Meehan announces $42K federal grant for Longwood Fire Co.

Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-7) announced Tuesday that Longwood Fire Company earned a $42,286 federal grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The grant will support the fire company’s acquisition of lifesaving rescue equipment. “The AFG program provides essential funding for equipment and safety programs for fire departments across...

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...

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...

Meehan introduces anti-hazing bill

US. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7) WASHINGTON – Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-Oh.) introduced the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act, bipartisan legislation that takes on the challenge of hazing on our college campuses by requiring incidents of hazing to be reported as part of a college’s annual crime report. The University of Maine conducted the...

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...

Is a ‘cross-fire hurricane’ bearing down on the 6th District?

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times “I was born in a cross-fire hurricane And I howled at the morning driving rain But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas But it’s all right. I’m Jumpin’ Jack Flash It’s a gas, gas, gas” — The Rolling Stones, Jumpin’ Jack Flash. It’s pretty clear that politics over the next 18 or so months will be anything but calm, as...

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...

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...

The AHCA: the perfect bill…to hate

Deeply flawed health-care bill will raise taxes, unemploy local Congress members By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Having read through the new Republican replacement for the Affordable Care Act, the — the American Health Care Act — I’m left with just one thought: I guess we’re going to find out how Lloyd Smucker, Pat Meehan and Ryan Costello fare in the private sector if this mess somehow passes...

Endorsements: Costello, Hartman & Meehan

Arguably, this is the most acrimonious campaign season in recent history, making it complicated to sort the fact from fiction and figure out who to support in this year’s local Congressional races. We feel your pain. Our email boxes are constantly filled with breathless pronouncements with whatever counts for talking points in each of these races from both the campaigns, parties and third party groups...