Global Warming Link Wildfires Begin

Who didn't know such a connection would be attempted between wildfires and global warming? Anderson Cooper's Planet in Peril series made the connection the day of the report of the California fires, before it became known it was arson-related, when the tagline for the program segment was entitled California in Peril. Why wasn't it California in Crisis? or California Crying or anything that didn't suggest a connection between warming of the planet and wildfires?

A Spark Neglected: Wildfires and Global Warming
Select Committee to Examine Link Between Changing Climate, Frequency and Intensity of Wildfires

“A spark neglected makes a mighty fire.”
--Robert Herrick

Following the devastating fires in Southern California, the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hold a hearing examining the scientific link between a changing climate and the frequency and intensity of wildfires.

Witnesses will discuss the present effects of climate change on wildfires and contributing factors such as increased drought, changes in snowmelt patterns, changes in precipitation, and higher temperatures. In addition, mitigation and adaptation strategies will be discussed.

The frequency and intensity of wildfires have increased in recent decades throughout the Western United States. Last year, the Forest Service spent a record $2.5 billion fighting wildfires that burned a record 9.9 million acres (4 million hectares), compared to the ten-year average of 6 million acres. This year 8.7 million acres have burned thus far. The current fires burning in California are expected to cause over $1 billion in property damage alone and have already burned an area the size of Rhode Island. Mounting scientific evidence indicates that the growth in wildfires is linked to global warming and that this trend is likely to intensify in the coming decades.

WHAT: Select Committee Hearing, "Wildfires and the Climate Crisis"

WHEN: Thursday, November 1st, 2007, 10 AM

WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC
Or on the web at globalwarming.house.gov

http://globalwarming.house.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases?id=0112

Net the Truth Online blog Excellent Reporting PA Open Records Issue

Daily Courier letter-to-the-editor by former PA State legislator, Larry Roberts, commends Net the Truth Online for Excellent Reporting results on the PA Open Records issue. The commentary is much appreciated. Our blog posts don't cater to anyone politically as a review will show. The blog attempts to hold everyone accountable for what they do or don't do.

For instance, the version of open records legislation proposed in the House of Representatives by freshman legislator Tim Mahoney simply put was bad from the start.

Before its consideration in the PA State Government Committee (Wednesday, October 17, 2007), the bill itself contained almost two-dozen exemptions. At its heart, the Mahoney bill includes a feature which makes it insufficient at this time to obtain full open records reform. The bill would only apply to future records produced after the legislation takes effect and already existing open records. Material which has not been open will remain closed.

The Mahoney bill, House Bill 443, as we've stated before, opens the door a bit, only to close it smack in the face of the public.

We've questioned why.

What is there to fear by opening all records to public scrutiny barring any which might pertain to the nation or state's national or state security?

After the Mahoney bill's consideration in the PA State Government Committee, media darling and reformer Tim Potts called the legislation the Corruption Protection Act.

Only the AP reports picked up by a few Philadelphia-based newspapers noted the scathing charge.

As well, we have been concerned with the Newspaper Association's former blanket support for the Mahoney bill when the association was surely well aware of its contents.

It seemed they were more than willing to be complicit in rushing anything through the state General Assembly rather than have a more deliberative process which got it all right from the beginning.

From June until recently, the passopenrecords site (blog) (created by the PA Newspaper Association) has contained little more than glowing commentary for the House bill sponsored by Rep. Tim Mahoney and supported by Rep. H. William DeWeese, House Majority leader.

http://passopenrecords.org/2007/06/15/legislators-are-speaking-up-for-open-records/

Only after the PA State Government Committee made a bad bill worse did the PA Newspaper Association pull its own support from the Mahoney bill and throw its support to the Senate bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi...

Only after that action did the passopenrecords.org blog change course.

We've questioned why the Press which was present at a Capitol Rotunda press conference (Monday, October 15, 2007) sponsored by the organization passopenrecords was apparently missing-in-action when Mahoney and others were spinning the House legislation.

They failed to ask any further questions of state Representative Tim Mahoney at the conference when they had the chance, and later, Rep. Mahoney was unavailable to a reporter seeking further clarification of his press conference comments.

See our blog post concerning the passopenrecords press conference viewed first-hand on the PCN channel.

Citizen Discontent Open Records Exemptions

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/citizen-discontent-open-records.html

Note the passopenrecords.org blog post reporting on the same conference entitled Yesterday for the date of October 16, 2007. What's missing?

http://passopenrecords.org/page/2/

http://passopenrecords.org/2007/10/16/yesterday/

What's missing is a flogging Rep. Mahoney and other speakers who still supported Mahoney's bill despite his own commentary it would not apply to the past records which were not open. Mahoney at the time stated: we don't need more investigations.

Yet the passopenrecords.org site doesn't flog Mahoney?

Instead, here is what they stated in Yesterday

You can read the press release from yesterday’s event here.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Harrisburg Patriot-News, the Scranton Times-Tribune, the Carlisle Sentinel , the Bucks County Courier Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette covered the event. Whew! That’s just the news coverage - on the editorial page, the Allentown Morning Call wrote about open records reform along with the Uniontown Herald Standard and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

And we also announced the winners of PNA’s Open Records Challenge: Alan Trexler a student at Lock Haven University, and Bob Spurdle, a resident of Wayne. Congratulations to both.

Remember, if you want to see open records reform, we need your help - contact your legislator today and urge them to vote for open records reform.

Beverly Schenck summed up what a lot of us are feeling when she told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “I don’t want a bill that’s simply there to make it look like they’re doing something. I want some actual action. The more exceptions, the more opportunities there will be for [government officials] to deny access to information people should have.”

http://passopenrecords.org/2007/10/16/yesterday/

Why urge people to contact their legislators, that day, to vote for the House bill when there were bubbling doubts about it?

Had the org's bloggers even read the legislation prior to posting on the day of the press conference?

A Fresh Breeze is Blowing
Oct 15th, 2007 by JamieB

On the morning of our press conference at the Capitol, there is a real hum of excitement about the possibility of meaningful open records legislation soon. . . .

http://passopenrecords.org/2007/10/15/225/

PNA/PassOpenRecords.org Press Conference Monday
Oct 11th, 2007 by dani_k

http://passopenrecords.org/2007/10/11/pnapassopenrecordsorg-press-conference-monday/

This all may sound a bit harsh, but seriously, the org has access many other bloggers around the state simply don't have. They need to be even more forceful in their skepticism, not less.

Currently, the passopenrecords.org site is analyzing the Senate bills pertaining to open records.

http://passopenrecords.org/

That's a commendable service to the public. Hopefully, news reporters who have immediate access to the sponsors of these bills will ask the necessary follow-up questions so the public can have all of information needed to make informed decisions.

