Spring brings out the senseless in politics
May brings flowers and Silly Season, Part I
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Ah yes, it’s May. The blooms are on the trees, warm sunshine is here (that is when we don’t get washed away by five inches of rain), the birds are singing and Spring is in the air.
Oh, and the crazy is really ramped up in the political world. From the 158th state house district to Gov. Tom Corbett, the red mist has fully...
Letter: Misinformation about horse breeding funds
To The Editor:
It doesn’t surprise me that Ray Farrell (in comments on this site), who is the campaign manager for Roger Howard, doesn’t understand how Breeding Fund payments are made. Farrell took the time to quote from the Racing Act the duties of the Breeders Association but neglected to review (or chose to ignore) the section of the law that explains how breeding fund awards are to...
Letter: Looting horsemen no way to pay for schools
To The Editor,
My background is that of an ‘Army Brat” who traveled the world — Turkey, France, Okinawa — with relatives in England, Australia, and New Zealand. My grandfather in England used to call his bookie and enjoy making small bets from home and take me to the race courses in the 1950s. I love horses and always have from riding carriage horses in Turkey to now owning...
A painful week for the UCF school community
Principal’s departure was handled about as well as possible, thoughts on participation fees
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
To say it was a busy week for the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District doesn’t begin to start to describe it.
From the departure of a school principal, to the resignation of a school board member and lively debate about raising activity fees, there certainly was no...
Letter: Howard is misinformed on horse fund
To the Editor,
It is apparent, after reading Mr. Howard’s letter on the Race Horse Development Fund, that he should not be running for Representative. His research and information could not be further from the truth and lack any comprehension of the importance of the horse breeding industry and its impact on Chester County’s economy and the preservation of open space.
First of all, the RHDF...
Letter: Howard misled on race horse development fund
To the Editor:
It is a sad reflection on the values of politicians in these times that Roger Howard has chosen to open his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 158th State House District with a negative and deceptive letter to this publication. I am writing to set the record straight on Mr. Howard’s unfounded and deceitful personal attack on his opponent, Cuyler Walker.
In 1961, when...
Letter: Fleecing the public
To The Editor:
Last year, the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund (RHDF) was given $264 Million of state revenue. This year it is budgeted to receive $301 Million. Since the passage of the 2004 Gaming Act that established this fund, $1.7 Billion has been given to wealthy horse owners and breeders.
Most of this money is not used for racing infrastructure; 80% of it is simply used to increase...
Letter: In support of paycheck protection
To The Editor:
Pennsylvania needs Paycheck Protection laws. It’s not fair that public sector unions have special privilege. It is not the responsibility of government entities to collect union dues. Furthermore, I do not want my tax dollars being used to collect union dues – and that includes using our/my tax dollars to collect union dues in our school districts. Should taxpayers...
Letter: Healthcare contributions to Pitts are unethical
To The Editor:
Candidates for public office filed their fundraising reports this week and I was shocked by the report submitted by Congressman Joe Pitts.
Mr. Pitts is the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Health. As such, he has oversight and regulatory powers over the health care industry. Yet Mr. Pitts’ filing revealed that he accepted contributions from 29 organizations representing corporations...
State campaign finance Website is a fiasco
‘New and improved’ site less useful that HealthCare.gov
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
And they said HealthCare.gov is bad.
Try spending some quality time searching campaign finance reports on the Pennsylvania Department of State.
I did this past week, as Tuesday was the always dreaded deadline for the Cycle 1 campaign finance report that has to be filed for state legislative candidates,...
