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...
GOP Congressman laud tax bill, Democrats decry ‘gift’ for wealthy, donors
The U.S. Senate last night passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — a sweeping revision of U.S. Tax code, that depending on who is talking is either a spark for job and wage growth or a massive, deficit busting giveaway to the rich, political donors and corporate America.
The House voted Tuesday to approve the package, but will have to revote Wednesday because of three provisions in the original bill that...
Letter: Faults GOP officials for failing to call out racist groups
To The Editor,
The silence has been deafening.
We are now at the events of Charlottesville + 1 month. I am represented by 4 Republicans – Representative Barrar and Senator Killion at the state level, and Congressman Smucker and Senator Toomey at the federal level.
I get regular e-mail newsletters from all. Only one, Senator Toomey, has spoken out about Charlottesville. It took him 11 days to...
Costello, Smucker appear to buck Trump, back bipartisan healthcare plan
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Two local congressman — Lloyd Smucker and Ryan Costello — say a moderate, bipartisan group of House members they belong to, the Problem Solvers Caucus, have reached an agreement on a package of fixes for the Affordable Care Act, a package that could provide a framework for a true bipartisan fix for the healthcare marketplace.
After the U.S. Senate rejected a series...
Hartman announces new run for the 16th in 2018
Christina Hartman
LANCASTER — After surprising much of the local political world with both her ability to raise funds and attract voter support in a heavily Republican Congressional district in 2016, Christina Hartman announced Tuesday she would again seek the Democratic nomination for the seat in 2018.
Hartman lost a competitive race against current freshman U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker in the 16th District.
...
Unintended consequences and Newton’s Third Law
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
While Democrats wept over special election results this week, U.S. Senate Republicans — in secret — put together their version of the health care reform, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which apart from some minor details, appears to be a lot like the house health care plan, the American Health Care Act: it cuts benefits for the poor, could lead to big rate...
It is time to try to dial back the anger
We’re deeply thankful that Costello, Meehan and Smucker are OK after DC shooting
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6) should have been at his usual perch, at shortstop, next to Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), Wednesday morning, when a lone gunman opened fire on Republican congressman and staffers Wednesday morning — but he missed his ride by a couple of minutes.
The congressmen...
Costello, Meehan, Casey rip Trump decision on Paris Agreement
Three of Chester County’s federal elected officials, U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6), U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan (R-7) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D) took strong issue with President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to withdraw from the Paris Agreement to limit carbon emissions.
The county’s other two elected officials — U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-16) and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey appear...
Comey firing raises the stakes for 2018 elections
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Just when the healthcare mess seemed ready to drown our local Congressvictims in a Jonestown Flood like deluge, President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, Tuesday, swooped in and saved them by changing the subject.
And by saving them, I mean sparing them from a looming electoral firing squad by hitting them with a flaming asteroid.
While Pennsylvania’s...
The final straw
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Maybe it was when the U.S. House Representatives voted Thursday to blow up the increasingly popular Affordable Health Act and replace it with a non-vetted, closely-held replacement supported by less than 20 percent of voters (the cheering and beer party at the White House didn’t help, either).
Or maybe it was when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents...