Hopefully, passopenrecords.org won't rush to urge support - when bills are wrong for PA from the beginning.

also see Net the Truth Online sidebar or conduct blog search

Pass Given to Mahoney on Bad Bill?

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/pass-given-to-mahoney-on-bad-bill.html

PA Newspaper Publishers Retract Support for Open Records (Corruption Protection Act)

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/pa-newspaper-publishers-retract-support.html

Newspaper suppresses House Bill Corruption Protection Act

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/newspaper-suppresses-house-bill.html

Mahoney Open Records Bill Called Corruption Protection Act

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/mahoney-open-records-bill-called.html

PA Rep. Tim Mahoney Unavailable to Explain Public Records Exemptions

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/pa-rep-tim-mahoney-unavailable-to.html

Citizen Discontent Open Records Exemptions

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/citizen-discontent-open-records.html

Open Records for PA Exempted General Assembly

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/06/open-records-for-pa-exempted-general.html

Some criminal court records already "closed" and won't be opened if Mahoney bill stands as is...

Mixed bag
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Posted 9:01 PM by Dave Ralis


http://www.daveralis.com/dailyrant/2006_02_26_archive.shtml

(Net the Truth Online)

Open-records 'joke'
Daily Courier
Saturday, October 27, 2007

As someone has said, the open-records legislation that came out of the House committee would best be called the Corruption Protection Act. The bill is nothing but a joke.

However, everything the committee failed to do for open records can easily be rectified by the amendment process from the House floor.

Let's all watch to see who does what.

In the meantime, I encourage all your readers who might be interested in open records to check out http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com. When you find the Web site, go to research and type in open records. There are numerous comments there and excellent reporting results on the open-records issue.
Larry Roberts

Uniontown

The writer is a retired state legislator from Uniontown.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/letters/s_534385.html

Gov. Spitzer OK Drivers License for Illegals to be Challenged in Hearing

CNN: Reporting this morning that a hearing is to be held which may effect New York Governor Spitzer action to OK drivers license for illegal aliens without valid documentation of citizenship or lawful presence.

After the debate among candidates vying for the Democrat Party nomination for president, MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews pressed Hotline editor Chuck Todd about Hillary Clinton's inconsistent response to a question about Spitzer's action.

Matthews said with the positions of Republican candidates well-set on Spitzer's measure, and Clinton appearing to support Spitzer's plan, and no Democrats criticizing her, Republicans were poised to make this a major campaign issue next Fall.

(Net the Truth Online)

See MSNBC

Debate Shows Unpresidential Hillary Clinton

The NBC-sponsored debate among candidates seeking the Democrat Party nomination for president revealed Hillary Clinton to be unpresidential.

Asked point blank whether she supported Gov. Spitzer's plan to give drivers' licenses to illegal aliens, Hillary Clinton appeared to speak out of both sides of her mouth. Failing to answer the question directly, whether or not she supported Spitzer's plan, Clinton instead said... "What is a Governor to do," she said. "We haven't acted, President Bush has failed... we need them to come out of the shadows...

Even commentator Chris Matthews noted she was double talking on that issue.

Matthews also referenced Barack Obama's comments about the non-release of records during the Clinton years and Clinton's non-responses about the Clinton White House records.

There is no mention of the exchange in the AP or Reuters articles.

After the debate, NM Governor Bill Richardson was asked why he defended Hillary Clinton on the suppression of records.

Richardson looked caught in the headlights as how could he consider himself a serious opponent when he is defending the virtual front-runner...

Hotline editor Chuck Todd said he believes she thinks she was trying to have it both ways on the illegal immigration issue...

Net the Truth Online

Portion of Hardball Chris Matthews video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/

MSNBC Transcript

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21528787/

analysis wake up america

http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2007/10/democratic-debatehillary-clinton-stands.html

Mentions question pertaining to illegal aliens drivers' licenses

Democratic rivals target Clinton’s vote on Iran
Clinton stumbles on immigration
Dodd also was the only candidate who raised his hand when Brian Williams, managing editor and anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” asked whether anyone believed illegal immigrants should not have driver’s licenses. “This is a privilege, not a right,” he said.

Clinton may have given her opponents an opening to bear down on their “doubletalk” attack. In a convoluted answer to the same question, Clinton first said she thought New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to let illegal immigrants have driver’s licenses “makes a lot of sense.” Then she said she did not endorse Spitzer’s plan even though she repeated that he had the right idea. Then she accused Russert of asking a “gotcha” question.

Edwards leaped, noting that Clinton appeared to have given two different answers in less than two minutes.

“I think this is a real issue for the country,” he said. “I mean, America is looking for a president who will say the same thing, who will be consistent, who will be straight with them.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21548813/page/2/

Democrats open fire on Clinton at debate
Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:05pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN3024108420071031?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Obama, Edwards Take on Clinton in Debate

Oct 30 11:23 PM US/Eastern
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8SJVB780&show_article=1

MSNBC POLL RESULTS

Who avoided the questions? * 16376 responses

Hillary Clinton 70%

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21528788/

Video

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=msnbc&tab=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21548813/&fg=&from=00&vid=1c4346a6-839a-4c72-bd8a-b5f49d68505a&playlist=videoByTag:mk:us:vs:0:tag:Source_MSNBC:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:ps:10:sd:-1:ind:1:ff:8A

Oct. 30 Democratic debate transcript
Transcript clip

Russert: Thank you, Brian.

Senator Clinton, Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer has proposed giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. He told the Nashua, New Hampshire, Editorial Board it makes a lot of sense.

Why does it make a lot of sense to give an illegal immigrant a driver's license?

Clinton: Well, what Governor Spitzer is trying to do is fill the vacuum left by the failure of this administration to bring about comprehensive immigration reform. We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally. They are undocumented workers. They are driving on our roads. The possibility of them having an accident that harms themselves or others is just a matter of the odds. It's probability.

So what Governor Spitzer is trying to do is to fill the vacuum. I believe we need to get back to comprehensive immigration reform because no state, no matter how well intentioned, can fill this gap. There needs to be federal action on immigration reform.

Russert: Does anyone here believe an illegal immigrant should not have a driver's license?

(Unknown): Believe what?

Russert: An illegal immigrant should not have a driver's license.

Dodd: This is a privilege. And, look, I'm as forthright and progressive on immigration policy as anyone here. But we're dealing with a serious problem here, we need to have people come forward. The idea that we're going to extend this privilege here of a driver's license I think is troublesome, and I think the American people are reacting to it.

We need to deal with security on our borders. We need to deal with the attraction that draws people here. We need to deal fairly with those who are here.

But this is a privilege. Talk about health care, I have a different opinion. That affects the public health of all of us.

But a license is a privilege, and that ought not to be extended, in my view.

Clinton: Well, I just want to add, I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognize why Governor Spitzer is trying to do...


(Unknown): Wait a minute...

