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Friday, March 30, 2007
LAND USE AND OUR FUTURE
by Lois K.
Herr, Senior Editor
 I
believe strongly in community developed land use plans. I am
concerned, however, when people follow the letter of the plan without
understanding its spirit. In developing "BALANCE" - the growth
management element of the county's comprehensive plan - we envisioned
a future "where urban centers prosper, natural landscapes flourish,
and farming is strengthened as an integral component of our diverse
economy and cultural heritage."
Read more...
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 Comments:
Amish Homeland Area
by
Lois Duling
In Southeastern Lancaster
County we have a unique treasure and therefore need to take extra care
to consider the needs and health, welfare and safety of the Amish
community. They are the foundation of the positive values in our area.
Nothing is being done to offer them options to preserve their farms,
listen to their needs---forget the Goat Path and let them live in
peace. It is a benefit to all of us.
Read
more...
The Beginning of the End of
the Amish Homeland in the U.S.
Randolph Harris
Mount Joy
The issues that Lois Herr
raises are front and center in the March 5 zoning change in East
Lampeter Township that is paving the way for the proposed 400-plus
unit housing development by Keystone Custom Homes on Route 23.
Add to this unfortunate
situation the recently announced new mega city just across the border
of northeastern Lancaster County at the other end of the Route 23
corridor in Berks County and we are experiencing the beginning of the
end of the Amish homeland in the United States. Haven’t we English
done enough harm to these people over the years, and more extremely of
late?
Read
more...
Huge Health Insurance Merger
by Jerry
Policoff
Independence Blue Cross of
Philadelphia and Highmark Blue Shield of Pittsburgh announced their
intention to merge yesterday, a move that would make them the third
largest health insurer in the United States and that would give them
control over more than 53% of the Pennsylvania insurance market.
Read more...
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Thursday, March 29,
2007
Hourglass Foundation
Publishes a Report on
Lancaster County Growth and Management Issues...
In its latest
Keeping Lancaster Current publication the Hourglass Foundation reports
that Lancaster County has gained in population since 2000, the population
is diversifying, and that migration patterns show an up-tick of people
moving into the region.
The
Hourglass Foundation, founded in 1997, is a non-partisan, non-profit
organization focused on making Lancaster County an even better place to
live. The Hourglass works to raise awareness, facilitate discussion,
provide information and create the conditions that will allow residents to
understand and participate in decisions that impact the quality of their
lives.
Read
Keeping Lancaster Current for more information on Lancaster and Berks
Counties...
Click
here to access related links to land management issues...
Wednesday, March 28,
2007
Rendell to Participate
in Health Care Forum in Lancaster...
 Governor
Ed Rendell has accepted an invitation to appear at
the Health Care: Who Pays? Forum to be held on Wednesday, April 4th
at F&M College. The forum is hosted by Progressives for Pennsylvania
(P4P).
It will be held at the
Woods Auditorium in the Health & Recreation Center of Franklin & Marshall
College. The forum is scheduled for three hours from 7-10 PM and will
include an audience Q&A session. There are six confirmed
participants, including Governor Ed Rendell, who will speak about
his health care plan, “Prescription for Pennsylvania”.
 Also
scheduled are Dr. Tom Gates who will present a power point
presentation dealing with our health care crisis; Chuck Pennacchio
who will outline the single-payer health care bill that will also be
before our State Legislature this year; Professor Sean Flaherty of
F&M who will address the economic side of the issue; Mr. Louis Yoka
of Fulton Financial who will bring a business perspective to the forum;
and Dr. Michael Baxter who will address the administrative issues.
Read
more...
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Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Pitts Votes
Against Katrina Victims, Veterans Health, and Iraq Accountability...
This past week
Representative Pitts, PA - 16th Congressional District, voted against
the
Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act, a House of
Representative's bill that would require the government to replace
public housing that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Pitts also voted against the
U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act
which provides a $124 million emergency supplemental for military
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and sets a timetable for
withdrawing troops from Iraq.
The supplemental appropriations bill was
debated hotly on the House floor because of the timetable for troop
withdrawal from Iraq provision. The 218-212 vote was primarily caste
on party lines; however there were crossovers among both parties.
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Only Fair and
Balanced Trade Is Free
Written
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
 Trade
policies are finally starting to get serious consideration in
Congress, and among Presidential candidates, for the first time since
the 1993 NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) debates. Trade
policy, by our federal government in the past 14 years, has been a
disaster for the working people of America. Federal government trade
policies have very seriously undermined the American Middle Class,
weakened our economy, threatened our national security, crippled our
self-reliance in war preparation, distorted our foreign policies and
created social tensions been our economic classes.
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Friday, March 23, 2007
Joe Pitts Believes
in Secret Government...
