Monday, August 27, 2007

Text of Sam Bennett Email to Dem Committee Members

Tomorrow, We Can Tell Charlie Dent How We Feel About IraqCongressman Charlie Dent knows that the escalation in Iraq isn't working.

Congressman Dent admits there are "no good options" in Iraq.

Congressman Dent knows that this has been the bloodiest summer yet for American troops in Iraq.

So isn't it time for Charlie Dent to finally say "no" to George Bush? Let's tell him that.

In a recent meeting in his office, Dent told constituents that the so-called surge was like playing the children's game Whack-a-Mole, "where you subdue the insurgency in one place and it pops back up in another." He also said there are "no good options in Iraq."

He's right. So why does he keep voting with President Bush for more war in Iraq?
Tomorrow evening, Tuesday August 28 at 7 pm, I urge you to join your neighbors at Van Bittner Hall in Bethlehem to "Take A Stand" against the war and to urge Congressman Dent to break with President Bush.


All over the country Tuesday night, veterans, parents, students and neighbors will be gathering to tell Congress and the President that it is time to begin the withdrawal of our brave troops from the middle of a religious civil war.


Here at Van Bittner Hall, we will let Congressman Dent know:

that the death and injury toll for both Americans and Iraqis is rising, not falling, in the face of the escalation,

that the Iraqi "government" is in tatters and cannot unite the country,

that the so-called "Petraeus report" that he says he is waiting for is being written inside the White House, and won't be objective,

that we want him to stop voting with George Bush for "war without end," and

that we need to begin an orderly and safe drawdown and to bring our troops home to the hero's welcome and the lifelong support they have earned - we love our troops, and we want them home.

Please join your fellow citizens to urge an end to the war.

WHERE: Van Bittner Hall (Steelworkers Hall), 53 E. Lehigh Street, Bethlehem [Map]

WHEN: Tuesday, August 28th, 7 pm

I hope you will pass this e-mail on to your friends, and I look forward to seeing you there.Thank you so much.

Sam BennettBennett for Congress 2008PS - Please come and check out our brand-new website at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=eaor5dcab.0.enihsacab.p9fhqacab.1298&ts=S0278&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bennett2008.com%2F. Let us know what you think.

Authorized by Bennett 2008, P.O. Box 9195, Allentown, PA 18105-9195, 610-770-3280, Jeanette Eichenwald, Treasurer. Donations to Bennett 2008 cannot exceed $2,300 per person for each of the primary and general elections, $4,600 in total. Contributions to Bennett 2008 are not tax deductible. We cannot accept contributions from corporations, unions, or foreign nationals who are not permanent residents. Federal law requires that we make our best efforts to gather and report the name, address, employer and occupation of anyone who contributes more than $200.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Lehigh Valley Parnership: Officers & Directors as of 2005

William F. Hecht, PPL CEO, whose six year average salary was $4.08 million, before he retired.

Lee A. Butz, chief executive officer to Alvin H. Butz., Inc., the Lehigh Valley's biggest construction manager.

Jan Armfield, Regional President at Wachovia Bank.

Bert Daday, Special Assistant to the Prsident, PPL, Community Affairs.

Robert B Black, VP at Morris Black & Sons.

Michael J Caruso, Principal, Caruso Benefits Group.

L. Anderson Daub, Partner, Brown-Daub.

John T. Dickson, President & CEO, Agere Systems.

Timothy Fallon, TSF Consulting, LLC

Dr. Gregory C. Farrington, President, Lehigh University.

Jeffrey P. Feather, CEO, Sungard Pentamation, Inc.

Roderic R. Fink, President & CEO, ACME Cryogenics, Inc.

Steven R. Follett, President, CEO & Chairman, Follett Corporation.

Elmer D. Gates, Chair, Embassy Bank.

F. Mark Gumz, President & COO, Olympus America, Inc.

Christian Jepsen, President & COO, F.L. Smidth Inc.

John P. Jones, Chair, President & CEO, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

John F. Malloy, President & CEO, Victaulic Co. of America.