Clinton: And we have failed. We have failed.

Dodd: No, no, no. You said -- you said yes...

Clinton: No.

Dodd: ... you thought it made sense to do it.

Clinton: No, I didn't, Chris. But the point is, what are we going to do with all these illegal immigrants who are driving...

Dodd: That's a legitimate issue. But driver's license goes too far, in my view.

Clinton: Well, you may say that, but what is the identification?

If somebody runs into you today who is an undocumented worker...

Dodd: There's ways of dealing with that.

Clinton: Well...

Dodd: This is a privilege, not a right.

Clinton: Well, what Governor Spitzer has agreed to do is to have three different licenses, one that provides identification for actually going onto airplanes and other kinds of security issues, another which is another ordinary driver's license, and then a special card that identifies the people who would be on the road, so...

Dodd: That's a bureaucratic nightmare.

Clinton: ... it's not the full privilege.

Russert: Senator Clinton, I just want to make sure of what I heard. Do you, the New York senator, Hillary Clinton, support the New York governor's plan to give illegal immigrants a driver's license?

You told the New Hampshire paper that it made a lot of sense. Do you support his plan?

Clinton: You know, Tim, this is where everybody plays "gotcha." It makes a lot of sense. What is the governor supposed to do? He is dealing with a serious problems. We have failed. And George Bush has failed. Do I think this is the best thing for any governor to do? No. But do I understand the sense of real desperation, trying to get a handle on this? Remember, in New York, we want to know who's in New York. We want people to come out of the shadows.

He's making an honest effort to do it. We should have passed immigration reform.

Williams: New subject, Senator Edwards.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21528787/page/21/

Religion of Global Warming

Bill Hemmer interviewing Senator James Inhofe on the issue of global warming and intensity and frequency of hurricanes...

all of those who subscribe to the religion of global warming believe everything that is happening is the result of global warming, remenber back in 2005 and '06 all these great climatologists - it's going to be the worst and this is the mildest in thirty years, Inhofe says.

Related

Climate Change Update
Senate Floor Statement by
U.S. Sen. James M. Inhofe(R-Okla)

January 4, 2005

As I said on the Senate floor on July 28, 2003, "much of the debate over global warming is predicated on fear, rather than science." I called the threat of catastrophic global warming the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," a statement that, to put it mildly, was not viewed kindly by environmental extremists and their elitist organizations. I also pointed out, in a lengthy committee report, that those same environmental extremists exploit the issue for fundraising purposes, raking in millions of dollars, even using federal taxpayer dollars to finance their campaigns.

For these groups, the issue of catastrophic global warming is not just a favored fundraising tool. In truth, it's more fundamental than that. Put simply, man-induced global warming is an article of religious faith. Therefore contending that its central tenets are flawed is, to them, heresy of the most despicable kind. Furthermore, scientists who challenge its tenets are attacked, sometimes personally, for blindly ignoring the so-called "scientific consensus." But that's not all: because of their skeptical views, they are contemptuously dismissed for being "out of the mainstream." This is, it seems to me, highly ironic: aren't scientists supposed to be non-conforming and question consensus? Nevertheless, it's not hard to read between the lines: "skeptic" and "out of the mainstream" are thinly veiled code phrases, meaning anyone who doubts alarmist orthodoxy is, in short, a quack.

I have insisted all along that the climate change debate should be based on fundamental principles of science, not religion. Ultimately, I hope, it will be decided by hard facts and data-and by serious scientists committed to the principles of sound science. Instead of censoring skeptical viewpoints, as my alarmist friends favor, these scientists must be heard, and I will do my part to make sure that they are heard.

Since my detailed climate change speech in 2003, the so-called "skeptics" continue to speak out. What they are saying, and what they are showing, is devastating to the alarmists. They have amassed additional scientific evidence convincingly refuting the alarmists' most cherished assumptions and beliefs. New evidence has emerged that further undermines their conclusions, most notably those of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-one of the major pillars of authority cited by extremists and climate alarmists.

This evidence has come to light in very interesting times. Just last month, the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP-10) to the Framework Convention on Climate Change convened in Buenos Aires to discuss Kyoto's implementation and measures to pursue beyond Kyoto. As some of my colleagues know, Kyoto goes into effect on February 16th. I think, with the exception of Russia, an exception that I will explain later, the nations that ratified Kyoto and agreed to submit to its mandates are making a very serious mistake...

http://inhofe.senate.gov/pressreleases/climateupdate.htm

Stealing Halloween from Kids

Fox News Network America's Newsroom (hosts Bill Hemmer and Megyn whoever) discussion with Michael Graham, radio talk show host, focusing on the question Are Halloween costumes too sexy for young girls? spoiled baby boomers are ruining Halloween for the kids, baby boomers are stealing Halloween from kids, Graham said.

Bush v. Gore and Adam Cohen Lie

Amid discussion of We the People Clean Elections lawsuit is one of the best discussions of Bush v. Gore across the Internet.

10-state lawsuit to ban voting machines filed ...

WTP Initiates National “Clean Elections” Lawsuit

http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/54632/54635.html?1191948833

Don't miss it.

In addition, reference is made to:

Adam Cohen's op-ed in the Editorial Observer section of the August 15, 2006 New York Times entitled "Has Bush v. Gore Become the Case That Must Not Be Named?"

http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/54632/54635.html?1191948833

Killer superbug danger in schools

Don't miss Larry King's discussion with panelists on recent pediatric society/association's recommendations to screen infants for autism at 18 months and 24 months of age.

Panelist Holly Robinson Peete noted a bracelet being sold to benefit autism-related research and help families...

Search results

Holly Robinson Peete Autism Bracelets

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2006-40%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=robinson+peete+autism+bracelets&btnG=Search

Autism Speaks

http://www.autism-in-children.info/autism-speaks.php

larry King Live

Autism: Groundbreaking Development

Aired October 29, 2007 - 21:00 ET
Help could be on the way for moms and dads who have worried their child may have autism. Two groundbreaking reports that could help diagnose it earlier were released today by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The group is making its strongest push ever to have all kids screened for autism by age two. It also details warning signs that parents should watch for, the goals and earlier diagnosis, and more effective treatment.

There is no cure for autism, but experts say an early treatment can lessen its severity.

Our panel members are Gary Cole, the multi-talented film and TV actor. His teenage daughter, Mary, was diagnosed with autism when she was 18 months old.

Dr. Ricki Robinson, M.D., pediatrician, founding member of Autism Speaks, co-founder and director of the Descano Medical Center for Development and Learning.

Holly Robinson Peete -- a return visit for Holly, the actress. Her oldest son, R.J., diagnosed with autism in the year 2000, when he was three. She and her husband, the former NFL quarterback, Rodney Peete, went public with their son's story this summer. She is founder of the HollyRod Foundation.

