Extreme liberal special interest groups are rushing to the aid of Democrat Supreme Court candidates Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht, campaign finance reports filed Friday show.
Union bosses have spent $2.9 million and trial lawyers have poured in $1.9 million on the campaigns of the three Democrats running for the Supreme Court this year. Just since September 15th, trial lawyers and unions gave $2.3 million to the Democrat candidates.
“Liberal special interests groups are desperately trying to buy this Supreme Court election,” Republican Party of Pennsylvania Communications Director Megan Sweeney said. “By pouring millions of dollars into this Supreme Court race, these extreme liberal special interest groups are trying to ensure that our highest court is filled with activists judges who will legislate from the bench.
“After years of scandals have broken the public’s trust, our Commonwealth has a real opportunity to start a new chapter in our statewide courts. We can’t afford jurists whose campaigns are stacked with the funds of extreme liberal special interest groups because it casts a dark shadow on their judgment.”
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Monday, October 26, 2015
Ooohhh, Those Amazing Mets . . . 1969 Edition!
So, the Mets are in the World Series.
And, let's face it -- the Mets are almost always sentimental favorites.
Do you remember when they won it all in 1969? Well, maybe not. Sports were simpler, more innocent, more natural then. And ball players were generally well-behaved and clean-cut.
But, anyway the Mets were the singing Mets that year.
And they actually recorded an album and went on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was about as famous as you could get in those pre-social media days.
Enjoy the video!
NJ Gas Tax Hike Is Back - You Can Stop It!
In New Jersey, one of the most heavily-taxed states in the nation, the hue and cry is on again for a gas tax hike.
You didn't really expect this to go away, did you?
Democrats in the state need to deflect attention away from a new campaign (launched by the gannett newspapers in the state) to force action on the state's high property taxes.
So now, the Dem majority in the state's senate and Assembly have hatched a new shell game: Give us the extra money we needed for New Jersey's Transportation Fund (in fact give us more than that through a gas-tax hike) so that we can maintain roads and bridges and then we'll tackle property taxes.
believe it: Behind close doors, legislative maneuvers are underway to hike New Jersey's tax on gas at the pump by as much as 15 or even 20 cents per gallon -- maybe even more!
And it's even been reported that some GOP legislators may even go along with a gas tax hike.
But, wait a minute.
This is our money that these supposed leaders are talking about behind closed doors.
Still, they figure if they raise the gas tax now (when gas prices are relatively low) we either won't notice or won't care.
Get this: The people who run our state seem to think we're fools.
Well, we're not. And here are Five Big Reasons NOT to raise the gas tax:
1) New Jersey already spends a whopping 8.4 times the national average for every mile of road it maintains or builds. North Dakota (which gets tons of snow) spends a fraction of what we spend per mile.
2) Our highway funding system is inefficient. Our state spent nearly $45,000 per every mile of roads on highway administration. The national average is just $10,500.
3) Other states with similarly dense metro areas and high costs of living spend far less per-mile than Jersey. Even New York and California spend less.
4) New Jersey has also made little use of public-private partnerships to finance and execute transportation projects. It's been reported that such projects are already lowering costs in 30 other states.
5) New Jersey’s has mishandled its transportation funding. The state should have spent annual budgeted money on a pay-as-you-go basis. But New Jersey inefficiently relied on debt to finance its roads and bridges.
On top of all this, New Jersey toll collections are through-the-roof. Our state is taking in more money from tolls than any other state except New York. What's happening to all this money?
Until New Jersey cleans up its transportation revenue and funding act, it will have to make do with the money it has.
Tell your state legislators: NO NJ GAS TAX HIKE!
Here's what you can do to stop the gas tax hike. But you must act NOW!
Click here to find a page that contains a list of New Jersey towns. Find your town and note the number of your legislative district. Click on the town name and a new page will come up with the districts by number. Click on the number of your district and you will then find the names of your state legislators. You can then click on the names to send them an e-mail or call the phone numbers. We advise that you call all three legislators in your district. Tell them you are AGAINST a hike in the gas tax. Make it very clear and don't accept any cockamamie explanations.
Calling is a quick and easy way to get the job done. And if we all do it, it will scare the gas outta those windbags in Trenton.
Do it NOW!
You didn't really expect this to go away, did you?
Democrats in the state need to deflect attention away from a new campaign (launched by the gannett newspapers in the state) to force action on the state's high property taxes.
