GOP sweeps PA Judicial Races

By Tony Phyrillas | 11/04/09

Republican Joan Orie Melvin won a hotly-contested seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Tuesday, giving Republicans a 4-3 majority on the court. Melvin defeated Democrat Jack Panella in the most expensive judicial race in Pennsylvania's history. Panella raised more than $2.5 million, largely from trial lawyers and organized labor, according to The Associated Press. With 98 percent of the state's precincts reporting, Melvin had 910,270... read more »

The Republicans Are Back Thanks To Obama

By Tony Phyrillas | 11/03/09

In a stunning upset, Republican Chris Christie defeated Democrat Barack Obama ... I mean Jon Corzine ... to win the New Jersey governor's race Tuesday. Despite spending $23 million dollars and having Barack Obama campaign for him three times, Corzine, the free-spending liberal and Obama doormat, was tossed out by New Jersey voters in a a clear repudiation of the Obama agenda. Christie's victory in heavily Democratic New Jersey should send... read more »

New fiscal year, same deficit spending in Pennsylvania

By Tony Phyrillas | 11/03/09

It may be a new fiscal year, but Pennsylvania is experiencing the same problem. The state is spending more money than it takes in. That practice led to a record budget deficit last year and caused a 101-day budget impasse. It appears Gov. Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania Legislature haven't learned a thing. New figures released by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue show fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $8.8 billion,... read more »

Has Barack Obama 'saved' your job?

By Tony Phyrillas | 10/30/09

U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, who represents Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District, wants to set the record straight about the latest bogus announcement by the Obama Administration that it has "created or saved" 650,000 jobs. Earlier this week, The Associated Press reported that the official count of "created or saved" jobs from the $787 billion stimulus was 25,000. It's amazing what you can do with numbers. Obama released... read more »

PA job losses climb under Rendell

By Tony Phyrillas | 10/15/09

Pennsylvania employers shed another 10,300 jobs in September, according to new employment figures released today by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Under Gov. Ed Rendell's leadership, Pennsylvania has lost nearly 200,000 jobs since September 2008. The Rendell Administration is attempting to put the best possible spin on the continuing bad news by pointing out that Pennsylvania's 8.8% unemployment rate "remained... read more »

Mensch wins PA Senate seat in landslide

By Tony Phyrillas | 09/29/09

Voter turnout was small but the victory was decisive. State Rep. Bob Mensch won a landslide victory over Democrat Anne Scheuring to fill the vacant 24th Senatorial District seat. Mensch defeated Scheuring by a 2-1 margin. In his home county of Montgomery, Mensch defeated Scheuring by a remarkable 72% to 26% margin. In Lehigh County, Mensch won by a 64% to 30% margin. In Bucks County, Mensch won by a 68% to 29% margin. The tightest race... read more »

80 days after deadline, PA has a budget deal

By Tony Phyrillas | 09/22/09

We waited 80 days for this? Gov. Ed Rendell said there are no winners or losers in the compromise that ended Pennsylvania's 80-day-old budget impasse. Don't believe him. There are always winners and losers in every budget agreement and this one is no exception. If you smoke, you're going to pay more. If you support the arts in Pennsylvania, you are going to pay more. (The deal expands the state sales tax to cover tickets for concerts,... read more »

PA unemployment rate rises to 8.6%

By Tony Phyrillas | 09/17/09

Pennsylvania lost another 8,800 jobs in August, according to new numbers released today by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. State officials tried to put the best possible spin on the bad news by pointing out that Pennsylvania's 8.6% unemployment rate "remained below the United States' unemployment rate, which rose three-tenths of a point to 9.7 percent in August." Doesn't that make you feel better?... read more »

One Congressional seat GOP will definitely win back

By Tony Phyrillas | 09/14/09

Republicans should pick up at least one more seat in Congress in 2010. Pat Meehan announced Monday he will seek the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District, which covers parts of Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties. The seat is held by Democrat Joe Sestak, who will not seek re-election so he can challenge Sen. Arlen Specter in the May 2010 Democratic Primary. Meehan is the favorite to succeed Sestak. The bulk of the... read more »

Wildcard enters PA's 6th Congressional District race

By Tony Phyrillas | 09/12/09

Most people don't realize a candidate can run for a Congressional district other than one he or she lives in. Steven Welch is about to shake up the 6th Congressional District race. Welch had been planning to run for the 7th Congressional District, but with former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan expected to announce Monday he will seek the 7th District Republican nomination in 2010, Welch believes he has a better chance of winning in the... read more »