And there you go again ... at least this time your new screen name doesn't include GOP_something.

Wild assertion? Only someone very naive would believe that the early and overwhelming majority support granted to Smucker by the city Republican establishment would be based on a belief in Smucker's (as you say) basic, core, Republican principles.

In the last 20 years can you name just ONE republican elected officical in the city who has ever practiced basic, core, Republican principles? The fact that the city committee adores Smucker should run chills down the spine of every republican voter in the 13th who still remembers the long forgotten core republican philosophies that in today's political world are always promised, but never delivered.

I never said Smucker got a project placed into the budget - he can easily follow through on his choice(s) of multiple funding promises made by Gib to the city that are in the proposed budget.

It is simple enough for Mrs Gagliano (a Smucker supporter elected to the city committee) to deny any connection to this newly disclosed $15 million dollar hunk of taxpayer supplied pork just discovered in the proposed state budget, if no friend or family connection exists. If a connection exists, then her vocal support within the committee for Smucker should be suspect. Maybe Mr. Smucker is unaware of this project, and will be reminded of it, if and when he is elected. Politics and political friends ... gotta love'em!

Friends, family and political helpers should not receive favorable treatment and reward of public dollars for helping a candidate get elected. That's a true conflict of interest and a perfect example of how our current political system operates, and why it's broken.

That would be incorrect. It's normally bad form to quote one's self but since you seemed to have missed it, here is what 5thEstate.com said after discussing who signed what and who circulated whose petition:



Because the evidence was mixed - no conclusion was given. You apparently read what you wanted to see?


Smucker plays it both way depending on who he is talking to. Are you denying that Smucker has talked to people about what church he goes to and his relationship with Lancaster County action? I could prove ALL that I am saying in a court of law.

Answer this question: Does Smucker support Lancaster County Action?

April 11 is coming! Did Smucker get the money? Did Smucker get money from his developer buddies?

I laughed out loud when I read this:



Smucker is an expert in campaign finance laws? Who'd have guess?

Lloyd's brother isn't politically correct is he?


rh

" Many Pennsylvania citizens are tired of smoke-filled backroom deals between candidates and special interests, and it would be nice to know if the $15 million dollars in the budget for the "performing arts center" (that "nobody" knows about) is somehow associated with Smucker's wide support within the city republican committee."
RA, you insinuated that Smucker was involved in this issue. You are suggesting guilt by association.

That was funny!! It's great to see a creative but accurate portrayal of someone's charactor traits. Whoever made that did their homework! And yes, there is a brother Amos who does horse dentistry (and drywall). This Summer when you see a horse showing his pearly whites you'll remember to vote Smucker, right? But did you have to drag poor Deb into the race?

Guilt? There is nothing illegal about a committee working to help elect a particular candidate. I am questioning the motives of their strong support towards a candidate affliated with a religious background that normally scares the heck out of many of our more "progressive" republican city brethren. You tell me it's because of Smucker's basic, core, republican principles. For that to be true, the city republicans must have suddenly, in mass, finally realized that policies which chase jobs and private industry away and replace them with government sponsored projects and spending is actually ineffective and counter-productive (I must have missed the "revelation" of the city republicans recent huge philosophical conversion announced in the news).

We all know many who are completely fed-up with the deeply ingrained culture of patronage and favoritism. These citizens still expect republicans to field candidates that will work to change our ethically corrupt political system of government that relies upon friends and associations to gain and maintain power, and not "core" republican principles. Walking the walk versus talking the talk. Or as some of us like to think, just doing the right thing.

Suddenly finding a $15 million request in the state budget for a new "performing arts center" may be a coincidence, or maybe not. My money's on (or should I say our money) a connection between political support and an expectation of keeping this chump-change $15 million request (and possibly others) in the upcoming budget. Nothing illegal, but certainly not republican reform either .... just the continuation of local politics as usual - you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.