post, Steve’s comments are in Bold, mine are Italicized.

Service: Since I don’t drink, I don’t go into State Stores very often, but the once or twice a year when I do I don’t find the service to be anywhere near great. In fact, it’s no better than some of the worst private sector stores. The last time I was at a State Store I -

a) Couldn’t find the wine I was looking for (a brand I found before at that store)
b) Couldn’t find someone to help me find the wine
c) Stood waiting at the checkout until a clerk finally decided to come out from the back to help me.

While I can’t speak to a single experience, I’ve never had a problem like this.  I can also say that the big state stores employ wine experts and I’ve talked to these people and had great success.  I can guarantee the number of “wine experts” in a privatized world will decline immensely.

Profit: The stores do generate a profit. That aside, why run a business that sells a product if it isn’t to make a profit? Since the State is abysmal at managing most things, how do we know that the profit being generated really represents the potential of the business? What’s more, since the State Stores run as a monopoly, what’s to stop them from over-pricing their goods?

The state stores aren’t running to make a profit, they are running to provide a service.  They provide that service at a profit, thankfully.  They aren’t there to exploit consumers for the benefit of select individuals.  Any benefit belongs to the state, aka the people.  And if we are going to compare state government to the business world, need I remind you that business has handled its responsibility to the global economy pretty abysmally?  They have a worse track record and more ability to screw up and/or take advantage than government.  At least there are checks and balances in the latter (businesses can skirt regulation and regulators through lobbying or blatant scams like credit default swaps, for example).  There is nothing to stop them from overpricing, except that they don’t exist to make money.  They routinely negotiate with winesellers, for example, to buy in bulk for the entire state, thereby reducing prices.

Big People/Big Money: By my estimation, the state absolutely represents big money. The state has readily available capital, can borrow at very good rates and has the ability to exclude competitors from the market. That’s the kind of stuff that is rightfully called into question when it’s done by the private sector. Why give the State a pass?

A pass on being able to run the state stores successfully?  I don’t like giving anybody a pass, but the state being able to use its resources to run the state stores doesn’t seem like a problem to me.

Shutting Out The Little Guy: Wait, since the State dictates that only the State can sell booze, isn’t the State the one who is shutting out the little guy? What about all those small convenience stores that now sell beer…many aren’t run by big money interests. Why should they be allowed to sell beer but not wine or spirits?

Point taken, the state is shutting out competitors.  I argue, though, that it’s for the better.  That said, if the state stores get sold, you’ll see them sold in bulk to chains.  Big business would have more resources, and interest, to purchase a huge, newly available market, will they not?  Most definitely, compared to those little convenience stores.

Who Owns The Stores: The people own the stores? When was the last time that you were given the opportunity to vote on the leadership of the State Stores? When was the last time you were asked to approve the auditors for the State Stores? I just voted for board members for my employer, where I own some stock. How come I don’t have a similar opportunity for the State Stores? Want to know who actually owns the State Stores? It’s not the taxpayers, it’s the bureaucrats in state government who do…individuals who are accountable to no one. Hell, be honest…do you even know who the head State Store person is in Pennsylvania? In the absence of Googling it, I have no clue myself.

This is representative democracy meets socialism.  The government, which we elect, administers the state stores.  I wouldn’t actually compare stock in a company to voting for a government, as your income influences the amount of influence you can buy.  While that’s sadly the case with America in practice, it’s not legally on the books, as it is with corporations.   While I don’t know the name of the head of the LCB off the top of my head, do you know the name of the 9 school board members representing you?  Do you know the name of every CEO and CFO of every company you have stock in?  Or every company each mutual fund you own invests in?  Doubtful. And if you do, you’re a rarity.  Not knowing the name of the of the guy in charge isn’t an argument against its existence.  Hell, if that were the case, I wish I never knew George Bush was president for most of the last decade.

I submit that the State Stores aren’t a good example of socialism at work. If you want an example of something like that which actually works, review the Japanese Postal Service, which is also one of the largest insurance companies on the planet. No, the State Stores are just a monopoly, plain an simple. Making matters worse, they are a silly monopoly governed by silly rules. Why do I say “silly”? Simple: Maybe someone can explain to me why it’s okay to buy Bud Light at Convenient on Pittston Avenue, but Thunderbird can only be bought from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. When last I checked, both can get you plastered, although Thunderbird can also be used to power a gas leaf blower in a pinch as well.

