tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post2583600285975020577..comments2024-03-28T10:18:28.366-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: John Stoffa's 7th No Tax Hike Budget AdoptedBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-56952679080194943442013-12-12T10:43:16.591-05:002013-12-12T10:43:16.591-05:00Bernie maybe they should cut some of the dead wood...Bernie maybe they should cut some of the dead wood at the prison after all I hear that it is top heavy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-73199095411259278702013-12-11T18:13:55.629-05:002013-12-11T18:13:55.629-05:00Stoffa is actually a liberal Democrat, for more li...Stoffa is actually a liberal Democrat, for more liberal than the ones on Council. But he is very tight with the public dollar. That's why Rs tend to like him. Because Rs like him, union Dems like Kraft, Barron and McClure hate Stoffa and actually try to impede county government. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-60460217866934470002013-12-11T18:08:05.627-05:002013-12-11T18:08:05.627-05:00So the democrats if you notice say no to nothing. ...So the democrats if you notice say no to nothing. Every position wanted got filled. Most of the republicans said no to most of this but did not have enough votes. So we add positions so Brown can cut them. He will be looking for savings and spending that benefits the taxpayer. Why should republicans want a tax increase. The biggest spenders should vote fpr it. Makes no sense to blame the republicans. Even if you disagree with what they did vote yes to it was little comparatively. Is Stoffa hated because he is a democrat or because he is not left enough for the left? He seems pretty balanced to me and I am on the right. Some can't see past their political party I guess. What a shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-56257252839741350112013-12-10T15:47:05.363-05:002013-12-10T15:47:05.363-05:00The tax was not mandated by anyone but Stoffa. Fa...The tax was not mandated by anyone but Stoffa. Facts please!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-45158630726690504762013-12-08T18:04:02.609-05:002013-12-08T18:04:02.609-05:00Wrong guess..open space is a mandate anyway.Wrong guess..open space is a mandate anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51750210222686624182013-12-08T11:15:54.366-05:002013-12-08T11:15:54.366-05:00Why don't you sign your name when advocating t...Why don't you sign your name when advocating the end of open space, which was supported by 65% of the voters.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51248387725861856722013-12-08T10:55:12.456-05:002013-12-08T10:55:12.456-05:00A half mil is peanuts but it is something.A half mil is peanuts but it is something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-66335709393472857532013-12-08T09:03:45.874-05:002013-12-08T09:03:45.874-05:00I know where to cut half a million right away..and...I know where to cut half a million right away..and not current county employee's jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-54380468575115236642013-12-08T03:09:39.015-05:002013-12-08T03:09:39.015-05:00I am well aware that both Kraft and Parsons wanted...I am well aware that both Kraft and Parsons wanted the job if Dems took control of Council. But that is not what you said. You claimed falsely that Parsons had wanted the job for years. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-33325705358938955002013-12-08T02:55:15.151-05:002013-12-08T02:55:15.151-05:00The funny thing is Bernie, that both Kraft and Par...The funny thing is Bernie, that both Kraft and Parson's were begging to be elected council President. They were lobbying the new Dem candidates like crazy.<br /><br />The kicker is the Dem candidates if elected were not going to vote for either one of them. Check out your sources. It didn't occur due to the election but it would have been a blast!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-49619049689047597552013-12-08T02:48:05.427-05:002013-12-08T02:48:05.427-05:001:15, a hiring freeze was in effect for two years....1:15, a hiring freeze was in effect for two years. Stoffa has not exactly filled the place with bodies. Every employee costs $50,000 per year on average. To save just $1 million in taxes, you need to get rid of 20 workers. To avoid a 1 mill tax hike, you would have to eliminate 270 jobs. If you think you can balance a budget on the backs of county employees, you're smoking crack. That 'a the familiar refrain of the ignorant. It sounds good until you start doing the math.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-49328493091917226482013-12-08T02:41:12.791-05:002013-12-08T02:41:12.791-05:00As I said, your statement is nonsense. Parsons pro...As I said, your statement is nonsense. Parsons probably would be President if Dems had 5 members. But you claim he's wanted the position for years and he's just finished his second year. Your statement is nonsense. Whether I've misjudged him or not ha nothing to do with the fact that your claim is necessarily a lie. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-46515547982706158162013-12-08T02:17:03.865-05:002013-12-08T02:17:03.865-05:00A week after getting elected he was begging for th...A week after getting elected he was begging for the role. With the thought of a Democrat majority coming to Council he was trying to cut deals like a maniac.<br /><br />Ask around. Another person you have misjudges. Sometimes personal political ambition trumps decency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-70307722398324612012013-12-08T00:00:25.768-05:002013-12-08T00:00:25.768-05:00Given that Parsons has only sat on the board for t...Given that Parsons has only sat on the board for two years, your statement is nonsense.