Today’s news and information gleanings from here and there.
Quote for today … “Now, I know you’re thinking, why do this? Isn’t it a waste of time? Aren’t my legislators shapeless shadows zombie-walking through bogs of polluted politics?” – John Baer, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, asks these questions as he encourages readers to get in touch with legislators during another break.
- Editorial: “Bill that would make it harder for local school boards to raise taxes misses the mark” – Lancaster Online
- Here’s a look at federal “elected public servants” year: Days in non-leap year: 365 – Days spent in D.C.: 140 – Weekend days: 105 – Federal holidays: 10 – Recess/travel/state work days: 110. Oh, yeah, the average American worker gets 16 days of combined vacation and holiday time per year.
- Ever seen the Uncle Jay video about the Congressional work schedule? Click here.
- Vipers and weasels | This line is from a letter to the editor in today’s LNP Always Lancaster: “I take some comfort in the realization that history will treat McConnell as the villain who did more than anyone else to turn one of the world’s most collegial and effective legislative bodies into a paralyzed and acrimonious den of vipers.” Another look at the slimey guy that Kentuckians keep electing comes in this Washington Post column from Dana Milbrank, “Mitch McConnell: the man who broke America.”
- SCAM CALLER – Student Loan SCAMMERS on 215-372-1781!! Offering to reduce loan rates, but actually they phish for your CREDIT CARD NUMBERS! Beware! They are SCAMMERS!”
- “The Future of Free Speech, Trolls, Anonymity and Fake News Online” – Pew Research Center
Click on the graphic above to download as a .pdf for sharing and printing.
- On average, municipalities with their own local police force paid $155 per person in 2014; Columbia paid $246.85 according to this Penn Live article.
- “Might be one to many Rambos out there” | “Pa. hunters tell why they didn’t want semiautomatic rifles” – Penn Live
- The ties that bind | “Here’s the Fine Print On The Country’s Biggest-Ever Free College Plan” – NPR
- Necessary force? | Not likely. But the Ft. Collins Police Chief communicates more about the incident at the Department’s facebook page.
- There’ll be a police investigation and a police department report – The Coloradoan, Ft. Collins, CO
