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,...
Forget the fact-finding; its time to go to court
Teachers, district pitted needlessly by state’s negligence (or worse)
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Earlier this month, word got out that both the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and its teachers’ union, the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Association, both will seek fact finding on their ongoing, and apparently stalled contract negotiations.
Maybe its spending a week in the wilds...
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 Pennsylvania...
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 Hennessey...
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 background...
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 (and...
Corbett signs Ross senior care respite bill
State Rep. Chris Ross (R-158), left, and State Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-26) with Gov. Tom Corbett following the governor’s signing of a bill to license facilities for senior citizen respite care. Ross sponsored the bill and Hennessey is the chair of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee.
HARRISBURG — At a Capitol bill signing ceremony last week, Gov. Tom Corbett signed legislation...
Pileggi out as Senate Majority Leader
GOP Senate votes him out in favor of Corman
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Sen. Dominic Pileggi
Chester County will no longer have representation in the leadership of either party’s leadership in the state legislature, after a shakeup Wednesday deposed Sen. Dominic Pileggi from his post as Majority Leader of the state Senate.
Pileggi (R-9), who represents a large portion of the eastern part of...
Walker withdraws from 158th race; Ross to replace?
Cuyler Walker
Updated 7:35 a.m. 9/23 Adds comment from Chester County Democrats.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Cuyler Walker suddenly announced his withdrawal from the race for the 158th State Representative race, Monday afternoon — and it could lead to a familiar face appearing on the November ballot, nine-term State Representative Chris Ross.
Walker, a Republican, and...
