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Our Opinion

Hunting an important economic engine

Deer season is underway in Pennsylvania — and we hope all hunters find success in our forests and fields. The economic impact of hunting for our state cannot be overstated. According to WJAC-TV in Johnstown, economic reports show deer hunters spend about $980 million in our state each year. That money helps businesses both large and small — sporting goods stores, gun shops, restaurants and motels and other lodging — continue to create jobs. In a typical year, the state’s revenues from hunting licenses exceeds $150 million according to the state Game Commission’s website, ...

Our opinion: Court must uphold 2nd Amendment

We welcome the decision by the state Supreme Court to uphold a ruling that municipalities cannot pass tougher or more restrictive limitations on Pennsylvanians’ Second Amendment rights than state law. The efforts by some communities to sidestep the wisdom of our state Legislature on these matters has carried grave risks to the rights of law-abiding gun owners — that they could see their state devolve into a patchwork of conflicting ordinances and laws about one of their God-given rights, enshrined in our Bill of Rights. That confusion would have been an unacceptable burden for ...

Our opinion: Permitting reform still too slow

There’s nobody in state government who isn’t in favor of permitting reform. Gov. Josh Shapiro is all in favor - as evidenced by his recent public push and executive action. Republicans and businesses love the idea of permitting reform, too. So why does permitting reform move at the snail’s pace of, frankly, Pennsylvania permitting? Elizabeth Stelle, a policy analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation, said the foundation’s findings estimate that changes like eliminating a dozen occupational licenses and broader reciprocity with other states could increase Pennsylvania’s ...

Our opinion: Why is recall needed in first place?

House Rep. Joe D’Orsie is proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow the state House of Representatives to initiate a recall election for a public official holding county or local office. Local voters would still have the final vote on the recall even though the process would start in Harrisburg. The legislation hasn’t yet been drafted, but constitutional amendments and recall should be a break glass in case of emergency solution to a problem. In Pennsylvania, constitutional amendments are proposed all the time to solve political problems. We have a feeling recall, if ...

Our opinion: Smart steps to energy independence

President-elect Donald Trump’s decisions to nominate Chris Wright for secretary of energy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to serve a dual role as secretary of the interior and chairman of a National Energy Council are reassuring. Wright is the CEO of a company with considerable experience in natural gas drilling. We believe Burgum, as governor of a largely pro-development state, is an ideal choice to spearhead a comprehensive effort to improve the production and affordability of domestic energy — an effort that includes renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric ...

Our opinion: Take a cue from Philadelphia

It’s not often we would say Warren County should pay much attention to Philadelphia. But when it comes to capitalizing on one’s strengths, creative Philadelphians have done just that with Rockyfest after a phase during which city tourism officials wanted little to do with Rocky. Philadelphia residents had gotten sick of the movie, and the city went so far as to remove the Rocky statue that was synonymous with the film’s titular character. Why the change? Rocky sells, and Rocky brings people with money to spend. And the lesson, as Warren Worx consultants work on branding ...