Thursday, 6. March 2008, 07:30:00
Politics, GOP, Personal, Hillary Clinton
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I am a minority all over the place. How is that? Let’s see: I am a black conservative and I am a Republican in a household, family and friend circle of Democrats. And now as a (just registered) Republican in my county, it appears that the majority county political party registration changes are going Democrat, while I am in the minority with the registration changes to Republican. Remember the PA primary is not opened. Republicans vote for Republican candidates (Sen. John McCain already won enough delegates to get the GOP nomination) and Democrats vote for Democratic candidates. No cross over voting in the primary. Independents can only vote if there are any Independent candidates on the PA ballot. Read more about the PA primary here.
Now the obvious is that Democrats are gaining voters, especially for November. Then on the other hand, there is this underground movement to make sure that Sen. Hillary Clinton is the Democratic presidential nominee in the fall, because then John McCain will have a greater chance of winning the Presidency. In PA, register Democrat and vote for her in the primary. It is easier to campaign against Sen. Clinton in the fall, because of her negatives than Sen. Barack Obama. Personally, the Republicans can just campaign on Sen. Obama’s inexperience. That should be enough for anybody. After all regardless of political party registration, one can vote for whomever he/she wants in the November presidential election. The Republican turned registered Democrat is free to vote for Sen. McCain.
Tuesday, 28. August 2007, 06:55:00
Labor Day, Pennsylvania, School, Tourism
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In Pennsylvania the tourism industry is at odds with the school districts for starting the school season before the Labor Day holiday. About 90% of PA school districts' first day of school begins before the holiday now. The Labor Day weekend is considered the official end of summer. That weekend is now losing revenues for the tourist industry, because school districts starting school before the first Monday in September. There is a bill being drawn up in the PA legislature dealing with the designation for the first day of school. PA governor Ed Rendell does not support the bill. He feels (as do the other bill opponents) that the first day of school should be decided by local school districts.
I know that I never started school before the holiday. My twin nieces who go to private Christian school start today. The tourism industry has proof that starting school after the Labor Day holiday in PA will add almost 400 million to the state's economy. This includes 164 million in direct travel and tourism spending. Read all about it here. Sounds good, but at this time, the school districts are winning this battle.
Monday, 9. July 2007, 05:30:00
Politics, Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, State Politics
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Due to the budget stalemate between democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and a republican state senate, many state workers are now on an unpaid indefinite furlough. Only those considered essential, such as state police patrols and prison employees are exempt from the furlough. The budget impasse consists of raising the state's debt ceiling, and an energy plan that Rendell has insisted the Legislature approve before he signs the budget. The last minute negotiations failed to break the stalemate. Gov. Rendell blames himself along with others for not starting early enough to solve the budget problem. This affects 24,000 state workers whose jobs are not deemed to be essential to health and safety.
Pennsylvanians will lose out on state services, which includes taking driver's license tests, state parks, and state-run museums. Highway maintenance and many permitting and licensing functions will be halted or severely curtailed, and there will be no Capitol dome lights.
Being in the indefinite furloughed category is not a good place to be. Most work from paycheck to paycheck. This is comes under what I call its different when it’s you. Many can understand why the furlough must happened, but when you are the one being forced to take an indefinite unpaid leave of absence, then you are probably not so understanding. For more information go here and here.
Update I: The state employees union failed to keep the furlough from being imposed, but a judge did rule in favor of the casinos workers. The casinos may remain open for another day.
Update II 7/10 6:30 AM: There is now a budget. The one day furlough is over. Everybody is back to work.
