http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/fasteddie/ en-us Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:28:52 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044644/posts It's the top story in Pennsylvania. Twelve Democrat state leaders facing corruption charges in a massive scandal dubbed "Bonusgate." If it were twelve Republican state leaders, I guarantee you would have heard all about it by now. Via the Philly Daily News: A SORDID TANGLE of corruption, cash and sex rocked the Statehouse yesterday in a political scandal that left one current and one former legislator and 10 current and former staff members facing criminal charges. Among the accusations leveled by two state grand juries: Former top legislative staffer Mike Manzo got his lover, a twenty-something former rural beauty queen,... MichelleMalkin.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044644/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:28:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004126/posts Rendell joins Chelsea Clinton for 'gay pub crawl' in Phillyby BRETT LIEBERMAN, Of The Patriot-News Saturday April 19, 2008, 4:22 PM Christopher Murray embraces Chelsea Clinton Friday night when the former first daughter campaigned with Gov. Ed Rendell and actor Rob Reiner during a pub crawl of gay bars in Philadelphia. They loved her hair; they smacked her butt; they hooted and hugged Friday night as Chelsea Clinton hit Philadelphia for what campaign aides called a "gay pub crawl." BRETT LIEBERMAN, The Patriot-News "Chelsea, the gays love you!" Jeff Guaracino, 35, shouted as the former first daughter took the stage... Pennlive http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004126/posts#comment Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:08:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993152/posts HARRISBURG -- With a section of a Pittsburgh bridge dropping 8 inches and an Interstate 95 support pillar cracking in Philadelphia, Gov. Ed Rendell is turning up the heat under the Legislature to provide infrastructure repair funds more quickly. Mr. Rendell sent a letter to all 253 legislators yesterday urging quick passage of a $240 million "supplemental debt authorization." His program of borrowing would enable state officials to fast-track repairs on some of the state's 6,000 bridges classified as structurally deficient, along with fixing ailing highways, repairing "state-owned, high-hazard dams" and beginning flood mitigation projects. Also yesterday, Mr. Rendell called... The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993152/posts#comment Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:59:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977231/posts Includes 1.5% hike for Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln HARRISBURG -- "Completely inadequate." That's how Penn State University President Graham Spanier characterized Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed 1.5 percent funding increase for state-related universities. "If the appropriation doesn't even come close to the increases in the rest of the budget, and doesn't even come close to the rate of inflation, it puts a burden on the tuition side of the equation," he said. Dr. Spanier and the heads of the other state-related universities -- the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University -- testified before the House Appropriations Committee... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977231/posts#comment Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:45:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969390/posts HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black. Philadelphia Inquirer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969390/posts#comment Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:16:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969486/posts Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell says Barack Obama is going to lose votes because some white voters are not ready for a black president: "I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate." Rendell also said he thought race cost his Republican opponent, former NFL star Lynn Swann, around five points in the 2006 election for governor. Rendell's statement was jarring for me. Last summer, at my wife's high school reunion, I met a guy who grew up in Penn Yan and now works for a nuclear facility outside Pittsburgh. He's a Libertarian... Pennsylvania and Racism http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969486/posts#comment Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:50:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933943/posts Pennsylvania gambling regulators encouraged casino operators to hire an array of minority groups, but never discussed the measure in public. The diversity guidelines contained in a confidential Gaming Control Board memo issued in January go beyond the requirements of federal and state law, according to a copy obtained by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The memo from Chief Diversity Officer Mozelle Daniels, marked "privileged and confidential," says casinos should look not only at race, ethnicity and gender in hiring workers. The board's "expansive view of diversity" includes marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, AIDS or HIV status, non-job-related disability and veteran's status.... Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933943/posts#comment Mon, 3 Dec 2007 14:54:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1900876/posts Rendell can't spin away Hsu By Brad Bumsted STATE CAPITOL REPORTER Sunday, September 23, 2007 HARRISBURG Capitol observers were astounded when Gov. Ed Rendell called Democrat fundraiser Norman Hsu, a felon and then-fugitive, "one of the best 10 people I've met." They're likely more astounded now. Rendell made the comment to The Philadelphia Inquirer; it became instant fodder for Capitol insiders. If Mr. Hsu is on the governor's Top 10 list, who else is on the list? Incredibly, Rendell last week backed off the statement at his first Capitol news conference since the Hsu scandal surfaced. The governor threw in... pittsburgh live dot com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1900876/posts#comment Sun, 23 Sep 2007 04:55:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897852/posts PA GOP: Fast Eddie Robs Peter Paul to Pay Hillary Friday, September 14, 2007 Contact: Michael Barley HARRISBURG —Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Robert A. Gleason, Jr. was not surprised to see that Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton are involved in more fundraising scandals with another convicted felon, named Peter Paul. Paul alleges that Ed Rendell, then Chairman of the Democrat National Committee, told him to lie about his involvement with a 2000 Clinton for Senate fundraiser. “Apparently, when Sen. Clinton and Gov. Rendell need campaign donations, they dial up the list of America’s most wanted as... Pennsylvania GOP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897852/posts#comment Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:10:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1896893/posts Felon wants Rendell to testify By Brad Bumsted STATE CAPITOL REPORTER Saturday, September 15, 2007 Peter F. Paul of Asheville, N.C., contends in court documents that after The Washington Post pursued a story disclosing his felony convictions, Rendell asked him to lie in 2000 to cover up Paul's role in a Hollywood fundraiser he helped sponsor for Clinton. "He will be deposed. He's a material witness," Paul told the Tribune-Review in a telephone interview. Court documents allege in a civil lawsuit pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court that "Rendell, on Hillary Rodham Clinton's behalf, asked Paul to lie about... pittsburghlive dot com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1896893/posts#comment Sat, 15 Sep 2007 05:18:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1888071/posts Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. --Gov. Ed Rendell, despite pressure from gun dealers, decided Tuesday not to delay a database upgrade that will halt Pennsylvania firearms sales for three days. The Democratic governor said the shutdown to allow work on the criminal history database would last one day less than previously announced. The Pennsylvania Instant Check System will be down from 6 p.m. Sunday and return to operation at 6 p.m. Sept. 5. "It is clear that there will never be an ideal time to temporarily shut down the system so we can make changes necessary to ensure the system continues... centredaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1888071/posts#comment Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:59:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1833534/posts Domestic Terrorists Anti-Government Groups Often associated with unorganized militias, the Anti-Government movement actually embraces a much larger variety of groups and causes. The extreme fringe believes that the U.S. government is either the enemy or has been subverted by the enemy and must be actively defended against. Anti-Government Issues and Beliefs Gun Control is a conspiracy to enslave us starting with the removal of our ability to either defend ourselves or forcefully change our government. The first ten amendments of The Constitution are God given and all others are temporary, invalid or outright fraudulent. All judicial authority resides with the... PA-Aware.org, run by the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1833534/posts#comment Mon, 14 May 2007 22:52:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1779593/posts Pennsylvania has a new blueprint for how death might become a less painful and uncomfortable experience for its residents. The Rendell administration today is expected to release a 40-page report called "Improving End-of-Life Experiences for Pennsylvanians," which has been two years in the making. A wide-ranging group of health professionals, social service leaders, consumer advocates and others produced 160 recommendations covering how to expand hospice and palliative care, advance directives, medical training and more aspects related to patients' late-life treatment. "The current health care system evolved to provide care for acute illnesses, but it is poorly prepared to provide comprehensive,... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1779593/posts#comment Mon, 5 Feb 2007 19:54:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780653/posts New taxes fuel Rendell's $27.3 billion budget By PETER JACKSON Associated Press Writer HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Gov. Ed Rendell asked Pennsylvania lawmakers Tuesday to approve higher taxes for consumers, employers, tobacco users and waste haulers to help finance a $27.3 billion budget that includes initiatives in health care, energy and property-tax relief. Rendell also suggested the possibility of leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private operator and levying a new tax on oil-company profits to raise the necessary $1.7 billion for highway and bridge improvements and mass transportation. The budget, the first of Rendell's second term, also calls for... The Scranton Times-Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780653/posts#comment