REPUBLICAN SENATOR PAT TOOMEY DOESN'T BUY THE BELIEF THAT FRIDAY'S EXPECTED SEQUESTER WILL MEAN THE APOCOLYPSE FOR THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. "WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS DOUBLED IN SIZE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, 100 PERCENT IN GROWTH IN TOTAL SPENDING. THE FACT IS IF THE SEQUESTRATION GOES FULLY INTO EFFECT IN FISCAL YEAR 2013 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND MORE MONEY THAN IT DID IN 2012. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS DRACONIAN SPENDING CUTS AND AUSTERITY," TOOMEY SAID AT A SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE HEARING. TOOMEY SAID A SENSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE STALEMATE WOULD BE TO AT LEAST GIVE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE EXPECTED CUTS SOME FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE CUTS THAT WOULD BE LEAST DISRUPTIVE TO THE ECONOMY. TOOMEY SAYS UNIFORM CUTS WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARMFUL AN ALREADY FRAGILE ECONOMY.
THE LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON AIRPORT AUTHORITY HAS CHOSEN A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LEHIGH VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...SORT OF. CHARLES EVERETT HAS BEEN LVIA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF AVPORTS MANAGEMENT, A VIRGINIA COMPANY HIRED TO OVERSEE AIRPORT OPERATIONS. NOW, THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY HAS HIRED EVERETT AS ITS EMPLOYEE AND THAT MEANS THE AIRPORT'S DEAL WITH AVPORTS WILL APPARENTLY END WHEN THE CONTRACT EXPIRES IN DECEMBER. EVERETT WILL CONTINUE TO EARN THE SAME $142,000 SALARY.
THE LEHIGH UNIVERSITY STUDENT WHO SUED UNSUCCESSFULLY OVER HER C+ GRADE IS ASKING FOR ANOTHER TRIAL. MEGAN THODE WAS SEEKING $1.3 MILLION IN HER FAILED LAWSUIT AND NOW SHE IS APPEALING. THODE CLAIMED SHE WAS GIVEN A C+ BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTED GAY RIGHTS. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY JUDGE EMIL GIORDANO RULED THODE DIDN'T PROVE THE GRADE WAS BASED ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN ACADEMIC EVALUATION. ACCORDING TO TODAY'S MORNING CALL, THODE'S ATTORNEY CLAIMS FACTS EXIST THAT SUPPORT A DIFFERENT RULING AND HE SAYS DURING CLOSING ARGUMENTS LEHIGH'S LAWYER MISSTATED THE LAW THAT SHOULD APPLY.
THE LEHIGH COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE SAYS A 65-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO DIED LAST WEEK WAS THE VICTIM OF A HOMICIDE BECAUSE SHE WAS SHOT IN HARRISBURG IN 1982. LINDA KNAUSS DIED FEBRUARY 18 IN LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL OF COMPLICATIONS FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND TO HER NECK. OFFICIALS SAY SHE'D BEEN HOSPITALIZED WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. FIRST DEPUTY CORONER ERIC MINNICH SAYS KNAUSS NEVER RECOVERED FROM THE INJURIES SHE SUSTAINED IN THE SHOOTING. KNAUSS, THEN 37, WAS A CUSTOMER IN THE PLUM BOUTIQUE WHEN SHE AND A MAN WERE SHOT AND INJURED DURING AN APPARENT ROBBERY ATTEMPT. MINNICH SAYS THE SHOOTING APPEARS TO BE UNSOLVED.
WHILE HE WROTE A LETTER TO POLITICSPA.COM INDICATING HE WAS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR, NORTHAMPTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN MORGANELLI TELLS THE EXPRESS-TIMES IT'S A NONISSUE AT THIS POINT. THE D.A. SAYS HE HASN'T MADE ANY DECISION AND HAS CONSIDERED OTHER CAMPAIGNS IN THE PAST BUT DECIDED AGAINST RUNNING. MORGANELLI RAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LOST THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES IN 2000 AND 2004 AND LOST THE GENERAL ELECTION IN 2008.
