Business Matters Blog

Tonight on Business Matters - What is the role of government in today’s society?

What is the role of government in today’s society? 

Is government involved in our lives too much or not enough? 

Is it time government steps up or steps back? 

What can we expect from government in five, ten, fifteen years both locally and nationally?

Guests:
Sam Bennett, Women’s Campaign Fund
Charles Mitchell, The Commonwealth Foundation  
Mike Fleck, Fleck Consulting  
Ana Puig, FreedomWorks
 
Join us tonight with host Tony Iannelli on Business Matters to hear from 

our lively panelists on the government’s role in today’s society.

Minimum Wage: Could you live on $7.25 an hour?

Tune in TONIGHT to Business Matters at 7:30 p.m. to hear from our lively panelists on President Obama’s proposed minimum wage raise.

Panel:

Kevin Menter, Rothrock Motor Sales

Louie Belletieri, Louie’s Restaurant

John Meyerson, UFCW Local 1776

Scott Witmer, ServiceMaster

At the State of the Union, President Obama proposed raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2015. In PA, 3.4 million workers are on minimum wage. In 2011, there were 80 million hourly workers in the US and 5.2% of those were paid minimum wage. Is President Obama's proposal to raise the minimum wage a good idea, or is there a better way to help low-income workers? Will raising minimum wage enhance or reduce job creation in Pennsylvania and the US? Does the increase for those who remain employed more than offset the loss to those who cannot find work? What would an increase do to help or hurt our struggling economy? 

Immigration Part II: Do you believe in amnesty or building a wall?

Tune in TONIGHT to Business Matters at 7:30 p.m. to hear from our lively panelists on President Obama’s proposed immigration reform and the influences it would have on our nation. This is part two of a two-part series on immigration.

Is America taking a national security risk to allow some form of amnesty? Is President Obama’s proposal on immigration reform truly a 21^st century approach in meeting economic and national security imperatives? Are both parties ignoring the primary reason why America’s immigration laws were originally enacted? What effects will Obama’s “pathway to citizenship” for 11 million illegal immigrants have on the struggling middle class of America?

Guests:

• Michael W. Cutler, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
• Alfonso Todd, Prolifick Radio
• John Morganelli , Northampton County DA
• David Vaida, Esq. 

2/4/13 Episode - Should the 2nd Amendment protect assault weapons?

Tonight on Business Matters at 7:30 p.m. on WFMZ: “Should the 2^nd Amendment protect assault weapons?”

Tune in to Business Matters tonight to hear from our spirited panelists on whether there should be a constitutional ban on the regulation of assault weapons. Is redefining the 2^nd Amendment the answer in reducing gun violence in America; if not, what is the answer? Are law abiding gun owners misrepresented and misjudged?

Join host Tony Iannelli and guests Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Shira Goodman of CeaseFirePA, Manny Kapelsohn, Esq. of Lesavoy Butz & Seitz LLC, Bill Rider of the Easton Area School Board, and Frank A Belcastro of Independence USA. Tonight’s episode will leave you wanting more! 

Business Matters 12/10 at 7:30 - One-on-One with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey

Are we headed over the Fiscal Cliff with the nation’s current spending habits? With over $110 billion in mandatory cuts scheduled to begin on January 1^st, where does the federal government  need to make cuts in order to avoid another economic recession?  

Tune in tonight with host Tony Iannelli  and guest U.S. Senator Pat Toomey for an exclusive one-on-one interview that examines the current economic state of our nation and what needs to be done to save it.

A Business Matters that shouldn’t be missed!  

Business Matters Tonight at 7:30 - To Strike or Not to Strike - What side of the (picket) fence are you on?

The right to strike gives unions a voice in negotiations, but does it hold the other side of the negotiating table hostage? 37 states have banned teacher strikes---but not Pennsylvania! How does a teacher’s right to strike affect students? Their education? Their families?

Tune in tonight with host Tony Iannelli as guests Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes, Inc., Steve Barron, Northampton County Controller, Jennifer Stefano of Americans for Prosperity, and Jerry Green of US Steelworkers partake in a heated discussion debating the merits and repercussions of allowing teachers to strike.

Business Matters TONIGHT at 7:30 - Exclusive one-on-one interview with Phila. Mayor Nutter

Monday, November 19, 2012: An exclusive one-on-one interview with Business Matters host Tony Iannelli and Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter

Join host Tony Iannelli as he sits down with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to discuss the challenges and triumphs of leading a city with over 1.5 million people.

Tune in to hear how Mayor Nutter managed city government through the worst recession since the Great Depression, brought about innovative school reform, strengthened community policing, and continues to bring about positive change to the fifth largest city in America.

Tune in at 7:30 p.m. to get the full story with Tony Iannelli!

Business Matters Tonight: Election is OVER!!! Time to jump for joy or cry in your soup?

Now with the presidential election of 2012 behind us, Business Matters guests, representing various political organizations, participate in a lively discussion of what the election results mean on a local, state, and national level.

Join host Tony Iannelli as Jude-Laure Denis of DC Consulting, Ana Puig of Freedom Works, Bar Johnston from the Lehigh County Democratic Party, Linda Kerns from the Republican National Lawyers Association, and Jason Scheurer of the PA Libertarian Party engage in a spirited and fast-paced discussion about how the election results will affect you.

Business Matters Disclaimer ~ This show is not for the faint of heart and will surely provoke strong emotions from its viewers. 

Tune into WFMZ at 7:30 p.m. to get the full story with Tony Iannelli!

Business Matters Tonight (November 5) The Battle for the U.S. Senate - Casey vs. Smith

Business Matters tonight---an exclusive--THE Race for the US Senate! 

The Casey name is royalty in Pennsylvania, but Smith put in $17 million of his own money and you have seen the ads …who will you vote for tomorrow? Tony sat down with both candidates in Philadelphia for a rare look into these two men’s lives, goals and vision for the country. Business Matters is bringing you this special election eve coverage so you will be able to decide who will get your vote tomorrow!

Tune in at 7:30 p.m. to get the full story with Tony Iannelli!

 

Business Matters Tonight (October 15) - Race for the 133rd: McNeill vs. Moloney

For the next three shows, Business Matters will be a previously held 

recording of local legislative debates that the Greater Lehigh Valley 

Chamber of Commerce hosted, moderatedly by Tony Iannelli.

Who will earn your vote on November 6?

Tonight on Business Matters, Democrat Dan McNeill and Republican 

Dave Molony square off on the issues including job creation, 

infrastructure,jobs and the economy.  McNeill is a former Whitehall 

Township Commissioner and union leader and Molony owns a small 

business in Catasauqua.

The two will vie to replace State Rep. Joe Brennan who is not seeking 

re-election. The 133rd District includes parts of eastern Salisbury, 

Hanover, Whitehall townships, Fountain Hill and Coplay boroughs, 

about half of Bethlehem and part of Allentown.