The Bully Pulpit

The Bulletin
09/08/2008

The Convention Versus The Clambake

GOP 8th Congressional District hopeful Tom Manion made the rounds at the Annual Billy Meehan Clambake in Northeast Philadelphia. Less than 5 percent of the 8th Congressional district is in Philadelphia. However, this small portion was the deciding factor in the 2006 race. A new face to Philadelphia politics Mr. Manion received an enthusiastic response from the party after being introduced by Speaker Emeritus John Perzel, R-172nd. Mr. Manion spent the afternoon shoring up his support among party leaders, namely City Commissioner Joe Duda, R-Philadelphia, and state Rep. George Kenney,R-170th. Most of the ward committee members in attendance had an opportunity to spend time with the candidate. Mr. Manion opted out of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. Instead, he greeted commuters at the Cornwells Heights Train Station and devoted his time to the campaign. His opponent, freshman incumbent U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy was a keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The Bristol Stomp

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stopped in Bristol for a speaking engagement. State Representative Tony Melio, D-141st, was the master of ceremonies for the “Women Issues” event held at Lower Bucks Hospital. State Treasurer Robin Weissmann, D, was also a speaker and introduced Ms. Albright to the audience. Students from Bristol High School attended as part of a class project. Ms. Albright spoke about the need for party unity within the Democratic ranks. The speech outlined what she felt were to be the top priorities of the next president. Initially, Ms. Albright supported U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., but has joined her fellow Democrats in supporting United States Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. Mr. Obama’s vice presidential pick U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., will be visiting lower Bucks County later this week.

Taubenberger Takes School District To Task

Matt Taubenberger, the GOP candidate for the open seat of retiring State Representative George Kenney, R-170th, lead the charge against the Philadelphia School District and their vendor Camelot School System for proposing a new school in the Fox Chase section of the city. The proposed academic institution was to benefit the school district’s most disciplinary challenged students. The 500 student facility would have occupied the former Orleans Technical Institute building on Rhawn Street. The residents found out about the new school by visiting the School District website. Mr. Taubenberger, a Fox Chase resident and active member of the Fox Chase Homeowners Association took issue with the fact that neither the City nor School District sought resident insight to the proposed school. During the meeting Mr. Taubenberger promised the school district that he would fight the opening of the school. The community overwhelmingly supported Mr. Taubenberger’s belief that the school did not belong in their neighborhood. Officials from both Camelot School System and the School District backed off the idea. The school will be placed at a different location. Mr. Taubenberger enlisted the help of Councilman at-large Frank Rizzo,R, and Councilman Brian O’Neill , R-10th, to help the school find an alternate location.

The Merit Of Murt

State Representative Tom Murt, R-152nd, will be introducing legislation that would help smaller municipalities that rely on volunteer services for emergency services. House Bill 2310 will give volunteer firefighters, fire police and emergency responders in Pennsylvania a break on their local earned income tax. The bill is expected to be voted on this fall and has over sixty legislators lending their names to it.

Not Goode For The GOP

Philadelphia City Councilman at-Large, W. Wilson Goode Jr.,D, is contemplating on introducing legislation for a change to the City Charter. The bill would remove the two minority-party held at-targe council seats from election. The current election procedure has both parties nominating five candidates and the top seven holding a seat in council. Goode proposes that each party still nominate a slate of five and the top five take council seats. The current GOP at-large council members are Frank Rizzo and Jack Kelly. Both men have entered the DROP program but have not officially announced retirement or re-election plans. Taking away these two council seats would cut the GOP elected city officials in half. The other two elected Republican officials are City Commissioner Joe Duda and 10th District City Councilman Brian O’Neill.