On April 30, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down a state campaign finance law. The case is DePaul v Commonwealth, 969 A 2d 536. The law made it illegal for anyone associated with the casino industry to contribute any money whatsoever to any candidate running for state office.
The significance of this decision is that the Court reiterates that the Pennsylvania Constitution provides greater protection for freedom of expression than the U.S. Constitution does. Page 546 of the decision summarizes past decisions that establish the greater protection from the Pennsylvania Constitution than from the U.S. Constitution. The Pennsylvania Constitution also provides that elections shall be “free and equal”. One hopes that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court bears these ideas in mind, as it considers the ballot access cases now pending in that Court.
http://www.ballot-access.org/
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pittsburgh Independence Day Tea Party
Sat 9:00 AM Location
Flagstaff Hill, Schenley Park
Schenley Dr. & Frew St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Who's organizing?
Gary
Please join us for the Independence Day Tea Party to celebrate our nation’s birthday and our freedoms. Our party is on July 4th at Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park, across from Phipps Conservatory, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We have an outstanding lineup of speakers:
Glen Meakem - Emcee - Founder of FreeMarkets, entrepreneur and talk show host
Grover Norquist - President for Americans for Tax Reform
Dr. Hans Lessman - President of SEPP, Society for the Education of Physicians and Patients
Jake Haulk - President of Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
Mark Hendrickson - Grove City Professor and expert on Cap and Trade
Start making your signs to Audit/End the Fed or to protest the carbon emissions Cap and Trade legislation (among other issues!) that was just passed in The House of Representatives and will be coming up for a vote by the Senate, probably around the 6th or 7th. Please make a concerted effort to bring 20 friends or family members with you! We look forward to seeing you!
THANKS!!
http://www.meetup.com/ronpaul-97/calendar/10748004/
Flagstaff Hill, Schenley Park
Schenley Dr. & Frew St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Who's organizing?
Gary
Please join us for the Independence Day Tea Party to celebrate our nation’s birthday and our freedoms. Our party is on July 4th at Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park, across from Phipps Conservatory, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We have an outstanding lineup of speakers:
Glen Meakem - Emcee - Founder of FreeMarkets, entrepreneur and talk show host
Grover Norquist - President for Americans for Tax Reform
Dr. Hans Lessman - President of SEPP, Society for the Education of Physicians and Patients
Jake Haulk - President of Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
Mark Hendrickson - Grove City Professor and expert on Cap and Trade
Start making your signs to Audit/End the Fed or to protest the carbon emissions Cap and Trade legislation (among other issues!) that was just passed in The House of Representatives and will be coming up for a vote by the Senate, probably around the 6th or 7th. Please make a concerted effort to bring 20 friends or family members with you! We look forward to seeing you!
THANKS!!
http://www.meetup.com/ronpaul-97/calendar/10748004/
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wilkinsburg council approves missing firearm ordinance
By Jeremy Boren
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wilkinsburg lawmakers approved an ordinance Wednesday night that would penalize gun owners who fail to report to police their weapon has been lost or stolen within 24 hours.
If Mayor John Thompson signs it into law as expected, the borough would join Pittsburgh and five other Pennsylvania towns that have passed controversial rules designed to crack down on gun straw purchasers.
In two high-profile cases, the National Rifle Association has filed lawsuits to overturn versions of the law approved by Pittsburgh and Philadelphia city councils. Attorneys for the NRA have argued that state law, which regulates the "sale and transfer of firearms," overrides any city gun ordinances. The state Legislature failed to pass lost or stolen gun ban last year.
Wilkinsburg Councilwoman Denise Edwards said the specter of an NRA lawsuit doesn't intimidate her.
"You can't let the NRA drive the agenda for street safety," said Edwards, who joined in the 6-0 vote to pass the ordinance. "I think many Pennsylvania elected officials are coming to the conclusion that we have to take action to stem the amount of violence."
Wilkinsburg's ordinance differs slightly from Pittsburgh's version.
It offers first-time offenders an opportunity take gun safety training classes, potentially as a way to avoid a $500 fine and permanent criminal record if a judge approves, Edwards said.
Pittsburgh's version doesn't offer safety training. Subsequent offenses in both ordinances carry potential fines of $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
In addition to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Allentown, Pottsville, Reading and Harrisburg have passed laws penalizing those who don't report lost or stolen guns.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_628168.html
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wilkinsburg lawmakers approved an ordinance Wednesday night that would penalize gun owners who fail to report to police their weapon has been lost or stolen within 24 hours.
If Mayor John Thompson signs it into law as expected, the borough would join Pittsburgh and five other Pennsylvania towns that have passed controversial rules designed to crack down on gun straw purchasers.
In two high-profile cases, the National Rifle Association has filed lawsuits to overturn versions of the law approved by Pittsburgh and Philadelphia city councils. Attorneys for the NRA have argued that state law, which regulates the "sale and transfer of firearms," overrides any city gun ordinances. The state Legislature failed to pass lost or stolen gun ban last year.