L. Susan Hunt, Publisher & CEO, Morning Call.

L. Charles Marcon, President, Duggan and Marcon Inc.

Richard Master, President, MCS Industries Inc.

Caroll H. Neubauer, Chairman & CEO, B. Braun Medical, Inc.

Arthur J. Rothkopf, President, Lafayette College.

Tony Salvaggio, President & CEO, Computer Aid, Inc.

Mark J. Schwab, President & CEO, Binney & Smith, Inc.

David N. Shaffer, co-chief executive officer, Just Born, Inc.

Kim W. Snyder, President, Eastern Industries, Inc.

Richard E. Thulin, Principal, Arcadia Properties, LLC.

Martin K. Till, President & Publisher, Express Times.

Paul Vikner, President & CEO, Mack Trucks, Inc.

Daniel C. Wells, Chairman & CEO, SWB&R.

Robert C. Wood, Chairman of the Board, The Wood Company.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Greatest Generation Grant - Veteran Relief Program Ordinance

Title: THE GREATEST GENERATION GRANT - VETERAN RELIEF PROGRAM ORDINANCE, APPROVING RELIEF FOR NORTHAMPTON COUNTY'S VETERANS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR ON FIXED INCOMES

WHEREAS, Northampton County has many residents who served our country in its military service during the second world war, and who are struggling with incomes limited to veteran's benefits and social security; and

WHEREAS, those individuals who served in military service during the second world war made an important sacrifice, and the county wishes to recognize this sacrifice by easing the financial burden of second world war veterans whose sole source of income, aside from any veteran's benefits, is social security; and

WHEREAS, for those veterans who served for a period of four months or more between December 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945, whose sole source of income is veteran's benefits and social security, and who have either a homestead or farmstead designation for their property, the County is desirous of providing financial relief for the County's real estate taxes on those properties; and

WHEREAS, the time period for which WWII veterans whose income is limited to social security and veterans' benefits would be eligible for this relief will be the 2007 and the 2008 tax years; and

WHEREAS, this relief would be available for all eligible individuals in all branches of the service; and

WHEREAS, the available relief will be in the amount of the applicable County real estate taxes on the property owned by the eligible WWII veteran; and

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the County to set forth procedures for eligible WWII veterans to apply for this relief; and

WHEREAS, in order to implement this relief program for the 2007 budget, funds need to be appropriated to permit payment of the relief.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ENACTED AND ORDAINED BY THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY COUNCIL, PENNSYLVANIA, THAT:

1. The foregoing Whereas clauses are incorporated herein as if set forth in their entirety.

2. This Ordinance shall be known as The Greatest Generation Grant - Veteran Tax Relief Program.

3. The Veteran Tax Relief Program as described herein is hereby approved for tax years 2007 and 2008. Eligible WWII veterans who own Homestead or Farmstead property in Northampton County, whether individually, or as tenants in common, or as joint tenants with a right of survivorship, or as tenants by the entireties, shall be entitled to apply for a relief payment in the amount of the County taxes for the applicable year.

4. The County Executive shall promulgate procedures in order to effectively administer and carry out the intent of this program. These procedures shall include instructions on how to apply for this relief, and those instructions shall be made available in the Assessment Office and on the County Website.

5. The sum of $100,000.00 shall be transferred from the 2007 Contingency Account $05000-76050 and appropriated to the appropriate section of the 2007 budget in a new line item titled, "Veteran Tax Relief Program," in order to provide for the effective administration of this program.

6. The County Executive shall distribute copies of this Ordinance to the proper offices and other personnel of Northampton County whose further action is required to achieve the purpose of this Ordinance.

7. Any Ordinance or any part of any ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed insofar as the same affects this Ordinance.

8. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after the enactment of this Ordinance.

This Ordinance was advertised on the day of 2007, and was adopted by the Northampton County Council on the day of 2007.


Attest:



Frank E. Flisser Wayne A. Grube
Clerk to Council County Council President



John Stoffa
County Executive