Folks in Pa. and around the country come to terms with a tragedy. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
12/14 Ups & Downs: See who had a good week and who didn’t as the Pa. Society hangover wears off and lawmakers work to finish up the year’s business.
Kerry to State, Casey to Finance? In the hours since United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration for Secretary of State, consensus has grown around John Kerry. Should the senior Democrat leave the Senate, Pa. Senator Bob Casey could benefit directly.
The latest on Bruce Castor – he spent Friday morning meeting with Republicans in and around Harrisburg, a GOP source says. He talked with some of the donors and interest groups whose support would be essential for any kind of competitive primary bid in 2014.
The GOP’s Facebook Problem: Former candidate and tech entrepreneur Steve Welch argues in this Inquirer column that the social media echo chamber is holding Republicans back.
Editor’s Note: due to a number of last-minute submissions, we’re holding off on the best and worst ads of 2012.
Statewide
Capitol Ideas: Report: Fiscal cliff could “wreck” city and state budgets.
State House Sound Bites: Scanning the commonwealth for a right-to-work push
PA Independent: Unions have broad appeal in PA, staunching right-to-work efforts
StateImpactPA: Pa.’s Biomass Burners Harm Air Quality Near Schools, Study Shows
StateImpactPA: Chesapeake Energy Offers Buyouts To 275 Employees
StateImpactPA: Exelon Retires Philadelphia Power Plant
Capitolwire: ‘Fiscal cliff’ trade-off could hamper fund-raising, charity says.
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR: Under last year’s Pileggi plan, applied nationally, Mitt Romney would be president.
Capitolwire: Judge ‘leaning’ toward July for start of Voter ID merits trial.
Philadelphia
AP: Philly traffic judge Singletary removed from bench
Inquirer: Philadelphia superintendent identifies schools he intends to close
Daily News: Judge won’t stop city’s firefighter transfer policy
Daily News: Clout: Gridlock of candidates for Traffic Court seats
Daily News: Council committee OKs changes to new zoning code
Philly Clout: After mass shooting in Connecticut, Nutter calls for ‘sensible’ gun laws
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. must do more to recruit foster parents, child welfare report says
WHYY Newsworks: With Corbett not on board, ‘right to work’ seems unlikely in Pa.
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Pa. congressmen urge federal action to stop dog fighting
Pottstown Mercury: North Coventry Supervisor Andy Paravis remembered for preservation efforts
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Tea party reaches crossroads
Tribune-Review: Campaigning via celebrities
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh City Council gives nod to Buncher site compromise
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh report emphasizes public safety in entertainment districts
Post-Gazette: West Mifflin residents await trash retrieval decision
Post-Gazette: Dan Rooney to step down as ambassador to Ireland
Early Returns: Nutter: “time for action is now”
Early Returns: Fitz-”mayoralty not about going golfing”
Early Returns: On Rooney and Obama
KDKA: Falling off fiscal cliff could hurt LIHEAP, as well as many other programs
KDKA: Peduto pledges new approach if elected mayor
Southwest
Beaver County Times: Local schools to take a look at security, safety this week
Beaver County Times: Lawmakers, union tiring of ‘secret’ talks on lottery privatization
Beaver County Times: Commissioners continue to try to stop sheriff
Beaver County Times: New Brighton superintendent to retire
Observer-Reporter: Consol wins drilling rights at Pittsburgh airport
Altoona Mirror: Blair among many counties pondering nursing homes’ future
Altoona Mirror: Corbett aiming to hold the line on taxes
Altoona Mirror: Shelter’s temporary closure limits options for homeless in area
Altoona Mirror: Deadly rampage shocks local school districts
Altoona Mirror: Sewer rates to rise
Altoona Mirror: Logan approves sewer increase
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: ‘Cliff’s’ local impact
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Fighting flu: Health Department sees virus on move across Pa.
