Animal Farm Redux: GOP-controlled state senate lurches left

Comments by Roberta Biros:

The following article was written by Lowman S. Henry of the Lincoln Institute. It clearly explains the obvious problem with the Pennsylvania State Senate and its leadership.  When you read it, please also remember (and refer to) my recent article titled "When you blame “Senate Republicans” be sure to blame Senator Bob Robbins".

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This article was written by Lowman S. Henry of the Lincoln Institute and is reprinted here with permission.
-
In George Orwell's 1945 classic Animal Farm, the humans running the farm are displaced in an uprising by the animals who take charge. As time progresses, the revolutionary leaders become corrupted by power and morph into new versions of the people they displaced. That is an apt description of the Pennsylvania senate. In this case though, the animals who took charge and then lost their way are RINOs (Republicans in Name Only.)

Four years ago, on the heels of the infamous middle-of-the-night pay jacking, Republican primary voters ousted the top ranking members of the senate; President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer and Majority Leader Chip Brightbill. Never in the history of Penn's Woods had both leaders been defeated at the polls in the same election.

Republican voters did this because the senate leadership had lost its way. Like GOP leaders in Washington, Jubelirer and Brightbill became big spending, big government liberals who failed to reflect the core principles of their party. Voters reacted by tossing them from office, electing in their districts two stalwart conservatives.

On the leadership level, Senator Joseph Scarnati of Jefferson County and Senator Domenic Pileggi of Delaware County were respectively elected President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader. Unfortunately, over the course of the last four years, they have also drifted from their party's core principles and are currently advancing an agenda so liberal Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi would be proud.

Among the leftist legislation pushed by Scarnati and Pileggi:

• A bill that would increase the number of "jackpot juries" in Pennsylvania by allowing trial lawyers to suggest to jurors at closing the amount of damages that should be awarded. Such a change would prejudice the jury toward a guilty verdict and fix an amount for damages in their minds. After a furious lobbying campaign by business, taxpayer and TEA party organizations the bill was pulled from the agenda.
• The so-called "Sub-Contractor Extinction Act" passed with the amazing support of 14 Republican senators who voted to make it next to impossible for the 85% of Pennsylvanian workers who choose not to join a union to get work on major projects. The legislation will dramatically increase the cost of construction. It also was a sop to the labor unions, who contribute heavily to Pileggi's campaigns.
• Having climbed into bed with trial lawyers and labor unions, the senate's Republican leadership also wants to have a dalliance with the radical environmental movement. Scarnati and Pileggi plan to bring to a vote a bill which would increase the percentage of solar power which must be purchased by Pennsylvania electric companies. Pennsylvania Power & Light alone estimates that will increase its generation costs by $200 million per year. Consumers will pay in the end with significantly higher electric bills.
• Senate leadership has pledged to enact a severance tax on gas pumped from the Marcellus Shale reserves. The tax was agreed to in the budget deal struck with Governor Ed Rendell last summer. Proponents of the tax claim Pennsylvania is the only state without a severance levy. What they fail to say is that Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that imposes both a Corporate Net Income Tax and a Capital Stock and Franchise Tax on companies. A severance tax would have a chilling effect on one of the few industries in Pennsylvania that is actually growing.
• Stuck it to citizens who want to obtain documents from state, county and local governments by watering down the Right-to-Know law. The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association opposed the legislation because it narrowed the scope of the law and will also allow governments to place onerous per page copying fees on information requested.
• Scarnati and Pileggi are pushing for the creation of a legislative fiscal office. This new bureaucracy would cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars to provide budget information to lawmakers who already employ sizably staffs on their appropriations committees.

And, let us not forget that it was the Senate Republican caucus that has partnered with Governor Ed Rendell in passing state budgets with unaffordable levels of spending and massive debt that has created a fiscal mess of historic proportions.
 
Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled senate has become indistinguishable from the Democrats. In true Orwellian style the animals have morphed into the humans - and the result is a government that steals personal freedom and economic liberty from the governed.
 
The Declaration of Independence established that liberty as a God-given right. It also says that: " . . . whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government."
 
That time has come once again.

 

(Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His email address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org.)

When you blame “Senate Republicans” be sure to blame Senator Bob Robbins

I read a fascinating article today that was written by Lowman S. Henry, Chairman and CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research. The article was titled “Fiscal Folly: Proposed legislative budget office more useless bureaucracy” and it is available for on-line review HERE. Please read it. It is an important summary regarding Pennsylvania’s fiscal problems, and I agree with it whole-heartedly.

