It's unclear how much money the state wasted in publicizing this event, photographing and even filming this long-time public official as he delivered other people's donations. It's really nothing more than an attempt to make himself look good at other people's expense.
Samuelson has been in office now since 1999. That's been his entire career. Twenty years of delivering other people's donated diapers. I am unaware of anything else he has accomplished other than giving speeches to which no one pays attention.
Samuelson is apparently very aware that diapers need to be changed often. As we all know, so do politicians.
34 comments:
Do you have any actual policy problems with him? Publicizing this seems like it probably didn't cost much if anything (what they emailed some newspapers? it doesn't seem to be distributed widely, not even on his twitter feed), and Steve Samuelson is at tons of community events that are never reported on. When I was a scout, he would regularly come to talk to my troop about civics and what it means to be a good citizen, and I've also seen him participating in the Crop Walk. It seems like there is a piece missing to this story.
He also seems to have taken a lead role recently in pushing for redistricting reform measures, and this past week led an effort to make rules changes limiting the power of majority leadership to kill bills that make it through committee. That seems worthwhile to me. There are people much more worthy of your griping.
Nice hit piece from a guy who defends drunk wife strangler reps. You are an exquisite judge of character. Your lack of self awareness is stunning and humorous at the same time.
1:57, lead role? There was no redistricting reform and it would never have happened but for the Supreme Court. He goes to community events? So what? He is a legislator, not a community ambassador. He has done nothing in office and this publicity stunt was about him more than actually helping people. Three news releases? Video? He has been in office 18 years and has nothing to show for it. He needs to go.
I am tired of guys who make this a career.
Our local state rep holds his annual shredder events each year. Always strategically planned right before elections. They are of course paid for by taxpayer dollars. It's not an insignificant expense.
Observing it is always interesting. The state rep has his staff (no doubt on comp time or some paid arrangement) do the heavy lifting. For some reason the local township provides (overtime or comp time) public workers to help. The State Rep sets up a little tent at the front of the line and basically campaigns for 4 hours.
Then at the end of the day, after many hours of hard work is done... he finally meanders over to where the heavy lifting/work actually happens and then carries one or two boxes out of an old lady's trunk while he has his staff snap photos and videos. It's comical. Entire day doesn't lift a finger. Then at the very end has the audacity to pretend to work for a photo op.
"He has been in office 18 years and has nothing to show for it."
"I am tired of guys who make this a career."
Hi Bernie. Love your blog. Please edit the headline to read Bob Freeman. I'm sure yours was an honest mistake. Some folks are convinced Bob passed several years ago. I checked his website, just now, and he's still alive, apparently. I think he's in his 106th year in office. Good stuff. Thanks.
I will agree with you that Steve is no ball of fire when it comes to flare and charisma but are those the main criteria we should use to judge the people who represent us? Steve and a few other long term representatives like Bob Freeman are intelligent, low key individuals who run very helpful constituent service offices and generally vote for policies that I support. It would be nice to have term limits and legislative turnover but I can't blame Steve for his longevity when no Democrats run against him in the primaries and the Republicans who have run, or might try to run, are ideologically out of step with my views. Steve may not be the most dynamic actor out there but I will continue to vote for him until someone better comes along. Given the character of many of the new breed of flamboyant ideological Democrats who have more recently been elected to local and county council seats and the recent trend of many local Republicans to follow Tea Party style populism, I don't see someone clearly better than Steve running any time soon.
Steve is one of the most honest, ethical, well informed politicians this Valley has ever had. The fact that he is low-key and flies below the radar on a lot of things does not mean he is ineffective, especially given that his job is to represent constituents, not make headlines. Also note, his whole career (I believe) has been as a minority party representative, which de facto ties his hands. Take a look at the bills he co-sponsors. He is also minority chair of the House Committee on Aging. There are much better targets for your vitriol than Steve Samuelson, Bernie.
Absent a major scandal, likeable reps can stay forever with good constituent relations and by showing up to every good cause, while failing to accomplish much on key issues. Voters think their own rep isn't the problem -- it's all the others -- and they keep re-electing incumbents. I don't know anything about Steve Samuelson but I've seen this happen elsewhere, and I've seen data showing that it happens at the federal level too. I sometimes wonder if this is a bug in Democracy.
I also wonder if 1:57 is Samuelson or someone closely connected to him.
A future candidate must have paid Bernie to scorn an honest individual.
Republicans hold their conceal carry seminars right before the election and tell folks how they can carry in our parks. Meanwhile, these same rules do not apply in their per diem capitol in Harrisburg. We know the bumper stickers are free but I wonder how much those glossy mailers cost the taxpayers? Oh...dont forget to take a campaign sign.
i'll run against him
Tara
Good job Bernie, much kike Freeman, Samuelson is a perennial backbencher. You got slammed by his employees. He has made a great practice of giving jobs to insider relatives. Wille Reynolds is one of his office alumni. You are right other than photo ops the guy ha accomplished nothing. Lately he is at all kinds of events since he must be getting worried. For years the guy just did photo ops. If people like him were ever in the majority he would shit himself, since he has no original ideas. It is easy to be in the minority and just rail about things you know will never happen.
