tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post2731425628123449333..comments2024-03-29T09:51:12.266-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Shut Up and Take the Money! Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-49819901838530525862014-07-18T02:33:27.507-04:002014-07-18T02:33:27.507-04:00In several news accounts as well as this Blog, joh...In several news accounts as well as this Blog, john Brown is quoted refusing to make a no tax hike pledge. The only candidate stupid enough to do that was McClure. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-53000250406379170102014-07-18T02:26:10.074-04:002014-07-18T02:26:10.074-04:00Mailer, a quote by John Brown. "John Callaha...Mailer, a quote by John Brown. "John Callahan will raise your taxes, I will not." If he lied it will be brought up in four years.<br /><br />Sounds pretty clear but you were never known to be good with facts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-22144298757615308152014-07-18T01:56:31.647-04:002014-07-18T01:56:31.647-04:00What I heard and wrote about was that Brown refuse...What I heard and wrote about was that Brown refused to pledge that he would never raise taxes. Nor does the quote you supply. He can simply argue he saved the taxpayers from taxes being even higher. You go ahead and make your argument, but it's a lousy one and dishonest. You must know that.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23930903547849337852014-07-18T01:51:23.843-04:002014-07-18T01:51:23.843-04:00"I can be trusted to cut your taxes, unlike m..."I can be trusted to cut your taxes, unlike my opponent".<br /><br />Pretty direct for a quote. maybe what you heard was garbled or a lie. I have it in writing, do you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23110325297076990762014-07-18T01:21:31.400-04:002014-07-18T01:21:31.400-04:00I have no idea what his mailers say. i rely on wha...I have no idea what his mailers say. i rely on what he said during the campaign, during his debate with Callahan. He made it clear that if he had to, he'd raise taxes. The only candidate who pledged not to raise taxes was McClure. If you still have the flyer, you must be some operative looking for weaknesses. I suspect you'll take a statement out of context and make it say what you want. <br /><br />Look I supported Callahan, and think he's make a better Exec for a myriad of reasons. But the claim that brown promised he'd never raise taxes is a lie. I know that. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-38105614815747149482014-07-18T01:13:53.696-04:002014-07-18T01:13:53.696-04:00"That's a dishonest argument."
No, ..."That's a dishonest argument."<br /><br />No, yours is a dishonest statement. John Brown in his own words promised not to raise taxes. In fac,t he stated he could be trusted to cut taxers unlike John Callahan. I still have the mailer. No do overs on promises.<br /><br />I accept your apologies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-35913836819934687072014-07-18T01:05:31.775-04:002014-07-18T01:05:31.775-04:00That's a dishonest argument. No new taxes was ...That's a dishonest argument. No new taxes was Lamont McClure's campaign pledge. For four years, too. Brown always made clear that he would raise taxes if he had to, and I'd rather see that than wholesale cuts or layoffs. I have no idea what he intends to do, but i have been saying we need a tax hike for the past two budgets. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-28287504353749648832014-07-18T00:57:19.191-04:002014-07-18T00:57:19.191-04:00No new taxes was a Brown campaign promise! End of ...No new taxes was a Brown campaign promise! End of discussion!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-59217802296614458162014-07-17T23:31:13.292-04:002014-07-17T23:31:13.292-04:00Bernie, you know that the offices that come under ...Bernie, you know that the offices that come under the ADMINISTRATION KNOWN AS COURT SERVICES is in dire need of additional employees. How do we get and pay for those additional employees? Yes, the Court Services department makes money for the County. That started under Reibman. Until then it was a drain on the taxpayer. We need to fund more positions in Civil Division and these people have to be paid. The Court System has to be looked at as a whole, not piece meal. That is why they are lumped into one division. How about collecting some of the 60 million that is owed the County in Criminal Division. Then you wouldn't have to raise taxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-44710323359145717912014-07-17T21:59:42.921-04:002014-07-17T21:59:42.921-04:00Also, please don't call PJ Baratta's comme...Also, please don't call PJ Baratta's comments "bullshit." I appreciate him coming on here and spelling out his views and will publish them as a separate blog before checking myself in at the jail tomorrow. