5/24 Morning Buzz

Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz.

Senator Bob Casey is throwing a few punches this week. Casey has joined a growing chorus of Democrats using the recently passed House GOP budget – and its changes to Medicare – to knock Republicans. It’s part of the Democratic strategy in 2012, and the Senator appears to be on board.

Casey’s also on board with Twitter. The long time holdout finally joined the social network this week.

Keith Rothfus, the Tea Party aligned 2010 challenger who near beat Rep. Jason Altmire, is ready for a rematch. Rothfus announced that he is filing papers to run for Congress this week, and hopes to face the winner of an expected Altmire-Critz primary battle after the new Congressional lines are drawn. He’s right to start early – he has over $200,000 in campaign debt from 2010 that he’ll need to pay off post haste.

The PA House will vote on a budget today, and they’re going to stick to Governor Corbett’s $27.3 billion figure, darnit! The GOP’s budget will pass – without significant changes – on third consideration this morning. However, whispers from the PA Senate GOP hint that the expected $500 million budget surplus will likely buoy the $27.3 bil figure.  The annual budget tango has begun.

Pennsylvania has a new Attorney General. Linda Kelly, who has thus far spent most of her career in the Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney’s office, was approved unanimously by the PA Senate.

And Arlen Specter is back in the newspaper. The former Senator and practicing attorney penned an op-ed for the Inky arguing that, given the backlog in the courts, arbitration is a crucial path for disagreeing parties to achieve legal resolution.

PoliticsPA Reports

Casey Joins Dems’ Medicare Messaging
Senator Bob Casey has joined the loud chorus of Democrats using the recently passed House GOP budget – and its changes to Medicare – to knock Republicans.

Rothfus To Seek Rematch With Altmire in ‘12
Former Congressional Candidate Keith Rothfus will seek a rematch against Rep. Jason Altmire, but first he’ll need to retire his nearly $200K in 2010 campaign debt.

@SenCasey Joins Twitter
Senator Bob Casey has finally joined the latest new media frontier: Twitter. Casey’s office launched its official Twitter page late Friday: @SenBobCasey.

Harsh Criticism for Santorum’s McCain Torture Comments
Former US Senator Rick Santorum caused a media storm last week when he said Tuesday that Senator John McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, “doesn’t understand how enhanced interrogation works.”

Mostly Partisan Lines In Oil Debate
A contentious debate is going on in Washington between the Democratic Party and the GOP about the future of energy. While both parties seek energy independence, they are both still fighting on how to get there. The House voted May 11th on H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act, passing it by a vote of 263-163.

Philly and suburbs
The Big Tent: Santorum Keeps On Truckin’, Hires More Staff
The Intelligencer: Rep. Fitzpatrick and Rep. Dent Disagree With Obama On Israel
New York Times: The Math of Heartbreak in Levittown
Inquirer: At Constitution Center Expo, Peace Corps Shows Its Still Going Places
Plan Philly: PennDOT Gets More Feedback On I-95 Redo; Final Designs By Fall
WHYY Newsworks: Kelly Unanimously Approved As Pa. Attorney General
Commonwealth Confidential: Ex-Rep. Beyer Blasts Corbett On Vouchers
Daily News: Pennsylvania: Voucher Ground Zero
Fox Philadelphia: New Pa. Education Chief Talks To Fox Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Even Foe Anticipates Fee On Pa. Gas Drilling
AP: Pa. Malpractice Lawsuits Drop Again
Bucks County Courier Times: Tinicum, Grassroots Group Petition Pa. Supreme Court
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Lawmakers Go Local
WHYY Newsworks: The campaign is over, two Phila. Candidates Say It Is Time To Pick Up The Signs
Delaware County Times: Schools of Hard Knocks: Legislation Aims To Expand School Choice For Low and Middle Income Families
WHYY Newsworks: Nutter Vows To Crack Down On “Nuisance Bars” After Weekend Shooting
AP: Pa. House Speaker: $27.3 Billion Budget May Grow
PhillyClout: No Result Yet In GOP Mayoral Primary
PhillyNow: Kenyatta Johnson Wins 2nd District Nomination
PhillyClout: Barbara Capozzi Leaves Open The Idea Of An Election Contest
Inquirer: Allies and Allegiances On New City Council
PhillyClout: City Council Hears From School District On Money Woes
WHYY Newsworks: “Blogger Tax” Returns To City Council With Amended Proposal

