HARRISBURG — Following the recent grand jury’s announcement that more than 45 people have been charged with issuing fraudulent drivers’ licenses, Representative Sam Rohrer, prime sponsor of legislation to outlaw Real ID in Pennsylvania, issued the following statement:
“This most recent debacle highlights my long-standing concerns with government entities taking and storing an individual’s personally identifying information, often without their knowledge or consent. PennDOT has lost credibility over this fiasco; no driver can feel safe knowing that his or her personal information, including social security number and biometric data, is vulnerable to this kind of misconduct. In another example of the state yielding personal, constitutional rights to the federal government for the sake of federal funds, Pennsylvania adopted a facial recognition program with the stated intent to eliminate fraudulent or duplicate licenses. If we cannot trust PennDOT to hire honest employees at this most basic level of their security, how can we trust any government agency with any of our personal information?
“Your security system is only as strong as the people in charge of it. I remain opposed to intrusive technology that not only doesn’t catch the bad guys, but also compromises the innocent citizens and takes away their privacy rights. I call once again on Pennsylvania to stand up for the rights of Pennsylvanians to be secure in their persons. We simply cannot allow innocent citizens to have their personal information open to misuse at the very lowest levels.”
The Real ID Act of 2005 was passed as part of a tsunami relief bill, and mandated states comply with several federal guidelines in the issuing of state drivers’ licenses, including the use of biometric information. Rohrer introduced legislation this session, House Bill 1443, to join states across the nation in legislatively refusing to participate in the federal program.
http://grassrootspa.com/
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Campaign finance reports for Allegheny County go online
Monday, May 11, 2009
By Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Starting today, all campaign finance reports filed by candidates for municipal, school district and county offices, plus political committees, will be available to the public online.
The effort is part of Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato's promise to make campaign finance records more readily accessible to the public through his initiative to create transparent government practices.
"This is a major milestone in our continuing effort to provide open and transparent government in Allegheny County," Mr. Onorato said.
"The placement of these files on the county's Web site allows the public to examine campaign finance reports at their own convenience, 24 hours a day. Prior to this, citizens were required to visit the county elections office in person to access these documents," he added.
The new county Web site http://apps.county.allegheny.pa.us/campaignfinanceview is scheduled to become operational at noon. The public will be able to search through the site by candidate or committee name, office title, report type and report date by means of convenient drop-down menus.
The original paper copies of all campaign finance reports filed with the county beginning this year will be scanned, converted to electronic documents, and indexed for retrieval and display on the Internet.
Reports will be posted and accessible to the public within 72 hours of each filing deadline, and they will remain accessible for a period of five years.
Furthermore, Mr. Onorato plans to submit new legislation to County Council today, setting what he said are even tighter limits on campaign contributions from individuals and political action committees.
Under Mr. Onorato's new proposal, candidates for County Council could accept no more than $1,000 from any individual and no more than $2,000 from any political action committee during each primary election and general election. The contribution limits would be double for candidates seeking countywide election, including county executive, controller, district attorney, sheriff and treasurer.
In January, Mr. Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced a joint effort to reform campaign finances in the county and the city. They proposed that both governments ought to live under campaign restrictions that were much like federal campaign finance guidelines.
They proposed to enact identical campaign finance laws that would limit personal donations to political campaigns to $4,600 per election cycle and political action committees donations up to $10,000 per cycle (four years).
But two weeks ago, City Council lowered the cap in the campaign finance bill that it approved in an 8-0 vote with one abstention. Mayor Ravenstahl, who is currently seeking re-election, embraced the new stipulations as a sweeping campaign reform bill.
Now, Mr. Onorato has adopted the same campaign limits that City Council approved, even as the campaign finance bill he initially proposed lingers in a County Council committee.
"The time has come for Allegheny County to reform the way we conduct elections," Mr. Onorato said.
Karamagi Rujumba can be reached at krujumba@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1719.
By Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Starting today, all campaign finance reports filed by candidates for municipal, school district and county offices, plus political committees, will be available to the public online.