He is the standard Bethlehem pl. They don't really think they just push the same ballot buttons over an over again. Like Bryan Callahan. Beneath the quaint Moravian Star, they will do a Tonya Harding kneecap on anyone they think will threatened the established order of God.
New people in the form of Negron and Van Wirt are shaking the Bethlehem patrician tree and people like ole Samuelson are nervous.
He is like many others are an advertisement for term limits. They stake out a seat and never leave. If you try to run against them in a primary you are told you will get no support, no money and have the other power players in Bethlehem have their sheep go against you.
Good piece Bernie. There are many others like him.
Did the public servants running that fine establishment make sure there favored clients and employees get first dibs on these much needed gifts that seem not to make it to there intended destination?
I'll run against him. I am smarter and a certified therapist!
Lori Hefner
Many of you are correct, Steve is great at constituent services. Not so good at getting anything done or passed. Yes he is in the minority but so is Boscola and she gets things done. Steve lacks the personality to get any votes from the opposition for anything. It's time to move on!
Samuelson isn't afraid of anyone, especially Negron or Van Wirt. Negron is uninformed and Van Wirt, after only 3 years of living here, thinks she knows everything, wants to tell everyone in Bethlehem how Bethlehem should be, wants to tell the Mayor, Council, Planning and Zoning what to do and will repeat over and over her resume to you in a attempt impress you. With Negron and Van Wirt the sky is constantly falling!
SS is a POS
Anon 2:19---you slam Reynolds for working for him, but praise Olga Negron in your comments. I guess Olga Negron's time in Samuelson's office was so short it did not count. That woman changes jobs like Bernie changes his underpants...annually. Olga also worked for Samuelson.
This whole thing reeks like a bad hit piece. Which Morganelli is thinking of challenging him next year?
Steve provides unmatched constituent service. He is a real public servant and a decent man. Calling him out for charity is BS.
Anon 3:30 Negron changes jobs yearly? Some didn't even last that long? She is, how do I say this politely, incompetent!
Arts Quest couldn't get her out the door fast enough!
Good job Bernie. You upset the Bethlehem snobbery that means you hit a truthful nerve.
These people love controlling "Their" community for their interests. Sadly everyone else is along for the ride.
Samuelson can't afford to lose this job what else would he do. He is usually hiding until he hears of a possible challenger and then he is out there.
Good Job!
11:14, I'm not Samuelson and don't work for him or even know him personally, I'm just one of his voters.
-1:57
Bernie, were you not paying attention to his push for a constitutional amendment on redistricting (HB722)? Blocked by republicans who prefer being able to gerrymander their districts every step of the way, unfortunately. It would have been a permanent fix, as opposed to the court drawn districts, which will only last a few years until the next census numbers are in.
A legislator is a community ambassador. His job is to represent his district in the state legislator. But my point was that he doesn't just do things for photo ops, he does great stuff in the community all the time with no press coverage.
-1:57
Big whoop.
Thanks , but no thanks.
A back bencher drinking from the public trough for life. Note how they attack the new people trying to save Bethlehem. He should get a challenger.
Thanks for not making this about me, Bernie. Whew! You're a friend, indeed.
Never interacted with Samuelson. But every state rep I'm familiar with its the professional staff that provides constituent services. They do the hard. They deserve the compliments. The show ponies only show up if there are cameras or opportunity to campaign. Republicans and Democrats, it truly is the worse legislative body in the nation. And the size should be cut in half.
"Never interacted with Samuelson"
Then you should not comment on his level of constituent service. He is not like every other State Rep you know. He gets personally involved in constituent service matters.
Term Limits.
@8:33, then if that's the case every state rep has a staff to provide that service. Do we elect state reps to be glorified bureaucrats?
No, we elect them to SOLVE PROBLEMS. Be in session (more than the pathetic 40 some days a year they are now) Make laws. Pass legislation.
In PA our legislature budgets millions of dollars to support district offices and staff to provide the function of constituent services. Also at its core "constituent services" is needed in PA at such a great expense BECAUSE our state government is not at all customer friendly, often confusing and has many levels of waste and redundancy.
So, we need these full time professionals to guide seniors, vets etc through relatively simple things. Wouldn't state rep time be more productive not gauranteeing a full time career by positioning themselves to provide "great constituent service" and simply make our state government more streamlined, less confusing and more user friendly?
I'm not arguing for no constituent services. Just less of a need for it by actually fixing more problems.
Steve is a true gentleman, provides tremendous constituent services and is actively engaged on a daily basis with this community. He is as honest as they come. I am proud to have him as my representative. I would also agree that he is by no means a mover and shaker in Harrisburg but that’s because he doesn’t play the game. All things being equal I’ll take Steve Samuelson every day of the week.
As a caregiver to a family member in diapers, I say THANK YOU STEVE SAMUELSON for this outreach project. Bernie, poking fun at people in diapers is quite nasty. I realize you are trying to tear down Steve, but in the meantime you are making fun of a diaper issue. Until you have had to wear one or put one on someone..then shame on you, Bernie! Go have another drink!
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