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  • Anti Democracy PA Legislators Letter To Congressional Delegation

    Republican State Senators and Representatives, using crafty language, sent a letter to members of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation, urging Congress to disregard the wishes of its voters when the Electoral College results are formally declared on January 6, 2021.

    Sixty-four State Senators and Representatives signed the letter, dated December 4. They claimed the conduct of Governor Wolf and others underminded Pennsylvania election law. The signers closed their letter with the statement, “For these reasons, we the undersigned members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly urge you to object, and vote to sustain such objection, to the Electoral College votes received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”.

    Assuming their news release is not quietly deleted, I urge you to read their letter to Congress at he Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus website.

    Remember the shameful action by these sixty-four Pennsylvania legislators:

    Seth Grove, Representative, 196th District
    Kristin Phillips-Hill, Senator, 28th District
    Judy Ward, Senator, 30th District
    Mike Regan, Senator, 31st District
    Dave Arnold, Senator, 48th District
    Doug Mastriano, Senator, 33rd District
    Joe Pittman, Senator, 41st District
    Pat Stefano, Senator, 32nd District
    Kerry Benninghoff, Representative, 171st District
    Bryan Cutler, Representative, 100th District
    Jim Cox, Representative, 129th District
    Kate Klunk, Representative, 169th District
    Torren Ecker, Representative, 193rd District
    Bud Cook, Representative, 49th District
    Frank Ryan, Representative, 101st District
    Tina Pickett, Representative, 110th District
    David Rowe, Representative, 85th District
    Clint Owlett, Representative, 68th District
    Ryan Warner, Representative, 52nd District
    Aaron Bernstine, Representative, 10th District
    Eric Nelson, Representative, 57th District
    Kathy Rapp, Representative, 65th District
    Doyle Heffley, Representative, 122nd District
    Lou Schmitt, Representative, 79th District
    David Maloney, Representative, 130th District
    Mark Gillen, Representative, 128th District
    Craig Staats, Representative, 145th District
    Mindy Fee, Representative, 37th District
    Jesse Topper, Representative, 78th District
    Eric Davanzo, Representative, 58th District
    Paul Schemel, Representative, 90th District
    Cris Dush, Senator Elect, 25th District
    John Hershey, Representative, 82nd District
    David Millard, Representative, 109th District
    Brad Roae, Representative, 6th District
    Ryan Mackenzie, Representative, 134th District
    Marci Mustello, Representative, 11th District
    Lee James, Representative, 64th District
    Matt Dowling, Representative, 51st District
    George Dunbar, Representative, 56th District
    Jonathan Fritz, Representative, 111th District
    Rich Irvin, Representative, 81st District
    Martin Causer, Representative, 67th District
    Jeff Wheeland, Representative, 83rd District
    Tim Hennessey, Representative, 26th District
    David Hickernell, Representative, 98th District
    Greg Rothman, Representative, 87th District
    Brett Miller, Representative, 41st District
    Dan Moul, Representative, 91st District
    Keith Greiner, Representative, 43rd District
    Thomas Sankey, Representative, 73rd District
    Dawn Keefer, Representative, 92nd District
    Donna Oberlander, Representative, 63rd District
    Curt Sonney, Representative, 4th District
    Mike Reese, Representative, 59th District
    Mike Jones, Representative, 93rd District
    Martina White, Representative, 170th District
    Barbara Gleim, Representative, 199th District
    Carl Walker Metzgar, Representative, 69th District
    Perry Stambaugh, Representative-Elect, 86th District
    James Gregory, Representative, 80th District
    Michael Peifer, Representative, 139th District
    Steven Mentzer, Representative, 97th District
    Rob Kauffman, Representative, 89th District

  • Anti-Democracy Representatives Motion Denied

    The Supreme Court of the United States yesterday denied a motion by the state of Texas which would have overturned the election results in the states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Joining in what borders on treasonous behavior were Attorneys General of seventeen – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia – other states plus 126 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

    These House members are:

