Groen a Poor Choice For Dem Party Chair

According to PoliticsPA, Governor Tom Wolf is seriously considering Democratic power broker Marcel Groen as the next state Democratic party chair. If anyone epitomizes the dangers of pay-to-play, it's Groen. If anyone is capable of dragging the state Democratic party into an ethical quagmire that already includes three Democratic Mayors and one former state treasurer, it's Grown. This is a bad choice by someone who spent his own money to get elected and seems a bit naive about the dirty world of politics.

Earlier this month, I told you the federal investigation into Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski, aka Fed Ed, is no witch hunt. One if the many reasons for this is Fed Ed's s connections to political power broker Marcel Groen. Their relationship was detailed by Morning Call investigative reporter Jarrett Renshaw.

At that time, Democrats Groen and Pawlowski were both pushing a $28 million waste-to-energy plant at Kline's Island. Despite a complete lack of emission monitors for air quality in a heavily polluted Lehigh Valley, Pawlowski's rubber stamps on City Council approved the deal.

Fracking bad, air pollution good.

The only green that Groen and Fed Ed were interested in was the kind they could use to buy elections.

According to Renshaw, this poorly advised scheme arose from "Groen's personal and professional relationship with Pawlowski, who has enjoyed Groen's financial support during his two mayoral campaigns. Groen hadn't considered the city as a possible site for the plant until a chance lunch in 2009 with the mayor, whom Groen calls a friend and a 'visionary.'"

Pawlowski is so "visionary" that he had Allentown pay Groen's firm $350,000 between 2006 and 2010 for legal work that Fed Ed's legal team in the Solicitor's office was somehow unable to handle.

Might help him in the governor's race.

Fortunately, this project, like Pawlowski's gubernatorial campaign, never got off the ground because no bank was idiotic enough to front $49 million for a business idea that made little sense.

Then Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham bluntly stated that with Green, "it's about money and business." He does not stop there, but added this. "So anyone that wants to run statewide must go through Montgomery County if they want to advance themselves. ... Clearly Pawlowski has developed that type of business and political relationship with Marcel."

If this is so, the feds should be quite interested in Grown. Since former political consultant was reportedly wired for 90 days before suddenly leaving town, it is entirely conceivable that one of the persons he spoke to was Pawlowski ally Marcel Groen.

Tom Wolf is trying to inject a new brand of ethics into politics. No gifts. He refuses to even live in the Executive Mansion. If he really wants to reform our broken system, Groen is the last person he should select.

Will Wolf Raise Income, Sales Tax?

According to Brad Bumstead, that's the plan for tomorrow, when Governor Tom Wolf releases next year's budget. He reportedly will increase the state's personal income tax by 20 percent, as well as a 10% hike in state sales tax. This is supposed to fund a reduction in property taxes, kinda' like the casinos. I notice taxes never really go down.

This is all speculation right now, although the Inky hints it will be "big, bold and controversial."

NorCo DA Morgnelli: Wolf Has No Power to Suspend Death Penalty

Governor Tom Wolf's moratorium on the death penalty has provoked this reaction from Northampton County DA John Morganelli:

The news that Governor Wolf has issued a reprieve for a killer that even the Governor acknowledges is guilty of first degree, premeditated murder is very disappointing. More disappointing, however, is the fact that Governor refused to meet with the district attorneys association or even respond to a letter that was sent to him by PDAA [Pa. District Attorneys Association] that debunks the data he has relied on in coming to his position.

Governors are charged with the duty of enforcing the laws of the state, not with acting as a super legislature or a court in declaring them null and void. In 1994, I successfully sued then Governor Robert Casey to enforce Pennsylvania's Death Penalty. It is likely that there will soon be litigation again against Governor Wolf. Although a governor does have the power to issue individual reprieves for individual death row inmates for a temporary time and for a specific purpose, he does not have the power to use this right to usurp the power of the courts and legislature in determining whether Pennsylvania is or is not a death penalty state and in assuring that the process is fair.

According to The Patriot News, 186 inmates are on death row in Pennsylvania.

Local Names on Wolf Transition Team

The Patriot News has a listing of Governor Tom Wolf's 250-plus person transition team.  The following local names are included:

Rob Wonderling (former state senator) - Community and Economic Development

Bob Donchez (Bethlehem Mayor) - Chair, Drug and Alcohol Programs

Sonia Vasquez (Donegal School Principal) - Education

George White (Lehigh University) - Education

Jim Hickey (Norco former hatchetman) - General Service

TJ Rooney (former state rep) - Insurance

Willie Reynolds - Emergency Management

Abe Kassis (Norco Ass't DA) - State Police

If I missed any names, fill me in.

