Transcripts For WPVI Inside Story 20140831 : vimarsana.com

It with the gas tax, for instance, debate going on. Corbett made news when he talked to politics pa saying he could not make the same tax pledge during this Reelection Campaign wheres facing tom wolf only that he will do everything he can to keep taxes under control. Not signing the tax pledge again, ed, surprising to you and something that will hurt him with republicans . It will no doubt hurt him with a segment of the republican party. Something has to be said about the pledges. This is for the public good. These things are a mess. The notion that an elected officials would never under any circumstances for any reason raise taxes is different from saying what the governor said. I am inclined not to raise taxes. I will try my level best. The notion not ever for any reason i consider calling upon the public, explain to them, why it is we need more money for public good thats flat out irresponsible. The politics all of this, how it plays out, ill leave that to terry an george to explain towels. I know you want to talk about the poll here. Lets show you the numbers, franklin and marshall poll. Wolf 49 back in june. Terry you found him 47 . Corbett in august, 24 support. Back in june, 25 . Undecided a quarter there. A quarter, yeah. So what can we make of this poll right now, everybody is saying its going to tighten up, its not tightening up. Heres the story this election is 90 about governor corbett. So the voters made a decision about governor corbett two years ago. Low job performance, do they want a new governor, when we asked that question, time for a change, they say yes. Two years, all the polls show big deficit. Tell me now, between june when four poll also showed the governor behind 20 to 25 points, what changed. Did he get a victory out of the legislature, has the state 2 billiondollar deficit talk about no tax pledges, has that changed. A fight with republican legislative leaders, has that helped . The governor cant change the narrative even with negative commercial against tom wolf, when did we see them last millions spent by Allison Schwartz beating up on tom wolf. It helped tom wolf. The governor needs something to go to the voters and say look at me, heres why i think i need another four years, not the same arguments hes been making for two years that havent worked. Tom wolf is the teflon candidate. I think he has credibility. Importantly on the challenge to the tax plan. Where he wants to raise taxes on wealthier pennsylvanians. The cavalier response of the press is we think its constitutional and we dont go to it. Corbett and his folks are scouring that plan. His credibility comes into question where he simply gives a response it is constitutional. The one thing that can damage him in this campaign is that something happens that blows his credibility. Right now people decide they like him, they dont like anybody else. About you if he blows that it becomes more competitive. What do you think about corbett . When you talk about the constitutionality, thats the great point when you remember with the samesex marriage debate, corbetts refusal to ray peel the decision of the lower court of judge jones banning the samesex marriage ban in pennsylvania, and he feels saying i dont think its when he was saying i dont think it could be upheld on constitutional grounds, this whole idea of using the word, constitutional, constitutional, and deal with a essential issue and persuade voters he is in the right or has a solid base, doesnt work for him. The optics are bad here, as well. This is a governor who doesnt have a solid base on either side of the aisle. Republicans are not supporting him are, he didnt have the supt of the tea party because he is not conservative enough. He is butting heads with the republican legislature. Well on this tax pledge, always bad as this is, the opposite bad is what george described, where instead of maybe explaining the rationale behind why wolf wants to raise taxes, he dismissively says its constitutional. Thats the short sort of thing n the other side. Let me weigh in here. We polled for pvi on the question of a progressive income tax. Voters in this state generally favor the idea if you earn a little more you ought to pay a little more. Wolf campaign has admitted they few need a constitutional amendment. Milton shap in march of 1971 got the ledge literature to pass a progressive income tax it was ruled unconstitutional because it violated the uniformity clause of the state constitution. Thats law. The fact of the matter is he is probably going to have to go to the legislature to get that done. The republicancontrolled legislature, i think it will be, particularly the house is not likely to do it. Lets go back to the poll and the campaign. Look, when you have an incumbent whose trailing, we can argue 17, 18, 2520, 25 points. Everybody agrees. Fortom wolf the opponent has toe a acceptable alternative. He has to avoid getting specific. He has to play it safe not get into controversies. I agree with george he has not to make a rookie mistake. Can i ask one quick question no chance whatever is the legislature goes democrat even with a wolf handle landslide . No chance. Gerrymandering have made these elections, 106 unopposed candidates. If someone was going to defeat him, it would have been mccord or schwartz or mcginty. Now when he won the primary its like the democratic candidate for mayor in philadelphia wins the primary its going to be difficult to lose. What percentage of the votes . He got 58 of a four person primary running against a twotime elected state