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Opinion

Our opinion: Enough with sales-tax holidays

Our Opinion

Last week, we made note of 19 bills sponsored by state House Republicans proposing sales tax holidays on everything from gas to soccer gear. We didn’t disagree with the idea of a gas tax holiday, in part because Warren County’s gas prices were already too high compared to the rest of the state even before the war on Iran sent gas prices skyrocketing. That particular sales tax holiday can help millions of Pennsylvania residents and should, in our opinion, be seriously considered by lawmakers from both parties. But many of the other sales tax holidays proposed are too narrow, and ...

Other voices: Voter list is an overreaction

Our Opinion

Can the President order the U.S. Postal Service not to deliver mail he doesn’t like? Add this to the list of, er, innovative questions that President Trump is posing to the courts. On (March 31) he signed an executive action to create a federal list of people pre-approved to vote by mail, while telling the USPS to refuse to deliver ballots from anybody who isn’t on it. Democrats have already filed lawsuits, saying Mr. Trump’s plan tramples on the authority over elections that the Constitution gives to the 50 states. The USPS is an independent agency, and the Postmaster General is ...

Embrace tax fairness to address America’s economic anxiety

Local Commentaries

What would an extra $1,000 mean for your family’s financial security? Would it help cover essentials, pay bills, or repair your home or car? At a time when affordability is top of mind for many Americans, every extra dollar matters. The most recent consumer sentiment report confirms that economic anxiety is very real, finding that Americans haven’t felt this pessimistic about the economy in over a decade. Even high earners are feeling financially pinched. Congress says affordability is a priority, but real relief requires real policy changes. While lawmakers debate broader ...

Our opinion: Unhealthy behavior not illegal

Our Opinion

State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport, isn’t wrong for wanting to stop people from smoking when children under the age of 12 are in a car. No study has found that cigarette smoke or e-cigarette vapor are good for anyone, much less young children. But there is a line between actions being unhealthy and actions being illegal that Yaw’s proposal ignores - to its detriment. To be fair, we haven’t seen legislative language yet, simply a co-sponsorship memorandum. But we have a hard time believing that Yaw’s proposal can be enforced at all. We don’t have enough police officers ...

Continuing education in humor serious business

Local Commentaries

Long car drives are good for sweeping out the sticky cobwebs. Lottsa time to think. On my way back from the writing conference I recently attended in Dayton, I had 375 highway miles to review the stimulating weekend, to relive many new stories. The conference’s real name is the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop. It is named for Erma, the housewife humorist and distinguished alumna of the University of Dayton, the conference venue. She began writing for her school newspaper in junior high school. And never quit. Dayton is a Catholic University. It was Brother Tom Price, Erma’s ...

Our opinion: Boost skilled trades numbers

Our Opinion

Republicans and Democrats in the state Legislature agree there is a looming shortage of skilled trades workers in the commonwealth. The question is what to do about it. Rep. Marla Brown, R-Lawrence, wants to expose more high school students to the trades by requiring shop classes in sixth through 12th grades. Brown introduced her co-sponsorship memorandum for legislation she’s drafting in late March after a March 18 House Republican Policy Committee hearing hosted by Rep. David H. Rowe, R-Snyder, and Brown to examine strategies to strengthen workforce development in the skilled ...