Wolf's Politically Inspired Veto Punishes Counties

Governor Tom Wolf  may pretend he's a regular guy driving a Jeep Wrangler, but the reality is that he's a partisan hack. He just proved it, too. Let me tell you the story.

Last year, in an effort to settle a lawsuit about election security, Wolf ordered all 67 counties to use voting systems with voter-verifiable paper trails in time for next year's Presidential election.  This was an unfunded mandate that cost both Lehigh and Northampton County around $5 million. But we had no reason to fear. Wolf promised to visit the money tree in Harrisburg at budget time.

After some initial reluctance by the GOP, the state legislature finally groaned and agreed to give counties up to $90 million to help reimburse this cost. At last week's NorCo Council meeting, member John Cusick thanked State Senators Lisa Boscola and Mario Scavello for their support. He urged Governor Wolf to sign it.

Guess what? On Friday, Governor Wolf vetoed it. .

Governor Wolf's veto is the result of a provision that also eliminates straight-party voting. This allows a voter to select one political party's complete slate of candidates with a single mark. In his veto message, Wolf reasoned "the isolated removal of a convenient voting option (the straight-party button) would increase waiting times and could discourage participation."

Elimination of the straight-party option made it unacceptable to partisan hacks who happen to be Democrats. In the House, only four Democrats voted for the bill. In the Senate, Boscola was one of only three Democrats to vote Yes.

Locally, all Democratic State Representatives voted against the measure. The last thing Mike Schlossberg, Pete Schweyer, Steve Samuelson or Bob Freeman wants is an informed voter. They want lever pullers. This leads to one-party rule, and the result is political corruption.

Like Fed Ed.

Or Reading's Mayor.

Or Scranton's Mayor.

Ironically, in states where Democrats are a minority, elimination of straight-party voting is favored. In Oklahoma, for example, State Democratic Chair Anna Langthorn decries the practice in her state, saying it enables "uneducated voting."

Here in Pennsylvania, African American lawmakers blasted the elimination of the straight-ticket as a racist attempt to suppress voting by those with limited literacy or access to information.

In defending this arcane and outdated practice, these so-called representatives have slurred the intelligence of the voiceless they pretend to champion

Pennsylvania is one of only eight states that still allow straight-party voting.

What kills me is that this is a pretty good compromise bill.  Counties get some badly needed money to comply with Wolf's imperial decree. In addition, the vetoed bill would expanded absentee-voting deadlines. In other words, it would make voting more inclusive. Under current law, absentee ballots must be received by the elections office no later than the Friday before an election. Ballots received after that date, no matter when postmarked, are rejected.

Under the vetoed changes, elections officials would be required to accept absentee ballots received as long as a week after the election, so long as they were post-marked the Friday before the election.

Since this was a close vote, I doubt there's any ability to override Wolf's political veto. Besides, there are partisan hacks in the GOP, too, and they love the idea of blaming Wolf and Democrats for screwing counties.

NorCo Council member John Cusick said he is disappointed at Wolf's veto of compromise legislation, saying it has created a "massive unfunded mandate on local property taxpayers across the Commonwealth." Executive Lamont McClure echoed the disappointment, but he adds, "[W]e remain convinced Governor Wolf will make good on his promise to the counties."

And my rent check's in the mail.

NorCo Council Prez Ron Heckman and Peg Ferraro want the state legislature and Governor Wolf to do the right  thing and resolve their differences.

Why start now?

My own view is that counties will never see a dime from the state.

Should Grants Be Awarded During Election Season?

Governor Tom Wolf got himself elected on a platform of reform. He crisscrossed the state in his Jeep, a millionaire pretending to be one of the guys. After he was elected, he did impose a gift ban on state workers. He also refused to live at the Governor's mansion, but that's pretty much it. I see little difference between him and the man he beat. There have been no meaningful reform proposals from him since the day he took office. It's been business as usual. Since he's the likely winner in November, I expect things will stay that way. But a man who claims to be ethical really should refrain from handing out taxpayer money at election time. 

Wolf's opponent is a rich garbageman who can't seem to get out of his own way. At the rate he's going, he should be arrested several times for assault before November. It is little wonder Wolf has agreed to only one debate. But this is all the more reason why he should limit himself from handing out taxpayer money at election time.

I was sent a Wolf news release yesterday announcing a $750,000 grant to Fountain Hill for a 40 by 75-foot addition to its existing public works building. This might very well be a good use of taxpayer money. The renovation will alleviate issues caused by numerous additions made to the original 100-year-old public works building. The completed $1.5 million project is expected to house borough street department vehicles, a salt shed and stone bins, an environmentally safe fueling station, locker, shower and break rooms for employees, and areas for storage of the borough’s equipment.

But the timing stinks.

