FiveThirtyEight shows Trump leads in PA on Facebook and we give the rundown on this weekend’s talk shows plus last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!
2/12 Ups & Downs: One survives, one gets castigated and one remains mired in stalemate. Check out this week’s list!
PA is Trump Country…On Facebook: FiveThirtyEight broke down the presidential candidates Facebook likes by county.
Sunday Show Preview: February 14, 2016: We take a look at the Sunday morning political talk shows that will air throughout the state.
Legislative Elections Update
SD-39: Hempfield teacher, and newly registered Democrat, Carol Mintus will be challenging Republican State Senator Kim Ward.
“I dropped out of the Republican party because of the strong hostility, yes, hostility, towards education and gross inequity when it comes to corporate taxation,” Ms. Mintus said. “‘Reform’ is the number one word that will lead on my campaign. I believe that education needs fixed and funded properly, pension reform needs to happen – and quickly – as well as a big fix to property tax which has families and seniors spiraling into foreclosure. These are the top issues affecting our communities in Westmoreland County today. If those three issues are resolved responsibly, then Pennsylvania could be the shining example that is deserves to be.”
The 39th district includes parts of Westmoreland County.
Statewide
ABC News: Drew Lewis, Reagan Transport Secretary During Strike, Dies (AP)
Inside Sources: Obscure Taxpayer-Funded Program Bankrolls Anti-Pipeline Activists
State House Sound Bites: For Kane, focus now shifts to House impeachment effort
State House Sound Bites: Report: House’s messy bookkeeping warrant internal auditor
PA Independent: Pennsylvania budget raises red flags for school choice
StateImpactPA: DEP offers more details on plans to curb methane leaks
Capitolwire: Hanger tells PSU to support Wolf’s tax package or face cuts.
Capitolwire: Small business questions Wolf’s tax commitment to improving PA’s economy
Philadelphia
KYW: Fight Night: Personal Attacks, Court Debate For GOP Hopefuls
Inquirer: Emails show Kane on defensive as political troubles mount
Inquirer: Fattah uses taxpayer funds to pitch his case
Inquirer: So far, super PACs not worth the money
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf visits Philly school with a message
WHYY Newsworks: Eyes on the Trail: Officials respond to Schuylkill River crime with lighting and town watch
WHYY Newsworks: With no state budget and much uncertainly, Pa. schools expect ‘convoluted’ budgeting process
SEPA
Bucks Local News: Newtown Supervisors take on daunting task updating township’s sign ordinance
Daily Local News: U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello visits West Chester East High School
Pottstown Mercury: Phoenixville Schools’ chances of getting $3M road grant fading fast
Pottstown Mercury: D.A., newspaper at odds over documents in Kane probe
Pittsburgh
WESA: PA Corrections Secretary Pushes Education Funding To Prevent Incarceration
Pittsburgh Business Times: Casey urges resolution of ATI lockout
Pittsburgh Business Times: GDP sheds new light on area’s growth
Post-Gazette: Exonerated prisoners in Pennsylvania get nothing in compensation
Post-Gazette: On 2011 visit to Duquesne U., Scalia acted as if ‘he had graduated from this law school’
Post-Gazette: Universities plan no immediate tuition increases despite state budget stalemate
Early Returns: Wheatley, Larchuk win Allegheny Dems endorsements
Early Returns: Wolf aide to Penn State: Lobby for revenue increases
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania Game Commission cuts more staff
Southwest
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Pa.’s small hospitals feel financial pressure
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Analysis: Legislature’s dried up rainy-day fund draws criticism
Altoona Mirror: Police against elimination of car registration stickers
Altoona Mirror: GOP readies budget backups
Beaver County Times: Megan Carpenter to resign as Beaver County GOP committee chairwoman
Beaver County Times: State Rep. Rob Matzie’s bill to cause seismic shift in quake insurance
Beaver County Times: Rep. Shuster’s legislation to move air-traffic controllers into nonprofit passes committee
Observer-Reporter: After six months, locked-out union at ATI still has hope
NEPA
Standard Speaker: Councilwoman’s two proposals in question
Standard Speaker: State strengthened lead controls
Wayne Independent: Borough eyes full-time manager
Wayne Independent: Project to improve water quality
Pocono Record: Non-profit political group targets Rep. Parker
Times-Tribune: Local attorneys react to death of Supreme Court Justice Scalia
Times-Tribune: Pa. casinos see record revenue for table games
Times Leader: Luzerne County government manager residency requirement proposed
Citizens Voice: Clinton leads fundraising in NEPA
South Central
Patriot News: What do Penn State president Eric Barron, Gov. Wolf and a medical marijuana advocate have in common?
Patriot News: U.S. Senate hopeful Joe Sestak: My wife ‘would’ve pulled me off that road in a heartbeat’
Carlisle Sentinel: Democrats’ US Senate race heats up over natural gas industry
Carlisle Sentinel: Keller honored for service to Cumberland County
York Daily Record: Republicans sue Wolf over pension commission
York Daily Record: Pa: Increased efforts to track teacher backgrounds
York Dispatch: York candidates find varied ways to get petition signed
Lancaster Intelligencer: Secretary of Education visits Penn Manor HS to talk agriculture education
Lebanon Daily News: Civil asset forfeiture bill topic for 912 Patriots
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s campaign blames U.S. Postal Service for U.S. Senate finance report filing delays
Morning Call: Kathleen Kane given two weeks to provide Pa judicial ethics board with Justice Michael Eakin emails
Morning Call: Allentown school district to take out second loan because of budget impasse
Reading Eagle: Reading Parking Authority hire interim director
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Centre County lawyers react to loss of Supreme Court Justice
Onward State: State of State 2016 Conference
Williamsport Sun Gazette: County housing getting federal funds for repairs
Erie Times News: Republicans to hold petition signing breakfast
Opinion
Standard Speaker: Another pawn in state’s gaming?
Wayne Independent: Matthew T. Mangino: The politics of fear doom criminal justice reform
Times-Tribune: Later always better for politicians
Times Leader: Zeroing In: Gotta love the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board for going ahead with a plan not everyone favors
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre should adopt county assessment values
Citizens Voice: Lawmakers always willing to gamble on gambling
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Supreme Court holds key to limiting president’s power
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria budget built on foundation of slippery projections
Altoona Mirror: Cart ahead of horse in Kane case
Beaver County Times: What price clean water?
Express Times: Two-faced governor, Legislature failing on property tax relief
Patriot News: Political Winners and Loser: Pa. taxpayers take a hit, Kane dodges a bullet and still more silliness
Patriot News: Here’s how I’ll restore integrity to the Attorney General’s office: Josh Shapiro
Erie Times News: Erie County needs bold change to prosper
Post-Gazette: Removing Kane: Impeachment will do the job if she won’t
Tribune Review: After Antonin Scalia: The coming battle
Inquirer: Wolf’s pointing fingers doesn’t help
Daily News: Wrong time for pollution decision
Blogs
Citified: 20 Smart Transportation Ideas Reshaping Philadelphia (and Your Life)
Keystone Crossroads: Lawmakers sue over dismantling of pensions watchdog
Keystone Crossroads: With no state budget and much uncertainty, Pa. schools expect ‘convoluted’ budgeting process
Commonwealth Foundation: Wolf tops $1 billion in new education spending
2 Political Junkies: The P-G’s Ruth Ann Dailey Tells An Old Abortion Lie
2 Political Junkies: Last Night’s Debate – Kissinger? REALLY??