treasurer, and congresswoman who was elected to the state senate with a base in the southeast. Bottom line, Something Big needs to happen to substantially change this race. You got it. What could derail him now, for example in the city of philadelphia, the frustration in the minority communities and you dont get the turnout thats necessary. Theres a frustration, thats why his credibility is terribly important. Theres a frustration in those communities him there lives have not gotten better and many it has gotten worst. Turnout. Chaka fattah is he in trouble . Gregory nailer pleaded guilty for lying to the fbi and falsifying documents. He pointed to shock shock can a if a chaka fattah has been the target of aen investigation. Nailer is a friend of fatah another long time friend, George Burrell sitting here with us. Are the feds turning the screws on congressman fattah . Where they would be going, the congressman has not publicly talked about this yet. Let me say two things ive grown up in politics with greg nailer and chaka fattah. I know them both. May prayers go out to greg and the family. For the congressman this is a difficult and challenge situation hell have navigate. The smart thing for him to do is to be quiet. Theres nothing to be gained by him going out and making Public Comments about this despite media pressure and frenzy. Its a challenge for him politically and personally, but the best strategy is to be quiet. The worst situation to be in to have someone like this individual plead guilty and be prepared to help with the investigation and tell them whatever that person knows. Its a tried and true tactic. Thats what prosecutors do, they look for Vulnerable People who are close to the specific target, if you will, just to see whether they will offer something up as a way of reducing their sentence. Picking up on that, i mean look at the bonus gate prosecution, 25 exlaw maiblgers maiblgers makers and staffers had convictions. Friends of their got reduced sentences or the charges they played around with the charges in order to get them to testify against them, thats the way in which these men were brought down. Its a classic tactic and the classic tactic for the defense attorney is to point out and ask the witness for the prosecution what kind of of a deal were given and so youre not going away for 20 years youll get five years probation, it undermines the credibility. Whether or not the person has legitimate solid evidence against the defendant, it undermines their credibility because whats in it for them. Congressman fattah at this point not facing any charges. Labor day coming up tomorrow, District Council 33 gained a tentative agreement with mayor nutter they have to ratify it. There are bonuses involved the last contract expired in 2009. The question, ill go to you, again, george, is this fair for taxpayers. Do you think mayor nutter might have gotten a better deal fed gotten the deal back in 2009 or 2010 the next year . I think the demands were consistent back in 2009 with what they are now. The environment was different. There was stronger support even within the Labor Movement back then, the mayor was new, new at the process of negotiating with them. Im not sure he would have gotten a better deal. He had gotten a deal they would be negotiating that deal now Going Forward in any event and 127 million over five years. When we like things we say its less than 1 of the budget. This is much less than 1 of the budget. Over a five year period of time they will find it,ing they will find it for everybody that provides services. Everybody relies upon the work that those people do and we need them. This becomings 50 of it i guess, the next mayors problem. Right, and there also is the an incongrewty in peoples position around taxation. They want to pay the less tax possible around the service delivered. Thats human nature to georges point. They were going to get a contract, it was a long time, youd be hardpressed to say there wasnt great care exercised to negotiate this. Can i jump forward with something to you, christine. Taney dragons the First Little League World Series Team from philadelphia. They would a parade, everybody came out and enjoyed. It was great for the kids we heard from folks who are not so happy about it, they were saying wait a second they came in third place, how much is the city spending on a parade when we have a School Situation . What do you think about it. Actually i was in that camp that said a parade we dont have the money, its a little much and then i started hearing the criticisms from the individuals, the sports writers, the old can tankerrous elders of sports community. They were saying this is like giving everyone a trophy. Its not, this was an Amazing Group of kids who were humble and gracious not just mo ne. They showed grace under fire and more maturity than the guys on the road and in the paper. Theres another point, look at how much time we spend on beating up on kids who go wrong. These kids did great things, whats wrong with a parade whats wrong with celebrating. Young men supporting a young woman. There are no jealousy or envy. They were for her. Th back with inside story, Michael Brown was laid to rest this past week, the 18yearold from ferguson, missouri. The town itself has calmed down. Meanwhile, president obama has called for review of a federal program that supplies military equipment to Police Departments like ferguson you see in the video here, they cruised a lot of it. This program has benefited local Police Departments, including delaware, camden and others counties. Some are resembling par