Wilkinsburg Councilwoman Denise Edwards said the specter of an NRA lawsuit doesn't intimidate her.
"You can't let the NRA drive the agenda for street safety," said Edwards, who joined in the 6-0 vote to pass the ordinance. "I think many Pennsylvania elected officials are coming to the conclusion that we have to take action to stem the amount of violence."
Wilkinsburg's ordinance differs slightly from Pittsburgh's version.
It offers first-time offenders an opportunity take gun safety training classes, potentially as a way to avoid a $500 fine and permanent criminal record if a judge approves, Edwards said.
Pittsburgh's version doesn't offer safety training. Subsequent offenses in both ordinances carry potential fines of $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
In addition to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Allentown, Pottsville, Reading and Harrisburg have passed laws penalizing those who don't report lost or stolen guns.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_628168.html
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Pennsylvania Oath of Office
§ 3. Oath of office.
Senators, Representatives and all judicial, State and county
officers shall, before entering on the duties of their
respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or
affirmation before a person authorized to administer oaths.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey
and defend the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the
duties of my office with fidelity."
The oath or affirmation shall be administered to a member of
the Senate or to a member of the House of Representatives in the
hall of the House to which he shall have been elected.
Any person refusing to take the oath or affirmation shall
forfeit his office.
(May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10)
Senators, Representatives and all judicial, State and county
officers shall, before entering on the duties of their
respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or
affirmation before a person authorized to administer oaths.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey
and defend the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the
duties of my office with fidelity."
The oath or affirmation shall be administered to a member of
the Senate or to a member of the House of Representatives in the
hall of the House to which he shall have been elected.
Any person refusing to take the oath or affirmation shall
forfeit his office.
(May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10)
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Ohio puts all out effort to stop illegal operation
State stomps on the common good
by Zoe Romanowsky
5/04/09
Here's a story I couldn't resist posting. A Christian, home-schooling family in Ohio was raided back in early December by the state Department of Agriculture, the county health department, and the police.
Swat teams surrounded their house, entered, and forced 10 children and their mother into a room and held them for six hours while the house was searched and their personal items confiscated.
Their crime? Running a food co-op for local families. State officials claim Jim and Mary Stower are operating a retail business without a license. The Stower family says they run a members-only co-op, which does not sell to the public and therefore does not require a licence.
The Stowers started ordering wholefoods in bulk for their family of 12 many years ago. Local families asked to do the same and eventually this led to the Stowers putting a co-op together called Manna Storehouse for families to buy food orders in bulk. They purchase mostly from local farms.
Even if the Stowers violated a law, it's amazing to me the way state and local officials chose to act. Imagine rural home-schooled kids being held at gunpoint for six hours by police with automatic rifles. The cops took the families' personal food, and confiscated their cell phones and computer.
The Stowers son-in-law is a soldier stationed in Iraq, by the way. That one computer was their main way of communicating with him.
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5925&Itemid=80#jreactions
by Zoe Romanowsky
5/04/09
Here's a story I couldn't resist posting. A Christian, home-schooling family in Ohio was raided back in early December by the state Department of Agriculture, the county health department, and the police.
Swat teams surrounded their house, entered, and forced 10 children and their mother into a room and held them for six hours while the house was searched and their personal items confiscated.
Their crime? Running a food co-op for local families. State officials claim Jim and Mary Stower are operating a retail business without a license. The Stower family says they run a members-only co-op, which does not sell to the public and therefore does not require a licence.
The Stowers started ordering wholefoods in bulk for their family of 12 many years ago. Local families asked to do the same and eventually this led to the Stowers putting a co-op together called Manna Storehouse for families to buy food orders in bulk. They purchase mostly from local farms.
Even if the Stowers violated a law, it's amazing to me the way state and local officials chose to act. Imagine rural home-schooled kids being held at gunpoint for six hours by police with automatic rifles. The cops took the families' personal food, and confiscated their cell phones and computer.
The Stowers son-in-law is a soldier stationed in Iraq, by the way. That one computer was their main way of communicating with him.
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5925&Itemid=80#jreactions
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Pittsburgh council readies $85K for high-powered police rifles
By The Tribune-Review
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday tentatively authorized spending $85,800 to equip specially trained police with high-powered rifles.
If it passes a final vote next week, police will purchase 46 Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifles and batches of ammunition, gun sights and noise suppressors.
The weapons will be kept in police zone stations. Trained officers will be permitted to sign them out. When they do, the rifles will be locked into patrol car gun racks.
The new weapons are a response to the April 4 shooting deaths of three city police officers who were responding to a domestic incident in Stanton Heights.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_625063.html
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday tentatively authorized spending $85,800 to equip specially trained police with high-powered rifles.
If it passes a final vote next week, police will purchase 46 Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifles and batches of ammunition, gun sights and noise suppressors.
The weapons will be kept in police zone stations. Trained officers will be permitted to sign them out. When they do, the rifles will be locked into patrol car gun racks.
The new weapons are a response to the April 4 shooting deaths of three city police officers who were responding to a domestic incident in Stanton Heights.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_625063.html
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