Ignoring the will of the voters won’t end well for GOP

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa “Voters? We don’t need no stinkin’ voters.” As it self-immolates into the dustbin of history, the Republican Party in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. seems to really only stand for one thing: ignoring the will of the voters. Sure, it’s bad politics and bad policy, but ignoring the will of the people seems to be just about that trick left to...

Chris Ross talks Harrisburg and good government

By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Former state representative Chris Ross (R-158) recently was so kind as to spend an hour and a half talking with me about his 20 years representing a district that stretches from eastern and southern West Goshen west through the Bradfords and then south as far as London Britain and the Delaware border.   I had interviewed him before back in the fall of 2012....

Barrar hosts War College students for policy talk

Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160) and other legislators were presented with a certificate of appreciation Tuesday from United States Army War College students following a policy issues discussion that he hosted. HARRISBURG — State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160) hosted a discussion with other members of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees about policy issues affecting veterans...

The silliest of silly seasons cranks up

Playing the Walker ‘blame game’ and hijinks in the Sixth race By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times It’s just one month until election day and the gloves have come off, from dueling ads (of questionable veracity at times), protests, endorsements, temper tantrums and worst of all: the lawyers have been unleashed. So, in other words, it’s a pretty typical October, when politics goes from...

Politicians, just like everyone else, don’t fit easily in one category

In our ‘Us Versus Them’ environment, it’s too easy to miss the human element By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Politicians, despite reports to the contrary, are human beings. With all of the invective being thrown around, it can be easy to forget, of course. As humans, we like to put things and people into boxes. But people being people, they are always more complicated. A couple...

School board seeking a middle ground

Moderation, common sense seems to be ruling the day; spring cleaning needed in Harrisburg By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com Monday night’s Board of Education budget hearing was both encouraging and discouraging. I was encouraged by the comments, in general, from members of the Board of Education who seem to be more willing to find a sensible middle ground in terms of balancing tax increases...

Letters: Gov. closed down capitol to public

To The Editor: “A sign on the stairs announced restricted access to Corbett’s office and the offices of Democratic and Republican State House members… …Lawmakers, legislative staffers, executive branch employees, lobbyists (emphasis added) and journalists are among those issued the cards.” “Restricting public access to the Capitol during rallies is part of a new policy by the Corbett Administration.” ...

Letter: Time to end taxpayer funded green job madness

The The Editor: Just when you thought big Government over-reach in Pennsylvania would end with the Republicans at the helm in Harrisburg…think again. Special interest pay-to-play politics is alive and well and still the rule of the day. With unproven man-made global warming opinion science as its foundation and campaign cash laden environmental lobbyists roaming the halls of our Capitol, the...