Tom Wolf opens a Pittsburgh office, the Senate introduces bans on cash gifts and McCord releases his education plan. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
PA-Gov: McCord Reveals $1.3 Billion Education Plan: The Democratic gubernatorial candidate unveiled his complete education plan today.
PA-Gov: Tom Wolf Opens Pittsburgh Office: Tom Wolf held an event in honor of the opening of his new Western Pa. office.
ProgressNOW: Corbett, Metcalfe In Running For Most Radical Right-Wingers: PA is one of only three states with two competitors at the national level.
Lt. Gov: Schuylkill Building Trades Endorse Smith: The Bradford County Commissioner continues to build labor support.
In Wake of Philly Scandal, Senators Introduce Gift Bans: Senators Leach, Baker and Smucker each introduced cash gift bans for state legislators.
HD-164: National Organization for Women Endorses Billy Smith: The pro-women’s group will support Billy Smith over incumbent Rep. Margo Davidson.
Larry Kane’s Political Notebook: Campaign & Kane Updates: Larry Kane takes a look at Schwartz’s early frontrunner status in the PA-Gov race and the updates in the botched Philadelphia sting operation.
Legislative Elections Update:
HD-164: United Food & Commercial Workers and United Steelworkers Union Local 10-1 endorsed Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Delaware) in her reelection bid. She faces primary challenger Billy Smith who was just yesterday endorsed by the National Organization of Women.
Statewide
State House Sound Bites: U.S. Supreme Court to hear local challenge of federal contraception mandate
State House Sound Bites: McCord unveils education plan propped up by 10 percent “drillers’ tax”
PA Independent: PA House unlikely to appoint independent counsel to investigate Kane, sting operation
StateImpactPA: Driller defends court order barring anti-fracking activist from Pa. land
Capitolwire: McCord again questions Corbett’s governing acumen
Philadelphia
PhillyClout: Ori Feibush’s attempted takeover of 36th Ward hits snag
Commonwealth Confidential: McCord pitches education plan, dishes barbs at Corbett
Daily News: Democratic candidates for governor decline to ‘second-guess’ state attorney general Kathleen Kane
The Inquirer: Quartet of Democratic gubernatorial candidates vague on Kane
Axis Philly: Breaking News: District imposes work rules on teachers
WHYY Newsworks: U.S. Supreme Court to hear Pa. firm’s challenge of contraception mandate
WHYY Newsworks: Philly tax collection doing better but still struggles to catch up with deadbeats
Phillynow.com: New stats offer sobering truths about city gun violence
SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Still no contract for SEPTA, union
Delco Daily Times: Chester Upland OKs refinance of bond issue
Daily Local News: Downingtown adopts ordinance against LBGT discrimination
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: UPMC wants to know what ‘evidence’ was on ex-mayor’s computer
Post-Gazette: Completed federal probe says Monroeville did not violate health privacy law
Post-Gazette: State audit finds improvements in Port Authority, but notes some deficiencies
Post-Gazette: As West Chester looks to secession, analysts point to decline in Pa. public higher education funding
Tribune-Review: 3rd press secretary in 14 months departs attorney general’s office amid topsy-turvy time
Tribune-Review: Pennsylvania legislative plan would expand wine and beer sales
UrbanMediaToday: Elected Officials Kick Off Final Push to Enroll Residents in Health Care Plans
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Flood rates hitting river towns hard
Altoona Mirror: Tax program spurs some to buy lots
Altoona Mirror: Maps could help Tyrone residents
Altoona Mirror: Rates to jump for about 2,900
Tribune-Democrat: Chamber launches membership drive
Tribune-Democrat: Hospital CEOs discuss process of choosing partner
NEPA
Times Leader: Council weighs transcribing meetings
Times Leader: Anti-fracking activist appeals court injunction
Times Leader: DPW to hear input on state hospital’s patient population drop
Times-Tribune: Cost of flood insurance about to skyrocket for millions
Times-Tribune: PPL power line on target for 2015 completion
South Central
Patriot News: Another government reform wave emerges in the fallout from the latest corruption scandal involving state lawmakers
Patriot News: McCord questions Corbett’s capacity and ‘boneheaded’ policies
Patriot News: Bill would require Pa. lawmakers to produce receipts for expense reimbursement
York Daily Record: Pennsylvania political roads now leading to York County, Pa.
Lancaster Intelligencer: Mapping wealth in Pennsylvania: Rich neighborhoods, poor neighborhoods
Carlisle Sentinel: Rapp to take over as U.S. Army War College commandant
Carlisle Sentinel: Bill would make English official language of Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: People rally to keep Birdsboro Elementary open
Reading Eagle: Berks Encore, community center bustle as health care reform deadline looms
Reading Eagle: Berks congressmen talk issues
Express Times: Pennsylvania casino revenues on decline but officials unsure if N.J. online gambling is a factor
Morning Call: Many fees for Pa. vehicles set to rise April 1
Morning Call: Pennsylvania man arraigned in misaddressed White House threat
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: State College Area School District could approve tax increase lower than Act 1 index
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Legislative Tally
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Flood insurance fallout numbers
Erie Times News Campaign ‘14 Blog: Dem governor’s debate to air on PCN
Opinion
Delaware County Times: It Could Be A Challenge To Raise Kane
Post-Gazette: Big bully: Pa. lawmakers cower, as usual, before the NRA
Tribune-Review: Obese texting
WHYY Newsworks: Former prosecutor doesn’t buy Kane’s case
The Intelligencer: Blow it up, and start over
Patriot News: Kane has explaining to do about busted sting and lawsuit threats: Editorial
York Daily Record: Our take: Let’s freeze property taxes for seniors
Blogs
Media Trackers: Kane Hires Attorney For Possible Lawsuit Against The Inquirer
Keystone Politics: #HD164: NOW endorses male challenger over female legislator
Keystone Politics: #PAGOV candidates expose their individual weaknesses at forum
PA Budget and Policy Center: PA.’S SHALE FEE VERY LOW COMPARED TO OTHER STATES
2 Political Junkies: Equal Time For What?
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One Response
The truth-teller of PA, Signor Ferrari of casablancapa.com speaks out: SETH WILLIAMS’ RACE PROBLEM
There is one reason Seth Williams is attacking Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s decision not to pursue charges in Frank Fina’s Philadelphia sting operation, and it’s not because he thinks it’s a solid case.
After all, Williams has concurrent jurisdiction and is free to file charges if he sees fit. But as he told the Philadelphia Inquirer, “[confidential informant Tyron] Ali apparently no longer had any legal obligation to testify against those he had taped because the charges against him had been dropped.”
The charges were dropped 45 days before Kane took office. The obstacle Williams says he faces is the obstacle Kane faced.
“There’s no way I can use him under any prosecutorial theory I can think of,” Williams said. So under what prosecutorial theory does he think Kane can?
None, of course. As we said, he’s not attacking Kane because he thinks Fina built a solid case.
He’s attacking Kane because she revealed that two members of his staff participated in apparent racial targeting. That doesn’t look good to voters, especially in a majority-minority city like Philadelphia.