Dave Argall’s getting help from the big guns, what’s old is new again for Mark Critz, and you might think twice about driving around PA after you check out PennDOT’s map of underfunded roads. Up & Down is coming soon, but for now, this is Friday’s Buzz.
From PoliticsPA:
Boehner to campaign for Argall: Argall’s underperformed in the fundraising circuit after insiders hoped for much, much more from his candidacy, so Republicans will send one of their top stars to PA this fall.
Brushing off an old story from the PA-12 special election today came the indictment of Paul Magliocchetti, a former lobbyist with Magliocchetti Associates who is accused of illegally funneling money to campaigns. Expect Mark Critz, a former Murtha staffer, to have to answer tough questions about the relationship between Murtha’s office and Magliocchetti.
From our buddy Scott Detrow – Good Luck Chuck. Harrisburg Mayor Thompson’s got a new communications director, Chuck Ardo of Ed Rendell fame.
Ever wonder if your street is properly maintained by the state? PennDOT has created an interactive map where you can zoom in on your neighborhood and see if your roads are underfunded. It’s part of Gov. Rendell’s press tour around the state to secure highway funding (h/t Post-Gazette).
Terry Madonna and Michael Young prove that gaffes are bipartisan, highlighting two in the last two weeks, Tom Corbett’s outlandish claims about the unemployed and Gov. Rendell’s “Big Brother” plan to watch us on the roads.
Today’s Headlines:
The Sestak campaign is out with a new Web video linking Pat Toomey to his time at the Club for Growth and some the people it endorsed.
Senators Casey and Specter voted yes to help confirm Elena Kagan as the 112th justice of the Supreme Court. The final vote tally was 63-37.
Fox Philadelphia: Onorato and Corbett weigh in on DRPA’s woes – neither would commit to specific reforms. (Onorato last week did get specific in what he’d like to see happen at DRPA)
Are Dems pushing third party candidates onto the ballot nationwide? Politico looks into it. The Bucks County Courier Times writes that two former interns for Rep. Patrick Murphy submitted nominating petitions for third party candidate Tom Lingenfelter.
Tribune-Review: In Pennsylvania, politics isn’t just local — it’s family. Sen. Jay Costa’s decision to seek the Senate Democrats’ top leadership post next year highlights the political clout clustered in a few Western Pennsylvania bloodlines. Although party machines lost effectiveness in recent years, local dynasties — the surnames Costa, Wagner, Zappala, Orie, Flaherty and Ravenstahl among them — retain, and, in some cases, continue to gather influence.
AP: Pa. politician, ex-NFLer, sentenced on corruption today – A former NFL lineman who pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe while serving as a county commissioner is northeastern Pennsylvania is due to be sentenced Friday.
Today’s Opinions
Post-Gazette: Hatchet Job: A Political Report mischaracterizes the T extension – Don’t mistake the report this week by Republican Sens. John McCain and Tom Coburn for an economic analysis of the federal stimulus. “Summertime Blues” is a political stunt, designed to make the stimulus sound foolhardy by belittling and mischaracterizing projects it has funded.
Patriot-News: Tom Ridge’s Integrity at stake in gas industry role – Former Gov. Tom Ridge once again is taking on a high-profile role in Pennsylvania.
This time it’s not representing voters but the natural gas industry. The Marcellus Shale Coalition, a group of about 100 gas drilling and related companies, is paying Ridge’s two firms $900,000 for a year’s contract to help the industry with strategy.