A NAZARETH SCHOOL TEACHER HAS QUIT. STACEE BANKO, WHO WAS A NAZARETH AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL TEACHER, RESIGNED AT THE DISTRICT'S MOST RECENT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH SHOPLIFTING FROM THE KOHL'S IN LOWER NAZARETH TOWNSHIP LAST SEPTEMBER. BANKO LEFT HER 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IN THE STORE AS SHE TRIED TO WALK OUT WITHOUT PAYING FOR NEARLY $190 WORTH OF MERCHANDISE.
STATE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IN PENNSYLVANIA STAND TO LOSE NEARLY $12 BILLION WORTH OF PENSION BENEFITS OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS IF GOV. TOM CORBETT'S PENSION REFORM PLAN IS APPROVED. THE ADMINISTRATION RELEASED A PRINTED SUMMARY OF THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF CORBETT'S PROPOSAL LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE $12 BILLION IN SAVINGS WOULD COME EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO REDUCE FUTURE BENEFITS FOR CURRENT EMPLOYEES. IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER THERE IS ENOUGH LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT AND, EVEN IF IT'S APPROVED, UNIONS HAVE VOWED A COURT CHALLENGE. THE SUMMARY SAYS CORBETT'S PLAN TO MOVE NEW HIRES INTO A 401(K)-STYLE PLAN WOULD SAVE MORE THAN $2.5 BILLION THROUGH 2043. BUT THOSE SAVINGS WOULD BE OFFSET BY PROPOSED LIMITS ON HOW FAST TAXPAYERS' SHARE OF PENSION COSTS MAY GROW IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
A TOP DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR INSISTS GOV. TOM CORBETT CAN GET THE FLEXIBILITY HE SAYS HE WANTS BEFORE PENNSYLVANIA'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WILL SUPPORT A MASSIVE MEDICAID EXPANSION. SEN. VINCENT HUGHES TOLD CORBETT'S TOP HEALTH OFFICIALS DURING A HEARING TUESDAY THAT U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS RELAYED THAT MESSAGE TO HIM IN A MEETING LAST WEEK. DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ARE RATCHETING UP PRESSURE ON CORBETT TO EMBRACE THE EXPANSION AS MORE REPUBLICANS GOVERNORS SUPPORT IT. HUGHES CALLS PENNSYLVANIA "A DESERTED ISLAND IN THE HEALTH CARE OASIS." CORBETT MAINTAINS HE WON'T TAKE PART UNLESS PENNSYLVANIA HAS A FREER HAND TO SHAPE MEDICAID'S COVERAGE PLANS. CORBETT'S INSURANCE COMMISSIONER CALLS MEDICAID A BROKEN SYSTEM, AND CORBETT'S BUDGET SECRETARY SAYS PENNSYLVANIA CAN'T AFFORD THE EXPANSION. BUT DEMOCRATS SAY CORBETT'S COST ANALYSIS IS FLAWED.
A CORONER SAYS A GUARD KILLED AT A FEDERAL PRISON IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SUFFERED BLUNT HEAD AND NECK TRAUMA AND MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS AND CUTS. LACKAWANNA COUNTY CORONER TIMOTHY ROWLAND SAYS MONDAY NIGHT'S DEATH OF ERIC WILLIAMS IS A HOMICIDE. PRISON OFFICIALS SAY THE 34-YEAR-OLD CORRECTIONS OFFICER WAS WORKING IN A HOUSING UNIT WHEN AN INMATE ATTACKED HIM WITH A HOMEMADE WEAPON. AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT NAMED THE PRISONER INVOLVED. WILLIAMS IS THE FIRST FEDERAL PRISON GUARD IN NEARLY FIVE YEARS TO BE KILLED ON THE JOB. THE HIGH-SECURITY CANAAN PENITENTIARY IS ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF SCRANTON.