Submitted by Bill Rutherford, Lititz
According to
Thomas Reports Inc. for
the week ending March 16th, 2007, this is how Joe Pitts recently
voted.
He voted against restoring
public access to most Presidential Records. The measure passed. This
bill nullified an order restricting access signed by Bush in 2001.
He voted against requiring
agencies to be more responsive to request filed under the 1967 Freedom
of Information Act. The measure passed.
He voted against extending
Whistle Blower protections for those who expose the distortion of
scientific data for political purposes. The measure passed.
He voted against
tightening federal contracting rules to limit the award of
sole-source, non-competitive contracts which have figured into
allegedly fraudulent contracts for work in IRAQ. The measure passed.
After reviewing his voting
record I’ve concluded that Joe Pitts believes in a secret, not open
government, corrupt contracting practices and discouraging public
employees from doing the right thing when it comes to serving their
public.
I believe that if he had
his way, the Thomas Reports would not be published and we would never
how our elected representatives voted. Mr. Pitts needs to be replaced
if this is how he speaks for us. I’m ashamed to call him my
representative.
comment on this news item...
Immigration Reform
in America:
Which Side of the Fence are you On?
Topic of Panel Discussion March 28 at Franklin & Marshall
"Immigration Reform in
America: Which Side of the Fence are you On?" will be the topic of a
panel discussion on Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. in
 Franklin
& Marshall's Stahr Auditorium, Stager Hall. The event is free and open
to the public.
The panel will feature
Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research at the Center for Immigration
Studies, Professor Michele Pistone, Director Clinical Program & CARES
Clinic, Villanova University School of Law, and Jack Martin, Special
Projects Director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
The panel will be moderated by G. Terry Madonna, Director of Franklin
& Marshall's Center for Politics and Public Affairs and the Keystone
Poll.
Read more...
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Pitts Votes Against
Workers and for Big Business...
This past week,
Representative Joseph Pitts (PA 16th Congressional District) opposed
making the U.S. government more transparent by voting against an
amendment to the
Freedom
of Information Act
that would impose new
requirements on government agencies.
In the same week, Pitts
voted against strengthening workers' whistleblower rights and a bill
intended to increase governmental oversight of federal contractors.
The votes on the
whistleblower and the federal contractor bills are consistent with the
Representative's anti-labor, pro-big business political profile and
voting record. However, the vote opposing government transparency
strikes at the at every citizen's right to gather information from
those governmental agencies that affect their daily lives.
View Rep. Pitts voting record for this
session of Congress...
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Monday, March 19, 2007
Republican
Political Mafia and Federal Law
Written by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
There is nothing as corrupt as using the governmental powers of law
enforcement, to selectively prosecute your political enemies and to
cover-up criminal behavior by your political organization and allies,
while in a position of political power. This situation is the essence
of the current scandal concerning the firing of US Attorneys by the
Bush White House.
Read more...
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Peace March
Rescheduled...
Lancaster City - The Lancaster Coalition for Peace and Justice
Peace March originally scheduled for on March 17th was
postponed due to weather. It has been rescheduled for March
24th. There will be a procession leaving from Binn's Park at
noon. As of this posting, plans are to walk to Southern
Market for a Town Hall Meeting at 2pm. There will also be
a Silent Candle Light Vigil at 7pm at Penn's Square at the
intersection of King and Queen.
Saturday, March 17,
2007
Pitts Refuses to Support
Women's Health Issues...?
by Lois K. Herr
I sent a message to
Representative Pitts in support of H.R. 819, the
Prevention First Act, which would expand access to preventive
health care services that help reduce unintended pregnancy, reduce
abortions, and improve access to women's health care. The Act is
sponsored by Representatives Louise Slaughter and Louise McIntosh and
was introduced on 2/5/2007. It has 131 co-sponsors.
Of course Pitts said "It
was good to hear from you," and "I will certainly keep your views in
mind." However, he let me know that he has "concerns about some
of the approaches contained in this measure."
Pitts thinks this bill
would be counterproductive. Furthermore, he questions the basic
law behind family planning, Title X of the 1970 Public Health Service
Act. He tries to tie the funding from these programs to an
increase in teen births and abortions, citing figures from the 70s and
80s. He is still focused on abstinence. How do we bring
him into the 21st century?
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Wednesday, March 14,
2007
Pitts Votes Against
Clean Water Bills...
Congressman Joseph Pitts
has this past week has voted against the
Water Quality Investment Act and the
Water Quality Financing
Act of 2007.
Both bills passed by an overwhelming margin. Pitts was the only member
of the Pennsylvania delegation to vote Nay. There are 19 members in
the PA delegation, 11 Democrats and 8 Republicans. All of Pitt's
Republican colleagues voted for the clean water legislation.
Read more...
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Sunday, March 11, 2007
 Reflections
of a Candidate...by
Lois K.
