John K. Manna
- John K. Manna
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John K. Manna: Data shows decline in number of primary voters
Voter participation isn’t what it used to be. That’s nothing new, but there has been a significant drop in voting here in Lawrence County. And it’s happened suddenly, particularly in the so-called “off-year” elections.
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John K. Manna: New legislative districts give advantage to local lawmakers
We finally have a map, and area state legislators have to be gushing with joy. The map, which reshapes state House and Senate districts in Pennsylvania, gained the approval of the state Supreme Court this week.
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John K. Manna: Shortfall in state tax collections means painful decisions lie ahead
I don’t deny that there are really smart people in Harrisburg who deal with the state’s budget and taxes. But I have to wonder what any of them — including the governor — think when it comes to taxes.
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John K. Manna: Term limits again considered
Some things just never go away. One of them is the idea to impose term limits on members of Congress. Once a big deal in the 1990s, discussion about imposing term limits has died down to a whisper in recent years. But the idea is apparently not dead.
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John K. Manna: Western Pennsylvania’s population drop persists
Lawrence County is losing people, but it’s not alone. The counties surrounding Lawrence, with the exception of Butler County, also have been experiencing population declines.
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John K. Manna: Why should local elections be based on party status?
If you want to win a seat on New Castle City Council, don’t run as a Republican. Nothing is impossible, but over the last 40 plus years, only a handful of Republicans have been elected to council. It’s not because Republican candidates have been of lesser quality than their Democratic counterparts.
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John K. Manna: Spring ballot to have few surprises
The ballots are set for the May 21 primary in Lawrence County. There could be some minimum change after Wednesday, the last day for candidates to withdraw. But for all practical purposes, we know who the candidates are, and there are few surprises.
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John K. Manna: Few elected officials show desire for higher office
Over the years, most local politicians have stayed local. I’m not referring to the late Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill who often said that all politics is local.
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John K. Manna: An interesting mix emerges for ballot in local contests
Just when you were breathing a sigh of relief after the presidential campaign ended, here comes another one. Not a presidential campaign, of course, but one right in your backyard where some of your friends and neighbors — and enemies — are expressing an interest in running in the May primary for county and municipal offices and school boards.
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John K. Manna: Republican electoral vote plan shows impact of gerrymandering
Politics can be a lot of things, but in the final analysis it comes down to numbers. Just this week numbers were released on how President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney fared in each of Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts in the November election.
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