Don't Count Corbett Out

Corbett in a Bethlehem visit this year

At this time last year, I had written off Bangor Mayor John Brown in the Northampton County Executive race. So had everyone else, and the end result is that he defeated John Callahan, a better known and financed candidate, Now, when I hear people write off Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, I cringe.

His politics mirrors the state. He is moderate to conservative on most issues. But as a former prosecutor, he lacked transparency in the beginning of his stint in office. This hurt.

His draconian budget cuts hurt, too.

Enter Democrat Tom Wolf, a nice guy. He's still ahead in the polls, and is campaigning very hard. Democrats have a million voter edge statewide. But don't kid yourself. He will lose if Democrats stay home. And that could happen. There are no real exciting races bringing people to the polls.

In Philadelphia, where Wolf needs a big win, his campaign is refusing to dole out the street money that is common on election day. His appearance there with Obama this weekend will be used against him in the rest of the state.

Although I think Wolf will win, I also believe the race will be much closer than the experts predict.

Who Won Wolf-Corbett Debate?

Because I was at a Upper Mount Bethel Township Supervisors' meeting with Ron Angle and Mark "the bastard" Thatcher, I missed last night's gubernatorial debate between Democrat Tom Wolf and Republican Tom Corbett. Who came across better?

According to Democratic State Rep. Peter Daley, front-runner Wolf was "terrible." But Chris Borick, who is paid by newspapers to furnish polls, huffs that little things like debates have only a "modest impact" on elections.

I guess little things like seeing how candidates interact with each other, and how their ideas hold up, is meaningless to the poll man.

They will debate again on October 1 and October 8.

Mr. Cannibal For Wolf?

Sure, Tom Wolf has a big lead in the Pa. Gubernatorial race, but that's no reason to hire "Mr. Cannibal" to do his TV ads. Check this on Buzzfeed. In ... Frickin' ... Credible.  Maybe Wolf thought it was Mr. Cannabis.

Join The Wolf Pack

Northampton County DA John Morganelli is forced to deal with lots of low-lifes on a daily basis. I'm not talking about criminals, but bottom-feeding bloggers like me. He can hide in his office, but eventually, he has to leave. That's when I nail him.

He's about to have one friend who looks like he's headed to high places.

Tom Wolf will almost certainly be the Democratic nominee for Governor tomorrow. The Lehigh Valley politician has been encouraging him to run since 2012?  Northampton County DA John Morganelli. In fact, he was the ONLY Lehigh Valley politician to jump on the Wolf Bandwagon early, when he was at 0%.

Over the protests of many, Morganelli convinced Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez to join him in endorsing Wolf. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, who wanted to be Governor himself, eventually went with Rob McCord, along with most of LV Labor. Easton Mayor Sal Panto is dancing with McCord and turned down an invite to join Morganelli and Donchez to endorse Wolf.

Morganelli also raised $10,000 for Wold during an April fundraiser at his home.

Tonight, Morganelli and Donchez have been invited to Wolf's HQs in York, where he will await the election tally.

Pa. Governor's Race: Wolf to Visit Bethlehem Today

Tom Wolf, leading Democratic contender in the Pennsylvania Governor's race, will be in Bethlehem today. After a Main Street tour, he'll conduct a news conference  at 1:30 pm in the Terrace Room of the Hotel Bethlehem. In addition to discussing his own economic development plans, he'll be taking questions.

 Wolf will be joined by Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli , Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez , Lehigh County Executive Tom Muller, Northampton County Councilman Lamont McClure and Lehigh County Commissioner Geoff Brace.

In the evening, Morganelli will host a private fundraiser for Wolf at his home.

A former CEO for the nation's largest supplier of kitchen cabinets, Wolf served without salary as Secretary of Revenue under Governor Ed Rendell. He drives a jeep, which makes him OK in my book.

Morganelli Endorses Tom Wolf For Guv'

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli, a former Democratic nominee for attorney general and past president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys' Association has endorsed Tom Wolf for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Morganelli, who has served as District Attorney for 22 years, released this statement:

"Nothing is more important for our state in 2014 than defeating Tom Corbett. We are fortunate to have many great Democratic candidates any of which would be a credit to our state. I believe, however, that Tom Wolf stands out in this distinguished field, and today I am proud to endorse him.

"Tom Wolf is the perfect storm. First, he knows how to create jobs for middle class Pennsylvanians because he has done it in the private sector with great success. His business success was accomplished in no small part by creating a partnership with those who work for him. Tom treats his employees with fairness and respect and shares 20 to 30 percent of the company's profits with his employees. He understands that average people need a living wage to raise families and fulfill middle class dreams for the next generation.

"Tom Wolf also has government experience. As Revenue Secretary, Tom worked with Governor Rendell and state and local officials to make government work. His education, his private sector and government experience, makes him a perfect storm to wipe out the Corbett Administration. As governor, he will bring integrity and fairness to Pennsylvania."