    Representative Mike Johnson – Fourth Congressional District of Louisiana
    Representative Gary Palmer – Sixth Congressional District of Alabama
    Representative Kevin McCarthy – Twenty-Third Congressional District of California
    Representative Steve Scalise – First Congressional District of Louisiana
    Representative Jim Jordan – Fourth Congressional District of Ohio
    Representative Ralph Abraham – Fifth Congressional District of Louisiana
    Representative Robert Aderholt – Fourth Congressional District of Alabama
    Representative Rick W. Allen – Twelfth Congressional District of Georgia
    Representative Jodey Arrington – Nineteenth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Brian Babin – Thirty-Sixth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative James R. Baird – Fourth Congressional District of Indiana
    Representative Jim Banks – Third Congressional District of Indiana
    Representative Jack Bergman – First Congressional District of Michigan
    Representative Andy Biggs – Fifth Congressional District of Arizona
    Representative Gus Bilirakis – Twelfth Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Dan Bishop – Ninth Congressional District of North Carolina
    Representative Mike Bost – Twelfth Congressional District of Illinois
    Representative Kevin Brady – Eighth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Mo Brooks – Fifth Congressional District of Alabama
    Representative Ken Buck – Fourth Congressional District of Colorado
    Representative Ted Budd – Thirteenth Congressional District of North Carolina
    Representative Tim Burchett – Second Congressional District of Tennessee
    Representative Michael C. Burgess – Twenty-Sixth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Bradley Byrne – First Congressional District of Alabama
    Representative Ken Calvert – Forty-Second Congressional District of California
    Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter – First Congressional District of Georgia
    Representative Ben Cline – Sixth Congressional District of Virginia
    Representative Michael Cloud – Twenty-Seventh Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Doug Collins – Ninth Congressional District of Georgia
    Representative Mike Conaway – Eleventh Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Rick Crawford – First Congressional District of Arkansas
    Representative Dan Crenshaw – Second Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Scott DesJarlais – Fourth Congressional District of Tennessee
    Representative Mario Diaz-Balart – Twenty-Fifth Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Jeff Duncan – Third Congressional District of South Carolina
    Representative Neal P. Dunn, M.D. – Second Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Tom Emmer – Sixth Congressional District of Minnesota
    Representative Ron Estes – Fourth Congressional District of Kansas
    Representative A. Drew Ferguson, IV – Third Congressional District of Georgia
    Representative Chuck Fleischmann – Third Congressional District of Tennessee
    Representative Bill Flores – Seventeenth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Jeff Fortenberry – First Congressional District of Nebraska
    Representative Virginia Foxx – Fifth Congressional District of North Carolina
    Representative Russ Fulcher – First Congressional District of Idaho
    Representative Matt Gaetz – First Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Greg Gianforte – At Large Congressional District of Montana
    Representative Bob Gibbs – Seventh Congressional District of Ohio
    Representative Louie Gohmert – First Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Lance Gooden – Fifth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Sam Graves – Sixth Congressional District of Missouri
    Representative Mark Green – Seventh Congressional District of Tennessee
    Representative H. Morgan Griffith – Ninth Congressional District of Virginia
    Representative Michael Guest – Third Congressional District of Mississippi
    Representative Jim Hagedorn – First Congressional District of Minnesota
    Representative Andy Harris, M.D. – First Congressional District of Maryland
    Representative Vicky Hartzler – Fourth Congressional District of Missouri
    Representative Kevin Hern – First Congressional District of Oklahoma
    Representative Jody Hice – Tenth Congressional District of Georgia
    Representative Clay Higgins – Third Congressional District of Louisiana
    Representative Trey Hollingsworth – Ninth Congressional District of Indiana
    Representative Richard Hudson – Eighth Congressional District of North Carolina
    Representative Bill Huizenga – Second Congressional District of Michigan
    Representative Bill Johnson – Sixth Congressional District of Ohio
    Representative John Joyce – Thirteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
