Tag: Pennsylvania

Another out-of-state rich guy for Senate

Another out-of-state rich guy for Senate

Posted on by Jack

I live in Pennsylvania. Last year we had a rich guy from New Jersey who wanted to be our Senator. Dr Oz lost. The year we have a rich guy from Connecticut who wants to be our Senator in 2024. We seem to be a popular place for rich out-of-state guys to try to buy a Senate seat.

David McCormick, the Connecticut guy, lost the primary for the Republican nomination for Senate in the 2022 election to Dr. Mehmet Oz, the New Jersey guy, Dr. Oz then lost the race to Democrat John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania guy.

At least part of the reason that McCormack lost to Oz was Trump’s criticism of McCormack as a “liberal Wall Street Republican” .

Bob Casey has a long history of serving Pennsylvania. David McCormick has lots of money. The question arises will the Pennsylvania guy (Bob Casey) again beat the out-of-state guy.

No excuse absentee voting in PA

No excuse absentee voting in PA

Posted on by Jack

A Pennsylvania Court ruled that the state’s law which allowed no excuse absentee voting violates the state constitution and a constitutional amendment would be needed to modify the voting law. The state law was passed in 2019 by the Republican-controlled legislature with overwhelming Republican support. The lawsuit arguing that the law was unconstitutional was brought by Republican lawmakers. That was a quick change of heart.

Our local NPR station WHYY explains the whole sad situation is an article beginning this way.

Continue reading “No excuse absentee voting in PA”

Pennsylvania Supreme Court and HB38

Pennsylvania Supreme Court and HB38

Posted on by Jack

It seems to me that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has done a good job. it also seems to me that a proposed bill Pennsylvania HB38 is an attempt to diminish the Court by the altering its makeup and giving more power to the state legislature.

Why do I say that?
Continue reading “Pennsylvania Supreme Court and HB38”

Do Republicans want to steal the Pennsylvania election ?

Do Republicans want to steal the Pennsylvania election ?

Posted on by Jack

Several days ago I wrote Pennsylvania Republicans want to block the vote about this effort. It was long and detailed and many readers may have missed some essential points. We should be worried about this.

To summarize, Republican State Rep. Garth D. Everett is trying to get the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to form a select committee with powers to investigate the 2020 election. I think this could be a useful idea if done a bit differently. But I think the house resolution as written is just a power grab enabling this committee which would be majority Republican to subpoena election officials and seize ballots while the count is going on.
Continue reading “Do Republicans want to steal the Pennsylvania election ?”

Pennsylvania Republicans want to block the vote

Pennsylvania Republicans want to block the vote

Posted on by Jack

Pennsylvania is a swing state and so will be a major factor in the Presidential election. President Trump is already making noise about not accepting the results of the election and not allowing peaceful transition of power if he loses.
Continue reading “Pennsylvania Republicans want to block the vote”

Marsy’s Law and the Pennsylvania Constitution

Marsy’s Law and the Pennsylvania Constitution

Posted on by Jack

The PA election tomorrow (Nov 5 2019) includes a ballot referendum on whether Marsy’s Law should be added as an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution. I plan to vote “no” and I will get around to telling you why but first I should tell you what the law is.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization concerned with elections and voting including educating voters. Here is their website on this ballot referendum on Marsy’s Law.
Continue reading “Marsy’s Law and the Pennsylvania Constitution”

PA SB 3, the anti-choice forces are back

PA SB 3, the anti-choice forces are back

Posted on by Jack

The anti-choice forces are again trying to restrict abortion rights with PA SB 3.

Not much has changed except they are trying again. Read something new and what I had to say about this when they tried in February.

The anti-choice forces are ahead with PA SB 3

The anti-choice forces are ahead with PA SB 3

Posted on by Jack

The anti-choice forces in the Pennsylvania are ahead. The Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 3 which was quickly passed in the state senate. Those anti-choice folks sure move quickly.