This is just a legal bribe to the residents of Fountain Hill.

The news release includes gushing statements from State Rep. Jeanne McNeill and State Senator Lisa Boscola, both of whom are up for re-election as well. Though neither has a frickin' opponent, the Wolf news release has to make both of them look good.

I will give either Lisa or Jeanne $100 if either of them can prove to me that they've ever set foot in Fountain Hill's Public Works building before today.

If Tom Wolf really is interested in reform, and I tend to think he is only slightly more interested than his opponent, he should stop handing out any taxpayer candy during an election year. State Senators and State Reps Reps should be barred from their oh-so-informative mailers during the year of their re-election.

Waiting For Godot: Governor Tom Wolf

Below are two emails sent to the LV delegation to the Pa. State House as well as Governor Tom Wolf, asking them to support reform proposals that many of you shared in Friday's post, entitled. "What Good Government Reforms Would You Make?" Wolf recently did suggest some vague reforms, but the fact remains that he presides over one of the most corrupt states in the country, and his actions contradict him. While giving lip service to strong campaign finance reform, he regularly supports candidates who engage on pay-to-play, like AG candidate Josh Shapiro. McTish's company is getting the benefit of his bribes through lucrative state contracts. And he only whispers when he calls for Kane to step down. In the meantime, top investigative journalist Brad Bumstead reports that Harrisburg lobbyists are beginning to worry who among them is wearing a wire.    .

Letter to Governor Wolf:

Dear Governor Wolf:

Recent news events make clear that Pennsylvania is infected by a culture of corruption having statewide impact. Like a plague, it has gone on to infect local governments as well. In the meantime, you have been sitting on the sidelines, acting more like a Governor Godot than the man who imposed a gift ban on Executive employees.

I am from the Lehigh Valley, where six people have already entered guilty pleas in a federal investigation of political corruption in Allentown. Four of them are former public officials. Government has been brought to its knees while a Mayor in denial defies an unanimous City Council resolution calling on him to resign.

In nearby Reading, the same federal investigation has resulted in guilty pleas by three people, including the President of City Council. Its Mayor was rejected by voters in recent election.

Harrisburg's former Mayor faces nearly 500 charges of theft, fraud and outright corruption.

A United States Congressman, Chaka Fattah, is on trial in Philadelphia for racketeering and public corruption. Those kinds of prosecutions are usually reserved to the mob and drug cartels.

State Treasurer Robert McCord, your former political political rival, has pleaded guilty to outright extortion. Governor Rendell's former Chief of Staff has entered a plea, amazingly, to stealing from the FBI. Six public officials in Philadelphia have been charged with accepting bribes. Five have pleaded guilty or no contest and have been allowed to keep their pensions.

Your own Attorney General whitewashed an investigation into political corruption at the Turnpike Commission, allowing eight people to escape with slaps on the wrist and excusing admitted criminal behavior by pay-to-players like Matt McTish, who continues to benefit from state contracts. This Attorney General faces charges of lying to a Grand Jury. The Democrat seeking to replace her, endorsed by you, is himself featured prominently in accepting contributions from the same characters already charged in various federal probes.

While you yourself have done everything you can to portray a squeaky clean image, you have enabled the corruption to continue by failing to take any steps to stop it.

In my blog, Lehigh Valley Ramblings, my readers and I have come up with a number of very specific suggestions at reform that needs to take place on the state level. I am asking you to use the power of your office to be a voice for reform. Whether it is requiring electronic filing of campaign finance reports by statewide candidates or banning the use of campaign finance funds for criminal defense, you need to again be the breath of fresh air who ran for office instead of someone who promotes corruption.

I will be more than happy to meet with you or a representative of your office to review these proposals. You can email me or call me at 610-533-7379.

Letter to LV Delegation to State House:

You are the LV delegation to the Pa. State House. As you know, Pennsylvania is infected by a culture of corruption that has extended to local government in Allentown. [Above] is a letter I have sent to the Governor on the need for reform. That includes a need for action and leadership by all of you.

This includes filing electronic campaign finance reports that can be viewed immediately instead of relying on paper reports that are only available months after the election. Some of you (Pete Schweyer, Marcia Hahn and Joe Emrick) file paper reports that are only available after the election. Two of you (Marcia Hahn and Joe Emrick) failed to file even paper reports in your county of residence until your transgression was brought to your attention.

In addition, you have used money donated to you to launder money to other candidates. Julie Harhart, Marcia Hahn and Joe Emrick, in their most recent report, laundered money to Zachary Mako through State Senator Mark Mustio.

I am asking you to draft legislation requiring that all finance reports be prepared electronically, and that you pledge in the meantime to file future reports electronically. I am also asking that you pledge that you will not use the money donated to your campaign to support other candidates.

I await your reply.

Thank you.