The effort is part of Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato's promise to make campaign finance records more readily accessible to the public through his initiative to create transparent government practices.
"This is a major milestone in our continuing effort to provide open and transparent government in Allegheny County," Mr. Onorato said.
"The placement of these files on the county's Web site allows the public to examine campaign finance reports at their own convenience, 24 hours a day. Prior to this, citizens were required to visit the county elections office in person to access these documents," he added.
The new county Web site http://apps.county.allegheny.pa.us/campaignfinanceview is scheduled to become operational at noon. The public will be able to search through the site by candidate or committee name, office title, report type and report date by means of convenient drop-down menus.
The original paper copies of all campaign finance reports filed with the county beginning this year will be scanned, converted to electronic documents, and indexed for retrieval and display on the Internet.
Reports will be posted and accessible to the public within 72 hours of each filing deadline, and they will remain accessible for a period of five years.
Furthermore, Mr. Onorato plans to submit new legislation to County Council today, setting what he said are even tighter limits on campaign contributions from individuals and political action committees.
Under Mr. Onorato's new proposal, candidates for County Council could accept no more than $1,000 from any individual and no more than $2,000 from any political action committee during each primary election and general election. The contribution limits would be double for candidates seeking countywide election, including county executive, controller, district attorney, sheriff and treasurer.
In January, Mr. Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced a joint effort to reform campaign finances in the county and the city. They proposed that both governments ought to live under campaign restrictions that were much like federal campaign finance guidelines.
They proposed to enact identical campaign finance laws that would limit personal donations to political campaigns to $4,600 per election cycle and political action committees donations up to $10,000 per cycle (four years).
But two weeks ago, City Council lowered the cap in the campaign finance bill that it approved in an 8-0 vote with one abstention. Mayor Ravenstahl, who is currently seeking re-election, embraced the new stipulations as a sweeping campaign reform bill.
Now, Mr. Onorato has adopted the same campaign limits that City Council approved, even as the campaign finance bill he initially proposed lingers in a County Council committee.
"The time has come for Allegheny County to reform the way we conduct elections," Mr. Onorato said.
Karamagi Rujumba can be reached at krujumba@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1719.
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Castle Doctrine
Bill would enhance right to use lethal force if threatened
BROCK PARKER The York Dispatch
Posted: 04/23/2009 10:48:53 AM EDT
Alloway State Sen. Richard Alloway is preparing to introduce a bill that would enhance a person's right to use lethal force to defend themselves if they are threatened by an attacker at their home or in their car.
Alloway, R-Franklin County, said the bill would establish the Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania and would protect gun owners who act in self-defense.
Pennsylvania does have laws on the books protecting people who use force to defend themselves in their homes or place of work.
But Alloway said his proposal would remove a clause from Pennsylvania Title 18 that states a person has a "duty to retreat" if possible instead of using force against an attacker.
Under Alloway's bill, homeowners would still need to demonstrate that they believed they were in imminent danger when they used lethal force.
Alloway said his bill would also add a person's vehicle as a place where people have a right to be and use force to defend themselves.
A member of the National Rifle Association, Alloway said he learned only recently that Pennsylvania did not have the Castle Doctrine in place.
"I was actually shocked," he said.
He said he is currently circulating the text of his bill to gather co-sponsors.
The bill would also seek to protect individuals from being sued in civil court for using force to protect themselves in their homes, places of work or vehicles.
Alloway said current state laws do not "necessarily" protect homeowners from being sued in civil court.
Twenty-three
other states have already established the Castle Doctrine, including the neighboring states of Ohio and West Virginia.
Alloway announced his legislation Tuesday at the Fourth Annual Right to Keep and Bear Arms Rally at the state capital.
-- Reach Brock Parker at 505-5434 or bparke r@yorkdispatch.com.
BROCK PARKER The York Dispatch
Posted: 04/23/2009 10:48:53 AM EDT
Alloway State Sen. Richard Alloway is preparing to introduce a bill that would enhance a person's right to use lethal force to defend themselves if they are threatened by an attacker at their home or in their car.