John Schneider, the actor and singer. He performed the national anthem before last night's NASCAR race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. His teenaged son, Chasen, has Asperger's Syndrome, which is a form or a part of the autism spectrum.

And in Boston is Nancy Wiseman, the founder and president of First Signs, a nonprofit national organization dedicated to educating parents and professionals about the early warning signs of autism, the author of the book "Could It Be Autism?: A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0710/29/lkl.01.html

Pediatricians urge early autism screening
By Elizabeth Cohen
CNN

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- From the time her daughter was very young, Briana Vartanian knew something was wrong.

Lola didn't smile. She didn't laugh. When she and Lola took walks in the park, Vartanian noticed how the other babies loved to be held by their mothers. Lola hated being touched and even more being held. But there was something even more devastating to Vartanian, who lives in Ladera Ranch, California.

"Lola never looked at me -- she looked through me. She had no idea who Mommy was," Vartanian said. "And other kids love it when someone comes up to them and smiles. She'd freak out if someone approached her -- even if it was me or my husband."

Vartanian told her pediatrician she was worried, the doctor told her Lola was fine. "She kept telling me wait and see, wait and see, and that really annoyed me," Vartanian said.

At first she took the took the doctor's advice but then decided to seek a second opinion. A couple of months ago, when Lola was 14 months old, she saw a pediatric neurologist, who diagnosed autism. Lola immediately started receiving special therapy.

"You always wonder if it would have made a difference if they'd caught it earlier," Vartanian said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is making a push to have every child screened for autism twice by age 2. The academy's new report gives explicit instructions for the warning signs of autism at various ages.

Parents should watch for signs, including not making eye contact, not recognizing a parent's voice, not babbling by age 9 months and not using pre-speech gestures such as waving, pointing and showing...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/10/29/autism.signs/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Undervoted Ballots Need Solution

Undervoted ballots to some are a unique individual voter statement during an election. A voter can choose to vote for less than the number of candidates in a single race, and/or leave portions of the ballot blank, or undervoted. There's a but. Historically, there has been absolutely no way to determine whether the voter made a mistake, or whether the voting system - even if the system was the mechanical lever machines used in Pennsylvania and elsewhere for decades, or the current replacements, the direct recording "electronic" machines, are responsible for such omissions.

Even if paper ballots are used, there is no guarantee the ballot will not contain stray marks later to be interpreted by a "review" board, and there is no way to check whether the ballots are handled correctly.

The solution: simple. A selection on the voting system titled, No Choice. In other words in a race where only one candidate is to be selected the voter could select No Choice. In a race where 2 candidates are to be selected, the voter could select one candidate's name and ignore a second selection by choosing No Choice.

Voters should have a right to vote for nobody at the polling place and have their voice heard.

Counties stand by touch-screen voting

By staff and wire reports
Friday, October 26, 2007


On Election Day, residents in Allegheny, Westmoreland and Butler counties will vote on the same brand of touch-screen electronic machines widely blamed for skewing a Florida congressional race last year.
Electronic machines have caused controversy ever since Congress mandated the transition after the 2000 election debacle in Florida.

In all, 19 of 31 Western Pennsylvania counties use Election Systems & Software's iVotronics voting machine -- the same one used in Florida.

Armstrong County is the only local county that doesn't.

...Federal funding paid all $12.5 million for Allegheny County's machines for the 2006 primary election.

Critics contend some problems don't get noticed because what voters punch into the machines can't be monitored.

"I don't see how they can say the machines are reliable when they have no way of showing whether the machines are reliable," said Chester County attorney Marian K. Schneider, who took state officials to court last year to ban use of iVotronics and other machines.

The case is before the state Supreme Court.

"Touch-screen machines are bad for voting," said one of the plaintiffs, Danny Sleator, 53, of Squirrel Hill, a Carnegie Mellon University computer science professor. "They're too vulnerable to both machine errors (and) calibration errors ... as well as nefarious manipulation of the vote."

Black Box Voting, a nonprofit elections watchdog, reports e-voting glitches -- such as 19,000 voters in one Indiana county somehow casting 144,000 votes in 2003, and the disappearance of 70 ballot "memory cards" in Ohio last year.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., has pushed for a law requiring all machines to produce a voter-verified record. The bill is awaiting House action.

In Sarasota County, Fla., the U.S. Government Accountability Office investigated whether 1,590 iVotronics machines created 18,000 undervotes, which occur when a person doesn't vote for every open office on a ballot.

It decided "certain components of the voting systems" worked correctly, but said more tests were needed to determine if the machines were defective.

The 18,000 undervotes occurred in Republican-leaning Sarasota County, where Democrat Christine Jennings edged out Republican Vern Buchanan by 6,855 votes. Jennings, however, lost the 13th Congressional District race by 369 votes.

ES&S, the iVotronic maker, said a review concluded "there is no evidence to support the position that the iVotronic touch-screens caused votes to be lost."

"Each piece of technology, each voting system --- including the iVotronic -- is secure," spokeswoman Amanda Brown said. "And it goes through a number of reviews ... to ensure it's safe and accurate and secure."

GAO findings have little impact on Sarasota County, whose residents voted to return to paper ballots during the same election in which the undervotes occurred. The machines cost them $4.7 million six years ago. Officials only have recouped about $1 million.

"Voter confidence is important and if it's going to make the people feel better and trust the system they're using, then it's a good thing," said Kathy Dent, Sarasota County's supervisor of elections. "There's no such thing as a perfect system."

Mary Kohart is a Philadelphia attorney who's worked to ban some machines.

"We can do way better and we should do way better," Kohart said. "Odds are that the election will be accurately counted. ... But, this is an election. We shouldn't have to rely on the odds."

------

Tribune-Review News Service reporters and staff writer Charlie Ban contributed to this report.

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_534707.html

Pass Given to Mahoney on Bad Bill?

Why did Mr. Williams state the original legislation as submitted by PA Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-51st) was a "good" bill to begin with? It wasn't. The original bill pertained only to opening many already accessible records, and would have applied to future records, not past records.

Mahoney's bill had itself contained two-dozen exemptions.

The bill was amended further toward the downside by the State Government Committee, making it worse, rather than better.

It's doubtful the full House will amend to the upside as well.

It's puzzling that Williams didn't call a spade a spade. And that calls into question the neutrality of the PA Newspaper Association. Ah, look at the title given the letter: Open records reform thwarted. Key word, reform. Reformers. Rather than call one of the media darlings a non-reformer for presenting a bad bill to begin with, the PA Newpaper Association would rather place the blame on the State Government Committee "process."

Now we know.

Open records reform thwarted
By Tim Williams, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
10/24/2007
Updated 10/24/2007 09:59:39 AM EDT
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives stands poised to vote on a new open records law for Pennsylvania, House Bill 443. Unfortunately, the bill, as amended, would actually make access more difficult in Pennsylvania and would make Pennsylvania government more closed than ever before.