So now, the Dem majority in the state's senate and Assembly have hatched a new shell game: Give us the extra money we needed for New Jersey's Transportation Fund (in fact give us more than that through a gas-tax hike) so that we can maintain roads and bridges and then we'll tackle property taxes.
believe it: Behind close doors, legislative maneuvers are underway to hike New Jersey's tax on gas at the pump by as much as 15 or even 20 cents per gallon -- maybe even more!
And it's even been reported that some GOP legislators may even go along with a gas tax hike.
But, wait a minute.
This is our money that these supposed leaders are talking about behind closed doors.
Still, they figure if they raise the gas tax now (when gas prices are relatively low) we either won't notice or won't care.
Get this: The people who run our state seem to think we're fools.
Well, we're not. And here are Five Big Reasons NOT to raise the gas tax:
1) New Jersey already spends a whopping 8.4 times the national average for every mile of road it maintains or builds. North Dakota (which gets tons of snow) spends a fraction of what we spend per mile.
2) Our highway funding system is inefficient. Our state spent nearly $45,000 per every mile of roads on highway administration. The national average is just $10,500.
3) Other states with similarly dense metro areas and high costs of living spend far less per-mile than Jersey. Even New York and California spend less.
4) New Jersey has also made little use of public-private partnerships to finance and execute transportation projects. It's been reported that such projects are already lowering costs in 30 other states.
5) New Jersey’s has mishandled its transportation funding. The state should have spent annual budgeted money on a pay-as-you-go basis. But New Jersey inefficiently relied on debt to finance its roads and bridges.
On top of all this, New Jersey toll collections are through-the-roof. Our state is taking in more money from tolls than any other state except New York. What's happening to all this money?
Until New Jersey cleans up its transportation revenue and funding act, it will have to make do with the money it has.
Tell your state legislators: NO NJ GAS TAX HIKE!
Here's what you can do to stop the gas tax hike. But you must act NOW!
Click here to find a page that contains a list of New Jersey towns. Find your town and note the number of your legislative district. Click on the town name and a new page will come up with the districts by number. Click on the number of your district and you will then find the names of your state legislators. You can then click on the names to send them an e-mail or call the phone numbers. We advise that you call all three legislators in your district. Tell them you are AGAINST a hike in the gas tax. Make it very clear and don't accept any cockamamie explanations.
Calling is a quick and easy way to get the job done. And if we all do it, it will scare the gas outta those windbags in Trenton.
Do it NOW!
Synod Bottom Line: NO Changes In Catholic Doctrine
At the conclusion of three weeks of work, debate and deliberation the Final Report of the Synod of Catholic Bishops in Rome reflects no changes in Catholic doctrine or teaching regarding the family. Here is the story from The Vatican:
The Synod Fathers approved by 177 votes out of 265, a two-thirds majority, the final Relatio of the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod on the Family, made up of 94 paragraphs, each one of which was voted on individually. The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., gave a briefing on the document, which was authorised for publication in Italian by Pope Francis. Fr. Lombardi remarked that the text takes into account the many difficulties faced by the family, but also its great capacity for facing and reacting to them. The conclusive document of the Synod includes many of the amendments to the Instrumentum Laboris presented by the Synod Fathers and therefore reflects the voice of the Assembly. With reference to the two paragraphs dedicated to complex family situations, which were approved by a very slender majority of 178 and 180 votes, Fr. Lombardi noted that they regard the pastoral approach to wounded families or those that are irregular from a canonical point of view and in terms of the discipline of the Church: in particular, cohabitation, civil marriage, divorced and remarried persons and the way of pastorally addressing these situations. Fr. Lombardi underlined that the tone of the document is positive and welcoming, and that it has greatly enriched the Instrumentum Laboris. Similarly, the Pope's Motu Proprio on the reform of marriage annulment procedures made an effective and decisive contribution to the theme of the Synod. The final Relatio reaffirms the doctrine of the indissolubility of sacramental marriage, which is not a yoke but rather a gift from God, a truth based in Christ and in His relationship with the Church. At the same time, it underlines that truth and mercy converge in Christ, which leads to welcome to wounded families. Without expressly mentioning access to the Eucharist for remarried divorcees, the Synod document recalls that they are not excommunicated and refers the analysis of complex family situations to the discernment of pastors. This discernment, the text underlines, must be applied in accordance with the teaching of the Church, with trust in God's mercy that is denied to no-one. With regard to cohabiting couples, the text reiterates that this situation should be faced constructively, seeking to transform it into an opportunity for a path to conversion towards the fullness of marriage and family, in the light of the Gospel. Other salient points of the document refer to homosexuality. There must be no discrimination against people with homosexual tendencies, but at the same