Pittsburgh and southwest PA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Representative Frankel wants new motorcycle helmet law.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Executive to consider new law to stop fraud.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: City Council Divided on whether to save Civic Arena.
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Pawlenty delivers bid
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Downtown skyline about to change with new tower at PNC Plaza
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: House votes for sexting bill
Early Returns: Altmire patrols border
Early Returns: Progressivism and health care: the in-curable preexisting condition

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: GOP Eyes Restoring Some Education Funding
Morning Call: Monday Morning Coffee: The Budget Games Begin
Pennsylvania Ave.: Toomey, Republicans Urge Budget, NRSC Attacks Casey (again)
Pennsylvania Ave.: Dent Piles on Obama Israel Policy
WFMZ Allentown: Demonstrators At Graduation Protest Corbett’s Proposed Education Cuts
WFMZ Allentown: County Clarifies Outcome Of Close Commissioners Race

NEPA
The Times Leader: Nanticoke Area OKs $400,000 in cuts
The Times Leader: Controller wants safety inspection of Sterling
Citizens Voice: Budget Crunch
Citizens Voice: Council Winners Debate Strategy
Wayne Independent: $44,253 awarded for youth gambling prevention in county
Standard Speaker: ACLU suing school over drug testing policy
Times News: $700,184 gaming grant for hospital
WNEP 16: County Worker pleads guilty to theft, County Takes Action
News Wire Today: Ben Franklin to Invent #135,000 in Regional Economic Development
Standard Speaker: Mahanoy City Mayor pays tribute to borough police

South Central PA
ABC 27: Cash-strapped Harrisburg must may for stadium out of general fund
Lebanon Daily News:  Council OK’s Hoffman’s appointment to authority
Lebanon Daily News:  Grants can help farmers with energy projects
Lebanon Daily News:  Impeached Pa. justice loses appeal over pension
WGAL News 8:  Complete Susquehanna Valley Election Results Here
WGAL News 8:  Residents In Several Communities Vote On Referendums
WGAL News 8:  Winners In Harrisburg City Council Race Talk To News 8

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Candidates win write-in nominations in Erie County
Erie Times-News: Errors change voter turnout percentage in Erie County
Observer-Reporter: Senate Democratic Policy Committee discusses drilling
Observer-Reporter: Washington mayor loses primary
Observer-Reporter: West Greene hoolds Taxes steady
Observer-Reporter: Carmichaels approves tentative budget
The Daily Item – Sunbury: Pa. House poised to debate ’11-’12 state budget
Williamsport Sun Gazatte: LEGISLATIVE TALLY School boards vote to raise property taxes
Johnstown Tribune Democrat: Voting Outcomes Unchanged after Cambria certifies tallies
Johnstown Tribune Democrat: No recount necessary in City Council race
StateCollege.com: Primary recount sought in Centre County

Opinions
Arlen Specter, Inquirer: Arbitration is the key to relieving backlog in the courts
Keystone Politics: We’re back, and here’s why
Beaver County Times: Stop Drilling Now
Erie Times-News: Wind Energy Poses Many Problems
WFMZ Allentown, Think Tank: Jobs are the Answer, State Senator Lisa Boscola
The Times Leader: Mr. Barletta went to D.C. and forgot the middle class
John Baer, Daily News: On School Spending: Let’s Get Sensible
PhillyNow, Editorial: Nutter Bans Smoking…Where?
Altoona Mirror: Lack of races hurts turnout

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  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

    Total Voters: 27

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