Alloway, R-Franklin County, said the bill would establish the Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania and would protect gun owners who act in self-defense.
Pennsylvania does have laws on the books protecting people who use force to defend themselves in their homes or place of work.
But Alloway said his proposal would remove a clause from Pennsylvania Title 18 that states a person has a "duty to retreat" if possible instead of using force against an attacker.
Under Alloway's bill, homeowners would still need to demonstrate that they believed they were in imminent danger when they used lethal force.
Alloway said his bill would also add a person's vehicle as a place where people have a right to be and use force to defend themselves.
A member of the National Rifle Association, Alloway said he learned only recently that Pennsylvania did not have the Castle Doctrine in place.
"I was actually shocked," he said.
He said he is currently circulating the text of his bill to gather co-sponsors.
The bill would also seek to protect individuals from being sued in civil court for using force to protect themselves in their homes, places of work or vehicles.
Alloway said current state laws do not "necessarily" protect homeowners from being sued in civil court.
Twenty-three
other states have already established the Castle Doctrine, including the neighboring states of Ohio and West Virginia.
Alloway announced his legislation Tuesday at the Fourth Annual Right to Keep and Bear Arms Rally at the state capital.
-- Reach Brock Parker at 505-5434 or bparke r@yorkdispatch.com.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Pittsburgh End the Fed! Rally II
April 25th
Sat 12:00 PM Location
Pittsburgh Federal Reserve
717 Grant St
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Nationwide protest against the Federal Reserve Banks and System and for sound money.
The Federal Reserve is NOT a government entity and is responsible for the nation's economic boom and bust cycle (e.g. the housing market bubble followed by it's collapse), for inflation which is essentially a tax on the poor and middle classes, for funding unconstitutional and unjust wars, and for the current economic crisis.
YOUR hard-earned federal income tax dollars go to pay the interest on the federal government's debt to a PRIVATELY owned bank (the Fed!), which then PROFITS from YOUR loss.
Please join us in front of the Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building Downtown to educate the public about the Fed and gain support for Texas Rep. Ron Paul's HR 1207: The Federal Reserve Transparency Act to audit the Fed (Senate version is S 604: The Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009, introduced by VT Sen. Bernie Sanders) and Rep. Paul's HR 833: The Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act.
Participants can meet up at the Fed at Noon, or alternatively, meet at 11:30AM at St Stanislaus Kostka Church in The Strip, Pittsburgh's historic shopping district, where parking space is cheaper and more plentiful than in Downtown, and then march to the Fed Bldg to meet others, while distributing literature about the Federal Reserve and information on HR 1207/S 604 and HR 833 to shoppers. See: http://www.meetup.com...
Some ideas for sign slogans:
"The Federal Reserve is the problem, not the solution"
"The Federal Reserve causes the boom and bust economy"
"The Federal Reserve causes the recession/depressions"
"The Fed in NOT part of the Federal government"
"No more Bailouts"
"No More Bailouts for Bankers"
"The Fed = Debt"
"The Fed = Personal AND National Debt"
"The Fed = Financial Slavery"
"End the Fed, End War"
"Fed Inflation = Worthless Money"
"Inflation = Taxation"
"Fed Money is Debt"
"Paper is Paper, Gold is Money"
"End Monetized Debt"
"Audit the Fed, Support HR 1207-Call Your Congressman NOW!"
"Repeal the Fed, Support HR 833 -Call Your Congressman NOW!"
"Abort the Fed, Support Prosperity"
"Abort the Fed, Support Liberty"
"Your Children Will Pay the Price!"
Helpful site for instructions on making protest rally signs: http://www.csua.berke...
Thank you and let's have a great day!!
Sat 12:00 PM Location
Pittsburgh Federal Reserve
717 Grant St
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Nationwide protest against the Federal Reserve Banks and System and for sound money.
The Federal Reserve is NOT a government entity and is responsible for the nation's economic boom and bust cycle (e.g. the housing market bubble followed by it's collapse), for inflation which is essentially a tax on the poor and middle classes, for funding unconstitutional and unjust wars, and for the current economic crisis.