How could this happen, when legislative leaders and Gov. Rendell have all pledged support for open records reform and for making Pennsylvania government more open and accountable to its citizens? That's what we want to know.

House Bill 443, as originally proposed by Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fayette), was a good bill. It created the presumption of access to agency records and contained a list of exemptions for certain documents that required protection, including medical records, documents that would disclose ongoing police investigations, and homeland security-related documents. The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association supported many of its provisions.

Last week, however, the House State Government Committee voted to amend the bill. Not only did the Committee completely replace Rep. Mahoney's bill with language that would close much of Pennsylvania government, it rushed the entire process through in less than a day. The amendment was not publicly available until hours before the committee meeting.

No stakeholder had sufficient time to review or comment on the amendment prior to the meeting. Significant amendments were added during the committee meeting, without any public input, and the committee suspended the rules that would normally apply to timing of amendments. Legislative leaders have been promising meaningful reform, both substantive and procedural, for years. But at the first opportunity, they suspended their procedural rules to rush this bill through committee.

They suspended their rules to propose a bill that would prevent public access to all agency e-mail. What an invitation for abuse. Want something to remain confidential? Send it by e-mail. Pennsylvania would be the only state in the country that has such an exemption.

They also suspended their rules to propose a bill that would exempt all "correspondence and related records by and among a public official, a public official's staff and an agency." What could possibly justify such an overbroad exemption for communications between public officials and public employees?

Finally, the bill would not apply to most documents in existence at the time the bill is passed and would preserve all existing court decisions. Isn't the idea to make government more open? Why would we want to prevent access to pre-existing documents or preserve the court ruling that PennDOT's lists of most dangerous roads and intersections are not public records?

It is widely recognized that Pennsylvania has one of the worst open records laws in the country. A 2002 survey by the Better Government Association ranked Pennsylvania's open records environment 48th out of the 50 states. The Commonwealth tied with Alaska, and only Alabama and South Dakota were considered worse. House Bill 443, as amended, just might get us to 50th place. If this is reform, we don't want it.



Tim Williams is president of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18948374&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=468562&rfi=6

PA Newspaper Publishers Retract Support for Open Records (Corruption Protection Act)

Astounding. Finally the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association steps forward and pulls its support for Pennsylvania House Bill 443, originally submitted by state Representative Timothy Mahoney and amended by the State Government Committee last week.

But the bill was flawed from the getgo, before amendments were made to it in the PA State Government Committee. And the local news media - including the Tribune-Review and Herald-Standard - failed to give the public (constitutents of Rep. Mahoney) a thorough review of the bill in the interests of "public education."

After the committee action amended Mahoney's bill further away from true open records, well-known "reform" activist and media darling, Tim Potts, afterwards tagged the legislation the Corruption Protection Act.

An AP report publicized the comment (picked up by newspapers around the state), but it went unreported in the local area newspapers.

One of the features of the original bill submitted last March by state Rep. Timothy Mahoney (D-51st) has yet to be altered or amended. It stands as is. The original legislation would apply the open records directive to records currently open, not past records, and future records starting at the date the legislation takes effect.

Criticism has focused from these quarters on that aspect of the bill. What is there in the past that needs to be hidden from public view?

The PA Newspaper Association, according to reports, has withdrawn its support from the Mahoney bill and instead appears to be throwing its support to the Senate bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi.

According to the Herald-Standard, here's what Rep. Mahoney has said about his own bill after the Association nixed its support.

The association withdrew its support for Mahoney's bill last week partly because it would allow governments to deny requests that officials deem burdensome.

Mahoney said on Tuesday that he was hopeful that his legislation would be amended to remove that language and make other improvements.

"There are going to be a lot of major changes to the bill that came out of committee, and that's what I was hoping for," Mahoney said. "I just wanted the bill to move out of committee so it can get in front of the whole House where it deserves to be."

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18948610&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

Rep. Mahoney is hopeful his legislation will be amended to remove language and make other improvements? Why not remove the language from your own bill and make those improvements on your own? Why wait for all the other legislators to rip apart your own bill?

Rep. Mahoney says he "was hoping for" the "major changes" ??? When? Once it gets to the floor of the whole House of Representatives?

Why not make the major changes yourself, since you know major changes are needed?

Rep. Mahoney just wanted his bill to move out of committee so it can get in front of the whole House...

Seriously, why didn't Rep. Mahoney withdraw all of the portions of his own bill he knew were in need of "major changes" and which were under attack by the PA Newspaper Association, and others, once they discovered them?

How simple of an action for Rep. Mahoney to have delayed consideration of his bill "to do it right" the first time out and delete those sections of his own bill before he allowed the State Government Committee to amend.

Why rush a bill through - there's only one reason - your own politicial interests over and above the interests of the public you are supposed to serve.

Rep. Mahoney should hear from his constitutents.

It's unlikely he will when our area newspapers have failed in their public service to challenge the offensive contents of the Mahoney legislation from its inception.

The Newspaper Association isn't blameless either. They hurriedly supported anything and everything initially, without exacting specifics prior to the submission of the Mahoney bill to the State Government Committee. They were complicit in its rushed action.

Worse, the passopenrecords.org site, linked just about everywhere - that site was created by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

Doesn't that call into question the passopenrecords.org so-called press conference last Monday, when The Press had an opportunity during the conference to further question Rep. Tim Mahoney publicly about the exemptions in his submitted bill before it made its way to the State Government Committee.

It does. The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association wanted as quick action as did the legislators sponsoring the legislation.

That isn't serving the public.

We questioned the news media's lack of pressing for answers then.

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/citizen-discontent-open-records.html

Now they've pulled their support for Mahoney's bill, and are going where?

Elsewhere. But will that support be as hurried and rushed, with as disastrous consequences for the public?

We'll have to see. Advice: Do it right, or DON'T DO IT AT ALL.

Hey we beat em on the PA Newspaper Assoc pulling its support!

Public Records Bill Comes Under Fire; Critics Say The House Proposal, Aimed At Strengthening State Law, Is Weakened By Too Many Exemptions. (10-29-07)

http://www.accountability-central.com/single-view-default/single-view-lexis-nexis/article/public-records-bill-comes-under-fire-critics-say-the-house-proposal-aimed-at-strengthening-state-l/

Putting a fresh angle on the debate for open records, PNA has created a blog, passopenrecords.org, that will allow citizens from across the state to get involved in the campaign.