Herr
Preparing for a recent
Rotary talk, I looked back over my two Congressional Campaigns, and
the years 2003 to 2006. My first question was, “What did I like and
what didn’t I like?” Can you guess what I did not like? Only one
thing – losing. What did I like? Everything else.
Read more...
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It’s
our district too! HOST A HOUSEMEETING!
 We're
setting up meetings across the 16th Congressional District to continue
the conversations we had last year about issues that matter! In
an informal setting, with about 16 people, we will have an
opportunity for conversation to enlighten, energize, and keep us
involved in the political process especially as it relates to the 16th
Congressional District. A house meeting can include neighbors
and friends - Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. It is NOT
a fundraiser or a campaign event.
Read
more...
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
VA Abuses
...by
John Morgan
I first became aware of
the VA cuts back in 2004 while working for Lois Herr. Lois and I
attended some events with Vets and they bent her ear talking about
Bush's budget cuts and how they were hurting the VA. I began looking
into the issue and, I hate to say, it's only gotten worse with time.
Read more...
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Comments:
Walter Reed is NOT a Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital.
by Jason Leisey
It should be noted that
Walter Reed Army Medical Center is NOT a Department of Veterans
Affairs hospital. WRAMC is a Department of Defense facility. There is
a difference, a BIG difference. I know that the VA has its own issues,
but I hate that they are receiving bad media coverage over a DoD
problem. Military personnel that are at WRAMC are still Active Duty,
and not considered veterans at this point, so they don't fall under VA
care. I receive my care at Lebanon VAMC [Veterans Administration
Medical Center] and I am glad that I do. We are fortunate to have one
of the best VA hospitals in the country in our backyard. It is clean,
modern, and the staff goes out of their way to help veterans.
The VA is still catching
up to meet the needs of the GWOT [Global War on Terror], but doesn't
deserve all of the blame that John Morgan is giving them. For someone
who has been "writing about these Veterans issues all along," he is
grossly misinformed. By no means am I defending the administration,
they have a long way to go on Traumatic Brain Injury, but be aware
that there are many of us VA employees doing our absolute best to take
care of our returning heroes.
Editors notes: Please
visit the following links for the Lebanon Veterans Affairs Medical
Center
Department of Veterans Affairs information on the Lebanon VA...
Lebanon VA home page...
Lebanon VA Guide to Medical Services...
Monday, March 5, 2007
Employee Free Choice Act and Republican
Disinformation
Written
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
The
Employee Free Choice Act bill is intended to make it easier for a
plant to unionize and would end the right of employers to request
secret-ballot elections.
Stephen Crockett writes,
"Republicans opposing the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act are
lying up a storm to swing public opinion against the proposed law.
Their primary attack claim is that the bill denies workers a free,
fair election by secret ballot. Unfortunately, there is nothing free
or fair about the current system of voting on unionization. The law is
tilted heavily in favor of company power and against the workers."
Read more...
Employee Free Choice
Act - Vote Passed (241-185, 8 Not Voting)
Rep. Joseph Pitts voted
NO
See Rep. Pitt's
voting record...
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Sunday, March 4, 2007
Time for Our Leaders to
"Get Real" on National Healthcare
by Karen Porter, West
Chester
A March 2 New York
Times/CBS poll reported that Americans are willing to pay higher taxes
for a national healthcare program. It is high time that our leaders
"get real" on national healthcare and admit that, if we are to solve
our top domestic priority, we cannot shy away from the costs of a
solution. Read
more...
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Saturday, March 3, 2007
Children Who are
Uninsured Fare Worse at Hospitals...
A new study by
Families USA, a health care
advocacy group, reports that hospitalized
children who lack health insurance are twice as likely to die from
their injuries as those with insurance. Uninsured children also
are less likely to get more expensive treatments or rehabilitation and
are discharged earlier.
Read more...
Read report...
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Friday, March 2, 2007
PA House Hearings on Health Care...
PA House Majority Policy
Committee is holding a series of public hearings and meetings across the
state to discuss health care within the Commonwealth during the month of
March.
View dates...
Women's Health Office Funds Cut
The Office of Women's
Health within the Food and Drug Administration has had its budget cut by
30%. That office, which was at the center of a politically controversy
over the emergency contraceptive "Plan B," had more $1.2 million of this
annual $4 million operating budget for 2007 removed.
Last week, the Office of
Women's Health was informed that the FDA intends to withhold $1.2 million
from this year's allocation. Because the remaining $2.8 million has
already been spent or allocated for salaries and started projects, the
office must effectively halt further operations for the rest of the year.
Read more...
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Most Americans
Support U.S. Guarantee of Health Care
According to the latest
New York Times/CBS News poll, the majority of Americans feel the
federal government should guarantee health insurance to every
American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to
do it.
Read more...
Click
here for Jerry Policoff's summary of the
polling data...
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