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-72265076979716293342014-07-17T21:56:57.954-04:002014-07-17T21:56:57.954-04:00A good idea is a good idea. I don't much care ...A good idea is a good idea. I don't much care for how Gibbs got her job, but this saves two county jobs. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-63310774996320019192014-07-17T21:51:43.573-04:002014-07-17T21:51:43.573-04:00Bernie, 90 per cent of this is bullshit including ...Bernie, 90 per cent of this is bullshit including Baratta`s comments. A lot of this is based on prejudice toward the person who proposed this . We saw it in the past and it continues today. If the county is that much behind in revenue it should take every nickel and dime it can from the transportation at Gracedale to unnecessary spending for public relations firms. If Baratta felt his clarified way , he should have said nothing. Does he remember he left the solicitor`s office years ago?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86388243404566620992014-07-17T20:03:36.158-04:002014-07-17T20:03:36.158-04:00O'Hare loves the outrageous spending, so it on...O'Hare loves the outrageous spending, so it only stands to reason he is all in favor of raising taxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-61025106245461927202014-07-17T20:03:19.264-04:002014-07-17T20:03:19.264-04:00Thank you for the clarification your Honor. Mr. O&...Thank you for the clarification your Honor. Mr. O'Hare us trying to come up with excuses for the newly elected county officials to break their campaign promises.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6643764772298537112014-07-17T19:09:24.083-04:002014-07-17T19:09:24.083-04:00Bad advice from the Solicitor's office? Do we...Bad advice from the Solicitor's office? Do we see a trend? At least example of lack of knowledge about the Home Rule Charter is merely embarassing and wont cost the County 1000s of dollars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-3604136874309350372014-07-17T18:22:48.588-04:002014-07-17T18:22:48.588-04:00Well, this is a first. Your Honor, I will post you...Well, this is a first. Your Honor, I will post your comment as a separate blog tomorrow so there is no misunderstanding. I don't believe I mischaracterized your views, and will explain why. Thank you for your comment. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6848297053554030962014-07-17T18:19:04.831-04:002014-07-17T18:19:04.831-04:00Thank you for clearing this up Your Honor.
It is ...Thank you for clearing this up Your Honor.<br /><br />It is a shame you have to waste your time clarifying O'Hare's sensationalism. He never seems to get things right.<br />Again, Thank you for the correction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10055869763430200382014-07-17T18:05:25.334-04:002014-07-17T18:05:25.334-04:00Mr. O’Hare,
Generally I would chose to remain qui...Mr. O’Hare,<br /><br />Generally I would chose to remain quiet with regard to political discussion, but because your comments raise important matters of governance, the role of the Court and the separation of powers (and perhaps of equal importance to me, because this discussion has mischaracterized my position), I think that it might be appropriate to weigh in.<br /><br />First, please know that my letter was directed to the County Solicitor’s Office in response to an Assistant Solicitor who rendered an opinion that the President Judge had the authority to consider Ms. Gibb’s request to raise fees in Orphan’s Court. I disagreed with that conclusion based upon the Home Rule Charter and Pennsylvania case law.<br /><br />Second, I did not recommend against action by Mr. Brown to raise fees. Issues related to the generation of revenue should be the province of the executive and legislative branches of county government. The Court has no business interfering with such authority. <br /><br />However, I did state that I would not support the request to raise fees because it was not my decision to make. I also stated that if I was incorrect as to my authority, I saw no need to raise fees, as Orphan’s Court was consistently generating excess revenue from its operation. Thus, the Court has no need to raise fees to cover court operations. <br /><br />I think that we can both agree that even if I had the authority to raise Orphan’s Court fees, raising court fees to cover the County’s general fund deficit is improper action for the Court. Raising fees in Orphan’s Court for the purpose of stabilizing the general fund is an indirect tax placed upon those who must access the court system to negotiate or resolve issues which impact fundamental family matters, such as decedent estates, adoptions, marriages, and guardianships for minors, the elderly and incompetent persons. <br /><br />The Court should not be in the business of taxing citizens or deciding how the County should raise revenue. It should be a decision made by the County Executive in conjunction with County Council’s approval.