Wed, 7 Feb 2007 15:08:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1779992/posts HARRISBURG — Gov. Ed Rendell is expected to outline a state spending plan today that will boost an array of taxes to fund health care reforms, property-tax reductions and other programs. Though the governor has been tight-lipped on details, in recent days he has revealed plans to: # Increase the 6 percent sales tax, perhaps to 7 percent, to fund property tax cuts for homeowners. These cuts would be in addition to any property-tax relief expected to come from slot-machine revenues. # Boost the state’s $1.35-a-pack cigarette tax by 10 or 11 cents and put a new tax on cigars... The Scranton Times-Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1779992/posts#comment Tue, 6 Feb 2007 13:38:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1772621/posts A federal appeals court refused yesterday to revive civil-rights claims against Gov. Rendell, District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham, and Teamsters Local 115, part of a lawsuit filed eight years ago by a man who says he was beaten and falsely prosecuted after protesting a 1998 appearance by President Clinton. The opinion by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is likely the end of the federal suit filed by Don and Theresa Adams, although Adams has said he will press civil claims involving state law in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Neither Adams, 46, of... Philadelphia Inquirer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1772621/posts#comment Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:12:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1769223/posts HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Pennsylvania became the fifth U.S. state to seek universal health coverage for its citizens on Wednesday when it unveiled a plan to provide medical insurance for some three-quarters of a million residents who currently have none. Along with other states including Massachusetts and California, Pennsylvania is joining a growing movement among U.S. states to tackle the problem of residents without health care insurance, which according to some estimates number as many as 46 million Americans or about 15 percent of the population. The problem of uninsured medical costs, often left to be covered at taxpayer expense,... Yahoo! News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1769223/posts#comment Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:19:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1750182/posts Available for sale or lease: Historic, 359-mile toll road. Guaranteed income. Heavily worn; needs TLC. Work force of thousands included. See Gov. Rendell for details. Yes, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is up for grabs. Scrounging for transportation funding amid the no-new-taxes atmosphere of Harrisburg, Rendell officially invited suitors yesterday to make an offer for the venerable tollway. "There is only one option that is not on the table - and that is doing nothing," Rendell said of Pennsylvania's quest to find almost $2 billion more each year to bolster its roads, bridges, and public transit system Philadelphia Inquirer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1750182/posts#comment Fri, 8 Dec 2006 02:24:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1733981/posts In precincts 7, 19, 51 in Philly, PA, the crowds are going wild. Inside several voting locations, individuals have poured white out onto the polling books and the poll workers are allowing voters to go into the polls and vote without first registering. Several individuals are on hand demanding that voters vote straight Democrat. RNC lawyers have headed to the scene of the incidents, which are occurring in mostly hispanic precinct locations. The District Attorney has also been contacted. Redstate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1733981/posts#comment Tue, 7 Nov 2006 14:55:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1727366/posts After several days of criticism over his insulting and offensive remarks about what "unbelievable brightness and cheer," gambling brings to the, "very gray lives," of seniors, Ed Rendell yesterday sought to, uh, "clarify," his views on the positive role of gambling in their lives. "Congratulations on your clarification, Governor," said Swann Communications Director Leonardo Alcivar. "Pennsylvanians are now comforted by your belief that seniors losing $30 dollars a day is just fine." "The past two weeks of front page headlines on the Governor's abuse of the state plane, and now on his disgraceful views about the lives of our seniors,... Swann for governor website http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1727366/posts#comment Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:52:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1723025/posts <p>Philadelphia - A special three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals convened Wednesday to hear arguments on whether a Federal Civil Rights suit may proceed against Gov. Ed Rendell and overturn a 2003 lower court ruling that there was insufficient evidence. Rendell is charged with conspiring to suppress the First Amendment rights of protesters by having Teamsters Local 115 beat them while they demonstrated outside Philadelphia's City Hall during a Democratic fundraiser featuring President Bill Clinton. Rendell, who was mayor of Philadelphia at the time, admitted in a deposition following the Oct. 2, 1998 beatings to personally inviting Teamsters Local 115 Secretary-Treasurer John Morris and instructing the union to "drown-out" the Clinton protesters. "I