The article referenced above very clearly states that a large portion of the blame of our fiscal problems in Pennsylvania is “Senate Republicans”. We ALL need to understand EXACTLY who those Senate Republicans are.

Above is a photo of the 2009-2010 Pennsylvania State Republican Senate Leadership.  Included are Top left to right, Majority Caucus Chairman Mike Waugh (R-28), Majority Caucus Administrator Pat Browne (R-16), Majority Policy Committee Chairman John Pippy (R-37), Majority Caucus Secretary Bob Robbins (R-50), and  Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman (R-34). Bottom left to right, Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), and Majority Whip Jane Clare Orie (R-40). 
 
First, it should be noted that Majority Whip Jane Clare Orie (R-40) is no longer part of the Senate leadership as early this year she was forced to resign from her leadership position because she was under investigation for mis-using legislative staff (which is paid for by tax payers) for her sister's campaign in 2009 (read an update to the story HERE). This is important because it illustrates that there are already known problems with the State Senate leadership. It also reminds us that ALL legislators should be held accountable when it comes to the way that they spend OUR tax dollars (read my example of how to hold legislators accountable HERE).
 
Second, it should be noted that the remaining Senate leadership ALL voted for the unbalanced and unconstitutional state budget in June of 2010 (you can read an overview by Bob Guzzardi of the Conservative Reform Network HERE and you can read my comments on the same budget HERE).
 
Knowing all of that, look at the faces in the photo and realize that the people shown are ALL Republicans but they DO NOT represent CONSERVATIVE values . . . and their voting record proves it.
 
More specifically, I want my readers from the northwest corner of Pennsylvania to understand that the Senator in the upper right-hand corner of the picture (with the Cheshire cat grin) is our own Senator Bob Robbins.  The same Bob Robbins who claims to be running on "his record" is part of the problem in Pennsylvania.  Senator Bob Robbins is one of the "Senate Republicans" that is referred to repeatedly by conservatives when they point fingers at greedy incumbents.  When you read the words "Senate Republicans", be sure to realize that YOU have allowed this man to get voted into office repeatedly.
 
When you actually take the time to review Bob Robbins' record, you find that he is NO CONSERVATIVE.  This was demonstrated in a review of his LibertyIndex.com F- grade this year (read HERE), and it was outlined in detail in my recent blog post (read HERE).  However, it is also revealed repeatedly if you take the time to look.  Another example is a review of his voting record as it is recorded through "Project Vote Smart" (VoteSmart.org).  His specific record on "Budget, Spending, and Taxes" can be seen HERE.  That record illustrates that Bob Robbins has rarely seen a spending bill that he didn't like.  If you compare his voting record against conservative Republican Representative Michele Brooks (view HERE), you will see that Bob Robbins is usually on the opposite side of the fence of his conservative colleagues.
 
When you read an article, comment, or commentary criticizing "Pennsylvania Senate Republicans", realize that the reference is calling out Senator Bob Robbins of Pennsylvania's 50th District.  As more and more problems are blamed on "Senate Republicans", realize that Bob Robbins IS part of the problem.  Most importantly, realize that THIS YEAR we have the opportunity to remove Bob Robbins from the equation.  We have the opportunity to Take Out the Trash on November 2nd of 2010.  The ONLY WAY to fix the problems with the Pennsylvania State Legislature is to begin with the not-so-conservative Republican leadership in the state senate.
 
On November 2nd, realize that the 50th District has a choice.  Please read the article titled "Truly Independent Common Sense Constitutional Conservative Roberta Biros’ Candidacy for State Senate" by Bob Guzzardi for a summary of the battle that is brewing.  Then access my website at ElectBiros.com to find out exactly how my conservative "Platform for Good Government" can help to turn Pennsylvania's Republican Senate around.
 

Fiscal folly: Proposed legislative budget office more useless bureaucracy

Written by Lowman S. Henry, Chairman and CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research

The compromise that resulted in the state budget agreement last summer included promised action on two major issues by October: enactment of a severance tax on gas in the Marcellus Shale Reserve, and creation of an independent legislative fiscal office. Amazingly, Republicans - particularly in the state senate - appear poised to both approve a job-crushing tax and to create yet another needless state bureaucracy.


