Rep. Altmire & Rep. Holden took a trip to the desert, where they participated in a tour of the US-Mexico border sponsored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords office.
Check out our take on the state budget passed through the state house on the strength of the GOP majority.
Finally, the talk in Washington this week has been the Middle East. A lot of that talk came from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference which wrapped up on Tuesday. We have Sen. Toomey and Sen. Casey’s speeches from the conference covered.
PoliticsPA Reports
PoliticsPA’s Chief of Staff Spotlight: Bill Tigthe
Each week of our newest feature, Chief of Staff Spotlight, we’ll introduce you to one of the people who make the PA delegation possible. We present Bill Tighe, Chief of Staff for Rep. Tom Marino (R-10).
Altmire & Holden Get The Giffords Tour Of The US/Mexico Border
The office of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosted two of Pennsylvania’s own Blue Dog Democrats this weekend. Reps. Jason Altmire and Tim Holden are well known for their moderate stances on a variety of issues – including, it turns out – border security.
Pa. House Passes Budget Solely on GOP Votes
With all but two GOP votes and no Dems, the PA House last night passed a $27.3 billion budget that taxes at the same level, gives more to education and less to the Department of Public Welfare.
Casey & Toomey Hit The Right Notes At AIPAC
Casey and Toomey delivered crowd-pleasing speeches to the annual conference of America’s most powerful pro-Israel lobby on Tuesday, as each man sought to distance himself from President Obama’s remarks last Thursday.
Philadelphia (and Suburbs)
WHYY Newsworks: Flags To Fly At Half-Staff Today For Fallen Soldier in Afghanistan
Pennsylvania Ave.: Toomey: Most Conservative
AP: Rep. Barletta Bans Public From Recording Town Hall Meetings
WHYY Newsworks: EPA Urged To Push Forward With Mercury Regulation
Pennsylvania Ave.: Rep. Gerlach’s Fish Tank Saves The Day
WHYY Newsworks: Former Pa. DEP Secretary Endorses Patrick Murphy for Attorney General WHYY Newsworks: Fumo Case Returns To Court As Both Sides Seek New Sentencing
Inquirer: Fumo Judge May Have Erred
Philly Weekly: Commission Weighs Gas Drilling in the Delaware River – Philly’s Source of Drinking Water
The Intelligencer: Montco Election Officials Disciplined
WHYY Newsworks: Is GOP Race For Mayor Finally Over?
PhillyClout: Council Still Unsure How To Handle School’s $$$ Request
Philly Weekly: City Leaders Seek Alternative Solutions To Close School District’s Deficit
PhillyClout: Schools Supporters Flood Council To Lobby For Support
Philly Weekly: Mayor Nutter Faces A Stiff Crowd To End DROP
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia City Council Says Nutter Doesn’t Have Votes To End DROP
PhillyClout: Councilman O’Neill Says He Doesn’t Plan On Enrolling In DROP
WHYY Newsworks: Poll Finds More than 70% Of Philly Voters Support Paid Sick Days
Inquirer: Ex-PHA Chief’s Townhouse On The Market
Bucks Local News: Bucks County lawmakers react to House passage of state budget
Bucks Local News: Gov. Corbett prepared to make cuts
Montgomery Media: State Rep. Tom Murt votes to approve House budget
Pittsburgh and Southwest
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Senate Votes Down Toomey budget plan.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: State likely to back out on hospital’s accord.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: State Rep. to PA utilities: Buy more Solar Energy.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Woman files suit over Marcellus wastewater.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Steel Valley votes to furlough 41 employees.
PATCH: Area lawmakers react to house passing the state budget
Lehigh Valley
Express: Hanna Votes ‘No,’ Calls GOP Budget Plan ‘Unfair’ and ‘Irresponsible’
Express: The Final Countdown: With Recount Finished, Race for Prothonotary Heads to November
Lehigh Valley Live: Northampton County’s Gov. Wolf Building in Easton Shut by Power Problems
Lehigh Valley Live: Easton Council Committee Reviews Recycling Rewards Proposal
Lehigh Valley Live: Northampton County Officials Heading to Chicago to research Prison Boot Camp Idea
Pocono Record: PA House GOP Passes Budget Over Objections
Pocono Record: Barletta Bans Public From Recording Town Hall Meetings
Reading Eagle: Don Spatz: Council Complains but Takes No Action
Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Enjoins Sale of Bath Salts
WFMZ: Former Soviet President to Speak at Local College
WFMZ: Same-Sex Partners Likely to be Allowed Benefits in Easton Next Year
WFMZ: Local DA Files Lawsuit to Ban Sales of Bath Salts
NEPA
The Times Leader: Pasonick pleads guilty to bribe
The Times Leader: Residents unhappy with EPA answers
The Times Leader: Luzerne County officials: Baseball franchise work $18 million
The Citizens Voice: Hanover Area cuts turn personnel
The Citizens Voice: Meals to remain exempt from Luzerne County’s 5 percent hotel tax
The Citizens Voice: Gas royalty owners lament ‘gutted’ bill
The Standard Speaker: $5.6M deal to address city debt
The Standard Speaker: Barletta, Marino : Don’t record
The Standard Speaker: Six Hazleton Area administrators retiring
Times News: Tamaqua block grant program facing drastic loss in funding
South Central
AP: Pa. House Democrats Fail To Force Consideration Of Natural Gas Drilling Tax
Patriot-News: Former Pa. Lawmaker Mike Veon’s 2nd Corruption Trial Postponed Until 2012
Patriot-News: Lawmakers at odds over bill to revise benefits for jobless
Patriot-News: Legislation Would Require Voter Approval Of School Property Tax Increases Over Inflation Rate
Patriot-News: Silver Spring Township Couple Sues Cumberland County, Claiming Prosecution In Sex Case Was Unjustified
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Millcreek legislator invited to Canada to discuss wind industry development
Erie Times-News: Ruling awaited in Erie cyber-spying lawsuit
Observer-Reporter: Rep. Critz to hold town hall
Beaver County Times: Democrats fail to force considerations of gas tax
Beaver County Times: US Court dubious of ex-PA. Sen. Fumo Sentence
Beaver County Times: PA labor board dismisses police union complaint
Opinions
John Baer, Inquirer/Daily News: GOP Presidential Hopefuls…An Obama Plot?
Daily Times: Toomey’s attitude more politics than economics
Marc Lamont Hill, Daily News: Black pols vs. pols who are black
Philly Weekly: Megan’s Flaw: When A Sexual Predator Is Not One In The Eyes Of The Law
Baer Growls: The Rapture Budget
Bucks County Courier Times, Editorial: Conflict of Interest
Karen Heller, Inquirer: The City Council Race Is On Up In ‘God’s Country’
Reading Eagle: Superintendents’ Forum: History Shows Decline in State Funding for Public Schools, Dr. Paul Eaken
Young Philly Politics: Is the School District of Philadelphia Paddling Its Books on Central Office Administration?
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: “Bibi” votes Republican