military in a way. Remember the old addage bad cases make for bad laws. We have to be careful of anything coming out of ferguson because of the emotional charged nature. To this point, it is a concern there are too many departments that have become armor plated mechanickized beyond what is likely to happened within the community. You never want Law Enforcement to be outgunned or in a position where they cant respond to any legitimate threat to the public. That having been said well go back to the phrase thats used too much, but it facilities fits here. The on i the optics are bad. It looks bad to have as many departments that come out with armored carriers and people looking like they are ready to storm fallujah. Would you agree this is a bye product of 9 11 when every community was afraid of their mall getting blown up and Police Departments felt like they had a need to be prepared for the worst. I think its a result, with growing tensions in the country within communities and Police Departments. Police officer get up everyday with the number one intention to come home at night. Absolutely. Theres a fear thats growing and tension thats growing in communities where those things are bumping up against one another now and Police Officers i think to the extent to protect themselves at least arguably in their own minds protect themselves, bring out Collin Powell greater force. The more police that get involved in the community activities, the more they get to know the people in the community. Thats helpful. I couldnt debris more with my i couldnt agree more with my colleagues. Thats spot on. Chief ramsey agrees with you, as well. He upped the programs for the police, theres a proper amount of respect, but not fear and animosity. When you have someone fully outlet fitted in a tank coming down your street. Especially when the police that is in your community doesnt look anything like the community in terms of demographics. Race has been a huge issue in this obviously. In the poll its not divided along race lines. Its from u. S. A. Today. Pew research, americans black and white at a 21 ratio say police are not holding the officers accountable would you agree Police Departments are not policing themselves properly. Theres often times, look, you cant we see it here in the city of philadelphia. No matter how aggressive you are with ethics, theres ethical issues in the police department. All you can do is deal with those in retrospect you cant stop them in advance. Its tough because you have this arbitration process that left the Police Officers go across the line, they almost always win. How much of a problem is that. Its a huge problem for management and the commissioner being able to manage and its a huge problem in the community where people have crossed the line in the community, 3, 6, 12 months later or back on duty. I would like to see that poll in a year. I think theres a ferguson effect here. People look at how uncommune ca uncommunicateive the chief was. I think if you got away from the passions of ferguson, it would be interesting to see how that poll comes out a second time. The American Academy of pediatric says the reason why kids are tired is going to schools too early and asking schools to delay the openings until 8 30 a. M. Is the school time the problem, christine . No. Its the kids are staying up until midnight on their cell phones. Im not a mother, so here i am crying out in the wilderness, i got up, i trundle miles in the snow as a child. I remember that, too. I dont i dont see a problem starting school at quarter of 8 00. The problem is not so much when it starts, its what time the kids have to get up on the buses. You have an hour and hour half commute in rural communities. Its the dance that they have to travel. We have to go to a break. George is up first. Take celebrate blinds to gos 60th anniversary sale. Buy one get 50 off one. Because you know what they say 60 is the new 50. They also say yourre only as young as you feel. We feel great. How about those blinds of yours . Blinds to go blinds for life. Inside stories of the week we start with george. Reporter matt a group has been organized the Philadelphia Group of leaders the large group of africanamerican leaders that have come together to produce different outcomes in the communities of philadelphia. Its the most Impressive Group that has come together in a while. England has raised their threat level on friday, they are concerned about brilts some of them brilts some of them born in england who who went to fighr isis are coming home. We have americans killed fighting for isis from minnesota. Reporter we learned recently that the department of education in the state of pennsylvania scrubbed emails after one day. We learned that the state policy 80,000 employees scrubbed after five days, kudos to senator dominic pileggi, he wants to keep an email archive. We were talking about accuracy and public records they need to preserved. Le kudos to the senators. Philadelphia has been a city of strong voices, unfortunately one very strong voice long time voice was earlier this month when don connone long time deejay radio pioneer from wibg and wfil passed away. Its sad when those voices are still. Thanks so much for being here, thanks for watching. Well see you monday labor day morning. Im nydia han along with eva pilgrim. A central pennsylvania man knows his fate for suffocating his girlfriend after she survived his deliberate highspeed car crash. Authorities are investigating a violent home invasion, two men were attacked with hammers. The show is ending for the showboat in atlantic city. The