Senate Bill 3 would criminalize abortion in cases where the fetus is older than 20 weeks. It would also outlaw a safe and medically accepted technique (dilation and evacuation) which is called “dismemberment abortion” in the bill. In either case the doctor performing the abortion commits a felony of the third degree. i’m not sure what that means since I am not a lawyer but it does sound good.

There are other provisions in the bill as well providing exceptions and additional requirements. In my original post on Senate Bill 3 which was written before on the bill went to the judiciary committee I gave a link to the text of the bill.

The bill goes to the House next. Although Governor Wolfe has indicated he will veto it, the anti-choice forces in the state legislature may be able to override the veto. Therefore it is important that you let your legislators in both the Senate and House know your opinion. The House does vote next and the Senate has already voted but if there is a veto, both may be voting again. You might also want to share your opinion with Gov. Wolfe

Here are 2 links, another article on this and an easy way to look-up your Senate and House members:

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 3, express your opinion

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 3, express your opinion

Posted on by Jack

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 3 would criminalize abortion in cases where the fetus is older than 20 or 24 weeks. There are other provisions in the bill as well providing exceptions, additional requirements, criminalization of a specific type of abortion (at any gestational age), and additional reporting requirements.

It is a bit hard to tell which way it will go now. The bill is before the Judiciary committee today and both numbers are in the bill online. I think that means that one number is current law and the other is in the bill.
Continue reading “Pennsylvania Senate Bill 3, express your opinion”

Regulating Guns in Pennsylvania

Regulating Guns in Pennsylvania

Posted on by Jack

The state of Pennsylvania not only forbids local governments from regulating guns but went beyond that with a new NRA-supported law allowing the allowing the NRA and other organizations members with living in Pennsylvania or actual residents of the Commonwealth to sue the municipality for not only injunction to stop the law but for any actual or punitive financial damages they feel are warranted.

For example, Philadelphia and many other communities require the reporting of lost and stolen firearms. Since our state government will not act against making of “straw” purchases, many municipalities have. Both are important tools to fight gun trafficking without interfering with the possession of guns by ordinary citizens. Continue reading “Regulating Guns in Pennsylvania”

Stupid liquor law and schools

Stupid liquor law and schools

Posted on by Jack

Because I live in Pennsylvania, I sometimes write about some of the state laws here. More often than not, it turns out that I think the state law is wrong. And more often than not, I also think those laws are also stupid.

Today’s rant is about a stupid law and an additional stupid law that just adds additional stupidity onto the consequences of the first. But let me explain before you are overwhelmed with the word stupid. In case you are interested, here are my comments on Pennyslvania. And not all are about stupid laws. Continue reading “Stupid liquor law and schools”

Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware

Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware

Posted on by Jack

Last spring my wife and I had a pleasant day riding north along the Delaware River. I meant to write then but didn’t get around to it and figure I should do so now before the memories get even fuzzier. The trip was partly based on a trip in National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S., a book we have often used to find scenic drives.

The drive in the book starts in Trenton, NJ but we thought Continue reading “Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware”

Pennsylvania allows same-sex marriages and joins the northeast

Pennsylvania allows same-sex marriages and joins the northeast

Posted on by Jack

I’m back from vacation and ready to blog but the news today changed what I was about to say. Pennsylvania does not seem to be the most progressive state. But today we joined with the other northeastern states in allowing same-sex marriages.

Of course our Governor may decide to appeal the court ruling but for the meanwhile we seem ready to join the rest of the northeast in recognizing a human right. Courts have also forced us to recognize the right of all citizens to vote, even if they cannot produce a birth certificate.

We still have a few relatively backward things such as state liquor stores but we are getting better.

Ending an unjust prosecution for assisted suicide

Ending an unjust prosecution for assisted suicide

Posted on by Jack

It happens to be Pennsylvania news but the issue is one that could happen almost anywhere and that is certainly worth thinking about. A loving daughter helps her father to relieve his pain and is unjustly prosecuted for assisted suicide. Continue reading “Ending an unjust prosecution for assisted suicide”