Pennsylvania – Page 56 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Still Aiming for a State Rifle

It would seem that Sen. Pat Browne is still hoping to get the Pennsylvania Long Rifle designated as the official state firearm. It’s not clear on how this is an update on the bill which was actually dropped last year.

Rodentgate Continues

For those that don’t follow the gory details (and gory is highly appropriate in this case) of Pennsylvania Capitol happenings, it looks like the Capitol Cafeteria has failed yet another health inspection. It was originally closed back in December due to numerous rodent droppings, among other things. The Capitol was re-opened by none other than our own governor, who wanted to show the people of the Commonwealth that rodent crap never killed anyone.

Capitol Ideas asks why Aramark still has the contract. That’s a good question. Just remember folks, these are the same types of people who want to make health care decisions for all of us too.

UPDATE: Now this explains why the Aramark Contract wasn’t cancelled:

But to Rendell, who broughtÂ Philadelphia-based Aramark in as the food vendor six years ago, this visit was his way of giving an all-clear to the thousands in theÂ Capitol workforce that theÂ once-popular restaurant is clean and safe again. “I haveÂ 100 percent confidence that this is as clean a restaurant now as any facility in the state, and I have no problem eating here,” Rendell said as heÂ dug in, joined by Cathleen McCormick, hisÂ top capital projects aide.

Aramark is a big Philadelphia based employer. Patronage is a bitch. This is what you get, people of Pennsylvania, for electing a Philadelphia Mayor as Governor. Never again. Thankfully Ed is one rat who’s droppings we won’t have see around Harrisburg after this year.

Constables Not the do Nothing Job Many Assume

There’s been speculation among Pennsylvania gun nuts that getting yourself elected Constable, which isn’t hard in a lot of areas, was a shortcut to being able to own Title II firearms (machine guns, etc), and a quick ticket to a nationwide carry permit. This always hinges on the belief that being a Constable is a do nothing job. But it turns out it’s not.

Improvements in LTC System

Looks like the state is looking to make some improvements in the License to Carry application process, so make it more standardized and quicker. This looks overall positive to me. Â We need more standardization. As it stands, our Sheriffs often like to use processes for application that are out of line with general practice in the state. For instance, Montgomery County gives you a “police card” to take to your local PD and get them to sign off on the application. They will do same day issue, but the process isn’t nearly well defined enough under state law, and more standardization I think can only be a positive thing.

Losing Our A+ Rated Speaker?

It looks like Pennsylvanians are losing the NRA-PVF A+ rated Speaker of the House with Rep. Keith McCall’s anticipated retirement.

This makes the state elections much more important this year.

The 8th District Circus Candidate Forum

Last night, we gave up a couple of hours to civic duty in the name of being educated voters. The local Tea Party organization, Kitchen Table Patriots, did an absolutely swell job at pulling together a great event that served as a fantastic way to weed out the serious candidates from the not-so-serious candidates. Just about everyone in attendance – and they filled a large school auditorium – could walk away feeling like they had a choice of key candidates.

But that’s not very fun to report, so in comes the snark. And some interesting observations about Patrick Murphy via his sleazy staffers who kept violating the rules to disrupt those around them.

General Observations
These kinds of events are very hard on candidates, especially if they don’t have any formal public speaking experience or haven’t been trained to really rally an audience. While my criticism will mostly be snark, it also pales in comparison to what Patrick Murphy’s deceitful little followers will say. Not to mention, if some of the candidates had more confidence, they could have better sold their most controversial plans. I have two very specific examples of this winning over audience members with one candidate and costing support to another.

The moderator, Steve Highsmith, did a fantastic job at keeping the event running smoothly. He was friendly and engaging without getting boring and monotonous with the same questions for each candidate. Since there were 9 candidates each getting 12 minutes, that was serious work.

There were some crappy questions. Like the “Yes or No: We should weaken Roe v. Wade.” What does that even mean? You’re talking about one of the most hotly debated legal questions of our time, it’s hardly a yes or no answer. They also asked candidates to take an ATR-esque pledge on taxes that all save one agreed to. I will say now that there were no questions or remarks about the Second Amendment.

One big surprise of the evening was a question about medical marijuana. They asked it in the context of 10th amendment, and whether or not candidates agreed with President Obama’s executive order to not go after those growing & distributing medical marijuana in states that have legalized it. Half of the candidates agreed! Holy cow! The old woman in front of me was in great distress every time someone agreed, so I took extra joy in each answer. It was wrong, but I laughed inside each time she shook her head disapprovingly. I was tempted to say something controversial involving drugs, alcohol, and sex in front of her for kicks, but I figured after the crazy controversy of medical marijuana, her heart could probably only stand so much… Continue reading “The 8th District ~~Circus~~ Candidate Forum”

Gerlach Out, Then in, Then Out, Then In

Rep. Jim Gerlach announced last year that he would give up the 6th district Congressional seat to run for something. First it was going to be challenging Pat Toomey for the Senate nomination. Then it wasn’t. Next, Gerlach announced he’d run for Governor and challenge Attorney General Tom Corbett for the GOP nomination. Yesterday, he changed his mind about that, too.