The effort is focused on state legislation to expand Pennsylvania’s open records law, considered one of the most restrictive in the nation.

http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18274181&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=18038&rfi=6

Newspaper association solicits public support for open records reform
04/28/2007

http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18274181&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=18038&rfi=6

Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

http://www.pa-newspaper.org/Core/Search.aspx?query=open%20records

Freedom of Information Blog

http://thefoiablog.typepad.com/the_foia_blog/2007/10/around-the-stat.html

Tim Potts September early warning comments about Tim Mahoney original bill (unreported locally)

State Wants Open Records
By: Jim McCaffrey, The Bulletin
09/10/2007

Tim Potts, the executive director of Democracy Rising Pennsylvania, doesn't like any of the proposed bills. He believes they are too restrictive.
"We shouldn't be looking at any of the bills in the legislature now," he declared. "We should be looking at the Open Records law they have in Nebraska. We should be looking at how open, how convenient and how cheap it is to get the information you are looking for there.
"The Mahoney bill has at least two dozen pieces of information it wants to keep secret. The Nebraska law has only about a dozen."

http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18800082&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6

Net the Truth Online Warnings

See search listing

October 16, 2007 Citizen Discontent Open Records Exemptions

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/search?q=timothy+mahoney

June 30, 2007

Open Records for PA Exempted General Assembly?

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/search?q=timothy+mahoney

Some criminal court records already "closed" and won't be opened if Mahoney bill stands as is...

Thursday, March 02, 2006
Posted 9:01 PM by Dave Ralis

Mixed bag

http://www.daveralis.com/dailyrant/2006_02_26_archive.shtml

Net the Truth Online
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
PA Capitol: DeWeese Co-Sponsor Freshman Open Records Bill
Looks like everybody is just getting along so well in Harrisburg...

Note: there's more than one bill

Note: there's still not going to be access to fill-in-the-blankety-blank

Note: history has a way of repeating itself

Note: whatever bill finally passes everybody will claim as they did in 2002

Note: Office so and such - wonder how many party patronage positions will open up

Note: everybody clap if you believe they'll let us see everything so easily

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/04/pa-capitol-deweese-co-sponsor-freshman.html

Voter Fraud EZ Pass New York Style

October 22, 2007 -- ALBANY - State election officials are worried that Gov. Spitzer's plan to allow illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses will make it difficult for them to catch people voting illegally.

"There has been concern," state Board of Elections spokesman Lee Daghlian told The Post.

While it is up to the local boards of election to determine who is eligible to vote, it is rare that election officials check into a person's legal status, particularly if they have identifying information on their voter-registration form like a driver's license or the last four digits of a Social Security number, Daghlian said.

In order to register, a person must sign an affidavit stating that they are an American citizen.

"You assume that people don't lie, and that's what the form says," Daghlian said. "It's an affidavit you sign under penalty of perjury."

But Daghlian concedes, "Nobody checks it" to determine its validity.

At the polls, voters are asked to show some form of photo ID, like a driver's license, to prove their identity, Daghlian said.

"I suppose it would be [tough to catch] if someone wanted to take advantage of the system and try to get a number of people registered who aren't citizens and went ahead and got them driver's licenses," he said.

Spitzer last month announced that beginning in December, the state will allow illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses by no longer requiring that applicants provide Social Security numbers or letters that a person is not eligible for such a number.

Critics of the plan expressed concerns about homeland security and said it would make New York ripe for voter fraud.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10222007/news/regionalnews/elex_bigs_fear_fraud_in_gov_li.htm

Inhofe Warns of Global Warming Laws
October 23, 2007 01:39 PM ET

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2007/10/23/inhofe-warns-of-global-warming-laws.html

Jerome Corsi on Glenn Beck TV show
WND reporter discusses latest stories on CNN Headline News
WND reporter, columnist and best-selling author Jerome Corsi will be a guest tonight on CNN Headline News' "Glenn Beck" show.

The show airs at 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight Eastern.

Corsi is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, "The Late Great USA," which charges the federal government's unwillingness to enforce immigration laws and border security is, at least in part, a result of plans to promote political, social and economic integration of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58287

PA effort alter Electoral College Protection Underway

Full Press Snup Constitution Underway in PA

Had known about the National Popular Vote Initiative months ago, watching to see if PA would make an attempt to follow suit. Unfortunately, the misguided are at it again attempting to alter the intent of the Founding Fathers by implementing the Electoral College for Presidential Elections. Most simply don';t understand why, the Framers of the U.S. Constitution adopted the protective measure, and don't want to. Every individual who runs for the presidency understands, and that's why you won't hear them demanding the Electoral College be abolished.

Well, except for Hillary Clinton, who now hails from New York...that explains a lot.

PA could join effort to alter electoral college vote count 10/22/2007
Tim Lambert and Radio Pennsylvania
(Harrisburg) -- A multi-state effort to change the way votes in the electoral college are counted has the backing of a Pennsylvania lawmaker. Democratic Representative Mark Cohen of Philadelphia has proposed committing the Commonwealth's electoral votes to the winner of the national popular tally for president. He says both the state and the country will benefit according to an analysis from the Cato Institute.

00022_cohen-1.mp3
Vermont lawmaker Christopher Pearson is working with a number of states on similar efforts, as part of the group "National Popular Vote."

00023_pearson-5.mp3
Even if Cohen's plan passes in Pennsylvania, the agreement wouldn't go into effect until states representing the majority of the total Electoral votes have signed on to the effort. So far, 47 other states have introduced similar bills -- with only one, Maryland, signing the legislation into law.

Ballot machines up for court review
By Justin Vellucci
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, October 21, 2007


On Election Day, residents in 19 of 31 Western Pennsylvania counties will vote on the same brand of touch-screen electronic machines widely blamed for skewing a Florida congressional race last year.
Area officials say they haven't encountered major problems since they started using Election Systems & Software's iVotronics in 2006. But critics contend some problems don't get noticed because what voters punch into the machines can't be monitored.

"I don't see how they can say the machines are reliable when they have no way of showing whether the machines are reliable," said Chester County attorney Marian K. Schneider, who took state officials to court last year to ban use of iVotronics and other machines.

The case is before the state Supreme Court.

"Touch-screen machines are bad for voting," said one of the plaintiffs, Danny Sleator, 53, of Squirrel Hill, a Carnegie Mellon University computer science professor. "They're too vulnerable to both machine errors (and) calibration errors ... as well as nefarious manipulation of the vote."
"This is an essential issue for maintaining our democracy," said Jeanne Zang, 58, of Sewickley, another plaintiff in the lawsuit. "We all need to be concerned that our votes are being counted properly."

Electronic machines have caused controversy ever since Congress mandated the transition to electronic voting after the 2000 election debacle in Florida.

