May 17, 2014

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A Sanity Check first: broadcasting without both Lou and Mike (no appearance by Mike this episode), so Betsy Summers and Frank Sorick are in studio. Betsy spoke at a CAPTaxes candidates’ forum at Genetti’s during the week, and spoke in favor of SB 76, the Property Tax Independence Act. Present at the forum were two Republicans, one Democrat and one Libertarian, Bets, who all support the bill. Lou asks if we possess the courage to vote for individuals rather than party. Lou: property rights are a cornerstone of the American experiment. Frank weighs in on the bill, viewing sales tax as superior to property tax. State Representative Gerry Mullery said neither Republican nor Democratic leadership will permit that bill onto the House floor. Betsy says that 115 House candidates are running unopposed this year . . . but not Eddie Day Pashinski from Wilkes-Barre. Betsy will be challenging him come November. Independents and third party electors may vote on Tuesday’s Home Rule measure in Lackawanna County. As far as the Luzerne County Council is concerned, last week Councilwoman Kathy Dobash pressed fellow council members Harry Haas and Linda Houck on their allegiance to the PSEA and stance on SB 76. Frank feels the Lackawanna County Government Study Commission learned a lot from Luzerne County’s missteps. Fox News and Newsmax pick up a story from Jason, “the Washington insider.” Mr. X joins the discussion to talk about the cover story for the dismissal of NYT editor Jill Abramson. It simply doesn’t hold water and even stalwarts of the Left are balking at the lack of White House transparency. Access is the leverage the White House wields. Fortunately, the Gazette has opted to forge ahead with or without access to public servants in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. X says the corporate and political media must control the message via “talking points” and cites Glenn Greenwald’s recent chiding of the mainstream media for not being adversarial towards government. Lou: the real war on women is being waged by Sharia law. X says, “We dance around the periphery of causing a real change . . . or identifying the problem correctly.” And what of the restrictive Nigerian gun laws? X: all Americans, no matter party, can agree on truth, transparency, and sunshine. Lou cues a reprise of the Sanity Check Poem. Returning from break, Lou announces the Gazette’s expansion into Carbon County. Betsy: Gazette’s aim to educate the populace and cross referencing votes is not easy. Frank breaks the news of the Wilkes-Barre Taxpayers Association filing an action in Luzerne County court seeking a letter from the PA Department of Revenue to Wilkes-Barre City concerning the use of city fuel — issued back in 2009. Frank’s affidavit contradicts Wilkes-Barre City Administrator Marie McCormick’s own affidavit. Lou transitions to a tip of CYS fiscal adoption records document shredding received late in the week. Lackawanna County CYS solicitor, Janine Pavalone, when asked about filed shredding procedures knows nothing. Frank says that despite the criticisms of the Gazette of not being a real news outlet no other media outlet has called out the publication for faulty reporting. X says the Gazette shines the light that makes the cockroaches scatter. Lou says that everybody seems to have a solicitor, even solicitors for solicitors.