THE CLUB FOR GROWTH IS OUT WITH ITS 2012 CONGRESSIONAL SCORECARD. LAWMAKERS ARE JUDGED ON THEIR VOTES ON ISSUES RELATING TO LIMITING GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE CLUB'S ANDY ROTH SAYS LEHIGH VALLEY CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE DENT WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST FOR REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL. "HE FASHIONS HIMSELF AS A MODERATE AND HE VOTES THAT WAY. HE ONLY GOT A 55 PERCENT ON OUR 2012 SCORECARD AND HE HAS A LIFETIME SCORE OF 51 PERCENT. THAT'S ABOUT AS LOW AS YOU CAN GET AMONG REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY," ROTH SAYS. EX-CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN SCORED 8 PERCENT IN HIS FINAL YEAR IN THE HOUSE. SENATOR PAT TOOMEY EARNED A 93 PERCENT MARK, WHILE SENATOR BOB CASEY WAS GIVEN ONLY A 17 PERCENT FOR 2012.
NEW JERSEY GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE HAS SIGNED A BILL LEGALIZING INTERNET GAMBLING, MAKING HIS STATE THE THIRD IN THE NATION TO OFFER ONLINE BETTING. CHRISTIE ACTED TUESDAY JUST HOURS AFTER THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL WITH THE CHANGES HE WANTED WHEN HE VETOED A SIMILAR BILL EARLIER THIS MONTH. IT MARKS THE BIGGEST EXPANSION OF LEGALIZED GAMBLING IN NEW JERSEY SINCE THE FIRST CASINO OPENED HERE IN 1978. THE BILL ALLOWS THE PLAYING ONLINE, FOR MONEY, OF ANY GAME CURRENTLY OFFERED BY ATLANTIC CITY'S 12 CASINOS; ONLINE POKER IS EXPECTED TO BE A PARTICULARLY POPULAR OPTION. BETS CAN'T BE PLACED UNTIL THE STATE DIVISION OF GAMING ENFORCEMENT SETS A START DATE; CASINOS SAY IT COULD TAKE SIX TO 12 MONTHS TO GET READY.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE IS USING HIS STATE BUDGET PROPOSAL TO TRY TO GIVE NEW JERSEY FAMILIES MORE CHOICES ON WHERE THEIR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL. IN THE PROPOSAL ANNOUNCED TUESDAY, HE'S CALLING FOR A TRIAL VERSION OF A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT HE HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR YEAR BUT WHICH HAS NOT GOTTEN MUCH TRACTION IN THE LEGISLATURE. THE PROGRAM WOULD USE $2 MILLION TO SEND UP TO 200 LOW-INCOME CHILDREN IN STRUGGLING SCHOOLS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ELSEWHERE OR TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS. HE'S PROPOSING MORE STATE MONEY FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND AN EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS IN LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS TO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES. THE REPUBLICAN ALSO CALLS FOR MORE STATE AID FOR SCHOOLS AND SAYS NONE WILL HAVE THEIR FUNDING REDUCED.
NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SAY THEY LIKE SOME OF GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE'S SPENDING PLAN FOR THE NEXT YEAR. BUT THEY SAY HE CAME UP SHORT ON WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE STATE'S HIGH PROPERTY TAXES AND HELP THE STATE'S LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SHEILA OLIVER SAYS SHE WAS HAPPY TO SEE CHRISTIE AGREE TO EXPAND MEDICAID AND INCREASE SCHOOL FUNDING. BUT SHE SAYS THE GOVERNOR NEEDED TO ADDRESS NEW JERSEY'S HIGH PROPERTY TAXES. MAJORITY LEADER LOU GREENWALD IS CRITICIZING CHRISTIE FOR NOT SPEAKING ABOUT THE STATE'S HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND HE SAYS HE DISAGREES WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO DEFER PROPERTY TAX REBATES FOR THREE MONTHS TO COPE WITH AN EXPECTED $400 MILLION SHORTFALL IN THE BUDGET ENDING JUNE 30.
THE LOS ANGELES KINGS HAVE TRADED STRUGGLING LEFT WING SIMON GAGNE TO THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS FOR A CONDITIONAL DRAFT PICK. GAGNE HASN'T SCORED A GOAL IN 11 GAMES THIS SEASON, HIS SECOND WITH LOS ANGELES. GAGNE SPENT HIS FIRST 10 NHL SEASONS WITH PHILADELPHIA, SCORING A CAREER-HIGH 47 GOALS DURING THE 2005-06 SEASON. THE FLYERS TRADED HIM TO TAMPA BAY IN 2010, AND THE KINGS SIGNED HIM A YEAR LATER.
