Wows & Scowls
Scowl: As if the e-mail scandal that forced the resignation of Florida Rep. Mark Foley weren’t enough, fresh allegations now surface that House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois was warned three years ago of Foley’s troublesome behavior regarding teen-age male pages. Hastert may even lose his leadership position, as his Republican colleagues might not have the appetite to go to the mat on this in a tight election year. Oh, and by the way, Fox News should get it right. Foley is a Republican, not a Democrat, as that erstwhile “fair and balanced” network erroneously broadcast. Wow: To Democrat incumbent Gov. Ed Rendell and GOP challenger Lynn Swann, who engaged in an interesting televised debate Wednesday in Pittsburgh. They had some spirited exchanges and we can question things said on both sides, but the event wasn’t one of those bland offerings where candidates water down their positions so much that you can’t figure anything out. It’s too bad that three prominent incumbents in our area – state Reps. Bill DeWeese and Peter J. Daley II – have flat-out declined our offer to appear in a televised debate with their Republican opponents. The questions are the same for each candidate, guys. What are you afraid of?
Scowl: It’s downright sickening that our society includes sociopaths like Charles Carl Roberts IV, the milk truck driver who invaded a school and shot and killed several Amish girls Tuesday. Roberts also shot and killed himself as state police moved in, which, if it’s any consolation, removes one bad apple from the bunch.
Wow: State Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Waynesburg) has been named an “Environmental Champion” by the nonpartisan Pennsylvania League of Conservation Voters. He’s among 77 state legislators (out of 253) who was bestowed that title, according to a press release sent out by his campaign. Congrats, Bill, for being one of 77 champions of the environment. Now, if only you could be a “champion” of government reform and transparency.
Wow: Congratulations to the new Uniontown police chief, Ronald “Crow” Kozak, who officially was named to the post this week by Mayor Jim Sileo. With nearly 25 years of police experience under his belt, Kozak takes over for retired Chief Kyle Sneddon. You can’t question Kozak’s commitment to law enforcement; after all, he volunteered to work midnight shift for 12 years. We wish him well.
Wow: State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Butler County Republican, has proposed amending the state constitution to cut judges’ terms from 10 to five years, and to permit their salaries to be reduced. The latter move would eliminate the sort of trickery that enveloped last year’s pay raise, where legislative raises were neatly packaged with a hike for the judiciary and made non-severable, by people who knew full well that the law does not permit judges’ salaries to be reduced. That’s why they got to keep theirs.