Local Government TV

Monday, September 21, 2020

Being State Rep Is a Nice Gig

Steve Samuelson, Diaper Man
If you can put up with the dreary drive along Route 78 during the few days they are actually in session, being a state rep is actually a pretty sweet gig.

There's certainly enough of them. Pennsylvania's House of Representatives comes with a whopping 203 seats. Yep, it's the largest full-time legislature in the country. Democrats have more registered voters than Republicans, but strangely, the GOP has a majority. Locally, nine state house seats are up for grabs in November.

Pennsylvania's state house is not just the largest, but third-highest paid, too.  The salary this year is $90,300. In a stroke of genius, legislators conveniently tied their salaries to the CPI so that it automatically increases every year without attracting much grumbling from the unwashed masses. In addition, our public "servants" can claim a $191 per diem, enjoy a fully paid Cadillac health insurance as well as pensions that vest in ten years. On top of all this, they can pretty much spend the donations they receive from special interests on anything they want.

Once every year or so, there'll be some scandalous article about the excessive amount of money lining their pockets, their abuse of per diems (daily allowance) and the excessive spending done by both party caucuses. A firestorm will erupt and all kinds of promises to reform will follow. But in a day or two, the public will move on to something else as shrinking newspapers no longer have the manpower for any sort of in depth investigatory journalism.

And so the abuse - I call it corruption - continues. A part-time local elected official gets more scrutiny than the guys and gals from the land of midnight payraises.    

It's easy to see why so many want to stay there forever. It beats working for a  living. 

In the meantime, the state minimum wage has been frozen at $7.35 per hour since 2009

Here are the eight state house seats up for grabs.   

District 22: - This is center city Allentown. Pete Schweyer has held the seat since 2015. He faces a write-in challenge by fellow Democrat Enid Santiago, who he defeated in the primary by a scant 55 votes.  She completed a candidate questionnaire. He did not. Schweyer's funding comes mostly from unions. Hers is grass roots. 

District 131: - You could call this the Saucon Valley district, and it is split up among three counties. Incumbent Justin Simmons is stepping down. Democrat Kevin Branco, a personal trainer, is pitted against Republican  Milou MacKenzie, mother of State Rep. Ryan MacKenzie. Branco completed a candidate questionnaire. MacKenzie did not. She had no problem raising $58,000 in a contested primary, with much of her warchest coming from her own family. 

District 132: This district is Allentown's west end, with just a touch of S Whitehall Tp. It has been represented by Michael Schlossberg since 2013. Though unopposed in the primary, he still managed to spend $48,000 of the $67,000 he raised, including $3,000 for blow-outs at McGrath's Pub and Vault 634. Frustrated by Governor Tom Wolf's shutdown of most of the state's economy, LV Grand Prix business owner Michael McCreary launched a last-minute campaign for the GOP nod, and succeeded.  How well he does in a heavily Democratic district will be answered on November 3. Schlossberg has failed to respond to a candidate questionnaire. McCreary has yet to even be listed as a candidate by Ballotpedia, and thus has no questionnaire to which to respond. 

District 133: This is the pierogi and halupki district. It extends from West Bethlehem and Fountain Hill and makes its way north through Catty and Whitehall to Coplay, where the church ladies made pierogis until Covid came. It has been held by Jeannie McNeill since 2018. She was elected after her husband, union powerhouse Danny McNeill unexpectedly passed away. McNeill has no problem raising money from trade unions, where her late iron worker husband was widely respected and admired. She raised $47,000 in the primary and spent $22,000 even though she had no opponent. She has one now. David Molony is a perennial candidate for that seat. Though affable, it's no longer possible to take his quixotic quests very seriously. He himself has raised only $250. Neither candidate responded to a candidate questionnaire.

District 135: This district includes the Northampton County portion of Bethlehem as well as a slice of Bethlehem Tp. It has been represented by Democrat Steve Samuelson since 1999. His biggest accomplishment in office has been his annual diaper drive, after which he personally delivers these poopie pants to the Salvation Army. Notoriously frugal, he has raised just $3,600 in his re-election bid. Republican Scott Hough is running on a message of "personal responsibility and less government involvement." For some reason, I think that message will play poorly in a Democratic City so concerned about global warming that it's ready to regulate how often you can fart. It will be hard to beat Diaper Man. Hough did  fill out a candidate questionnaire. Samuelson did not. 

District 137:  This bizarre district starts in Palmer Tp an winds its way through Nazareth and all the way to Upper Mount Bethel. Republican Joe Emrick has held this seat since 2011. He's financed by blue bloods like L Annderson Daub and Olav Sandnes. Transparency has never been his strong suit, and he hates scrutiny of any kind. He ran a dirty campaign against Amy Cozze two years ago, accusing her of sending "foreign material" to the Nazareth police. It was glitter. Cozze and a business colleague using glitter while making decorations for some event in Nazareth. Glitter tends to stick to everything, and it got stuck to a few paid parking tickets. Democrat Kate Brennan, a former probation officer and tipstaff, is waging an uphill battle, but is known to be tough. 

District 138: This district starts in Bethlehem Tp and makes its way north through Hanover Tp and into the northern tier. Incumbent Marcia Hahn is retiring, leaving an open seat coveted by both Democrat  Tara Zrinski and Republican Ann Flood. This is probably the most conservative district, yet Democrats' most liberal candidate is the nominee. Unlike most candidates, Zrinski actually did fill out a questionnaire but perhaps should not have, She points to U2's "One", which she claims is about tragic breakups and the feeling of aloneness, as the song that most recently got stuck in her head. She then goes on to recite the lyrics.
Is it getting better 
Or do you feel the same? 
Will it make it easier on you now? 
Etc.
In contrast to Zrinski, Flood is sane. I do not know her favorite song. 

