PA18 will tell a lot about this fall’s elections
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The nation’s political junkies have their eyes focused on Western Pennsylvania and it may give us a hint about November, 2018 will look like.
Money, media and focus have centered on the 18th District race, up Tuesday in a special election, outside of Pittsburgh, where Democrat Conor Lamb is at least within striking distance of Republican Rick Saccone. This matters...
Letter: Don’t be fooled, Barrar doesn’t support gun control
To The Editor,
In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida, we saw the same cycle of reaction from politicians. A lot of thoughts and prayers were offered. Some possible legislation was floated. But no real action was taken.
Representative Stephen Barrar of the 160th, however, did take action. He co-sponsored House Bill 1400, which would create universal background...
Letter: Turzai rebuts column on redistricting fight
To The Editor,
Your recent editorial regarding the League of Women Voters v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania redistricting lawsuit leaves out some important facts, which your readers should know.
Please note that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the 2011 Pennsylvania congressional map by a vote of 136-61, with 100 Republicans voting “yes” and 36 Democrats voting “yes.” Passing...
New Congressional maps are a karma bomb for GOP
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Republicans across the state of Pennsylvania are howling mad and running to the courts seeking assistance.
Karma is a bitch, right?
It seems like they may have to compete on a fair Congressional map — not the 2011 map that was among the most Gerrymandered maps in the entire country — and they don’t like it one bit.
Op/Ed: Addressing gender inequality in today’s workforce so we won’t need to in the future
By Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioners
Week after week, we are met with more stories of sexual harassment; reports of women who have suffered because of the “power” of predators, but who now have voiced their horrendous experiences because of the courage of women who first shared their stories leading to the strength of the #MeToo movement. ...
Op/Ed: Pennsylvania needs sensible gun laws
By Anton Andrew
, Candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 160th District
Anton Andrew
I cannot imagine the grief of those whose children and loved ones were killed at Parkland High School. I express my sincere condolences for their losses. But with this type of tragedy, repeated so many times across our country, we must ask ourselves, “What can we do as a nation to move forward?”...
Parkland slaughter should hit home in Chester County
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
If you had a pit in the stomach this morning when you sent your kids off to school, you were probably not alone. I certainly did.
Yesterday’s mass shooting in Parkland, Florida should hit home for folks here in Chester County. Like so many of our community high schools, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is in an affluent suburb. The school has an average SAT...
Letter: Thoughts and prayers are not enough
To The Editor,
By now you have heard the sad but all too familiar news of another mass school shooting. This is the 18th school shooting of the year and it’s only February. It seems that our politicians only response to these horrific acts of violence is to offer thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. While thoughts and prayers are well intended, it is action that is needed...
The new map is here! And it’s probably doomed
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Those of you old enough to remember Steve Martin’s film tour de force (yes, tongue in cheek), The Jerk, may remember the scene when his character runs about shouting “The new phonebook is here! The new phonebook is here!” might find the Pennsylvania GOP’s dump of a new Congressional map Friday night a bit of deja vu.
Those of you too young to remember The...
Op/Ed: The wrong people are in jail
By Kathi Cozzone, Chester County Commissioner
Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone
If your child or spouse or parent had a mental illness, addiction or developmental disability, would you want them in jail or somewhere that could help them get better?
County jails and taxpayers dollars are increasingly being used to detain pre-trial offenders and house inmates who suffer from such issues;...
