PA Supreme Court throws out Congressional district maps
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court
If you felt a certain fondness for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has bad news for you: after a 4-3 ruling by the court Monday, it’s gone — and will be replaced by a newly shaped district by mid-February.
A majority of the justices ruled that the 2011 redistricting “clearly, plainly and...
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. his...
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 of...
George withdraws from 16th District race
John George
The crowded field to take on freshman Congressman Lloyd Smucker got a little less crowded Wednesday after John George announced he would withdraw from the race, saying he didn’t think he would be able to mount a competitive race.
“I have informed the Democratic Committee that I am suspending my campaign for Congress in the 16th District for 2018,” george said in a statement,...
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 the...
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 — and...
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...
Letter: Meehan isn’t representing our values on environment
To The Editor,
I am a constituent in Pennsylvania’s District 7, and Pat Meehan is my congressional representative. I am very concerned that Meehan isn’t representing my values, particularly when it comes to his voting record on the environment. So, I helped create and signed this open letter to Meehan about the environment. We will be delivering this letter to his office in person. I encourage...