    Representative Fred Keller – Twelfth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
    Representative Mike Kelly – Sixteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
    Representative Trent Kelly – First Congressional District of Mississippi
    Representative Steve King – Fourth Congressional District of Iowa
    Representative David Kustoff – Eighth Congressional District of Tennessee
    Representative Darin LaHood – Eighteenth Congressional District of Illinois
    Representative Doug LaMalfa – First Congressional District of California
    Representative Doug Lamborn – Fifth Congressional District of Colorado
    Representative Robert E. Latta – Fifth Congressional District of Ohio
    Representative Debbie Lesko – Eighth Congressional District of Arizona
    Representative Billy Long – Seventh Congressional District of Missouri
    Representative Barry Loudermilk – Eleventh Congressional District of Georgia
    Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer – Third Congressional District of Missouri
    Representative Kenny Marchant – Twenty-Fourth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Roger Marshall, M.D. – First Congressional District of Kansas
    Representative Tom McClintock – Fourth Congressional District of California
    Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers – Fifth Congressional District of Washington
    Representative Dan Meuser – Ninth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
    Representative Carol D. Miller – Third Congressional District of West Virginia
    Representative John Moolenaar – Fourth Congressional District of Michigan
    Representative Alex X. Mooney – Second Congressional District of West Virginia
    Representative Markwayne Mullin – Second Congressional District of Oklahoma
    Representative Gregory Murphy, M.D. – Third Congressional District of North Carolina
    Representative Dan Newhouse – Fourth Congressional District of Washington
    Representative Ralph Norman – Fifth Congressional District of South Carolina
    Representative Steven Palazzo – Fourth Congressional District of Mississippi
    Representative Greg Pence – Sixth Congressional District of Indiana
    Representative Scott Perry – Tenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
    Representative Bill Posey – Eighth Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Guy Reschenthaler – Fourteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
    Representative Tom Rice – Seventh Congressional District of South Carolina
    Representative Mike Rogers – Third Congressional District of Alabama
    Representative John Rose – Sixth Congressional District of Tennessee
    Representative David Rouzer – Seventh Congressional District of North Carolina
    Representative John Rutherford – Fourth Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Austin Scott – Eighth Congressional District of Georgia
    Representative Mike Simpson – Second Congressional District of Idaho
    Representative Adrian Smith – Third Congressional District of Nebraska
    Representative Jason Smith – Eighth Congressional District of Missouri
    Representative Ross Spano – Fifteenth Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Pete Stauber – Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota
    Representative Elise Stefanik – Twenty-First Congressional District of New York
    Representative W. Gregory Steube – Seventeenth Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson – Fifteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
    Representative Tom Tiffany – Seventh Congressional District of Wisconsin
    Representative William Timmons – Fourth Congressional District of South Carolina
    Representative Jeff Van Drew – Second Congressional District of New Jersey
    Representative Ann Wagner – Second Congressional District of Missouri
    Representative Tim Walberg – Seventh Congressional District of Michigan
    Representative Mark Walker – Sixth Congressional District of North Carolina
    Representative Jackie Walorski – Second Congressional District of Indiana
    Representative Michael Waltz – Sixth Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Randy Weber – Fourteenth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Daniel Webster – Eleventh Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Brad Wenstrup – Second Congressional District of Ohio
    Representative Bruce Westerman – Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas
    Representative Roger Williams – Twenty-Fifth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Joe Wilson – Second Congressional District of South Carolina
    Representative Rob Wittman – First Congressional District of Virginia
    Representative Ron Wright – Sixth Congressional District of Texas
    Representative Ted S. Yoho – Third Congressional District of Florida
    Representative Lee Zeldin – First Congressional District of New York

