LICKING THEIR CHOPS
If there is a Liquor Bill by the end of this Legislative session in Harrisburg and it allows for beer or wine to be sold in retail stores, look out! Sources tell me that Wal-Mart is already making plans to scoop up as many licenses or permissions as they can to sell booze. And being Wal-Mart, they will demand and get the lowest prices. My main problem with privatization is that it will take the liquor out of a controlled environment and make it the old wild west again. Not to be a snob here because once in a while I’ll frequent a Wal-Mart.
But do you want to put beer and wine in the hands of an 8 dollar an hour part time employee? Do you want some of the Wal Mart customers (and yes we are all God’s children but…) to have such easy access to booze at a cheap price?
I’m hoping that cooler and saner heads prevail but I’m not confident of that. Wal Marts are the wrong place for beer and wine. They make enough money on everything else.
WHAT IF?
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie met with former President Bill Clinton the other day. He of course embraced President Obama and when the President visited the state during Hurricane Sandy. Christie took a lot of heat from the GOP right wing who would rather be righteous than win elections. But what if Christie after winning the New Jersey Governorship this year (and it is likely) what if he were t abandon the GOP and become a Democrat? Think about it. If he announces in the GOP 2016 race, he won’t get past Iowa, and North Caroline. He might have a shot in New Hampshire. But he will have a major problem securing the heart and soul of the right wing. If Hillary Clinton decides not to run, that’s an opening. Or if Hillary does run, how about Christie as the tough talking VEEP? Stranger things have happened.
Cartwright Introduces Bill to Make the Right to Vote Accessible for All
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright recently introduced the Time Off to Vote Act (H.R. 2350). The legislation would require employers to grant their workers at least two hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Such a provision already exists in 24 states, and this bill would act to ensure that citizens everywhere have a voice in their government, regardless of where they happen to work. “At a time when some states are actually going out of their way to attempt to make it more difficult for Americans to vote, we must understand that the right to vote is essential to our democracy,” said Cartwright. “While the days of poll taxes and literacy tests are behind us, impediments to voting still remain.” Employers in 26 states are not required to give their workers paid leave to vote. In 19 states, employers are not required to let their employees leave work to vote at all. In this environment, employees can be actively prohibited by their employers from leaving work to vote, and many others choose not to attend the polls because they simply cannot afford the 1-3 hours of unpaid time that voting often requires. For example, an individual working a 40-hour job at minimum wage would forgo 5% of their weekly salary if they take off two hours to vote. “We can no longer afford laws that push people out of the electorate. For the United States to be a true democracy, every eligible American must be able to cast a ballot without suffering a burdensome economic sacrifice,” said Cartwright. “Voting should not be a luxury that only the well-off can afford.” Cartwright was sworn into congress on January 3rd of this year. MEDIA MATTERS
ECTV
Summer is officially here and ECTV Live hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will be discussing many of the free summer programs offered by Lackawanna County on their program during the week of June 24th. ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast Ch19 at Noon and Midnight throughout the week.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with author and chiropractor Joe Leonardi about the IRS and NSA scandals, as well as his new book, "America Enslaved". Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Will Beakman, Director of Programming at the Kirby Center, about their upcoming season. And an encore of Brian's interview with Russ Madlener from Microsofy about "the future of work" and cloud computing. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on Great Country 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93, and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.
THE PARTY ZONE
Catch the new extended 70s, 80s, 90s oldies show "The Party Zone" with Shadoe Steele beginning this Saturday from 6 - midnight on 50,000 watt powerhouse WAVT-FM - T-102. ... and on line at www.t102radio.comSUE HENRY'S SPECIAL EDITION
The show will feature an interview with Lackawanna County DA Andy Jarbola about the starvation death of a Taylor man and the subsequent arrest of three family members, as well as an interview with one of the officers who responded to and prosecuted the Pestinikas case in the 1980s in Lackawanna County, a back and forth thumb wrestling match with the UFCW and Commonwealth Foundation over liquor store privatization and details of the R3 OPS Mud Run in July which will benefit local charities. Special Edition is on Saturday at 2 p.m.; Sunday at 7 p.m on WILK.