time the text states that the Church is contrary to same-sex unions and external pressure on the Church in relation to this matter is not accepted. There are special paragraphs dedicated to immigrants, refugees and persecuted families who are often divided and whose members can become victims of trafficking. A welcoming approach was invoked for them too, recalling their rights and also their duties in their host countries. There are specific paragraphs on women, men and children, the mainstays of family life: the text emphasises the need for the protection and the recognition of the value of their respective roles. It is hoped that a more prominent role will be identified for women in the formation of ordained ministers, while in relation to children mention was made of the beauty of adoption and fostering, practices which reconstruct ruptured family bonds. The Synod does not forget widows and widowers, the disabled, the elderly and grandparents, who enable the transmission of faith in the family and must be protected from the throwaway culture. Unmarried people must also be acknowledged for their commitment to the Church and society. Among the “shadows” that are frequently cast on the family, the Synod notes the presence of political and religious fanaticism hostile to Christianity, growing individualism, gender ideology, conflicts, persecution, poverty, precarious employment, corruption, economic difficulties that can exclude families from education and culture, the globalisation of indifference in which humanity's place at the centre of society is usurped by money, pornography, and the declining birth rate. The Relation therefore gathers together suggestions for strengthening preparation for marriage, especially for the young who appear intimidated by it. They are in need, says the Synod, of an adequate emotional formation, following the virtues of chastity and self-giving. In this regard, mention was made of the bond between the sexual act and procreation between spouses, of which children are the most precious fruit, since they bear the memory and hope of an act of love. Another bond is that between the vocation of the family and the vocation to consecrated life. Education in sexuality and corporeality and the promotion of responsible parenting would also be central, in accordance with the teachings of Paul VI's encyclical “Humanae Vitae” and the primary role of parents in the education of their children in faith. An appeal is launched to institutions to promote an support policies in favour of the family, and Catholics engaged in politics are exhorted to protect the family and life, as a society that neglects them loses its openness to the future. In this respect, the Synod reaffirms the sacredness of life from conception to natural death, and warns against the grave threats posed to the family by abortion and euthanasia. Further paragraphs are dedicated to mixed marriages, whose positive aspects in relation to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue are underlined, while confirming the need to protect religious freedom and the right to conscientious objection in society. The text includes extensive reflection on the need to modify the language of the Church, making it more meaningful so that the proclamation of the Gospel of the family may truly respond to the deepest human aspirations. This means not only presenting a series of regulations but rather announcing the grace that gives the capacity to live well the good of the family. Finally, the Relatio emphasises the beauty of the family: as a domestic church based on marriage between a man and a woman, the fundamental cell of the society whose growth it contributes, a safe entry to the deepest sentiments, the sole point of connection in a fragmented age, and an integral part of human ecology, it must be protected, supported and encouraged, also by the authorities. The document concludes by a plea to the Synod Fathers by the Pope, regarding the possibility of producing a document on the family. As Fr. Lombardi explains, “The Synod Fathers do not say that all is complete, but affirm that they offer the Relatio to the Holy Father to enable him to evaluate whether to continue on this route with a document, on the basis of the Synod text, to further examine the theme of the family from the perspective he wishes to offer. 'We continue on our path'”. |
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Don't Miss Philly Veteran's Parade November 8!
The city where American democracy got its start did not have an official citywide parade to honor its Veterans until now.
The parade will occur on Sunday, November 8 2015 in Center City, rain or shine. It starts at approximately 12:00 PM and concludes around 3:30pm.
The parade will start at the intersection of S. Broad St and Walnut St. and will march north to City Hall and make a quarter turn and head east on Market St. to Independence Hall. The route is about one mile, a normal walk of 40-50 minutes.
This year’s Parade will focus on veterans though history.
The parade will occur on Sunday, November 8 2015 in Center City, rain or shine. It starts at approximately 12:00 PM and concludes around 3:30pm.
The parade will start at the intersection of S. Broad St and Walnut St. and will march north to City Hall and make a quarter turn and head east on Market St. to Independence Hall. The route is about one mile, a normal walk of 40-50 minutes.
This year’s Parade will focus on veterans though history.
The Parade will also commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the end of World War II, the 50th Anniversary of Vietnam and the 25th Anniversary of Desert Shield. The parade will feature veterans of all eras, military units, civic and youth groups.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
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