This morning, John Micek gave hints that there may have been an important timing factor beyond just the low fundraising numbers (he raised only $1 million, not enough to run a statewide campaign):

Gerlach’s exit came just about 48 hours before central Pennsylvania Republicans are to meet in Harrisburg for a regional endorsement meeting. Corbett locked up the endorsement of his home turf southwestern caucus earlier in the week.

These regional meetings are usually the first tests of a campaign’s mettle in advance of the party endorsement meetings in February.

Technically, State Rep. Sam Rohrer is still in the race. He’s considered the underdog, especially against a man who has already won statewide office even in a very anti-Republican year. (Also, I’ve already mentioned that there’s not much historical precedent to making the leap from State Representative to Governor in Pennsylvania.) If he isn’t pulling off one hell of a surprise in advance of party meetings, then hopefully he’ll shift back to local campaign mode soon. We can’t afford to take losses at the State House.

Going back to Gerlach, he is expected to announce within the hour that he’s no longer giving up his Congressional seat. I can’t imagine that this will go over well with rising Republicans who already stepped up and put together campaigns to make sure his seat didn’t go to Democrats. Hopefully, Gerlach has plans to make up for his indecision of the last year.

Pennsylvania Leaders Involved in McDonald

Over at PAGunRights.com, I take a look at the leaders in Pennsylvania who stepped up to sign on to at least one brief in favor of the petitioners. You can read excerpts from all of the relevant briefs over there, but here are the names of those who deserve our thanks for being proactive on the issue:

It would have been nice if more Pennsylvania lawmakers had stepped up to be on the right side of history in this case. As I understand it, there were time constraints in some states.

Maybe we should use this against lawmakers anyway. As gun owners we could tell them that since most of them did not help out on McDonald, they could make it up to us by passing Castle Doctrine. :)

Gerlach Wants to Abolish Turnpike Commission

Capitol Ideas reports. I am in favor of getting rid of this obsolete patronage kingdom, and kudos to the Capitol Ideas commenter who said “But then how would we recycle old legislators and political cronies who can’t find work elsewhere?”

But, I am also remembering that PennDOT complained mightily when the PA Turnpike Commission decided to make the Turnpike 65 mph along its entire length, in violation of PennDOT’s speed limit guidelines in some areas. I would want to ensure, in turning the Turnpike over to PennDOT, that they must keep it 65MPH along the entire length, and not switch it back to 55MPH in the portions of the turnpike that traverse populated areas. Â As a daily commuter on the Turnpike, this is something I want to see in the bill.

Law & Order: Pennsylvania 2010

It would seem that prosecutors are the big theme of Pennsylvania GOP races in 2010:

It’s interesting to hear that ex-U.S. Atty Tom Marino (R) is again considering a run against Rep. Chris Carney (D-PA). Besides the fact that he’d be a top-rate challenger to Carney (the GOP has yet to find any high-profile takers), he’d also be the third Bush-era U.S. Atty to consider a Cong. bid in PA this cycle.

Pat Meehan (R), who had been a GOV candidate, dropped out of that race earlier this year and opted to run for Rep. Joe Sestak’s (D) open seat. Meanwhile, Mary Beth Buchanan (R) was reported to have been considering a bid against Rep. Jason Altmire (D), but that talk has died down as of late. …

But all of these candidates would be formidable challengers, and with AG Tom Corbett (R) the early leading GOP GOV contender, ’10 could be a very law-and-order contest up-and-down the ballot in PA.

I think we both fall on the side of Jason Altmire in the 4th. He has consistently been willing to stand up to Pelosi, unlike the fake Blue Dog in our district. (Patrick Murphy has supported every big spending bill & amendment he could find since he’s been in office, yet he still claims he’s a moderate.) Plus, Buchanan has a less-than-stellar reputation for going after doctors when treating patients with chronic pain. I don’t want a law-and-order type whose view of upping her conviction record is just to make more crimes.

A solid challenge to Carney would be interesting. He’s not horrible and he’s not great as a so-called Blue Dog. Since he hasn’t been completely consist on the gun issue, I’d be fine in seeing him go. (I wouldn’t call him inconsistent as far as unaware, at least based on my own observations. For his district, unaware isn’t good enough.)