The deal gives off the appearance that the GOP sold-out on the severance tax in exchange for getting a legislative fiscal office. It may or may not have been a quid pro quo, but in politics appearances are what matters. This appears to be a cave-in on piling additional taxes on the one industry in Pennsylvania that is actually growing so the legislature can expand its bureaucratic empire. Both actions are antithetical to the Republican Party's supposed free market, less government philosophy and serves to further alienate voters who are already distrustful of both political parties.

Lawmakers pushing for establishment of a legislative fiscal office claim that it is needed because the Budget Office, which is under the governor's control, has failed to accurately project state revenues over the past few years. The recession, of course, had a lot to do with the faulty revenue forecasts. But, Senate Republicans in particular were eager to accept the numbers last year in order to bring an end to the state's budget stalemate. Thus their claims of concern over inaccuracy ring hollow.

What is actually at play here is legislative ego. Since the governor has a fiscal office, so too must the General Assembly have such an office. And, to satisfy their egos, leaders of both political parties are willing to spend millions of our tax dollars. At a time when the state faces a budget deficit that could approach $5 billion, legislators are willing to spend more on indulging themselves. The proposed legislative fiscal office is projected to cost $4 million in start-up money, and then take a minimum annual appropriation of $3.6 million. You can bet the mortgage that the final costs will be significantly higher.

All of this will merely duplicate tasks that are already performed by multiple state agencies. First of all, there are already two legislative committees dealing with fiscal matters. Both the senate and the house have appropriations committees. Each committee is flush with staff, all paid for by our tax dollars. Then of course there is the state Budget Office in the executive branch. Add in the independently elected state fiscal offices: state treasurer and auditor general, and you have literally thousands of state employees paid millions to monitor the financial affairs of the commonwealth.

The real issue here is not one of getting accurate budget numbers, or even streamlining the legislative budget-making process. It is a matter of the legislature wanting to be on an "equal" footing with the governor. This is why the four legislative caucuses have escrowed hundreds of millions of dollars into operating reserve accounts rather than release the money to pay for essential state services. The legislature is empire building. And you can bet that if, and likely when, the legislative fiscal office is created it will quickly grow in size and scope.

Further, the creation of a legislative fiscal office will do nothing to address the core cause of Pennsylvania's fiscal woes. The core problem is that the legislature, prodded on by Governor Ed Rendell has spent well beyond our means. Senate Republicans caved into the spending last year, and this year leaders of all four caucuses backed a fiscally irresponsible budget. The problem is not a lack of information, the problem is a lack of political courage to stand up and make the tough decisions needed to get Pennsylvania's finances back on track.

The creation of a legislative fiscal office is a boondoggle of the highest order. It will be just another useless bureaucracy churning out more numbers for legislators to hide behind. Worse, millions that could be spent on fixing roads and bridges, funding education, or a wide range of other core government services will instead go to legislative ego feeding. And with elections looming voters should hold their legislators accountable.
(Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His email address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org.)

The 2010 General Election: Our Opportunity to Take Out the Trash

The movement is growing . . . people are angry . . . but this time is different! Rather than sitting at home and throwing their shoes (and gosh knows what else) at the TV, people are getting out and trying to make a difference. Devoted Democrats and Republicans alike are annoyed at that “darn TEA Party movement”. Democrats call them “right-wing nut jobs”, and Republicans call them “spoilers”, “kooks”, and (of all things) “right-wing nut jobs”. But who are they really? These “so called TEA Partiers” (as they were referred to by Alan Colmes this morning on Fox) are normal people like you and me who are fed up with big government, big spending, and the continued loss of our freedom and liberty. We are sick and tired of the establishment (referring to BOTH parties) running the show, and we are getting involved in politics like never before. They (the TEA Partiers) are SO MUCH like you and I that they ACTUALLY ARE you and I. If you are reading this message right now, YOU are one of US.


We call ourselves TEA Partiers, but we don’t actually have a “party”. We simply describe ourselves as “conservatives”. Some of us have tried to be “conservative Republicans” . . . some of us have tried to be “conservative Democrats” . . . some of us have tried both! Some are trying to take the Republican Party back . . . while others yet are considering starting their own Conservative Party. There are some of us that have gone so far as dare to be a conservative unaffiliated independent with NO tie to ANY party. We are, however, all one and the same.

Yesterday there were some very big Primary races across the United States. The results of those races are surprising some people . . . but not us. Conservative TEA Partiers are beating Republicans on their own turf, and overwhelmingly so in some races. Today the talking heads are saying “sure, they won but they have NO CHANCE in the General Election”. To that I say . . . “really? . . . REALLY? . . . seriously?”