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15233047547664278652013-12-07T15:29:39.043-05:002013-12-07T15:29:39.043-05:00Parsons has been begging to be President for years...Parsons has been begging to be President for years. Not gonna happen. Besides if any Republican other than Angle runs in District four in 2015, Parsons is history.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-21568607957413330272013-12-07T13:40:10.122-05:002013-12-07T13:40:10.122-05:00I think Scott Parsons would be a better choice for...I think Scott Parsons would be a better choice for president over Peg. A conservative Dem. with good political instincts and nobody owns him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-82661730733717467672013-12-07T13:23:19.197-05:002013-12-07T13:23:19.197-05:00A lot will rest on Peg. She is the swing vote now....A lot will rest on Peg. She is the swing vote now. Lots of ties will be broken by her vote up or down. I hope she can handle the pressure of being in that position. Maybe she should rethink wanting to be council president?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-47276650497533814622013-12-07T13:15:00.412-05:002013-12-07T13:15:00.412-05:00I do not foresee layoffs or curtailment of essenti...I do not foresee layoffs or curtailment of essential services by the incoming admin. but hiring will probably be frozen until all the departments are scrutinized top to bottom. All is not lost and the sky is not falling either. Brown will work the problems and offer solutions in a short amount of time for long range and short range measures to face county challenges. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-20984024810811971482013-12-07T13:07:59.226-05:002013-12-07T13:07:59.226-05:00The present council did this and the current execu...The present council did this and the current executive. The incoming admin. has no say yet. The blame falls on the outgoing R's and the few conservative D's for not standing up for what is right and needed. This will not stand and it is only a best guess budget. The real heavy lifting is left on the door step for 2014 and a new look council to amend and reshape as is required. Some people got no stomach for the hard stuff.EAEvenua proportionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76302295175068164682013-12-07T12:28:41.968-05:002013-12-07T12:28:41.968-05:00Had you imposed the hike now, you could have blame...Had you imposed the hike now, you could have blamed it on Stoffa and the 4 Rs who are departing. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-69255117812621360232013-12-07T12:27:26.250-05:002013-12-07T12:27:26.250-05:00In a county that includes numerous mandated servic...In a county that includes numerous mandated services, like the prison, and which has already tried trimming 10%, you reach a point where the only way you can avoid a tax hike is by eliminating staff. Then services deteriorate, morale is destroyed, and more workers run to the union.<br /><br />If the Rs had any brains, which they obviously don't, they would have imposed a tax hike NOW. That way Brown and the new Council would not be painted in a corner. But like idiots, you allowed an even larger deficit. If the R Council and Exec impose a tax hike, Kraft and McClure will call you spendthrifts who failed to look for cuts. If you lay people off, Kraft and McClure will call you heartless bastards. <br /><br />You were played like a violin with this budget. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76260762609593555582013-12-07T11:54:32.827-05:002013-12-07T11:54:32.827-05:00
Brown will find 10 to 15 percent in budget excess...<br />Brown will find 10 to 15 percent in budget excess the first year and take action. A sound business plan will be implemented and possibly no tax hike will be required to begin to right the ship of state. It will take the entire four years to get this thing turned around and headed in the right direction for future executives to handle in an efficient manner. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67579106983898830812013-12-06T21:11:59.059-05:002013-12-06T21:11:59.059-05:00You will not guilt trip Republicans into raising t...You will not guilt trip Republicans into raising taxes to fix the Stoffa mess. He inherited over $70 million dollars and millions more a year and blew it all in seven years.<br /><br />Let the Demoncats fix it. Don't expect the good conservative Republicans to raise taxers. if it was so important why didn't Stoffa propose and fight for one. Oh, that's right, that would have taken leadership. Something lacking for years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-54974410182972736292013-12-06T18:53:26.278-05:002013-12-06T18:53:26.278-05:00The tax hike is coming! It is simple Math! A prop...The tax hike is coming! It is simple Math! A property re assessment may help but it's not the whole answer. Inflation is out of control and the COLA has not kept up in 10 years. <br /><br />Wake up ppl, just because news outlets say we r in a recession is not reality. We r in a depression. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51492899624898707892013-12-06T16:57:26.553-05:002013-12-06T16:57:26.553-05:00Four Res and four Dems amended and voted for that ...Four Res and four Dems amended and voted for that budget. In my view, it should have included a tax hike. This will almost guarantee a major tax hike within the next two years. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.com