District 183 This is a boomerang-shaped district that includes the northwestern portion of Northampton County and northeastern portion of Lehigh County. It has been represented by Republican Zach Mako since 2016. Having seen Mako in two debates, I can say without hesitation that he's as dumb as a box of rocks. He misses a lot of votes, too, with his other job in the service. Democrat Jason Ruff, who was beaten by this box of rocks two years ago, should ask for a few debates. 

District 187: This district extends from Kutztown to North Whitehall. It has been represented by Republican Gary Day since 2009, and he easily raised $33,000 in the primary. His $500 contribution to Dean Browning's failed Congressional race should tell you he is a conservative Republican. Michael Blichar Jr is the Democratic nominee. He was crushed two years ago, and unless Day is caught in bed with an altar boy, I do not expect that to change. 

20 comments:

  1. Come on BO, everyone knows Zrinski is a nutcase but you have got to be pulling our legs with the song bit. Was that for real? She quoted song lyrics?

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  2. "personal responsibility", is a good message. I know Scott, but voting for him any way. Time for Steve to go.
    "One" is a good song. I'm not a fan of the group though. But time for her to go.
    Do voters educate themselves ever, I wonder?

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  3. I have decided to give voters of the 183rd another choice on Nov. 3th.

    I announce my candidacy as a Write-In Candidate for State Representative

    Michael Molovinsky

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  4. Why would anyone be surprised at the song sung by that loon?

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  5. As an Independent, I will not vote for any incumbent in state government who did not support the legislative attempts to overrule Gov. Wolf. Wolf was key to destroying small business in this state and bringing down our economy. Even worse, Wolf was part of the plan to send Covid people to nursing homes filled with the most vulnerable people to this virus. Our legislature had a couple of chances to stop this guy, but failed due to a lack of votes in the House.

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  6. The whole legislature needs an enema. Reduce the # of seats, eliminate the gerrymandered districts for both DC and Harrisburg. Each congressional seat district should be divided into 4 state rep seats. Put a limit of 12 years in any elected statewide office.

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  7. Tara Zrinski is a nut job and does not stand a chance in hell against Ann Flood

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  8. Steve Samuelson is in a close race with Bob Freeman as to who can be there the longest while accomplishing nothing but a huge pension.

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  9. District 138 is a no brainer. Ann Flood is the best choice to replace Marcia Hahn. All you have to do is see that Tara Zrinski is a left wing Democrat that loves to rub elbows and agree with people who can advance her career. I am a Conservative Democrat, will cross the aisle and vote Ann Flood.

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  10. From Tara Zrinski's candidate questionnaire:

    "Often, when people don't get what they want out of a relationship, they look at the other person and blame the other, but if people were honest, they would recognize their own contribution to the problems that led to that point. The point is, in any relationship, one must be present, nurturing and self-evaluating in order to foster that growth. This is true, I believe for all types of relationships.

    Is it getting better
    Or do you feel the same?
    Will it make it easier on you now?
    You got someone to blame
    You say one love, one life (One life)
    It's one need in the night
    One love (one love), get to share it
    Leaves you darling, if you don't care for it
    Did I disappoint you?
    Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
    You act like you never had love
    And you want me to go without
    Well it's too late, tonight
    To drag the past out into the light
    We're one, but we're not the same
    We get to carry each other
    Carry each other
    One, one
    One, one
    One, one
    One, one
    Have you come here for forgiveness?
    Have you come to raise the dead?
    Have you come here to play Jesus?
    To the lepers in your head
    Well, did I ask too much, more than a lot?
    You gave me nothing, now it's all I got
    We're one,..."

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  11. Michael,

    I would prefer to be a King or at least a Duke.

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  12. I lost all respect for Zrinski when she was running for Council and she was asked what she planned to do with PennEast, she said she was going to stop it. Even on County Council, how did she plan to "Stop it"? She didn't seem to understand her position on Council, I assume she doesn't understand what a State Rep does either. She sounds like she should run for Congress with her agenda, or maybe President.

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  13. When I think of Tara, I think of "They're Coming To Take Me Away (Funny Farm)."

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=DxVkAhto0Ag&feature=emb_logo

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  14. Zrinski will fit in well in Harrisburg. Much like Washington it is comprised of hyper partisan stooges who accomplish nothing but make speeches. She is certifiable and yet elected officials like McClure and other promote her candidacy. Is that a joke?

    She appears to have no idea of what her current elected job is and she wants to go to Harrisburg.
    She has to be the worst county elected official in the LV. I think Mr. O'Hare should join team Tara and get his gift bag.

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  15. Alas, but I have just one vote to cast against the plastic straw warrior. Would that I had as many as there are straws in the oceans. There aren't enough carbon offsets in the world to neutralize a gasbag like Tara.

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  16. Samuelson is a very nice gentleman, but what has he got done?

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  17. In the 183 the Democrats need a more moderate Republican with name recognition. The problem they have is they run these ultra-left progressive liberals in areas where they don't have a chance, They need to get real if they are looking to grab a seat or two.

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  18. Time to oust Samuelson from his cushy job as a do nothing representative. Can’t believe he makes $90,000/Year & I help pay that ridiculous amount of money. He is a complete failure in supporting businesses in Bethlehem making sure he votes party line without upsetting the governor. Vote for Hough this time.

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  19. You want to get get rid of a waste of space try Pat Toomey. The state Republicans control the house and senate and what have they done but line their own pockets through the gas industry. As jimmy Carter once said: Republicans are men of narrow vision, who are afraid of the future.

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