Black Box Voting, a nonprofit elections watchdog, reports e-voting glitches -- such as 19,000 voters in one Indiana county somehow casting 144,000 votes in 2003, and the disappearance of 70 ballot "memory cards" in Ohio last year.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., has pushed for a law requiring all machines to produce a voter-verified record. The bill is out of committee and awaiting House action.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_533801.html

Marine faces court-martial, not for murder, in Haditha deaths

Courts-Martial for 2 in Haditha Deaths
Oct 20, 7:39 AM (ET)
By CHELSEA J. CARTER
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The highest-ranking U.S. serviceman to face court-martial involving combat since Vietnam was ordered to trial Friday for failing to investigate the killings of 24 Iraqis, including women and children, in Haditha two years ago.

Another Marine was also ordered to face court-martial for charges including involuntary manslaughter.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani faces charges of dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order on allegations that he mishandled the aftermath of the Nov. 19, 2005, shootings, which followed a roadside bombing that killed a Marine driver.

Chessani was commander of the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment that has been the focus of the biggest prosecution of U.S. troops in the Iraq war.

He is the most senior U.S. serviceman since the Vietnam War to face a court-martial for actions or decisions made in combat, said Gary Solis, a former Marine Corps prosecutor and judge who teaches law of war at Georgetown University Law Center.

One of Chessani's men, Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, was ordered to face a court-martial on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault. He is one of four Marines originally charged with murder in the killings.

The decision by Lt. Gen. James Mattis to send Tatum to court-martial comes after the investigating officer said last month that the evidence was too weak to prosecute him. But Tatum will not be tried on the murder count he originally faced.

Tatum, of Edmond, Okla., shot and killed civilians, but "he did so because of his training and the circumstances he was placed in, not to exact revenge and commit murder," Lt. Col. Paul Ware wrote last month in recommending he not face court-martial.

Chessani's civilian defense attorney, Brian Rooney, told The Associated Press he was disappointed with the general's recommendation.

"I can tell you this decision by Gen. Mattis today is going to have a negative affect on all officers, including battalion commanders," he said, adding it would undermine the trust between commanders and their troops. "Are they going to be able to trust the word of their junior officers, senior enlisted and junior enlisted?"

If convicted on all counts, Chessani faces up to three years in prison.

He is the second colonel to be court-martialed over actions in Iraq. Army Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan of Fredericksburg, Va., was convicted of abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison, said Tom Umberg, a retired Army colonel and former military prosecutor

The decision to send Chessani to trial mirrored the conclusion the hearing officer reached at his preliminary hearing. Col. Christopher Conlin said Chessani "failed to thoroughly and accurately report and investigate a combat engagement that clearly needed scrutiny."

In his report, Conlin, an infantry officer, blasted Chessani for failing to go to the scene of the November 2005 killings immediately after they had occurred, even though he knew 24 "neutrals" were dead.

"To not have made every attempt to be on scene as this action developed, or to not have at least reviewed this action in detail ... is in itself negligent," Conlin wrote. "The fact that one fireteam was solely responsible for 24 deaths in all direct fire actions should have solicited more than passing interest from the senior leadership of the battalion."

At Chessani's preliminary hearing, held in June at Camp Pendleton, several witnesses testified local Iraqis had complained to Chessani in the days after the killings and that he promised to look into what had happened.

But Chessani said he never ordered a formal investigation because he believed the deaths resulted from lawful combat.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071020/D8SCUITO0.html

Newspaper suppresses House Bill Corruption Protection Act

The following Herald-Standard article at least details that the open records bill originally submitted by PA state Rep. Tim Mahoney and amended in the State Government Committee Wednesday would indeed become the most restrictive law in the nation in opening up electronic mail to public scrutiny.

But why still no mention of reform media darling Tim Potts public criticism of the legislation, tagging it the "Corruption Protection Act?"

Potts tagged the Mahoney Bill the "Corruption Protection Act" for a variety of reasons, not just the State Government Committee's revision to the section in the original bill pertaining to electronic mail.

Why the silence from Herald-Standard editorial page editor, Paul Sunyak? Where is the criticism of the bill from the standpoint of applying the legislation only to those records already open, and those after the bill is in effect? Why no outcry that past public records will BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC?

Update: stand corrected. While not as forceful as we'd have liked, Sunyak took Mahoney to task at the end of an editorial

Action needed on open records
Paul Sunyak, Herald-Standard editorial page editor
10/16/2007
...It is now time to fish and cut bait. It is not time for more stalling and delays, such as the additional public hearings that state Rep. Paul Clymer, a Bucks County Republican, would like to hold. The House Speaker's Reform Commission has thrashed this out; the Senate has had ample time to study the issue. Solid frameworks exist. There is nothing tricky about what needs done.

The House should hold a meeting this week (as of last week, none has been scheduled) to report the bill out of committee, and the full House should get the ball rolling by voting on its version the week of Oct. 22.

As the fine-tuning unwinds, confidentiality of e-mails and whether to include records from the past are still being thrashed out. While we have lauded Mahoney's strong efforts in the House, which have verified our endorsement of him in 2006, we urge him to reconsider his position that any broader definition of public records should only apply to documents generated after the new law goes into effect.

"We don't need to open up other scandals. We have enough investigations going on in this damn state. We don't have to have more," says Mahoney.

If government officials have engaged in questionable spending or other practices, yes, we do, Mr. Mahoney. This is not a case of giving anyone a free pass, even in the name of bill-passing expediency.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18920298&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=468517&rfi=6

Odd isn't it, too. The PA Newspaper Publisher Association's own legal analyst/lawyer has been snubbed by the absence of reporting of her full comments...

Note Mahoney's bill without the amendments applied only to newly created records. In fact during the Monday press conference hosted by openrecords.org (created by the PA Newspaper Association) Tim Mahoney made a brief statement to that effect.

Here are Henning's objections, again:

The bill in its current form allows agencies to deny requests they consider “burdensome,” which Pennsylvania Newspaper Association lawyer Teri Henning said is a vague and subjective term.

Henning said there are legal problems with a provision that would generally apply the bill only to newly created records. If an existing record is not open to the public now, it probably will not be open in the future.

“If the point is to improve access, then access should be improved,” she said...

http://www.pennlive.com/politics/statehouse/article249114.ece

See our posts

Mahoney Open Records Bill Called Corruption Protection Act

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/mahoney-open-records-bill-called.html

PA Rep. Tim Mahoney Unavailable to Explain Public Records Exemptions

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/pa-rep-tim-mahoney-unavailable-to.html

Citizen Discontent Open Records Exemptions

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/citizen-discontent-open-records.html

Proposed bill restricts public access to lawmakers' e-mails
By Kori Walter, For the Herald-Standard
10/20/2007
Updated 10/20/2007 12:16:01 AM EDT

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania would have one of the nation's most restrictive laws on access to public officials' e-mail messages under an open records bill that the state House of Representatives plans to consider this week.

The legislation would ban public access to all e-mail messages sent or received from all public officials whether it's the governor or a township supervisor.

Under current state law, the public can view Pennsylvania state and municipal officials' e-mail if the content meets the state's narrow definition of a public record. And the Legislature is not subject to the state's open records law, making all of its e-mail off-limits.