Most (if not all) of you know that I am involved in my own race right now. I am running against a 20-year incumbent Republican State Senator (Bob Robbins). My race exemplifies the battle of the TEA Party movement, and here are a few clear illustrations:

CONSERVATIVE vs. NOT

ME:
I am a conservative. I firmly support a platform of “good government”.

MY OPPONENT:
My opponent is a Republican . . . but he is NO conservative. When asked questions he tells people to look at his record. Well, when you do actually look at his record you find that he is not for limited government, fiscal responsibility, or liberty. This is clearly shown in his poor marks on the Liberty Index. CLICK HERE for an outline of the results of the Liberty Index.


LIMITED GOVERNMENT vs. NOT

ME:
I am FOR a platform of smaller and more limited government, term limits, fiscal responsibility, and public service. I have outlined my full platform and details regarding my political views on my website. CLICK HERE for details.

MY OPPONENT:
My opponent supports NONE of those things. He voted FOR an unconstitutional state budget. The problems with the budget and his support for it were outlined in an on-line article HERE. It was also pointed out by Bob Guzzardi of the Conservative Reform Network HERE. He spends tens of thousands of dollars to protect his LONG career. This was described in a blog post by Rich Talbert of Grove City HERE. His history of fiscal irresponsibility was documented by former Republican State Committeewoman Helen Kirk HERE.

TERM LIMITS vs. NOT

ME:
I am for term limits. If elected I will limit myself to no longer than 2 terms (8 years) as a State Senator. I have agreed and signed the EmpowerPA.org candidate survey that reflects that opinion HERE.

MY OPPONENT:
My opponent has PROVEN that he does not support term limits by his 20 year career as a State Senator.

NO STATE PENSIONS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS vs. NOT

ME:
I feel that the State Pensions offered to elected officials are not sustainable. I have signed a promissory with EmpowerPA.org whereby if I am elected I will decline a state pension. That document is available for on-line review HERE.

MY OPPONENT:
My opponent is not only NOT against his pension, he is willing to do anything to keep it . . . including running as both a Democrat and a Republican this year. Don’t believe it? Well, don’t take my word for it . . . read the article written by Grove City’s Rich Talbert on the topic HERE.

Is Biros vs. Robbins Northwest Pennsylvania’s equivalent to O’Donnell vs. Castle in Delaware?

When you simply examine the shape and taste of a political race, it is interesting to compare my race to yesterday’s race in Delaware. While the election in Delaware was a Primary, there are a number of similarities. First, the Delaware Primary will be much like the General Election here in the 50th District because I believe it will ultimately be decided by conservatives. Pennsylvania’s 50th District is very conservative, and I don’t believe that left-leaning Democrats will be much of a force on November 2nd. The biggest difference, though, is that being a General Election my race will benefit from the votes of independent and conservative Democrat voters.

Stepping inside the voters minds for a minute

None of us know how voters will be thinking on November 2nd. No one can anticipate the attitudes of the people that get up, get dressed, and drive to the polls on Election Day. I would, however, be interested to do a poll on voters reactions to the ballot itself . . . as that will be the moment when voters make their final decision on who should get their vote.

Below is an image of the actual ballot as it will appear on the voting machines in the 50th District (a printable copy is available for download as a PDF HERE):

STRAIGHT PARTY:

Upon close review you will find something that rarely happens. Under “straight party”, you will see that voters will have the opportunity to vote for the party of “unaffiliated independent”. Get accustomed to this as I have a feeling that it is something that will begin to appear more often as the years progress.

SENATOR IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 50TH DISTRICT:

The race between me and Bob Robbins is the perfect example of a race between “TEA Party mentality” and “the old guard”. In true Arlen Spector style, Bob Robbins’ listing on the ballot tells you everything that you need to know about him . . . DEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICAN . . . he is trying to be EVERYTHING to EVERYONE and will do ANYTHING to win. As a true TEA Partier, my listing on the ballot tells you everything that you need to know about me . . . UNAFFILIATED INDEPENDENT . . . controlled by NO party.

How will voters react on November 2nd when they look at their choices for Senator in the 50th District? I’m not sure, but I’m hoping that we all remember that on November 2nd we need to “Take Out the Trash!”

.

The 2010 Fair Season Comes to an End!

