The winds have died down, and hopefully your power is (back) on.
Hurricane Irene: When it comes to disaster recovery, Democrats and Republicans agree that government spending is a good thing. In Hurricane Irene’s wake, Governor Corbett, several members of PA’s congressional delegation and local officials are requesting that President Obama declare a disaster in eastern PA.
Casey in Pakistan: Bob Casey is out of town, but certainly not out of dodge. Senator Casey is on his third trip to Pakistan, aiming to stop the transportation of substances used to make IEDs, the number one killer of U.S troops, from that country into neighboring Afghanistan.
Santorum in PA: Former Senator and current GOP Presidential candidate Rick Santorum knows that if he wants to be a contender he needs to raise more money. Starting today, he’s taking a swing through Pennsylvania to get by with a little help from his friends. Click for details of his trip.
Clinton County consolations: The men who represent Clinton County in Harrisburg, State Senator John N. Wozniak and State Representative Mike Hanna, congratulated and thanked the players, coaches, fans, parents, and volunteers with Keystone Little League for a remarkable post-season performance which caught the attention of sports fans nationwide.
Team Scaringi grows: GOP Senate hopeful Marc Scaringi added a new member to his campaign team last week. Veteran operative Jason Fitzgerald, who last year co-managed Rep. Tom Marino’s win in PA-10, will consult for the Harrisburg-area attorney.
Conservative scorecard: Senator Toomey received the highest grade (87 percent) and surpassed all Pennsylvania members of Congress on a vote scorecard created by Heritage Action. Rep. Joe Pitts took a close second with 83 percent.
Israel/Palestine in PA: J Street, a political group for “pro-Israeli and pro-peace Americans,” delivered about a thousand signed postcards this week to Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey as part of their effort to lobby elected officials to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Shrinking the Legislature: It’s a long shot, so the real question is how the proposal plays politically. It might help insulate GOP leadership against Tea Party angst, and then again it might not.
Tackling brain injury: Rep. Pat Meehan held an event last week to push the PABI Plan Act, which would fund a seven-year initiative to implement a standardized, evidence-based system of care for the millions of families who have a child or young adult suffering from brain injury.
Don’t forget to check out Friday’s Ups & Downs.
And finally, sad news for politicos in DuBois. Lester Smiley, a firecracker of a retired union rep and a fiercely patriotic Democrat, passed away this week at 77. If you’ve ever driven through downtown DuBois, you’ve seen his hand-crafted signs adorning numerous local businesses. Lester was one of the hardest-working, most interesting and most sincere campaigners in the state. He will be missed.
National
Morning Call: Irene Thwarts Santorum
Go Erie: US to Cut Estimate of Marcellus Shale Gas Reserves
Tribune Review: AP-GfK Poll: Most Republicans happy with GOP field
AP, Altoona Mirror: Views on economy, Obama role sour
WJAC: Ron Paul: We don’t need FEMA
WJAC: Republicans slam President on jobs
WJAC: “You Lie!” Lawmaker released from hospital
Beaver County Times: Obama: Getting through Irene will be ‘tough slog’
Observer-Reporter: Region’s ‘energized’ economy is also diversified
AP, Philadelphia Inquirer: Perry Blasts Obama, Notes Own Job-Creating Record
Washington Post: FEMA, Federal Agencies Ramp Up
Washington Post: American Town Halls More Contentous Than Ever, In Part By Design
Statewide
Stateline: Study: States Enrolling More Children in CHIP
Fox News :Corbett talks Irene Preparations
PhillyBurbs: Corbett to be at ceremonial signing in Bucks
Post Gazette: State Senate Considers Charter School Regs
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Transportation Committee Waiting for Corbett’s Stance on Funding Proposal
Patriot-News: Education Reform Discussion Continues at the Pennsylvania State Capital
Patriot-News: Pa. Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander’s Extra Job Raises Eyebrows
Tribune Review: Casey sees way to repair U.S.-Pakistan ties
AP, Tribune Review: Harrisburg threatened with state takeover
Tribune Review: Corbett issues emergency declaration for Pennsylvania
Tribune Review: Outgoing gaming chairman named to board
Post-Gazette: Corbett dispatches teams to areas in hurricane’s path
Indiana Gazette: PSSHE profs, coaches start year without contract
Patriot News: 3 Hurricane Irene related deaths reported in Pa.,700k without power, Go. Tom Corbett says
Indiana Gazette: Senator Casey visits Pakistan
The Sentinel: Photo ID Mandate of Pa. Voters Awaits Senate Vote
Patriot-News: Gov. Tom Corbett gives Harrisburg mayor state takeover talking to
Pittsburgh Live: Outgoing gaming chairman named to board
State House Sound Bites: State law held up USGS report
StateImpactPA: Josh Fox and Other Drilling Opponents to Protest at Philly Marcellus Convention
StateImpactPA: Is Cuomo Cribbing Corbett’s Fracking Talking Points?
