Bonusgate is back in the news, this time, there is an accusation that evidence has been destroyed by prosecutors.
UFCW launched a series of ads criticizing any plan to privatize liquor stores and they are trying to build opposition to Rep. Turzai’s plan throughout the state.
PoliticsPA Reports
Rep. Pitts Donates Campaign Contributions He Received From An Individual Indicted On Illegally Lobbying For A Foreign Government
The Directorate for Inter-Service Intelligence, Pakistan’s spy agency, has been financing the Kashmiri American Council, which advocates for India to give up parts of Kashmir. Part of the council’s push to gain influence was through campaign contributions. Under United States’ law it is illegal for foreign governments to give money to political candidates and since the council was financed through Pakistan’s military it broke the law. Representative Joe Pitts (R-16) was one of the politicians who received such contributions.
Post-Gazette: Corruption Case Defendants’ Attorneys Accuse Prosecutors Of Destroying Evidence
Attorneys for former House speaker John Perzel and seven co-defendants in a government corruption case are accusing prosecutors of misconduct for destroying investigation notes believed to show inconsistencies in witness statements.
UFCW Launches More Radio Ads Critical Of Liquor Store Privatization Supporters
As House Majority Leader Mike Turzai offers testimony to the House Liquor Control Committee regarding his plan to privatize the Commonwealth’s wine and spirits locales, the United Food & Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) has taken to the airwaves yet again in an effort to build opposition to the plan.
National
AP: Gov. Corbett: Pa. Will Be OK Even If Feds Don’t Raise Debt Ceiling By Deadline
POLITICO: Rep. Fitzpatrick Grilled S&P Exec On Whether Obama Administration Pressured The Ratings Agency On The U.S.’s Credit Rating
Inquirer: Philadelphia-Area Congressmen Swamped By Constituents’ Input On Debt Standoff
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Reps. Thompson, Marino To Address Debt Ceiling
Bucks Local News: Fifty Converge On Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick’s Office In Response To President’s Call
Daily Times: Budget protesters gather outside Gerlach’s office
Daily Times: Protest targets Meehan on Debt Ceiling
Mercury: Debt Showdown: What Mercury Readers Say
POLITICO: Pennsylvania Fracking Report Raises Questions
Washington Post: Highlights From the Fed’s Beige Book Economic Survey Of 12 Regional Bank Districts Including Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Insurance Rates To Get Federal Oversight
Intelligencer: Congress Votes In Favor Of Fitzpatrick’s Endangered Species Amendment
Statewide
The Mercury: Gov. Corbett Ordered Flags Lowered For Pa. Guardsmen Killed In Afghanistan
Capitol Ideas: In Daily News Column, Rendell Cops To Letting Rumors Fly While Mayor, Governor.
Inquirer: Unusual Hearing Today On Privatizing Pa. Liquor Stores
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. House Panel Hears From Both Sides On School Vouchers
Patriot-News: Commonwealth Foundation Outlines Environmental ‘Frack Attack’ On Gas Industry
Capitol Ideas: @PA Dems, @GovernorCorbett Duke it out on Twitter over #PABudget
WITF: House panel is delving into Turzai’s liquor privatization proposal
WITF: Toomey on prioritized payments; what cuts to entitlements would mean in PA hospitals; table games revenue
State Impact – NPR: SRBC Expands its water withdrawal ban
Philly
WHYY Newsworks: John Street Won’t Run Again For Mayor of Philadelphia
Daily News: City Pension Debt Is $500M A Year
Heard In The Hall: Independent Running Mates
Philly Suburbs
Intelligencer: Authority Says No To Runway At Williow Grove Airbase After Closure
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Pittsburgh’s fiscal overseer ‘in the ‘dark’
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Council tables bond refinancing plan
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Blair County human services funding cut
Indiana Gazette: Rural postal customers in Indiana County could be affected
Indiana Gazette: Opponents as board to deny drilling permit
Observer-Reporter: North Strabane supervisors approve casino expansion project
Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Live: Warren County OKs Belvidere, Harmony Township shared-superintendent contract
South Central
Patriot-News: Utah Detainee Is Not Gricar, But Look-Alikes Are Considered Good For Investigations
York Dispatch: Among Pa. Water Providers, York’s Low Cost Stands Out
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Focusing On The Benefits Of The Gas Industry
NEPA
Citizen’s Voice: Some county offices over budget on overtime
Citizen’s Voice: County controller stands ground on bill paying
Standard Speaker: Bill includes student performance in teacher evaluations
North by Northwest
Post-Gazette: Federal aid cuts could grow, hurt Pa. Hospitals
Opinions
Patriot-News Commentary: Did State Go Too Far In Destroying Interviews In Public Corruption Investigation?
Intelligencer Editorial: For Republicans, Party Comes First In Debt Limit Debate
Williamsport Sun-Gazette Editorial: Scarnati Is Proving To Be An Interesting Leader
Intelligencer Journal Editorial: Tepid Gas Proposal From Marcellus Shale Commission
Citizen’s Voice Editorial: Our Voice: Gas booms, state doesn’t
Williamsport Sun-Gazette Editorial: State Budget Gets Unfair Assessment
Delaware County Times Editorial: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal A Blow To Bigotry
John Baer, Daily News: Don’t Buy Out Ackerman – Fire Her, State Rep. Says
Daily Times Editorial: Spencer: Miccarelli: Privatization will get done
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Editorial: The La Raza speech: Pandering to radicals
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Editorial: Debt of a nation: End the talk, but resume the talks
Patriot-News Commentary: Window Is Closing On Harrisburg’s Debt Plan
Intelligencer Journal Editorial: Pennsylvania’s Middle Class Crisis