Whew!  Allow me to open today's blog with the words of the Grateful Dead . . . "What a Long Strange Trip It's Been".

Back in May we began the long series of festivals, fairs, and parades that have stretched across the summer of 2010.  This weekend marked the official end of fair season.  On Saturday, September 11th, our team celebrated the end of a very successful summer of policking with the Mercer TEA Party and the Jamestown Parade and Fair.

The morning began with the Mercer TEA Party (sponsored and organized by the Mercer County Christian Coalition).  We had an information booth available, and I had an opportunity to talk to concerned citizens from the area regarding issues of good government.

I was then transported by 'high-speed vehicle' to the line up for the parade in Jamestown.

We then all ended up in our information booth at the Jamestown fair.  We distributed information and answered questions, but we also managed to have a pretty good time!

The 2010 Fair Season was wonderful!  Most importantly, my campaign is gaining traction . . . gaining popularity . . . and growing in size!  We've spent months getting our message out and our efforts have been amazingly successful.  The word is getting out and it is being embraced by the voters of Mercer, Crawford, Lawrence, and Butler Counties.

I want to extend a very public thanks to my campaign team.  Each and every one of them is a blessing.  Our numbers are growing and our small group of friends is growing exponentially. We are more than a campaign team, we are a family! In the words of my campaign chairman "Politics is fun . . . if you are really serious about it!"

BUT . . . our work is not done!  While the fair season is now officially over, it is time for us to begin the final phase of our campaign.  This is where we put all of the final pieces of the puzzle together in order to WIN IN NOVEMBER!  Our team is made up of hardworking and honest concerned citizens and we want YOUR help!  Our teams is a perfect illustration that "many hands make light work", and we'd like for you to join with us in order to achieve success as a team in November.

Contact me at roberta.in.mercer@gmail.com if you would like to be a part of the most motivated grassroots group to ever be seen in Mercer, Crawford, Lawrence, and Butler Counties!

LibertyIndex.com Provides a Report Card for PA Legislators

Have you ever asked an elected official where they stand on an issue and they simply respond with “check my record”? Well, in Mercer County that is an every day occurrence. As a candidate for public office, people ask me my opinions on issues every day. I respond as openly and as completely as possible as a matter of transparency. When I can I provide written responses and I usually attempt to post those responses to my blog or my website. Unfortunately, INCUMBENTS don’t offer the same level of transparency. Why? Because, as ‘career politicians’ they are more concerned about staying out of the spotlight and simply hanging on to what they have. They figure that if they keep their mouths shut they will squeak through another election cycle without being spotted and called out. Uninformed voters will vote for them because they don’t know any better.

When an incumbent elected official says “check my record”, have you? Most people don’t have the knowledge or resources to really dig down deep and research the voting record of an elected official . . . and that is why the response works so well. Luckily for us, there are individuals and groups out there that are willing to do the hard work for us. One example of such a resource is the LibertyIndex.

This Liberty Index is produced by RGI Inc, the Conservative Reform Network and The Conservative Reform PAC , Bob Guzzardi, President http://www.bobguzzardi.com . According to the LibertyIndex.com website, “The purpose of the Liberty Index is to allow the user to find out how his or her Senator and Representative voted and to give the user our evaluation of his or her performance. Because the Liberty Index advances an agenda of Limited Government and Economic Freedom, we have rated legislation whether or not it advances that goal.”

I’ve used the LibertyIndex.com as a tool in the past. Some of you may remember that in early 2009 I published the results from the LibertyIndex.com for each of the legislators that represent Mercer County. That blog post can be read HERE.

Mr. Guzzardi recently released new statistics for the 2009-2010 legislative voting calendar. I was, of course, eager to see how the legislators from Mercer County performed. I was not surprised by the results, but you may be. As a summary for the 2010 session, Mercer County legislators scored as follows:

Senator Bob Robbins (D/R – 50th): F-
Representative Dick Stevenson (R – 8th): C
Representative Mark Longietti (D-7th): F-
Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th): B-

Hmmmmm. On a scale of Limited Government, Economic Freedom, and Liberty ONLY TWO Mercer County legislators scored at or above average. Conservative Representatives Stevenson (C) and Brooks (B-) had voting records to be proud of. On the other hand, not-so-conservative Democrat/Republican Senator Bob Robbins (F-) and Democrat Representative Mark Longietti (F-) received frightening ratings. Interesting, don’t you think?
With the basic scores in hand, we should all be asking ourselves “are these legislators really representing us properly?”. Is this a fluke? Well, perhaps we should dig a little deeper. According to the date from the LibertyIndex.com, here are the results for those same legislators since 2003:

Upon review of the voting records of Mercer County’s legislators over a longer period of time, we find that Senator Bob Robbins and Representative Mark Longietti score at a consistent D+ to F- range. Representatives Stevenson and Brooks continue to keep their heads above water with consistent A- to C ratings.

