October 30, 2007
What happens in the “business of the people” in public, should be and remain public in all respects. Yet in this state we have lobbyist
expenditures in excess of $37 million for the 1st half of ‘07. These are all monies spent to influence and advocate interests of various groups. Of this total, it is reported that nearlt $1 million went to state officials for meals, plane tickets, hotel rooms and other gifts.
All of this taking place in public; in public buildings, in the midst of public officials, involving various and sundry public resources. And, yes, it is true that Pennsylvania is the ONLY state without a lobbyist disclosure law!!! In the meantime, the number of lobbyists in the state continues to grow—-up more than 35% this year in PA. As a taxpayer, wouldn’t it be nice if you knew where the $37
million spent on lobbying in state government was going? Actually you have the right to know where it is going!!!!! As you know, nothing has been done about the health care crisis in this state while health care industry lobbyists are some of the biggest spenders. Hospital & Health System Assoc. of PA spent just under $1 million on lobbying in PA the first 6 mos. of ‘07. PA Medical Soc.
spent $604,908. Highmark Inc. (major health insurer) spent $502,600. These 3 are the top 3 spenders on lobbying this year
in PA. Is there any wonder that nothing can get done with this heavy influence of special interests?
What do you think? Our first step is to let your legislator know that we need a lobbyist disclosure law. After all, it is long overdue!
Lobby for lobby reform.
Sincerely,
Dave Huffman
Editor The Daily Grit
Note: Your editor will be in Aruba conducting political research on the beach this next week, so look for the next article later next week around the 9th or 10th.
October 17, 2007
How many times has this saying held true when it comes to the expansion of government programs? Although we may disagree on the exact starting point, I believe the nose was firmly lifting the canvas with at least a partial nostril showing on the inside early on in the Roosevelt administration. Did FDR realize at that time that the camel would, from that point on, be working on getting his entire body inside? Health care for example isa big topic recently at both the federal and state level. The controversy over the past few weeks has to do with the proposal to qualify more children for government subsidized
health care by making it easier to qualify by lowering income requirements. In other words, we could now have children in a family of four children qualify if household income is just over $80K.
This essentially is a substantial change from the past and will cost the taxpayers billions of more dollars. This federal program is an extension of the state CHIP program (SCHIP) that is designed specifically to help the poor. While helping the poor has merit when it comes to providing health insurance coverarage for children-once the govt. is involved (the camel’s nose under the tent)
we start to lose our freedoms while programs inevitably “grow” under their control. Theliberal agenda to have socialized medicine in the U.S. is well known. Please, let’s not kid ourselves what the plan has been all along for those who want the government
to control our helath care and our lives in general. The CHIP program is already very ripe with fraud and abuse when it comes to
reporting income between parents that are separated/divorced.
And then we have Gov. Rendell’s plan that would penalize employers for not providing health care to their employees that could cause many small businesses to “go out of business!” Even if this plan cut costs, it would give the government control in the health care area that they would never relinquish. Is this what we really want?
Again, we have allowed the government to grow so big and the camel to get so far into the tent that it now takes a huge effort to change course and get to the root of the problem….
That is your question to answer this week at The Daily Grit: What do you think? What is the answer to the health care problem if it is not socialized medicine (we know the answer is NOT socialized medicine)? How do we keep the camel’s nose out from under the tent for health care and any other government program?
Sincerely,
Dave Huffman
Editor
The Daily Grit
October 11, 2007
It’s a defining moment for our state and our nation. We no longer have the luxury of waiting. We either enforce our laws on immigration or we die as a nation right before our eyes internally. No other nation has ever survived such a blatant disregard for its laws and for protecting its culture and identity. Tick, tick, tick—the clock keeps ticking until this great country is at “the point of no return,” where the damage done is irreversible. We are getting to that point where we will be split beyond recognition, and what was once a “city on a hill” will now simply be a “place with no identity.” There are implications for our continued path to destruction with its unintended consequences that will render us helpless. Isn’t it too bad that for about 20-25 years we have know the immigration problem has existed, but for political expediencey, have decided to do nothing about it? What is even sadder is that by not controlling immigration and enforcing the laws, we have placed EVERY
American citizen in harms way with the ever-increasing threat of terrorism. This is NOT about predjudice or racism. This is about enforcing our laws. The biggest problem now is that since we did not enforce the laws in the past, precendent has been set and it becomes so much more difficult to do it now. We have lost our will to be consistent and protect our citizenry, the most basic of all government responsibilities….
So, where do we go from here? This elitism has surely contributed to the threat of terrorism and our involvement in an unpopular war!!!
Amnesty (including all the bills coming out of Congress to date)
is not the answer…We MUST enforce the law and there should be no exceptions or special preferences for some over others. Illegal immigration is bankrupting this country.
Consider: There are at least 12 million illegal immigrants (may be as high as 20 mil!) in the U.S.
At least half the children 5 and younger in the U.S. are now minorities. Think about all of the MANY implications.
What do you think??? Let us know here at The Daily Grit.
Sincerely,
Dave Huffman
Editor
The Daily Grit
October 3, 2007
Speaking from my own experience going back to the late 70’s when I spent my summers employed at a western PA amusement park while attending college, this was where the majority of jobs were to be found for teenagers. I recall the trials and tribulations of trying to find a better job elsewhere. The local amusement park not only offered a place to work but was a great venue for providing a social
network of friends from nearby towns-friends one could not possibly have known otherwise. At times it was possible to ride the rides and eat the food for free. And, yes, there were employee parties and picnics…I have many positive memories as I look back (ask me and I will tell you some very interesting and even THRILLING stories). The THRILL is now gone!!!! Kennywood (including Idlewild Park in Ligonier) reportedly cut almost 100 jobs as a result of the minimum wage increasing from $5.15 per hour to $6.25 (Jan. 1) and then to $7.15 per hour July 1. The THRILL of the roller coasters (okay, so the old wooden coaster at Idlewild, shortened in recent years, is not all that thrilling) has even diminished among guests and patrons due to increased ticket prices to cover the cost of higher labor costs. Numerous other examples could be cited around the state where where jobs were lost in other businesses. These low-scale jobs are absolutely essential for an important segment of the population who need income. For the most part these lost jobs are not for supporting a family but play a major role in helping to supplement what is needed to support a family. Sure, raising wages sounds good and who wouldn’t want to see those at the low end of the scale do better? However,
futher thought and analysis (basic laws of economics) tells us that
arbitrarily increasing the price of something will result in less of that something being purchased. It doesn’t matter what we are talking about, but in this case low-skilled labor! Even though some of the THRILL may have been gone, I hope everyone did enjoy themselves this summer at our amusement parks across the state and we thank all of them for their positive contribution to our communities.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? LET ME KNOW NOW WITH A RESPONSE.
Sincerely,
Dave Huffman
Editor, The Daily Grit
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