The primary ballot positions are revealed, Parrish and Li get in a battle over petition signatures and we have full coverage of the latest Franklin & Marshall poll. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!
2016 Primary Ballot Positions Revealed: The stage is set.
PA-6: Parrish to Challenge Li’s Petition Signatures: The Li campaign is accusing the financial underdog of trying to take a shortcut to win the primary.
PA-Sen: F&M Poll: Sestak 21% McGinty 12% Fetterman 8%: The Admiral was the biggest gainer compared to last month’s poll.
F&M Poll: 58% Say Kane Should Resign: A clear majority of respondents think the Attorney General should step down.
PA-2: Governor Wolf Gives Support To Dwight Evans For Congress: Governor Tom Wolf announces his endorsement of State Representative Dwight Evans in the race for Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District.
PA-Gov: F&M Poll: Wolf Approval Rating Slipping: The poll didn’t turn up too many surprises.
F&M Poll: Clinton, Trump Hold Onto Their Leads: Are you ready for Hillary vs. The Donald in November?
F&M Poll: Pres. Obama’s Approval Inches Up to 42%: The President’s PA numbers continue to slowly improve.
PA-15: Dent Endorses Kasich for President: Congressman Dent decides to back the Ohio Governor in the GOP presidential primary.
2016 DNC Announces New Staff: The Convention team reveals five new hires.
Lehigh Building Trades Endorse Morganelli: The labor association backs the Northampton DA.
Legislative Elections Update
SD-5: Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack endorsed State Sen. John Sabatina’s re-election campaign.
“I’m proud to endorse Senator John Sabatina for the Pennsylvania 5th Senatorial District,” Stack stated. “He has a proven record as an advocate for Northeast Philadelphia and will continue to fight for his community in Harrisburg. Of the two candidates he best knows the issues that affect his district. I look forward to continuing to work with him.”
“No one knows this District better than Mike Stack,” Sabatina responded. “I am honored that a leader who represented this District for 13 years with such deep personal connections to our neighborhoods, schools and centers of commerce proudly lends his good name to my candidacy with his endorsement today.”
The 5th district consists of Northeast Philadelphia.
Statewide
Esquire: The Great Pennsylvania Government Porn Caper
PA Independent: Lawsuit takes aim at Allentown “ghost teachers”
StateImpactPA: Chesapeake Energy pulls up stakes in PA and Ohio
PLSReporter: Drug and Alcohol Programs Sec.: “We’re in the midst of the worst overdose crisis in the history of humanity”
Capitolwire: DEP ‘drowning in paper,’ needs funds to upgrade technology, Quigley says
Capitolwire: The PLCB is sure it can continue to deliver more dollars to the General Fund, just don’t ask them to show you how
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Business Journal: To fund parks, rec centers & libraries, Kenney wants to sell $300M in bonds
KYW Newsradio: Phila. Democratic Lawmakers Unite Behind One Candidate For Attorney General
KYW Newsradio: State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe: Every Employer In PA Should Be Subject To E-Verify
Heard in the Hall: Councilwoman introduces municipal ID bill
Heard in the Hall: Kenney organizational chart contrasts with Nutter’s
Inquirer: Judicial ethics board rejects Eakin’s attempt at a settlement in Porngate
Inquirer: Council’s freshmen get taken to school
SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Ex-D.A. employee gets jail time for stealing $700,000 in drug money
Delco Daily Times: Court summons suspended justice Eakin hearing in bawdy email ethics case
Montgomery Media: Upper Moreland School District, food service union reach three-year agreement
Pittsburgh
KDKA: Court Summons Justice To Hearing In Bawdy Email Ethics Case
Post-Gazette: Court of Judicial Discipline stymies deal between supreme court justice and investigators
Post-Gazette: State advises schools on possible closures due to funding shortages
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh police union contests end to overtime pay for suspended officers
Tribune Review: Poll: State government dismays Pennsylvania residents
Tribune Review: GOP presidential race still close in Pennsylvania
Southwest
Beaver County Times: Larchuk challenges signatures on McClelland’s petition
Beaver County Times: Beaver County Commissioners promote Andrea Cantelmi to chief solicitor post
Beaver County Times: Rep. Shuster’s primary challenger demands he resign after report of Miami trip with lobbyist
NEPA
Times-Leader: When will Luzerne County conduct the next reassessment?
Times Leader: Luzerne County officials hear arguments for and against union labor reconstruction agreements
Times-Tribune: Former state AG agent files whistleblower lawsuit
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County Commissioners move toward refinancing debt
South Central
Lancaster Intelligencer: Bernie Sanders’ debt-free college plan: Lifting a burden, or unfairly shifting it?
York Daily Record: Do Pa. counties screen alleged abuse victims?
York Dispatch: New spin on York County commissioner meetings
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County Republicans hold endorsement meeting
Carlisle Sentinel: State legislation addresses burial vaults
Patriot News: Chesapeake Energy stops drilling in Pa. after posting $15 billion loss
Patriot News: Decision to kill deal in Eakin’s Porngate case cheers some, leaves others in shock
Patriot News: How a controversial law left a Harrisburg family in the cold
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Best cure for opioid addiction is seeing it as a disease, state official says
Reading Eagle: Hepatitis C epidemic in Pennsylvania blamed on rise of heroin and opioid addiction
Morning Call: Source: Consultant said Kathleen Kathleen Kane asked him to pass along documents at center of leak probe, FBI recording shows
Capitol Ideas: Casey calls on GOP to revise tactics on SCOTUS vacancy
Express Times: Watch: Toomey bill targets opioid painkiller Medicare fraud
North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Crime crackdown
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Yaw discusses issues via conference call
Erie Times-News: State provides $1 million to rebuild after Titusville fire
Erie Times-News: Pennsylvania NOW president to speak at Allegheny
Opinion
Tribune Review: ‘Merit selection’ for Pa. appellate judges? Not this kind
Post-Gazette: Courting disaster: Senate obstructionists reject the Constitution
Post-Gazette: Rising hatred: A new report reveals equal opportunity extremism
Bucks County Courier Times: Late primary costs state a voice
Inquirer: Beware of the Philly pension blob
Lancaster Intelligencer: Lancaster poverty commission gets off to a promising start with its first, well-attended public hearing
York Dispatch: Take back the power of your vote
Patriot News: Michael Mann: Political attacks won’t stall climate change
Reading Eagle: Legal battle is evidence of need to change alcohol laws
Express Times: Everyone has a stake in surviving Route 22 work
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: The drive to reduce recidivism locally taking big steps
Erie Times-News: Tree rules aid environment and growth
Blogs
Citified: Bill would create Municipal ID in Philly
Citified: Kenney’s Massive, Costly Plan to Make Over Rec Centers, Parks and Libraries
Keystone Crossroads: Time and Money
Keystone Crossroads: Most kids in PA are never tested for lead poisoning, but that may change soon
Keystone State Education Coalition: Education Voters PA survey: We want to hear from you
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: 183 House Seat: Grammes’ Nomination Petition Under Siege