So again I ask “are these legislators really representing us properly”. “Is this a fluke?”

When I look at the data it seems clear to me that Representatives Stevenson and Brooks are working to promote Liberty in Northwest Pennsylvania. It also seems clear that Senator Bob Robbins and Representative Mark Longietti are working hard to strip us of Liberty and they are clearly working against limited government and economic freedom.

ARE THERE OTHER INDEXES?

There are plenty of resources out on the web that provide summaries of data just like the Liberty Index.  The Liberty Index, though, focuses on issues that are important to ME (and those of us that are committed to Good Government).  I actually compared these same legislators from Mercer County in my own index just a few months ago. 

In my blog post titled "The Mercer Conservative Index: Grading Lawmakers and Candidates on a Simple Scale of Fiscal Conservatism and Public Service" I compared Mercer County's legislators on a scale that I designed based on such issues as intellect, public service, likability, and transparency & accountability.  Oddly enough, the results of that comparison were not that different than the Liberty Index.  Specifically, Senator Bob Robbins rated an "F" (see the details HERE), and Representative Michele Brooks rated a "B" (see the details HERE).  Could these grades be so far off if there are such close similarities between the end results?

WHAT IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING?

When you look at the results of the Liberty Index and the Mercer Conservative Index, don't you wonder how or why these very different legislators seem to stick together and support each other so fiercely? If they don't agree philosophically or legislatively, why do they support each other politically?  Does it go back to the idea that political party and ideals really don't matter?  Does it go back to the fact that incumbents simply support incumbents (like in the Mercer County Incumbent Party) because they are ultimately more concerned with their 'careers' than public service? 

PLEASE DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT

I invite you all to check out the data on the LibertyIndex.com on your own. The on-line database is rich with valuable information. You can view the records of each and every legislator, and those records link to the voting records as well as the actual legislation in question. Take a close look at their records and decide for yourself if you agree with the work that your legislators are doing for you.

TALK TO YOUR LEGISLATORS

I have taken the time to gather the detailed results for the legislators that represent Mercer County. I’ve collected those results into one downloadable PDF document that can be accessed HERE. I urge you to download it and print it out. The next time you meet up with one of Mercer County’s legislators, ask them where they stand on the issues of Liberty, Limited Government, and Economic Freedom. When they say “check my record”, please pull the document out and tell them that you have. Then remember that moment when you go to vote on November 2nd.

Event Announcement: Mercer Tea Party September 11th!

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT


9-11 Memorial and TEA Party



Mark Your Calendar & Join Us:

MERCER COUNTY COURTHOUSE LAWN
Saturday, September 11, 2010
9:30 am - NOON
Rain or Shine

BE AN INFORMED VOTER

Program includes:

* Patriotic songs by Linda Weber

* Memorial tribute by Rev. Charles Swartz, Pastor of Bible Baptist Church, Mercer

* Lee Wishing Director of Grove City College, Views & Visions

* Fran Beven of Eagle Forum

* John Kennedy, Chairman of Citizens Allliance of PA

* Rev. Jim Erb serving on "AIM", a network of churches and ministries

Bring friends, a lawn chair and if the weather is questionable an umbrella.

Sponsored by the Mercer County Christian Coalition

.

Why You Can’t Trust Bob Robbins and Good Reasons Not to Vote For Him!!

(Part II of a series)


(The following statements are my opinions, perspectives, and views after several years of volunteer work within the Mercer GOP. I served 12 years as a precinct committeewoman and 2 years on the PA GOP state committee.)

