Mike Hannon – 6/13/10

This page was last updated on June 14, 2010.

Christiana should hold up a mirror; Mike Hannon; Beaver County Times; June 13, 2010.

The only previous letter from Mr. Hannon of which I’m aware was entitled “‘Let’s talk school merger’” (6/30/07).

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“State Rep. Jim Christiana wants to sell the governor's residence in order to save taxpayers’ money.

“Despite the fact that he hasn’t a clue as to how much the mansion costs to operate nor what the taxpayer expense would be to provide alternate accommodations for the governor, Christiana boasted that his legislation would save ‘several million dollars’ a year.”

[RWC] Mr. Christiana should not have made his comments without knowing the cost of the current governor’s residence and the estimated cost of the potential alternatives.

“Apparently, Christiana has a very special calculator because, as any fourth-grader knows, a math problem with two unknowns is insolvable.”

[RWC] Mr. Hannon goes off the math track here. Most (all?) serious math problems have multiple “unknowns.” Heck, in the world of mathematical programming I built models consisting of tens of thousands of “unknowns.” I suspect Mr. Hannon was thinking of the rule that states a system of simultaneous equations with more variables than equations is unsolvable. Even that rule is not 100% correct, but it’s a good rule nonetheless, at least through high school.

“Christiana claims that his proposed legislation is a serious bill, going so far as to ask, ‘What’s more wasteful than a 32-room mansion, maids, butlers, full-time chefs, a ground crew (and) a security detail?’

“If his question was just embarrassing and not rhetorical, I submit that a chamber filled with far too many legislators, who work barely more than part-time, who compensate themselves with exorbitant salaries and an unconscionable benefits packages would qualify.”

[RWC] Unfortunately, people telling other people how to get their house in order is a far too common habit inside and outside of politics. I took a quick look on Mr. Christiana’s website and found no calls for the GA to reduce substantially its operating expenses. Mr. Christiana’s words may have more weight if his house, the General Assembly, had its own act together.