Why Should You Vote?

Elections are important because government officials – the ones we elect and those they hire – decide how much taxes we pay and how those taxes are spent. They determine whether we go to war, whether to build or repair our roads and bridges, what our schools teach, and what social services to provide, and to whom.

Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/why-should-you-vote-1

Democrats’ Successes, Republicans’ Lies

President Obama’s strength and courage led Congressional Democrats to dozens of impressive victories in only 21 months. We didn’t get everything we wanted, but he tackled issues that no one else would. And he didn’t give up. I’m not 100% pleased with Obama or the Democrats, but I am more pleased than I have been with any previous president.

Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/democrats-successes-republicans-lies

Evaluate Your General Election Choices

Evaluate Your General Election Choices
http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/evaluate-your-general-election-choices

Do Campaign Thugs Reveal Our Future?

On Monday, Kentucky Senate candidates Jack Conway and Rand Paul debated in Lexington. Outside, just after the event, TWO of Paul’s campaign thugs pushed Lauren Valle to the ground. Mike Pezzano held her down while Paul’s Bourbon County campaign coordinator Tim Profitt STOMPED ON HER HEAD.

Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/do-campaign-thugs-reveal-our-future

Joe Sestak for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) beat the odds and defeated Sen. Arlen Specter, (pretending-to-be-a-D-Philadelphia) in the primary election for U.S. Senate last spring. Now, he faces former Wall Street banker and Congressman Pat Toomey in the general election on November 2. Sestak is easily the best Senate candidate to run in Pennsylvania in a long time and deserves your attention and your vote.


Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/joe-sestak-for-u-s-senate-pennsylvania

Ignorance Fuels the Crazies

I’ve never seen so many crazy people running for office as I have this year.

It’s crazy season again.

Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/ignorance-fuels-the-crazies

Dan Connolly for Congress in PA 18th

It’s two weeks to Election Day, and Democrat Dan Connolly is fighting an uphill battle against Pennsylvania’s 18th District Republican Tim Murphy for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He emphasizes the differences between himself and Murphy, which are substantial. Although voters aren’t familiar with him, he deserves your attention and your vote.

Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/dan-connolly-for-congress-pa-18th

Meghan McCain at Pitt for National Coming Out Week

The University of Pittsburgh’s Rainbow Alliance, the LGBTQA undergraduate student association, sponsored an event with Meghan McCain, daughter of you-know-who, on Thursday evening at Pitt’s Lawrence Hall. Holden Caulfield said, in Catcher in the Rye, that you know a book is good when you want to phone the author to discuss it. That’s the impression that McCain leaves behind. You’d welcome the chance to have lunch with her.



Read more . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/meghan-mccain-at-pitt-for-national-coming-out-week-review

Tales Exaggerate Congressional Pay and Pensions

As long as I can remember, there has been a vague general rumbling that members of Congress collect exorbitant salaries and outrageous pensions and other benefits. The rumblings have changed form over the years, from idle gossip to organized viral email campaigns, but the substance remains. Despite efforts to spread the truth, many Americans still contend that members of Congress take home truckloads of money, don’t participate in Social Security, and get full pay for their lifetimes after serving only a single term in Congress. Sorry, folks, it just isn’t true.

Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/tales-exaggerate-congressional-pay-and-pensions

Your Tax Dollars at Work – and FREE STUFF

Allegheny County is currently celebrating its annual “RADical Days” – and we’re all invited. Every site that receives funds from the RAD, or Regional Assets District, tax offers some services free to the public at this time of year. There’s something for everyone. In March 1994, the state legislature permitted Allegheny County to add one percent onto the already existing six percent Pennsylvania sales tax. They called it the “Regional Assets District” or RAD tax. Where is this district and what exactly are we paying for?

Read More . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/your-tax-dollars-at-work-and-free-stuff

How Much Do You Know About Our Government?

Just for fun, here’s a quiz on our government. All of the topics have been mentioned in my articles, or in the news, or in relatively recent American history. You can check your answers through the link at the end. If you like, you can answer the bonus essay question and perhaps win a prize. If you do well, thank a teacher. If not, read a newspaper.



Read more . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/how-much-do-you-know-about-our-government

Executive Orders and the U.S. Constitution

Republicans/conservatives/tea partiers delight in criticizing President Obama for using any of the many tools at his disposal when doing his job. The latest favorite is the Executive Order. Once again, they exploit the public’s civic and political illiteracy to spread their lies. Executive Orders are not laws. Presidents don't make laws. Congress does. They imply that the orders are unconstitutional, yet they didn’t have that problem with any orders issued by Republican presidents.

Read more . . .
http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/executive-orders-and-the-u-s-constitution

US Supreme Court session opens

Today, the US Supreme Court opened its 222nd annual session. By federal law, the court opens on the first Monday in October. Each session usually ends in late June or early July. Our constitution established the US Supreme Court. Congress has the power to create other “inferior” courts. Those include federal district and appeals courts, and state supreme and appeals courts. In Pennsylvania, the lower Courts of Common Pleas operate on the county level. Common pleas courts supervise local district magistrates.

Read more . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/us-supreme-court-session-opens-1

The American Terrorists

We’ve endured much talk about terrorists in America during the past nine years. Politicians protect us from terrorists by telling us the color of the day. Removing our shoes before boarding an airplane will protect us from terrorists. Nastiness and religious intolerance will protect us from terrorists. People with “funny” names are terrorists. We can recognize terrorists just by looking at them. Believe it or not, the idiot “security chief” at my son’s high school told me that I wasn’t allowed to take a picture of the building because “There are a lot of terrorists around here you know.” This is what happens when we prize ignorance in our society. Sadly, terrorists are real. They surround us everywhere, every day.

Read more . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/the-american-terrorists