Something is "Smellow with Mellow"

Ethics charges filed by two groups were dismissed against Senator Robert Mellow (D) of Peckville. The charges were dismissed "without prejudice" on December 16th the last day of session for the Senate.

Basically, they were dismissed on procedure and not content of the complaint and can be refiled. The complaints stem from the cozy relationship Mellow has for sitting on the Board of Directors at NEPA insurer. Mellow is currently minority leader in the PA Senate and was on the banking and insurance committee.

The ethic panel is not made up of an outside independent body but other senators. The committee is split 3-3 between Republicans and Democrats. The other members are Sens. Raphael Musto, D-14, Pittston; Jay Costa, D-43, Pittsburgh; Michael O'Pake, D-11, Reading; Charles McIlhinney, R-10, Doylestown, and Richard Alloway, R-33, Chambersburg.

Senator John Gordner R-27 chairs the committee.

The committee took 13 month to throw out the complaint on a technicality.

Carney Courted by the Darkside.

Chris Carney (D-PA10th) was asked by John McCain to join the Republican Party.

With Malcolm Derk of Union County being the first to throw his hat into the Republican Party, there are several questions to ask? Do the national Republicans have or want to throw any money into this campaign. In 2008, Dan Meuser and Chris Hackett were well funded and lost a district McCain won by 9 points.

Could they be strong arming Carney with a threat of big money? Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

The headline says it all!!! Enjoy the day!!!!

Merry Christmas Tom Kutza!!!!!

Shamokin's legendary "Morning Mayor" returns to the airwave tonight from 7 pm to midnight on Bill95FM. Tom Kutza was heard on the morings at the WISL 1480 AM now off the air. On the radio you could tune in at WBLJ - 95.3 Shamokin or WBLY 95.5 Saladaysburg. Click the highlighted link above to tune in online.

Happy Festivus!!!!!

December 23rd marks the holiday of Festivus according to the Seinfeld calender.

Malcolm Derk Throws His Hat in 10th CD Race

Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk announced his plans to run for the Republican nomination in the 10th Congressional District in a seat held by Chris Carney of Dimock, PA. Here are some of the places you can learn a little bit about Derk:

Malcolm Derk

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Draft Derk for Congress

In today's Daily-Item, Derk contends that raising money will be difficult and Carney is well funded.

In 2006, Kathy Scott came within 12 points of incumbent Don Sherwood for the GOP nod while only spending $5000. Although a late night neck massage made the race closer.

Some quotes from the Daily-Item article:

“I feel passionately that it’s not government’s role to create jobs,” Derk said. “That is something that businesses and entrepreneurs do.

“They are the engines that fuel the economy, and they will ultimately get us out of the recession.”

Throwing money at a problem hasn’t helped, Derk said.

“We were promised unemployment wouldn’t hit more than 8 percent; we hit 10 percent last month. This proves the funding priority of Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats didn’t work. And as a county commissioner, I know that the jobs we were promised never came.”

Derk, at age 27, downplays his age and cites his experience on city council and as commissioner.

It seems from GOP central, if we forget the last decade maybe everyone else will. While Derk was only 18 and entering college. George W. Bush signed The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. This was 1.35 trillion dollars out of the gate. When entering office the debt stood around 5 trillion which he doubled in 8 years.

Did we get any valuable returns out of the 12 billion a month(still counting) we are spending in Iraq and Afghanistan???

Here are some staggering investment numbers from the Wall Street Journal.

For those of you who like charts, here is a good one to compare income, net worth and job growth.

I have some ideas for Mr. Derk. Run against Chris not Nancy. Have some creative ideas for job growth and taxes. Don't take the daily GOP fax (Fox) marching orders. Stand up to the heathcare cartel.

In the end, I wish Mr. Derk well. As a young man of 27, he is a great example to get involved and not be apathetic about the country's plight.

I Kid You Not!!!!!

In reading Harold Raker's column in the Daily-Item, due to cuts the AP may not name an All-State squad in football.