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Council, authority dealings strained
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Child care to be offered for Cambria court jurors
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Former NDIC chief opens law office
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Local leaders rethink measures
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Boswell holds line on taxes
NEPA
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre still funds overtime in budget
The Times Leader: DA not pursuing Dixon’s removal
The Times Leader: Whether Law would pass here unclear
The Times Leader: Several members of council laud Lawton
The Times Leader: City employees are waiting for pay day
The Times Leader: Butler Township budget avoids tax hike
The Times Leader: Plains Township 2013 budget retains 2012 tax rate
The Times Leader: Union offers concession
The Times Leader: Brominski battles budget plan
Lehigh Valley
The Morning Call: Whitehall heading into 2013 without tax hike
The Morning Call: West easton property owners facing tax, sewer hikes
The Morning Call: Catasqua borough council splits over development plans
The Morning Call: Emmaus council to discuss truck parking ban
Express Times: Easton mayor details intermodal center amid parking discussions
South Central
AP: Legalizing marijuana: What is happening in other states?
AP: Feds seek $4M restitution from ex-Pa. Sen. Fumo
AP: Investigation being done into Pa. judge’s hiring
AP: Congressional investigation of Pittsburgh VA urged
AP: Ex-governor’s kin offers reward for grave vandals
The Sentinel: Costs of Cumberland County government: Commissioners unable to balance 2013 budget
Harrisburg Patriot News: Analysis: Avoiding fiscal cliff will require a white flag from John Boehner
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pennsylvania Lottery should not be ‘guinea pig’ for privatization, critics say
Harrisburg Patriot News: Company looking to take over Pennsylvania Lottery has created home base in Delaware
Harrisburg Patriot News: Q&A: How did Pennsylvania lawmakers get ‘retirement raises’ in their pensions?
Harrisburg Patriot News: Feds seek $4M restitution from ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Vincent Fumo
Harrisburg Patriot News: Surprising facts behind the gun control debate
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. Education Secretary Ron Tomalis reacts to Connecticut school shooting
Harrisburg Patriot News: School safety grants awarded to Pa. schools to make them safer
Harrisburg Patriot News: Public pensions guarantee former legislators and state officials annual income as high as six figures
Harrisburg Patriot News: Looming ‘fiscal cliff’ has local charity leaders nervous
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Judge OKs $18M settlement in Pa. ‘kids for cash’
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era:: Pittsburgh water agency fails to collect $1.8M
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Pa. flags to be lowered to honor Conn. victims
Roxbury News: Election 2013: 17 Days until election season begins
Roxbury News: Harrisburg Hope Forum: Pennsylvania Senators
Roxbury News: Senator Mike Folmer and Senator-elect Rob Teplitz: Medical Marijuana
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Fiscal cliff threatens money for Penn State, rest of state
Sun Gazette: Corbett correct to keep pushing for liquor privatization
Sun Gazette: City COuncil OKs budget
Sun Gazette: Council does not endorse capital projects budget
Sun Gazette: Toomey: No answers in sight for ‘fiscal cliff’
Opinions
Observer-Reporter: Get on with reassessment
Altoona Mirror: Pension problems alarming
Altoona Mirror: Revision a relief to many
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Deadly trend with firearms | Accidental shootings plague Pennsylvania
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Readers’ Forum 11-15 | Quit calling Social Security an entitlement
Post-Gazette: Congress must pass decisive gun control legislation
Post-Gazette: Corbett shouldn’t expand gambling without a vote
Tribune-Review: Road to depression-the Fed’s fatal conceit
Harrisburg Patriot News: Investigative journalism will be the backbone of PA Media Group
Harrisburg Patriot News: President Obama is no Bill Clinton
Harrisburg Patriot News: Editorial: Harrisburg debt crisis merits state or federal probe
Harrisburg Patriot News: Editorial: Newtown shooting should prompt safety and gun conversation
Harrisburg Patriot News: Editorial: Cumberland County trying to be ‘smart on crime’
York Daily Record: Todd Platts: Last of a rare breed
York Daily Record: The Todd Platts years: A collection of facts, milestones, and efforts
York Daily Record: Mike Argento: America has simply accepted tragic gun violence
Blogs
Pittston Politics: PREDICTION: Linskey won’t run in for re-election
Pittston Politics: Morning After Pill for our kids?
The Pennsylvania Progressive: News & Notes December 16, 2012
One Response
While I think Welch makes a good point, his argument sounds too much like “Those damn kids and their music…”