The Triadvocate

Friday Happy Hour: Butch and Sundance Edition

“Who are those guys?” Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid kept asking, as they were chased from hither to yon by a relentless and well trained posse, following a series of mostly successful train robberies pulled off by Butch and Sundance and the Hole-In-The-Wall Gang. 

The same question arose this week as an organization called Pennsylvanians for Accountability began running TV ads statewide criticizing the Corbett administration for granting corporate tax cuts and cutting education. But who exactly is behind Pennsylvanians for Accountability? As a “social welfare” nonprofit group, and not officially a “political” group, PFA is not required to reveal its officers or funders, and inquiring minds want to know. 

We’re following up on a number of items mentioned recently in this space. Last week we reported that Republican Bruce Castor, a Montgomery County commissioner, was out of Corbett’s hair as a primary opponent next year. This week, Democrat Joe Sestak, former Navy admiral, former congressman and former U.S. Senate candidate, loosened his lips and announced that he will be a future U.S. Senate candidate, seeking to unseat Pat Toomey in 2016.

Military & Business Leaders Support Pennsylvania Common Core Standards to Ensure Future National and Economic Security

New Report Shows Common Standards and Aligned Assessments Are Key to Education Reform and a Strong Military

HARRISBURG, PA (May 14, 2013)  Pennsylvania’s Common Core Standards will help ensure that students are better prepared for success in postsecondary education, the workforce and the military, if they choose to serve, said military and business leaders from Pennsylvania today. They released a new report from the nonpartisan national security organization MISSION: READINESS  at the State Capitol that shows that one in five high school graduates in Pennsylvania who tries to join the military cannot score highly enough on the military’s exam for math, literacy and problem solving to qualify for service.

Speakers at the news conference included Pennsylvania’s Adjutant General Major General Wesley Craig (US Army) and other Administration officials; Rear Admiral Thomas Wilson, III (US Navy, Ret.); decorated veteran State Representative Ryan Aument; and David Patti, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Business Council along with several members of the Council, including Michael Springer, Director of Human Resources for Pennsylvania American Water company, and Peter Trufahnestock, Director of Government Affairs for Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania.

Surra Racing Team Finishes Second at Americas Motorsports Park

Every track in the North Central PA area canceled because of the cold rainy weather on Saturday evening with the exception of Americas Motorsports Park located in Clearfield, PA. The weather cleared enough for them to get the entire program in. The Surra Racing team made a few changes and made the trip over the mountain, and the weather cleared enough so they were able to get the entire program in.   It was the first time the Surra Racing Team had their car there, and it was Doug’s first time at Americas Motorsports Park.

With no tracks running there was a stout field of cars in the Pure Stock division. The car proved to be pretty fast right off the trailer and ran a strong second in its qualifying heat. The team made a few minor chassis adjustments for the feature event where they found themselves starting inside of row two. Doug powered his way to the front and took the lead on lap three. He maintained the front position until two laps to go when we he was passed by the eventual winner. Doug and the driver of the #4 put on quite a show but the other car was just too strong.    

The Surra Racing Team finished with a respectable 2nd place showing, and was pretty happy with the run. They lost to a much stronger car.... but not by much!! 

 

The Triadvocate is a publication of Triad Strategies, LLC, a bipartisan lobbying, public affairs, strategic communications, grassroots advocacy, issue management consulting firm located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with offices in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh

Friday Happy Hour: Hot Mess Edition

OK, so maybe it’s not a liquor privatization crisis after all. From the May Franklin & Marshall College Poll comes news that Pennsylvania voters are trending toward lukewarm on privatizing the state’s liquor distribution system. The 53 percent who supported privatization in February has slipped to 47 percent, and opposition to it has increased by 7 percentage points, to 31 percent. The bottom line, according to pollster Terry Madonna, is that while many people generally like the idea of privatization, it’s just not that important to them in the scheme of things. In fact, liquor privatization ranked 10^th on a list of 11 priorities among poll participants.

The poll said there is a disconnect between the priorities of the Corbett administration and those of the public, turning the governor’s approval ratings into a hot mess. Only one in four voters rates his performance as either excellent or good. “Debate in the state capital has centered on efforts to privatize the state liquor stores and the state lottery, but these issues rank well below the economy, creating jobs, or improving public schools as important issues voters want state government to address,” the poll said.

Salivating on the periphery is a gaggle of giddy gubernatorial hopefuls, all Dems, five of whom are officially in the race and another who says he’s pretty sure he’ll be in. Then there’s Joe Sestak, former congressman and U.S. Senate candidate, who ain’t sayin’ nuthin’ to nobody. But hey, as any former navy admiral knows, loose lips sink ships.

Privatizing prison psychological services puts us all at risk

By Kathy Jellison, David Gorman, and Sandy Riggers

In 1973 there were 27 mental health hospitals and 6 correctional facilities in Pennsylvania.  Today there are 6 mental health hospitals and 27 correctional facilities in the state.  Consequently, the number of mentally ill inmates has increased significantly in the general population of the Commonwealth’s prisons.  With this increase, the need for well trained and experienced psychological staff has never been greater. 

 

The decision by the PA Department of Corrections to investigate privatizing psychological services in our state prisons, has the potential to put the safety of our correctional officers and other prison staff at risk, and of even greater concern, it could put the health and safety of the public at risk as well.