en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/291870 Comments by DelcoBrian http://grassrootspa.com/2010/07/22/inquirer-calls-for-corbett-to-resign/#IDComment88062818 And where is the companion editorial from the Inquirer asking Dan Onorato to step down as Allegany County Executive? Oh wait, nevermind, I am asking too much. Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:37:57 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2010/07/22/inquirer-calls-for-corbett-to-resign/#IDComment88062818 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2010/02/09/rendells-29-billion-budget-lifts-74-sales-tax-exemptions/#IDComment56266040 You have to realize that all democrats determine how much they want to spend, and then figure out a way to pay for it. It should be the other way around. Figure out how much you want to tax, and then spend that money on the proper things. I don't think property taxes are going away any time soon, but you could cut them in half by having more regional school districts with less state and federal mandates and more state funding as a percentage of their budgets. If I were ever elected governor, I would apply the sales tax at 3% to everything except for food, clothing, and medicine and eliminate all other taxes except for the gas tax. Then you combine state agencies and close down the ones that are useless. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:30:24 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2010/02/09/rendells-29-billion-budget-lifts-74-sales-tax-exemptions/#IDComment56266040 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2010/02/09/rendells-29-billion-budget-lifts-74-sales-tax-exemptions/#IDComment56177998 I have no problem with lowering the sales tax and broadening the base, as sales taxes are more fair than income and property taxes. One is not penalized for working and earning more money. The main focus should be on reducing the size of government and lowering the income tax. But with a democrat in the governor's mansion I don't see that happening. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:42:08 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2010/02/09/rendells-29-billion-budget-lifts-74-sales-tax-exemptions/#IDComment56177998 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/12/14/pa-lawmakers-mull-mandatory-sex-ed-in-schools/#IDComment47196108 Sex education is very simple. The best way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is to NOT have sex in the first place. END OF STORY. This method works every time it is tried. Sure you can teach kids about STDs, HIV, birth control, fisting, anal sex, intercourse, gay sex, et al in school. But what is the point of that? It's great information and all, BUT the ONLY 100% effective way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is to not have sex. Period. Any of you erudite, effete, elite snobs out there want to argue with me over this one? Go for it. I can't wait to hear all of your refined, idealistic arguments. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:09:06 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/12/14/pa-lawmakers-mull-mandatory-sex-ed-in-schools/#IDComment47196108 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/27/new-state-law-prohibits-salaried-employees-from-deducting-business-losses-from-earned-income-tax/#IDComment45004266 I can't wait to see them try and enforce this one. Many people work for a salary and then have a business on the side. I am one of those people who also happens to be a CPA. I can't wait to see the how this is going to work. Stupid government. Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:16:43 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/27/new-state-law-prohibits-salaried-employees-from-deducting-business-losses-from-earned-income-tax/#IDComment45004266 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/26/obama-taps-penns-gutmann-to-lead-bioethics-panel/#IDComment44945075 Actually, Gutmann is the president of the University of Pennsylvania and is not the employer of Michael Mann. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:28:04 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/26/obama-taps-penns-gutmann-to-lead-bioethics-panel/#IDComment44945075 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/10/texting-behind-wheel-targeted-on-pa-roads-targeted/#IDComment42824989 Ray, Thanks for clearing up my remarks. You summarized my point much better than I did. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:34:19 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/10/texting-behind-wheel-targeted-on-pa-roads-targeted/#IDComment42824989 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/08/altmire-holden-lone-dem-votes-against-health-care-bill/#IDComment42503924 Joe Cao won a special election in the bluest of districts a year ago in New Orleans. He replaced the now convicted congressmen William Jefferson, Democrat-Louisana. He was the last GOPer to vote last night, and had premission form Boehner to vote yea once the count got over 218 in favor. If he wants to win reelection in his district in 2010, he needed to vote for it as a tactical decision. Also, based on what I am reading, the bill is DOA in the Senate as many moderate Ds will not vote for cloture. Liberman, Landreau, Lincoln, and Nelson are among those who are not in favor of a public option. If the bill does not get to conference by February 2010, then there will be no bill at all since those up Ds for reelection in the House and Senate do not want to give the voting public another reason to vote them out. Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:11:28 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/11/08/altmire-holden-lone-dem-votes-against-health-care-bill/#IDComment42503924 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/09/28/for-insolvent-cities-state-welfare-is-hard-to-give-up/#IDComment36436141 Ryan, I am with you on this one. In the Southeast part of Delco there are tons of tiny municipalities that could be merger together and be run much more effectively. I think the greater picture we have to look at it what is the purpose of a municipality. To me my local government should provide police and fire protection along with making sure the local roadways are clear and in good shape. Beyond that, they do not need to do much more. If you look at simple economies of scale, larger is better, but it moderation. Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:07:59 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/09/28/for-insolvent-cities-state-welfare-is-hard-to-give-up/#IDComment36436141 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/08/25/rendell-widen-sales-tax-to-ease-budget-crunch/#IDComment32027258 I would be in favor of an expanded sales tax if it meant a corresponding reduction in the income tax and/or those idiotic head and local services taxes. However, I am not holding my breath on this one. Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:27:06 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/08/25/rendell-widen-sales-tax-to-ease-budget-crunch/#IDComment32027258 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/07/10/sestak-responds-to-specter/#IDComment26912584 The popcorn is popping, my cold adult beverage is chilling in my fridge, and I am cleaning off my couch so that I can sit down and start watching the battle royal between two punks. In the blue corner we have the challenger, an egotistical admiral fresh from the House of Representatives. In the other corner, we have a senile old man who is long in the tooth and needs to retire. Ladies and Gentlemen, LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!! Democrat primary 2010 style. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:00:44 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/07/10/sestak-responds-to-specter/#IDComment26912584 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/07/10/hoeffel-considers-gov-run/#IDComment26880258 Chris, I'm disappointed... you didn't post the signature Hoeffel picture with his bullhorn. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:22:51 +0000 http://GrassrootsPA.com/2009/07/10/hoeffel-considers-gov-run/#IDComment26880258 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26735178 Since there are no announced candidates, I would put the district in the toss up category. Lentz has announced that he will seek Sestak's seat, since the admiral has "announced" he will be challenging Arlen. Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:10:16 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26735178 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26722218 Civera is in the party leadership and is retiring to take a job on the Delco council, so the only reason he signed on was b/c the rest of the leadership did. I still don't fathom his idea to run for Delco council. Probably had something to do with keeping an outsider from winning in the primary. As for the others, Adolph has been in his seat since 1988, so that is a complete shock to me (he took and returned the pay raise IIRC), and Barrar's district has been GOP since 1969 minus four years from 1975-78, and it includes some of the most conservative territory in the county (Chadds Ford, Bethel, Chester Heights) and parts of Chester County that are also very conservative (Birmingham, Thornbury, Pocopson). Wed, 8 Jul 2009 20:42:59 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26722218 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26722204 Considering that Tom Gannon, probably the biggest of the Delco GOP hacks got bounced after the pay raise from his jerrymandered 161st district by a relative unknown in Lentz, the rest of them are probably scared to death for their jobs. The lone hold out Micozzie has been in office since 1979, so he feels "safe." I didn't look up his winning margin last cycle, but he represents a more Dem leaning area of the county (Darby Twp, Ridley Twp, Upper Darby). more... Wed, 8 Jul 2009 20:42:47 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26722204 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/toomey-im-electable-gop-leaders-not-so-sure/#IDComment26720891 Over in Chester County, you have West Chester on one side and Coatesville on the other. That's almost just as weird as Radnor and Chester. In Montco, you have Lower Merion on one side with Norristown and Phoenixville on the other. Many counties have places that are radically different than the others. Delco is no different that Chester or Montco. As nittanyGOP says above, the GOP machine is what is killing the county. Anyone who wants to run for anything must have the endorsement of the Delco GOP or else they are run out of town. The county commissioner campaign on no tax increases, and then just after being reelected rasie county taxes. What a bunch of morons. Wed, 8 Jul 2009 20:22:27 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/toomey-im-electable-gop-leaders-not-so-sure/#IDComment26720891 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/toomey-im-electable-gop-leaders-not-so-sure/#IDComment26716467 Delco is a mess. The GOP machine here is just as bad as the Dem machine in Philadelphia. Our county has three of the bottom 10 school districts in the state. Ouch! If there is a county that needs a clean sweep operation, it is this one. Curt Weldon and Tom Gannon are gone, but many of the other reps are still there and driving the place into the groud. Wed, 8 Jul 2009 19:16:19 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/toomey-im-electable-gop-leaders-not-so-sure/#IDComment26716467 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26714725 Ryan, I am sure there are many Democrat out there who don't want to vote to raise taxes, but can't publically say so or else they will get the wrath of their leadership. Rouges like Zell Miller, former Democrat U.S. Senator from Georgia who are outspoken simply do not exist anymore at any level within the Democrat party. When it comes time to vote, I expect most of the House Dems to roll over and vote for tax increases. If the GOP can pick off a few of the more convservative ones who represent the central and western part of the state, then that is when things will get interesting. Wed, 8 Jul 2009 19:05:11 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26714725 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26672109 Of the above 14 are from SEPA (representing Bucks, Montco, Delco, Chester, and Philly). Of the other 7, here is the breakdown, -2 are from the Lehigh Valley (Dally and Harhart) -2 from Pittsburgh area (Maher, Vulakovich) -1 from Erie County (Evans) -1 from York County (Miller) -1 from Columbia County (Millard) No real surprises regarding the 14 in the SE. Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:15:51 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26672109 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26666275 I was also shocked to see that Tom Killion, my State House Rep signed it too. However, Pileggi hasn't signed on yet. While he and Scarnati are on record as saying there will be no tix hike coming out of the Senate, their failure to commit themselves to a pledge has left me a little disappointed. Wed, 8 Jul 2009 14:45:48 +0000 http://grassrootspa.com/2009/07/08/baer-tax-hike-plan-hitting-gop-wall-for-now/#IDComment26666275