YOUR hard-earned federal income tax dollars go to pay the interest on the federal government's debt to a PRIVATELY owned bank (the Fed!), which then PROFITS from YOUR loss.
Please join us in front of the Pittsburgh Federal Reserve Building Downtown to educate the public about the Fed and gain support for Texas Rep. Ron Paul's HR 1207: The Federal Reserve Transparency Act to audit the Fed (Senate version is S 604: The Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009, introduced by VT Sen. Bernie Sanders) and Rep. Paul's HR 833: The Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act.
Participants can meet up at the Fed at Noon, or alternatively, meet at 11:30AM at St Stanislaus Kostka Church in The Strip, Pittsburgh's historic shopping district, where parking space is cheaper and more plentiful than in Downtown, and then march to the Fed Bldg to meet others, while distributing literature about the Federal Reserve and information on HR 1207/S 604 and HR 833 to shoppers. See: http://www.meetup.com...
Some ideas for sign slogans:
"The Federal Reserve is the problem, not the solution"
"The Federal Reserve causes the boom and bust economy"
"The Federal Reserve causes the recession/depressions"
"The Fed in NOT part of the Federal government"
"No more Bailouts"
"No More Bailouts for Bankers"
"The Fed = Debt"
"The Fed = Personal AND National Debt"
"The Fed = Financial Slavery"
"End the Fed, End War"
"Fed Inflation = Worthless Money"
"Inflation = Taxation"
"Fed Money is Debt"
"Paper is Paper, Gold is Money"
"End Monetized Debt"
"Audit the Fed, Support HR 1207-Call Your Congressman NOW!"
"Repeal the Fed, Support HR 833 -Call Your Congressman NOW!"
"Abort the Fed, Support Prosperity"
"Abort the Fed, Support Liberty"
"Your Children Will Pay the Price!"
Helpful site for instructions on making protest rally signs: http://www.csua.berke...
Thank you and let's have a great day!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party
April 15th at Market Square in Pittsburgh. The event will start at noon. Please try to make it.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Several thousand jam North Shore for bailout 'tea party'
By Tony LaRussa
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Several thousand people jammed into Allegheny Landing on the North Shore Saturday afternoon for an event dubbed as a "Tea Party" to protest what they believe is excessive government spending to bail out faltering corporations and the economic stimulus package.
The keynote speaker was Alan Keyes, a conservative political activist and former diplomat under President Ronald Reagan.
He told the cheering crowd that had gathered next to the Clemente Bridge that while some of the blame for the nation's economic woes "can be laid at the feet" of greedy Wall Street bankers and complicit politicians, they "should go home and look in the mirror" and shoulder some of the blame for not electing fiscally conservative leaders.
The event culminated with the tossing of tea bags into the Allegheny River as a symbolic jesture that harkened back to the Boston Tea Party, the iconic 1773 event in which colonists boarded ships in Boston Harbor and destroyed tea in a tax protest.
Tony LaRussa can be reached at tlarussa@tribweb.com or 412-320-7987.
Back to headlines
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Several thousand people jammed into Allegheny Landing on the North Shore Saturday afternoon for an event dubbed as a "Tea Party" to protest what they believe is excessive government spending to bail out faltering corporations and the economic stimulus package.
The keynote speaker was Alan Keyes, a conservative political activist and former diplomat under President Ronald Reagan.
He told the cheering crowd that had gathered next to the Clemente Bridge that while some of the blame for the nation's economic woes "can be laid at the feet" of greedy Wall Street bankers and complicit politicians, they "should go home and look in the mirror" and shoulder some of the blame for not electing fiscally conservative leaders.
The event culminated with the tossing of tea bags into the Allegheny River as a symbolic jesture that harkened back to the Boston Tea Party, the iconic 1773 event in which colonists boarded ships in Boston Harbor and destroyed tea in a tax protest.
Tony LaRussa can be reached at tlarussa@tribweb.com or 412-320-7987.
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