    Listing appears in the Supreme Court file of Texas v. Pennsylvania Amicus Brief of 126 Representatives –corrected.

    Words cannot express the long-lasting consequences of this attempt to circumvent the will of the American voters. Remember their names for the damage they have done to our democracy.

  • Ten Good Reasons To Vote Early In Philly

    The following article is written by Jane Century, an active participant of the Philly Voter Engagement Network. She wrote this for her neighborhood listserv. It is reprinted with permission. So, if you have a mail-in ballot, complete it, then bring it to a nearby Satellite Election Office or drop box locations around Philadelphia. Other voter information is available on the City Commissioners website.

    In the past month, I debated whether to surrender my mail-in ballot and vote in person.  But info I gleaned from elected officials and other reliable sources helped me confirm my decision to drop off my mail-in ballot at a satellite voting center last week.  I realize this is a personal decision for each of us.  If you are still undecided, consider the following:

    1.            Mail-in votes will begin to be processed sooner than machine voting.  Philly has acquired state-of-the-art ballot scanners that can scan 16,000 ballots an hour.  The City will begin opening and scanning ballots as soon as the polls open at 7am on Nov 3 and run continuously – 24/7 thereafter.   This means that by the time machine ballot counts begin to be released to the media at 9 – 10 pm or later on Election Night, as many as 240,000 paper ballots may already be tabulated in Philadelphia alone.  If the vast majority favor one candidate, it can be projected that the remainder will follow suit.  This data will be reported as it becomes available. The President will find ways to cast doubt on everything, no matter what.

    2.            COVID safety at the polls.  Polling places are indoor spaces. Voters will be standing six feet apart indoors and out and my face long waits.  Voters will be asked to arrive with a mask and will be provided hand sanitizer and a single glove for handling the pen for their signature and touching the touch screen, which can only be cleaned with a microfiber cloth.  Voters are not legally required to cooperate with either the mask or glove policy. 

    3.            Voting machine equipment is complex.  Our new touchscreen voting machines are still relatively new.  They have complex mechanical and digital functions that also generate paper ballots after each vote is cast.  Any equipment failures can slow down the process. 

    4.            Voting in person takes time.  Unlike voting from home on a paper ballot at your kitchen table, many voters are still unfamiliar with touch screen voting and how to proofread the paper ballot that gets printed after each vote.  This year, there are also four ballot initiatives. Many people arrive at the polls without having reviewed these ahead of time. If people accidentally “spoil” their ballot while voting on the machine and need to redo it, decide to surrender their paper ballot and vote in person or need to complete a provisional ballot for any reason, this will slow the process for everyone.

    5.            Lots of new poll workers are being hired. This may lengthen the process.  Many older, experienced poll workers have stepped away from serving this year due to concerns about COVID.  The City received applications from 20,000 people willing to serve as poll workers to fill 8,000+ positions.  The Board of Elections is currently working its way through a long list of returning and new volunteers and trying to fill vacant positions as quickly as possible. While all who serve must attend or watch a training, many polling places will be staffed by people with no prior experience.  They must come prepared to oversee safety protocols for COVID, answer a myriad of questions and possibly resolve disputes arising from poll watchers. 

    6.            Mail-in ballots are the perfect antidote to threats of voter intimidation.  In the face of calls by the White House for an “army of volunteers” to watch over polling places, Mayor Kenney has been clear that voter intimidation tactics will not be tolerated.  But if everyone has already cast their ballots safely ahead of time, and there are no voters waiting in line to intimidate, well, you get the point.

    7.            Early voting is totally in your control.  Once you complete your ballot, you can drop it off any one of 17 satellite centers, knowing it will be stored safely and securely, under guard.

    8.            The sooner people complete and turn in a mail-in ballot, the easier it will be to prep them for efficient scanning.  And the less congestion there will be at the polls.  Don’t put it off to the last minute.

    9.            There are now 17 satellite voting centers.  If you already have your ballot, you can fill it out at home and drop it off in a minute. If not, you can request one and complete it there. (If your ballot has not arrived, but your application has been confirmed online, you can cancel it in person at any satellite center, any time up to 8pm Nov 3, and obtain a new one to submit right there.  See: https://www.phila.gov/2020-09-29-visit-a-satellite-election-office-today/

    10.        Peace of mind.  Once you know your ballot has been safely cast, you can put your energies to other uses to help support a safe, fair election for all.