I’ll tell you what, how about this… why not legalize the ownership and operation of alternate liquor stores.  Keep the state stores state-owned and just allow competitors.  Obviously they would be subject to liquor law and such.  Would you accept state stores under those conditions?

Given the explosive nature of this weekend’s physical threatening of one candidate by another, I wanted to get the full story, so I spoke to John Keeler and I have the rundown for you.

Back in January, before Keeler’s retirement from the banking world, Kevin Haggerty sat down with him over a meal and encouraged him to run for State Representative. Read into this what you will (I read that Haggerty wanted Keeler in to cut Lesh’s totals in South Side). This led Keeler to think that the two were on friendly terms. They’d spoken on the phone before and have had cordial relations.

So, when Keeler saw Haggerty at the opening of the Dunmore Little League, he said to Haggerty “some stunt” in reference to the recently canceled Marywood debate. Twice now, Kevin has set up debates only to have them canceled only to have an event outside the debate location in which he touts himself. I never really put that together until Keeler pointed it out. But Keeler’s tone, according to him, was one of one friend busting another. Even if it weren’t, the response he got was not called for.

Haggerty, surrounded by his entourage, told Keeler, multiple times to get out of Dunmore, that it was his town. Haggerty called him an “asshole”, a “loser”, and a “liar” among other things. One of Haggerty’s supporters told him that this wasn’t the time or the place. Haggerty began to leave, then turned and yelled back to Keeler that “If you were twenty years younger, I’d take you in front of everybody and beat the shit out of you.”

Keeler said he was totally “stunned” and that he “never expected somebody running for state representative to act like that.”

In an amusing retort, Keeler pointed out that he doesn’t “need a passport to go from Scranton to Dunmore.”

I asked Keeler what he thought of the Haggerty campaign’s reponse, mainly Haggerty’s comment that it was in fact HAGGERTY who was harassed and intimidated. Keeler responded that Haggerty “is going to put his spin on it, but what happened, happened.” As for intimidation, Keeler pointed out that he was alone and Haggerty, screaming and yelling and threatening, was surrounded by his friends. Good point.

I wonder if this means Haggerty will beat the shit out of me if he sees me? I might fit his age requirements.

Potential fisticuffs aside, Keeler rounded out the conversation by saying he wished this hadn’t happened and that he would prefer to talk about issues, specifically citing that Haggerty wants to raise the sales tax to 7 or 8 percent, which, Keeler said, would be a disaster.

On this issue of legislative pay, believe it or not, I’m 50/50. The pay that Pennsylvania’s legislators get is pretty exhorbitant – almost $80,000 to start, not to mention per diems, and an endless host of perks.

So why wouldn’t I just be totally for cutting their salaries?

Well, honestly, I think that if salaries are cut, then only people who can afford to run will run. The system already makes it hard for poor and middle income people to run for office. In the 112th, for example, my candidate, Bob Lesh, is a blue collar worker who doesn’t have time to campaign because he needs to work overtime just to get by. Kevin Haggerty is, of course, a Haggerty and had 14K in the bank as of the end of 2009 and Ken Smith is a restauranteur who makes over $80,000 per year and, since he doesn’t pay taxes or his loans, has even more money at his disposal. My point is that it’s hard enough to get the average guy in there, and I’m afraid that cutting salaries of legislators will make it higher.

That said, the cost of the Legislature does need to be reduced. Cutting allowances for staff and office and vehicle expenses may help. I’m not actually even sure how I feel about making the legislature part time. I like knowing my Representative’s job is to represent me all the time, not just some of the time.

So, I’m not sure where I stand on this one. Most people just hear “politicians are getting good salaries” and get all up in arms. I don’t think it’s quite so simple.

Thoughts?

Oh, and while I’m on the subject, it seems like every editorial and article in the times compares government to the (in the mind of the Times owners) much superior private sector. So, my question is, dear Scranton Times, if the private sector jumped off a bridge, should the government do it, too? Since, you know, last I checked, the private sector did jump off a bridge, then the government dredged the damn river to fish out its body, then spent billions upon billions bringing it back to life only to have the private sector spit in its face.

Just saying.