Bird’s-Eye View

No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks as they walk the picket line …
Well, if a trio of Republican lawmakers including state Rep. Bryan Cutler of Peach Bottom have their way, teacher unions would no longer be permitted to strike during tough contract negotiations with school boards.
From a news release:
House Bill […]

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Hot cup of newsroom brew with a splash of hazelnut Splenda. Delish! What’s in your mug? 
 
The bartender’s signalling last call. Today is the deadline for Willow Valley Associates to gather 2,205 signatures and place on the primary ballot a referendum to overturn West Lampeter Township’s alcohol sales prohibition. Willow Valley needs this to establish a 184-room Doubletree […]

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Welcome to “Evening Coffee,” which unfortunately has not come out with an instant brew version.
 
But our friends at Starbucks have (you may have heard), and in Chicago they gave away free samples of their VIA instant brew. The on-the-street reviews … not entirely overwhelming, according to the Chicago Sun-Times:
While no one spat it out, reviews […]

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A new chapter begins for the Lancaster County Republican Committee on Tuesday when the more than 360 members choose a new chairman. Dave Dumeyer, chairman for the last six years, retired in January, and since then two people have stepped up to replace him: Frank Fryburg, the former commissioner in Manheim Township, and Craig Ebersole, currently serving […]

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Cup of newsroom brew at my side. Could use some Spenda Flavor packets. Ever had the cinnamon? Delish! 
Have the city elections on my mind.
 
We’re going to learn tonight of at least one Republican who’s taking a shot at Lancaster City Council, which if true at least makes for a race. Whether it’s a competitive race is […]

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Together we form more friends than Pennsylvania’s senior Senator may have, right now. Republican Arlen Specter was one of three GOP Senators to approve the $838 billion stimulus package, which now lands in a committee of House and Senate leadership charged with drawing up a compromise plan.
I think Specter knows the waters are closing in […]

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The Democratic House Majority proved successful last night in its attempts to role back some of the reforms took root during the previous legislative session. 
The most serious changes in how the House will operate during the next two years has to do with:

The ability of the all-powerful House Rules Committee to amend bills that come […]

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… what I’m watching in the state House of Representatives, right now. The Democratic Majority leadership is trying to undo some of the reform rules that were passed in 2006, post pay raise.
The proposed rules they’re debating as I type would make it more difficult to end the day’s debate at 11 p.m., which […]

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We’re watching the Democratic strategy for the Congressional elections two years from now and Obama’ re-election bid in 2012, and Obama’s been president for just over one week.
 All 177 House Republicans voted against the $819 billion stimulus package yesterday, saying it included too much in government spending. Now, by most estimates, this recession is going […]

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 If you’re wondering why this whole brouhaha over state lawmaker pay hikes is such a big deal, I can tell you you’re not alone. But it does have long-range consequences.
House Democratic leaders said Wednesday they’re going to pay back their scheduled salary hikes (known as a cost of living adjustment or COLA), foregoing about $2,000 a […]

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