Some boneheaded mistakes earn two Republicans a spot, but three other GOPers get Ups. Plus, a win for good government. Here are this week’s Ups & Downs!
Joan Orie Melvin. Two years ago, the Orie family was on top of the political world. Now with Senator Jane convicted, Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin is next. She’ll face 9 charges today, including 4 felonies, related to illegal campaign activity. Word is the case against her is as strong or stronger than that against her sister Jane. It’s not looking good.
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Independent Fiscal Office. For years when crafting budgets, the legislature had to acquiesce to whatever revenue figures the Governor provided. Democrats often over-estimated revenue, Republicans underestimated. But no longer. As Capitolwire noted this week, those days are gone thanks to the IFO. It’s a win for transparency and sanity.
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Joe Pitts. Seldom has an administrative error caused as many headaches as the Congressman’s did this week. Responding to a constituent letter about Israel and Palestine, Pitts’ office responded saying that Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon need to come back to the negotiating table. There’s just one problem. Arafat has been dead since 2004 and Sharon in a coma since 2006. The story grew legs and went national. It’s the type of clerical mistake that terrifies every DC staffer.
Pat Meehan & Mike Fitzpatrick. The consensus from pollsters is that in SEPA, being associated with the “Tea Party” is a liability. So what better gift could the Club for Growth have bestowed upon these two potentially vulnerable freshman Republican congressmen than a press release alleging that they aren’t “Tea Party” enough? We contend, none (other than a high-dollar IE).
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Pat Toomey. The Senator’s budget failed this week, but outperformed all others offered. It’s the second year in a row that happened. And it’s a nice bragging point, to be able to say your budget beat President Obama’s (42 votes for Toomey, 0 for Obama).
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Tweet of the week: Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R-Lancaster).
Heading to capitol tomorrow to discuss privatization of PA state-owned wine & spirits stores. It’s never 5 o’clock in the Leader’s office.
— Gordon Denlinger (@RepGordon) May 14, 2012