Made Possible With A Grant From Taxpayers Like You

Yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer — or “The SUNDAY Inquirer” if you get that weird early edition — had a fronted a city story about Rep. Mark B. Cohen, a state legislator since 1974. Turns out Cohen’s gotten a little too comfy in his slot, since he spent $28,200 of taxpayer money on books last two years.

The paper reports that in 2004 and 2005, Cohen actually spent more himself than the four schools in his legislative district. He bought over 800 books, which would equate more than a book a day. Some of the books purchased included Clinton and Me — a book we can only assume is a sequel to Marley and Me — Preachers of Hate: Islam and the War on America.

Cohen defended his book bill — as well as his $3,050 magazine and newspaper bill — by saying this: “I try very hard to be informed on current events. I’m holding myself to standards of excellence. I’m interested in knowing whatever I can about national issues. National issues affect Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania is part of the nation.”

Wow! Pennsylvania is part of the nation? I bet he learned that from a book! The Inquirer even asked this “voracious reader” for some book suggestions, and he said Stupid White Men by Michael Moore (for liberals) and Who’s Looking Out for You? by Bill O’Reilly (for conservatives).

So, despite acquiring over 800 books in a two-year period, Rep. Cohen still hasn’t bought himself any taste.

Some of you may be wondering why Cohen has been able to bill over $20,000 in books the past two years to the state. I’ll tell you why: He needs them to represent our community! For example, two of the books he purchased were AOL For Dummies and The Zen of Gambling.

Let’s do a little legislative fantasy and figure out how these two books helped Mark B. Cohen do his job…

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Philadelphia Politics Are Scarier Than You Think

You know, Philly politics isn’t all funny John Street photos and hilarious Rick Mariano injuries.

No, there’s some danger, too. According to Gar Joseph in Clout today, some campaign novices have to make special preparations for upcoming Democratic races:

Miller’s group is also pushing the candidacy of Anne Dicker, a candidate in the wide-open race to succeed retiring state Rep. Marie Lederer.

Are these novices ready for Philadelphia’s smash-mouth democracy?

“When we were forming her campaign committee, we went around the room and made sure there was at least one of us with a permit to carry,” Miller said. “It’s not the easiest thing to find, with liberals.”

Running for office in Philadelphia? Better have somebody with a gun permit. And they wonder why there’s so much gun violence in this city.

Gar Joseph | For Dems it’s not personal, just strictly business [DN]
March 2: John Street has really, finally, officially joined the ranks of the great Philadelphia mayors
March 3: Here’s a video of Rick Mariano getting injured as he walks out of City Council yesterday
Photo by Denis Gustavo

Quickies: Street’s way or the highway

• Hey, that whole murders are up in the city thing? If you’re the mayor’s nephew, you get homicide detectives to find where you went. Seriously. You can’t make this shit up.

• Okay, who thinks terrorists are going to attack Neil Armstrong Middle School? Then whoever’s calling in bomb threats to this Bristol school please stop. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• The New Jersey Board of Education prez — and neurobiologist — is pro-intelligent design. He’s cool, though — he’s given up trying to get it into schools before even starting. [Trenton Times]

• First sentence of this story: “Shoppers at the Mercer Mall took time from their busy schedules last night to weigh-in on New Jersey’s possible new slogan.” Whoo! Don’t you want to read the whole thing now? [The Trentonian]