<br /><br />In conclusion, I made no argument for "revenue neutrality." I see this as a matter of governance and not for the Court. If Orphan’s Court fees are raised by the Executive and/or County Council, it will be met with silence by the Court. <br /> <br />Stephen Baratta <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-85337340618402096672014-07-17T18:02:10.821-04:002014-07-17T18:02:10.821-04:00I received a mailer from Mr. Brown during the elec...I received a mailer from Mr. Brown during the election in which he compared his record to Callahan's. Brown clearly stated HE was the candidate you could trust to CUT TAXES not raise them not even let them where they are but to cut. I have the mailer he said it now I expect him to live up to his pledge to trust him.<br /><br />Was I wrong to vote for him based on his asking for my trust to CUT TAXES?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41994620401702141682014-07-17T17:58:42.325-04:002014-07-17T17:58:42.325-04:00Criminal Defendants found guild should pay fines H...Criminal Defendants found guild should pay fines HIGH ENOUGH that the people that don't violate the rules, skin other people and don't break into somebody elses property get an honest tax abatement. I would have these bastards slaving 20 years to pay it off. Look at Reading ,Pa. in that County of Berks, the property taxes collected don't even exceed the criminal justice costs. Bullcrap I say, make slaves out of them. OLD PETER. Peter J.Cochrannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26160444118799214122014-07-17T16:16:40.503-04:002014-07-17T16:16:40.503-04:00We elected the Republican team to cut county gover...We elected the Republican team to cut county government and not raise taxes. It was obvious the Democrats were tax raisers. The Republicans did not sweep in because we wanted another ridiculous tax increase.<br /><br />No tax or fee increases, cut, cut ,cut!!<br /><br />Enough is enough!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51777546981901403262014-07-17T15:43:07.482-04:002014-07-17T15:43:07.482-04:00( 2:16 PM ) No government agency should be hik...( 2:16 PM ) No government agency should be hiking fees on taxpayers in this economy. <br /><br /><br />NO County SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE THAN IT TAKES IN EITHER ... BUT IF YOU DO NOT Want to Give Up Services than You MUST EITHER Raise Fees OR Raise Property Taxes ... BUT Something Has Got to Give Either Way. Either Cut Some Services OR Raise Fees OR Raise Property Taxes. BUT YOU CAN NOT Continue to SPEND MORE THAN YOU TAKE IN !!!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-66083139833234083162014-07-17T15:16:52.740-04:002014-07-17T15:16:52.740-04:00I am not arguing seniors should be exempt. But th...I am not arguing seniors should be exempt. But they could be exempt from *increases* like they do in Jersey. Property tax freeze program - very successful and vital for seniors.<br /><br />I'm sorry I missed your link, Bernie. That is consistent with $500K over 5 years. That is not an astonishing amount, but $1m would look better.<br /><br />I guess I may have to pull the giant pole out of my ass and see things your way on this. It isn't realistic to expect every office to be profitable. And besides, you want to see your GF in the deeds office get some needed help or relief.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-85178744391600682512014-07-17T15:06:02.062-04:002014-07-17T15:06:02.062-04:00Don't worry. I'll pissd you off by tomorro...Don't worry. I'll pissd you off by tomorrow. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-35286375170325994362014-07-17T14:55:35.159-04:002014-07-17T14:55:35.159-04:00Oh my god, something must be wrong with me, for on...Oh my god, something must be wrong with me, for once i agree with O'hare! Is there a cure to this madness?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com