specifically said I didn't want any interaction with the demonstrators. I wanted this to be extremely peaceful and extremely positive," Rendell also claimed in the deposition, which was taken two years after the fact. Morris was caught on video by local media placing a fedora over protester Don Adams' head, signaling the Teamsters to knock him to the ground and assault him. Adams was treated at a nearby hospital for a concussion, lacerations and multiple bruises. His sister, Teri, sustained minor injuries. Testimony from Morris' chief of staff revealed that, after the beatings, Rendell called Morris about the Teamsters who participated in the attack and said, "nothing is going to happen to these guys," and "I know how these things go." He then suggested that Morris and the Teamsters file a criminal complaint against Adams, which they did two days later on Oct. 4, 1998, alleging that he struck a woman in their group. Even though there was no police reports supporting the Teamster's claim, the incident was caught on video, and the District Attorney's Office pursued trial against Adams, who filed suit against the Teamsters and Rendell several months later. At one point, the Teamsters offered to drop their charges against him if he dropped his case. During that time, they launched a media campaign and accused Adams of being a woman-beater. Adams rejected the deal and was found not guilty on July 8, 1999. Five teamsters then pled guilty to various charges of assault and were granted probation, and Morris died in 2001. Arguments surrounding Rendell's involvement center not on how convincing the evidence is, but whether his interaction with Morris after the fact - consoling the Teamsters and advising them to sue Adams - can be used as evidence to support the charge of conspiracy. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in United States vs. Smith in 2002 that concerted actions to conceal unlawful behavior are relevant to a finding of conspiracy. The Supreme Court reached a similar conclusion in United States vs. Brodie last year. However, Philadelphia Law Department attorney Jane Lovitch Istvan, who represents Rendell, argued in brief, "The alleged conversation in this case ... contained no evidence of attempted concealment, nor is there a pattern of other alleged attempts to conceal." "I think he might have a case," Circuit Judge Restani said during oral arguments surrounding Adams' claim. The three circuit judges were appointed to hear the case from outside the Third Circuit Court's jurisdiction after a motion asking the entire Circuit to recuse itself was granted. This recusal was issued due to the fact that Rendell's wife, Judge Marjorie Rendell, sits on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.</p> The Evening Bulletin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1723025/posts#comment Fri, 20 Oct 2006 17:34:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710169/posts Today, Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann highlighted the urgent need to end pay raise politics in Pennsylvania during his statewide tour to Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Scranton, Erie, Johnstown, and Pittsburgh. “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Ed Rendell’s midnight pay raise is just another example of what is wrong with Harrisburg,” said Swann. “The politics of pay raises and backroom deals are getting in the way of delivering results for hard working Pennsylvanians. This Governor squandered his bully pulpit by doing more to raise the pay of Harrisburg insiders than providing tax relief for the rest of us,” Swann continued.... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710169/posts#comment Thu, 28 Sep 2006 20:13:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696160/posts PITTSBURGH—In his new book, A New Direction: My Plan for a Better Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann outlined his plan to increase job creation across Pennsylvania and stop Ed Rendell’s Harrisburg from hindering economic growth. The current administration’s burdensome business taxes cost Pennsylvania over 33,000 new jobs in 2004 alone. And in the Northeastern part of the state, manufacturing jobs dropped approximately 40 percent in Lackawanna County since 2000, 29 percent in the city of Scranton, and 15 percent in Luzerne County, according to newly released 2005 census data. The Swann/Matthews plan for job creation includes: · Returning the... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696160/posts#comment Wed, 6 Sep 2006 02:49:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690942/posts PITTSBURGH - Governor Ed Rendell recently released a new campaign advertisement highlighting his Administration's "tax cuts" and economic "cost cutting." Unfortunately, Rendell’s ad fails to tell Pennsylvanians the real story behind his failed economic record over the past four years: Rendell Rhetoric: "After facing a huge deficit his cost cutting and tough budgeting have produced a fourth balanced budget in a row."Reality: The Pennsylvania Constitution mandates that the budget is balanced. Rendell is bragging about following state law. Rendell hasn’t saved the Commonwealth money through "tough budgeting." In fact, the opposite is true. State spending has increased a staggering... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690942/posts#comment Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:07:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690351/posts Is (Pennsylvania) Governor Rendell Secretly Planning A Vice Presidential Run? Grassroots PA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690351/posts#comment Sat, 26 Aug 2006 13:04:23 GMT