StateImpactPA: “SEC Bears Down on Fracking”
Philly
Inquirer: Ackerman and chief financial officer no longer talking
Fox News: Hurricane Irene Weakens for Philadelphia area
Philadelphia Inquirer: Longtime Perry Benefactor Hosting Meeting at Home
Philadelphia Inquirer: Cheir Honkala Adds Horse Stunt To Sheriff’s Campaign
Philadelphia Inquirer: Oh Apologizes for Green Beret ‘confusion of misimpression’
Philly Now: Pets Matter, Too: City Outlines Plan for Animals In Case You Need to Evacuate
Philadelphia Weekly: Top 10 Corners: 2011 Edition
Fox Philly: Nutter: Worst Storm in Philly in 50 Years
Fox Philly: Nutter Responds To Ackerman Comments
ABC News: State of Emergency Declared in Philadelphia
News Works: Manayunk’s Venice Lofts Apartment Complex Evacuated
Philadelphia Inquirer: SEPTA, PATCO, Amtrak, airport all shut down
Philly Suburbs
Courier Times: Some Places Cold See a Foot of Rain
Burlington County Times: Mandatory Evacuations Ordered in Lumberton and Medford-Ali
Burlington County TImes: New Hope Emergency Management Warns of Delaware River Flooding
Burlington Country Times: Family of Late Congressman Established Memorial Fund for Veterans’ Affairs
Perkasie News Herald: Pennridge Regional Police Expected to Be in New Headquarter Soon
Perkasie News Herald: Unemployment Rate in Bucks County Dips Slightly to 7.4 Percent, Lowest in Three Years
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Activates Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Coordinate Response to Hurricane Irene
The Intelligencer: Lower Bucks Prepares for Storm, Townships Declare Emergencies
Montgomery Media: Dashertown Plaza Redevelopment Discussion Remains in Limbo
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Bank Counsel Joins Pittsburgh’s Fiscal Overseers
Post Gazette: Pension Board Backs Pittsburgh City Council Bailout
Tribune Review: Mayor Ravenstahl defends handling of flood
KDKA: City council wants details on storm water management
Southwest
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Outlook Bleak for Transportation Funding
Tribune Review: Fayette, Burnett Oil sign contract
Tribune Review: Critz pinpoints shale drilling, federal budget woes
Tribune Review: Candidates forum planned for Sept. 8 in Youngwood
South Central
The Sentinel: Complaints pile up for Carlisle Regional Medical Center
The Sentinel: Corbett: Central Pa. must be prepared for flooding from Irene’s rain
Lancaster era: White paper takes prison officials to task
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon county bar to celebrate constitutions
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Marino returns from Israel on fresh perspective on Middle East
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: DA files motion to have public official removed
NEPA
Pittston Politics: Vinsko (PA-11 Barletta challenger) makes rounds at Tomato festival, talks on Corbett (WILK)
Times Tribune: Medicare, Medicaid proposed cuts could make it impossible for hospitals to be profitable, force docs to stop seeing patients
Times Tribune: Carbondale to replace railroad crossing
Times Tribune: Gas well safety bill addresses common events
Times Tribune: Cawley tours region, speaks on Marcellus boon
Times Tribune: Dems fill ballot vacancies
Citizens Voice: Schools try to do more with less
Citizens Voice: Congressman picks fear over public
Citizens Voice: Mike Lacey to run as Libertarian candidate for Luzerne County Council
The Daily Review: Another Ridgebury official to resign
Go Lackawana: PNC contract inked
North By Northwest
Erie Times: A New Trend: Green Cleaning Our Schools is Gaining Momemtum
Erie Times: Proposed Bill on Tax-Exempt Properties Would Aide Erie, Other Cities
McClean Publishing Co.: Airport Projects in DuBois, Bradford Moving Forward
Centre Daily Times: Corbett, Santorum to Makes Grange Fair Appearances
Sun Gazette: DA Files Motion to Have Public Official Removed
StateCollege: Gov. Corbett Deploys 1,500 National Guard Troops in Eastern PA
Opinion
Public Opinion Editorial: Waiting for word of Rep. Shuster’s whereabouts
Tribune Review: Race-based buncombe
Tribune Review: Paul: Message advances despite limited media
Post-Gazette: The GOP’s tax increase
Post-Gazette: How Democrats hurt jobs
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: The debate debate
Big Government: Wealthy Liberals Target New Drilling Techniques That Heighten Natural Gas Production and Boost Jobs
Pa Town Hall: Uncomfortable Truth About Hybrid Cars
The Centrist: Rep. Maloney to Host Property Tax Forum
Harrisburg Politics: Fajt Returns to Gaming Board as Senate Dens Appointee
Keystone Politics: Extra Revenue Not for Schools, But Corporate Tax Cuts are Fine
Third and State: About Those PA Job Numbers
Altoona Mirror: Support infrastructure
Altoona Mirror: Keep inflation in check
Tribune Democrat: Laurels and barbs
Tribune Democrat: Readers’ Forum 8-27 Solving budget crisis simple yet made difficult
Observer-Reporter: Union not in such bad shape
Pocono Record: Attending meeting to say “No more multiple districts for Monroe”
Patriot-News Op-Ed: Pa. Takes a Step Backward with Gov. Corbett’s Education Cuts
Patriot-News Op-Ed: Pa. Transportation System Needs to Be Addressed Sooner Rather Than Later