ELEPHANT CORNER: Gay Republicans Step Up In Philadelphia

Tuesday night, GOProud Philadelphia hosted an event at Cavanaugh’s Head House Square. GOProud describes itself as “a national organization of gay and straight Americans who seek to promote freedom by supporting free markets, limited government, and a respect for individual rights.” Because they see marriage as a state issue and they initially were focused on federal issues, they did not have a clear message on gay marriage except for their efforts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. The US Supreme Court recently struck down major provisions of DOMA. As the group plans to become more involved in state politics, I would expect them to focus more on same-sex marriage along with their interest in fiscal conservatism. The event was well attended. JOHN PARTAIN, a leader of the disbanded Philadelphia chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, was there as well as DR. SETH KAUFER, BEN HANEY and ANNIE HAVEY.

The Republican Party has been unfairly accused of engaging in a war against women. This is not true, but I feel it is best to hand over the quill this week to a female in the herd to discuss some her issues with a number of prominent Democrats.

“City COUNCILWOMAN MARIA QUIÑONES SÁNCHEZ expressed concerns that new Licensing & Inspection rules regarding the requirement that demolition-site workers have identification could negatively impact “undocumented workers”.

“Irrespective of what one thinks of immigration reform, the thought we would allow people to do jobs that could endanger their lives and others who are not clearly qualified is scary. Does she also want eliminate the licensing (which requires having identification) for nurses, doctors and lawyers? Despite her liberal leanings, Quiñones Sánchez is usually one of the more-rational people on City Council; not this time.

“BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN sponsored a bill, “Women on Corporate Boards”, which was passed by City Council and signed by MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER. The bill requires all city contractors to disclose the racial and sexual makeup of their boards and officers. We already have disclosure requirements for contractors that want special consideration as women or minority-owned business enterprises. Most cities have similar mandates to use WMBEs.

“So why do we need a law requiring businesses not trying to capitalize on this special treatment to disclose this information anyway? This law only serves to increase contractors’ expenses, which will be built into their bids. And of course I assume some bureaucrats will have full-time jobs to administer these filings. Thus, at the end of the day Philadelphia taxpayers will be the victims.

“Another woman who gives me pause is the Commonwealth’s ATTORNEY GENERAL KATHLEEN KANE. She recently decided to pursue criminal charges against XTO energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobile, for a spill in Lycoming Co. She is prosecuting the company under two state laws. The company should be held responsible for the accident that released 50,000 gallons of hydraulic fracking fluids onto nearby land.

“She does have the legal authority to pursue the issue. The problem is she is a little late to the game. The federal government has already investigated the spill and fined the company $100,000. Furthermore, XTO has reached agreements with the owners of the affected land to completely remediate the damage. XTO is also spending $20 million on a new facility at the site to recycle the fracking fluid. There is no evidence or reason to believe XTO willfully spilled the fluid. What does she bring to the plate by essentially duplicating what the federal government has already done? Yes, she has right to do this, but is fair to punish anyone twice?

“Also, what message does this send to oil and gas sector that has invested billions of dollars in Pennsylvania? Shale-gas development has lead to 240,000 new jobs in the state and the abundance of shale has contributed to lower energy prices.

“What I fear is that this case is not about protecting our environment, but pandering to the liberal side of her party. This is yet another example of Kane’s not keeping her campaign promise. She repeatedly told us last year that by electing her that we would be sending a prosecutor to Harrisburg and not a politician.”

Fellow elephants showed the flag at the Republican 59th Ward’s Oct. 5 Ice Cream Social Voter Registration Drive. 59TH WARD LEADER PETER WIRS was joined by 22ND WARD CHAIRWOMAN CAROL MACK, 10TH WARD LEADER THORTON SPENCE and committee people from both the 12th and 59th Wards for five and half hours to get new voter registrations in the heart of Germantown – Germantown & Chelten Avenues.

Additional assistance came from contributions and support from 12TH WARD LEADER RICK HELLBERG and 17TH WARD LEADER JERRY BROWN. Despite the heat and humidity in the Democratic stronghold that is Germantown, Wirs said voters were very receptive to VIC STABILE for Superior Court and were willing to listen to why Republicans might be the better choices for DA and City Controller.