Lucy Dalglish, executive director of The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in Arlington, Va., said most states - either through court orders or the lack of explicit bans on releasing e-mail messages - treat e-mail the same as any other record kept by a public officials.

Giving the public access to e-mail is important because officials sometimes vent controversial issues online before debating them in public, she said.

"We tell reporters that e-mail doesn't stand for electronic mail, it stands for evidence mail," said Dalglish, whose organization provides legal assistance to media members involved in First Amendment disputes. "You put something down in writing, and it's got some traction to it."

But Rep. Greg Vitali said allowing the public to view their e-mail would violate constituents' privacy rights.

Vitali, a Delaware County Democrat, wrote the provision that would exclude e-mail messages from the open records law the House is considering.

He said constituents who send e-mail messages to lawmakers seeking help with an issue do not expect that their requests will ever become public...

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18938426&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

"Save Second Base" Promotes Teen Sex

Seriously, is this country going down the Orwell double-speak road. Quicker than Flash Gordon can get to the crime scene.

It's OK to promote t-shirts which have a known sensual double-meaning to tweens and teens - at school? Just let them sell the tees...

That's the position anchors of Saturday's Fox 'n Friends apparently took while interviewing a couple of teenage girls who tried to sell the t-shirts at a school football game. The youth were denied access by the school district because the tee's contained a slogan with an "indecent" double-meaning which is not allowable under the school's guidebook rules.

We wonder what would have been said if a couple of 16 to 18-year old "boys" were trying to sell the t-shirts at middle schools? How about at Pre-K public schools? tiny ones for the little tots. They'd have been hauled away for sexual harassment and pedophilia as quick as you could say "Save Second Base."

Being of a libertarian bent, and a supporter of the first amendment, I don't like the fact that the school board can establish rules for what kind of speech is allowable on school property. They limit one kind of speech, then they can limit another kind of speech. There isn't an end to their power of limitation.

But they can legally do so and they did in this case deny the students access to sell the t-shirts on school property.

Where were the parents? Do the parents think the Save Second Base tees are funny? Humorous? Not promoting sexual activity among their own children?

Are they out of their minds?

The odder situation is the charity which adopted the slogan as a way to raise breast cancer awareness.

The intention of the slogan is to be what - a joke? To whom? Teenage boys, teenage girls?

In an society where teen pregnancies present an ever increasing societal problem, the promotion only raises snickers, not awareness of breast cancer.

The charity should pull the t-shirts now. The charity shouldn't continue to use the youth of our country to well you know the word - a product that clearly encourages youth sexual activity before the youth are mature enough to handle the potential resulting pregnancy.

Save Second Base promotes teen sex.

The idea strikes out among anybody with any common sense left.

Political Watch: Government Intrusion into Recreation

This is why the local push for recreational expansion, park development, and public swimming pools.

legislation which would allow local governments to work together, as well as with non-profit corporations, on recreation facilities and programs

a three-bill package, sponsored by Senator Michael Brubaker (R-36) that would allow boroughs and townships to partner with counties, cities, townships, boroughs, towns, school districts, or non-profits to acquire property for, create, or operate recreational facilities, such as a swimming pools and ballparks.

http://www.pasenategop.com/news/archived/2007/1007/regola-101707.htm

Beware formation of either a government "authority" or a government "non-profit" and especially watch for the grant monies to pop up to flow to non-profits to study and development new land plans.

We don't have to think too hard to know Fay Penn Economic Development Council's new "strategic plan" will definitely address "recreational" "open-spaces" and greenspace opportunities, maybe there will be "recreational" keystone opportunity zones with the tax-freedom for 15 years or more...

Little notice, just a one-liner, to date:

Work is under way for the first-ever Fayette County park, recreation, open space and greenway plan.

Stenson leaving county planning office
By Amy Zalar, Herald-Standard
10/18/2007
Updated 10/19/2007 12:06:03 AM EDT

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18929575&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

Herald-Standard

Post to:

Buried in the article but at least there in print. "Work is under way for the first-ever Fayette County park, recreation, open space and greenway plan."

Oh really? Now the county is going to assume another function like the zoning it isn't state mandated to do, or obligated to do under the state Constitution?

Will commission board members determine it's OK to use some of that loan pool and bond issue money for new recreational projects in the county? Then they can tout how many jobs they've retained, or helped create? They can claim success in promoting economic development by developing parks, recreational facilities, open-spaces, and greenways?

They can partner with a non-profit and everything is OK - the private sector is involved?

The state on the other hand is an enabler of counties spending our tax monies for things best left to the private enterprise to accomplish.

Look what's coming down the road, before "The Road" is completed..

legislation which would allow local governments to work together, as well as with non-profit corporations, on recreation facilities and programs... three-bill package, sponsored by Senator Michael Brubaker (R-36) that would allow boroughs and townships to partner with counties, cities, townships, boroughs, towns, school districts, or non-profits to acquire property for, create, or operate recreational facilities, such as a swimming pools and ballparks...

http://www.pasenategop.com/news/archived/2007/1007/regola-101707.htm

Political Watch: Government Intrusion into Recreation

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/10/political-watch-government-intrusion.html

Yep, let's watch to see which county commissioners vote to use that Washington-Fayette loan pool and/or bond issue money for one of the reasons it was designed for - "tourism" - and tourism-related projects which could fall under county recreational economic development plans.

They still know y'all are asleep, people.

What about spending some of that bond money for the constitutiional duties the county commissioners are obligated to do - like making sure the voter registration database of some almost 90,000 names is squeaky clean - purged of names of the deceased, and other ineligibles?

The commissioners don't have a plan for ensuring every name on the voter registration database is eligible and accurate, but they'll quickly implement a first-ever Fayette County park, recreation, open space and greenway plan.

Not a function of government, people. It's another function they've adopted to do so they can spend more of your tax dollars for your well being.

And you let it all happen without protest.



(Net the Truth Online)

10/17/07 - Senate Local Government Committee Report
The Senate Local Government Committee today unanimously approved legislation which would allow local governments to work together, as well as with non-profit corporations, on recreation facilities and programs, according to Committee Chairman Senator Bob Regola (R-39).

Senate Local Government Committee Report
Approves bills encouraging intergovernmental cooperation
The Senate Local Government Committee today unanimously approved legislation which would allow local governments to work together, as well as with non-profit corporations, on recreation facilities and programs, according to Committee Chairman Senator Bob Regola (R-39).

The Committee approved a three-bill package, sponsored by Senator Michael Brubaker (R-36) that would allow boroughs and townships to partner with counties, cities, townships, boroughs, towns, school districts, or non-profits to acquire property for, create, or operate recreational facilities, such as a swimming pools and ballparks.



http://www.pasenategop.com/