Summary of Bob’s Slush Fund: His Campaign Money or 2nd Salary

Let’s recap a section of Part I of this series, concerning Bob’s campaign fund, somewhat hidden accounts from my perspective. We could say that Bob is the Count of Hidden Accounts! Not only does this greedy official draw an outrageous salary for part-time work, a pension, and all expenses paid, including a Virgin Islands trip (corrected after he was caught), BUT it appears that he and his wife use the campaign fund as their private open checking account. Here’s a summary: $23,000 at Sam’s Club since 2006; $29,378 in “miscellaneous” reimbursement to Bob; $78,000 to the PA Republican Senate Committee in 2006 and $27,000 in 2008. His Dem friends and those Dem write-in’s should take note of Bob’s assistance to the Republican Club to the tune of over $100,000. Another absurd expenditure was over $168,000 for his 2006 re-election campaign, and lastly his $43,000 sneaky Dem write-in campaign. It is no wonder that the Count of Hidden Accounts does not want to give up his seat. The readers are invited to “do the math” and see how much money has changed hands since 2006.

The Robbins GOP Club

The Mercer GOP IS Bob and Cindy Robbins and Ginny Richardson, and maybe a little Brian Shipley on the side and everyone else is window dressing as far as they are concerned. Bob jealously guards his position and perks within the local GOP, the Northwest GOP Caucus, and the PA GOP State Committee. He, and his wife, work diligently within these organizations for their own selfish interests. Let me ask a reasonable question: For all the decades that Bob has held the senatorial position, including the extra bonus as senate secretary, WHAT GOOD HAS COME TO MERCER COUNTY? Nada, Zip, Nothing! He has just simply held the position; he is an ineffective senator.

Our county has higher unemployment than the national average, terrible crime, and poor prospects for the citizens. What has PayRaise Bob done to help solve any of these problems? NOTHING! Not only nothing, he has been quoted as saying that “it is a waste of time” to do any outreach in the Shenango Valley area. He avoids Farrell like the plague. His resignation to the status quo is not ever going to change things for us.

Bob’s Petty Power Plays and Why I Don’t Trust Him

Bob kept a low profile during 2006, since he was scared witless that his dark-of-night payraise vote PLUS the vote for full reimbursement of unvouchered expenses, would knock him out of his catbird senate seat. After he squeaked through the election, Bob was soon again the cocky Napoleonic, self-appointed undercover head of the Mercer GOP and the NW PA GOP Caucus, along with his wife, leading the charge against any rising stars or talents. When I decided to run for a PA State Committee seat, all hell broke lose. The Robbins and Richardsons began their campaign against me. Mind you, there are three committee seats and four of us were running. The senator and his wife visited my home, while I was at work, and met with my husband to urge him to convince me not to run. This is when the senator threatened “to bring out the artillery against me.” How ridiculous, and sad for all of us to have this type of man as our legislator. There was also a visit from then-Senator Arlen Specter’s Erie staff rep to my husband, again to convince me not to run. As far as I know, no one visited or threatened George Pokrant, and no one ever spoke to me about the matter. Mrs. Robbins also did her dirty work, behind the scenes and most likely on her cell phone (paid for by campaign money no doubt), and she conjured up $3000 from Bob Asher, the PA GOP national committeeman (convicted felon of fraud vis-à-vis the Bud Dwyer kickback scheme), $3000 which was given to Mrs. Robbins and Mr. Richardson to run their state committee campaign. Again, absurd, and another example of how greedy and mercenary the Robbins are about money: spend everyone else’s!

My experience as a PA state committeeperson was educational. There is a small network of so-called leaders and legislators who make decisions behind the scenes and then force them at the committee members. Unfortunately, I found that about 2/3 of the membership goes along to get along with this strategy, and 1/3 are independent thinkers. However, it was refreshing to be part of a group outside of the Mercer GOP, and I met many dynamic people.

A highlight of my state committee experience was my part in unseating the unscrupulous chair of the NW PA Caucus, a person who collaborated with the Robbins to do what was in his and their best interests. A lowlight was a verbal assault directly at the end of one of the state committee meetings, right there in the ballroom, by Ginny Richardson (she attended with the county chair‘s proxy), a puzzling assault on me because of my involvement with opening a McCain-Palin Victory Center in the Shenango Valley. Both of the Robbins were standing behind Ginny, silently backing her up. I came to see, by the end of my first year on the state committee, that we would never be able to elevate the GOP with leaders like Bob, Cindy, Ginny, Brian etc., who operate in the dregs because that is where they do their best work.

I don’t trust Bob Robbins because he is focused entirely on the control of persons and assets that serve his interests. I will never support him or vote for him and I urge all voters to seriously review the reasons which I have offered and dare to make a change and vote Independent this Fall. It is time that these imbedded incumbents are eliminated from controlling all levels of our government. It is time that we replace Bob Robbins.

.